Chapter 59-Punishment
The next day
Maggie's P.O.V
Maggie was sitting in her office when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," She says. The door opens, and Beth comes in.
"They caught the killers." Beth said first off as she came to the center of the room
"Who was it?" Maggie asks.
"Oceanside, Daryl said they will be deciding what to do with them in about an hour," Beth tells her sister, who nods. She stays silent for a second. "Did you know?" Maggie looks at Beth and keeps her expression as emotionless as she could. "No, I didn't know, Beth," Maggie says. "Not that I blame them."
Beth nods as she leaves her office.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl, Rick, Michonne, Morgan, Rosita, John, Shane, Negan, Carol, Reilly, Alden, Amanda, and Dwight stood inside of a tent around a large table. They had told everybody to take a break that day. "How many actually killed a savior?" Michonne asks.
"I know Cyndie, Beatrice, and Kathy did, I don't know who else," Rick says. "Six people are dead."
"Seems like the answer is pretty obvious here," Negan says.
"What is the answer, Negan?" Alden asks wearily, giving his former leader a glance.
"You really think if we let 'em go, we kick 'em out of the alliance and exile that they won't try this again? They will, we need to make sure this never happens."
"You're suggesting killing them, right?" Rosita asks stonily, staring at him, not with hatred but definitely an unfriendly stare.
"One of them." He held a single finger up, staring back at her "One of the three you just said. An example needs to be made." Negan says firmly. Everybody stays silent. "You know I'm right."
"Let's say you are. What do we do with the rest of them?" Morgan asks.
"We sent 'em back to Oceanside, then we set boundaries, and if they pass them, they die." Daryl says.
"Can I suggest something?" Alden asks. They nod. "The girl, Rachel, we should let Charlie decide what happens to her."
"Why?" Michonne asks.
"They've been hanging out a lot. They've affected each other, ask Daniel if you want, she was upset after we discovered what they were doing, it isn't going to be easy for them, we all know that this girl might not be like the rest, the only person who knows that is Charlie." Alden explains.
"Okay," Daryl says. "So the question is which one dies?"
Charlie's P.O.V
Charlie sat against a tree. She looked up at Alden as he came over. "Are they still talking?"
"Yeah, they'll be done soon," Alden says. "They don't need me for this last part."
"What's going to happen to them?"
"We're exiling them and removing them from the alliance, besides for two," Alden says.
"Why?"
"We're killing Beatrice, Kathy, or Cyndie as a consequence, and the other is Rachel. You're deciding what's going to happen to her." Alden says.
"What do you mean?" Charlie asks.
"You can either send her back with Oceanside, or she'll stay with you. She'll live in the campgrounds," Alden says softly. "It's up to you. You know her, you know if she's changed."
"Do I have to decide now?" Charlie asks tiredly.
"No, but by sunset, they'll be loading them up then and sending 'em back," Alden tells Charlie, who nods as Alden walks away, patting her head comfortingly as she sat there, lost in thought.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walked into the tent Cyndie was being kept in. She glared at him. She was in a tank top, and there was a bandage on her wound. "You going to kill me?" She asks as Daryl sits down in front of her.
"You're being exiled, we'll send you back to Oceanside, and then we'll set boundaries and if you or any of your people cross 'em, you'll die." Daryl said coldly.
"You think the Saviors will just let us leave?" Cyndie asks.
"No, not without a consequence. Before you leave, one of you will die," Daryl says.
"What!? Who?" Cyndie asks in disbelief, leaning forward.
"Beatrice." Daryl says. "Rick will execute her."
"No, you kill me. This was my idea," Cyndie begs as she pulls on her rope.
"That's why it won't be you. One thing I learned from that asshole is that your actions, good or bad, always have consequences. Someone is about to die because of you, Cyndie, next time you decide to try something like this, think about what's going to happen today," Daryl says.
"I'll fucking kill you!" Cyndie screeched.
"No. you won't," Daryl bluntly informs her as he leaves the tent.
Daniel's P.O.V
Daniel walked into Charlie's tent and looked at her sitting on her bed, playing with her hands "Alden told me about the meeting," Daniel says as he sits down beside her.
"What do you think I should do?" Charlie asks as he looks at Daniel, her face full of pain and conflict.
"I think she deserves a second chance, just like you got. These people thought Negan would never change, but he has. You wouldn't be having such a hard time deciding what is going to happen with Rachel if you believed she hadn't changed. I've given Victor plenty of second chances. Victor is a prick, though, which is why he is in Hilltop. Away from here,"
"I want to give it to her, but I'm scared someone will get hurt, and it will be my fault." Charlie says softly.
"It's a good thing you scared. That means you won't let your guard down, do what you think is right," Daniel says. He kisses her forehead and leaves Charlie to her thoughts.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick walked into Cyndie's tent and sat down across from her, staring at her without expression.
"Daryl's already told me. I don't need you to tell me too."
Cyndie shifted as a long minute went by...then Rick said with a chilling voice.
"Did Maggie know?" Rick asks.
"No, but she did tell me that if the opportunity presented itself, then do it." Cyndie says. "She wasn't against it, and sooner or later, just like us, she'll get tired of your fucking pacifist bullshit, and she'll kill Negan. And when she does it, she'll be the only one to blame, the only one you can kill. How are going to stop others from taking vengeance? How are you gonna protect her from Shane, or Morgan, or Laura, or Alicia? What will you do then, Rick? Will you kill her, or will you let her live? I wish I could be there to see it." Cyndie says to Rick, who just stares at her the whole time. "Good luck, Rick Grimes. The worse is yet to come."
Rick stays silent as he leaves the tent. He sees a truck pull in, and Strand and Cole climb out as he goes up to Daryl. "What are they doing here?"
"They want to have the killers are gone celebration party." Daryl snorted at the name "A lot of the places Eugene told us about had alcohol, so they are using it," Daryl explains. Rick nods. "I heard a Savior say, the party will start when Beatrice is executed."
"Nice." Rick says absently and rubbed his brow as he sits down. "Do you feel right about this?"
"No," Daryl says after a moment, knowing that at least Rick talking to him was a way to heal the strained trust since his confession. "But Negan's not wrong. It needs to happen. They crossed a line, if we don't do this, we'll have problems with the Saviors, and we need them to finish the bridge. This is the best we can do. Some of them want them all dead. Reilly and Arat talked them into agreeing to this." Daryl says to Rick, who nods.
"I talked to Cyndie. She said that Maggie told her if she wanted to kill them, wait for the opportunity," Rick tells him.
"That surprise you?" Daryl states after a minute of though. "Maggie will always hate the Saviors, but she only wants to kill Negan. I'll keep him out of Hilltop, and as long as they are away from each other, Maggie shouldn't do anything." He leaned down trying to make eye contact and rested his hand on Rick's arm reassuring "Cyndie is trying to get in your head. Ignore her." Rick nods, but he couldn't push the worry away.
Charlie's P.O.V
Charlie walked into Rachel's tent, and the girl looked up at her in resignation. "Time to go?"
"Do you want to go?" Charlie asks lowly.
"Does it matter?" She shrugged helplessly "I don't want Beatrice to die, but she will anyway. I don't want to live in exile with a village of women who will live out the rest of their lives being hateful and plotting, but it's gonna happen anyway. I made my choice, I have to live with it."
"I can't fix the first one. I'm supposed to decide if you go back to Oceanside." Charlie says.
"Have you decided?" Rachel asks in surprise to Charlie as she pulls her knife out. She walks up to Rachel and bends down. She presses the end of the blade to Rachel's throat.
"If you try anything, if you hurt anybody, I'll drive this through your throat," Charlie says before she pulls the knife away and cuts the zip ties binding her to the bed. "Stay close," She says as she cuts the ropes tieing her legs together.
"You won't regret this." Rachel said softly.
"You better hope I don't." Charlie warned as she leaves the tent. Rachel follows her after a moment, can't help but feeling a sense of relief.
Reilly's P.O.V
Reilly stood behind Rick as Cyndie was loaded onto a wagon as the other woman watched in silence, some looking scared at what they were about to see. "Where's Rachel?" Cyndie called out.
"She's staying, Charlie got that choice, and Rachel wants to stay," Rick says. He nods to Negan and Shane, who go into a tent and bring Beatrice out. She pulls her arms out of their hands.
"You want me on my knees?" Beatrice asks coldly.
"No, not if you don't want too" Rick says seriously. He looks around at the large crowd, from all communities "We've tried not to have to do this! But a line has been crossed, I told you that those who couldn't leave in peace would pay, today I make that statement true!" Rick says. He looks at Beatrice. "Oceanside has killed six saviors, for that they are being exiled and one if being executed!" Rick says as he removes his revolver from the holster.
"Rick," Reilly says, making Rick look at him. "Let me do it. It's my people they were killing. It should be me," Reilly says. Rick nods and holds his revolver out to Reilly, who grabs it and walks in front of Beatrice. He raises it. "Do you have any last words?"
"I regret nothing you fucking Savior." Beatrice snarled bitingly. "Go to hell." Reilly stared at her for a moment, then sighed as he pulls the trigger, and Beatrice falls to the ground.
After a moment of Silence, Rick took the gun back, nodding at Reiley then continued
"Put her in a wagon. She'll be buried at Oceanside," Then he turned to Cyndie in particular with a warning look "Don't come back. You pass the Sanctuary or get even close. I'll kill you." She just glares at him as the wagons begin to move.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick sat in front of his tents, watching everybody drinking in front of the fires, thinking over the long last few days. "You don't look very happy," Rick looks up at Gregory.
"What are you doing here?" Rick asks gruffly, never having patience for this idiot
"Hilltop brought the wagons. I heard there was a party." Gregory says with a charming grin. "You won, Rick. Have a drink, and come on lighten up for at least a night." Gregory holds out a glass to Rick, who takes it. After a minute and shrugging, deciding one wouldn't kill him, Rick drinks the glass and hands it back to Gregory.
"Thanks, try to behave" Rick says as he stands up with Gregory giving a nod and smile "I'm going to go find Michonne," Rick says. Gregory nods as Rick starts to walk through the camp. Rick walks for a few minutes. He finds Michonne standing with Daryl, Shane, and Negan. Rick stops as his vision becomes blurry, and he sways a little. He starts to cough.
"Rick," Alden says from behind him. "You okay, man?"
Alden lays his hand on Rick's shoulder. Rick starts to cough again and falls to the ground. "Rick!" Michonne's screaming voice was the last thing Rick heard before his world went black.
Thanks for reading. Honestly, I would say we have two, maybe three chapters before the big bridge moment and then some stuff after. What happened to Rick? Will Cyndie try anything? Did Charlie make a mistake? As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.