۫ ּ ִ ۫ ˑ ֗ 𓏲˖ 𑁍 ࣪ ִ ۫ ּ ִ ۫ ˑ ֗
࣪𓏲ּ ֶָ ✩◿𝓘𝓓𝓐◸ 🂱 ࣪𓏲ּ ֶָ
CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE—
the radio plan.
"How fast do you think Levi's feet are gonna grow?" Carl asked after him and Austin found an old supermarket and cleared it in the slightest. "Should we get the shoes a little big?"
"Probably." Austin nodded as he pulled, what he hoped, was good product for curly hair. Cyndie would know, he sorta wished it was easier to get ahold of her. He'd ask her tonight when he called her on the radio, if he managed to get it to work. "We need some stuff for the infirmary. We just need a good place to hide it till Negan stops taking our stuff."
"There's a tree a few yards outside of the gates. It's got the trunk missing, big enough for me and Enid to hid in there." Carl suggested with a shrug as they stalked up on supplies. "It could work."
Austin looked at his brother with a smirk. "You and Enid were hiding in a tree bark? Together?"
Carl turned red as he looked away. "Shut up."
"I didn't say anything." he defended himself with a smile. "I like Enid. She's a good match for you. I approve."
"Nothing to approve." he huffed with a shake of his head. "We just..."
Austin nudged him. "Don't leave me hanging."
"We kissed just once." he spoke fast as Austin laughed. "Don't laugh!"
"I'm not laughing!" but, he continued to do so. "If you like her, don't waste time. We live in a world were we don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. Kiss her every chance you get, just in case one day you won't be able to."
Carl looked over as he nodded slightly. "Do you regret any of it?"
"Any of what?" he frowned his eyebrows.
"Beth." he answered as Austin glanced over. "Do you regret getting so close to her?"
"Not at all." he shook his head. "At first, I did because it hurt so bad when she passed. But, she was such a big part of my life then. She changed it. The only thing I regret is never getting a chance to tell her that I loved her. I did, I do. But, I didn't think i'd lose her either."
Carl nodded as Austin gave him a sad smile. "That why I'm telling you to go after Enid if you want to. Rush things, make it happen. Get all the time in you can, because the unexpected happens sometimes and I don't want you to ever feel the way I do."
"I will." Carl nodded with a smile. "Bandaids?"
"Smart." Austin pointed as they looked at the shelf, grabbing a couple. He paused. Dora the Explorer bandaids. The ones Glenn gave him, the ones that he symbolized for him right outside of the church. Ones he always had on him at the infirmary. A smile went across his face, grabbing every box and putting one over one of his busted up knuckles. Carrying Glenn with him.
The Saviors being at Alexandria scared Austin when him and Carl finished hiding the supplies, also hiding the car in the woods as they jumped the fence instead. The two made it seem like they'd been there the whole time as they headed back to the house.
Tara looked back at Austin when he got closer. "Hey."
"Hey." he looked up at the white home his family had been staying in. "Is he in there?"
"Yeah. He's scaring the hell out of Olivia." she shook her head, touching his arm. "He knows about Judith."
Austin stared at her, his heart was in his stomach as he immediately hurried up the stairs and threw the door open so hard it hit the wall. Luke and Levi were sitting on the couch together, Lukes little arms trying to hold his older brother as he curled up with him. Carl went to them as Austin hurried toward the kitchen where he finally took a breath when he saw Judith safe in Olivia's arms.
"Hey." Austin whispered as he took his sleeping sister, holding her in his arms as he staring into Olivia's eyes. "You okay?"
She'd been crying, but she nodded her head.
"I got to see you twice in one day." Negan smiled as he looked back, Natalie sitting next to him as she stared at Austin. "How lucky am I?"
Austin stared af him before looking at Natalie. "Can you go put Judith in her room?"
Natalie nodded as she stood up, taking Judith from him and walking away with a thankful look in her eye. Austin sat with him at the kitchen table and frowned his eyebrows. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to make sure you and Carl got home okay." he smiled at the two of them. "Figured I should wait around until you two got back."
"Well, we're back now. So, you can go." he mocked him, gripping his fist together under the table.
"Nah, I wanna see your Daddu before I go." Negan stood up, Austin made sure to do it at the same time so he didn't have to chance to tower over him more then usual. "I made a friend while you were gone. Think I might go play a little pool until then. I made you some spaghetti, though. Better eat it before it gets cold."
He walked away, Austin waited until the door shut to hurry into the living room. He went to the boys on the couch, Carl had already wrapped his arm around Luke. Austin kneeled down and touched Levi's head as he looked at him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, sitting up and hugging him as Austin held his hand on the back of his head. "What happened?"
"He just showed up. Nat tried to keep him away from Judith, she feels really bad." Luke explained for him. "He asked where everyone was. Olivia was taking care of us but we tried to leave, he said no so we just stayed here."
"That's it?" Austin asked as he touched Luke's head to examine him, getting a nod. He pulled him in and kissed him on the forehead. "I'm gonna go check on Natalie, okay? I'll be right back. Hold your brother."
Luke went back to trying to hold Levi as Carl nodded when Austin held his shoulder, letting him know he'd stay with them. He headed up the stairs where Judith's small room had been, pushing the door open to see Natalie holding Judith and looking out the window. She glanced back at Austin as he shook his head just a little. "You don't have to feel bad."
"I tried to keep her safe." Natalie mumbled as she looked back outside.
"You did. She is safe, isn't she?" he walked closer to the pair. "It's not your fault."
Natalie nodded as she looked at him. Austin took Judith from her as he held his sister, looking down at the redhead girl. "Did he say anything to you?"
She hesitated. "No, he didn't."
Austin nodded as he pulled her into a hug, her arms tightly around him. Tighter then usual. "I'm sorry he keeps showing up here. I wanna keep you safe."
"I know." she shut her eyes and didn't let go. "I wanna keep you safe too. And the boys, Judith. Rick. Everyone."
She was so much like him without either of them realizing it. The two looked out the window more, watching Negan and Spencer outside playing pool. Austin watched, if he knew anything about Spencer, he knew he was about to get himself in some deep shit. Austin watched the way they both circled the table, the way they spoke closely together and the look Negan was giving him. The smirk, the way whatever he was saying was pissing him off but he made Spencer think he was on his side. He'd known Negans looks more then he wished he had, but he knew them from the times he genuinely thought he was gonna kill him or kill someone close to him.
Austin smacked his hand over Natalie's eyes when Negan stabbed Spencer in the gut and watched his guts fall onto the concrete as he dropped as well. He watched him, watching him taunt the citizens of Alexandria, all for a shot to fire when Rosita yanked a gun from her waist band.
Austin set Judith down as he took off down stairs, running to the front door as Rosita was thrown on the ground. "Rosita!"
"Woah!" Negan warned as he stopped him, leaning down infront of Rosita after the knife was to her face. "Lucille's smooth surface is never gonna look the same, so why should yours?"
Austin stood with Tara as they both shared a similar look when Rositas body twitched in pain when the knife was shoved closer to her skin. Negan panted from yelling so much as he held the bullet in his hand. "Unless you tell me who made this?"
"It was me." she spoke from the pain in her cheek. "I made it."
"You see?" Negan smiled. "Now I just think you're lying. And you lying to me now? Such a shame. Arat's gonna have to cut up that pretty face. One more try."
"It was me." Rosita said in response, blood starting to fall from the cut.
"Oh!" Negan yelled out again with a loud laugh. "You are such a badass!"
Tara stared in a frightening manor as Austin put his arm around her. Negan nodded. "Fine. Have it your way. Arat...kill somebody."
"Rosita!" Austin let Tara go.
"No! It was me!" Rosita yelled as Arat stood up, Austin leaned over and grabbed Rositas arms, dragging her across the ground to get her away from the scene as Arat look back and shot Olivia right in the face. Tara and Austin held onto Rosita as they all gaped in fear, Carl dropping down on the ground with Olivia's dead body.
"We had an agreement!" Rick spoke in anger as he shove through the crowd.
"Rick!" Negan announced. Rosita panted in shock in the arms of the pair that slowly were backing away. "Look, everybody, it's Rick. Ah, your people are making me lose my voice doin all this yelling. Rick...how about a "thank you"? I mean, look, I know we started this relationship with me beating the holy shit out of your friends-"
Austin's nose twitched when he said it, Negan saw in the corner of his eye when he said it. "-and because of that, we're never gonna sit around and braid each other's hair or share our deepest, darkest secrets, but how about a little credit? I just bent over backwards to show you how reasonable I am. Your kid- he hid in one of my trucks and and machine-gunned a bunch of my men down, and then you're other one came and punched me right in the damn face. But, I let them come home safe and sound. And I made them spaghetti!"
Rick looked back at Carl before looking to Austin, who avoided his eye and glanced at his feet.
"Another one of your people-" Negan pointed toward Spencer. "Well, he wanted me to kill you and put him in charge. I took him out...for you. And another one, there with your son, she shot Lucille, trying to kill me just now, So I gave you one less mouth to feed. And by looking at her- that mouth did some major damage. Now, personally, I wouldn't have picked her to be the one to go, but Arat- I don't know- didn't trust her."
Austin frowned his eyebrows as he watched his Dad seemingly try to hold himself back from hurting Negan, like he was fighting himself not to grab him by the head and smack it right on that damn pool table. "Your shits waiting for you at the gate. Just go."
"Sure thing, Rick." Negan hummed as he nodded. "Right after I find the guy or gal that made this bullet. Arat?"
Austin's eyes widened as she aimed the gun toward Aaron and Eric. Tara let Rosita go, as Austin held her up more. "It was me!"
Arat put her gun at her. Austin grabbed Tara's arm and pulled her back behind him as she held Rosita on her own now. Arat smiled at Austin and cocked her gun right in his face.
"No!" Rick yelled.
"No." Eugene cried from behind his hands. "It wasn't her. It was me. It was only me."
"You?" Negan walked closer.
"It required one spend casing one four-holes turret reloader, powder, one funnel for the powder-"
"Shut up." Negan cut him off. "I believe you."
Eugene shook in fear as Negan shut his eyes, walking away as he grasped Lucille in his hands. "Lucille, give me strength. I'm gonna be reliving you of your bullet maker, Rick- that and whatever you left for me at the front gate. And however much you scavenged, it's not good enough, because you're still in a serious, serious hole after today. Let's move out!"
The saviors grasped Eugene as Rosita cried. "No! No, please! Please, just take me! No!"
"Rick, I ain't gonna lie, your kitchen is a goddamn mess." Negan laughed as he looked to Austin next. "Remember what I told you. Daryl, whoever the hell this guy is. That's on you now, not me."
He walked away, leaving Rick to stare at his son with the tears in his eyes. "What'd he tell you?"
"Nothing." Austin mumbled as Rick grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in closer, leaning his forehead against his. "I'm sorry."
"You're okay." Rick whispered as he held him there. "Stay okay."
Austin nodded as he stayed there with his eyes shut. "We will be. But, Dad. Maggie is okay. The baby too."
Rick pulled back as he smiled sadly. "They are?"
Austin nodded as he matched his look. Rick rubbed the side of his face. "Guess we better make a trip tomorrow then."
"Yeah." Austin mumbled, leaning in and wrapping his arms tightly around his Dad as he held him back.
Austin made sure the kids were safe and asleep as he snuck out to the tower where the radio had been. He huffed as it wouldn't work, smacking it a few times. "Come on, you son of-"
He noticed the cut wire, leaning over the side. He twisted the two broken wires together as tight as he could, breaking off of small pole on the latter as he came back to the connected wires. Fishing his lighter out, he held it to the metal for so long he started to fall asleep, jolting himself awake as it finally melted some onto the wire, securing it long enough for Austin to smile and pull back. "Thank you, Robotics."
He messed with the radio again as it came through, a large smile spreading across his face as he sat down at the chair and twisted the handle, looking for a station. He stopped on one. "Hello?"
"Who's there?" it was a boys voice, not Cyndie.
"Sorry, man. I think I got the wrong channel." Austin said back to him. "You okay?"
"Yeah, i'm good." he sounded around his age, a couple years younger at most. Very soft spoken but had a deep tone. "You?"
"Yeah, i'm good too." he said back. "What are you doing on the channel?"
"I don't know. I come on here when i'm lonely." he told him back. "What are you doing on the channel?"
"Looking for my friend." Austin said back. "What's your name?"
"Archie." he answered, making Austin crack a grin. "What's your name?"
"Austin." he said back. "How old are you?"
"I think i'm almost nineteen." he said back. "You?"
"Pretty sure i'm right in the middle of twenty." he answered, leaning against the desk. "When I get off the call with my friend, maybe we can talk again?"
"Yeah, i'd like that." Archie smiled. "I hope you find your friend."
Austin twisted the channel again, looking for a few more minutes before he found one. "Hello?"
He waited a couple seconds. "Austin?"
"Cyndie." he smiled as he clutched the radio. "Sorry i'm so late, the radio was broken and I had to fix it."
"Told you robotics would come in handy." he could hear her smile, making him smile. "You get back okay?"
"Yeah." he leaned back in the chair. "Something happened."
"What?" her smile was gone. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." he agreed. "But, i'm gonna need your help."
"Sure." Cyndie clutched the radio. "What is it?"
"It's Negan." he told her. "He took someone I love. He's got one with him already. I don't want to loose anyone else. I wanna get them beck without getting myself killed and leaving my kids and my brother alone."
He listened to her silence before clutching the radio again. "You don't have to come with me. I just want you to know incase something happens, so it won't be a mystery. I think that would kill my Dad if he didn't know what happened. Can you just do that for me?"
She was quiet a few more seconds. "I'm coming with you. Where and when do we meet?"
Austin smiled. "How about now at the bridge?"
"See you soon." she hung up to hurry and get ready. Austin put the radio back how it was as he went down the latter, carful to step down the one handle that was missing. When he got back to the bar, he was taken off guard by the many lights on and the footsteps running from upstairs in the apartment.
"Boys? Natalie?" he yelled as he came up the stairs and opened the door to see Levi and Luke panicking. "What happened?"
"Natalie." Levi held the note up. "She's gone."
Austin yanked the note from his hands as he stared at it.
austin,
my dad offered me a deal. one i couldn't deny. if i go back he won't hurt you or your family. i'm tired of people dying because of me. please take care of my brothers. you were the best thing that happened to us after the world died. thank you. please don't be mad.
-natalie
Suddenly, the plan had more then just Daryl and Eugene to be rescued.
•
kylie speaks
i'm not trying to abandon
you guys with the lack of
updates but there's something
i'm trying to tie in to this book
so i'm trying to get it finished
before we get to the end of s7.
i'm trying not to spoil much with it and it's probably not a
huge deal but i want it to be on
the same time line as the other
thing!