chapter 64

Chapter 64 : The War Room

The Sanctuary wasn't loud. It was boiling.

The War Room, packed with Negan's top lieutenants and soldiers, vibrated with tension. Maps were spread across the table, markers, cigarettes, and cups of strong black coffee scattered like war relics.

Axel sat slouched in a chair, legs stretched, arms folded, his eyes half-lidded with boredom. Like a lion sitting among barking dogs.

Negan stood at the head of the table, Lucille leaning beside him. He was chewing, calm as hell.

But the others? Not so much.

"What the hell was that?" one of the lieutenants barked.

"You killed one of theirs right at their gate! What if Rick decides to attack us now?"

Another chimed in, voice cracking under the weight of fear.

"You said no women and children, Axel. But war brings chaos—what happens if Alexandria retaliates? What then? You think kids won't die?"

The room got louder, angrier.

Until Axel finally moved—just his eyes, slowly turning toward the man who had spoken.

And in that cold, lazy stare... silence fell.

He didn't say a word.

Didn't have to.

It was the look of someone who saw them all as nothing but ants arguing over dust.

Negan sighed and finally stepped in, placing his hands on the table with a heavy slap.

"Jesus, you guys are exhausting."

He looked around the room, his signature smirk dancing across his lips.

"Rick ain't comin'. Not now. He's not ready. He's sittin' in there with his tail between his legs, tryin' to convince his people they still got teeth."

He turned to the man who asked about children.

"And yeah, Axel here has rules. You wanna question them? Fine. But let me make one thing very clear to your squirrel-sized brains—Axel doesn't hurt kids. Period. And if you ever do, he'll skin your sorry ass and use it as a curtain."

Negan grinned wider, voice dropping into that dangerous growl they all knew too well.

"And guess what, fellas? I agree with him."

He gestured toward Axel casually.

"Kid's nuts—but he's got a code. And I like that. Makes him a whole lot more useful than any of you flappin' your gums right now."

The room went quiet again. No one dared challenge Negan. Not when he looked like that.

Axel finally stood, cracked his neck, and spoke in that soft, dismissive tone.

"You're scared of Rick?"

He chuckled dryly.

"Then maybe you're in the wrong place."

He walked out, slow and calm.

Negan picked up Lucille, looked at the door, then smirked.

"That kid's gonna be the end of all of us... and damn if I'm not enjoyin' the ride."

---

Night had fallen over Alexandria, but the moon offered little peace.

Inside a dimly lit garage—long abandoned since before the world fell—Rick Grimes stood waiting. His arms were crossed, eyes narrowed. He didn't trust easy anymore, not after everything, and especially not after Axel.

Footsteps echoed behind him.

"You're late," Rick muttered, not turning.

A voice, smooth and deep, answered from the shadows.

"You're lucky I showed up at all, Grimes."

From the dark emerged a tall man, dressed in worn tactical gear, patches from old military units sewn into his vest like a second skin. A jagged scar ran down the side of his face—fresh. His eyes were sharp, calculating.

"Name's Silas," he said, stepping into the light.

"You said you needed help dealing with someone... unstable."

Rick turned to face him, jaw clenched.

"Axel."

Silas smiled faintly.

"I've heard stories. A lot of bodies in that kid's shadow. He's not just dangerous—he's surgical. Precise. But he's not invincible."

Rick didn't flinch.

"I don't need him dead. Not yet. I need him off balance. I need time to figure out a way to stop him without losing everything."

Silas nodded, pulling out a crumpled map and spreading it across the table.

"I've been watching the Sanctuary. I know their patrol patterns, guard rotations, supply lines. I also know something you don't..."

He tapped his finger against the map near an old outpost, circled in red.

"This place here? Axel's been using it. Quietly. No one from Negan's crew knows. It's his alone."

Rick raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know that?"

Silas leaned in, voice lowering.

"Because I used to work with him... before he turned into what he is now."

Rick tensed.

"You were one of his men?"

"No," Silas said flatly.

"I was one of his victims. He let me live… and I've been waiting for a reason to get close again."

The garage was silent for a long moment.

Then Rick finally spoke.

"You help me stop him... and you'll have your chance."

Silas grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh, I don't want a chance, Grimes. I want revenge."

Outside, the wind howled, and the war that hadn't begun yet was already burning beneath the surface.

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