ELEANOR . NEGAN

001.

[ CHAPTER ONE ]
the beginning

Were they going to survive?

When the heavy drawls of wheels against grainy roads infiltrated her hearing, Eleanor was quick to push her handgun between the waistline of her jeans and to grab the perfectly weighted DMR that she stole back in Atlanta. The upcoming ride was only meant to be a trip to Hilltop, a check-up with Dr. Carson for Maggie's baby, but her dreams the night before were anything but kind.

You could say Eleanor was superstitious but no one wanted their fiction of a mind to twist into reality that is why she decided to treat herself with the heavy artillery she dearly loved. She could hear the RV slowing outside her house, a tired grind against the rocks with a small squeal as it came to a full stop.

Eleanor hurried out her bedroom, ready to meet Rick but her eyes instead stayed stuck on a closed wooden door decorated with colourful paint. Eleanor's green eyes traced the bright blue name: Maya before eyeing the love heart next to it.

Each time she left Alexandria was a strain to her heart, just the thought of leaving the ten-year-old in a world of monstrosity was enough as it is. How could she do this... Elle would never know. At least it brought serenity to her being knowing she was safe either way.

The woman made her way to the front of the RV, meeting with Rick, Gabriel and the occasional sighting of Spencer. Her eyes were neutral, prepared yet relaxed with her DMR slung across her shoulder.

"We have twenty-four hour shifts set up on each of the watchtowers, each one of them fully supplied and ready." Gabriel started yet it sounded like he was speaking from a revised script. "In the case that we're incurred upon, we have drivers assigned, evacuation and distraction, and the rendezvous we discussed."

Rick had his eyebrows knitted together, not quite in confusion but just to prove he was listening. "In the vent of any emergency, my first priority is Judith. I will not fail you. Are you comfortable leaving me in charge of Alexandria's defence?"

She blinked. It was a lot of context in such a short space. Rick just passed an appreciative nod, "Yes."

Relief filled Gabriel and he tried his uttermost hardest to control the small smile that formed just because he made Rick proud in a way. His loyalty to the man who could've easily left him to rot was strong.

Elle soon entered the RV, using the bar to swing into the entrance before she staggered back. There were so many people here. Behind her, Spencer and Rick was talking – evident about this saviours group – people in front of her blinking.

With a timid gulp, she laid her DMR between her knees and sat down, hoping the trip would fly by.

-

Carl was sat across from Eleanor, his expression pin-straight and almost void of emotion. His hands were curled around the handle of his gun and you could just about see the bottom of his chin, hidden away from the Sheriff's hat that he fit in nicely over the years.

Eleanor looked at him with pure concern. He was just a kid plagued with such cruelty. She wanted to call out to him, cheer him up through maybe a game of shitty 'I Spy' but he looked like his mind was on one thing and one thing only.

She gave his shoulder a slight squeeze. "Alright, mate?"

Carl gave her a fake smile. "I'm fine."

Eleanor knew Carl. Maybe not as much now after they become settled behind the walls but she knew him. The young boy on the Greene farm. A small boy, ready to grow up too soon, quizzing Eleanor on anything Marvel related. That was the young boy she knew.