ELEANOR . NEGAN

003.

[ CHAPTER THREE ]
maya larson

Eleanor walked through the gates of Alexandria with a blank face and a curled fist. She wasn't finished with Eugene, no she fucking wasn't, but the slice across his eyebrows along with the bust-lip and bruised skin was enough for now.

Rosita and Aaron had an arm wrapped tightly under his shoulders as his head swayed with every step. Rick had an arm around Michonne and Carl, tugging them close when they thought back to the line-up, but Eleanor stayed alone.

Glenn, Maggie and Sasha decided to stay at Hilltop in regards to Little Rhee. Brilliant idea.

At the sound of the RV pulling up moments before, it created a crowd of Alexandrians who watched in despair and shock. Some of them were waiting for Rick to share the news, the others just waiting to see the aftermath.

They would cast their eyes along dirt-stained figures, gasping at the blood-tainted clothes and would fight with their inner self to help or stay back. Most opted for the latter.

"Ellie!"

The miniscule voice leaving the equally tiny girl shook Eleanor out of her nightmare of a reverie, just in time to catch the sprinting girl into her arms. For the first time, her mind didn't punish her for Abraham. Or Daryl. She just held onto this sweet girl with content. Or, as content as one could be in a situation like this.

"Hey... what's wrong?" Maya asked quietly, pulling back with a sniffle to see tear stains mix with dried blood upon Eleanor's face. "You look messy."

Elle snickered, "Yeah?"

"Mhm." She pouted and looked past her shoulder, eyeing the people she's grown to know. Eugene was sobbing, Rosita joined in – Rick had some relief on his face but it didn't mean much, he was already preparing for what was going to unfold in the future. Maya nervously swallowed and looked back at Eleanor. "Where's Daryl? He- he should be with you, right? And Abe... where–"

"Hey, hey, hey," Elle gently cupped the back of the young girl's head, eyes adorned into hers. "Hey, it's okay–"

"Is that their blood? Are they–"

"No, no," Yes, yes. Elle pulled her closer. "Abe– Abraham didn't make it. I'm so sorry."

"Abraham is dead?" Elle looked away at her croaky voice. The soft sound of heartbroken words and shaky breaths was enough to pull Eleanor to the grassy ground as Maya sobbed into her shoulder. It was a shame. A fucking horrible shame. "And Daryl?"

"No, he's just..." She sighed. "We'll be okay. I'll get him back, alright?"

Maya choked out a sob and held onto Eleanor harder. "Abe is dead." Eleanor didn't know what to do.

Her curly hair was plaited today, mixed with pink ribbon with specks of paint gracing her skin – personification of a child, she was a child. And yet past the deadly world and the teasing brain, she was maturing at a rate that even Eleanor couldn't slow. No matter how hard she tried, she could never give Maya that childhood she deserved.

"I'm so sorry."

I really am.

-

Days went by. As they do. It was slow, dragged, sessions of restless nights and melancholy homes of quiet people and sad frowns. No person muttered anything happy, no one laughed or smiled. People were angry – tired, spent out because they knew the week was soon about to end. There was no time to mourn. There was no time to grieve. Everyone had to get up and pull their shit together for the Saviours.