VILLAINESS [TWD]

𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖇𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖙 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖘

i didn't know what to do when patricia of all people shouted at me. i'd never heard her raise her voice like she did and i couldn't help but start to cry. what had i done? i was just coloring at the kitchen table.

matt whispered something to beth and she and jimmy came to me, bringing me upstairs with them.

"did i do something wrong?" i worry.

"no. no, ellie," beth laughs. "there um.."

"someone is here because they need help and hershel thinks they might be sick. they don't want us to get exposed and get sick, too," jimmy answers.

"someone sick? what if they get sick?"

"well, he looked like he was your age. they probably don't want you to worry," beth continues.

i hum, picking up my guitar that daddy had bought me for christmas.

"jimmy!" patricia calls. "we need your help!"

beth gives him a look and he nods, running out the room and downstairs.

"when will the flu be over?" i ask, setting my guitar on my lap.

"i don't know-"

"how come i didn't get my flu shot this year? if it's bad, shouldn't i have gotten it?"

"shane!" a voice shouts downstairs, someone i hadn't heard before and a name i didn't recognize.

"you got any new songs?" beth asks.

i'd forgotten what i asked her before the strange sounding man yelled.

"no. otis was gonna help me but he went hunting before i woke up."

"he'll be back soon, you can ask him then. til then, how about we come up with something to surprise everyone at dinner?"

"yeah!" i cheer.

"okay," beth giggles, reaching to her bed and grabbing a journal.

"you remember when we went to florida?" i ask.

"i do. i'm shocked you remember it. you were so little."

"i have dreams about the sunset there. it looked like it just.. went down in the water. like the sun was a big flame that the water put out."

beth smiles. "that's pretty, ellie."

i rest my chin on the guitar, strumming absentmindedly.

"then, i think about that story that my teacher told. the one about the city underwater."

"atlantis?"

"mhm. maybe the sun went down there to give those people the light. it must be hard to see underwater."

"mermaids live down there," beth agrees. "they probably need the sun to see their pretty tails and fish friends."

i laugh, the image almost magical. "you look like a mermaid, sissy."

"and so do.." she reaches over, tapping my nose with the pencil. "you!"

we set out on writing a song.

downstairs was different. downstairs, there was a boy named 'carl' fighting for his life.