VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴37

This was a bad idea. It was a horrible idea and Anna knew it.

She bites her fingernails as Aaron peels the lid of the sewer off.

"Thanks," Maggie tells him. "I can take it from here."

Anna's eyes widen and she looks at Maggie in bewilderment. That was an even worse idea. She couldn't go alone.

"I'm going with you," Anna blurts.

"Thank you," Maggie smiles. "But, I can't have that. It's my husband and daughter out there. I won't drag anyone else into the danger."

"She's my friend," Anna argues. She swallows nervously. "I mean.. Ellie is important to me, too."

Maggie begins to argue. Before she could say anything, Anna hurriedlg climbs down the ladder of the sewer.

Anna drops down, feet splashing in the wretched water below.

"Anna!" Maggie hisses.

Maggie is down next, then Aaron.

"You're gonna have to drag me up the ladder to make me go back," Anna shakily tries to stand her ground.

"If Glenn's alive-"

"If?" Aaron questions, handing Anna a flashlight.

"He told Michonne he'd find a way to signal us that he's okay. And Ellie.."

Anna breathes out in relief as Maggie walks forward. She accepted that they were going together.

"Ellie's only been on her own twice since all this went down. She survived the first time by pure luck. Bodies piled over her and she got knocked out. The walkers around didn't even see her."

Anna really wishes Ellie would've told her that.

"The second time, she ran off. She locked herself in a truck and I found her before the sun ever went down."

"That's it?" Aaron asks, also in disbelief.

"After we lost family menbers, I refused to ever let her be alone. I saw someone in our group lose a child and.. I couldn't imagine it. I told myself then and there that no matter what, Ellie would never have to spend nights alone not knowing if we were alive. That she would always be in the safest hands- even if that wasn't me."

"Ellie's dad.." Anna begins. She was nervous to say anything else. But, she was curious. And to get Ellie to talk about her dad openly was like talking to a rock. "How did he.."

Maggie winces.

"Our camp got overrun. But, it was more ghan just a camp.. It was our family farm. Ellie lived there her whole life.. I lived there my whole life. The house was another family memebr."

For a split second, Maggie could picture the farm. She could see the sight of pulling in the driveway. Ellie and Beth were sitting on the deck with guitars, writing songs. Annette was gardening. Hershel, Matt, and Otis were feeding the cows. It was clear as day like it was just yesterday.

"The herd that came through was bigger than the one outside the gates now.." Maggie recalls. "Glenn and I were in a car. We were trying to clear them, but.. There was too many."

The happy picture turns morbid. All Maggie could see was Matt outside the window, his blood coatinf the glass as Ellie screamed.

"Matthew had Ellie. They were running to the car and a wlaker grabbed Ellie. Matthew.. He intercepted. Took the bite for her."

Anna is the one to flinnch this time. Aaron hisses through his teeth softly, hurting from the concept alone.

"They just.. kept getting on him. He fought through it and got Ellie to the car.. We left him. We didn't have a choice."