VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴39

"Ellie?"

Ellie's gun and knife fall from her hands, clattering on the ground. She runs to the edge of the dumpster, kicking and pushing the bodies away from the hand.

"Glenn?" she gasps, grabbing the hand.

She tugs as the other person pulls themself out. Ellie falls to her butt as Glenn is visible.

He's halfway out from under the dumpster and Ellie starts crying again. Before Glenn could get his legs free, Ellie jumps into his arms, nearly in his lap.

He was covered in blood and guts. He smelled beyond horrible. All Ellie could do was hug him.

"What are you doing out here?" he asks, voice dry and weak.

"Are you bit? What happened? How'd you get under there? Where was the fire? Why-"

"Ellie!" he snaps her back to normal. "I'm fine. Why are you here? Is your mom okay? What happened at home?"

"Home?" Ellie asks, pulling back to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Glenn goes to say something but coughs. Ellie hurriedly takes her backpack off, getting a bottle of water. Glenn takes it feverishly and gulps over half of it down within a few drinks.

"I came out here with Josh and Anna to look for you.. Mom doesn't know."

"That horn," Glenn gasps out, water dripping off his chin. "What was that?"

"Rick said something about that.. I don't know," Ellie admits. "I've been out here since yesterday morning."

Glenn sighs. But, goddamn he was happy to see Ellie. He was happy to be alive. He sets the water down, wrapping Ellie in another hug.

"What happened to Nicholas?" Ellie asks, wrapping her arms around Glen's neck.

Glenn tenses before sighing. "He couldn't handle it. We were surrounded. He shot himself."

Ellie grimaces.

"We should head back. People at home need us," Glenn ushers. He didn't want to keep thinking about the events thag just happened. The foght wasn't over.

They help each other stand. As Glenn picks up his gun, Ellie digs through her backpack for a bag of chips. She offers it to Glenn with a gentle smile. Glenn smiles back as he tales the food. With a nod of his head, they begin the journey back home.

--

Anna climbs the ladder to the watch post. Once up, she nervously glances to Maggie before looking across the field of walkers and beyond.

"This is the way they'd come. Glenn said he'd send a signal.. This is the direction it'd be in," Maggie speaks first.

Anna twiddles her fingers. "I'm sorry."

Maggie sighs.

"My dad.. He was on the run crew. On his first actual run here, he got killed. So, me and Ellie.. We think Aiden and Nicbolas had something to do with it. Both my dad and Noah."

Anna sneaks another look to Maggie. The older woman's face was unreadable.

"We thought.. Maybe if Glenn was ojt there with Nicholas that he'd do it again. We though Nicbolas would get Glenn killed. So, Ellie asked for help. That's when she told us that he was too important to lose. I.. I didn't want her to go through anymore pain, so.."

"Nicholas, Glenn, and Noah were trapped in a revolving door. Glenn and Noah were in one, Nicbolas in the other. Glenn was gonna break tbe glass, but Nicholas panicked. He started shoving the door and.. the walkers.."

Anna swallows and looks down at the walkers below.

"He did get Noah killed. Glenn told me I could tell everyone."

"Why didn't you?" Anna auestions on instinct. "He killed someone. Maybe more."

"Because I believed that people could change."

"'Believed'?" Anna repeats.

"I'm not so sure anymore. But.. Maybe if I see Nicholas walk through the gates with Glenn and Ellie both safe.. Maybe that'll chanfe again."

Anna knew deep down that was impossible. Something just told her that would never happen.

Maggie looks over to Anna. "I'm not sure if he had a hand in your father's death as well. But, I'm sorry. If he did or if he didn't.. Either way, I'm sorry."

Anna sighs this time.

Together, they look to the ground and sky, hoping for a signal.

--

"Why'd you come out here? You still haven't told me."

Ellie kicks a rock. "I thought.. maybe.. if something was wrong.. maybe.. I could.. help?"

Glenn smiles at her hesitation.

"I didn't come alone. Josh and Anna came with me. We ran into Tobin and Josh distracted hin so Anna and I could get away. Then, we saw Rick. I heard you on the radio. Anna distracted him so I could get away."

"How nice of them to sacrifice for you," Glenn sarcastically jokes.

"Their dad was on the run crew. On his first run, he died. Like Noah. Did.." Ellie sighs, forcing her words to work. "Did Aiden or Nicholas ever mention..?"

"There was a walker," Glenn remembers. "We were on our way to set the fire. There was a walker. I was gonna put it down, but he said he needed to do it. Nicholas.. He said that it was some kids' dad back home."

"Did he say how?" Ellie asks nervously.

"They left him behind. Got stuck in a herd and just.." Glenn winces. "Left him behind so they could get out."

"Do you think it was him? Did you get a look at his face?"

Glenn steps closer, wrapping an arm around Ellie's shoulders. "It was him."

Ellie never knew the man and yet her heart broke.

"Can we.." Ellie sighs.

"What?"

"After all this.. Can we go back for him?"

"Ellie.."

"My dad's body is still out there.. I stayed all night on that toof because I thougbt your body was out there," Ellie admits.

Glenn stops walking, pulling Ellie into a hug.

"It isn't right," Ellie buries her face in his chest. "Leaving them out there. It's not.."

Glenn makes the hug tighter. He holds the teen as close as he can as he figbts tears. "We'll go back. I promise."

Ellie felt a weight off her shoulders. She relaxes in Glenn's arms, letting the silence be for a few seconds.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

i love them so much am cry