VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴66

"So, how long is Ellie grounded for changing her plans?" Jesus asks.

Maggie huffs a laugh.

"I don't know about grounded, but.. what's that saying about 'sleeping in the dog house'?" Anna mumbles in the backseat.

"We don't have a dog," Jesus reminds.

"Then, she's sleeping in the cow pen."

"She's done that so much growing up that it wouldn't bother her," Maggie informs. "But, she's not grounded."

"She's not?" "Why?" Jesus and Anna speak at the same time.

"Because, I would've done the same thing. She's grown now. She can make her own decisions. She knows I would've argued if she told me to my face so she didn't stress me out and just.. did it."

Anna purses her lips and sinks in her seat. If Ellie's own mother wasn't mad, maybe she shouldn't be, either.

"Slow down," Maggie tells Jesus.

"What is it?" Neil asks, raising in-between Maggie and Jesus' seats.

"Tree in the road wasn't there before," Maggie says. 

Anna's eyes widen and she pushes herself to lean beside Neil. 

"It could've fallen on it's own," Jesus attempts. "Trees do that."

"It's them. Something happened," Maggie denies, bringing her radio to her lips. "Bertie, turn around."

Silence. 

"Bertie?" Maggie tries again.

Anna sees headlights reflect in the window. She turns to see a line of trucks coming down the road after them.

"Maggie," Anna calls.

A big box truck parks in front of them. 

"Oh shit," Neil curses at the sight of even more cars.

The truck ahead extends a ramp. There was a body laying still in the back of the truck. A Savior reaches in and tosses the body down the ramp.

"No!" Anna gasps as she lurches forward.

"Shh!" Maggie reaches a hand back to keep Anna at bay.

The Savior forces Josh to his knees. He was a beaten, bloody mess.

"Oppa," Anna whimpers, clutching Maggie's hand.

"Hello, hello, hello!" Simon greets.

Anna could hardly hear anything as she and her brother lock eyes.

"Anna," Maggie whispers, squeezing her hand. "Gun."

Anna snaps out of the contact and looks at Maggie. There was a Savior by the window- taking all their guns.

Slowly, Anna slides her gun from her holster and hands it to Maggie. Then, Maggie hands it to the Savior.

Simon runs down their whole plan. 

The Saviors had gotten out of the confined Sanctuary.

Alexandria and Kingdom were probably being slaughtered. But, Hilltop was 'chose' to keep alive. As long as they keep making things. Providing things.

Simon said that if they didn't take the deal, they'd shoot Josh and put Maggie in a coffin. He made sure to mention Sasha suffocating in the other one. Then, they'd go back to Hilltop and kill Maggie in front of everyone there.

Option two was to go back home and start working. But, there would still be someone killed as punishment.

Maggie stays silent through the whole ordeal.

Simon looks at the Savior that had his gun to Josh.

"Nah, Gary," he calls him off. "I got this."

He fires into the car, shooting Neil in the head. Anna screams, hands coming up over her head as the body slumps against her.

"I just really needed you to know what I was talking about. I needed you to smell it," Simon growls in Maggie's ear- poking his head in the window.

"Now, tell me I don't gotta kill this promising young man. Tell me I don't gotta go down the line. Tell me, Maggie!"

Maggie and Anna were both crying. Jesus tried to keep himself void of emotions, but even he was beginning to panic.

"Gary!" Simon orders.

"No!" Maggie shouts before the man shoots Josh.

Anna gags through her sobs, hair sticking to her face.

"You don't need to do any of it," Maggie says, keeping her voice strong. "I just want to ask you a favor."

"What is that?" Simon urges.

"I'd like that box. Take Neil home, to bury him."

"Favor granted."