VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴67

Daryl holds my arm, helping me through the waste and carnage in the sewer's opening.

"Anna said that she and my mom came down here to find me and Glenn when the herd came through last month," I recall. 

"Hey," he calls. "I'm sure Hilltop is just fine. They've been trained by some of the best."

I nod, forcing myself to hope for the best.

We finally make it through the tunnel and to the others.

"Carl?" Rosita asks.

"Not yet," Tobin denies.

"Rick? Michonne?" Tara wonders.

I look over to Dwight. He'd taken out a few of the Saviors out there. But, one girl had seen him do it and shot him. She got away.

"Michonne was with you guys, no?" Tobin responds.

"She bolted when we got to the entrance," Rosita tells him.

I walk further into the tunnel. There were a few lanterns lit. To the corner, I see a person I hadn't seen before.

"Siddiq?" I question.

"I.. Yes.. I'm.." he stutters. "I'm.. Hi."

"What's this? You know him?" Daryl asks.

"Carl filled me in. It's all good," I assure.

"Un-ca!" Judith babbles.

She wriggles in her babysitter's hold, reaching out to Daryl. He sighs and bends down to pick her up.

"Check on everyone," I whisper to Rosita and Tara. "Keep an eye out for the Grimes, I guess."

We go our separate ways to check on those that were down here. The ones that had stayed back during the original fight were elders, children, and injured. I couldn't imagine how they felt.

Then, I realized that I could.

Because during the Woodbury fight- the one that we just chased them away.. Me, grandpa, Beth, Judith, and Carl stayed hidden in the woods. Carl shot that boy that ran up on us.

Things felt so messy back then. Now.. I longed for the simplicity of that world.

"Hey," Siddiq calls. "You're.. Enid?"

"No," I deny.

"Ellie, then?"

"That's the one," I nod.

The explosions from above continue and the sewer walls rattle.

"I uh.. There's something you should know. About Carl, I mean.." Siddiq twiddles his thumbs nervously.

Great. Just what I wanted. More Carl talks.

"Look-"

The grate down the tunnel opens and I hurriedly point my gun to it. I ease down the tunnel carefully. 

Carl all but falls into the hole.

I holster my gun and run down the tunnel to him, helping him push the grate back to normal. We duck just as two Saviors run overhead.

I keep my hand on my gun until they pass.

"Clear," I tell Carl.

He groans, breath crackling.

"Carl?" I ask.

Carl groans again and falls to his knees.

"Carl," I call, kneeling beside him, keeping him from falling face first in literal shit.