VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴83

I had finished tying up the man's body to make it look like he hung himself when it started raining.

I sat under the tree and watched as he turned, body swaying around from the rope as he growled.

By the time it was dark, I realized I'd been out here all day.

"Ellie?"

Shit.

"Michonne.. hey."

"What are you doing out here?" she asks, lowering her sword.

I come up with a lie no the spot.

"I was looking for that missing fuel. I thought maybe I could track someone but.." I look up to the walker hanging. "I found him instead."

She looks up at the hanging man and frowns.

I fake a sad look and look at the wet road.

"Are you.. thinking about Gregory?"

I fight the urge to scoff. "Yeah.. just.. yeah."

Michonne eases forward, ignoring the rain. She leans on the tree across from me.

"It was a rough sight," she notes. "I was surprised by your mom."

"I was, too. But.. I understand why she did it."

"How so?"

"Gregory nearly got so many people killed. Lfft Gabriel for dead, tried to sell out Hilltop, then Earl?"

"So.. the correct punishment was to kill him?"

"For him.. yeah."

Slowly, Michonne slides down the tree, crouching at my level. We were still a few feet away, though.

"Ellie..there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time."

"What's that?" I wonder.

"What you told Carl.. that day.." she sighs. "What did you mean?"

"Which part?"

"That he wouldn't let you.. you know.."

Great.

Just the person I wanted to see.

Just the topic I wanted to discuss.

I pull my collar and take my necklace out. The scissors.

"You didn't find us until the prison.. Before that, we were at my family's farm," I reveal, only looking at the scissors.

"Yeah?" Michonne whispers, gentle.

"That's where everyone found us. Carl.. he got shot by accident by a family friend. Otis was just out hunting and Carl was trying to pet the deer of all things," I recall. "Otis told Rick where to find us. My grandpa saved his life."

Michonne crouches to the ground.

"We didn't know each other then. I didn't even really understand what was happening to the world. My parents and all.. they tried to keep it on the low, hoping it would blow over eventually."

I turn the scissors around.

"Grandpa didn't have to help Carl. None of 'em had to. They could've just locked the door.. like Gabriel did to his congregation."

I rub my lips together in a line. Then, I look at Michonne.

"Sometimes.. Sometimes, I wish they would've just locked the door," I admit.

"Ellie.." Michonne breathes, just barely above a whisper.

I scoff gently and smile the smallest bit.

"It's true," I shrug, turning my attention back to the scissors.