VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴94

Leah is barely able to dodge the knife thrown at her. It sticks into the wall and she looks from the handle to Ellie.

"Sorry," Ellie sighs.

"Stressed?" Leah asks.

Ellie rests her hands on her waist and paces back and forth- a motion she was doing before Leah came in the room.

"Anna's missing," Ellie admits.

Leah grins a little. "That's the first thing?"

"Should there be something else?"

"Brandon said you went after him. The one that killed your stepfather."

Ellie stretches her fingers, causing Sasha's tattered gloves to strain.

"I almost had him. I saw someone else I knew out there.. I thought he was a friend. But.."

"He's back with that man," Leah figures.

"I haven't talked to Anna in days. I can't even remember the last thing I said to her.. Now.." Ellie takes a deep breath.

"You spent years separated. I'm sure you'll both be fine."

Ellie hated that thought.

Despite the struggles that they were going through.. Anna was still the love of Ellie's life. The only reason the separation started years ago was because Ellie was trying to protect Anna. But, now, Ellie was certain that Anna could defend herself and stay strong. She didn't need a babysitter.. She was a grown woman who could save herself.

But, if someone took her.. what would they do to her?

It makes Ellie think about Sasha even more.

If Negan was around.. what if he was in charge? What if his way was still intact? Would Anna suffer the same fate Sasha did all those years ago?

"Can I tell you something that would make it better?" Leah questions.

"I'm taking a team out later to search for Anna," Ellie informs. "You've got ten minutes."

Leah nods her head to the door. Ellie drops her hands to her sides and follows the older woman outside- making sure to grab her knife on the way out.

"I was out there with some of the others on watch- we thought we picked up on a trail."

"Did you?" Ellie wonders.

"Kind of. Only led to one person, though."

"String 'em up?"

"Better."

Ellie gives Leah a confused look and Leah leads her into another building. Ellie hops over a broken piece of the floor.

"Found this one. Maybe he's got some answers that we both seek," Leah explains.

Ellie looks at the man in the chair. His hands were tied behind his back- a bag was over his head.

"Answers?" Ellie repeats.

"Everyone will spill their guts eventually."

Ellie slides her knife into the sheath on her side. She rolls her neck and stands above the battered man. With a quick motion, she rips the bag off his head.

She was ready to threaten him.

She was ready to demand Negan or Rick's location.

She was ready to stab him- maybe cut off a finger for the sake of making him scream.

But.. she freezes when their eyes meet.

"I met him once before.. When you were still healing up," Leah informs Ellie. "That doesn't make him a friend. That just means he's got a history."