VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴97

Leah slams the door shut behind her and Ellie sighs as she removes her mask.

"You care to explain what the hell that was?" Leah questions.

Ellie rolls her eyes and looks over at the older woman.

"We could've died," Leah reminds, swatting ash off of her clothes.

"You heard Pope. It was a test. You succeeded. Congrats."

Leah and Daryl had been left behind in a building. When Leah went to walk out, she got the awakening that the door was barred shut and they were trapped.

Then, gasoline or oil spilled from under the door, and the shed was set into flames. Daryl was barely able to get himself and Leah out. Once they escaped through a window, they stumbled upon all of the other Reapers watching on, not doing a thing to help.

"Was this your idea?" Leah suspects.

Ellie grins cheekily and gets into Leah's face. "It was His idea."

"Pope?"

Ellie laughs in her face and walks to the door.

"You should be grateful. We know your loyalty is with us now and your little boyfriend is a part of the family. Happy endings all around."

Leah goes to say something, but Ellie slams the door behind her. Leah curses and rips the door open again to chase after her.

When Ellie finally stops, she's outside of the holding place of the other man that was found. Brandon and another Reaper were inside questioning him. Daryl was stood beside Pope by the doors.

"Carver isn't getting anywhere," Pope informs Ellie. "You want a hit?"

Ellie looks up at Daryl.

She didn't recognize the new man. But, he had to be with the others. Daryl clearly had to know him.

Ellie doesn't say a word. She just walks into the room.

"Hey, El," Brandon greets.

Ellie squats between the man's knees from where he was tied to a chair. She looks the man over carefully. Brandon had already beaten him to a pulp. His eyes were swollen- one of them completely shut.

"Let Dixon have a turn," Ellie announces.

The man blinks at her, wheezing from his injuries.

"Dixon, you're up," Pope grants.

Daryl takes a step forward, only Ellie could see the hesitation.

"Scared?" Ellie asks Daryl, looking at him over her shoulder.

"I've done worse," he notes, a secret between the two of them from their past.

Ellie smiles. "Yeah? How can I one-up you, then?"

"One-up?" Daryl repeats.

"Should I cut his hand off?" Ellie asks, trailing her fingers over the man's limb.

Daryl didn't like the tone. 

Ellie and he had a long history.. Was this a knock on Merle? Maybe Aaron? Maybe Negan threatening to cut Carl's arm off?

"How about I leave him tied to the chair and throw a dead one at him?"

That was definitely a reference to Merle and Glenn. Daryl's stomach drops.

Ellie slowly stands up. "Should I take his eye out?"

Carl.

She gets a bit closer to Daryl. "How about I lock his ass in a broom closet and feed him dog shit?"