VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴107

Carol opens the door and laughs in delight. I just tug my blanket closer to me and frown at the coffee table.

"Ellie, we have guests," she announces.

My eyes cut to the door and my blood runs cold.

"You're awake," Rosita says with a soft smile. "I was beginning to wonder."

I think about the last moments I had with Rosita. Fighting over Negan. Me nearly killing Gabriel.

And just my luck, Gabriel walks in right behind her.

"God sure likes his jokes," I huff.

"He has His way," Gabriel adds.

I wait for Carol to close the door, but another person walks in that I didn't recognize.

"I brought you some stuff," Rosita explains.

She takes the bag off from around her shoulder. My brain was so used to weapons and supplies that I was confused as to what she could possibly have on her right now.

"When you came in, they had to change you out of your old clothes. I was able to save these from the dumpster," she says and holds out a piece of fabric.

I sigh and take Sasha's gloves from Rosita. "Thanks."

"Your mom kept your weapons. She said she'll hold onto them until you're able to get going again."

I nod my head at Carol. "I was filled in a bit."

"You know why I'm here, right?"

"Either to finish what we started or tell me what I missed," I suspect.

"Josh thinks he was a bit messy with how he went about explaining things, so he wanted someone else to do it. Anna is stuck at Hilltop because of a storm, but she said she'll call when she gets service again."

My silence felt like a burden all on its own. I pick at my dull nails and point my chin to the other woman in the room. "Who's this?"

"I'm Magna," the woman speaks up.

I quirk an eyebrow up. "And you're here, because..?"

"Hilltop is my home. And.. I think I should be here to help explain what happened to it."

"Well, no matter what you guys throw at me, I'm sure I don't have any more room for pain. But.. fire, I guess."

"So, you remember the bridge-"

"I was going to blow the bridge up myself. I got scared because I was high off my ass. I left the dynamite there," I expose before Rosita could continue.

Rosita looks up to Gabriel and he nods. I guess Anna or Daryl had already filled him in on that.

"Yeah, we know," Rosita reveals. "But, the real shit starts there."

I take a deep breath.

"Michonne totally shut down after that happened. Everyone stopped talking to each other, really. Hilltop and Kingdom still had an alliance, but.. it was strained."

I scoff. "Thought she was trying to honor Carl's legacy. So much for that."

Rosita takes a seat beside me on the couch, though she faces me. I could feel Carol, Gabriel, and Magna's eyes on us and I hated the attention.

"This new group came in. We called them the Whisperers. And.."

I look over to meet Rosita's eyes.

"They were tailing Eugene and I. Jesus and Aaron found me and they went back out.. But, they came back without Jesus."