ELEANOR . NEGAN

083.

"They're good fighters, Daryl-"

"There's five of us-"

Elle gawked and pointed at Elijah, and then Maggie, and then herself. Negan wasn't joking, she was real close to look like Muhammad Ali's next victim. "Come on, Dixon." Elle pleaded. "We can't fight."

"So we don't, alri'?" He grabbed Cavrer harshly. The mad was covered in rope with a piece of fabric stuck in his mouth. He wasn't happy, if anything he look defeated. "Leah agreed to talk to us."

Elle rubbed her temples and looked around. They were under a little fly-over next to a building, their only protection being the roof. "What about her sniper-guy?"

"Leah wants to talk." Daryl affirmed once more. "So, we gonna do that, alri'?"

Elle huffed and brought her knife closer. "Okay."

Her green eyes dragged over her people once more. Elijah was in no health to fight and Maggie wasn't either, those harsh blows to her back and ribs kept her breathing laboured and harsh. Every time she spoke, she winced; that wasn't good. Negan was fine, actually more than fine funnily enough, he didn't look scared or worried until he looked over at Elle and quickly looked back at Carver with homicidal fury.

She knew she got hit bad, but surely she wasn't that terrible.

Jokes on her, really.

Daryl grabbed onto Carver harshly and pushed him into the centre of Meridian; a knife to his throat. "Put yur weapons on the ground." Daryl ordered, eyeing the three soldiers on the other side. Leah was one of them.

"What are you offering?" Leah snapped back, eyes rolling over to Eleanor who was just itching to push forward.

Daryl pressed the knife harder to Carver's throat, Eleanor taking a step closer from Negan's side. "Lose the weapons, we let ya leave."

"Is that all?"

"Ya head north, don't turn back. I see anyone, anyone at all, I'm gonna kill him." Leah slowly moved her hand and that was enough to make Elle stand beside Daryl. She missed the confused gaze her gave her. "Once we're far out enough, I let him go."

"You expect me to trust you now?"

Daryl frowned, "Yeah, I do. We're doin' this all wrong—we survived everything for what? To keep fightin' and killin' each other?"

Leah snarled, "If that's what it takes."

"Ya don't have to." Carver rolled his eyes. "I'm giving ya a chance to save what's left of yur family and mine."

It was like a flicker of sorrow and guilt spoke through Leah's eyes as she ran a hand through her hair. A single moment of slight deception; Elle saw it. "No more lies." Leah pronounced.

"Daryl-" Elle yelled.

"Jensen!" Leah screamed.

In one single moment, a sniper shot landed a few feet between Eleanor and Daryl, catching his attention indefinitely while she looked up at the roof. She could see his scope point out but no body.

"That was a warning!" Leah boomed. "Everyone out!"

Negan, Maggie and Elijah gingerly stepped out from behind the hiding of tall green bushes. Elijah was using a crutch to walk while Maggie guided him.

"Lower the knife. Cut the rope."

"Think again, Princess." Eleanor snarled.

Leah had the ghost of a chuckle on her face before she pressed down on her radio once again. "Jensen, the leader." Elle went wide eyed and turned to look at Maggie, trying to figure out how to keep her protected while Daryl handled Carver. There was no point though, Daryl let go of Carver and sliced the ropes binding his wrists.