VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴128

Daryl was the main person who taught me to track. Mom, Jesus, Sasha, and others helped along the way. I was a product of their lessons and it showed when I found Sebastian Milton hiding in a secret spot of Commonwealth before the sun was up.

"Ellie," Anna calls.

"Find Judith and the other kids. Make sure they're away from the clock tower," I request.

Anna sighs, but nods. "Be careful."

"I will," I swear and lean in to kiss her. "I love you."

"I love you," she returns. "Finish this."

I grab the rope and whip it so that Sebastian's hands, that were tied to the other end, jumps. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Sebastian asks, voice muffled by the potato bag that was over his head.

"You walk. Don't talk," I inform, pulling the rope tighter.

Josh and Anna wave me off before they head out of the hospital to find the kids as I requested. I tug Sebastian along behind me, ducking through alleys and corridors.

"Does this have to do with that newspaper?" he asks.

"That's just a bonus," I answer, regardless of my previous demand.

"So.. my mother?"

"Bingo."

"What'd she do this time?"

"It's more about what she didn't do. And it has more to do with Lance Hornsby."

"Mom's lapdog," he scoffs. "Great. I'm being punished for the things that asshole did."

"You're all being punished," I assure. "You're just the easiest I could get to."

"How so?"

"Because.. let's call it personal experience," I offer. "People have tormented my brother and I just to get to my mom.. I guess I picked up on a thing or two."

"So, you're using the same tactics that were used on your family?"

"You're smarter than you look. Too bad you don't use it for shit."

"Do you have any idea who I really am?"

"Nope. Someone that people actually know don't have to say that, anyway," I inform.

Sebastian scoffs again. "Well, whatever you do to me.. My mother will handle it after."

"Yeah? Then, I'll just handle her, too when it's time."

"You're insane."

"Another point on the board. Glad to know that Commonwealth actually has good schools- I almost thought you were as stupid as you were a coward."

We get into the train station that was the center of town. We start getting odd looks from people, but they don't try to stop me. We walk into the elevator and I punch the button to bring us to the top.

Sebastian, as stupid as he is, charges at me. I saw him coming from the mirror in the elevator, so I dodged his bound hands. I grab the back of his neck and slam his face against the elevator door.

"Just when I was getting faith in you," I tsk.

He squirms against the metal doors. "You.. bitch.."

"I've been called worse by better," I inform.

I hold him there until the elevator stops. The doors open and I do nothing to stop as he face plants on the marble floor. The sight was almost enough to make me smile.

I step over his body and tug the rope. "Up and moving. We're burning daylight."

Sebastian stands up, muttering another curse of 'bitch' under his breath. I lead us to the roof. There was maybe three stories to the building and although it wasn't the tallest point, it was the most busy.

Immediately, I hear screams from people below. I grab Sebastian from behind to avoid any soldiers taking a sniper-like shot on me. I drag Sebastian to stand on the ledge of the building before ripping the bag off of his head. He panics once he has full awareness of where he is.

"If you move, you'll fall," I warn. "Just chill out."

"Chill out?!" he cries. "Are you crazy?"

I bring my free hand to my lips, ignoring the sting of the gunshot wound as I place my fingers and whistle loudly- the noise echoing over the streets of Commonwealth.

"Do I have your attention?" I call out over the roof.

The crowd gathers and watches in awe. They quiet down enough to hear me.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sebastian wonders. "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm saving lives," I answer.

I look across the dozens of people below. More and more gather around until there's hundreds. I take a deep breath and remind myself what I'm fighting for.

I imagine the feeling of Leah's body going limp. I imagine the feeling of Negan's blood.

I still had rope burn on my hands from choking Leah. Negan's blood was still staining my shirt.

I scan the crowd. I see Rosita, Ezekiel, Magna, Eugene, and a bunch of other familiar faces.

But, the one who caught my eyes the most was Judith.

I asked Anna to keep Judith away. And yet, here she is. RJ, Gracie, and the other kids were nowhere to be seen, so that meant Anna had them.

Judith was so much like Carl that it doesn't surprise me at all that she escaped and ventured on her own.

It hurt to see so much of Carl in Judith. So much of Lori. I even saw Beth in the way Judith cared so much for others. And she didn't understand it, but she was one of the biggest reasons I was doing this.