VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴130

The cell door slams behind Pamela Milton.

Then, another slams behind Sebastian Milton.

And a third behind Lance Hornsby.

I take a deep breath and Daryl and I trade a nod. Together, the two of us, Mercer, and Rosita walk back to the rest of the group. Anna walks out from the group and gives me a hug. Carol does the same to Daryl and Gabriel to Rosita.

"The walkers aren't going to get a chance to kill me because you're going to give me a heart attack, Ellie," Anna complains in my ear.

I grin and nuzzle in her shoulder. "I wasn't in danger. Really."

"Yeah? Did you have some secret under your sleeve?"

I whisper in her ear. "The gun wasn't loaded. I was fully prepared to shove his sorry ass off the roof."

Anna scoffs and as we part, she slaps my shoulder lightly. I smile and lean in for a loving kiss.

"Your mom, Josh, and Elijah are getting the crowd calmed down with Ezekiel and a few others," she informs.

"Ellie!"

My heart clenches as Judith runs over to me. Before I could register that she was wearing Carl's hat, she wraps her arms around my waist in a hug.

Tears spring to my eyes and I lock eyes with Daryl. He frowns and nods.

"Hey, Judith, can I talk to you?" I ask. "Privately?"

Judith looks up at me. My heart swells and I wipe a tear from her eye then pat the hat on top of her head. She nods and I take her hand, leading her away from the crowd.

We stand in the middle of Pamela Milton's old office and I wring my hands nervously.

"Is everything okay?" she asks.

How do I even start this?

"So, um.." I pause.

God, this was harder than I was expecting it to be. I kneel to the floor in front of her and take her hands into mine.

"Did you ever hear about the day you were born?" I wonder.

"Not much. I know that Carl and Aunt Maggie were there. I know that my mom made Aunt Maggie do what she did.. And that Carl put her down."

"We were living in the prison. You probably don't remember that place. But.. it was home for awhile. And there were some prisoners there that had survived the fall. Your dad.. he let them in the group because he felt bad. They were clearing walkers from other places and a couple of the guys betrayed them. And one of them got away."

Judith nods, taking in each word. But, I could tell she was confused on where it was going.

"My grandpa had just been bit in the leg. And your dad.." a single tear slips down my cheek. "Rick.. he had the idea of amputating. And he saved my grandpa's life. That was the first time that ever happened to save someone from a bite."

"Really?" she asks, a light in her eyes that showed pride.

"Yeah. And Carl, your mom, me, and my Aunt Beth were helping him walk for the first time on crutches. I remember.." I chuckle through the tears. "I remember Carl and my grandpa talking about racing around the prison."

Judith giggles, tears cascading her face, too.

"And then.. chaos. Walkers got inside the fences somehow. Carl was the first one to see them. And your dad, Glenn, Daryl.. everyone started running to us. A walker grabbed me and I had no weapon. Your mom killed it before it bit me."