ELEANOR . NEGAN

117.

There was no say in their current plan so Eleanor kept her mouth shut and watched everything unload in front of her. Standing with her arms crossed, she watched Daryl converse with one of the bloodied Commonwealth soldiers.

"They took my kids from me. And I want them back."

There was blood dripping from the guards lips and his skin paled with every second passing. He was close. Really close. He grunted when Daryl's foot jabbed the guard in the leg. "Ya hear me?!" The guard just sunk back against the wall.

"Trains gonna be here soon," Carol announced as she walked into the room.

"That's alri'." Daryl took out his knife. "We can hurry."

Eleanor just sighed. "Put the knife away, Daryl." She pushed herself off the wall and walked over, crouching before the man as she stared into his eyes. They were a dull brown. "He's scared." Elle frowned. "He doesn't want to die."

"The prick knows where the kids are—"

"Killing him won't give us any answers."

The man looked at Eleanor and there was a face he was pulling; sorrow and regret. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be a part of the Commonwealth. He didn't want to die alone.

"I know you," Someone spoke into the gloomy room. Elle could feel her eyes widen at the familiar voice — Gabriel. There was no time for greetings though. Elle shuffled to the side and stayed out by the guards side. "Every Sunday, back pew, closest to the door. You'd always come a little late and leave a little early. Seemed like you wanted to talk about something."

He grunted and shuffled a bit, making him more slouched against the metal wall. "Does God forgive people like me?"

If God was here, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Gabriel frowned. "I don't know. I wish I did."

"It's like... torn up all the time with guilt and shame."

Gabriel shrugged, "Because you're a coward." The man looked up at him in disbelief. "It's okay. You're trying not to be. Fear can make us do things that bring shame. It could also push us into the light. And you're trying to do the right thing now — he sees that."

"I wish I'd talked to you sooner."

Elle forced a gulp.

"I wish you had too."

The guard started to spit out more blood, vast amounts that tainted his armour. Elle pulled away as Gabriel crouched down in front of him.

"People remember the last thing you do." Elle stopped in her path, hearing Gabriel before she left to avoid the sight. "The end of each story is very important. How do you want yours to end?"

The guard flicked his eyes from Gabriel's welcoming face towards the turned back of Eleanor. Her feet hadn't moved though, growing slight concern from Daryl and Carol who were next to each other on the other side. She was listening.

She was never one for God.

"They punish exiles by making them do hard labour." He coughed up some more blood. "Your friends are on railway duty."

"Where?"

"I- I don't know. They called me out when you escaped. You'll have to follow the train to find out where your friends are." He shuffled some more. "I've- I've only heard rumours about designation two. They're taken somewhere far away... they're never seen again."

This time, Daryl left before Eleanor could.

It wasn't long after until Carol and Eleanor followed after him, but the shook she had when she left the building to see Rosita as well could've made her pass out. "Hey," Elle said, softly. "You're alive."