virago|c.g.|

viii

Clarissa was surprised when the unknown turned out to be cold asphalt, the darkness masking the man that had grabbed her. She went quickly into survival mode, feeling the harshness of the man's hold making her realize he wouldn't hesitate to hurt her. As the man brought his body over her, she resisted against the pain and kicked up her legs, one of her feet landing against his gut while the other hit probably the worst place for a man. As she heard him groan, his body swaying away from her, she quickly got out from under him. Bringing herself to her knees, she saw that it was Nicholas, the same man she had taken down when he went after Glenn. Clarissa couldn't help but scoff. "Come back for more?" The man only looked at her with distaste and anger. "You little— you're not innocent. You don't deserve to be here—" the girl nodded in agreement, causing him to furrow his eyebrows in confusion. "That's why I'm trying to leave, asshole." Nicholas seemed to snarl before he launched himself at her, setting aside the confusion and making room for anger.

Clarissa was steady as she rolled away from where he had aimed. She got up to her feet, kicking him in the back and causing him to fall forward. She took his fall as time to get onto her horse once more. But as they only got a foot closer, so close to the entrance, he latched a hand upon her foot and back of her shirt before pulling her off once more. Clarissa landed with her back against the road, trying to catch her breath until she felt white hot pain at my wound. She looked down to see Nicholas digging his fingers into it, causing her to let out a scream, her hands shooting up to claw at his face in an effort to get him to release her. However, nothing stopped him as he continued to harm the girl, her cries of pain also including frustration as all efforts to be released seemed in vain. As she was still in the process of healing, she was weak and the pressure of his hand on her wound caused her to feel the blood begin to flow.

Nicholas found himself sneering at her, surprised as she sent a punch to his gut. He let his determination push away the pain, pulling her up to stand before entangling his hands in her hair, tightening his grip before pushing her against the metal wall, ramming her into it. As he pulled her away from it, blood gushed from her nose and mouth where her teeth had dug into the soft skin of her lips. Clarissa sneered at the man, her eyes dark and even causing him to falter for a moment. "What do you want from me?" Clarissa asked, causing his doubt to fall away as he threw her to the ground, kicking her side as she heard the crinkling of paper. As he straddled her, he forced the paper in her face, her eyes widening as she saw her own face staring at her. "You're a killer. You're not innocent. You don't deserve to live your life when you've taken so many others. You have a bounty on your head, for Christ's sake, and I'm going to save my people from you." Crumbling the paper again, he threw it far from them and brought his hands around her throat. As she scratched at his skin, gasping for air, he seemed to smile. She could only fight back with what little strength she had. "I'll fucking kill you—" Nicholas only clenched his jaw. "You'll try Angel—"

"Let her go!"As light seemed to fall on the two, Nicholas' eyes widened before he pulled her body from the ground. He held Clarissa in front of him, grabbing the gun she had tucked into her jeans and pulling it on her, aiming at her temple. Clarissa was surprised to see the people behind the lights. She could see Glenn, his eyes landing on the piece of paper as his peers pushed forward. He looked up at the girl, meeting her eyes in disbelief before he crumbles it and put it in his pocket. As Clarissa's eyes moved away from the Korean man, she noticed Deanna was followed by Rick, Maggie, Michonne, Carl and Enid. Along with them was an unknown ginger haired man with a badass mustache that almost made her laugh in light of the danger she was in. As Deanna came closer, Clarissa could see the anger evident in her eyes. "Nicholas, enough! What are you doing to her?" Deanna questioned in a shrill tone, her voice displaying anger. "She was trying to leave, Deanna. Because she's guilty." He pushed Clarissa forward, causing her to fall on her knees. She looked up at the people surrounding her and the man, wiping at the blood that had fallen from her nose. "I didn't want to be dead weight—" Nicholas let out a snarl. "Oh shut up!" She could heard the cocking of the gun, causing her to clench her jaw as Nicholas put it to her head. Clarissa could only look forward as his voice filled her ears. "You left because you were guilty!" He pressed the barrel of the gun harder against the kneeling girl's head. "You didn't want us to find out who you were, but I did!"