.・゜-: ✧☾　☽✧ :-゜・.

Stella felt like she was standing in the ruins of the world that had collapsed in front of her. The world around her was dull and had lost all its color, replaced with a canvas of grey and shadow, leaving her whole body to ache with emptiness. Her mind was spinning and her body was still shaking from the previous events. She had no idea how long ago it happened, if it was night or day, or how much time she had spent alone in her cell, staring at the name that was carved into the top bunk.

Lori Grimes. Lori Grimes. Lori Grimes. She read it over and over again.

She felt numb. She didn't want to move, she didn't want to talk, she didn't want to eat, she didn't want to sleep, fearing that she would be brought back to that room to witness it all again. She just wanted to stay in her dark cell and rot away. She just wanted to be forgotten, a memory. She felt empty, devoid of any warmth or life inside.
There was still no sign of Ellie, leaving Stella alone in their previously shared cell. Stella wanted to feel something for Ellie's possible death but her heart had become a barren wasteland, withered and desolate, devoid of any hint of vitality. Ellie was the closest thing she had to a best friend and now she was gone. Stella wanted nothing more than to feel something. To cry. But as much as she tried, nothing came. Her eyes felt like two dry and lifeless spots on her face.

She felt like the smallest thing in the biggest world. She felt hopeless and useless. After they had announced her mother's death, Rick had fled back into the prison tombs and hadn't been seen since. Stella wanted to feel worried. She wanted to feel the need to run into the prison and not stop until she had found her dad. But she remained lying completely still, curled up in her bed.

She wanted to hold her baby sibling. She had found out that it was a girl. A girl who had to grow up without her mother. Never feeling the warmth of her mother's love and the comfort of her mother's arms. Stella made herself promise to give her all those things. She was the closest that, that baby would have to a mom and she'd protect her with her life.

But right now, she couldn't even be there with her baby sister because she was weak. She hid away instead of doing what she had promised her mother - to always look out for her family.

Beth had brought her food, placing it on the floor next to Stella's bed in silence. When the Greene girl returned to bring her plate down, the food had remained untouched.
Levi had stopped by multiple times, trying to talk to the girl but was met with nothing. Carl wanted to bring her baby sister to her but Stella couldn't bear to look her in the eyes. She knew that the baby didn't understand but she still didn't want to show herself this vulnerable, even though it was just a baby.

Stella laid with her gaze plastered on the bottom of the top bunk. She had no sense of time but the silent cellblock outside made her believe it was night.

Suddenly a shadow appeared in the doorway but Stella didn't pay much attention to it, assuming it was just someone who came to check up on her. But as the shadow didn't move Stella rolled over to tell whoever it was to leave. Just as she did the person hurried into the dark cell and disappeared in the shadows but Stella managed to catch a glimpse of the figure. Whoever it was wore a long white dress that dragged over the floor as they walked. Stella shot up and stared into the dark corner as her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.

"Beth?" Stella asked.

"How could you let this happen to me?" Stella's eyes shot open upon the realization of who the voice belonged to.

"Mom?" Stella's words became shrill with horror. She crawled to the far end of her bed, trying to get as far away from the person as possible.

"How could you let this happen to me?" Lori repeated as she stepped into the moonlight, illuminating her face and body.

Stella choked on a scream as she stared at the woman before her. It sounded like her mom, but it wasn't. Her white dress was stained with blood and a cut over her stomach revealed that someone had forced a knife through the fabric and her skin. Her hands were covered in blood along with her hair. Her face was pale and her skin looked fragile like a piece of paper. Her whole body and face looked slender like she hadn't eaten in weeks.

"How could you let this happen to me?!" Lori's tone got louder each time. Stella sat curled up at the far end of her bed with tears of pure fear streaming down her face, wondering why no one else woke up.

"How!?" Lori screamed once more causing Stella to hunch over and cry violently.

"I'm sorry." She cried, looking down at her hands. Her once dry and clean hands were now covered in blood, trailing up her arms. She remembered that Levi had helped her get washed up after the death of her mother and she knew that her hands were dry when she went to sleep, so how were they suddenly covered in blood? The girl let out an echoing scream and jumped out of her bed. She fell to the floor and crawled out from her cell as she continued to call out for help.

"Go away!" She cried out as she made her way over the floor of their prison cellblock before bumping into a wall behind her. There she sat and screamed as tears covered her face.

How was she here? She was dead. Stella watched her die.

Suddenly, someone grabbed hold of her shoulder causing her to let out a scream as she jerked back and violently kicked away from the person.

"Go away!" She cried as pure fear and shock coursed through her veins.

"Stella, Stella," Levi repeated as he tried to calm her down. "It's me."

The Grimes girl leaned over and placed a hand on her chest trying to catch her breath but the heavy pressure on her chest made it impossible to breathe.

"It's okay. You're safe." Levi tried to reassure her as he placed a calming hand on her back.

Stella looked around and saw the many faces of the group staring at her with fear and worry painted across their faces. Her eyes met Carl's and she froze instantly. The boy stood with a small child in his hands and the two stood slightly hid behind Glenn as if Stella scared him. This was the first time Stella had seen her little sister since the death of their mother. The baby wailed in Carl's arms due to all the commotion Stella had caused.

"Talk to me. What happened?" Stella's attention switched back to Levi who sat kneeled in front of her with her face cupped in his hands.

"She was right there. I..." Stella struggled to speak.

"Who? Ellie? Did you find her?" Beth took a step forward.

"No," The Grimes girl shook her head. "She came into my cell. She told me... She yelled at me."

"Who did?" Levi asked calmly.

"Mom." Stella could see the group's reaction in the corner of her eye. Some of them froze instantly while the rest stared at her like she was crazy. Her words even shocked herself.

"Please, Levi. You have to believe me. I swear, she was right there." Stella sobbed.

"Stella..." The boy exhaled.

"No! I know what I saw, please! Please, believe me!" Levi exchanged a quick look with Hershel before his worried gaze met Stella's again.

"Please.." She pleaded.

"I believe you." Levi lied. "Now let's get you back to bed."

"No, I can't go back into that cell. Please don't make me sleep in there." Stella cried.

"You don't have to. There's room in my cell." Levi reassured her before helping her to her feet.

Stella felt vulnerable and lost. She felt the weakest she'd ever felt. Every pair of eyes burned at her skin as they stared at her like she scared them. She wasn't crazy. She knew she wasn't.

Levi held a firm grip on her arms as he helped her to his cell. She didn't need his help. She didn't want to need his help. She hated feeling useless like this, having to be almost carried around. She wanted to be strong.

The boy sat her down on the bottom bunk before turning to his pack and grabbing a small towel. He used it to wipe some blood off Stella's knee which she apparently had scraped falling off her bed. She didn't even feel it happen, or after. Every single part of her body was hurting, along with the aching of her heart.

Once Levi had cleaned her wound and placed the towel aside he turned back to the Grimes girl and cupped her face in his hands as he brushed her tears off with his thumbs. He remained eye contact with her as he did and so did Stella. There was something sort of calming and comforting with the boy, something she didn't feel with anyone else at the moment.

"Get some sleep." The boy said, breaking eye contact as Stella laid back in the bed, placing her head on what once was T-dog's pillow. Levi gently put the duvet over her exhausted body.

"Do you want me to sleep in your cell or...."

"Stay." Stella cut him off. "Please."

"Of course." The boy smiled and his features were illuminated by the moonlight. He climbed up to his top bunk and Stella could finally feel a sense of comfort and almost calm. It was the first time leaving her cell and also the first time seeing everyone else.

She was still too frightened to close her eyes, afraid of not having control or not knowing what was lurking in the shadows. However, she managed to drift off to sleep, sleeping scattered hours during the night.

__________________

Stella spent the following two days and nights in Levi's cell. She tried to stay awake to stay away from the reoccurring nightmares that plagued her nights but her body was exhausted making her slip in and out of sleep. Whenever she would, she'd wake up screaming. Images of her mother and the figure that had stepped into her room nights before haunted her sleep.

The only way she would rest was if she had the boy with her. He'd offer to stay by her side until she fell asleep in his arms. Some times he even held her throughout the whole night, as the thought of sleeping alone was too frightening.

Now, Stella had no idea how long she had stared at the top bunk, hoping to fall back asleep. Her body and mind was tired and drained, still, she couldn't bear to close her eyes.

Suddenly a tall shadow quickly casted itself over the moonlight pouring into the cell. The shadow wore a long dress that dragged itself over the dusty floor. Stella's mouth went dry as she watched the recognizable dress disappear. Her heart sank into her stomach. Unsure what to do she just stared at the cell door. She was terrified, still somewhere deep inside her, she knew that whoever was haunting her wasn't her mother. She swallowed hard before forcing herself out of bed. She peeked out the cell door just as the shadow continued out the cellblock and disappeared into the tombs.

Stella's feet traveled over the cold stone floor, hoping to not wake anyone up. She tiptoed into the tombs and her steps began to quicken so as to not lose the person.

𝐋 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈

The boy couldn't sleep. His worry felt like a heavy pressure on his chest. He hated seeing Stella like this and if he could take all the pain from her, he wouldn't hesitate. Levi had gone through it once, but it wasn't the same. He loved his mom more than anything and losing her was one of the hardest things he ever had to go through, but he knew that Stella and Lori had a special bond. They weren't just mother and daughter. They were each other's best friends.

Levi heard Stella get up and watched as she walked out of the cell. He sat up quickly before curiously following her. She walked fast and with determination. He tried to keep a long enough distance for her to not notice him but short enough for him to be able to protect her if any threat decided to come at them from the dark corridors. They traveled over the cold floor of the tombs. The darkness around them could easily be hiding walkers ready to grab them any second.

Stella didn't leave her cell, not even her bed, and now she was running around in the dark tombs at night. Levi's gaze followed Stella and watched as she disappeared into a boiler room.

𝐒 𝐓 𝐄 𝐋 𝐋 𝐀

Stella watched as the wispy shadow turned every corner with determent steps. She followed it through rooms and corridors without paying much attention to her surroundings.

Suddenly they had found their way into a dark room with only a small light illuminating it.

Stella looked around the room and tried to adjust to the sudden light. Her hands fumbled over the wall as she stumbled deeper into the room.

Once her eyes had adjusted to the light she could perceive some of her surroundings. Machinery and boilers were scattered around the room. She was back.

Back in the boiler room, the one room she avoided the most. She felt her breath catch in her throat as her eyes darted around the room, desperately seeking an exit. But the darkness around her made it impossible to find the door, even though she had just walked through it. She was locked inside her own nightmare.

Suddenly something caught her attention. For a swift moment, she thought she saw the silhouette of someone at the far end of the room.

"Ellie..?" She whispered.

"Don't be scared baby." Lori's voice echoed through the room before she appeared from the shadows just like she had the other night.

Stella threw herself against the wall, her hands traveling over it desperate to find an escape. She shook her head trying to make it all go away.

"Leave me alone!" She cried. "Go away!"

"It's me. It's mom." Lori smiled but Stella didn't recognize it. Lori's smile used to be warm and sweet. This was lifeless and cold. The woman wore the same dress, spotted with blood along with the rest of her body.

"Go away!" Stella screamed out her fear freely. "Why can't you just leave me alone!" she cried out.

𝐋 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈

Stella's cries echoed through the tombs as Levi rushed to the door of the boiler room. As he bolted through it he was met with the sight of Stella standing in the middle of the room, crying and screaming at the wall like there was someone there. Levi froze at the sight.

"You're supposed to be dead! Go away!" Her screams erupted from the debts of her being as the tears fell freely.

Levi slowly approached the girl, but she didn't notice him until he called out for her. "Stella?" He spoke softly but his face was covered with concern.

The girl spun around, her eyes were red and glassy as she stared into his.

"She won't leave." Stella's voice sounded weak and shrill and her whole body shook.

Levi stared at the empty surface where Stella had been screaming at before fixating his worried eyes on hers. "Stella..." He signed.

"Stop! I swear! She was here! I..I.." Her voice broke as she struggled to breathe. Levi grabbed her two trembling hands and held them in his, unsure what to say or do. "I'm not crazy..." She whispered.

"I don't think you are, okay?"

Stella pulled her hands away from his and backed away. Her once scared and sad eyes had now been replaced with pure fury. Her expression had darkened and tears of anger swelled in her eyes as she stared at him.

"I know you do! All of you!" She spat at him. "I see the way you all stare at me! Even Carl looks at me like I'm crazy! I'm not!"

"Let's just go back." Levi tried to reach out for the girl but was quickly pushed off.

"Please, believe me!" She cried.

"Let's just talk about this back in the cell-"

"No! You're not listening! You don't understand!" Stella screamed in exasperation.

Her words felt like a knife at his chest. He did understand. He understood better than anyone. He understood every tear and every cry. Every outburst and every nightmare. He understood every emotion. He knew exactly how she felt. He understood that she didn't mean any of the words that came spewing out of her mouth. Still, it hurt.

"Get out! Please!" She demanded backing away from him and stumbling deeper into the room.

"I'm not going anywhere," Levi said firmly. He watched as her knuckles whitened and her nails dug into her skin. His hand reached out for hers again but she quickly shoved him away.

"Get off me! Just get out! Get out! Get out!" She spat out her rage freely. "I don't want to see you or anyone! Just leave me alone!"

Levi couldn't leave her like this, in here, in the room where her mother died. He was mad enough at himself for not being there. He couldn't let her do this alone.

"I'm not leaving." Levi's voice remained firm. Tears of anger and grief raced down Stella's cheeks as she stared at him furiously. Levi hated the way she was looking at him but he knew that as long as she was safe she could hate him all she wanted. The boy remained still, worried that she would hurt herself or someone else if he left.

"You don't understand!"

"Yes, Stella. I do, better than anyone." Levi said.

"No, you don't! You have no idea! Just go!" The girl barked at him.

"I understand you better than anyone!" Levi snapped. He didn't mean for the words that came out of his mouth to be so harsh, and he knew that he would regret it all in a couple of minutes but in that moment he didn't care. He was tired of being taken for granted like his grief didn't mean anything to them. "You are the one who doesn't understand! You have everything! You've got your dad, your brother. Hell, you just got a new sibling! But you haven't even had time to hold her since you've been too busy feeling bad for yourself. You're not the only one who's lost someone, Stella! You have no idea what loss is!" Levi's words pierced the air like shards of glass.

A heavy silence was laid upon the room. Stella took a step back and stared at the boy like she didn't recognize him - Levi didn't even recognize himself. He watched as Stella's eyes glistered with unshed tears. He felt horrible. He wanted nothing more than to take it all back.

"I'm sorry..I.." He stammered, but Stella just stared at him - almost with disdain. Her lips had parted, but still, she couldn't find the words to speak. Her mouth moved but formed no words - like they were strangled in her throat. A single tear spilled from her eye but she quickly wiped it off before storming out of the room. Levi wasn't sure if he was going to follow her or stay. As the door slammed shut behind the girl he remained still in the middle of the room. He felt terrible. He leaned against the wall before letting his body slowly drag down it until he fell into a sitting position. His head was spinning and anger pulsed through his veins. He was mad at himself. He yelled at her when she needed him the most. He hated the way he had treated her. The way he made her take a step back like she was scared of him. The way she stared at him, almost with hatred, the way he had made her cry.

_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____
𝟑𝟑𝟒𝟒 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡
_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____

𝐀/𝐍

uhm... how many Stella and Levi shippers hate me rn..

also Stella is kinda in her crazy era (hot)

Didn't proofread this sorry loves