It's all my fault
EPISODE 1:
Clementine could feel coordination leaving her, head heavy and pulsing. The feverish fire within her body was conflicting with the external brisk winter's air, making her skin prickle.
"Clementine… are you feelin' alright?" Pete had asked with genuine concern.
Clem was being consumed by pain that burnt hellishly from the bite on her arm, but she couldn't show weakness. She didn't know these strangers and one had relentlessly thrown her down, already prepared to leave her to die in the woods. Convinced by the elder man, Pete, Luke had been persuaded to take her back to their cabin. They had a doctor with them who Clem knew could prove to the rest that it was a dog bite. She did, after all, once have a doctor for a mother. She knew her mother could just look at the shape and the large canine markings of the bite and conclude that it was a dog, she had done it all the time when Clem would hang around at her practice after school.
"I'm fine… Just… tired", Clementine had struggled the lie out.
Luke had calmed by this point but was still quite wary of her. "Well you better be fine. Cause I ain't carryin' you anymore with that bite on your arm". His tone had lack of sympathy, but Clementine had recognised that he had been the first to turn and notice her state. Gesturing for Pete to turn around as well. By this observation, Clementine noted that Luke's attitude was a short burning one.
"Don't worry about…" The feverish sensation had consumed her, forcing her to cut her sentence short as she passed out. Ah, shit… was the last thing she heard as her head met the ground with force.
*TIME PASS*
Clementine had started to stir awake.
"Don't you tell me that! Not with what fuckin' happened".
Strange voices were filling the air around her, but she knew that one was a man.
"Would someone mind telling me what the FUCK is going on here?"
She struggled to open her eyes to see the woman yelling, everything was still a blur.
"Now, hold on Rebecca…" Clementine recognised Pete's calmed vocals.
"We got this, don't worry".
"Like hell you do". It was Rebecca responding to the man from before. "Did anyone even think to ask where she came from?"
Clem's vision had finally cleared, greeting her with the visuals of a barrel to her head being held in place by a tall man in a red cap. To the left of him was an even taller, slightly larger man with glasses. Pete was to the far left. And to the right of Clem's peripheral vision was a pregnant woman yelling "For all we know she could be working with Carver!" Clementine assumed this was Rebecca.
Pete was quick to act in Clementine's defence. "She already told us that she and her friend were attacked. Then she was bitten by a dog". Rebecca seemed to believe that Pete and Luke were gullible to believe Clem's story. "What, and you just believed her? You should have put her out of her misery right there and then. Dog bite my ass".
Clementine could foresee this situation getting out of hand. She had to act now.
[I'M NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE!]
[LET ME GO!]
[I NEED A DOCTOR]
[(RUN)]
Clem knew she had to gain the stranger's trust if she wanted a chance at getting her arm attended to. She opened her mouth and let her voice project soft and slow. "I'm not work- BANG!
The force of the bullet hitting the nearby ground had frightened Clementine as the noise bellowed through the pines. Pete was the first to react as Clem gasped. "What the...?"
Clem scanned the four quickly to see the man with the red cap aiming his rifle, he too appeared startled but mainly because he thought Clementine had turned. The rest seemed shocked as Pete rapidly seized the rifle from the man's grasp. "Keep your finger off the trigger, boy!"
At that moment, the cabin's front door busted open as a hysterical Luke called out. "Whoa! Whoa! What the fuck!?" A younger woman followed Luke from the cabin, she too had concern and fear on her face. As Luke and the younger woman proceeded to race from the cabin towards Clementine and the others, Rebecca faced the man who had shot. "You idiot! Every lurker for five miles probably heard that!" The man gritted his teeth as he turned to face her, piercing blue eyes filled with anger. "You're the one tellin' me to fuckin' shoot her!"
The larger man with glasses had a deep reasoning to his voice as he proceeded to speak. "Everyone just calm down for a second!"
Luke and the younger woman joined the group. The younger woman had pushed past the others and placed a warm hand on Clem's shoulder as she knelt down to her level. "Clementine, you okay…?" Luke quickly checked to make sure she was uninjured after the "little" incident.
The younger woman looked at Clem. Her eyes were swimming with warm earthly tones. A creamy chocolate dominated the iris but was hugged by a darkened green, the blending of the two colours was hard to tell as the compassion in her eyes consumed them into one. She was a brunette with olive skin, not necessarily tall but had a curvy appearance to her figure. The memory of Clem's own mother had filled her mind. Although this woman did not look at all like Clem's own mother, she had the same warmness radiating from her. Being around her made Clem feel instantly better.
"Yeah, you okay sweetie?" Her voice hinted at an accent that Clem had never heard before. Nonetheless it was soft and caring.
Clementine felt overwhelmed by the other faces staring down at her, she had to let them know she wasn't a danger before anything else threatened her wellbeing.
"I'm not… I'm not working for anyone… I don't know what you're talking about". She groaned as she tried to form her words, grasping her arm tight to try and pressurise her wound. "I just need help".
The younger woman smiled in understanding, believing every word Clem had said. Luke smiled as well and reassured Clem that they were helping her. "We've got a doctor right here, okay. He'll take a look". As Luke spoke these words, a man in a red plaid shirt had appeared from the cabin and was making his way towards them.
Clem looked at the younger woman, who was staring at the blood stains of Clem's undershirt. "I've never been bitten by a dog". She lifted her face to look at Clem's, as she chuckled slightly. "I've been bitten by horses loads of times though. Never got the keep your palm flat memo". She smiled to try and relax Clem. It worked for a second until Luke raised his voice as he turned to the rest of the group.
"Now what the hell is wrong with you people!? Okay, she's just scared!" Rebecca jumped to their defence. "We're all scared Luke. Don't act like we're the ones being irrational because we don't by this bullshit story". The red cap man joined her. "There's no way she survived out here on her own!" Clem noticed the red cap man glare at her as he turned to the younger woman. "Don't touch her Jess!" Jess rolled her eyes and stared up at the man. "Why, do I run the risk of being shot at as well?"
The man had a stern and disappointing look on his face as Jess turned back to Clem with a warm smile. The man was quick to claim back some dignity, returning with his argument to Luke. "Why are we even arguing about this!?"
Everyone fell silent as the doctor made his way through to Clem. "Let me take a look". He spoke in a calm Spanish accent. Clem began to panic as he made his way towards her and gestured his hand out for her arm. Jess noticed Clem become tense through the hand she still had placed upon the little girl's shoulder. "It's okay Clem…" Clem looked at her and then toward Luke. "It's okay. Go ahead. He's a doctor". She looked back at Jess who nodded in agreement to Luke's words. She held her arm out towards the doctor, as he took hold. Lifting her sleeve to reveal the fleshy wound of jagged teeth marks. The sound it made as he peeled the sleeve back was wet and sickly, making the others cringe. "Damn that must've hurt", commented the large man with glasses.
"Hmm… whatever it was it got you good", the doctor's uncertain remark had put Clem on edge. Did he not see it was a dog bite?
"You mean the dog got her good", Jess butted in, trying to correct his statement. The doctor glanced at her quickly then back at the bite as he continued to examine.
At the back of the group, the man in the red cap was impatiently biting at his thumb as his arms were folded tightly. He dropped them quickly and stormed towards Luke. "This isn't how we do things, man". His voice cracked a little as he held back the anger. "When you're bit, you get put down. End of story." As he said this, Clem noticed him staring at Jess but she was too busy watching what the doctor was doing to realise. Luke was facing the red cap man as he continued to speak, seeming a little disappointed that Jess hadn't noticed his gesture. "I'm not going through this again!"
Luke held his hands up in reassurance to the man as the larger man and Rebecca took stance on either side of him. "No one's suggestin' that". The red cap man glared into Luke's eyes, piercing blue with rage as he peered back down at Jess and then again to Luke. "It's a bit hard when my wife is kneeling down in bite's reach!" Jess heard this comment and side glanced the man. "Oh please Nick!" She turned back towards Clem's arm as a hurt looking Nick shied away from his anger, having been let down support-wise by his wife. Thankfully, but not for Clementine, Pete had killed the tension by making his suggestion.
"We could take her arm off".
Everyone quickly swung their heads towards Pete. Luke and the larger man were shocked, Nick looked stone cold with a hint of a smirk on his face. Rebecca just looked pissed off.
The doctor continued to examine the arm and Clem gasped in shock. Jess looked embarrassed that Pete had even suggested they do that, fully convinced that Clem had indeed been bitten by a dog. She could see the markings for herself, no lurker could have possibly done that. Pete continued, "I know that worked for a cousin down in Ainsworth. We could try that". Rebecca began her counter arguments as usual. "It won't do any good. You'll just be making it worse for the girl".
Clementine had to step in. This was her they were discussing, they couldn't just take off her arm. She had to appeal to somebody, convince them that they were being irrational.
/!\ Who will you appeal to?
Talk to Pete
Talk to Alvin
Talk to Nick
Talk to Rebecca
Talk to Luke
Talk to Jess
Talk to Carlos
Clementine knew that Jess was the only one who fully believed her. She had to get her to convince the others. She was married to Nick and he seemed to be the one, besides Rebecca, who wanted Clem gone the most. Maybe she could convince him otherwise. Clem thought to herself 'Isn't that what married couples do best?'
Clementine managed her best sad eyes and focused them on Jess's own. "You know it was a dog right?" Jess nodded, "Of course I know it was a dog". A harsh voice erupted at that moment, "Yeah, how the fuck do you know that!?" Jess stood up from Clem's level and faced Nick. "Unless the dead are becoming fucking vampires as well Nick, I hate to see how human teeth could make marks like that!" Nick pierced daggers towards Jess. Clem was finding it hard to believe that these two were married, her parents never acted like this. But maybe things change in the apocalypse and Clem never got the chance to see that. "We don't know how this shit works!" Nick continued harshly. "This brings corpses back and makes them fuckin' eat everything, who knows what else it does!" Jess was silent for a bit but as she began to speak her voice was lower, losing the warm tone it once had. "I've seen enough lurker bites on the bodies of my loved ones to know what they look like Nick…" Nick lowered his head in slight shame of having upset her. Jess's eyes had darkened with sadness as Luke placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Clementine noted Nick slightly glance up at them both, jealousy burning his face red. The two didn't notice him and proceeded to stare at the cabin door with the rest of the group as it opened slightly. Another young girl peered out, intrigued by the appearance of another girl. "Who's she?"
Carlos snapped away from Clementine's arm and looked towards the young girl at the door. "Sarah, what'd I say?" He stood up and turned towards her. "Stay inside".
The young girl seemed upset at her father's order and slowly pulled the front door shut as she disappeared back inside the internal cabin glow, leaving the rest in the dark once again.
As Carlos knelt back down to continue his examination, Clementine thought she should interrupt.
[Let me go.]
[It's only gonna get worse.]
[Help me and I'll leave.]
[…]
"I don't mean to be any trouble". She wanted to make sure Carlos knew she wasn't a threat. He obviously had a daughter to look after so would be wary towards strangers. "I just want to stop the bleeding and then I'll go. You'll never see me again, I promise".
Carlos peered up at Clem as he responded "And where exactly would you go?"
[Somewhere else.]
[My friend is out there.]
[I can take care of myself.]
[…]
"To find my friend, Christa".
"Forget it!" Nick's voice was harsh. "You won't get five feet".
"She might now that Pete has your gun…" Jess teased. Luke and Pete chuckled as Nick clenched his fists and gritted his teeth hard, looking away to avoid an angry outburst.
"This is ridiculous", Jess spoke up again to get the whole groups attention. "We all went to school right". She glanced quickly at Nick and sarcastically added, "Well most of us". Nick was still mad at her earlier comment to pay any attention. "This is basic shit that we learn in science. Bloody hell, do you people have no idea that dogs have huge canine teeth? That's why the teeth are called CANINES! I mean, seriously… what reason does this little girl have to lie to us. We've spent two years in this apocalyptic shit fest and I'm sure she knows by now that once you get bitten by a lurker, no doctor can help. I mean, didn't we just risk our lives to escape this kind of shit and now look at us! Like a bunch of primitive animals…"
The others lowered their heads in shame except Rebecca, and Nick who was still enraged from being insulted by his own wife.
Carlos stood up and turned towards the group, catching their attentions as they eagerly awaited upon his diagnosis. Nick made his way to the front, wanting to reclaim his footing in the situation.
Alvin was first to ask, "So? What'd you think?"
"Was it a lurker?" Nick's voice had calmed slightly, much to the liking of the group.
Carlos folded his arms and began to give his opinion. "A bite like that…"
Jess looked back down at Clem, assuring her that he would say a bite like that could only be from a dog.
Carlos' voice was still low, "It could be anything".
Jess snapped her eyes back towards Carlos, her tone doubtful and blunt. "What…?"
Carlos ignored her, "Only one way to find out". "How?" Questioned Pete.
"We wait".
"What!?" Jess and Rebecca asked in unison, although with differing concerns behind them.
"By tomorrow morning, if the fever's set in, we'll know if she's gonna turn. In the meantime…" Carlos glanced back at a frightened Clem before returning his eyes on the group. "We can lock her in the shed".
Clem shivered in fear as she looked to each individual face staring back at her, some with concern and others with relief that she wouldn't be in close proximity with them.
"We are not doing that!" Jess let off a rage that Clementine did not think a doe eyed woman would be able to produce. "For fuck's sakes Carlos, what sort of doctor are you if you can't even tell a carnivore bite from a-". "Jess, come on", Luke sympathised. "We all don't want to have to do this but…" "But what?" She glared at him for a few seconds as Luke flinched his focus from her. She turned back on Carlos with a sternness coating her face. "Sarah isn't always going to have you to protect her Carlos, what if this was her looking for help?" "DON'T TALK ABOUT MY DAUGHTER!" Carlos' voice roared through the surrounding forests. Fear spread across Jess's face as Nick moved forward in front of her, coldly staring Carlos down in a threatening manner and almost daring him to try something so he could prove his worth to her. Jess clasped both sides of Nick's midsection, peeking from behind him at Carlos. "I'm sorry… but this is a little girl's life we're talking about". Jess's face was sorrowful as Carlos calmed his figure, sighing softly. Nick was still tensed up, becoming overly protective of his wife.
Clementine decided to speak up, making sure no one forgot that she too had an opinion. "What about my arm? It needs to get cleaned, and stitched… and bandaged".
"The girl is in bad shape Carlos…" Luke spoke up concerned for Clem's state. "We have all that stuff inside the cabin, we could probably get by with-"
"ALVIN, please…" Rebecca broke her husband's sentence off early, preventing him from becoming convinced that they were obliged to help the girl. Alvin realised his mistake and quickly countered his previous words. "But yeah, we can't do nothing".
Carlos was now calm again and turned to address Clementine. "I'm not wasting supplies on a lurker bite. If it turns out you're telling the truth. I'll clean it and stitch it for you in the morning".
Carlos began to strut back towards the cabin. "But…" Clem tried to interject but Carlos ignored her as he disappeared back inside. "I'm sorry… But it's the best we're gonna get". Luke had softened dramatically towards Clementine since he and Pete had first found her in the woods, but it was Jess who Clem felt showed the most concern for her. "Well..." Jess began. "I'm officially a bad human being". Nick looked at her with one eyebrow slightly raised, "What? We're helping the girl aren't we?" Jess turned away from Nick and headed towards the cabin as she replied, "Helping her get tetanus".
Nick appeared full of grief as he saw her slowly walk off, but furrowed his brow as he faced Pete. "Finger off the trigger, son". Pete handed out the rifle, gesturing for Nick to take it. The dark haired man snatched it from his grasp. "I ain't your son". His harsh words towards Pete in combination with his attitude had made Luke grow tired of Nick's childishness. "Don't be like that, man", he stepped towards Nick with an annoyed expression plastering his face. Pete just smiled in appreciation, "It's alright. Boy's got his mum's temper".
Nick just ignored Pete's comment and turned to Clem, rifle already prepared for shooting. "Come on".
*TIME PASS*
Clementine had come close to death before, but this was the first time she felt truly helpless. She had just finished breaking into the cabin and taking some supplies, convincing herself that she won't survive the night unless she gets patched up. After suturing her own arm with a sewing needle and some fishing line, a walker had entered the gap that she had made to escape. So focused on the painful task she had to perform, her mind had wandered from how vulnerable she had made herself. Attracted to her screams of pain, the walker grabbed her leg and a panicked Clementine with only one good arm proceeded to struggle with the large walker.
Eventually the struggle had ended as Clem had pried the walker, with a rake, into a boat anchor and destroyed its brain with a hammer. As she finished, puffing and blood soaked, the wooden doors of the shed opened behind her and she was greeted by a shocked Luke. "Holy shit…!" Was all he could manage, completely bewildered at how Clementine had achieved this feat in her state. Alvin had joined Luke at the shed entrance, peering in on what had startled him. "What the…?"
Pete was making his way up along with Nick, Jess, Rebecca and Carlos not far behind.
Clementine groaned as she struggled to pull the hammer from the walker, eventually pulling it free with one strong sideways tug. She stepped back and dropped the hammer, taking hold of her injured arm to support it.
When everyone had surrounded the shed doorway, Nick spoke up. "How the hell'd it get in here?"
Jess peered up at Nick, a shocked look on her face. Nick calmed her by wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. "Little girl's tough as nails", an astonished Pete had managed to say.
Clementine was fuming inside, they had almost let her die.
[Still. Not. Bitten.]
[Are you happy?]
[Can I please come inside now?]
[…]
Clementine looked down for a moment, catching her breath. "Are you alright?" Carlos asked, quite genuinely. She looked up into the faces of the people who had left her to die in a dirty shed. "I am still. NOT. Bitten." Her breath stuttered as she continued. "I never was. And you left me out here to die".
Luke, Carlos, Alvin and Pete lowered their heads in shame. Jess was covering her eyes with her hand as she looked down, too ashamed to face Clementine. Nick released his arm from Jess's shoulder and brought it up to scratch the back of his head as he looked away awkwardly. Rebecca stood firmly with arms folded, brows furrowed on her face.
Luke looked down at Clem's arm. "You patched yourself up?" he asked rather impressed. Nick moved forward assertively towards her. "Where'd you get that stuff?" Jess looked up at Nick, imploring him to be reasonable with her warm eyes. Rebecca only made things worse "Did she STEAL from us!?"
Pete was yet again on Clementine's defence. "This doesn't change a thing. She hasn't done anything to us". "Says the man NOT carrying a baby". Jess threw daggers at Rebecca, she had grown sick of the woman using her baby as a reasonable excuse to not help others. Nick could see the anger in Jess but ignored her, focusing on what the others were saying. "Enough already!" Pete had grown tired of Rebecca's excuses as well.
Clementine tried to calm the situation. She still wasn't a threat to these people.
[I did and I'm sorry.]
[You left me no choice.]
[Screw you guys.]
[…]
(?) They will remember that
Rebecca was sharp in response. "You could've just LEFT". "Relax, Rebecca…" Pete ordered. "The way some of us were acting earlier, you're lucky she didn't set fire to the cabin Rebecca…" Jess bitterly fired at her. Rebecca hushed down and Carlos began to turn back toward the cabin, "Bring her in and I'll take a look at her arm". The rest turned and started heading back except for Luke and Jess. Jess moved forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Clem. Pulling her close into a warm and friendly embrace. She let go of the shivering girl and smiled at her. "You're probably the coolest person I know Clem". She turned and gave a slight smile to Luke, who was now leaned against the inside wall of the shed, before making her way back to the cabin.
"You hungry…?" Luke asked a worn down Clem who just stared at her feet silently before walking towards the cabin, never acknowledging his question.
Inside the cabin kitchen was a large wooden table, Jess sat at the end closest to where Clem was sitting at the counter with Carlos checking her arm. Luke stood at the other end of the table, with arms folded, and Nick had placed his rifle on top with the barrel facing in Clem's direction. He stood to the left side of the table from where Clem was sitting, still gnawing anxiously at his thumb as he held his arms tight to his chest. Luke had begun to pace the end of the room as Carlos ran his hand over Clem's arm, making her wince at his touch. "This might hurt a little" Carlos warned. "Ow!" Clem immediately responded. She looked down at her arm as Carlos continued his examination. "How's she look…?" Luke eagerly asked, growing impatient for Carlos' verdict. "Her suturing skills need some work, but otherwise I'd say she should be fine". Jess shared a smile with Clem as Luke moved forward to Carlos. "So it wasn't a walker bite?" The relief showed on his face. "If it was the fever would've already set in and her temperature would be through the roof".
Clem had watched as Nick raised his head in a cold stare and looked in her general direction, closing his eyes briefly and pushing his way out the door on the opposite side of where he stood.
Jess sighed, feeling worn out by Nick's recent childish behaviour, and began to stand from her seat to follow him out the door. Luke calmly reassured her to sit back down, as he pushed his way through the door after his best friend.
Clementine looked at her cleanly wrapped arm, Jess gave a slight smile and stood from her seat. "Now that I know you've been looked after, I'm gonna take this back upstairs before my husband gets another itchy trigger finger". She took the rifle in her hands and exited the kitchen through the opposite door that Nick and Luke had exited from.
Clementine was still struggling to see how Nick and Jess were married. They were so different. Jess seemed calm and caring whereas Nick was just an angry asshole. Clementine thought that maybe Jess was Nick's better half, but what did she get from their relationship?
*TIME PASS*
After Jess had left, Carlos discussed what had happened with Sarah earlier. Warning Clementine about manipulating his daughter and explaining how she was different from other girls. Clementine had apologised and Carlos had left the kitchen, grateful for her understanding.
Luke entered almost immediately after, holding a bowl of porridge ready for Clementine to eat.
"Hey I uh… brought you some food if you're hungry?" Clementine smiled, thankful for the meal.
As Luke and Clem sat at opposite sides of the table, Jess entered with a pile of clothes that were just washed. Clementine smiled at her, Jess returning it as she dropped the pile on the far end of the table. Luke smiled, too, at the young woman and looked back at the girl in front of him. "I know you didn't really get formal introductions from anyone but me and Pete, but uh… This is Jess, she's really weird and also she has a tendency to fondle folk's laundry", Luke teased and smirked as Jess grabbed a sock from the pile and lightly smacked him across the head with it. "And Luke's just an asshole". He chuckled and Clementine smiled at their playful banter. Jess's eyes met with Clem's as she began to speak, her expression had softened. "Clem, I am so sorry about Nick. He is an asshole but never like that…" Luke agreed. "Yeah I've never seen him like that". "Usually he is a charming asshole?" Clem looked up from her bowl in disbelief. "A charming asshole?" "Yeah…"Jess replied, shrugging. "It's hard to explain but… Never mind". She went back to folding up the clean laundry pile. Luke looked at Clem's arm and shifted to make conversation. "That's gonna leave one helluva scar".
[It's ugly.]
[Better than losing it.]
[It doesn't bother me.]
[(Eat)]
"Better than losing it", Clem pointed out. "Yep, scars… They're way cooler than stumps". Luke grinned. "Definitely". Clem even looked to see Jess at the end of the table chuckling. "What is it?" Luke asked suspiciously. "Nothing". "No, seriously Jess?" "I was just thinking about the time when I visited home and you came with me and Nick". Jess glanced at Luke who began to shift uncomfortably in his seat. "Aww man…" He blushed. "What happened?" Clem grew curious as to why Luke had become so uncomfortable. "Well Clem…" Jess began, trying not to smile widely as she spoke. "We went to a national park where there were kangaroos grazing, and there happened to be a kangaroo with a stumpy arm". "I didn't know how a kangaroo operated at the time by the way". Luke smirked a little. "Anyways, Nick and Luke approach the roo and try to touch its stumpy arm. It didn't really mind until they started snapping pictures of the poor thing". "It never said it didn't like pictures", Luke shrugged smugly. "So the kangaroo kicks Luke in the stomach, and Luke fell back into Nick. And I watched them go back… straight into the duck pond". "You wouldn't believe how much duck's shit", Luke joked. Clementine laughed at the story. Especially due to the fact that it happened to Nick as well. She found it hard to believe that he would have found the situation funny afterwards. 'But they were happier times I suppose'.
Clem scrunched up her face in thought. "What is a kangaroo?"
"Some deer/rabbit hybrid", Luke laughed. "And that's why he got kicked Clementine", Jess followed his joke. "No respect for anything". "Hey I've got respect', he smiled. "Just, I wanna know what you are before I respect you is all…"
Jess just waved off Luke's comment and continued folding the laundry pile.
As they finished their slight chuckles, silence fell upon the room as one of the kitchen doors swung open and Nick entered. He stared blankly at them for a few seconds before making his way to Clem's side. He looked around awkwardly before beginning to speak, bringing his hand up to scratch the back of his head halfway through his apology. "Hey, look. Um, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for… well… for being a dick out there". He looked up towards Jess who was smiling sweetly at him, he knew this apology would mean more to her then it would to Clem. And that's all he cared about.
"I got kind of aggro and that was definitely not cool". Luke showed support for Nick. "Nick's been known to go off every once in a while. Don't hold it against him". "Guess we all have our moments…" "You definitely had one out there…"
[It's okay. I get it]
[You were way out of line.]
Clem had heard about Nick having a genuine being somewhere inside, she really liked his best friend Luke and his wife Jess. They were both funny, kind and caring. Clem liked being around them a lot, but she had noticed the room feel colder as Nick had entered. The way he looked at her made her frightened. Nick was apologising now but she didn't think it was genuine. If he had apologised to her alone then maybe she would have accepted out of fear. But in the kitchen with Luke and Jess, Clementine felt no reason to fear Nick and was ready to say how she truly felt.
"You were way out of line", her voice was stone. "You shouldnt've pointed that gun at me". Clementine pierced up into the dull blue eyes of Nick, completely shocked at the tone the little girl was taking with him. "I was hurt and needed help and that's how you treat me?" Nick didn't know what to say, causing him to stammer his words. "I was just-"
Clem cut him short. "I know what you were trying to do, but that doesn't make it right". She looked away from Nick. "I could've died because of you". Luke just peered up at Nick, an indistinguishable look upon his face. Nick looked to see Luke's reaction, frowning slightly at how quickly his friend was to not have his back. He glanced up to see Jess who was sympathising with him but didn't say a word, she knew this is what Nick needed to hear. To not hear support from his wife or best friend crushed Nick inside. He had to get out of the room, feeling vulnerable to their stares. "Whatever…" He turned away from them and left the room.
Jess wanted to follow him out. She wanted to wrap her arms around and kiss him passionately for having apologised, not mattering whether Clem accepted it or not. But she didn't follow him, she stayed in the kitchen for Clem's sake. Nick was a big boy after all, he could take care of himself.
*TIME PASS*
Clem was walking down the darkened cabin hall as she made her way to the couch to sleep. She heard voices and they were mentioning her name, she grew curious and made her way upstairs towards the muffled voices. The door was slightly ajar and Clem peeped inside to see two figures, one sitting on the edge of the bed and another standing up in front. They were both lost in each other's eyes as the figure standing began to talk. "That was so cute what you did." Clem recognised Jess's voice. "The girl didn't think so…" That was definitely Nick, Clem noted.
"She'll come around eventually".
"I was scared a little".
"Well you know. You scared her so I guess it was karma".
"Yeah… I guess."
Jess lowered herself and sat on Nick's lap. She wrapped one arm around his neck and placed her other hand on his cheek, softly caressing it. He looked up with his bright blue eyes, they appeared warmer now that he was calm. Jess pressed her lips against his and he moaned lightly, glad that she was no longer mad at him. The kiss deepened as Nick grabbed her on the hip and back, pulling her closer into him. They parted and as she tried to catch her breath he lunged straight at her neck leaving sloppy kisses and nibbles, moving one hand to clamp her ass firmly and the other hand to brush gently up towards her chest.
Clementine began to feel uncomfortable, maybe she should stop watching. She tried to sneak away but it was so dark in the cabin that she kicked her foot on the upstairs railing. "OW!" She yelped. "Clementine?" Jess called. "Is that you?"
Clementine tried to stay silent, thinking they'd give up if she didn't answer. Instead a stream of candle light hit Clementine as the bedroom door flew open and revealed a concerned Jess staring down at her. "You okay sweetie?" She asked softly. Clementine looked around awkwardly. "I just wasn't tired. I came to see if you were awake but you were… you know?"
"Shit… Clem", Jess slapped her palm to her forehead quickly. "You saw that?" "NO!" Clem defended. "I mean a little but that's why I was gonna leave".
Jess smiled at Clementine's innocence. It had been so long since she'd seen another child besides Sarah. She had almost forgotten sometimes that they still existed. "Well, come talk Clem. We're not busy now", she gestured for Clementine to enter the room.
As Clem entered she was greeted to an unresponsive Nick who just stared at the floor, his red cap stood on the nightstand as his messy dark hair covered his eyes. Maybe he was mad at her again for having ruined the romantic moment with his wife. But Clementine didn't care, as Nick clearly had a lack of care for her. Jess sat on the desk chair and turned her upper body slightly to look at Clementine. The young girl was free to explore the room.
Look out window
Look at game
Talk to Jess
Talk to Nick
Look at bed
Exit
"It's really raining out there, do you reckon it'll be like that tomorrow", she asked, trying to make conversation with the couple. "No, it should be fine tomorrow", Jess answered enthusiastically. Nick looked up at her. "Yeah, how you know that?" He asked, a cocky tune to his words. "I said it 'should' be fine", she grinned back at him. "Pfft…" He smiled and lowered his head back down.
During that conversation he never dared to look at Clementine.
Look at game
Talk to Jess
Talk to Nick
Look at bed
Exit
Clementine walked over to the board game that was set up on the small table under the window. The game was one she didn't recognise, it looked weird as well. The board was just an image of all the world's countries and little figures occupied different areas. Clementine turned to Jess, completely dumbfounded. "What is this?" Jess shook her head slightly as she shrugged. "Who even knows?" Nick was quick to butt in. "Global Menace. Don't touch the pieces, the game isn't finished yet and I am so close to finally beating Luke". Clem furrowed her brows as Jess joined her. "Nerds, Clem…" She scoffed. "They think they're way too cool for us". She smiled simply at Nick who rolled his eyes, returning the smile.
Talk to Jess
Talk to Nick
Look at bed
Exit
Clementine made her way over to Jess. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course Clem, what is it?" Her eyes gleamed with excitement, happy for someone to take interest in what she had to say.
[How did you meet Nick?]
[How old are you?]
[Where are you from?]
[Exit]
"Where are you from?" Clem casually asked Jess, not wanting to run the risk of insulting her. Jess considered the question for a moment, not entirely sure what Clementine meant. "Southern Georgia, pretty much on the border where the state meets Florida". Clementine hadn't been hoping for that sort of answer but she didn't push the question any further. "Unless you mean where was I born?" Jess smiled knowingly as Clem nodded. "Australia". Clem tilted her head in confusion. "Where's that?" "About nine and a half thousand miles south west from here", She grinned cheekily. "Oh, okay. Is it bad there too?" Jess sighed softly and lowered her head momentarily, lifting it again to meet her earthly toned eyes with Clem's amber ones. "Honestly Clem, I have no idea. I wish I did since I still had extended family living there but…" She shrugs. "By my understanding of how virus's work, and I'm ninety-nine percent sure this shit is a virus, then I'd say that the chances of this thing being global is very high". Nick glanced up slowly to examine Jess's face. He rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand before pulling away, tugging slightly at his hairline before dropping his head and hands back to his lap.
[How did you meet Nick?]
[How old are you?]
[Exit]
"So if you two are married, then how old are you?" Jess gave a sly smile to Clementine. "We're younger then we look Clem. Be kind, because the world sure hasn't been as far as maintaining looks go", Jess gave a soft hearted chuckle. She mainly said that to tease Nick, knowing full well that Clem was just being curious. "I think we're both around 24 now". Nick tuned in, "Only 24? Man… I feel like fuckin' 64". Clementine joined in their jokes "Tell me about it…" She mumbled. "After what you did in that shed", Nick responded. "I think you'll be alright kid". Clementine folded her arms. "I can't fight rifles with a hammer, you know?" Nick scratched his head and looked away awkwardly. Jess laughed at the remark.
[So how did you meet Nick?]
[Exit]
"How did you guy's meet?" Clementine was truly intrigued by how Jess and Nick came to be together, they seemed so different. But the more time Clem was spending with them, she was beginning to see hints of Nick's kinder side. Maybe he only had special moments like this when he was in the presence of Jess. Even Luke must've seen a better side of Nick to have become his best friend.
"Now that's a rather uninteresting story…" Jess darted her eyes to Nick who smiled as his blue eyes met hers. "It's not that bad", Nick snickered. Jess raised an eyebrow at Nick who responded with a childish shrug.
"So I had just moved to the United States as my dad had gotten a job with an internationally run company, and one of the offices operated out of Atlanta. I was only fourteen at the time and struggled fitting into my new school. I should note that the Australian schooling system is very different. So anyways, here I am at this new school and nobody will speak to me. As I walk to my locker, a group of boys are gathering in the hall. They all push a dark haired boy in my direction and he just nervously stares at me. Then all the boys start chanting 'Do it' to him so he walks up to me, still shitting himself, and says "That's not a knife, this is a knife" in a very stereotypical accent and runs off with his friends following him". Clem stares at Jess, trying to comprehend the story. "I don't get it…" She finally speaks. Jess smiles, "That makes two of us". Nick shakes his head in annoyance. "It's a Crocodile Dundee reference!" Clem has no clue what he is talking about as Jess responds swiftly, "Australians don't sit around just watching Crocodile Dundee all day…" Nick chuckles softly, "I was fourteen Jess". She waved him off and turned back to Clem. "I didn't see him around the school much after that, he never approached me again and I didn't think about him. It was only years later that I realised he was the Crocodile Dundee kid".
"So how'd you meet again?"
"About two years later, my older brother started hanging out with a guy he worked with. You know what his name was…?" Jess grinned at Clem. "Was it Nick?" She asked thinking it was the most obvious answer.
"No actually, it was Luke". Jess corrects, sweetly glancing at Nick to finish the story. Nick lifts his head and sighs. "Luke tells me that he has met a dude that can put a new stereo in my car. I take it 'round to his house with Luke and we're just hangin' out. Next a beautiful girl comes out of the house and I freak out because I realise that it's the same girl I did the thing to. You know? So… Anyway I still feel really embarrassed about what happened so I get her alone and apologise. She had no idea what I was talking about so I thought that this was the chance for a fresh start. So I asked her on a date and she said yes…" Jess fluttered her eyes slowly in Nick's direction, causing him to slightly swoon before looking back at the floor to avoid blushing furiously in front of Clem.
Talk to Nick
Look at bed
Exit
Clementine makes her way to the side of the bed, standing right in front of Nick as he sits on the edge. The two are at perfect eye level. Clementine folds her arms and glares at Nick, who slowly raises his face to meet the little girl's own.
[I forgive you.]
[I'm still mad at you.]
Clem shoots daggers at him. "I'm still mad at you".
Nick frowns at the effort Clementine just made to tell him she was still mad. His blue eyes sharpen like grey steel as he faces back at his feet. "Like I said kid… whatever".
Look at bed
Exit
Clementine made her way to the end of the bed, Nick slightly side glancing in his peripheral to see what she was doing. Jess continued smiling at Clem, finding her curiosity of rather bland things quite intriguing. Clem frowned at the bed in front of her and turned to Jess. "This bed seems kind of small for two people". Nick smirked up at Jess who dismissed his dirty implications. "Yeah it is Clem, but we manage". The young girl stood to the side of the bed near Nick and noticed something on the floor.
Pick up object
Leave it alone
Clementine leaned down on her hands and knees and started to shuffle under the bed at Nick's feet. "The HELL you doin'?" He was startled by her actions and even more so when she didn't answer, but rather just groaned as she extended her arm to reach the object. Emerging back out from under the bed, Clem held the large photo album in her hands. "What's this?"
"Private!" Nick snapped. "No it's not Clem", Jess assured as she glared at Nick for his rudeness. "You don't take photos of private things Nick…"
At that moment, Jess moved from the desk chair and shuffled close next to Nick on the bed. She patted the empty spot next to her, gesturing for Clem to sit down. As the young girl crawled close, Jess opened the dusty album to reveal many photos of her and Nick, people who Clem didn't know from their pre-apocalypse life and some photos where Pete and Luke appeared.
Clem giggled as she pointed at a photo of Nick and Jess in wedding attire. "Is Nick actually smiling?" Jess nudged Nick's shoulder as he looked at the photo and became slightly embarrassed of his baby-faced appearance. "That was our wedding", Jess stated. "We were only eighteen at the time, just out of school and basically still kids. But we didn't care, we had each other and that's all what mattered". Clem peered past Jess to see a slight smile forming across Nick's face as he continued glancing towards the floor. "What's that one?" Clem pointed towards a photo of two young boys that looked not much older than herself. Jess smiled sweetly, "You are looking at a young Nick and Luke… The original ragtag team". Nick rolled his eyes which made Clem smile, she couldn't imagine them at her age. "What were you doing?" Clem was still mad at Nick but she wanted to know what the image was of. He looked up in surprise that she was speaking to him, but answered her question rather bluntly. "See that?" He pointed at the big white tube between the two boys. "Yeah". "That's a lemon cannon me and Luke made, we were really proud until we shot it at a teacher's car and it got confiscated". Nick smiled slightly at the memory. "We loved that cannon for the one day we had her… Named her Big Bertha and everythin'". Jess and Clem giggled and Nick grinned slightly before returning his head to face the floor.
Everything was going fine and Clem had seen many photos of Nick and Jess's families. But soon the relaxed mood had gone when Clem saw a page with an envelope taped inside. The envelope was marked 'Hudson' and was stuffed full of baby and toddler photos. "Who is this?" Clem asked. After a while Jess had left her to freely look through the album, forgetting the existence of the images in the envelope. Jess moved close to Clem. "Who's wh-"
Her smiling face became grief stricken as she scanned the photos of the young dark haired, green eyed babe. She stumbled her words as her breathing stuttered "Hudson…" Her head lowered and Nick's face lifted from the floor, alerted by what she had said. He quickly stood up and went to Jess's side, pulling her close to his chest. "Maybe you should go Clem…" Nick suggested in a rather calm and apologetic manner, one quite unusual for the man. Jess pulled slowly from his chest and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "No I'm fine. She can stay…" "You sure?" Concern strewn across his face. "Yeah, I'm fine sweetie".
Clem felt terrible for having made Jess upset. "I'm sorry". She looked down at the floor. "It's okay Clem, you didn't know. I thought I'd be able to handle seeing my baby's face again…" Nick let go of Jess's waist and left the room. Clem didn't bring the baby pictures up again but could have sworn she heard the muffled cries of Nick in the bathroom next door.
*TIME PASS*
The next morning, Clementine was making her way with Pete down to the river. Nick was joining them as well but he had stopped up the path to urinate on a tree. Pete had ushered for Clementine to continue making their way, allowing his nephew to catch up later. The young girl was lost in thought about what had happened last night with Jess and Nick. The way Jess's mood had changed as she laid her eyes upon those photos of the toddler had bothered Clementine for the rest of the night. She wished she had never opened that envelope because Nick was right, it turns out the album had been private. Clementine assumed that Hudson must've been their child, and the small infant was probably a walker or a walker meal now.
Pete pulled her out of her unresponsive state. "How ya' holding up? I heard you got an earful from Rebecca last night". Clementine was so focused on what had happened with the young couple that she had almost forgotten about Rebecca's harsh words. She just held her arm tightly as Pete continued. "Once she gets going there's no bringing her back".
[What's her problem?]
[She's mean. I don't like her.]
[She doesn't scare me.]
[…]
"She's all talk. She doesn't scare me", Clem found confidence in her words as she spoke. Pete turned back to look at her, agreeing with her words. "She was in a mood last night, that's for sure…"
They continued through the woods and crossed over a simple bridge constructed from a wooden door. Clem jogged ahead to catch up and walk next to Pete, as she had earlier been lagging slightly behind. "How far are these fish traps?" They had been walking for a while now and the young girl was becoming bored. "It ain't much further". Pete could see her impatience and assured that they would arrive at the river soon enough, turning to face her when he observed Clem glancing at the rifle in his hands. He smiled warmly, "Anyone teach you how to shoot? By that I mean proper, any idiot with a finger can shoot". Clem wasn't sure if this was a hint at Nick.
[My friend taught me.]
[Just not a rifle.]
[I don't like guns.]
[…]
"Yeah, but not a rifle!"
Pete began to step over an old busted fence. He considered her answer for a moment before responding. "Well, that makes sense. Less kick. This thing would probably knock you on your ass". He continued down the path as Clem stepped over the fence and pursued him.
Pete decided to tell her a story, trying to pass the time and stimulate the little girl's wandering mind.
"Nick was about your age first time I took him huntin'. Came across this beautiful 13-point buck just standin' there on the ridgeline". Pete acts out the scenes and continues by raising his rifle and looking down the sights. "The boy takes the rifle… lines up the shot just like I taught him… Then I hear him start whinin'". Pete lowers the rifle again and turns to face Clem. "He turns to me and says 'I can't do it. I can't shoot it, Uncle Pete. Please don't make me shoot it".
Clementine was surprised that Nick had acted this way, she would have imagined him to just coldly take a shot at the buck.
[Really?]
[What a baby.]
[Aww… that's sad.]
[…]
"Aww… that's sad", she smiled softly as the older man returned it.
An interrupting voice emerged from behind them. "Hey!" Nick ran towards them, panting slightly. "Why didn't you wait?"
Pete's tone towards Nick was rather unkind compared to how he spoke with Clem. "You want us standin' around while you piss on a tree? You know where the river is, boy".
Nick just relaxed himself, not having a response to Pete's words. He walked behind the two as his Uncle continued telling the anecdote.
"Anyway so I go to grab the rifle out of his hand before the big buck runs off when BANG!" Nick's face starts to seep with anger when he realises the embarrassing story his Uncle is telling the girl. "The gun fires. Boy nearly gut shot me. And of course the buck gets away".
Nick closes his eyes to contain his rage, but at this point he has heard enough.
"What're you goin' and tellin' her this shit for?"
Pete's smile fades as he turns to face his nephew. "Cause you almost blew her face off yesterday. Seems relevant. Tryin' to let her know it's nothin' personal with you". Nick lowered the rifle in his hands, disappointed at the way his Uncle humiliated him. "Why are you always giving me a hard time?"
"Because you're always givin' everyone else a hard time".
"I tried apologising. But she ain't havin' none of it".
"I'm not just talkin' about that, son. You're not a child anymore Nick, you've gotta grow up. What do you reckon Jess thinks when you act like this?"
Nick's brows furrowed. "What're you trying to say?"
"I'm sayin' that you embarrass her. Always complainin' and putting her on edge. Everyone's surprised she hasn't snapped yet… hell! Keep actin' that way and she might leave you. That seems to be what you want with that attitude".
Nick curled his bottom lip under his teeth, biting furiously as his eyes pierced. Clementine would be helpless if this were to become violent. She needed to ease the tension.
[It's fine. He apologised.]
[I want to hear the rest of the story.]
[Let's just get to the river.]
[…]
Although Clementine hadn't accepted Nick's apology, she wanted to let his Uncle know that he had made the attempt. "It's fine. He apologised", she beamed up at Nick.
"You're always trying to embarrass me". "You're doing a good enough job of that on your own".
Pete should have ended it there but continued. "And don't you think you've killed enough children in your lifetime".
Nick's eyes were wide with horror and grief. He looked hurt and seemed to be holding back the pain, quickly shoving past Pete and towards the river.
"Nick?" Pete called rather sympathetically. "You just leavin' us again?"
"I know where the fucking river is!" Nick shot, the anger and pain consuming his words.
Pete lowered his head, regretting what he had said. "I should sometimes keep my damn mouth shut…" Clementine was confused at what Pete had meant to Nick. But she didn't push the matter as it had seemed to pain both the men. Pete lifted his head calmly and continued his story. "So anyway… I found that buck later that season. Shot it right in the neck. Brought it up to my sister's figurin' she'd want to freeze some of the meat… Nick didn't speak to me for weeks". The older man placed one hand on his hip as he faced Clem. "Sometimes you've gotta play a role… even if it means the people that you love hate you for it". Pete scratched the back of his head nervously at what Clem might think of his moral compass.
[He doesn't hate you.]
[He's a jerk.]
[You should tell him that.]
[…]
"He doesn't hate you", Clem assured. Pete scrunched up his forehead. "Nick's father wasn't around much, and he was a piece of shit when he was. So it fell to me to raise him right. But yet, there he goes and gets married young, still a kid himself. I thought maybe that would get him to grow up, being responsible as a husband, a father and all. But he would stay out late and leave Jess to mostly raise Hud alone. I couldn't even tell you how many times me and my sister were there helping Jess out because Nick was lying in a hole somewhere. The kid did try though, he worked hard but I think the pressure of independence had gotten to him. And then after the… accident". Pete looked down sadly. "That boy has been broken for a long time".
Clementine didn't understand most of what Pete was saying, but knew that his words were sorrowful. As Pete was about to continue, Nick's frantic voice caught their attention.
"UNCLE PETE!"
*TIME PASS*
Everything had happened so quickly. One minute Clem was helping the two men search bodies at the river, the next she had to make a hasty decision of who to follow as both men yelled out for each to join the other. Clementine's heart raced, she would have definitely chosen to follow Pete to safety but he had been bitten by a walker on his ankle. Unknown to Nick from the other side of the river, Clem could see the ripped material on Pete's pants where blood had started seeping out. Pete looked at her shocked and frightened, knowing that Clem had seen. Now as the walkers started to emerge from the pines and engulf them in a shroud of moans and growls, Clem found herself leaving Pete on the other side and sprinting to the safety of Nick. Nick had turned and faced her, surprised that she had come to him but unaware of her reasons for doing so. Pete screamed out to Nick, he had ran out of ammo and was slowly disappearing beneath the bodies and savage tearing of the corpses. "Uncle Pete", Nick panicked, moving at fast pace as he tried desperately to reload his rifle. By the time Nick had reloaded, Pete was already dead. But that didn't stop Nick shooting the walkers dead out of anger and frustration.
Clementine knew Nick was losing it and urged him to leave as more walkers swarmed from the forest. "Nick, we have to go!" He glared down at her, furious as to why she hadn't helped his Uncle. "You could have saved him!"
Clem pained when Nick had said that, he was bitten… There was nothing she could have done.
"How could you just leave him?"
The young girl started to doubt her decision, she was frightened to be with Nick.
She wished Pete hadn't been bitten, or Luke and Jess had come with them.
She wished Lee was there.