"All you have to do is kill him. Then, you can see your mommy and daddy again. You do want to see your mommy and daddy right?"
She did, she knew she did but…. The knife shook in her hands as she looked up in guilt.
"No. No, no, no! I can't…hurt him."
His face twisted in rage as he stepped forward, towering over the young girl.
"What do you mean you can't HURT him? We had a deal. You do what I say and you get your parents back. If you aren't going to do it ill just take them and-"
"No, no, no, no!" She took a small step back and looked up at him in fear.
She did make a promise and she wanted to be with her parents but…
"Well?" He said catching her attention once more. He placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing slightly. "Do we have a deal…sweetie?"
She knew she had to listen to him. Bad things would happen if she didn't and she could lose everything if she lost his trust…even her parents. She needed her parents. Its what she wants and what Lee would want too…she knew that. He put his life on the line for her and now she's forced to take it from him. He released his grip and kneeled down, meeting her eyes.
"We don't want anything to happen like last time now do we?" He murmured. She hesitated before shoving the fear back down. She nodded slowly and the man released his grip smiling slightly.
"Good girl." He said in approval, standing up and making his way towards the front door. He opened it slowly, the hot air spilling from the hallways dark corridor. He motioned for her to leave and watched her hesitantly walk towards the doorway, listening for the groans of the dead. When she had fully exited the room he handed her a bag from the nearby chair. She held it in both hands, giving him a weak smile before turning towards the darkness.
"Now, be a good girl and do as I said."
She didn't stop walking but he knew by the sound of her retreating footfalls that she understood. She was nearly gone when he spoke out once more.
"And Clementine-" He whispered into the darkness. "Don't forget what I've told you."
He heard her quiet sobs echo down the hall until once more he was alone in the darkness.
When the sound of the closing door rang out in the corridors and silence filled its place Clementine stopped. She was at the emergency stairs door, a big white sign with a stick figure happily bounding down the bold black steps hung down from a hook. She felt the sign and ran her fingers down the door, feeling the cold hard metal on her fingertips.
A groan from somewhere in the hallways caught her attention and she slowly pushed open the door, squinting at the sunlight pouring in. She made her way down a small set of cement stairs and picked up a bag she had left before entering. She found the zipper, hearing the pleasant sound of the zipper making its way down the bags opening. She pulled out a water bottle, a hairbrush she and Lee had found not long ago and-
She pulled her hand out and stuck her head in the bag. Her heart stopped and she flipped the bag, spilling its contents on the wet grass.
"No…no, no, no, no, no," she went on and on and on until finally she began to cry. Dropping the bag on the ground she to plopped down and put her head in her legs. She felt guiltier now then ever. Her parents were gone and now she was being asked to kill in exchange for them. Her sobs turned to wails and she continued to do so until a glimmer of sun flashed her.
"Ow." She mumbled looking up at the object that had reflected such light. Her face lit up and she got on her feet, the picture of Lee was lying in the nearby grass, wet with the dew of the morning. She ran to it and snatched it up, observing every inch of it…
And for once that day, she smiled.