Episode 1, Chapter 1 – 16 Months Later
"I miss Lee," Clem hugged herself tighter. I didn't look up, pressing my fingers to the frozen skin beneath the rips in my jeans. It was only the beginning of Autumn, but already the nights were frigid. I tried not to think about the spring and summer that were too short. Beneath only my fraying henley and shabby jacket, I was already feeling Jack Frost's bite.
Christa muttered something discomforting and straightened her back. "Just find a way to keep the fire going until I get back," she ordered half-heartedly, disappearing into the trees.
Clem exhaled deeply, her breath a soft, haunting flurry of white. She stood, pulling the sleeves of her striped blue shirt down over her wrists and moving toward her backpack.
"Do you think we'll make it to Wellington?" I whispered, sliding painfully off the log and approaching her. But she didn't answer. I looked down; she was holding a photo, ripped and bloodstained. I didn't have to ask. I knew it was Lee. She found the lighter next and rose, approaching the campfire. I watched her back as she stooped and set the corner of the photo alight, dropping it into the pile of smoldering logs.
It wasn't enough to reignite the flames. Even now I can't stop thinking about how she burned it for nothing. Nothing was ever enough.
In a sick way, I was almost grateful the bandits showed up when they did. Not because we were separated from Christa (despite her constant, catching depressive episodes), but because it was a change of pace, for once. Clementine didn't think twice before going after her. I wanted to run. At least it wasn't yet winter. The fall into the river probably would have killed us. Couple of human popsicles. Happy Thanksgiving, walkers.