A/N Hey guys! This chapter was so long I had to cut it in half, LOL. Anyways, i'm trying to lead up to a key turning point in the game. So i'm pretty you know where i'm getting at ;-) PM me if there is a grammatical error or a double post. If you were here since the first time i uploaded the first chapter before editing it, you'd understand :)
Also, I need some tips on writing emotional scenes. I've always been terrible at those, so I just wanted to ask all you experienced writers out there for you're opinions. Please PM or leave a review regarding this.
Thanks!
-ClementineTWDG
...
Two and a half hours later
outskirts of Macon, Georgia.
4:06 am
Ed had his eye's focused on the open expanse of road ahead of him. It seemed to stretch on forever, and no matter how far he would drive it would never come to an end. He felt exhaustion faintly, but he ignored it the best he could. The stranger had driven for the first half hour, but eventually he said he would pass out if he didn't get some sleep. He tried to have Tess drive from there but she denied. Ed was the only other one awake at that time, and the stranger reluctantly handed him the keys. Now, the stranger was knocked out, his mouth hanging open and everything. Ed had a hard time keeping Elizabeth from laughing.
He heard a shuffling sound next to him, breaking him from his thoughts. He turned to see Elizabeth looking through her pink backpack. His heart cringed as memories started rushing back. The backpack...
Shutting the door behind him, Ed hid the present behind his back as he entered his house, setting his work bag down and settling himself down on the couch.
"Clementine, come here for a minute." Ed called. No answer.
The he remembered.
Smiling, he fished through his bag and pulled out a black walkie-talkie. He pushed a few buttons and he heard a crackling sound. He lowered his voice.
"This is captain D calling in for special agent Sweet Pea. Come in Sweat Pea, Over"
He waited. Static followed, but he knew any minute now.
"This is Sweet Pea responding to Captain D. What is your emergency?" Clementine giggled.
"We have a code red, 'surprise gift' for a certain little girl named Clementine. Have you seen her?"
An excited squeal came from the other end, and he heard the walkie-talkie drop.
He heard the sound of little feet running coming from upstairs, and he smiled as his daughter popped her head around the corner of the staircase. Her face lit up with an excited smile.
"Hi, Daddy! Welcome home!" she said.
He put his radio away and gestured for Clementine to come sit next to him. Her fluffy black hair bounced as she rushed to his side. She noticed the large bag beside him, and she furrowed her eyes in confusion. Pointing to it, she asked. "Whats that?"
He winked and pulled the bag onto his lap.
"This? This is for you, Sweet Pea." he answered. "You know that we're leaving for Savannah in a couple days, right?"
Frowning, she looked down. "Yea..."
"Well, I was thinking, and I decided to get a few things before then."
He pulled a purple backpack out of the shopping bag and handed it to her. She squealed and clutched it close to her.
"Wow! This is so cool, Dad!" She said.
"Open it." He added.
She fumbled with the zipper for a minute, which in turn brought a smile to Ed's face. She was so sweet and innocent. She reached in and pulled out Ed's purple and white baseball cap. She loved that hat, but he barely let her touch it because he was afraid she would get it dirty. But now, he knew she could handle it. He could see the awe and amazement etched on her face, but she hesitated. She looked up at her father in confusion.
"Daddy, why is your hat in here..?" she asked, then realization dawned on her face. Ed saw the absolute happiness sparkle in her golden eyes.
"Really? I get to borrow it?" She said ecstatically. The look of pure joy on her round face.
"Yes." He responded. He took it from her and placed it on her head. "Now, I want you to take good care of it, okay? I know you love it, and I-oof!" he was cut off when she practically tackled him in a full-on hug. She held him tight.
'STOP, Ed, goddammit.' Ed thought, trying to stop the tears. The memory. He had to stay strong. For Diana. For Clementine...
"I love you, daddy"
That did it.
Sure, Ed had wanted to cry. He wanted to cry at plenty of points since this whole thing started. But each and every time he had managed to ignore it. Push it away. But that had taken a toll on him over time, and now he was suffering the consequences.
He slammed his foot on the breaks. The car jolted and skid to an absolute stop. Everyone in the car that had managed to get some shut-eye was now wide awake, and pretty stressed out to.
"What the hell, Ed? Why the fuck did you stop?!" The stranger demanded.
Ed opened his door and stormed out of the car. Then the tears came. Hell, he cried a fucking river. He collapsed on his knees and sobbed. Covering his face with his hands.
"Ed!" Diana said with concern in her voice. She raced to Ed's side. She slowed as she approached him, kneeling next to him. Hesitantly, she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Sweetie... are you okay?" she asked, in a calm, soothing voice. Ed's shoulders shook.
"No." He said after a few seconds. "I'm not okay. I'm FUCKED. This whole damn world is FUCKED!"
He brushed her hand away angrily. She was taken aback by this. Then, he snatched a rock from the ground and turned. Using all his strength, he heaved it at the station wagon. It shattered on impact, and left a giant dent in the right passengers side door. Elizabeth, who was in that seat, jumped back in fear. Terror in her eyes. Tess protectively shielded her. The stranger came out and yelled at Ed. "Ed- what the fucking fuck?"
"WHY IS EVERY FUCKING THING IN THIS GODDAMN WORLD AGAINST ME!?" He screamed at the clouds
"What the FUCK is wrong with you, Ed?! Fuck, is he going crazy?" the stranger hissed.
Ed collapsed again and cried. Bawling his eyes out. No one dare came near him again.
Later...
"Wait, I know this place."The stranger said. Ed had since left and gone off into the forest. After awhile, he had calmed down and announced he was going on a walk. Diana allowed it, but she made him leave all weapons with her, not because she didn't trust him, but because of how he was doing emotionally, and well...
She didn't want to think about it.
Tess looked at her husband confused. Elizabeth was asleep in her arms.
"What do you mean?" she asked. The stranger was pacing back and forth as if in thought.
"Tess, shit! This is where I took Adam hunting! This is the place! Hell, we have to go looking for him! He could still be here!"
At first, Diana though Tess would oppose to this. It was crazy to Diana, but fuck, everything was crazy these days.
To Diana's surprise, Tess's face lit up with realization, and she nodded.
"Lets go then. Lets look for him. Every second counts." He took his daughter from Tess and they both ran off into the forest, calling Adams name.
that happened pretty damn fast
"God dammit..." Diana cursed, racing after them.
EDs POV
Staring blindly at the ground before him, Ed felt depression hitting him over and over like waves on a beach. Yea, he knew that he still didn't know if Clementine was actually dead yet, but he knew wasting three damn months on some shithouse with false promises instead of taking initiative and actually searching for her. He was disappointed in himself, and thinking about it he wondered if it was to late. Anything can happen in three all he knew she could be in some safe army base, locked up by some abusive psycho, or... A walker. He shuddered at the thought, but no tears came. It was as if he had no tears left. He already used them all.
"Adam!" A voice yelled in the distance. "If you hear us, yell! We're coming!"
"what's that...?" He said, looking over towards the sound. "Shit, they're gonna get us all killed!" He said in realization when he recognized the strangers voice. And they thought HE was going crazy.
he started to run. He had to stop them before the brought the entire city of Macon down on top of them.
the branches scraped at his face and the rocks and roots made him stumble. he cursed when he cut his hand on a sharp jutting rock that crossed his path. Holding his bleeding Palm, he burst into the clearing.
he saw the stranger with his hands cupped over his mouth, yelling his sons name. Tess, practically on his heels, was carrying a now wide-awake and quite unhappy Elizabeth, wondering why they wouldn't let her sleep. Then Diana burst through the brush and trees to join them. Looking just as pissed as Ed.
The stranger noticed Ed, and gave him a cold stare. "You came back. I was hoping you wouldn't."
"What the fuck is your problem? Are you that stupid? You go off like that and leave the car unattended? Full of all our SUPPLIES?!" he shoved The Stranger in anger, causing him to loose his balance and stumble into a nearby tree. But Ed didn't attempt anything more.
"I knew you would do something like that, Ed." The stranger said, climbing to his feet. Something flashed in his eyes. Revenge?
"I'm going to-"
*beep* *beep*
was that the car?
