The entire night passed, but neither Dalton nor John had returned yet, and Clementine was getting worried.
She remained seated on Abilene's cot, watching as the older woman continued to work on her spear. But she actually had a strained, worried look in her gray eyes, clearly wondering about the two men herself. She muttered some incoherent words that Clementine couldn't hear.
"Tristan said that John was in this kind of mess once before," Clem pointed out. "Was he gone this long last time?"
Abilene put her spear down and sighed. "Not nearly this long, maybe a few hours at the most," she replied. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "God...what has that asshole gotten himself into now? And Dalton...I just don't know."
"What if they don't come back?" Clementine asked, a little worried.
Abilene sighed again. "We'll have to go look for them. Hell, I don't know, Clem." The woman was frustrated and Clementine could clearly tell. It seemed as if things always seemed to go awry just when they were beginning to get good.
"I'll help," Clem replied determinedly. Even though she didn't know John or Dalton that well, she still didn't want two more innocent survivors to die.
Abilene smiled. "You sure have been a lot of help since you started staying with us."
"I like to help," Clem shrugged.
"I know," Abilene nodded. "So if we go looking for them, I'll let you know."
"Okay," Clementine responded. "Do you mind if I go and check on Christa?"
"I don't mind," said Abilene.
Clementine stood up and exited Abilene's room, greeted by the cold morning air. She rubbed her arms to try and get warm, and a thin green jacket didn't do much help to keep her warm. Tristan was still on watch, clutching his rifle, but Clementine decided not to talk to him right now.
The little girl opened the door quietly just in case Christa was still asleep, but she saw the older woman standing at the window.
"Christa, are you okay?" Clem inquired.
"They haven't come back yet, have they?" Christa deadpanned.
"Umm...not yet." Clementine somehow knew that Christa still didn't fully trust these people, with the exception of maybe Abilene.
"Clementine, there's something wrong with these people," Christa deadpanned. "I don't trust these people and we never should have come here." She was beginning to get angry.
"We could leave now..." Clem suggested, even though she didn't want to go. And she really didn't want to leave Abilene. But Clementine knew if Christa wanted to leave then they both had to leave because they were a team.
Christa shook her head. "We can't leave. We're in too deep now. We don't need them to be angry with us."
"John and Dalton will come back," Clementine almost pleaded. "Maybe they found each other and got lost. Christa, please. A group is good for us!"
"That's what you think," Christa very nearly hissed. "I still don't believe in strength in numbers. Not then, and not now. And you shouldn't either."
Clementine had a pained expression on her face, remembering her words on the day they had met, a year ago now. But she didn't say anything in reply, she only sighed and looked down, clasping her hands together.
"Clementine, you have to understand me when I tell you this," Christa continued. "The world has gone to shit and we both know that. And people...people change. Maybe these people used to be trustworthy, but something has changed them. And it might not just be this hell on Earth we live in now."
"Not all people are like that though," Clementine barely managed to get out. The little girl didn't like arguing with Christa, but by now it was inevitable. She and Christa were too different, and had gone through and seen too much together. And Clem knew that she was starting to grow a backbone, she knew she wasn't the same little girl anymore; not since Lee died at least.
"Don't be naïve, Clementine!" Christa yelled, causing the little girl to cringe. "Not everybody is a good person who wants to help you! Not everybody is Lee!" She finished, making tears well in Clementine's golden eyes.
"I...know that," the little girl whispered, begging herself not to cry.
"Just...leave me alone for a bit, Clementine, I need to think," Christa ordered.
"O...Okay," Clementine whispered, seeing herself out of their room. She had to breathe deeply to calm herself down, she couldn't cry in front of these people who were still somewhat classified as strangers. But she hated that Christa had to talk about Lee. It still hurt to even say his name sometimes.
The sound of Tristan standing up quickly caught Clementine's attention. The older man began pointing his rifle in every direction.
"Alright, motherfuckers, come on out!" he challenged. "I know that y'all ain't walkers!"
Clementine ran over to Tristan and stood next to him. He towered over her and was much older, so she didn't know if he would take her seriously. But regardless, she had to try and stop him from making too much noise.
"Tristan, you're going to attract them!" she pleaded. "Someone might hear us!"
"Somebody's after us, Clem," Tristan replied lowly, squinting his eyes and continuing to point his rifle around. "I can just tell."
"But-"
"Shh!" Tristan held his index finger up, looking all around. He looked down at Clementine. "Go on and see Abilene, you'll be safe with her. Tell her what's goin' on. Go!" he ordered. Clementine immediately turned around and bolted towards Abilene's room, knocking on her door.
"Abilene!" she yelled before the older woman opened the door.
"Clem, what is it? Is Christa okay?" Abilene asked, looking around outside.
"She's fine," Clem waved off. "But Tristan said someone is after us!" the little girl continued on quickly. "He told me I'd be safe with you," she finished before Abilene hurriedly pulled her into her room.
"Did you see what was after us?" Abilene asked.
Clem shook her head, "Tristan just said that they weren't walkers."
"Shit..." Abilene mumbled.
She quickly walked over and pulled out a revolver, turning to Clementine and holding it out. "Please tell me that someone has taught you how to shoot. You might be only a kid, but...it's crucial for anybody nowadays."
Clementine nodded rapidly. "My friend Lee," she replied, nearly forgetting what Christa had just said to her.
"Good. We should stay in here for now, but if something goes to shit outside, then we'll need to be involved." Abilene picked up her (now-complete) spear, holding it tightly as she looked out the window.
A part of Clementine was worried about Christa, and if she would be okay. But the other part of her just really wanted to know what the hell was going on. She figured Christa would be okay, after all, the older woman knew how to protect herself and whatnot.
To say she was scared was an understatement though. "You see anything yet?" she asked Abilene who was busy taking peeks and glances out the window.
"Not yet-" the woman started to answer. "Wait a second... Is that John?" she asked incredulously. "And Dalton?" Clementine didn't believe her, so of course she had to look out the window herself, and she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw John, Dalton, and a few other unrecognizable people holding Christa and Tristan at gunpoint.
"Those fucking traitors!" Abilene yelled.
"We have to help Tristan and Christa!" Clementine cried, taking out the gun given to her.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Abilene screamed. "I knew that they were onto something!" She took her spear and another firearm and started towards the door, but paused and looked back at Clementine. "Come on. Stay behind me, and follow my lead."
Clem nodded and loaded her gun, quietly sneaking out behind Abilene and wondered what she was going to do.
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