Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. All rights reserved to their respective owners.
"I got you now, motherfucker!" Troy hissed as he went toward the boy with his finger against the trigger of his rifle.
Carver held out his arm and stopped Troy. Troy grumbled as Carver turned to Keith. He noticed the gun in Keith's hand and his smirk widened. "So what's your plan, boy?" Carver asked. "Are you going to shoot me, now? Show me what the world has taught you while you were out there."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Troy inquired. "If you die-"
"Then my community will have a future, and my boy will be its leader." Carver interrupted Troy. "Heck, shoot Troy too. Make him an example to everyone."
"The fuck you're going to let him shoot me!" Troy exclaimed.
Keith approached Carver who was at the bottom of the steps. Meanwhile, Troy aimed his gun at Keith and said, "No dumb moves, fucker."
Keith looked up to his father whose smirk was starting to fade and he said, "Well, what are you waiting for? If you kill me, you save your friends right here." Carver gestured to the captured group members behind him.
Keith looked down with a frown for a second and back to his father. The tension in the room was thickening as each second ticked by until Keith adjusted his grip on his gun and pointed the handle of his gun to Carver. "But I won't be able to save you." Keith said. Carver's smirk fell and he looked disappointed at the boy. "I came to you to surrender and buy time. By now, Rebecca, Alvin, Luke, and Clementine are miles from here."
Carver huffed and said, "Tie him up." Troy approached the boy and snatched the gun out of his hand.
Troy shot a glare which told Keith to turn around to which the boy obliged and Troy started to tie him up. "A fucking waste of time." Troy hissed. He finished and then shoved the muzzle of his assault rifle in the back of Keith's head which made the boy lose his balance. Keith yelped as he hit the ground to which Troy exclaimed, "Get the fuck up, asswipe!"
"Troy enough man!" Johnny exclaimed.
"Yeah take it easy!" Bonnie added.
"You know what, shut the fuck up the both of you or I'll-" Troy went to raise his gun but stopped when Carver's revolver was pressed against his skull.
"Troy, I brought you along because you show results, but right now you're more of a liability than help." Carver said. Carver then got closer to Troy and said, "Straighten up or I'm going to put a bullet in your useless head." Troy nodded and went up the stairs. Carver shook his head before looking to Bonnie and Johnny. "One of you two help my boy up and examine this place.
Johnny and Bonnie nodded and guided the group toward for the stairs. Bonnie helped Keith up, then gestured to the captured members of the ski lodge to sit in front of the wall adjacent to the Christmas tree. "Look at this place." Bonnie remarked as she observed the ski lodge.
"Bill's going to hate it." Johnny said. "Those windows over there are vulnerable."
"Yeah. Speaking of which could you go cover those windows?" Bonnie asked.
"Yeah I got it." Johnny replied and he went to the window.
Meanwhile, Troy tied everyone else up as Carver looked around to see where Rebecca was. Finally, he huffed and went to Keith. He cupped the boy's chin with his hand and asked, "Where's Rebecca?"
"I already told you, she's miles from here." Keith replied.
Carver shook his head and asked, "Why defend a woman who could give two shits of what will happen to you?"
"A better question is why do I still love the man that murdered my mom and step-dad? The answer is simple… because you're my dad, and nothing you can do or say will change that." Keith answered with a smile.
Carver raised an eyebrow at him and released the boy's chin. He got up and he said, "Well seeing that you won't answer me, I'll have to use a different approach." He headed over to Carlos.
He grabbed Carlos by the arm and proceeded to punch him with a hard hit to the stomach. Carlos wheezed as he fell to the ground. "Dad!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Listen, I'm only going to ask you one more time, where's Rebecca?" Carver said as Carlos tried to regain his breath.
Carlos looked to Sarah and he said, "Sarah look at me. It's going to be okay." Suddenly Carlos was pulled back by his hair by Carver. Carver grabbed one of his hands and pulled back a finger to where it was dislocated.
Carlos screamed in pain as Sarah looked on in horror. "No!" She exclaimed.
"Rebecca?" Carver shouted. "Rebecca, our baby deserves to be raised in a place of safety. I know you are out there, with Alvin, Luke, and the girl." Carver released Carlos's hand from his grip. Carlos whined in pain from the newly dislocated digit. "This is real simple. If you want this over quick you all play nice and show your faces."
"Don't hurt my dad, please." Sarah pleaded.
Carver turned his attention to Keith and he said, "So what's it going to be boy? Are you going to tell me where they are, or do I need to take this to the next level?"
Keith looked down with a frown indicating that he wasn't going to tell Carver anything. Carver chuckled and he said, "Fine. Have it your way." He then grabbed Carlos's arm again and pulled back another finger. Carlos yelled in pain again
"DAD!" Sarah yelled. "Just stop! Don't hurt my dad please!"
"I'm afraid you are pleading with the wrong person." Carver replied. "If Keith tells me where Rebecca is, then I'll stop."
Sarah turned to Keith with pleading eyes. However, Keith could only look to Sarah with a frown and shake his head. "Please Keith, you have to make him stop!" Sarah said.
Having adjusted to the pain of his dislocated digits, Carlos glared at Carver and spat, "Fuck you. Shoot him! Somebody just shoot hi-"
Carlos stopped mid-sentence as Carver pulled him back and placed a knife to his neck. Keith's eyes widened and he looked to his father who had a smirk on his face. "So what's it going to be Keith Blake? Are you going to let Carlos die or are you going to tell me what I want to know?"
Keith closed his eyes hard and sighed. He opened them and was about to respond when Rebecca shouted, "Bill stop!"
Carver looked up to the second floor and smirked. "Ah." He said and he threw Carlos to the ground. Carlos grunted as he hit the ground while Sarah cried over how close her father came to death.
Keith looked to the stairs and saw Alvin, Rebecca, and Clementine heading for the group. Rebecca went up to Carver and he caressed her cheek. "Are you alright?" Carver asked.
"Fuck you, Bill." Rebecca snarled. But if anything, Carver only smirked as Rebecca went to join Alvin. Troy tied up Clementine and Alvin while Rebecca was permitted to stand due to being late in her pregnancy.
"Please, you don't want to do this." Walter pleaded with Bonnie as she looked over the newly captured people. "Just let these people go."
"Just shut up." Bonnie spat. It was evident in her voice that she sounded guilty.
Carlos grunted in pain as he was forced to sit down next to Clementine. He looked to her and asked, "Clem, can you reach my hands?"
Clementine looked to his dislocated digits and shook her head. "Someone will see me. Just be patient; Luke and Kenny are still out there."
Suddenly, a gunshot sounded and busted through the glass. The shot went straight through Johnny's skull and he landed on the ground dead.
"Kenny…!" Sarita said.
"Johnny!" Keith said. Keith knew Johnny from Howe's. Unlike many who worked for Carver, Johnny was actually a decent and kind man. His death would definitely not do any good for the group.
Carver, Troy, and Bonnie went into action. They raised their guns up towards the group to prevent them from getting excited. "Don't move!" Bonnie barked. The three then took cover behind a couple of columns and tried to see who the mystery marksmen could be. However, the storm and dark night made it impossible for them to make out anything. "I can't see them!" Bonnie exclaimed.
"Watch them." Carver commanded and he went to Walter. He grabbed the man and placed him in a chokehold. Walter grunted as he tried to breathe while Carver kept pushing him forward. After walking past Bonnie and Troy, Carver pushed him to the ground. They were in full view of the large window where the shot came from. Carver pulled out his handgun and fired point-blank into Walter's skull.
"No!" Carlos exclaimed. Sarah continued to cry even louder than before and even started wailing.
"Walter!" Clementine and Keith exclaimed in unison.
"That was for our man!" Carver shouted to the mystery sniper. "Now I didn't want to do that, but you ain't leaving me much option. So here's what's going to happen. I'm going to march another one of your friends out here and I'm going to put a bullet in the back of their head." Sarah wailed out of fear of being next for Carver to shoot. "Or you can give up now, your choice."
Another shot was fired which hit the column that Carver was hiding behind. Carver merely shrugged and went up to Alvin. "Hi, Alvin." Carver said as he dragged the man to his feet.
"You motherfucker." Alvin spat.
"Alvin!" Rebecca exclaimed as she tried to stop Carver, but she was stopped by Troy who aimed his gun at her. "Bill no! Tell him to stop!" Rebecca shouted. "Kenny stop!"
"Dad please, it doesn't have to be this way!" Keith pleaded.
Carver ignored them and kept his gun to Alvin's head. "You remember George, Alvin? You see, I do. I remember a guy who was your friend named George. I remember when you murdered him in cold blood. And why? Because you didn't like me?" Carver then stopped walking and continued as he kept his revolver aimed at Alvin's head. "You could have lodged a complaint. You could have… well you could have been civil about it."
"Bill no! We'll do whatever you want!" Rebecca pleaded.
Alvin turned to Rebecca and he said, "I love you, Bec."
"BILL PLEASE!" Rebecca exclaimed.
"Kenny, Luke, don't shoot!" Clementine shouted.
Carver looked back to Clementine and he said, "Ah." Realization hits him as he realized that using the girl would stop the mystery sniper, whether it would be Luke or Kenny. He threw Alvin to the ground and went up to the group. Keith's eyes widened as Carver approached Clementine.
Carver grabbed Clementine by her shirt collar and forced her up. She gasped at the grab until Carver picked her up and placed the barrel of his revolver to her head. She whimpered while Caver kept a grip on her. Keith's jaw dropped for a moment as Carver explained to the mystery sniper. "We can do this all night. Is that what you want?"
"NO!" Keith shouted. "Dad, please, don't hurt her! I LOVE HER!" All of Keith's captured allies gasped upon hearing Keith's confession. However, they were not alone, as Bonnie also gasped and now looked on in horror as Carver kept his grip on the girl threatening to fire a bullet in her skull at any second.
"Keith if there is anything that you should learn about life, it's that love is nothing more than a lie. Take your mother for instance. I loved her, but then I found Rebecca and we all know how that turned out." Carver explained as Clementine continued to whimper in Carver's grip.
"Dad, no!" Keith pleaded. "I'll do anything you want, just don't hurt her please!" It was now Keith's turn to cry since there was almost nothing he could do. However Carver didn't listen at this point. Finally the doors to the ski lodge opened and everyone looked over to see Kenny raising his hands in surrender. Bonnie went over and tied him up. Once she finished, she shoved him to join the others. Keith sighed in relief; he was thankful that Kenny surrendered and didn't get Clementine killed.
Kenny took Walter's spot as he glared at Carver. "Where's Luke?" Carver inquired. No one answered as Carver continued, "Finally cut and run, huh? Why am I not surprised?" Carver then approached Carlos and said, "I warned you. I warned you not to follow him. And look where he's led you." Carver walked away from the group and looked towards the door front. He then turned back to the group and said, "But you're safe now." He approached Rebecca. "We're going home now, as a family." Carver looked to the bulge of Rebecca stomach which was her baby. Alvin glared at Carver as Carlos looked down with a frown; he realized that he was going back to the community that he hated. Sarah shared her father's sadness as she whimpered in fear of what would happen next. Clementine looked to Keith to which the boy shot a reassuring glance towards her.
"Alright. Round them up." Carver told Troy and Bonnie. "We're heading back to camp. With that, one-by-one, each person from the group was hoisted up and forced to leave.
Keith looked back to Clementine until Bonnie pushed the boy forward. "Move it, Keith!" Bonnie hissed. Keith was reluctant but obliged, and soon, all that was left in the ski lodge was Walter's body.
Several Hours Later
It had been a long march out of the woods, but finally, the group was in the back of the truck. During the long trip back to Howe's, Sarah had to use the restroom to which Clementine accompanied her. Keith warned Clementine that Troy was an evil and heartless man and to be careful around him. Keith, of course, was not wrong. But now, they were all back in the truck. Uncomfortable silence filled the area as everyone but Kenny had given up on escaping at this point. The truck jerked from hitting a couple of bumps until Kenny spoke up, "Alright, we got to do something. Come on. Anyone got anything sharp? Anything? We need to get these bindings off." Kenny looked to Clementine when he found that no one else was willing to assist him. "Hey! Clem, help me find something that will get these off. Anything sharp that can cut these…"
"And what good is that going to do?" Rebecca asked.
"What the hell is wrong with you people?" Kenny inquired. "We got to get out of here."
"Like what?" Clementine asked.
"What do you mean by like what?" Kenny snapped. His impatience and anxiety being directed at Clementine. "Something sharp! Anything that can help! A fucking… I don't know! Something!"
"Okay, think stupid." Keith said. "Even if you manage to cut those bindings off, you're still stuck in here with us."
"I don't want to hear it from you, asshole! The way I see it, this is all your fault!" Kenny snapped. "If it wasn't for you, that asshole dad of yours would not have taken us." Keith glared at Kenny to which he ignored and continued, "We're in a fucking precarious position here. We got to do something about that!"
Settle down, Kenny." Carlos spoke up. "They took everything from us. We have to keep a level head."
"He's right." Rebecca said. "You don't know Bill like we do."
"Bill?" Kenny inquired. "This whole time it has been Carver, Carver, Carver. And now it's Bill?" The truck hit another bump from outside. "Oh, I see what it is. Y'all are just getting a ride home, aren't ya? That's what's going on here."
"Say that again." Nick said.
"You're delusional." Keith said. "You think we wanted this to happen?"
"I'd stay out of this, assholes." Kenny said sending a glare towards Keith and Nick.
They glared at him in response as Rebecca said, "You don't understand. He's different… he's worse."
"The fuck are you talking about?" Kenny snarled.
"Rebecca's right." Keith said with a frown. "Back at the ski lodge, he wanted me to kill him…"
"I-Is he going to kill us?" Clementine asked.
"No, he's going to use us as labor for his community, but after that… I don't know." Keith explained.
"He's a fucking psychopath!" Kenny exclaimed.
"You have no idea what you are dealing with!" Carlos exclaimed.
"Oh he gave me a pretty damn good idea back at the lodge, and I don't intend to sit around here and let that happen to the rest of us!" Kenny said. The truck swayed after hitting another bump as Kenny continued, "I'm trying to help!"
"And I'm sure Walter really appreciated that help!" Carlos snapped.
Kenny looked down with a frown at the mention of his friend's name "That's not fair. You're blaming him for the actions of a madman!" Sarita said.
"I'm pointing out that, regardless of intent, there are consequences to rash actions! Something that he is misreading as capitulation!" Carlos spat.
"I don't know what the fuck you are saying but I know it is bullshit!" Kenny exclaimed. "We have to do something!"
"Kenny…" Sarita pleaded.
"You can't reason with him." Rebecca said with a surrendering tone of voice.
Kenny looked around the truck and said, "Oh shit! Jackpot!" Kenny got up and headed for a metal ribbon that had corroded loose.
"Sit down." Carlos said. "You're going to get us all killed!"
Kenny squatted down in front of the corroded ribbon and started to rub the bindings against it. As he rubbed against the ribbon, the rope started to snap from the sharp piece of metal. "Y'all don't know what you are talking about. We get cooped up in a kennel like a bunch of fucking dogs and it's over!"
"You don't know that." Rebecca said.
"Yeah? Well, I've been in this situation before. You ever been a prisoner?" Kenny asked as he continued to cut his bindings.
"We've all been prisoners. Why do you think we left?" Carlos said.
"Stop fighting!" Clementine exclaimed. "Please…"
"Clem's right." Keith said. "We can't be at each other's throats. I think the best thing we can do now is wait until we get into Howe's, develop a plan inside, and then escape after we're one hundred percent sure that the plan will work."
"I agree with that plan." Carlos said.
"Well I don't." Kenny snapped. "How do you know that there is going to be a way out when we get there?"
"Every structure has its weak points." Keith explained. "Dad's going to put us all on labor duties which means we'll be up close to the buildings, and we can find a weak spot easily. And besides, Luke and the rest of these guys managed to escape the first time, so who says we can't do it again."
"I agree." Clementine said.
"Alright, now we're talking." Kenny said as he ignored Keith's suggestion. His binding finally came off and he stood up. He used one arm to balance himself in the back of the truck as they hit another bump.
"What are you going to do? Carver is going to be on the other side of that door with ten people." Carlos explained.
Sarah started to whimper as the tension and anxiety of the fighting was starting to overwhelm her. "There, there, baby. Everything is going to be fine." Rebecca soothed the teenager.
"At this point, maybe Luke is the only hope we have." Carlos said.
"If he was going to do something, he would have done it by now." Kenny spat.
"Who knows what he's dealing with." Rebecca said. "Anything can happen out there."
"I'll tell you what happened." Kenny said. "He abandoned us."
"You don't know that." Nick said.
"I know he's not here." Kenny said.
"He may not be around, but he wouldn't just leave us behind." Rebecca said.
"That guy is a flake. I could tell the second I laid on him." Kenny said.
"Luke will help us." Clementine said to Kenny.
"Oh yeah? When? After that crazy fuck has killed us all?" Kenny bellowed at the girl. She reacted by staring at him with fear in her eyes.
"You need to take it easy." Keith said. "Snapping at Clem is not going to help us at all."
"I didn't ask for your opinion asshole!" Kenny yelled at Keith. Kenny then looked to Clementine and he said, "Look, Clem…" There was another bump which rocked the truck. This bump was different; the truck rocked more than the other bumps.
"We're close." Carlos said.
"Alright, let's do this." Kenny said.
"They have guns." Rebecca said in an attempt to stop Kenny one last time. "What exactly do you expect to do?"
"I'm gonna punch the first sonuvabitch I see. Then I'm going to take his gun and use it to shoot the next sonuvabitch I see." Kenny replied.
"Just sit down." Carlos said.
"You're going to get yourself killed." Keith said. "Just stop and think."
"Shut it, both of you." Kenny barked. "This ain't your call." Kenny then looked to Clementine and said, "Hey just… if something happens, just help out, okay? Don't, you know, get yourself hurt but any help'd be good." The truck rocked upon hitting another bump which was followed by the truck's sirens sounding. It indicated that it was backing up. "Hey Clem, look at me. You trust me right?"
"Kenny, please just…" Sarita pleaded. "Just listen to them. They know him."
"It's a bad plan, Kenny. I agree with what Keith wants to do." Clementine told Kenny.
Kenny was shocked by Clementine's choice and he asked, "What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought you were strong Clem!" She merely ignored his yelling and looked to Keith hoping to find reassurance.
Keith smiled back in response as Kenny released an irritated sigh and turned to the door. "Alright, everyone read-" Kenny started to say but the truck slammed into the something from outside.
"Kenny!" Sarita exclaimed as he fell to the ground, hitting his head off the floor. Sarita ran over and checked on him. "Kenny, are you okay?"
"Is he okay?" Rebecca asked.
"I think so." Sarita replied.
"Oh…" Kenny moaned as he returned to consciousness. "What hit me?"
"It's probably for the best." Carlos said.
"Damn brakes ain't working for shit!" Troy spat from the other side of the door as the door was lifted up. In front of the door stood Troy, Tavia, and Bonnie, each holding an assault rifle.
"Alright, up and at em!" Tavia said. Everyone got up in response to Tavia's request and started to head out of the door until there was only Keith, Clementine, and Kenny left.
Troy looked to Kenny and his eyes widened. "The fuck? How'd you get your restraints off? C'mere." Troy snapped.
Kenny obliged and he, Keith, and Clementine headed out of the truck. Meanwhile, Carver could be heard over the PA announcing, "We've got some familiar faces back with us tonight." Troy closed the door to the truck as the three left and went into the community. "Now, I understand some of you are confused as to why we'd bring some of these people are back when they left us as they did." The captured group was surrounded by Bonnie, Troy, and Tavia.
"I think I got an idea." Tavia muttered. Keith shook his head in response. He seemed disappointed with Tavia's attitude.
"It might not come all at once." Carver continued over the PA. "But time will heal these wounds, so be patient with them until it does…" Bonnie opened a set of double doors and they continued to walk through what appeared to be a hardware store.
"Howe's." Keith said as he looked to Clementine. "Home, sweet home."
Carver once again continued to talk over the PA. "…And take solace in knowing that they're here to help us make this home a better place." Clementine looked around and noticed several guards looking at the group with glares but once their eyes fell on her, Kenny, and Sarita, they stopped glaring and only looked to the three with confusion. But then they looked to Keith, and they appeared to be sympathetic.
"They look really sorry for what happened to you." Clementine told Keith.
Keith looked up and made eye-contact with a few of the guards. "Maybe." Keith said. "My mom was well-known in the community so it was a major loss to the community as a whole. For now, I wouldn't trust anyone from within these walls except for the other prisoners."
"All these feelings you have of anger…betrayal….hate… they're all valid." Carver said over the PA. "No one needs to forget what they did… but we have to find it in our hearts to forgive them." Carver was now visible in the office that overlooked the hardware store. He looked down to his son with a smirk.
Keith sighed and ignored his father's smirk. "Look how much food they have…" Clementine said surprised by the shelves filled with food.
"I hope you ain't say what I think you're saying." Kenny said.
"Dad's always had an impressive stock pile of food. He's got almost as much food as firepower." Keith explained.
"Come on, we need you for something." Troy told Carlos.
"Can't it wait until morning?" Carlos asked. "We're all exhausted."
"Just come the fuck on." Troy said.
Carlos sighed and he followed Troy over to talk to Vera while Sarah said, "I need him. I need my dad. He-He takes care of me." Sarah, Tavia, Clementine, and Keith stopped as Troy walked back over and gestured them to move on. Having no choice, the three children kept moving with Tavia and Troy bringing up the rear.
"It's alright, he's going to come back." Keith said.
"When?" Sarah asked.
"We don't know, but he will be back." Clementine said.
Thanks, you two." Sarah said. They finally reached a garage door as Bonnie unlocked the padlock to the courtyard, which now acted as a prison.
"Make sure y'all are off the fence." Bonnie warned. "Bill can see if you're messin with it." She opened the garage door.
They all entered the courtyard which consisted of a fire pit and lawn chairs that surrounded the fire pit. Next to the fire pit were a couple of picnic tables and furthest from the fire pit was plywood which acted as bedding. "Thanks Bonnie." Nick said.
"Yup." Bonnie said and she followed the group into the courtyard
Troy and Bonnie took everyone's bindings off and Troy said, "Y'all better get some rest, cause there ain't going to much for ya tomorrow. You're going to be working hard."
"That's for you." Bonnie gestured to the cot that was adjacent to the garage door.
"Yeah, it would be." Rebecca said with a glare. "Fucking Bill. Leaves me out in the cold, but at least I will be comfortable"
"Hey guys." A man said.
Rebecca looked to the man and exclaimed, "Reggie!" She gasped upon seeing him and went up to the man. "I'm so sorry!" Rebecca exclaimed as she hugged him. "I'm so sorry." They separated from the hug and Rebecca saw that he had lost his left arm. "What happened to you?"
"This could have been worse. Trust me." Reggie said. "I'm lucky to be alive."
"Reggie got bit by a walker, shortly after you guys left." Keith explained to the group. "A guy named Mike was able to amputate his arm and save his life."
Reggie smiled to Keith and he said, "Hi Keith, so what's going on? Did your dad send you back here to spy on us?"
Keith shook his head and he said, "No, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm a prisoner now."
"Prisoner is not exactly the right word, Keith." Reggie said before he scoffed. "Besides, you aren't going to be back here for very long. No way Erin's going to let Bill do that."
Keith was more downhearted by the mention of his deceased mother and he shook his head. "Reggie, my dad killed my mom, and I ran away after it happened." Keith explained.
"Oh." Reggie said. "Keith, I'm so sorry. I never got the news about that."
Tavia walked up to Alvin and said, "Alvin, Bill wants you in his office."
"What, why?" Alvin asked.
"Don't make this difficult. It's too late for that." Tavia spat.
"No, please!" Rebecca pleaded.
"It's okay, Bec." Alvin said. "Just get some rest. If he wanted to do something to me, he would have done it by now. I'll be fine" Alvin turned to Tavia and he said, "Let's see what he wants."
They left while Clementine sent a disgusted stare towards Tavia. "She's mean." Clementine said.
"Yeah, she is cold and insincere. She's only nice if she wants to wrangle you up in this mess." Keith explained.
"Hey, Reggie." Troy said and he approached the man.
"Oh… hey Troy." Reggie said; he sounded somewhat reluctant to talk to him.
"Don't go fucking up now!" Troy said. "Bill's real close to letting you out of here. You make sure everything stays nice and quiet out here tonight, and I'll be sure to let Bill know just how helpful you were."
"Yeah, you can count on me. Thanks Troy." Reggie replied.
"Don't mention it." Troy said. He and Bonnie left the courtyard while closing the garage door in the process.
… To be continued.
