There's always hope
Chapter 10: haunted memories
Here's the next chapter, folks, and nothing much to say in this author's note, no quotes or questions, just the chapter. Enjoy reading.
"Wellington?" Clementine repeated, the name mentioned certainly brought back memories. "You mean Wellington as in the safe place near Michigan?"
"That's the one." Kenny confirmed with a nod and a small smile. "You heard of it?"
"Christa and I were heading there before we got separated." Clementine answered. She had to pause for a moment when she remembered her close friend whose fate was left uncertain at this point. She hoped Christa was okay. "Isn't it supposed to be really cold up there?"
"Yep, and that's a good thing." Kenny replied, leaving Clementine with a curious eyebrow rose. How was cold a good thing nowadays. "Think about it, Clem: the cold weather means the walkers will get slow, giving us the perfect advantage. And if Wellington's as safe as I heard it is, we're going to be okay. A fresh meal every day, a huge fortress to protect us, and no longer having to sleep with a gun beside you. Wouldn't that be great?"
It took Clementine a moment or two to answer when she had to think this over. She was unaware Wellington had all this to offer, she just assumed that it was a simple camp with lots of people. It all sounded too good to be true, but where else could they go now? This ski lodge was pretty sturdy too and could possible hold out against a walker attack. "Yeah, it would be great. But do you think we can make it?"
"Of course we can, Clem." Kenny assured. Clearly he had not lost all hope for humanity yet. "We'll make it. Me, you, Sarita, Walter and Matthew. Soon we're going to head up there and finally we can be safe from all this. Everything's going to be just fine."
Clementine wished she could believe that, but she heard the word "safe" so many times and it never once came true. She remembered during the first days of all this when they first arrived at the motor inn with Kenny and Lilly. They assumed the motor inn was going to protect them until all of this got sorted out by the government, but once the apocalypse started, there was no going back.
"I trust you, Kenny." Clementine replied. "We can make it, we just need to be strong."
"I agree." Kenny smiled and patted her on the back a couple of times. Now that was settled, he decided to move onto a subject. "So, you okay to walk?"
"I think so." Clementine replied, turning towards her ankle and moving it around a couple of times. It was still hurting a little, but she was all right to move.
"Want to come and hold me board up some windows?" Kenny offered, gesturing his thumb over towards the huge windows along side the walls. Some of them were boarded up, but not all of them.
"Sure." Clementine nodded as she got up onto her feet and followed Kenny towards the ski lodge exit, limping slightly whilst doing so. She had nothing better to do and did not want to give the impression that she was useless and could not do anything for herself.
When they were outside, Kenny was the one to be nailing the planks of wood down against the window, all Clementine needed to do was hold the wood still for him. Still, at least it was something to do for a while.
As Kenny finished up with one section of the window and moved onto the next one, he decided to make conversation with Clementine again. It was better than working in silence. "Hey Clementine...Remember when we first met, at the farm?"
"Yep." Clementine confirmed, freezing for a moment when the memories of Shawn Greene being devoured by walkers as she watched helplessly. "That's when you told me I had spiders in my hair."
Kenny chuckled slightly in response whilst he hammered nails into the wood. "Yeah, I did. That's when..." his expression dropped and he slowly lowered his hammer. "That's when Shawn died."
Clementine noticed his sudden change of expression as she continued to hold the wood still nevertheless. She closed her eyes and decided not to fight her memories, but allow them to flow through her mind.
Clementine stood helpless and could only watch as Shawn cried out in pain, his leg crushed and trapped under the tractor that Duck accidentally started and moved. Two of those monsters referred to as walkers were on the other side of the wooden fence and were trying to get in and get the fresh human meal in front of them.
Two walkers were trying to grab Shawn and a third walker grabbed Duck by his shoulders and tried to yank him off the tractor. Lee appeared out of nowhere and zoomed past Clementine, but he froze a couple of feet away from the two. He darted back towards Shawn and Duck.
Someone was going to die, the question of which one was going to be on Lee's hands. He was going to save one son and another was going to die.
"My leg is stuck!" Shawn cried out as he punched the ground for no reason. "Get it off of me!"
Lee did not think and acted on mere instinct. He charged directly towards Shawn and grabbed both of his hands, pulling with all of his might in an desperate attempt to save him, but he was not strong enough to pull him out and had to let go.
"Fuck, it's crushed!" Shawn cried out as he looked back at his injured leg. "Move this thing!"
Whilst Lee tried to figure out what to do next, Clementine looked to her left and noticed Kenny came rushing towards the tractor. He jumped up and grabbed his son, freeing him from the walker. "I got you!" he assured as he picked up Duck in a protective manner.
"KENNY! HELP LEE!" Shawn shouted whilst Lee tried to forcefully pushed the tractor back, but much to his horror and shock, Kenny turned around and ran away. "KENNY!"
Lee continued to try and push the tractor back, but his feet only slipped against the ground, regardless of how much he pushed. He jumped back when he heard the sound of the wood beginning to give out and he acted on instinct yet again and jumped out of harm's way.
The walkers finally put enough force on the fence and caused it to break, allowing them inside. Lee could only watch as one walker bit into Shawn's leg whilst the other one bit into his neck. "AHHHH! AHHH! AHH!" Shawn cried out in agonizing pain.
Clementine gasped and took a couple of steps away in fear and sadness. At that same moment, Hershel came running towards the scene, armed with his Remington 870 shotgun. His eyes widened when he witnessed his son being devoured. He quickly shot the two walkers attacking Shawn and then proceeded to shoot a third advancing one.
Clementine watched as Hershel knelt down to his son and talked quietly to him that she could not hear what they said, but she could definitely tell he was crying for a few seconds. She lowered her head and silently mourned him. The others gathered around and remained silent as Hershel comforted his new dead son.
Eventually, Hershel stood up and closed his eyes for a moment. "Get out." he turned towards them and screamed at the top of his lungs. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE."
"I'm sorry." Kenny apologized, but that was not going to make any difference now.
"SORRY? Your son is alive." Hershel stated as he pointed a finger towards him. "You don't get to be sorry." he turned slightly to face Lee. "You tried to help him, but this piece of shit let him die."
"You can't blame Kenny." Lee assured to which caused Kenny's expression to change like he appreciated it.
"The hell I can't." Hershel clashed. "You watch your back. Wait until it's your daughter and you need his help." he turned around and could no longer look at them. "Please, just go. Get out and never come back."
There was a moment of silence until Kenny spoke up. "You've got that ride to Macon if you want it." he offered.
Since that day, Kenny had felt a wave of guilt over him because of his selfish actions. He took off his hat for a moment and sighed. "I should have helped him that day, Clem...It's been haunting me ever since. I...I could have helped him, I could have just put Duck down and helped Lee..."
Clementine did not really know what to say at this point. She knew that Kenny thought it was fate that killed Duck because of how he did not help save Shawn. Although his actions was wrong in the eyes of everyone, she still believed in him and trusted Kenny. "It's okay, Kenny. You were just worried about Duck, you saved him like any father would...There was nothing any of us could do.
Kenny seemed to appreciate what she said and smiled slightly. He placed his hat back onto his head. "Thanks Clementine, I, uh, needed that. Now come on, let's finish boarding up these windows.
Clementine nodded and continued to assist Kenny with his work anyway she could. She hoped her words would be enough to help comfort him, and hopefully, if Shawn was watching over the two, he forgave Kenny.
She would never know if that was true, but Clementine strongly believed she was right.
That brings us to the end of this chapter, folks. I know nothing much happened, other than Kenny feeling guilty for what he did those many years ago. Stay tuned for chapter 11.