Everyone in the group knew that to leave they needed to follow the road. If they would have gone past the woods and galloped joyously across the plains they would have found no civilization. That path would have led them into more woods and inevitable death.
They needed to continue down the highway from where they crashed. They could use the trees for cover while walking alongside the road. That, however, was not a full proof plan. Bandits were moving up and down the road, in and out of the town. Some of them were even on foot and in the woods searching for them. It would be a miracle if they could get through them undetected. When they approached the vehicle men were searching the area.
Clementine: Behind the trees.
The cover nature provided was sufficient for the moment. The bandits were not focusing on them. If they were, then they might have seen the large bags they were carrying that the trees could not shield entirely.
While the bandits searched the surrounding area Clementine pulled out her gun. She looked at Clyde, Clyde returned her stare. She showed him her gun and pointed toward the bandits using her head. Clyde shook his head no. Clementine didn't know what else to do. If they stayed there they would be caught eventually and if they moved they ran the risk of being seen. They needed to do something other than hide behind a tree. To Clementine, escape seemed virtually impossible. The only possibility for escape was to fight back.
Clementine knew that decision would put Alvin Jr. in danger once again, so she decided not to be so rash. She and her group were lucky that Alvin Jr. was asleep during this critical moment. Even if they shot through the bandits it would be nearly impossible to quiet Alvin Jr. when they do need to hide. Clementine looked around for another option. While scanning the area for options Clyde signaled the group to leave. Clementine saw the signal and followed him.
Clyde's plan was to circle around the bandits and leave without being detected. The bandits by the car did not notice them as they circled around them. Everything seemed to be going as planned. The closer they got to the road the more their efforts seemed pointless. More bandits were searching the woods ahead. It was obvious that to escape they needed to fight.
Once the group was no longer in sight of the bandits near the car, Clyde signaled the group to stop. He wanted to pull ahead.
Amber: What are you doing?
Whispered a drunk Amber who managed to regain most of her senses.
Clyde: I'm going to take the bandits ahead of us out.
Amber: That's stupid, stick with the group.
Clyde: We're not getting out of here if we don't get our hands dirty. We need to take care of them if we want to make it out alive.
A fire was in Clyde's eyes. He expressed determination. He had turned into a different person. His cowardice shell had broken. A habit he has, but not one he has yet acknowledged.
Paul: We have to find a different way. Killing is wrong. There is always another way.
Clyde: Paul, I respect your beliefs, but give it up. If we don't kill them they'll kill us.
Paul: Why are you scared of death? We all must die someday.
Clyde: We're not discussing this. I'm doing what I have to do. If you get in the way I'll kill you before they can.
After Clyde said that he moved toward the bandits while knelt down. Amber knew this task was difficult. She also knew it was foolish to leave it all in the hands of one man. However, she was in no condition to assist him. Paul was turning out to be a liability and Jules was terrified. Jules was spaced out, barely into the world that the rest of the group was in. She managed to keep quiet and to keep up with the group, but she was screaming inside. Terrified of being killed. Amber turned to Clementine.
Amber: Clementine go with him.
Clementine was not worried like Jules, nor opposed to the idea like Paul or intoxicated like Amber. Shooting that bandit earlier was her first taste of human flesh. She had been the direct cause of many people's deaths, but she has never had to worry about pulling the trigger herself. Murder did not faze her any longer. However, there was still the issue with Alvin Jr.
Clementine: I'm holding AJ, I can't go.
Amber: I'll hold him. You need to help Clyde. If you don't we're all dead.
It was a quick decision for Clementine. She knew Amber was probably right. And also, she wanted to taste blood again.
Clementine: Okay.
Paul: Clementine, don't do this. It's bad enough Clyde going to, but not you.
She ignored Paul and gave Amber the baby. Amber exchanged Alvin Jr. for the cleaver on the side of her backpack.
Amber: Clem, take this.
Amber moved so that Clementine could see the cleaver in the backpack pocket.
Paul: It isn't worth it. Clementine, don't be as the world. What good is it if you adopt their kill or be killed tactics? That's only going to make them want to kill us even more.
Clementine took the cleaver and she was off. Clyde was behind a tree near the bandits. He was ready to launch an assault, but he waited once he saw Clementine coming. She did as he did. She crouched down and walked closer to the enemy even crawled when she needed to. She hid behind trees when the bandits eyes drew near and waited for their focus to change before continuing. The bandits were moving closer to Clyde. She needed to hurry before he was spotted. Clementine was very proficient in her stealth and made it to Clyde before he or she were spotted. Clyde had his hacksaw ready and Clementine readied her cleaver. With his free hand, Clyde counted down from three. When he reached zero he sprung his attack.
A bandit lost his lungs to Clyde's hacksaw in the preemptive strike. Not waiting to see him fall Clyde tackled the next one and began punching in his face. The two bandits standing were surprised, but they began cocking their shotguns to kill him. Clementine revealed herself by opening the insides of one of the two bandits. The last bandit was terrified. Instead of holding his ground he ran.
Clyde: Clem, give me that.
Clementine handed over her cleaver to Clyde. He quickly rose to his feet and through it at the runaway bandit. It was a hit. The bandit fell, but he was quick to get back to his feet.
Clyde: I'm handle him. Take my hacksaw and take these guys out.
Clementine: Got it.
The moment Clyde took off Clementine began hacking at the heads of the dead. It took three hits to crack their skulls. The first two were easy, no life in them. But as she built momentum for the final dead bandit he reanimated. Clementine got scared and she gave him an inch. She took a step back and tripped. The Walker climbed on top of her attempting to bite her in her face. Under pressure Clementine regained her cool. She held the Walker off by holding it up with her feet. While the Walker looked down on her desperately trying to snag a bite, Clementine reared the hacksaw back as far as she could and began hacking the Walker. Clementine kicked it off as it died. Clyde came back just as she was getting him off.
Clyde: Are you alright?
Clementine: Yeah.
Clyde: Were you bit?
Clementine: No. We need to go.
Clyde signaled the group to come. Everyone was distracted, except Paul. Though he did not agree with what they had did he remained loyal. Paul gathered the attention of his distracted friends and led them to Clementine and Clyde safely.
Paul: Let's just get out of here.
Clyde: Agreed.
As planned they walked alongside the road under the cover of the woods. Cars and trucks passed by periodically, but it wasn't enough to worry anyone in the group. They hid behind trees when the trucks came near. The trucks passed them by, none of them stopped. Even Jules, who was the most frightened, began to relax with how easily this escape was going.
They passed the town and the cabin. They were well on their way to the next town. The highway was next to them. Most of the bandits were behind them now. Even though they were close to escape, it wasn't going to be that easy. Standing in the middle of the highway leaning against the door of his truck was a man Clementine recognized as Pablo. A truck pulled up near him. The rider emerged and it was Lou. Clyde stopped the group in their tracks. He noticed Pablo had a strange look in his eye. He was observant. He paid no attention to Lou as he walked closer to him, he kept his eyes on the woods looking for any movement. Pablo was smoking a cigar. Remembering the last time he was near Pablo while he was smoking a cigar, Lou kept a fare distance.
Pablo: What?
Lou: The others sent me. They were wondering why you aren't helping.
Pablo: Cowards. Who sent you? Was it Homer? That dumbass is always angry, but he won't tell me anything face-to-face. He knows I'll grab him by the balls and cut them off.
Lou: Why are you out here?
Pablo: Because I'm surrounded by dumbasses. Why would these bandits stay here after killing members of our group? They were smart enough to make us think they weren't here. They will be smart enough to leave now that we know they were here.
Lou: So you're checking the exits to catch them as they leave. That's brilliant. Why don't you have more men doing that?
Pablo: I already told you. Think of these rednecks as one minded cavemen. They only see things in two dimensions. From point A to point B. If someone gets killed in point B they automatically move from point A to B to find them. They can't see the killer moving to C, D, E, F, or G before they get there. If I tried to make them see logic they wouldn't understand and they wouldn't listen. I tell them to go where they want to go and they'll be happy even when they are wrong. At least this way they will be happy even if the results are bad.
Lou: I understand.
Pablo: It's all about the upbringing, you can't blame them. For all they know the enemy could be right here in these woods listening to us.
Pablo lifted his machine gun higher hoping to get a reaction. He was looking in Clementine's group direction. Clyde pulled out a gun and so did Clementine. Paul sat down and tried to calm Jules down who was losing her mind silently as she cried. Amber handed Alvin Jr. to Paul and grabbed a gun from Clementine's side.
Lou: Do you think they're out there?
Pablo: I'm sure of it.
Clyde was ready to shoot. He pointed his gun at Pablo ready to ignite a war. Another truck pulled up. An unfamiliar bandit emerged and walked to Clyde and Lou.
Bandit: More brothers are dead. When we gone kill these bastards!?
Pablo: Whose dead?
Bandit: Jessie, Wilbur, Junior, and Ray.
Pablo: Again no one I care about. Show me where and I'll follow you.
Lou: But what you said.
Pablo: It was only my suspicion. I didn't see anything. Besides, I don't feel like risking my life with only you two.
Pablo, Lou, and the other bandit all entered into their trucks and they went back into the town. Clementine and her group were given an open passage to safety. They spared not a second wasting it