A/N: Okay, now this story is the 5th most reviewed on the site, overtaking No Going Back? In terms of reviews and It will makes me motivated to know that in less than 30 chapters I'm nearly on 400 reviews! It's amazing! I can't thank you guys enough, but I hope this chapter (the one you've all been waiting for, does you all justice)
Chameishida- I knew you'd be worried about Luke, I imagine this chapter you'll be scrolling down the page cautiously, just wanting to know that's Luke's alive at the end of this chapter. Or will he be? (Laughs in an evil manner) I really feel like Telltale now!
Ayuka86- A whole lotta love for Luke I see!
Zombieslayer995- I hope the next few chapters do you justice! Glad you're enjoying the fic!
santiago. poncini20- A new reviewer, why thank you for your kind words! as well as those ideas you sent me, I'm glad you're enjoying this fic
Rebloxic- Nice parallel not even noticed that until you pointed it out. Thanks for your reviews as always!
Guest- Bonnie and Luke? Seems like the Lonnie ship is sailing over here
Addibobaddi- Liking your predictions for the story and you'll see which chapter, which way the story is going to take.
AquaDestinysEmbrace- Yep, you can say Vince was complete dick for wanting Eddie to go, but I wanted to get into his mindset and similar he was to Carver. Reggie was likeable yet Carver killed him for screwing up. Eddie is likeable yet Vince is reaching the stage where any threat to his group is to be disposed of.
Bubbles2k100- Glad you thought the last chapter was the best! Looking forward to hearing your review this chapter.
Kristal Dynamite- Loving your reviews and observations, and thanks for your reviews
ffapathy- Again like I said to Kristal Dynamite thank you for your reviews and observations on the last chapter can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one!
Transformer's g1's-prime- Thanks for your great review!
and finally Lockdown thank you for your words and you're right about Vince, from being the ally who wanted to help Clem to take down Carver with DIY and the guy who shot Steve and saved the group. To this... it reflects the theme of the story Going to Ruin, and Vince has gone to ruin completely.
"What, lost for words?" Luke mused over at Vince, who was as frozen as the water beneath his feet. The Asian man gulped and tried to shakily raise his gun to eye level, keeping the southern man he despised with all of his heart in his sights.
"Aren't you going to shoot me Luke? The same way you shot Kelly?" He demanded of the man in front of him, Luke and Vince held each other's gaze neither of them daring to fire the tension in the air was slowly reaching a breaking point, however Vince needed to know! He needed to know that Luke was indeed a bad guy before he shot him! The group needed to know!
"Fucking lying again are we Vince? Kelly was lost to the herd, I didn't lay a finger on her" Luke growled.
"YOU FUCKING RAPED HER!" Vince screamed lost in his own delusions as Luke chuckled, to any observer it appeared that Luke was the insane one however Luke was laughing because this confirmed to him that Vince was indeed the insane one. He knew he had been set up, he knew he didn't "rape" Kelly at all, this lie would come crashing down in front of Vince's eyes and Luke knew it. That's why he was laughing and looking into Vince's eyes... it should have scared him. Vince could shoot at any second, yet Luke wanted to see Vince panic and suffer.
"You're still telling them that, you're insane Vince. I think you actually believe it yourself" Luke told the "leader" of the group. As a silence reigned over them as they openly glared at one another. From where he was watching on the sidelines Kenny couldn't take it any longer, without any warning the impulsive Floridian ran out onto the icy lake to Rebecca's shock and a dozen yells.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON VINCE!? WHY HAVEN'T YOU SHOT THIS FUCKER YET!" Kenny bellow, shooting daggers openly at Luke the bearded man raised his large gun to Luke's chest. However he merely smiled and muttered "Hey Kenny, who else is with you?" the question didn't gain an answer from a furious Kenny, who instead, bellowed "How the actual fuck did you get away from the walkers! Why the fuck aren't you dead!?"
Luke didn't respond directly to Kenny's question either, he simply smiled and titled his head to the side seemingly examining the furious man in front of him. Kenny's mouth opened again before someone else yelped and skidded out onto the frozen lake.
"What the hell is going on out here!?" Christa demanded of Vince and Kenny, as she too glared openly at Luke's calm form the gun Luke had in his hands was still trained on Vince. The Asian man seemed to be panicking now, as foggy vapour rose in puffy white clouds from in-between his lips at a much more rapid pace than was natural.
"Guys! Get off the lake, it can't take the weight! I'll finish up here and...!" Vince began as Luke cut him off with a bark of a laugh.
"No! Let them all come on Vince! Let them all hear the truth!" Luke roared like a madman before he titled his head into the sky and bellowed in a much louder tone "COME ON Y'ALL! WHOEVER'S WATCHING COME OUT HERE! I GOT LOADS TO TELL YOU ABOUT VINCE!" Vince stood rigid, this was it. Luke was going to tell them all the truth, he heard yells behind him. The others were actually stupid enough to come out onto the lake... Vince felt his fingers press down upon the trigger to his gun. He was going to...
His finger paused in it's tracks. Bony black fingers wrapped themselves around his gun, he trained his black eyes on Christa. The tall African american woman had grabbed the gun in his fingers, she knew he was about to shoot and felt a sudden urge to stop him.
"Christa let go of the gun" Vince calmly instructed of her, yet she stared back at him. The expression on her face was impossible to read and it made sweat roll down Vince's forehead, surely she didn't think (in any way) that Luke actually had something interesting to say? He tugged at his gun but Christa's grip on the thing was too tight as he looked at her again, yet she didn't say a word as the others hit the scene.
"DUDE I WILL FUCKING SHOOT YOU IN THE HEAD THIS TIME!" Wyatt roared, as he raised dual pistols to Luke's head, Luke didn't even flinch with unnerved Wyatt a little. Luke lowered the raised gun in his fingers (seeing as Vince was restrained) Eddie, Mike and Bonnie store silently on Luke acknowledged their presence with a nod which they didn't return as the redhead woman, the fire-fighter and the joker of the group remained speechless. Rebecca however (still carrying AJ) certainly let Luke know what was on her mind.
"I can't believe I could once call you a friend, after all we've been through Luke. You've... you raped and murdered a 15 year old girl and shot poor Vince!" It was a statement and not a question, facing the strict mother, Luke finally seemed to find his voice once again.
"That's what he told you. Isn't it. That's what you think" He said, as Kenny jabbed his gun near to Luke's face.
"Hey! Asshole were fucking as thick as two fucking planks! We saw you holding the gun! We saw you with your pants down! Vince was fucking shot! We know what the fuck we saw! What the fuck have you got to say for yourself!?" Kenny demanded of the younger man, as Luke gave his version of events in a simplistic honest tone.
"I was with Clem, we lost each other in the herd. I was fighting to get her. Then I bump into Vince he has Anne hostage and he tells me to rape her because he thinks I killed Kelly. I... I refused. Even when he pulled out Clementine's hat and told me she was with Nick and that if I did it, he would take me to them..."
"Why the actual hell would he ask you to rape a 15 year old?" Rebecca accusing tone told Luke she didn't believe him. Yet Luke ploughed on.
"The same reason he framed me raping Kelly, he heard you approaching Kenny, you were calling for Sarita. He knew that if I raped Anne I would look like the bad guy..."
"This is fucking nuts" Wyatt snarled, never the less Luke carried on as if he hadn't spoken.
"I refused. When I did Vince took desperate measures he shot Anne, by this point he already took her shirt off. and he made me lower my trousers at gunpoint, so it looked like..." he paused before continuing "anyway, he shot himself before he chucked the gun at my feet. You came onto the scene. And that's the truth of the matter" Luke concluded, to a very sceptical audience.
"Bull-shit. Absolute fucking bullshit" Wyatt said in summary of the group's feelings.
"You were the one to bulldoze into the herd, you put us all at risk! You're the one standing in the middle of a fucking icy lake that could break at any second! You're the one who lost their fucking marbles!" Mike said backing Wyatt up, as a sinister smile spread across Vince's face, he was winning this.
"You don't have any evidence Luke" he teased.
"Actually, he kind of does"
Many heads whipped around to the left at the sound of this new voice, as many eyes nestled themselves upon Stephanie's approaching form. The raven haired woman had silently glided across the icy lake it had seemed. She looked nervously below her but the lake seemed to support her weight, with this in mind she had continued forward. The main group's eyes were firmly fixated on Luke, so she only spoke when she was close to them drawing all attention to her.
"Stef!" Bonnie yelled in delight, glad to see another friend. Stephanie acknowledged this with a smile and muttered back "Is this everyone whose with you?" she asked, looking around at Kenny, Eddie, Bonnie, Mike, Christa, Wyatt, Rebecca, AJ and Vince. Other than the 9 of them no one else was present who wasn't previously missing to Stephanie. In response to her question Bonnie sadly shook her head.
"What did you mean? He has evidence?" Kenny asked suspiciously of Stephanie, as Stephanie got back to the point.
"I saw it all Kenny. I know it sounds crazy, but Luke is telling the truth! I saw it! I saw Vince shoot that girl! I heard everything! I watched from a nearby bush I approached after I escaped the herd I..."
"If you were watching this whole damn thing. Why didn't you come out! Why didn't you save the girl!?" Christa demanded of Stephanie, the younger woman's eyes fell to icy water below her, as she looked back at her own crestfallen reflection, before she managed an honest answer.
"Because I was scared. I... I didn't know what to do! I... I thought Vince might try to shoot me or... look. I know I sound crazy but I made mistakes, you saw me make a mistake. Were out here because I crashed the truck! I fucked up not helping the girl! I wanted to run! Run away! But after all I saw I couldn't, I had to help Luke out of there because..."
"So that's how you got out!" Kenny spat at Luke before turning back to Stephanie "You helped a fucking rapist, murderer to live!?" the appalled question was thrown at the raven haired woman in disgrace, who flinched but stood her ground in a way that would make an absent Lilly proud.
"Yeah. Think about it like that, why would I? Little miss fuck up I want to run away member of the group, actually go back and help Luke out? Because I saw what Vince did. It shocked me, it scared me. But... I had to do this, Vince has been telling you lies!" Stephanie pleaded to the group, praying they'd understand this, as Vince simply snarled "Look Stef you're young, you must have come across him in this state and he told you a pack of lies..."
"DON'T CALL ME YOUNG AND FUCKING STUPID! I FUCKED UP BUT I KNOW WHAT I SAW SO DON'T YOU DARE PATRONIZE VINCE YOU... YOU...!" Stephanie exploded words made everyone jump, as she trailed to a halt, she couldn't put her hatred to Vince into words. So, she simply spat at him, the blob of saliva landed on the reflective surface of the lake, right at Vince's feet.
There was a short silence.
"Gross" Eddie finally said, before Vince spoke up again.
"You know Stef? You're as crazy as him" Vince snarled at her, as Stephanie held his glare.
"Maybe..." Christa began before a distant scream cut her off, as she turned around, but it was too late the turquoise blob had already crashed into Kenny, sending him spiralling to the ground. The ice below him cracked slightly but Kenny didn't notice because somebody above him, someone who was repeating his name, "Kenny... Kenny... Kenny..." and he looked up to find Sarita beaming down at him. Her full face was a picture of happiness and Kenny (in those moments) forgot about his anger at Luke, or anything else. Other than that the woman he loved and his child had been returned to him.
"SARITA! OH THANK GOD!" He shouted to the heavens above before their lips met, and suddenly he was kissing her all over, both of them were laughing in glee, forgetting about everyone around them watching, forgetting that only a thin layer of ice separated them from water that could easily give them hypothermia. The other all managed to smile at the reunion and there was better to come.
"Guys!" Came a yell, as all faces turned to see the approaching trio of Sarah, Nick and Clementine. Stephanie felt her heart do a somersault when she saw Nick her smile and flush were all to obvious. Nick appeared to be looking at anyone and everything that wasn't Stephanie. But Stephanie knew he had seen her ,Sarah was beaming at everyone gleeful to see the rest of the group. While Clementine smiled in a similar manner.
"Clem! Sarah! Nick!" Rebecca yelled in glee, glad to see three old friends returned to her, Clementine thought everything (in those few seconds) would be all sunshine and rainbows. However that illusion faded the instant she saw Wyatt with his dual pistols locked on Luke's forehead.
"What's going on?" she asked cautiously, her tone cutting short the happiness of the reunion as the situation returned to that of the whole "Luke" matter.
"Clem, listen here Luke's done a load of bad stuff, he..." Wyatt began to explain as Nick shouted "What the actual fuck!?" and charged forward to help his friend however Mike's strong arm kept him at a safe distance.
"Let me go! What the fuck are you doing!?" Nick growled angrily, still in the dark Bonnie decided to explain the situation to Nick as everyone listened in. No one said a word as Sarita, Nick, Luke and Clementine were brought up to date with events. Luke noticed how Bonnie's narration of events betrayed no emotion, "... Luke he raped that girl. Anne. Raped her and shot her when Vince tried to talk her down and then Luke shot Vince and..." Bonnie was saying, as Kenny backed her up with "You have to believe us! We saw it!" as Nick looked at Luke in shock. Clementine's head was dizzy, she couldn't believe what she hearing.
Not because of what Luke had done.
Because of how low Vince had gone. She knew Vince had lied before and she knew this wasn't the truth this time around. When one side of the story was finished, Clementine looked up at Luke. For the first time since he had confronted his group Luke looked as uncomfortable and scared as he truly was, did Clementine believe the lies about him? That would crush him completely.
"Luke, what really happened?" she asked.
"Clementine!" Rebecca yelled, as Luke looked up and smiled at her.
"Thank you Clem, now let us tell our side of the story!" Stephanie yelled over to Rebecca, as she began her story. Vince had to bite down hard on his tongue to refrain himself from speaking, as Stephanie accused him of basic rape and murder. It wasn't like that at all, he felt a rage grow inside of him, that stupid bitch. Maybe if only Christa let go of his gun, he could shut both Stephanie and Luke up forever...
"... and that's why I went to go help Luke. I know what I saw! I know it you guys! We sent up the flare to draw you here! Luke, he wants justice. I want justice and we all deserve to know the truth" Stephanie spoke as Rebecca simply scowled "You wanted justice on the top of a frozen lake Luke?"
Luke looked at her curly haired mother.
"Yep, if my bullet misses than at least the ice might crack and Vince might drown" Luke told her simply, as Rebecca shuddered, it wasn't just because of the cold.
"Woah, everyone just calm down" Mike interjected starting to panic slightly, Luke gun was still in his hand but facing the floor, Vince's gun was still restrained by Christa.
"Stef" Nick suddenly called out, as Stephanie found herself locking eyes with the man that looked like her brother as she timidly answered "Yes?"
"You're not bullshitting me. Promise me everything you just said was the truth". Nick told her seriously as Stephanie nodded vigorously and told him clearly (while looking him dead in the eye) "Nick. I promise you. I'm telling the truth" as Nick seemingly nodded.
"I believe you then. I know Luke best here. No fucking way would he rape a 15 year old girl" Nick spoke as Luke smiled up at him.
"Thanks man" he muttered as Nick merely nodded.
"Dude, think with your head! I know Stef's got you wrapped around her little finger and Luke's your old friend but..."
"Don't-call-me-stupid-Vince. I can make up my own God damn mind, I'm not a baby" Nick growled at the Asian man, as Vince couldn't help but notice the similar responses from Nick and Stephanie. They were a match made in heaven, as stupid as each other and as immature as each other.
"You want crimes! Luke's a good guy, as for me. I, I should be the villain here. I killed Arvo" Nick stated, as many jaws hit the floor, as everyone suddenly seemed to become aware of the two absent members of the group. Lilly and Arvo. Upon hearing these words Christa's grip on Vince's gun tightened, as she felt her world spin out of her control. Nick had murdered her last remaining family, he had... she couldn't even bring herself to say it.
"You...you..." she gasped, but it wasn't Nick who replied.
"Nick got mad. He killed Arvo because Arvo ran away when those men came... and... and they raped me" her use of the word rape made even more jaws hit the floor, as people seemed unable to breathe at this point, as Wyatt muttered "Someone pinch me. Like fucking pinch me, right here. I'm not actually hearing this right?" as Rebecca gasped and tears slid down her face at this upsetting news. Sarah? How could anyone...?
"Why? Why would they do that to you?" Rebecca gasped to Sarah. The 16 year old's eyes were dry, as she spoke on.
"They, they did it because they found that Anne girl dead. They wanted revenge on our group, and because Anne died and they assumed she was raped, they did the same too me. It was Marisol and three other men, we found one of them later. He had hung himself, but because Anne died that was the reason they attacked me, it was the reason Arvo ran. It was the reason Nick got mad and tried to kill him..."
"It still doesn't justify my actions. I'm a murderer, so If anyone should have guns pointed to their heads, it's me" Nick told everyone solemnly, as Luke muttered "Nick" but he couldn't say anymore, Nick had killed a teenager, a kid. Luke didn't know how to feel.
"You should be god-damn ashamed of yourself! You sick, horrible... fuck..." Christa broke down in tears, unable to finish her sentence as Mike comforted her, however Sarita spoke up in Nick's defence.
"Look I'm not justifying what Nick did. But Arvo left her, he ran away while she got raped..." Sarita said, as Christa's eyes blazed at the Indian woman "So fucking what!? HE RAN BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY KILLED HIM! AND YOUR JUSTIFYING THAT PIECE OF SHIT'S ACTIONS! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT CALLED HIM A DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING BACK WHEN WE HAD THE TRUCK! HOW DARE YOU!? HOW DARE YOU DEFEND HIM! YOU STUPID WOMAN!" Christa screamed, as Sarita shook and Kenny bellowed back "HEY! DON'T SPEAK TO SARITA LIKE THAT!"
"I'll speak to her how I fucking want too" Christa replied back with all the sass in the world.
"Oh, don't go actin' all Mother Teresa on us Christa. Not after you and Mike went around fucking in the woods, cheatin' on me!" Bonnie screamed, adding her input to argument, as Clementine muttered "Oh God..." not wanting to hear more things that girl's her age shouldn't have been hearing.
"So what if I was with Mike! That's not comparable to murdering or rape!" Christa screamed, as Bonnie darkly muttered "I know it ain't, but plannin' to steal AJ and run off together with Mike in that herd. That was a low move Christa. I didn't know it then, but looking back now I've connected all the dots..." Bonnie revealed to all, Christa and Mike's silence on the matter confirmed their guilt, as Rebecca held AJ closer to her chest and Wyatt muttered "What the actual fuck is wrong with everyone today!? Anything else we should know about?" he asked the group at large, as Stephanie asked the question she had long wanted to ask Nick.
"Nick... where's Lilly?" the tone of dread in her voice alarmed many who didn't know of Lilly's demise. Nick looked back at Stephanie and shook his head sadly "She...she didn't make it. Shot by one of the guys in Marisol's group after pushing me away. They fled... but... it was too late. She bled out, I'm sorry Stef" Nick told her, as Stephanie felt silent, shocked tears roll down her face. Lilly can't have been dead. Lilly was... she was the strongest of them all! She... Stephanie was now truly shocked as was everyone else.
"Fuck..." Kenny muttered, feeling bile rise in his throat, he and Lilly never got on and that's what made it worse for him, he never even got to thank Lilly for saving his life back at the Hardware Store all those months ago. He treated her like shit and now she was gone... Kenny was suddenly aware of how low he had sunk when all Lilly had done was try and help the group.
"Jesus I can't take any-more of this" Rebecca whined, swaying on the spot slightly.
"I avenged Lilly. I killed the guy who shot her" Clementine stated clearly standing up beside Nick. She be dammed if she'd let Luke and Nick bear the brunt of all this guilt, when she was just a guilty a crime. This did it for Rebecca, she couldn't take anymore, she passed AJ over to a rigid Eddie and collapsed on her knees. Mumbling to herself "Oh sweet Jesus no. Oh sweet Jesus no"
"He tried apologising, but I didn't forgive him, I..." Clementine carried on, as Kenny muttered "Stop it Clem".
"I left Alex to die" Sarah suddenly spoke up, gaining more interest from the group, as she continued "He was injured, but he left us. So I left him. Like Clem said, I couldn't forgive him..." at these words Christa seemed to lose it, as she exploded at Nick "WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING THEM!? YOU'RE CRAZY! YOU'RE FUCKING CRAZY! YOU'RE TEACHING THEM TO BE MURDERERS AND KILLERS! TEACHING THEM NOT TO FORGIVE OTHERS, WHEREAS IF YOU HADN'T BEEN FORGIVEN YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE...!" She ranted, as Nick store on silently.
"EVERYONE STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!" Luke bellowed in such a loud tone that the others all fell silent. Luke seemed to regain himself as he muttered "Clem, Nick, Sarah, stop it. I know what you're trying to do, and yeah some of it's pretty bad. But Vince" (all eyes turned back to Vince at this point) "You're a liar, what you did was downright evil. You didn't do it in anger, you did it to make me suffer and you enjoyed it, you're just like Carver" Luke spoke as Vince merely laughed and muttered "I did nothing wrong, and even if I did I'd do it in vengeance for what you did to Kelly".
Luke rolled his eyes and Clementine spoke up.
"Luke didn't touch Kelly Vince. You're a liar" she said, her voice as cold as the passing winter gales that stung at the exposed areas of the remaining group's skins.
"How would you know that Clementine?" Vince's asked, not looking at the 12 year old to his left, yet when Clementine spoke next, she spoke the truth.
"Because I was there when Kelly died Vince. I saw her get ripped apart by the herd, and in her dying words she told me that you framed Luke for rape. You lied Vince, you've been lying this whole time". Clementine accused him, as Vince's eyes' widened but he tried to cover this up with a "You didn't know what you saw Clem".
Clementine folded her arms over her chest and challenged the Asian man with a "So, you think I'm lying?" causing Vince to turn (in a growing rage) towards the black haired girl as he snarled "Yes! I think you are a fucking liar Clem! You're in league with Luke aren't you!? Aren't you!?" he repeated, demanding an answer from her, as she merely glared silently back at him.
"Clem told us too. I believe what Clem saw, so don't be mean to my friend" Sarah spoke up, as Vince glared openly at the pair of them.
"Shut up" he growled, once again he tried to tug his gun from Christa's grip, yet the tall woman held onto it tighter, she looked alarmed by the crazed look in Vince's eye, and in those moments she knew the truth as well. Forgetting her rage at Nick, the tall woman muttered "What Kelly wanted to tell us, just before the herd reached us. That was it wasn't it? You framed Luke" the conclusion was clear, as everyone remembered Kelly's begging of Vince to "Tell them!" but Vince responded with "Why don't you mind your own fucking business for once Christa?"
"Why aren't you answering the question?" Christa snapped.
Vince froze, in the growing silence, suspicions grew, as Bonnie cautiously called out "Vince?" as the Asian man felt all accusing eyes on him, he began to break, his breath was coming out too fast.
"Did Luke shoot her like you said. Vince? Did he?" Kenny asked of him, uncertainty was flickering on the bearded man's face As Sarita whispered into his ear "I don't believe him Kenny. I believe what Clem saw" Vince gulped as Wyatt looked torn, as the blonde man slowly dropped his gun from Luke's forehead.
"Dude? Did Luke shoot Kelly? Did you see it? Did he rape Anne?" Wyatt couldn't believe Vince had lied. There was no way he could lie about something like this.
"You saw Kelly as a walker didn't you? You assumed Luke killed her, didn't you?" Clementine asked of him, the growing questions were weighing on Vince's shoulders, he was breaking, he had about to snap as he growled his reply "Luke did kill her. The second he charged into that herd. It was such a fucking reckless plan" he muttered, as Rebecca's eyes widened and Mike gasped in shock as the truth dawned on both of them.
"So. You're saying she died in the herd then and that Luke didn't shoot her?" Christa accused him of, as Vince spat "No! Luke killed her the second we went into the herd!"
"No the walkers did! You... You lied to us Vince!" Kenny roared, as Sarita had to restrain him from moving forwards to punch Vince, Vince saw the look of rage etched onto Kenny's face, it truly was over. As Vince titled his head back and roared into the sky...
"FUCK IT! YOU KNOW FUCKING WHAT I DID CAPTURE ANNE! I FUCKING FRAMED LUKE FOR RAPE IN THE FIRST PLACE! I FUCKING CAUGHT ANNE AND TEMPTED LUKE TO RAPE HER! EVEN WHEN I PULLED OUT CLEM'S CAP THE IDIOT WOULDN'T AGREE TO IT! SO YEAH I SHOT MYSELF AND THAT FREAKY EYED BITCH TO FRAME HIM! IT WAS ALL ME! WANNA KNOW WHY! BECAUSE LUKE'S FUCKING NUTS AND YOU NEEDED TO SEE THAT! HIS A FUCKING SHIT LEADER, HE MADE US STAY AT THE HARDWARE STORE AND NOW THE CULT ARE CLOSE ON OUR ASSES! HE CHARGED INTO THAT HERD AND KILLED MY GIRLFRIEND AND GOT US SEPARATED! LUKE'S A SHIT LEADER! WE ALL FUCKING KNOW IT! I DID WHAT I DID TO GET RID OF HIM, TO ENSURE THE GROUP WAS SAFE! IF YOU FOLLOW LUKE HE'LL GET YOU ALL KILLED!"
A ringing silence rang out after this words. There was nothing to be said, but finally Luke titled his head back and announced to all "And that Ladies and gentlemen is the truth. That's what I wanted you all to hear".
Christa couldn't speak she was disgusted, she was horrified at the man she thought was their capable leader. She swiped his gun from his limp fingers as he fell to the floor, the ice cracking slightly under his weight.
"Are you going to follow that turd then? Are you going to kill me?" he questioned of the group who looked down at the Asian man in disgust, tears rolled down Vince's cheeks as he watched his worst nightmare come to life. They had discovered his secret, Luke was walking back into the group no one was pointing guns at him anymore, no one knew what to say to Luke, now knowing he was innocent.
"Luke I..." Kenny began at last.
"It's fine. Let's get the hell out of here" Luke told him, as the group all looked back at a wailing Vince who pounded the ice beneath him, with his fists as he wailed and sobbed. Looking pathetic and pitiful.
"Luke, you wanted revenge now's your chance" Stephanie told him, as the group looked at the young southern man. Luke looked tempted as Vince looked up through watery black globes and croaked in a sinister tone "Come on baby! What's a matter, lost your habit of ripping people to shreds?" he taunted Luke with, Luke merely remained poker-faced as Vince continued to goad him, the group stood beside Luke looking back and forth at Luke back to Vince.
"COME ON! FUCKING RUIN ME! FUCKING MAKE ME A BLOODSTAIN ON THE ICE! MAKE ME THE WORST I CAN BE!" Vince spat at him in pure insanity.
Luke looked back at him, before speaking again.
"You are already the worst you can be. Don't you get it? I thought I wanted to kill you Vince, but I just discovered I'm a much worse person than simply giving you a quick death with a single bullet. It's over Vince, you're dreams of leading the group are over, you are a fucking monster and I'm going to leave you here to rot. So with the best wishes from me and all of us. .Hell" Luke concluded his sentence and turned away from Vince, as him and the group began to walk away.
"COME BACK YOU FUCKING COWARD! FINISH ME OFF!" Vince bellowed, Luke didn't turn around, but Vince's oldest friends Wyatt and Bonnie did, Bonnie could only stare in numb shock at what Vince had become while Wyatt approached Vince, the blonde man stood over Vince for a few moments, deeply hurt beyond any words at Vince's betrayals and lies. So his fist did the talking, a single punch sent Vince sprawling backwards onto the ice.
"VINCE WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO YOU!? WHY THE FUCK!?" Wyatt screamed at him, his eyes looked glassy but in those moments Vince didn't care. Wyatt thought of him as shit now. There was absolutely nothing left to lose.
But he could make everyone else lose something. It was over for him. What not everyone else.
So, like that Vince truly snapped completely. He no longer thought, he was beyond that, he was demented, beyond human empathy and compassion he had gone completely to ruin, as he sprang to his feet and whacked a surprised Wyatt across the face with a well aimed punch that sent the chubby man sprawling to icy floor.
The ice cracked further.
Vince wasn't finished, before Wyatt could comprehend what had happened Vince had swiped Wyatt's dual pistols from his fingers and aimed them down at the blonde man, who was trying to reach for his glasses, Wyatt looked up in those last few moments and began to beg "NO..." as Eddie turned around and bellowed "VINCE NO...!"
BANG
BANG
BANG
Three gunshots was all it took and Wyatt lay dead, three holes in his head, as Eddie sank to his knees in disbelief, (he was still holding AJ) who had began to cry the rest of the group were speechless, they turned to see Wyatt dead, and the bullets that had travelled through his head had penetrated through the ice sheet over the lake as the cracks spread like wildfire.
"EVERYONE GET OFF THE LAKE!" Luke roared, as Vince smiled. Some of the group ran and some remained frozen in place as Vince fired a few more shots, not at people but he had a better aim. To shoot at the Lake itself so the bullets made the ice crack and break faster, before anyone knew how it had happened the whole lake was stained with cracks.
"I SaVEd oNe bUlLeT fOr yOU lUkE!" Vince bellowed, raising his remaining pistol to Luke's head as he charged towards Luke to ensure that he wouldn't miss, that Luke would die indeed. But at the last second Clementine remembered her promise she had made to herself, she couldn't save Lee, she couldn't save Omid she had gotten them killed. She wasn't adding Luke to that list.
That was her goal. To protect Luke, that was one of the main reasons of her second chance, to keep him alive.
So in the madness she screamed "LUKE MOVE!" and using all of her force she managed to push Luke out of harm's way as he fell to the side.
BANG
She was too short, the bullet whizzed over her head yet Vince fell on top of her.
Just as the ice covering the lake splintered into a thousand tiny pieces and the weight of everyone on it could no longer be held. As every group member was plunged into the icy depths.
For Clementine, it was worse not only could she not breathe, but Vince had his arms wrapped around her waist. He was far too heavy for her to fight against him, Vince was slowly sinking and taking Clementine down with, as Clementine looked up at the wavy sky above her... her legs stopped kicking against Vince as her vision slowly got darker.
Vince's last goal. Taking away the one thing that meant the most to Luke.
His Clementine.
