Thanks to gaara king of the sand for the help! Really appreciate you.
And big thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing!
As the group set out, Clementine felt nervous. The girl didn't know how any of this would play out. She was just hoping for the best.
"Hey, Clem?" Violet called.
Clementine looked to the girl. "What's up Vi?"
"I… told Tenn about Minnie…" Violet sighed. "I told him Sophie died and…and that Minnie is one of them now..."
"How did he take it?" Clementine asked with a frown.
"He… He said he forgives her… Minnie… He just wants her to be safe…" Violet said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I wasn't expecting that… I mean, I know how Tenn is, but… I thought he would be… at least a little mad at Minnie…" Violet said.
"Minnie was manipulated. The Delta brain-washed her." Clementine said.
"I know… I just… Tenn's response… it surprised me is all." Violet said. "No anger… He just… wants her to be safe…"
"He's a sweet kid…" Clementine said.
"Yeah. He is…" Violet agreed. "So… Do you think things are gonna… be okay?"
Clementine nodded. "Yeah… We got this…"
"And… do you think we'll be able to convince Minnie to come back with us?" Violet asked.
"I hope so, Vi." Clementine replied. "We'll do our best... Hopefully it's enough..."
Violet gave a simple nod.
"Alright... is everyone ready?" Molly asked. "Keep your guards up."
"What if the negotiation doesn't work out?" Mitch asked.
"Yeah… I've been wondering that too…" Louis said.
"We do what we planned. Burn the hay and steal the supplies." Molly said.
"I... might have another idea..." Clementine hesitant spoke.
"What is it?" Molly asked.
"Remember that guy I told you about, James?" Clementine said.
"The guy you met in the woods? What about him?" Molly asked.
"Apparently he knows how to lead geeks around... that could help us out." Clementine said.
"What do you mean "lead geeks around"?" Vince asked.
"Exactly what it sounds like. He knows how to guide them..." Clementine said.
"Geeks do usually make a good distraction." Molly hummed.
Clementine nodded. "We might not have any belltowers to ring, but this is a good counter option."
"And this guy... do you think he'd be willing to help?" Molly asked.
"He might be willing... If I talk to him…" Clementine said. "IF we need a distraction, geeks are usually a pretty good distraction."
"Alright then… it's worth a shot.…" Molly said.
"We're not too far from his barn. I can see if he's around." Clementine said.
"You shouldn't go alone. It's dangerous." Javier said.
"I'll go." Gill spoke. "I'll go with her."
Randy frowned at that. "Gill—"
"We'll be fine, dad." Gill quickly interrupted.
Randy seemed hesitant but Molly nodded.
"Keep your guards up. And turn back around if anything seems… strange." Molly said.
The teens both nodded.
"We will." Clementine said.
"Good. We'll wait for you here." Molly said. "Be careful."
The two nodded in response.
"So, this guy… You're saying he wears walker skin?" Gill asked, fighting the urge to cringe.
"Yes…." Clementine said.
"Like a mask?" Gill furrowed his brow.
"Exactly like a mask." Clementine confirmed.
"And you don't think that's a bit weird?" Gill asked.
"I do… I think it's completely weird, but that doesn't change the fact that he can help us…" Clementine said.
"If you say so." Gill gave a reluctant shrug.
"Come on, I can see the barn." Clementine said, leading her boyfriend forward.
Upon reaching the barn Clementine began looking around the area for James. The girl's eyes widened when she noticed the young man on the ground, clutching at his injured arm.
The girl raced towards him. Gill followed close behind her.
"James? You're hurt…" Clementine gasped.
James flinched, not expecting to see them.
"Did the raiders do this?" Clementine asked.
"I… saw them coming from the school. Thought they were attacking your people…" James said. "Why are you here?"
"Shit… Which way did they go?" Clementine asked.
"I don't know… they got spooked by the barn…" James said.
Gill looked to the barn, hearing the snarling from inside, he could understand why anyone would get spooked by that barn.
"I… We need to stop them…" Clementine said. "But to do that, we need your help moving some walkers.
James hesitantly made his way to his feet. "I could...maybe help… What do you need help with?"
"People are being held captive on a boat not too far from here. We can't sneak on board without cover, not without the raiders gunning us down." Clementine replied.
"You want to use walkers to hide...to sneak on board their ship? That's insane." James said.
"It's our only chance." Clementine said.
"I have something I need you to see. So, you can understand what you're asking." James replied.
"James!" Clementine called as the young man began walking.
"Follow me…" James urged.
Clementine follows the young man towards the dilapidated barn. She could hear the geeks from inside and it made her uneasy.
"My people...my former people. They had a practice. They called it...collecting." James explained.
James briefly opens the door to reveal the inside, full of geeks.
Gill felt his heart pound a bit.
"They used them as a weapon. I do this...to protect them. I know it sounds strange. But that's why I brought you here. To see them as I do. As people." James said.
"As... people?" Clementine furrowed her brows.
"Well, not people, exactly. But... Something in between. Part of us is still in there. Deep down. So few of us die anymore. We turn. Not dead, not alive." James said.
"Well, you can't prove that James. Look, I've heard some weird things, but walkers having a soul...?" Clementine said.
"Like I said, I know how it sounds. Think about it this way... Has someone you cared about turned?" James asked.
"Quite a few people…. I don't like to think about it…" Clementine frowned.
Gill placed a hand on her shoulder to offer some comfort. "Losing people is never fun to think about…"
"Sorry. Maybe this wasn't the best way to explain. Didn't mean to bring up difficult memories. James sighed. "I lived among walkers for years. Still do, in a way. When they're alone, they're harmless. Innocent. If you want my help, I need you to try and walk with them. (offers mask) Then tell me if you really believe they're just "monsters"."
"Walk with them?" Clementine repeated.
"No way. There's no way in hell, that my girlfriend is going into a barn full of walkers." Gill said.
"She won't be hurt… She just has to walk and stay quiet." James replied.
"…I'll do it." Clementine said, voice full of confidence.
"Clem…" Gill frowned.
"I can do it…" Clementine reassured her boyfriend.
"It's dangerous, Clem…" Gill protested.
"I'll be okay, Gill… I promise." Clementine said.
"She'll be fine." James assured him.
Gill shot him a look, but he knew his girlfriend would be stubborn.
Clementine takes James' mask. She sighed, she had walked among walkers before, while covered in their smell, but this… was different. It was dangerous. "After this… you'll help me?"
"I'll do what I can…" James said.
"…Okay…" Clementine muttered.
"The mask will disguise your scent. But be gentle and be quiet. Touch the wind chime. You'll see." James told her.
Clementine puts on the mask and slowly the girl enters the barn.
She walked slowly, feeling nervous as she did so, but she kept her nerves in check. She made her way through the barn, making her way pass the geeks, towards the wind chimes.
She walked through the herd and eventually reached the wind chimes. And as James had to her to, she touched the wind chimes. The geeks were drawn to the noise and Clementine watches the reaction of the creatures in awe.
Slowly the young teen makes her way towards the exits of the barn and removes the mask.
"So...do you still think they're "just monsters"? Now that you've seen them at peace. Any different? At all?" James asked.
"I... I don't know… It was interesting…" Clementine answered.
"Well… thank you for doing that…" James said.
"Are you going to help me now?" Clementine asked, giving the mask back to James.
"I thought I could, but I can't. So many walkers would die. All of the death this would cause... I'm sorry, Clementine. But I can't have more blood on my hands." James said.
"So let me get this straight, if you really had to choose: human life or geek life... Which is more important?" Clementine asked.
"Walkers are peaceful. Humans, I—" James muttered.
"The people on that boat are ALIVE. Not kind of or maybe alive. They're trapped, and they're afraid. They need my help." Clementine said.
"I may be stubborn. But I'm not heartless. Those "raiders" are cruel. They force others to be the same. And if your friends are anything like you... I don't doubt they're worth saving. It'll take some time to guide them through the forest, to the shore. Others will join the herd as they go." James put his mask on. "Tonight. Be ready. I can't undo this."
James opened the doors to let out the walkers and leads them through the forest.
Clementine sighed, she just hoped this would work.
"Do you really think he'll show up?" Gill said.
"I think so… This is gonna work." Clementine said. At least she hoped so.
The two made their way back over to the group.
"You two are back!" Louis said.
"Thank God." Randy breathed in relief. "Are you okay?"
"We're fine, dad…" Gill said.
Clementine nodded.
"So… what did your friend say…?" Molly asked.
"He's willing to help us." Clementine said.
"Alright then… Where is he?" Molly questioned.
"He'll catch up. We can get a move on." Clementine replied.
Molly nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
The group members nodded and continued on.
The group continued forward until a familiar boat came into view. They watched from a distance as the Delta kills a walker near their boat.
"You sure this friend of yours is coming?" Molly asked Clementine.
"He said he would. I trust him." Clementine said.
"Well, let's just hope he shows up then…" Molly said.
Clementine sighed, hoping he would.
"Come on, we should cover ourselves, in case he really comes through with the geeks." Molly said. "So, they won't be able to tell us apart from them…"
The others nodded in response. Though, Louis, Violet, and Mitch seemed a bit confused.
"What do you mean "cover ourselves"?" Mitch asked.
"You'll see." Clementine said.
Molly noticed one of the lighter geeks and grabbed it, dragging it to the forest. She quickly killed the creature and began to cut it open.
Vince and Clementine followed suit.
"Okay… Let's do this…" Clementine said.
"Ugh, we're not doing what I think we are?" Louis frowned.
"That depends. What do you think we're doing?" Clementine said.
Louis wrinkled his nose. "Oh, god, we are..."
"It'll help us blend in with the geeks." Clementine said.
Louis sighed. "You know, walker blood is one of the hardest stains to get out. You owe me some new clothes."
"Gosh… I can't believe we're actually doing this." Gabe mumbled.
"It's gonna be fine. We'll be okay." Vince said.
The group began to cover themselves in guts.
"Fuck… The smell…" Louis muttered.
"It's gonna be fine… Just… deal with it for now…" Molly said.
Louis just gagged a bit.
"Alright…" Molly muttered. "Now we just need your friend to show up and—"
"Is… that him?" Violet asked as she noticed a person approaching, wearing a strange mask.
The group turned their attention to him.
"Uh...hello." James spoke hesitantly.
"You made it." Clementine was relieved. "Guys, this is James.
The group took in his appearance.
"Is that… walker skin…?" Gabe cringed a bit.
"Don't ask." Clementine said to him, sending him a look.
"Functional and fashionable. That's cool." Louis said.
"Funny." James gave a small chuckle. "Um, Clementine, could I speak to you alone? For a moment?"
"Uh, yeah. Of course." Clementine said.
James and Clementine walked away from the group's earshot.
"The walkers. They'll be here in a little while. You can join them as they pass through the trees. The noise from the boat will draw them toward the water." James told her.
"That's good… Then we can get on board… and carry out the plan." Clementine said. "You know, after this you could come back with us… To our town."
"…I haven't lived with people in a long time. But...it does sound nice. Let me think about it." James said. Slowly he removed his mask. "I wanted to show you something." He took a photo from his pocket and showed the girl. "This is...was...my boyfriend, Charlie. We joined the Whisperers. Together. But...it changed him. In a way that couldn't be undone. It changed both of us."
"What do you mean?"
"The Whisperers were my...family...from a young age. In that time, I witnessed a lot of death and suffering. Eventually, I became the cause of it. Weakness was considered a poison. And I believed in that. Fiercely. So much so, that when another boy expressed sympathy for our enemy before an attack... I slit his throat. I didn't talk to him. Didn't consider who he was. What he felt. Honestly, I don't even remember his name. All I knew was someone like him would only slow us down. That was enough of a reason for me." James pocketed the photo.
"What's your point, James?" Clementine asked.
"After he died, I kept hearing his words in my head: "Those people are like us, just on a different path." I stopped killing after that. I changed. I don't want to kill… unless we have to…" James said.
"I… I get it… And I agree… But these people won't stop. They won't give up. They're dangerous." Clementine said.
The herd reaches the forest, James notices.
"They're close. Soon there will be enough of them to provide us cover. I'll lead you through the herd until you reach the boat. That's as far as I go. After that, it's up to you." James puts his mask back on.
"Thank you." Clementine said.
James simply nodded. "You're welcome…"
With that James walked into the herd and Clementine returned to the group.
"Okay. He's ready to go. The geeks are getting close." Clementine said.
"It's really happening, isn't it...?" Louis asked.
"Yeah, it really is." Clementine said.
"Other people's lives are depending on us. What if something happens… something bad? What if... I don't know. I can't carry that the rest of my life." Louis said.
"We're all gonna be okay, Louis… I believe in you… I believe in all of us…" Clementine said.
"Okay…But what if I just get us caught? All it would take is one little screw up. And I screw up ALL the time. Alright, come on, Louis, get it together... I need you to slap me. Help pull me out of this." Louis pointed to his face. "Right here."
"No way…" Clementine refused.
"Please… I—"
Clementine suddenly hugged the boy. "We're gonna be okay, I promise…"
As she broke the hug, Louis gave a small smile. "I… think that helped."
Gill sent him a look.
"What can I say, man. Your girlfriend's like a good luck charm." Louis said.
Clementine rolled her eyes. "Okay… Let's do this…"
The group approaches the herd.
"Okay. Follow my lead." Molly said. "Here we go."
"Walkers!" A delta member exclaimed.
The group slowly moved along with the herd. Molly grabbed a geek and holds it in front of her, and it gets shot. "Stay behind the geeks. Use them as shields."
The group continues moving, using the walkers as shields.
They eventually pause as they get closer to the boat.
"Alright… I need you guys in place… If this trade doesn't work out, we need you to trigger those distractions. So we can get the bomb on the boat…" Molly said. "Louis, Gabe, you two deal with the hay… Randy, get the supplies."
The others nodded their understanding of their task.
"Alright…. Places everyone…" Molly said.
After allowing the others to sneak into their places, Molly called to the Delta group members, Javier keeping a hold on Lilly as Molly called out, "Over here!"
The Delta members looked to her, stopping their shooting at the walkers.
"It's Lilly!" Someone exclaimed. "They have her hostage!"
"We can make this simple!" Molly called. "You let the prisoners on your ship go, and I'll let her go! This can be easy for you all!"
There was silence as they seemed to be contemplating her words.
"Well?!" Molly waited for a response, growing impatient.
"Don't do it!" Lilly called.
"Shut up." Molly hissed at her.
"Shoot them!" Lilly exclaimed.
"Wh-What?" Javier stammered.
"Shoot!" Lilly repeated to her group, who were as equally shocked by her words as Molly and the others were.
"Are you crazy?!" One of the Delta members asked.
"Do it!" Lilly ordered.
The Delta members complied, firing at the group.
Lilly took the chance to elbow Javier, breaking from his hold, as the group begin firing shots, forcing the others to duck behind cover.
Lilly managed to run off before they could stop her.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck! She's getting away." Mitch exclaimed.
"Just stay behind cover." Molly ordered.
"Fuck... what now?" Violet asked. "What do we do now…"
"Time for plan B!" Molly said.
As if cued the horses began to panic and run off. The Delta is shocked to see the hay near them is on fire.
"Damn it, the horses!" One of the Delta members exclaimed.
"What the fuck is going on?!" Another spat.
"Get rid of these fucking walkers!" Someone else ordered.
The group hides behind some boxes on the pier as the Delta continues shooting at the walkers.
Meanwhile Randy manages to gather the supplies.
"Stay sharp! We're still under attack." Someone exclaimed.
"Okay. Now's our chance. We need to get onto that boat." Molly said.
"What about Lilly? She knows about the bomb. She'll warn them!" Violet said.
"She won't get the chance. Let's move!" Molly said.
The group proceeded to sneak their way to the ship, they kept behind cover, sneaking along the edge of the dock.
"The guts are washing off." Violet said.
Clementine peeks over the edge of the dock, but ducks as a raider approaches to shoot at the walkers.
"Follow me. This way." Molly urges the to continue forward.
The group swims underwater. The walkers walk along the bottom of the ocean. They resurface, the walker guts now completely gone from their clothes. Molly urges the group boarding the ship up a nearby ladder. Before Clementine can climb up, a geek grabs her foot, Molly quickly grabs it, stabbing it in the head. Violet grabs Clementine's hand and helps her up onto the dock.
"You okay?" Violet asked her friend.
Clementine nodded. "I'm fine."
Molly boarded the ladder behind her.
"Molly, are you alright?" Clementine asked the woman.
"Yeah. Are you, kid?" Molly asked back.
"I'm good." Clementine said.
"Okay, good…" Molly said. "Alright. Everyone stay close and stay hidden."
The group sneaks past the searchlight.
"Come on, let's hurry." Molly said.
As they made it to a locked door, Molly attempts to pick the lock. As she's doing so a group of geeks began to approach.
The group begins killing the approaching geeks as Molly works on picking the lock of the door.
Before long she successful unlocks the door and opens it, ushering the group inside to what seems to be the lower deck.
"Alright, we need to find the boiler and place the bomb there, then… we'll free the prisoners." Molly said. "That girl… Minerva said they keep prisoners on the second deck. Look out for guards, and stay quiet, okay? Clem and I will scout ahead and signal when it's clear. Got it?"
The others nodded in response.
The group walks through the hallway but hide when a raider runs past. Clementine opens a door at the end of the hallway, and the group enters the room. Clementine moves forward but hides when a raider enters.
He seems to suspect someone is around as he calls out. "Who's there, show yourself!"
"Molly…" Violet muttered.
"I'll handle him…" Molly said. Without hesitation she charged at the raider and body-slams him, making him drop his weapon, then hits him with his gun, knocking him unconscious.
"Holy shit. Nice." Becca said.
"Come on, let's find the boiler." Molly said.
"Maybe we should split up. It'll be easier to get caught if we're all together." Vince said.
"Yeah… You're right…" Molly nodded. "Vince, Javi, you two head to the second deck. Becca you can go with them."
"Alright." Becca nodded.
As the three headed to the second deck, Molly and the others continued searching for the boiler.
Eventually they noticed an area where the boiler was.
"This is it." Mitch said.
Molly nodded. "Yeah, it looks like it.
"Great. That's where we need to plant the bomb." Mitch said. "But… There's too much stuff in the way."
"Maybe there's another way in." Clementine said.
The group entered the next room, hoping to find another way to the boiler. They hide as a raider rushes pass them. Clementine moves forward and hides behind the doorway, seeing a raider in the boiler room.
"There's someone there." Clementine said.
"I'll handle them." Molly said. "Wait here."
Molly entered the room, drawing Hilda and approaching the raider. She uses Hilda to kill the man, and then motions the others forward.
Clementine sighed, "You killed him…"
"Couldn't take the risk…" Molly said. "Besides, the bomb would've done it if I hadn't."
The girl knew that was true.
The others enter the room and the group approaches the boiler. Molly opens it, and Mitch places the bomb inside.
"Once they start up this boat, we won't have much time before it explodes." Mitch explained to the others.
"How long do you think we'll have…" Violet asked.
"Hard to be sure. Could be an hour? Thirty minutes?
"I guess we should get a move on then." Clementine said.
The others agreed.
After placing the bomb in the boiler room, the group started to head to the second deck.
They were forced to stop when they heard voices.
They hid and noticed Minerva talking to one of the raiders.
"Minerva, focus."
"Yes, ma'am. I...I have a little brother. Short, scarred face. Is he...he's not out there, is he?" Minerva asked.
"Look, we've discussed this. Your family is Delta now. There ain't no room for anyone else." The raider replied.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good, now stay sharp… We're not safe yet." The raider said.
Minerva nodded.
Once the raider had left Violet spoke. "There's no way we can get in there without her seeing us."
"Well, we don't have time to wait." Molly huffed.
"We should talk to her. See if we can convince her to come. Let me talk to her." Violet said.
Clementine sighed. "Okay... Just... be careful. I'll watch your back."
Violet nodded in response.
The two were hesitant but revealed themselves.
"Minnie..." Violet called, causing the girl to jump.
"Violet...? And... you..." Minerva narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"You knew we'd be here... We're saving those prisoners." Clementine said.
"You're not saving anyone! You're just ruining things! Everyone here is safe." Minerva snapped.
"No... Minnie... how can you say that? This place... it's not a real home." Violet said.
"It is a real home. It's a better home than anything I could ask for. I don't have to worry about food or supplies... I have a bed. I have people who care about me here." Minerva said.
"We care about you, Minnie... We wanted to save you and Sophie. That's why we came." Violet said. "Me, Louis, Mitch, everyone…"
"Too late. There's no one here to save." Minerva said.
"You shouldn't have come here." Minerva said. "Get. Out."
"Not without helping those people." Clementine said.
"I swear to god, if you got Tenn caught up in this... Just...just tell me that he's safe. Give me that." Minerva said.
"He's fine…" Clementine said.
"Give me more than that."
"He's safe… He's safe at a town… So are the others." Violet said.
"He better be…" Minerva said. "Lilly told us about the- bomb... they'll find it...and stop it. Stop you. You all made a mistake coming here."
"You can come with us, Minnie... please..." Violet urged. "Tenn misses you. We all do."
"I can't do that." Minerva shook her head.
"Minnie... You can. Please. You can't stay here." Violet said.
Minnie looked torn but shook her head again.
"These people can't keep you here. We'll take you somewhere safe. Where you can be with Tenn and your friends again." Violet said.
Minerva thought on the girl's words. "It's not right, keeping people locked up and forced to stay here against their will. They shouldn't be here imprisoned."
"It's safer here..." Minerva said.
Clementine shook her head. "They've brain washed you to think that way."
"No one's fucking brain-washed." Minerva hissed.
"Fine... stay here... but the others have a choice to leave." Clementine said. "I'm not leaving these people in a place like this."
Clementine started to turn and walk away, not noticing Minerva glaring at her back.
"Don't fucking walk away from me!" Minerva suddenly exclaimed.
Clementine ignored her, heading to the stairs.
Minerva narrowed her eyes and stormed towards the girl. "I said stop!"
Clementine blocks Minnie as she charges and tries to stab her.
"You're the fucking problem here!" Minerva spat and kicked Clementine in the knee before pushing her onto the floor, pressing the knife into her chest. "I won't let you get my friends all killed!"
As Clementine struggled to push the knife away, Violet quickly attempted to pull her off.
"STOP, Minerva!" Violet exclaimed.
Minerva, hit her away and then turns back to Clementine. She raises the knife. Suddenly a raider appeared behind Violet.
"What the hell is going on down here?!"
Violet spins around, finding herself held at gunpoint. To her relief, Molly comes to the rescue, killing the raider.
Minerva notices this and screamed in horror. "NOOOO!"
Taking advantage of her distracted moment, Clementine punched Minerva twice, knocking her out.
"Shit… Are you two okay?" Molly asked them, helping Clementine to her feet.
"Fine." Clementine breathed.
"Good. I need you guys to meet up with Vince and the others. And help get those people off the ship." Molly said.
"What about Minerva? We can't just leave her here. We have to do something." Violet said.
"Her too… Any of their captives… Get them off the ship." Molly said.
"What are you gonna do?" Clementine asked.
"I'm gonna make sure the plan works... make sure they don't stop the explosion." Molly said.
Clementine's face fell, eyes growing wide. "Wh-What? Molly what are you saying?"
"It's a leader's job to protect their people... even if it means making a sacrifice." Molly replied.
Clementine shook her head, feeling her heart clench. "Molly, stop."
"We're not all going to get out of this. They have the upper hand. This bomb is our chance... and we can't let Lilly fuck it up." Molly said. "I'll hold them off... make sure you guys can escape."
"Y-You can't just stay here! You'll die!" Clementine argued.
"I know... but I can't risk anyone getting hurt. Especially not you… I spent all these years, fighting to keep you alive… And… if you don't live... my life isn't worth living." Molly said. "I have to do this, Clem…"
Clementine felt tears spill from her eyes as she tried to protest.
"You'll be okay, kid…" Molly said.
"Molly, n-no…"
"You'll be okay," Molly repeated before rushing off.
"Shit… What do we do now?" Mitch asked.
"We listen to her!" Violet took the girl's arm. "Come on, Clem."
Clementine felt her heart drop as she felt frozen in place.
"Clem…" Violet called.
Before anyone got another word out, they noticed Vince, Javier, and Becca ushering a group of what they knew were the captives, off the ship.
"Alright. We need to get the hell out of here." Vince said.
"Wait, where's Molly?" Becca asked.
"She- She went to the boiler." Violet said. "She… She said she's… making sure they can't diffuse the bomb…"
"What?!" Vince's eyes widened.
"I- I'm going to find her! Get them off the boat!" Clementine said.
"Clem!" Javier called to her.
The girl ignored as she ran off.
Clementine peered out as she walked along the boat. As the girl reached some boxes, she made sure to use them as cover, while she rushed to catch up with Molly.
The girl could feel her heart pounding as she left the room, she needed to find Molly. She couldn't just leave her guardian there.
Clementine searched for the woman but flinched when she heard voices.
"Found this in the herd."
The girl quickly took cover, peeking from behind the boxes to see what was going on. She gasped as she noticed a group of raiders, one pushing James to the ground before unmasking him.
"No wonder there were so many walkers. Must have thought you were clever, leading those walkers here."
"You don't fucking scare me." James huffed.
"Is that so?" One of the raiders asked.
"You force your ways onto others. Because you're afraid. Because you're weak." James snapped at the raider.
"Fine... I can see you're going to be difficult to deal with. You're no use to us anyway." One of the raiders said.
As one of them starts to lift their gun, Clementine runs over to another stack of boxes and sneaks around them.
The girl rushed over, aiming her gun. "Let him go!"
"Don't do anything stupid, kid!" One of the raiders exclaim.
"Let him go, now! Or else I'll shoot!" Clementine snapped.
James was surprised to see her. "Clem—"
The girl huffed and shot at raiders, taking cover as they tried to shoot at her. With their attention on her, James helped take out the raiders. The two then took a moment to catch their breath.
"James, are you okay?" Clementine said.
"Y-Yeah… Thanks… Where are your friends?" James asked.
"They're freeing the hostages and getting them off the boat." Clementine explained.
"Shouldn't we get off the boat?" James said.
"I- I can't not yet…" Clementine replied.
"But we've done what we came here for…" James said.
Clementine shook her head in disagreement. "I can't go yet! I have to—"
The girl flinched as they suddenly heard the boat start.
"Oh shit!" Clementine swore.
"What?"
"They started the boiler!" Clementine huffed.
"What does that mean?"
"Th-There's a bomb on the boat!"
"What? Then we do need to get off the ship, now."
"Not without Molly!" Clementine said.
"Clementine, this boat could blow any minute." James said.
"I can't just leave her!" Clementine said.
"I'm sorry…" James frowned. "We don't have much of a choice…"
"Clem!" A sudden voice called to her.
Clementine looked to the source of the voice. "Gill…?"
"Come on! We gotta go NOW!" Gill said.
"But Molly—"
Gill cut her off, taking her by the arm. "Let's go!"
"What do we do?" James asked him.
"I… I don't know… We- We gotta get off this boat…" Gill looked around for a quick exit.
"We… gotta jump… We gotta jump into the water." James said.
"Are you serious?" Gill said.
"Very… This is our only way." James said.
"Damn it… Okay… Let's go." Gill said.
Clementine tried to resist as both James and Gill grabbed her, yanking her off the boat, and toward the water below.
They resurfaced, James and Gill pulling the panicking Clementine towards land.
The others who had escaped were relieved to see them.
They did notice a few people from the Delta's side had managed to escape from the boat as well, but they were struggling and quickly getting overwhelmed by walkers.
"Are you guys okay?" Vince asked Clementine, James, and Gill with concern.
"We're… fine…" Gill answered.
Clementine however shook her head. "M-Molly… Molly's still in there Vince! We gotta do something!"
"Calm down, Clem…" Vince said. "Just—"
Before either of them could speak another word, they were shocked to hear the loud noise of an explosion. Their attention turned towards the boat. As they looked to the boat, they noticed it was set aflame with pieces crashing from it and into the water.
"No! NO! NO! NO!" Clementine exclaimed, the girl crumbled to her knees, sobbing brokenly. She was completely devastated, as was everyone else, knowing that Molly had been still on that boat and that the woman had sacrificed her own life to safe many.
Vince did his best to comfort the young girl.
She wasn't the only one who was in despair over what was occurring. Minerva was screaming, fighting back tears that threatened to spill.
"We… We gotta get a move on. Before the Muertos change their focus to us…" Javier spoke.
"Yeah… You're right." Vince said. "Clem, come on, kid. It's time to go."
The teen didn't budge.
"Come on, kid…. We gotta get a move on." Vince spoke to her again.
The girl didn't respond. She didn't even react to his words.
Vince couldn't help but frown. It had been a long time since he had seen Clementine in such a state. "Clem… Come on…"
Becca, Gabe, and Gill all sent looks of concern over to them.
Vince looked to Javier. "Help me stand her up."
Javier nodded and proceeded to help Vince lift the teen to her feet.
Meanwhile Violet, Louis, and Mitch were trying to calm a distraught Minerva down. Minerva only became more distressed as she heard yells from one of the Delta members and saw walkers devouring them before her very eyes.
"No! Get away from her!" Minnie shot at the walkers, until she eventually ran out of ammo. She then picked up the fallen raider's axe and continued killing the herd.
"Minnie!" Violet called with concern.
"She's lost it!" Louis frowned.
The group watches in horror as a walker bites Minnie's arm, and she kills it.
"Oh, my god!" Mitch gasped.
Vince and Javier began to shoot at the walkers as Randy and Becca escort the group towards the forest so they can get to safety.
Minerva suddenly screamed as she gets bitten in the cheek, she shoots the walker.
"Clementine!"
The girl's call grabs Vince's attention.
Minerva picked up a grenade and pulls the pin. "Fuck you! You ruined everything! Everyone is dead because of you!"
Vince quickly shot Minerva in the shoulder, making her drop the grenade. "Shit!"
He yanks Clementine away from the explosion, and some of the people panic with the noise.
"Keep moving!" Vince orders to the others. They needed to get away from this herd.
As they continue on, Minerva gets surrounded by the herd, and to Violet's, Louis's, and Mitch's horror, they lose sight of the girl.
The group made their way further and further from the herd, walking in a depressed silence.
They hadn't expected things to go this way. They hadn't expected any of this.
And knowing that Molly was… just gone was the worse part of all.
"I'm sorry about your friend." James said.
"…Why did you force me from the boat?" Clementine inquired.
"You would've died if we hadn't…" James said.
Clementine bit her lip and said, "I could have saved her… I could have…"
"It was too late, Clem…" James frowned.
"I could have saved her!" Clementine said a bit louder, causing him to give a light flinch. "I could have…"
"We… We've both lost a lot today… I know how you feel…" James said. "Those walkers—"
"Walkers aren't people, James."
"I—"
"Hey…. Just… leave her alone for now." Gill spoke up.
"But…" James paused, but sighed and nodded. "Okay…"
The group continued walking and Gill slowly took his girlfriend's hand.
"Hey… It's gonna be alright, Clem…" Gill said.
"No…. It's not…" Clementine said. "Molly's dead, and… if I had done something… She would still be alive… This is my fault."
"It's not your fault, Clem." Gill said.
"It is… All I had to do was kill Lilly while I had the chance." Clementine bitterly muttered.
"It wasn't that simple… You know that…" Gill said.
"It should have been." Clementine said. "This is all my fault."
"No… No it's not…" Gill hugged her, feeling his heart breaking for his girlfriend. He hated seeing her hurting, seeing her upset.
"I can't believe Molly's just… just gone…" Javier muttered.
"Clem's not dealing with this well…" Randy sighed.
"Of course not. She… She's lost a lot of people… And Molly… Molly was the one person who took care of her through all these years. It's awful…" Vince said.
"It is…. I… I was hoping that we wouldn't lose any of our people on this mission…" Javier said.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Randy asked.
"We're here for her… She doesn't have to go through this alone. She doesn't have to grieve by herself." Vince said.
"She shouldn't have to grieve at all. Poor kid…." Javier said.
"Yeah…." Vince couldn't help but sigh.
Hours had passed before the group came to a stop, it was getting dark and they figure it was be best to halt their trip until daylight.
The group did their best to get some rest.
Though that night proved to be sleepless to most.
Clementine laid down, staring blankly at the sky. Her tears had dried up, but the ache in her heart had yet to cease. And Clementine knew that ache would never leave her. It was permanent, just like when Lee died… Just like when she saw her parents… Just like when Kenny died…
That ache was worse than anything she had ever felt…
The girl didn't register anything around her, she felt empty, broken…
She didn't react when Vince had asked if she was okay, or when she heard mentioning Minnie.
They were all grieving; they were all hurting… And that hurt, that grief was all Clementine could think about.
As it got later some of the group members did manage to drift off, but Clementine remained in the same position for hours, staring blankly at the dark sky… Staring blankly into the darkness…
"Never mind the darkness. Never mind the storm. Never mind the blood-red moon. The night will be over soon."
The sudden singing caused the sleeping group members to stir.
And one by one people began to pop up, rubbing sleep out of their eyes, disoriented and confused.
To their horror they noticed Minerva, holding an axe and covered in blood. The girl approaches the group, but she isn't alone.
"Holy shit… She's leading the herd…" Louis said, eyes wide.
Behind Minerva a herd of walkers is follow. Panic hit and Vince scrambled to his feet. "Everyone move! NOW!"
"I won't go alone!" Minerva said. "My friends, come with me!"
"What the fuck?" Mitch gasped.
"Move!" Vince calls to the group.
Everyone begins to run.
Minerva fired a pistol into the air, drawing the walkers closer.
Clementine snapped out of her daze as Minerva shoots at her. The bullet whizzed pass her. Clementine forces herself to her feet, drawing her own gun as anger fills her.
"Clem, come on!" Vince called.
"I have to stop her!" Clementine called back.
Clementine rushes over and attempts to grab the axe from Minerva's hands. Minerva kicked her causing her to fall. Minerva swings the axe, but Clementine dodges it.
A geek grabs Clementine's leg, but Vince shoots it.
"You're just something in my way." Minerva aims her gun at the girl, but Clementine jumps up and grabs it. They wrestle for the weapon, and Clem headbutts Minerva, knocking her down. Clementine pointed her gun at her, but Minerva spits blood in her face, disorienting her and making her fire blindly. Minerva picks up the axe and attempts to slice at Clementine's leg, slashing her boot open.
Clementine is shocked for a moment, but quickly regains her composer. Aiming her gun at Minerva once again, Clementine shoots Minerva in the shoulder; the redhead drops the axe and stumbles backward. Geeks grab and bite her.
Clementine gets up and turns to Vince, still a bit shaken up by what had occurred.
"L-Let's go…" The girl said to Vince.
"Are you okay? Is… your leg okay?" Vince frowned, concern hitting him, as he hoped the girl wasn't injured. Especially by a weapon that had been covered in walker blood.
"I'm fine, Vince. I'm fine." Clementine said. "Let's go…"
Vince didn't protest as they got a move on to avoid the herd, leaving Minerva to her own demise.
