6:23 AM — April 8, 2027 — Road leading into Montpelier, Idaho (156 miles from Salt Lake City)
Dot [Ellie]
Dawn was coming, but not soon enough. Streaks of orange glowed in the sky like incandescent lights, providing just enough illumination that Ellie could see beyond the limits of the truck's headlights.
She'd spent the past five hours navigating backroads, a map laid out over the dashboard—crumpled in some places—that had taken her a while to find in the glovebox, let alone determine their location. With Clementine and Alvin passed out, it was on her to get them as far as this thing could take them. Worse still, given Clementine's apparent condition, she'd drive the entire way if she had to. Which, based on the red light on their gas indicator, had finally come.
Come on, just get us a little bit farther…
It was when a small town grew in the distance that she finally brought the truck to a stop, just outside the city limits. The streets grew wider up ahead, with minimal debris in the way. Looked like this town hadn't been hit hard when the apocalypse broke out—not that surprising, given its size on the map. Montpelier, she read, having no idea how to actually pronounce it. Mon-tee-pell-er? Eh. Whatever.
Rubbing her tired eyes, she reached over Alvin's sleeping head, gently nudging the other girl's arm in an attempt to rouse her. "Clementine. Wake up."
Art [Clementine]
The girl leaped from her seat.
She woke up to a strange taste in her mouth, eyes so droopy and worn they looked to have gotten no rest at all. They stayed halfway open as light snuck its way past, faint as it may have been. Clementine's groans made her flinch at the razors in her torso, and the tug of war they played with her exhales. It was only lucidly that she answered Ellie's call. "What."
Dot [Ellie]
Clementine looked even worse in the growing light. A new level of worry washed over her, all due to a single thought. A single theory. Clementine didn't get bit, did she…?
Biting back asking out loud, she answered in a tired voice, "Truck's running on fumes. We're gonna have to look around. Find some place to lie low." Because it was obvious that Clementine wasn't gonna be running around crossing the country in the state that she was in. Exactly what was wrong with her, she'd soon have to find out.
"Are you good to move…?"
Art [Clementine]
She sighed to that, only just bothering to try. Move, she could. Though moving seemed a sudden leagues away from walking. The bruise from yesterday had found its way back, clawing at her shoulder where bones didn't ache so much. Clementine suppressed a silent cry. "No. I guess not."
The girl lowered her voice for AJ's sake, envying how fast he'd fallen asleep. Yesterday's flashes gave her pause at every turn, and hurt about as often. She had a hard enough time trying to sit still.
And so, she turned to Ellie again, hiding a fear too open to forego. "Do… broken ribs take long to heal?"
Dot [Ellie]
Jesus Christ… It was better than being bit, but not by much. She averted her gaze long enough to take in the road ahead, flanked by rows of houses left as empty as she hoped the rest of this town was. She wished she'd known about that yesterday, maybe she would've… What? Left her behind like you did Kat? Not gonna happen. Besides, it was too late for regrets. They just… had to figure something out.
"A while," Ellie eventually said, propping her elbows against the steering wheel as she rubbed at her eyes. "A few weeks. Maybe a couple months at most. And it's not gonna heal if you're constantly moving around."
Now she'd gotten the strength to remove her seatbelt, shifting in her side of the seat, extending a hand only halfway towards Clementine, just enough to pull away should Clem refuse her next question. "Can I see how bad it is…?"
She didn't have a huge amount of experience with broken ribs, but Eleanor had gone over some of the basics. She just wanted to see how bruised her ribcage was.
What're the chances a small town pharmacy hasn't been hit yet…? God, she could only hope. Clem was gonna need pain pills just to keep fucking breathing.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine pushed her back against the seat, letting in a shallow breath. "Let's worry about this place first."
Saying it out loud was all it took, though. Even she didn't buy it; that town up ahead was nowhere near her biggest worry. Months. With Jackson gone, for good, they were fucking screwed. They had nowhere to stay, no one to help her recover. How could they make it to Salt Lake like that, without a car? Clem felt a shiver run down her arms, and to her it seemed wise to aim her head low and start thinking.
They had to find a way.
Her voice came rough as it had come sudden. "Take AJ with you. I'll keep watch.
"Just don't wander too far."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie had to bury her concern. Though she didn't find taking the kid to be a good idea, she didn't put up much of a fight about it. Clem would be safe inside the truck, but she'd need someone watching her back too.
Pulling out the radios she'd found earlier in the glovebox, she handed one to Clementine, choosing a random radio frequency that'd at least keep them from being overheard by any surviving Saviors. Giving them a quick test, they definitely weren't in great condition, but at least Ellie would feel more content knowing she could check in with her.
Nudging AJ awake, she tried to put on her best 'friendly' voice. "Hey, you wanna help me check this place out? I could use someone to watch my back."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Falling asleep is an easy task once you become oddly comfortable with your surroundings. Being in the truck, the gentle hum of the engine, all mixed with the feeling of the world moving in silence had the kid's eyelids low, fighting the sleep he didn't wish to partake in. He remembered the simple argument he had with the girls. 'I'm not tired, big kids stay up late.' Well, he was up way too late, and that sweet good night took the kid out shortly after passing Jackson. It had only been a few hours when he felt the gentle shove of one of the two girls.
His eyes blinked open slowly, his head nestled against the one with the ballcap. He was careful to push away from her, despite not knowing the extent of how necessary it was. Small hands found their way up his face, rubbing circles into his brown hues with a tired yawn. "Where are we…?" There was a whine to his tone as he looked around, looking over to Clementine for only a moment to acknowledge her before returning his attention to Ellie.
He could answer his own question, really. Some town. "Yeah, I can go with you if you're scared. I don't mind." Despite his choice of words, he offered a half attempt at a smile, still too tired to actually care what was happening.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. Leave it to the kid… "Alright then, well… let's get moving. We gotta bunch of stuff to do."
Looking through the mirror just outside her door, she opened it slowly, hand on her pistol. Better to be safe than sorry. Just 'cause she couldn't see anyone, doesn't mean there ain't any. She'd prefer infected over real people, that's for damn sure.
Helping AJ out of the truck, they began to walk into the town, Ellie shifting the rifle that hung over her shoulder. "I'm not scared, by the way. I'm actually quite brave." She sent the kid a small smile, trying to alleviate any tension that might surface there. She still had to play diplomat when it came to the kid. He was still a Savior at heart.
"Too brave, if you ask a certain someone."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"You're brave? So nothing scares you?" AJ stared up at the girl with an amused grin, almost as if he didn't believe a word she was saying.
The kid made sure to walk by her side, having to walk a bit quicker just to keep up. "'Cause you know, it's okay to be scared of stuff. Not everyone can be super strong like me." His arms folded across his chest, his confidence radiating off such a small form. It was almost as if the child completely forgot he was found literally cowering in fear within a locker. This girl seemed kinda strong, but he probably wouldn't be telling her that any time soon. This was someone from Jackson… or at least a lower class Savior. He was basically her superior. He'll have to keep her out of trouble till they find Negan. That would get him so much credit, taking these two new recruits in all on his own.
At least he had dreams—
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie chuckled, shaking her head. "Wouldn't say that, either."
The town seemed pretty empty. At least, everywhere they checked along the streets near the truck. The further they ventured, though, the more clogged the streets became with abandoned cars and decayed bodies. Whatever 'downtown' this place had was up ahead, but it seemed just as empty of 'life' as the rest.
Eventually, Ellie's eyes found a store that piqued her interest. Bear Lake Drug… Good, maybe it'll have something for Clem.
"C'mon, let's check this place out," she said to AJ, picking up the pace. Holding her pistol, she tried the door, and it opened ever so slightly with ease. She closed it back, turning towards the kid behind her.
"You know what to do if infected show up, right?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The town was peaceful, or at least more peaceful than he was expecting. Perhaps that said a lot about the situation they were all in just a few hours before. Everything seemed nice, and perhaps once the rest of the Saviors escape the old settlement, this wouldn't be a terrible one to move to. These girls were way more resourceful than he originally thought. A good find.
"You fight… them…?" AJ shrugged, his weapon sloppily at the ready. "You shoot them in the face." As AJ spoke, he moved forward, careful not to trip over anything laying left on the ground.
Dot [Ellie]
That fucking kid had a gun this whole time? Secure this place first, worry about getting sleep later. She shook the thought away, nodding to AJ's answer. "Yes. And. You don't let them get close. Always take them out before they're close enough to hurt you."
Ellie shifted towards the glass window lining the storefront, giving it a solid knock. It'd bring out anything hiding inside.
Didn't take long for the growl of walkers to emanate from inside. She squinted to make them out in the dim light, cursing as she noticed that there were at least five inside.
"Fuck. Okay. New plan. I'm gonna open the door, let one out at a time. If I can't kill it, you shoot its head, 'kay?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"If you can't kill it, shoot its head, got it." AJ echoed the girl, bouncing on his toes from slight excitement. He didn't particularly like fighting infected, as much as he liked feeling strong for helping take them down. He wouldn't throw himself into a herd of them willingly… maybe.
The boy took a few steps away from the door, held his gun up and at the ready to fire at any stragglers that might come his way. He'll get to judge Ellie's combat this way too, though if he were being honest, all combat is cool to watch. Maybe she'll make like, top five. That'd be cool.
"Let's get them and look through… uh… B—Bir…d. Ba-r—mm… This building!" The boy squinted at the sign for a moment, trying to read what was displayed. After giving up, he returned his attention to the door.
Dot [Ellie]
Taking a step back, she pulled the door open, letting a single walker out before kicking its leg, bringing it to its knees. She slammed the door behind it, as more walkers threatened to break it down from the other side. Unable to move without letting the rest out, she shouted, "Shoot it!"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child nodded to the girl as a walker was placed into position. He lined up the shot best he could, his fingers slowly pulling the trigger. The bullet moved through the walker's head, the creature falling the rest of the way down, limp and no longer yelling. The boy moved his gun under his arm for a moment to shake off the sting he felt on his hands, only replacing the gun after with a proud smile. "Got them!"
Dot [Ellie]
She didn't have time to praise him. She let out the next walker banging on the glass door, stabbing it through the side of its head as it tried to reach for AJ. She lost control of the door after, the remaining three walkers pouring out onto the street.
Kicking one in the leg, she stabbed another through the jaw, yanking the blade out to push it back towards the pharmacy, while finishing off the downed walker next to her.
"Get that one!" She called, pointing towards the last walker approaching them, while she rushed towards the walker she'd shoved to finish it off.
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Easy enough, just take them down like the last one. Alvin Junior moved his weapon up, struggling to point it at the moving target's head. Rather than saving his remaining bullet, he attempted to fire at the walker, only to miss completely and hit the building behind it. "F… Fuck—"
AJ immediately took to backing away, his gun now swapped out with his blade of choice. "H—How do I take it out without a gun…?! Ellie?!"
Dot [Ellie]
Her walker had been easy enough to take out, but when AJ's bullet missed the final one, panic rose like a wave of nausea. She charged towards the walker with enough force to send them both crashing to the pavement, desperately stabbing its face until it stopped moving.
Covered in fresh blood to accommodate the dried, she could only lay there and breathe. Weakly, she said, "Make sure the street's clear…"
Wouldn't take long for more walkers to fill the street if this place had that much more. For now, she tried to lift herself up. They had a pharmacy to raid before it was too late.
Art [Radio]
With the press of one button, her voice came through the other side, growing raspy as it fought dryness and hurt. "Hey," Clementine said, murmuring the rest. "Come in…?"
Dot [Ellie]
She'd just gotten off the ground when the radio crackled to life. Grabbing it from her backpack, she pressed down the button. "We're fine. Just ran into a few walkers. Everything alright back there?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
With the walker dead, AJ found himself at a sudden calm, his chest rising and falling. Next were orders, a simple task he can't mess up. Just walk and look around. As the radio clicked on, AJ moved away, taking to looking under cars and down a nearby alley.
Junk, nothing useful anywhere. If it weren't for the faint sounds of groans and screams, he might have considered the search uneventful. That was far from the case.
Runner, he could hear it, but from where it came from he wouldn't be sure. He poked his head around corners, hell, climbed on top of some old container just for a better look. Either he was hearing things or it wasn't outside.
"I can't find the monster." He called back, voice at a lower volume than during the fight. Despite his statement, he didn't exactly stop looking either.
Art [Radio]
"Everything alright back here," the girl repeated back, if not a little less enthused. The radio picked up on all the rustling of clothes as she adjusted herself on her seat, sighing out for the few to hear. "Just… just wanted to hear your voice. Don't stay out too long."
Dot [Ellie]
"Alright, see you soon," Ellie had said before clipping the radio back onto her belt. Now it was time to deal with AJ's 'monster', which sounded like it might've been coming from inside the pharmacy.
"Okay, stick close, we'll find the runner and put it down, then check the place out," she explained, clutching her knife once more. "We gotta do it fast, though, okay? More of 'em might be coming."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"Stick close." As AJ moved close to her side, he held up his blade of choice. He could feel the confidence in his system. He was going to get this one. How did Ellie do it last time? Ran at it and jumped on it. He can do that, no problem. He's very good at… running… and jumping! This will be as easy as starting a fire.
"Do you think we'll find something useful after we take out the monster, Ellie?" The boy stuck close behind her, his head leaning just over enough to be seen from her side.
Ledge [Infected]
As they drew closer to the dilapidated pharmacy, it was clear that the exterior of the building was worn down after years of neglect. However, what resided in the innards was anyone's guess.
The unpleasant sounds grew more distinct, rumblings from a lone infected that was shambling through an isle. It could've easily been mistaken for a runner, were it not for the deep growls that emanated from it. Puss-filled boils and spores covered its torso, and only a small part of its oversized head could be seen. It had eyes, but had not yet taken notice of any potential meal.
Dot [Ellie]
"I definitely hope s—" Ellie's words came to a dead stop as the sounds of whatever was inside came into focus, along with the lumbering figure that idled inside. What in the actual fuck is that thing…!
Taking a step back, she hid behind the wall once more. The gunshots might've not drawn it out into the street, but if it could see, then they were going to be in deep shit soon if they didn't figure this out. Holding AJ against the wall with her hand, she pressed a finger to her lips.
Bending her knees, she placed her back against the wall, whispering towards the boy next to her. "Crawl along this storefront, and keep quiet. We need to get out of here."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The deep growl that escaped the pharmacy settled wrong in the boy's stomach, but perhaps its slow movement through the store is what kept his nerves at bay. His breathing quick, yet quiet, the silent panic from the monster shuffling in the dark looming over the boy. Then came his task… the escape.
The boy pressed low to the ground, crawling his way across the doorframe to the other side of the wall. So far, things weren't horrible, but the second he crossed over, skin met shards of broken glass scattered about the ground. Immediately, the child yelped loudly in surprise, sitting up to stare at the pieces lodged in his knee. He held back pained tears, looking between the blood and Ellie as his panic finally filtered just over the surface.
So much for keeping quiet.
Ledge [Infected]
The Shambler spun around immediately, gurgling in the direction of a sound that'd filled the room. With the hopes of finding its source, the burly infected lumbered along with a quickened pace now. Footsteps could be heard thudding against the cold tiles, growing ever so closer to their position with each passing second.
Dot [Ellie]
The instant AJ's leg found the glass shards on the ground, she moved to scoop him into her arms and make a break for it. The monster inside gurgled in response, louder than ever, and Ellie didn't leave it a chance to catch a glimpse of them.
Sprinting, she rounded the corner of the building and into an alleyway, breaking line of sight further by turning to the right and following behind the next store.
When she was finally convinced that it wasn't—or couldn't—give chase, she put the boy back down, out of breath. Tending to the wounds left behind by the glass proved not that difficult, tearing off a piece of her shirt arm to bandage it, but they'd need to find something to disinfect it with at the next pharmacy they tried. The list just kept growing.
And besides a half bottle of ibuprofen, a quarter bottle of alcohol had been their only find at said pharmacy, placed behind a pill counter. She cleaned the wound as best she could before tearing off the other shirt arm to apply a fresh bandage. Hopefully they had some back on the truck, but she honestly wasn't sure.
At least the ibuprofen, while not the strongest stuff in the world, would keep Clementine from literally dying from the pain. Broken ribs weren't fun.
Once they'd found a suitable place to stay just outside the city limits, Ellie and AJ made their way back to the truck, climbing in one by one before shutting out the world outside.
Ellie let out a heavy breath, resting her head against the steering wheel. She had no idea how much longer she could keep this up, but at least they were almost done. The truck still had just enough gas to get them to their new hideout, safely away from that monster downtown. She just… had to find the energy to drive them there.
"I found these," she breathed, fatigue evident in her voice as she held out the bottle of ibuprofen. "It's not super strong, but it should help. I'll drive us out to the place we found outside town. We'll hole up there. It's got fences and a place to hide the truck. Should… should hold us over until we find some more gas."
She couldn't think about what would happen if they didn't. Walking all the way to Salt Lake, even with a hundred something miles shaved off their trip, sounded like a death sentence.
Art [Clementine]
How good a help small little bottles did, she couldn't quite say. The list of broken things hardly ended at bones.
Clementine reached out to pocket it, keeping her movement to a minimum. Save it for later, spoke her good sense, and she always hated to listen. For now, she'd half-glanced at her side. "You're not worried about the noise?"
Dot [Ellie]
"There's back roads we can take," came Ellie's response, tired but trying to not get impatient. This wasn't something worth arguing over. They needed to get to safety. "We can skip the town entirely. It's a couple miles out. You wouldn't be able to make that. And we can't just leave our supplies here.
"It's isolated. We shouldn't have any visitors." Infected or otherwise. Made it worth going down that stretch of road outside town worth it in the end. A farmhouse at the end of a street, stashed between overgrown fields. It even had a barn and some sorta second building. Plenty of space to stash their food and ammo for however long it took to find more gas, or for Clementine to recover. Whichever came first.
"I don't think we have a choice."
5:19 AM — April 9, 2027
Dot [Ellie]
The room was filled with AJ's laughter as Clementine read him a story. Ellie had busied herself with taking stock of their supplies, tuning it out as best she could so that she could keep count. With how things were going, they'd need every can they could get.
A gunshot pierced the air, forcing her to hide behind the desk as Clementine slumped to the floor, leaving a screaming AJ in the wake of it all. As feet thumped against the floor, Ellie scrambled out to grab the nearest intruder, holding a gun to their head.
"Tell her to stop," she commanded the girl in her arms, finger pulling back the hammer of her pistol. The redhead in front of her only aimed her own back at Ellie, telling her to let the girl go. Ellie wouldn't. Not until she knew AJ would be safe. Not until she got revenge for Clementine.
Bullets were exchanged, the redhead's burrowing into the girl in front of her, and Ellie's made sure that she couldn't fire another. Letting the girl go, she held her pistol towards her as she fell to the floor, coughing up blood as she tried to crawl away.
Ellie kicked her over, hesitating as she saw her own face staring back at her.
Only when she came back to her senses did she finally pull the trigger.
She awoke with a start, groaning into the musty pillow of the couch she'd been sleeping on. Eyes open or not, nothing but darkness met her gaze, and the silence within the farmhouse was only interrupted by the steady tapping of the rain and the rolling, distant thunder.
She had a headache. One of those ones you'd get from sleeping way too long. Like your brain was melting and any semblance of focus or thought was too much to ever ask for. She'd, of course, have to live with it. The idea of using Clementine's ibuprofen was a bitter pill to swallow at best.
Standing to peer out the living room window into the storm, she crossed her arms over her chest. Nothing alive seemed to move out there, save for the silhouettes of tall grass filling the fields beyond. She only hoped they didn't hide anything within.
Clementine's hoarse breathing eventually caught her attention, and only then did she realize that the girl was also awake. Whether she'd been awake this whole time, or Ellie's panicked cries had done it, she didn't really know. Yet, in the periodic flash of lightning, the girl's golden eyes were crystal clear.
"Sorry if I woke you up," Ellie said, keeping her voice low for AJ's benefit. "Bad dream." She wanted to move from that window, to sit at Clementine's side, but hadn't the strength to do it. "Should I even ask if you're feeling any better?" She asked, a hint of tired humor in her voice.
Art [Clementine]
She'd slept earlier—or shut her eyes and simply pretended to. The good thing about the dark is that no one else could tell the difference.
Nighttime was everyone's excuse to sit down, loosen up and forget. With a cushion at her back and a blanket around her legs, Clementine felt good enough to try. And in that process her gaze stuck by the windows and kept her alive. Alive, but hurting.
She hoped, at least, that Ellie's bad dreams were different from hers.
Clem murmured back something honest. "You can ask." She pictured the shrug she wasn't willing to do, frowning to herself. "I'm not doing good."
That hadn't been news for a long time. Now, it felt heavier to say. Like knowing it was permanent. Maybe she had it coming.
Clementine faced her girlfriend when the silence set, wondering just how long it would take until calling Ellie that felt right again. Even alone she found nothing to think about. It wouldn't matter none once they died a few days from now. The girl cleared her throat, watching, though she couldn't see. "Do you regret coming with me?"
Dot [Ellie]
"No," Ellie replied, omitting the parts that she did. They only partially went hand in hand. The rain helped keep the silence from feeling awkward, but as she rested against the wall, she couldn't help but struggle to think of what to say next. Talking used to be easier.
Ellie came out of the night before with… problems, but they were manageable. Clementine, on the other hand, came out with broken ribs and not nearly the same. Ellie didn't have the courage to ask why.
She felt different, too, and not just because of everyone she killed. Learning about the Fireflies, and Joel's lies, it really changed her perspective.
She wasn't sure how she felt about it yet.
"Do you?" She eventually asked, as the thunder died down enough for her voice to be heard.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine answered with a breath that spoke no hidden message. As her back ached against a darkened rest, her clearest thought was of no one person, no one set of accidents. She thought—and she knew—that mistakes traced a much longer way back.
"I guess I'm just…" The girl said, parting dry lips. "I'm wondering if it was worth it."
Dot [Ellie]
"Can't take it back now," Ellie replied, as dry as her throat felt. They were alive, and they had a goal. That goal would be worth it. Saving humanity would make up for everything. It had to.
As thunder shook the house, Ellie leaned against the wall near the window, looking into the darkness where her feet would be. "I was thinking…" Time for a topic change. "We ran into an infected at the first pharmacy we tried searching. Something new. Big. Definitely not a bloater. It's the last place left that might have medicine you need. I'm thinking about searching the town, finding some alcohol to make molotovs with. Works with bloaters, might work on it too.
"The rifle should take care of the rest," she finished with, shrugging her shoulders. She wasn't really looking for Clementine's support on the idea, but she'd need to know about it regardless.
Either way, it was a fight she'd have to take on alone.
Art [Clementine]
What if you could…? Thought the other girl, who just couldn't feel satisfied without an answer. At least, now waiting to be alone again, Clementine knew hers. "Okay," she said at once, holding back an unseen grimace as her breaths grew louder and tired. "Do I even get a say?"
Dot [Ellie]
"Of course you get a say," Ellie said, her voice betraying how annoyed she was with what was left unsaid. "You're the smartest girl I know."
And sometimes the dumbest.
"But that doesn't change the fact we have to do something. Ibuprofen isn't going to cut it. And, it'll run out. If you're in too much pain, you could stop breathing." And resuscitating her would prove useless since doing so would likely kill her even faster. Goddamn fucking ribs…
"What else am I supposed to do?" She asked, hoping that Clementine would have a better answer. If they had a map, she could find some place better to scavenge from, she knew. But, they didn't have a local map. Everything she knew about this place was a result of walking around half-conscious the day before.
And, even as a small town, this place was too big to explore fully on foot. Not without time they didn't have.
Art [Clementine]
That's what it came to—where it came to. She'd made it so far already, to everyone else's loss. Time had passed and circled back until it finally started looking finite. Clem had only her own fear left to swallow, and nothing else. "Let me go…?"
The girl lowered her head, facing coldly the outline of her legs. "Just be real about it. Take Alvin with you."
Dot [Ellie]
Had it not been for the first thing Clementine said, Ellie might've listened to her about AJ. "I'm not losing you," she declared, bravado and fear putting an edge in her voice. "Don't say that."
If there was anything that got her to shuffle from the window towards the girl, it was that. She sat down in the empty space at the end of the couch, with barely enough room to fit. She let out a sigh, drowned out by the crashes of thunder yet equally visible in the flash of lightning.
"We'll make it through this. Together." We have to. She couldn't accept any other outcome. They had their difficulties, sure, but Clementine was the last person she had left. Like hell was she going to give up now.
Art [Clementine]
She looked at her, finally, and as her eyes adjusted to the dark she didn't dare pull them away. Clementine settled down into the single blanket, sighing a sad tune. "It's not fair you have to do this."
Dot [Ellie]
"Life never is." And never had been before. The world owed you nothing. It was on you to make your own luck. Your own life. Your own wants and fears, and who you keep close and who you push away. Who you hold onto despite every shit situation that got thrown your way.
"But," she started, flicking her eyes into the darkness Clementine's resided. "Life can go fuck itself."
Art [Clementine]
Clem hadn't a nod to spare, but neither did she have room to argue. At least, when Ellie said it, and she felt willing to listen, the burden felt lighter. Like a small, frail thing you got to share. They both needed to.
She reached out slowly, crossing an arm past her blind spot to touch Ellie's hand, and do her part of the sharing. "Go back to sleep," Clementine said. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie returned the gesture, squeezing Clementine's hand gently, as if any harder would somehow manage to break another rib. The impossibility wasn't beyond her. "I think I'm done sleeping for today," she said, letting her hand go to stand up and stretch her arms and legs. They'd been stuck here for a while, it was about time to do something. "Besides, we got food and ammo to count. Soon as the sun's up. It'd be nice knowing how long we can make that stuff last."
As Ellie made for the archway to the kitchen, she stopped, hand against the wooden frame. Turning back into the darkness, waiting for the thunder to fade enough to be heard, she spoke up once more, a softness to her voice that contrasted the fervor she'd held in it not a few minutes ago.
"I love you."
Despite everything that's happened, saying that still didn't feel like the norm. Still felt new, and hopeful, and all the things in between. She liked that about it.
7:00 AM
Art [Clementine]
She'd stopped having dreams quite some time ago. Her sleep was a spark of colors and feelings that, while vivid, didn't ever seem to connect. Clementine woke to gaps of memory and sweat at her back, clawing at what lay about. Until time came to a stop and she saw the world again.
Socks landing on wooden tiles, Clementine lifted herself with quiet grunts, regretting every single step. What seemed terrifying at night grew pleasant to the ears, like the rustling of wind hammering the windows. Safety like that only came in spurts. What she saw beyond the glass was the hair over her eyes, the jacket turned drab from a slaughter, sticking to her bare skin. Clementine was good at ignoring pain, but no one was so good at hiding it. Every sting was felt, and every throb was seen.
Was it like that for Lee, too?
Through with herself, Clementine looked forward to seeing someone else's face for a change. "Hey," she called, in the meek thing she called her voice. "You two. Where are you?"
Dot [Ellie]
They were looking good. Enough food to last months, especially if they rationed it, and enough ammo to probably clear out a good portion of this town if they were careful and precise. Noise wouldn't be good, but they were still a couple miles out from the town, so they were relatively safe from unintentional consequences. That is, if they didn't alert every infected beyond the town. No way of knowing for sure on that one.
AJ had been helping her. He wasn't that bad at math for a little kid—suppose it probably helped being a part of the Saviors and probably getting a decent education there, being so close to Negan. Guess that asshole did something right.
When Clementine eventually called out, Ellie had been counting up the amount of cans of beans they had—it was twenty. Hello farts.—and called back that they were in the kitchen.
When the girl appeared in the doorway, Ellie lifted her gaze. A part of her was worried to see her walking around, but she knew better than to bring it up. "You hungry?" She asked, holding up a couple cans in her hands.
Art [Clementine]
"Yeah. Super," Clementine returned, almost too excited to see a bunch of tin. It was one lousy upside, despite the smile on her lips. She happily took one for herself.
But in the girl's features stayed something pale and harrowing. Clem had no idea how to talk to that little boy next to Ellie, how to even start. If she… had the right to? In her slow breaths came nothing. Nothing but more reasons to delay. "You doing okay?" She said when waiting turned painful, softening a voice long since fragile. Clementine gave Alvin Junior a cursory glance, and hoped he'd give one back. "Anything I can do for you… you'll tell me, right?
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child had slept longer than he would have liked, though considering he didn't have Bonnie on his case about waking up at dawn like other Saviors, it wasn't like he was used to waking himself up. Needless to say, the child had a ton of stored up energy, and plenty of places to use it. He was excited to help out today, considering counting inventory was one of the few things Negan and Bonnie let him do to help out. It was when the other girl walked into the kitchen that morning did his head spin towards the door, watching the two exchange words before running his attention to the tin lid he was currently bending. It wasn't the easiest task, but over the course of what was around twenty or so minutes now, Alvin Junior was able to form somewhat of a makeshift spoon from the lid. It was of decent quality, and funny enough, probably wouldn't cut your mouth if you used it. Probably.
As Clementine's gaze caught his once more, he smiled, sliding off the counter he was sitting on to make his way over to her. Taking the opportunity of Clem needing something to do, he held up the small makeshift spoon for her to take. "I have something for you to do. Can you test this for me? You can use it with your breakfast."
His little feet rose to stand on his toes, trying to make sure she absolutely could see the spoon he was holding. She might have been short compared to others her age, but that didn't mean she wasn't tall to Alvin.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine picked up the attempt at a spoon with a smile more amused than grateful, spying at it curiously. "Oh. Thanks, Alvin."
Better this than a shiv, right?
Both hands full, she forced herself to sit down on one of the chairs, biting back the awful nerve feedback. All the grogginess was bad enough without it. When the can was peeled open, and the smell of cold beans was well up in her nose, Clem had a small spoonful joined by some very emphasized chewing.
"Mmm. It's really tasty," she told the kid, pointing the spoon back at him. "You want some?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child seemed delighted that the spoon worked enough for Clementine to get some food. If he were being honest, he didn't remember if he'd seen either girl eat before now. Not smart, if anything having a somewhat full stomach helped keep you focused. Bonnie taught him that one… or maybe it was a trick to make him eat the vegetables that were grown in the outposts—
All the talk of food, and Clem's offer, seemed to hit him with the realization he hadn't eaten since before the attack either. His stomach growled, earning a bit of a frown from him at the feeling. He eyed the spoon she offered to him, a bit of hesitation as looked up at her and back down to the can. It can't hurt to split a can with the girl…
"Okay, but only if you make sure you get enough. I'm plenty strong enough to protect us if monsters get in, but uh… back up would be nice… plus it'll help you feel better, I think." The child smiled, hoping to seem more polite than he might have sounded. There were a few missing baby teeth in his grin, but he's much more prideful of the big boy tooth that he has. The child then moved to take a seat on the floor next to Clementine, choosing to sit closer rather than in the other chair.
Art [Clementine]
"That's good, kiddo," she said, betraying a smile. "I know it's plenty liquid, but don't forget to chew, okay?"
Now, more than anything, she was happy to hear him talk. Listen to something silly. It was sobering. Clementine watched him from the corner of her eye, mulling over how to keep things that way.
"They teach you any fun games back at the fleapit? Anything that might… hold us over while Ellie's out shopping?"
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie watched the two with a small smile, gently tapping her fingers atop the metal can. She wasn't hungry, and there was still a shitload of stuff needing done before she went back out.
Standing up, she placed the can with the others, casting Clementine a cautious glance before clearing her throat. Had to make sure she was feeling alright. Her next dose of ibuprofen would be soon.
"I'm gonna work on getting the rest of the supplies out of the truck. Holler if you need anything."
Sitting around had, once again, become too much of a chore.
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
AJ seemed to nod at Clementine's warning, handing back the can only after he got a decent sized bite. He mulled over the idea of games and fun, seeming to slightly shrink into himself as he swallowed the mush in his mouth. "We didn't really get to play too many games. Well, I didn't. I was always really busy. I got an important job, you wouldn't understand it." His brown eyes burned into the cracked, tiled floor below in concentration, his hands patting against his jeans before he perked up with a bit of realization.
"Did you play any games when you were little? We can try one of those… since most the ones I do know involve running and chasing." As Ellie stood and made her way towards the door, Alvin offered her a polite wave, his attention remaining focused on Clementine.
Art [Clementine]
"Important jobs, huh?" Clementine nodded along, playing the interested, doe-eyed one, since Ellie wasn't there to do it. "Bet you killed lots of monsters in your day."
But, she couldn't help looking disappointed. Not when AJ told her he didn't play games with the other children, like it was no big deal. Did he mean that…? She wasn't doing any better at his age, no. Tea parties got kinda sour on your own. Maybe they could help each other.
"Wait here," Clem said with a sly look on her face, standing up slowly and taking her steps with all the care in the world. She supported herself on the kitchen table, shaking off the pain.
Before saying anything, Clementine rounded up all the cans in one place, building a tall, beautiful bean pyramid at the center. Then she looked at AJ again, watching his big brown eyes stare back at her.
"See these? I want to see you throw that empty can and knock 'em all down, since you're so strong and all."
"Impress me… and maybe you'll get a reward."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Alvin Junior watched on as Clementine began to stack their food supply into the middle of the room, eyes following her curiously. When she seemed to present the pyramid, the boy stared on in confusion. It looked like something he'd seen the other adults who watch the kids try to do… only with weird wooden blocks and not cans. However, when she told him to throw the can from the meal they just had, he seemed to suddenly burst with excitement.
The child stood and made his way slightly closer, holding the can in his hand tightly. Okay, Alvin Junior. This is your chance to prove you are the strongest.
The child reeled his arm back, letting the can go at the pile. His aim could have been better, but due to it clipping the side of the stack, a total of nine cans fell to the ground with a satisfying thid, her arms crossed in confidence.
"I got 'em!"
Art [Clementine]
"Hmm," she muttered, hiding her amusement behind a stone-cold expression. "Great job." Clementine picked up a can off the ground and told him, "That's some dead beans alright."
With a clear of the throat, she turned back to the kid, nose aimed at the ceiling. "For your next task, I want you to bring me Ellie's backpack." She held back a cough. "Without her seeing, of course.
"Then you get your reward."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child seemed to perk up, this buzzing energy behind bright eyes. Get the backpack, and then he wins. Seemed simple enough. Ellie was super busy, it should be easy to grab. "You can count on me!" He called, bounding out of the room with a smile plastered on his face.
Okay, if he were a bag, where would he be? On a back probably, but he can't seem to remember if Ellie was actually wearing it or not. Great, this'd be much harder than he thought. The child's frame moved about the inside structure of the house, looking under tables and on top of furniture. Nothing. Either he was blind like his birth father, not that he'd know that, or it really was with the redhead outside.
Challenge accepted.
Eyes followed the girl from the window, watching her move about by the truck. It was only when she disappeared around the side of it did the child leave the house, his body against the ground as he crawled towards the vehicle. So far things were going well, he made it fairly easily to the back of the truck without being spotted… which was a surprise to him.
His tiny frame struggled and pushed its way into the back, eyes peeking down at the bag in question. His hands gripped the straps, slinging it onto his back. The weight of the pack caused him to stumble, falling out the truck and onto the ground with a heavy thud. He was far from hurt… but there went all his stealth.
Dot [Ellie]
These boxes were fucking heavy. "I… should've worked out more…" Ellie breathed as she dropped it atop another box, cringing a little as the one beneath crumpled a little—until the cans within stopped it from going even further. The snow and rain over the past few days didn't help, the boxes had been soaked and dried a dozen times.
A thump had her swirling around, dizzy, as her hand fell to her pistol. It took only a few steps and a second to process before she'd dropped it back into her holster, sighing. "What are you doing, dude?" Her eyes bounced between the boy and the back of the truck, leaning against the open tailgate. "Looking for a job? Y'think you can handle these bad boys?" She patted another box, smile fading as her hand came back covered in water. Damned storms.
"Or did Clem send you out to check on me?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"Uh, I'm… uh…" Think Alvin Junior. Think. Clem said she can't know you took it, so just think of an excuse.
"This is a dream, none of this is real. I'm… uh… not here right now—" As the boy said that, he fought to stand up, the bag still too heavy for his own good. Slipping it off, he opted to slowly begin backing away from the girl, bag dragging across the ground.
"Yup, it's all a dream, so ignore me. As far as you know, I'm not here. That's right. Real me is asleep, this is dream me, and dream me, is not here. Just, continue your work with those soggy boxes, and pretend I was never here."
AJ was not even close to the door, and very much so still right within her grasp if she tried hard enough to stop him. He looked like a rat trying to steal a whole pizza, a struggling one at that.
Dot [Ellie]
She shook her head, letting out an amused breath as she dropped onto a knee—guess it wasn't time to worry about mud on her pants when this kid was dragging her backpack across the ground anyway—and put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Clem put you up to this, didn't she?"
She had no idea why, but she had a sneaky feeling. There wasn't much in there that AJ would want, anyway.
"Tell you what," she said, clearing her throat as she met the boy's gaze, putting on a smile. "I'll let you take it, if you tell me what she wants with it after."
"Oh, and…" She trailed off, her smirk growing wider. "I'll teach you a few things about lying. Gotta get better at that. Hang around me long enough, and you will."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Alvin Junior looked back up to the girl as she seemed to give him the all clear. Wasn't this cheating? To take the bag inside after he was caught…? He gripped the straps harder, his cheeks slightly puffed as he nodded sheepishly. "Okay, but I don't know why you're talking to me. I'm not here."
After he said that, he picked the bag up once more, albeit with difficulty due to his size, before slinging it back over his shoulder and walking off towards the house. Whatever Clem wanted the bag for better have been worth it, cause he had a feeling that she didn't normally just let the bag go to anyone who wants to take it.
Upon entering the house, AJ moved directly to the kitchen where he had last seen Clementine, the bag being dropped onto the ground in this grand display as he presented it to her. "One Ellie bag, like you wanted." His smile was wide, although part of him hated hiding the fact he didn't get it without being spotted… Oh well.
Art [Clementine]
She watched him come, smiling gently to herself and no one else. "Great job, Alvin," Clem spoke from her chair, before pulling the backpack by the strap and squinting long and hard at it. "That's the one."
Clementine stood up at her usual pace and carried Ellie's junk all the way to the living room. Zipped open and smelling of general nastiness, the green backpack lay on its side by a wooden table, so Clem could properly reach an arm in. She'd had something in mind all day, and getting that thing up to shape again felt long overdue.
The girl pulled out a gray box the size of her hand, with long cords sticking out from the top and some brand's name carved at the top in bold dark letters. "See this?" She said, hoping AJ would be listening. "It's a magic box."
"Now, at a glance it might just look like some secret, high-tech weapon meant for monster bashing. But the magic box is meant for fun." She frowned. "Used to be. It's… not working right now. I think Ellie would be really happy if we fixed it.
"What do you say? Wanna help?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child's eyes followed the girl as she dug through the bag, his head tilting to the side like a curious puppy when she pulled out some strange box. What he assumed was a bomb was quickly revealed to be magic, the forbidden binds of what could be real hanging just in her face. "Magic…?"
Alvin Junior moved closer, crawling up onto the couch to get a better look at the box. "Yes, I wanna help! What kind of magic does it do? Does it grant wishes?" Alvin's smile carried his weight in charm, his small hands tangling into the legs of his tattered jeans to keep himself from touching such a magic device. Ellie was so lucky, wasn't she? She had Clementine doing such nice stuff for her, Alvin there to protect her, and hell, a magic box! No wonder she's almost as strong as him.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine saved her glances for the magic Sony box, fiddling around the back with a kitchen butter knife in order to pry it open. "That's a secret," she said to Alvin. "You'll have to wait to find out."
It really was busted, though. She couldn't deny that. The inside wasn't so horrible, all thanks to such a sturdy casing, but the belt had gotten beyond worn out from all the water diving. And those batteries…? Deader than the things they'd done such a great job hiding from. A few good alcohol rubs were gonna get them pretty far, hopefully. As for the rest…
Clem turned to the kid, thinking aloud. "What I need from you are some fresh batteries. Look around some, see what you find."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"I can do my best!" AJ slid off the couch and broke into a sprint. Room by room the child looked under furniture, in drawers and on counters. Nothing. The place wasn't picked clean, but that also didn't mean there was anything he was looking for. What if they never get the magic box working…? Then he'll never know what it does!
"Okay, Alvin. Just, keep yourself calm, recheck places you've already been. Maybe you missed them… Batteries are the long, metal tubes right? Easily missed."
He really needed to be more useful, so far he'd done nothing but mess up. Not this time. He won't return without those batteries!
Art [Clementine]
Ah, well, thought Clementine, staring deeply into a piece of plastic. What about you?
She spent the rest of the day poking and prodding to make it move again, like a good, proper magic box. It never would; at least, not as good as it used to. Bad music was still music, though.
The finishing touch was replacing the worn little belt inside with one of her rubber bands. Not like they'd do her any good right now. Clem had a good hunch that Ellie's walkman was ready to do some magic again, so long as it had magic juice to run it.
Guess we're waiting, then.
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Empty, dead bugs, dust bunnies. Everything except batteries. "What the fuck are batteries and why can't I find them?!" The kid was on the floor at this point, pouting, whining. He was furious that he couldn't just have his way. Obviously he deserved to get what he wants, he's a good kid and does nothing wrong ever. So to see that the universe refused to hand over something felt as if he had been cheated. That being good was no more than a ploy to make him weak. Being good has got him nothing. He's with two girls who are so busy with their own weird… gross lady relationships… that they're constantly dancing around each other. He's small, but he's not an idiot. It's awkward being stuck watching it, even if he didn't understand it.
Then there was the fact he hadn't seen Negan or Bonnie yet. Wasn't he supposed to meet up with them? Are they at the place Ellie is trying to take them? Nothing but fury was bubbling up in his very tiny body, and as tears rolled down his cheeks, he stood up, grab hold of some weird black rectangular thing, and threw it as hard as he could against the wall.
It, of course, broke open on impact, two batteries rolling across the floor as he wiped his eyes. He looked down at them with a frown, picking them up and crossing his arms. "I'll just have to give her these tiny metal logs instead."
He moved back into the room with Clementine, his tantrum officially over. "I couldn't find any batteries, just these." He seemed defeated, but held out the batteries anyway. He assumed batteries were like, magic wires or something. Now, the two in his hand were going to need some work. One of them was completely dead, while they other had a bit of juice left in their system. Electronics were very confusing.
Art [Clementine]
It looked good as new in her eyes, though Clem hadn't the sharpest ones. She silently hoped all this tinkering would amount to something and set her eyes to rest; appreciating, for once, the fact that Ellie's pills were kicking in. She tried to picture her reaction, too. Just one smile would be nice. Clem missed seeing those.
"Hey, kiddo," Clementine barked at the footsteps, only so aware of herself. And she had to blink away the rest of her tears. "No, no, that's it. You got it."
The girl reached out the four fingers on her left, inspecting the little goobers. "Let's try 'em."
She'd expected something rather than nothing, which is what they both got, staring blankly at the walkman. "No good." Clem hid her frown, patting AJ on the shoulder. "Maybe next time. Sorry, Alvin."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie ached all over. The kind of ache that accompanied long walks and overexertion, as if your feet would melt and your arms would break off like twigs. Through that pain, though, she'd managed to get everything out of the truck and packed safely into the laundry room separating the outside world from the rest of the farmhouse.
She'd sat herself on the stoop, popping bullet after bullet into her rifle magazine before sliding it back in. Inserting one into the chamber, she aimed down the scope, getting a feel for the weight of the weapon once more. She'd be using it again real soon.
Her arms shook. The scope swayed. This wouldn't be easy.
Taking the radio, and enough ammo to down a bloater, she trudged down the muddy path back to the main road. Clementine would just have to forgive her for going alone. The road back into town was long, covered in ice and melting snow—or rather, as she'd put it: ice, formerly known as snow—which only slowed her progress down further. Every step was calculated, every slip-up nearly sending her careening into the ditch dug along the street. She was lucky she made it to town at all.
She found a bar not too far into town, with enough alcohol left behind to make plenty of molotovs. If this thing back at the pharmacy was anything like a bloater, the fire would eat through its fungal armor. Make it easier to kill.
The way it gurgled made her skin crawl. Lighting a molotov, she lured it outside by slamming her hand against the side of the open door, waiting for it to hit the street before tossing the bottle at it. The flames burned brightly in the overcast light, and whatever this fucking thing was scraped its hands across its face to try and put it out. She wouldn't let it, though.
Aiming her rifle, albeit shakily, she fired a bullet, pulling the bolt back to insert another. When the fire had been beaten out, she took several steps back, preparing her next molotov and chucking it. Eventually, the fucker finally fell to the ground, letting out one last gurgle before dying.
All the noise she'd made left her with little time to search the pharmacy. Not that she'd need to for very long, given all she'd found in there was a single bottle of aspirin, tucked into a cabinet underneath the pharmacist's desk. Personal stash, probably.
It wasn't enough. But… it'd have to do. There were still other places left to check in this town… maybe she'd get lucky. For Clementine's sake, she'd have to.
Defeated, she returned home, thankful that the day's warmer temperatures had melted the ice completely. The sun was low enough to cast an orange glow over the valley by the time she got back to the safehouse. Pain made each step feel harder than the last, but when she'd finally swung that back door open and went inside, the relief of being 'home' was enough to push through it.
Clementine was still sitting in the kitchen as she walked in, and Ellie held a hand against the wall to keep herself from collapsing—or looking weak—as she held out the bottle in her hand.
"More aspirin. It's all they had." She slumped into the seat opposite Clementine, setting the bottle on the table in between them. "At most, it's bought us a few more days."
A few more days to exhaust herself in finding a way to keep Clementine alive. It was all she could ask for.
Art [Clementine]
She didn't look her best. Not by a long shot. There's nothing tiring about sitting on your ass all day, Clementine wanted to think, but it just was.
Clem counted the minutes until she got to talk to someone again. That was the one thing keeping her afloat.
"I'll be fine, Elle," she told her, a frown under her nose that only came off as impatient. "Just take a breather for a sec. Please?"
Ellie didn't look hurt, which was a good start, for one. But Clem couldn't make the feeling in her chest go away. It wouldn't go. Clementine leaned forward, curling fists along the kitchen table. "We're fine."
Her eyes stayed still, for once, flashing a brighter hue. "We'll find the others soon, I just know it. Joel, and Carl, and Andrea…"
She softened her voice, and said: "Promise you'll let me look after you, too. At least until we do."
Dot [Ellie]
Under normal circumstances, Ellie might've found reuniting with the others as reassuring. Today, though, the very thought of seeing Joel had her blood boiling. She knew Andrea and Carl wouldn't be that far behind him, either. So, maybe she should've felt bad for wanting them to not find them—after all, she chose this place for that very reason.
The only regret she had was knowing she'd left Kat behind, but what other choice did she have? She couldn't drag her through the outpost with a wounded leg.
It was bad enough dealing with Clem's ribs.
The deepening frown on her face she eventually pushed away, hoping Clementine didn't notice. "I promise." Would it be another broken, meaningless promise like all the rest? Only time would tell.
She glanced around the room, tapping her fingers against the wooden table. "Where's Afro at? Sleeping?"
She had to remember that her responsibilities were more than just taking care of Clementine.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine's smile settled right back, and she shrugged the both of her shoulders. "Can't say. He's like a whirlwind.
"Will you shout his name out for me? My voice is still kinda weak."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie simply nodded, clearing her throat. "Yo, Afro, you around?!" She called out for the boy, waiting for a response.
At least, together, they could come up with some sort of plan for when Clementine healed up. Getting to the Fireflies wasn't going to be easy.
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The pitter patter of footsteps stirred as the echoed calls of the oldest rang out through the building. The boy had been on some sort of self-assigned patrol, watching the surrounding area for monsters and people while the two girls went about their business. He was happy to say he only saw one squirrel, and scared it off before it had the chance to get near the house.
The small boy moved around the corner, entering the room with the two girls before stopping close by with his arms crossed. "My name is Alvin Junior." There was a fussy huff to his tone, as if the nickname genuinely bothered him. It definitely did, was she not aware he was a big boy now? Big boys get to be called by their real names. "What do you guys want?"
Art [Clementine]
Clementine tapped her fingers along the table, thoughts slightly adrift until it was her turn to speak. "Ellie's just wondering what you were up to. No biggie." She reached out and pulled up a chair for him… though the girl had an inkling Alvin Junior would rather keep dancing around the house if he had his way.
She had other concerns, and they made for a monster of a list. AJ wasn't a quiet kid, not like that. But he didn't really talk either. Clem thought, at least today, pushing a few buttons might be worth their time.
"How was it? Is it… Is it good here? Bet we could find you some toys if we tried."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"This place is quiet, so I think it's good. No monsters or baddies." His words were slightly strained as he awkwardly crawled into his seat, pulling himself up onto it and turning around to face the others. "I like it. Is this our new home? Will Negan and Bonnie meet us here?" Alvin's face was hopeful, despite knowing nothing of the situation the girls forced him into. He knows he'll find his way back to the Saviors soon, and his two new… acquaintances… will happily join them too. He just had to hope it didn't take too long.
"I don't need t—Well… uh… That'd be fun, actually. We didn't have many in the outposts, so Bonnie made a lot of the ones I had. A real one would be kind of cool."
Dot [Ellie]
Oh, I'm definitely keeping that nickname, bud. You'll learn to like it. Ellie listened to Clem and Afro talk, digging through her backpack quietly. To AJ's question about Negan and Bonnie—Ellie grimaced, and she sincerely hoped the kid was too preoccupied with thoughts of toys to notice. And with Negan, she sure to fucking God hoped he wouldn't find them. They wouldn't escape this time.
Instead, she said, "They'll find us where we're going. No doubt in my mind." She fought a smile, choosing to shrug instead. Don't overdo it. It's bad enough you ki—
Fuck.
Her hands, shaky as they were, pulled out the map she'd been digging for in her backpack, sprawling it out over the table. "We'll find you some toys later," she said, voice losing the polite, warm edge to it. "Right now, we need to think about our game plan. For when Clem heals up."
She pointed towards a lake just south of where they were. "Easiest route to Salt Lake is past this lake here. We scoot past it, make our way down highway eighty-nine until we hit interstate fifteen. That'll take us right there." She looked towards Clementine, swallowing. "We took it to get back to Jackson. Was mostly clear of debris and infected.
"We'll have to leave some food and supplies behind if we can't find more gas. But we should be able to carry enough to get there." Or, at least, to their next supply stop. Wherever that may be.
She took in a deep breath, pushing away from the table to return to her seat. "Then, we head to the hospital, and finish what we started."
Art [Clementine]
She lent an ear and listened well, everything considered at a different pace. The hospital, she felt nothing for, nor Salt Lake City. Not for a while, and not ever since. That whole thing was Ellie's battle, through and through… and Clem hadn't it in her to fight her on it.
If there were any Fireflies left, even one, they'd take care of AJ. And that would be that.
Clementine looked at him with all the pity she couldn't help to spare, looking blindly for a sign. She died a little bit more at every meeting of his gaze. "Is that good for you? You can tell me."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
His gaze shifted between the two as they awaited a response, a pit growing in his stomach that he couldn't quite explain. He'd put an awful lot of blind trust in these two girls… but their words and excuses were starting to feel less and less genuine. He was far from smart, the world being more mystery than facts to the child, but he wasn't dumb. Questions were being dodged, excuses were made to avoid them, and Clementine alone couldn't even look him in the eye for more than a spared moment at a time. They were hiding something from him.
He didn't like secrets.
There was visible discomfort on the boy, the freckled one's words falling on deaf ears. He didn't care about some stupid hospital. He wasn't finishing anything. This was her problem, and why the two want him here at all is what confused him the most. It's when he was addressed that he snapped out of his clouded thoughts, too many for a toddler to be having. "I… don't have any opinion. I don't know this place like… her." His answer was hesitant, as if suddenly he felt danger just sitting in the same room as the two. As if on cue, he stood, brushed past the two while speaking still. "I'll leave the planning to you both, and I'll just handle patrol a little more before bed, okay?" Without bothering for a response, he walked back out of the farm house, closing the door behind him. He waited a moment, moving about in front as if he really was guarding the place.
One minute.
Then two.
And finally three.
The boy took off running without another thought in his mind. Down the path he went, his chest rising and falling with every step he took. He didn't know where he was going, or if he'll even make it there… but he had the feeling neither of them were taking him back to the Saviors… So if that meant he had to run all the way back the way they came…?
He fucking will.
Art [Clementine]
She wanted to sink her head down and cower into her palms. Clementine, beneath all the layers of aching cold, could only feel the shameful beating of her own heart.
And Lee was right. He didn't even remember her.
"Guess that's figured out." Clem forced a smile, stretching the specks of dirt on her features. "Don't think he's… that excited. For Salt Lake."
AJ didn't know any better. It was a good plan. They could get away from the Saviors for good, give him a real mom and dad. There had to be Fireflies—there had to be someone, with a real home, to take the kid out of their hands. There'd be time for regret later. She just kept forcing that smile, until the edge of her lips began looking clumsy and frightened.
"But he'll turn around. AJ's a good one."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie had watched AJ leave the room with a small frown, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't like the look on his face. She didn't like the tone in Clem's voice. And, in the midst of fatigue, Ellie sighed.
"You don't know anything about him." Neither of them did. Clem had last seen this kid as a baby. Years ago. Ellie had seen how much he'd enjoyed Negan's 'introduction' to their community, after Lee got shot in the leg, and hauled inside.
And Ellie had taken the only mother that kid had ever known. Without a second thought. She knew when someone was holding something back.
"I don't think he will," she said, finality in her voice.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine looked away, far off toward the corner of the room, and wished she could unhear that.
She hadn't any more of the fake smiles left for Ellie.
The girl bit her words back, and the pain that came from breathing too hard, too fast. Clem just wanted to tell her she was wrong, in the loudest voice she could muster, before pounding the floor tiles with her boots. But she had no drive to stand, let alone to shout. She glanced off to the side and only managed to look all the sadder.
Dot [Ellie]
No apologies left Ellie's lips as Clementine's eyes turned away. There wasn't any sugarcoating left, not for Clementine or for AJ. They had kidnapped a kid, murdered his 'mother', and knew nothing about him besides what little he'd actually shared—which wasn't much at all.
But what she did know about him—the red flags were raised.
So, she did the only thing she could think of. "I'm gonna check on him." The words left in an even tone, accentuated by the door clicking shut behind her.
The wind whirled outside, harsh and brutal. She searched around for the boy for a minute, finding nothing but an empty truck filling the yard.
And tiny mud prints on the driveway. Leading away.
"Fuck."