Author's Notes: This'll be the last chapter for a little while, as there's still a scene we're working on for the next, but trust me, it's gonna be worth the wait :)
Dot [Ellie]
In retrospect, she should've seen it coming from a mile away. Ellie had a thing about diving in headfirst, without ever thinking about what the consequences would look like. And, as she trudged through the ever-intensifying rain, searching for a boy she hardly knew, she couldn't help but think about if she'd made the right choice back in Jackson.
She knew AJ wasn't going to go with them quietly. She knew that AJ wouldn't trust them, and would likely never trust them, no matter how hard Clementine tried to turn him around. She knew that killing that woman would've never been the right choice. If there ever was a choice.
But maybe, had she chosen to stay home that night, she wouldn't be chasing a boy down a country road, trying to catch up. But the alternative was so much worse. Clementine would be dead—She might've been, too, when the herd got to the town. She wouldn't have found out about the Fireflies and the cure. But so much more might've been different.
And when that boy had finally come into view, close enough that Ellie could shout towards him, she didn't hesitate to do so.
"You're not gonna find the Saviors back in Jackson." The words hung in the air as distant thunder roiled through the valley. "If the herd and the Seraphites didn't kill them all, then they're on the run, too. You'll never find them. Not before the infected find you first.
"Clementine knew your real parents. We came after you at the outpost because she wanted to protect you. She can't do that if you get yourself killed."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
He didn't have enough fingers to count out how long he'd been running, not that it mattered much in the grand scheme of it all. He didn't know which way to go, let alone how to make it there with only a blade to his name. If the infected wasn't an issue, it'd be the fact he'd likely starve to death. Being alone came with sacrifices, whether it was less hands to help you thrive, or the loss of connection to other survivors. This was temporary, that much he knew. If he only kept running, eventually he'd have to find someone. Negan, Bonnie… any other Savior that could take him home, he didn't care who anymore.
It had only been a moment, a wrinkle in time where AJ had stopped to catch his breath, when he heard the familiar voice of the girl with the scar. As she called out to him, there was no moment of hesitation as he drew his gun and aimed it towards her. Not a bullet in the chamber, he knew that… but that didn't mean she did.
"You're lying! That's all you do, lie! They're waiting for me, and I will get home!" His stance widened, just as his mentor had taught all those months ago. Words of parents, promises, phrases and empty thoughts he cared nothing about… they didn't matter.
"She can't protect anyone! She's weak and broken… and a liar! I don't want to go to some stupid salty lake, I want to go home! I want Negan and Bonnie, and I want them now! I don't want you, or Clementine. Neither of you have told me the truth since we left the outpost, and now you're making stuff up about parents! I—If you take one more step, I'll shoot you in your stupid head, do you understand that?" Alvin Junior was soaked head to toe, his voice nearly completely lost to the pounding of rain surrounding them. No more lies, no more tricks. He was going home, end of story.
Dot [Ellie]
"When have I ever lied to you?" Ellie asked, eying the gun in the boy's hands like a snake poised to strike. "You asked if Negan would meet us here, and I told you that they'd catch up with us where we're going. Well, that doctor, Scott, knows exactly where I'm going. If he survived, then so does Negan."
The likelihood that both of them survived Jackson was too fucking high. She just had to hope that the Fireflies would have the firepower to hold them off. Surely, Negan's Asshole Brigade didn't have anything compared to FEDRA. And the Fireflies sure gave FEDRA a run for their money… for a while.
"But, I hope that monster's dead. He deserves worse." He asked for honesty, didn't he?
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"He is not a monster! Shut up! Shut up shut up—Shut! Up!" A tantrum, one like any other he'd normally have.. only this time he wasn't laying on the ground, kicking, crying. What he was.. was loud, angry. He practically screamed at the top of his lungs at the girl because he knew that if he ran now, he'd only be caught. She was bigger, which meant she was faster… stronger. "Monsters are those stupid.. things that walk and eat people—Negan doesn't do that, so he's not a monster! Why can't you both just leave me the hell alone!? I don't even know you!"
As AJ spoke, he took hesitant steps back, his weapon remained pointed on the other. If Bonnie was here she'd know what to do. Negan would just kill her and they'd leave—If he can just get far enough in the tree line, maybe… just maybe he can run far enough to hide. That way he can get away… He just had to take it slow… and it'll be fine. "Dodging questions is lying too—"
Dot [Ellie]
"If you want to die out here, then be my guest," Ellie said, her voice unwavering even in the midst of a gun being pointed towards her. She had to believe that AJ wouldn't pull the trigger. He was just a kid.
"But if you want to see them again. Alive. Then come with me. I promise I won't stop you if you go back to them. Okay?" Clementine would kill her if she heard her say that, but what else could she do? AJ had chosen his family, and it wasn't them. It would never be them.
"All I want is for all of us to make it. Help me do that. Please."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"And why should I trust you?" His voice was stern, his gun lowering only slightly in response. He seemed cold, and not just in reference to the fucking temperature thanks to the rain. He felt no sympathy for her begging words, the way they spoke was littered with selfish intent. Though, perhaps so was Alvin's reasoning for leaving to begin with. This was different. He didn't kidnap someone—
His finger's wrapped tighter around the pistol, footsteps stopping as his back hit a tree. Fine then, he obviously had something she wanted, and he didn't believe she would actually let him leave without a fight. Perhaps… they both can have what they want—
"If I go with you, you tell me everything. No more secrets. You tell me why you wanted me, why we're going to the salty lake, and why I can't just go home. Everything, and I stay without a fight. Okay?"
Dot [Ellie]
Was she really going to make this promise again? Would Clementine ever forgive her if she did? Would Clementine ever forgive her anyway? A breath exhaled, hand outstretched, she vowed, "No more secrets."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
The child seemed to lower his gun completely, pocketing it as he took a few mindful steps closer to the girl. Not one bit did he believe anything she had to say would be good, and frankly if it were up to him he'd never be making this deal in the first place… But when you need information, sometimes you compromise, even if that means not keeping some promise.
He raised his hand, ready to grab hers and seal his fate. That's when a gunshot rang through the trees. His body drew back from her, his small frame spinning as the sound echoed around them. When he stopped, he pointed just ahead of him, his brown eyes flickering between the trees and Ellie. "It came from that way. You don't think it's… your friend, do you…?" Not that he particularly cared. One less to deal with in the grand scheme of things.
Dot [Ellie]
One thought had crossed her mind. One almost too appalling to consider. Yet, as the gunshot faded into the distance, and AJ pointed towards where it'd come from, all Ellie could do was grab his hand and rush off towards the source.
"What else am I supposed to do?"
If Clementine thought that they'd abandoned her…
"Let me go…?"
She would never forgive herself.
Art [Clementine]
She would've liked to stay. To breathe, for a little while. To mull over what Ellie said to her, even though it hurt her so. It made no sense to want to do anything else, until they were back. But her heartbeat grew louder for every minute alone.
Clem thought she must've been going crazy before—now, she was sure of it. Wherever she looked, Ellie wasn't there. Neither was the kid. It only took the shortest while until she left the house too, and in a panic at that. Even the most grizzly thoughts couldn't do justice to the fear in her eyes. The girl limped out the front door, backpack slung on her right shoulder… and Lee's pistol in her bad hand, threatening to slip through the four of her fingers.
Clementine's muddy steps forced her to breathe through her mouth, panting loudly for every move of her muscles. She couldn't move anywhere as fast as she wanted. She just kept scanning the woods, and moving further each time nothing came to view. The growing horror made her hands sweat and tremble, and before long, she knew the two of them were gone.
And she didn't know what to do.
Ledge [Narrator]
Clementine would spot something odd in the distance, though not a sight she was unfamiliar with. A sign of life.
Art [Clementine]
The air reeked of smoke, and for a moment she felt relieved. Her breath steadied. Her eyes fell before rising again. Clementine didn't think twice.
"Ellie?" The girl called, as loud as her wounds would let her. "AJ!"
Ledge [Narrator]
She would hear no response.
Art [Clementine]
Clem kept on trudging through the grassy field, sighing through her nose. It was no good. She felt a tingle at the back of her neck and thought it best to keep her gun close. Just in case.
She walked slowly toward the smoke.
Ledge [Mother]
She watched as a sea of red, yellow and orange melded into one.
A large mound of bodies could be seen, stacked on top of each other, charred beyond recognition. Two figures stood in front of it, backs turned to the girl, who would notice one clothed in complete white, while the other in brown.
The Mother only continued to watch those flames crackle, in complete silence. Smoke rose into the sky, dissipating into thin air, while carrying souls of the departed with it. Their energies, emotions and thoughts, she could feel them as they were being released, becoming a part of Her.
For those they lost in the attack, it was the best they could have hoped for.
She didn't move, nor did she turn to face the taller man at her side, before making her request.
"Please bring out the heretic." She asked, in the softest voice she could muster
Dot [Bishop]
Bishop's one eye watched the flames and smoke billow into the evening sky, not a shred of emotion left on his face. These people chose their death. Like many before them.
He scratched at the gauze wrapped around his arm, while trying to ignore the headache he still had from the night of the attack. Things hadn't been that close in a long time. He only wished that he had something to show for it.
Instead, all he had was a burly man with an attitude to match.
He hauled him out when instructed, dropping him to his knees in front of Mother. Bishop, like many times before, bent his knees to reach the man's height, sighing.
"You can still choose life, my friend. Just tell me where I can find Ellie."
Dot [Tripp]
He'd listened to their twisted words and seen their brutal methods for two days straight. He'd reassured survivors until the moment they were killed, and added to the inferno raging before him. And, now, Tripp was the last.
He was always the last.
The Seraphite's gravelly voice did nothing but fuel his own fire. Yet, hands bound together, all he could do was glower at his captor.
"Go fuck yourself."
That's all they were getting out of him. Even if he knew where Ellie was, like hell he'd give her up to these psychos.
Ledge [Mother]
It brought out quite a sadness from within, to hear such poison from his lips. If anything, it was a direct representation of how the Saviors's corruptive mindset spread like a filthy rot. Polluting everything in its path, this poor man was so brainwashed and filled with hate, he couldn't even see the truth. Mother only breathed a deep sigh, before beginning to circle him.
"You people chastise us, for our methods." She was visibly upset at his words. Yet, her tone still remained soft, nurturing. She took care of where she stepped, the white fabrics of her long gown dragging against the grass below. "For what you perceive is a way of life that is 'dated.'"
"Yet, you all follow a man who takes multiple wives." The hypocrisy was as blunt as a blade that had seen too many battles. He was only in bindings, because he wouldn't let her free him. "Can you not see the good we've done, by liberating that outpost?"
Art [Clementine]
For a moment, she wanted to scream.
But the girl had hardly a single breath in her. She felt paralyzed by the horrible scent of burnt flesh, stirred by wind and smoke as dried blood lingered in the air. Clem threw herself at the ground, grunting at the sudden weight on her chest, as she covered her lips and wailed into her right palm.
Clementine watched bug-eyed from afar, praying, begging not to be heard as her body wrestled with the grass. She couldn't move even if she wanted to.
Dot [Bishop]
Under normal circumstances, that kind of defiance would've ended in a quicker death. Bishop wasn't done yet. This man had been the leader for that town. The one the Saviors presided over. If anyone knew where Ellie was, it would be him.
So, as the Mother made her case, he added, "And Ellie is special. She needs to be protected. For the future. We are the only ones who can. Help us protect her. Please."
Dot [Tripp]
The lanky man's words hardly registered. Tripp was too busy staring down that woman. "I guess you missed the part where I tried to put a bullet in that man's skull." He said, voice dripping in venom. "I don't follow anyone."
"And all you fuckin' did was get my people killed."
Dot [Bishop]
He was about to lose his patience. Anger bubbled to the surface, gloved hands tightened into fists. Yet, it was the muffled sound of a thud behind them that got him to stand up.
He whistled, hoping an answer would come from the flowing seas of grass, yet nothing came. They were being watched. He nodded towards the Mother before pulling out a knife.
Deep down, he hoped it would be Ellie, but knew it to be foolish. Nothing was handed to you on a silver platter.
Art [Clementine]
He'd heard her. He'd heard her and he was coming. She knew he was!
When Clementine tried to move, the surge of pain brought the girl to her knees. Her voice was a thin screech as her fingers grasped at her chest, desperate for air.
The gun still lay in one hand, as good as forgotten. And she was much too scared to open her eyes.
Dot [Bishop]
The grass whipped against his face, blown by the wind that grew harsher and harsher as the storm picked up. The voice didn't go unnoticed. His steps grew slower, methodical, and once he drew near the source, he pulled the grass out of his way, seeing—
"Little one." The girl with no name. Ellie's friend. For a moment, his eye widened, until he'd come to his senses.
Until a decision was made.
Turning towards the flames behind him, he called out, "Nothing yet! I'm going out farther."
Her eyes remained closed as he bent his knees, putting away the knife. He didn't dare reach out.
"Come on. I need to get you out of here. Before She finds you."
Art [Clementine]
Clementine listened to the voice, expecting the man's disgusting gloves to lift her off the ground and hurt her badly. But for now, they didn't.
She got air inside of her as quick as it had gone, but Clementine didn't have the bravery to breathe again. She just listened to the voice and nodded, refusing to open her eyes.
Dot [Bishop]
Bishop lifted the girl to her feet, putting her arm around him—well, around his stomach—to support her weight. Thankfully, the grass was tall enough to obscure them, though how long that would last, Bishop didn't know. All he could do was lead her away from the fire.
Among the things that occurred to him, Ellie being nearby was certainly one of them. Someone had to have helped this girl get this far. Yet, Ellie was merely a single step among a whole list of issues to deal with.
One thing at a time.
Dot [Tripp]
The tall serafucker disappeared into the grass, leaving him alone with the woman responsible for all the death and destruction wrought on his community in the past few days.
And he only had so long before she focused on him again.
So he did the only thing he could. He rushed towards her, intent on knocking her down, and crushing her windpipe if he had to.
Anything to get away.
Ledge [Mother]
How could he leave her for this long? With a man twice her size?
It didn't take much to send her toppling down. The gravel below stained her white garments, and the panic only began to sink in once she saw the heathen advance on her.
"Bishop!" She screamed for him, scrambling backwards as she tried to get back to her feet, while sending a swift kick towards where all men were weakest.
Dot [Tripp]
He had to shut her up. He had to do something before that brute could return. He tried to stomp on the woman's neck, but she'd barely made it out of the way.
But that wouldn't stop him from trying again, and again, until this psycho bitch was dead. Then that giant freak would be next.
Ledge [Mother]
It was a transgression of the highest order, one she expected nothing less from this 'man'… who was willing to try and kill their Mother.
Nested with sin. All of them. She had hoped to cleanse the demon from his soul before adding him to the pile, but the nasty spirit within the man had other ideas of self preservation.
A gunshot rang out in the air, drawing her attention for a split moment.
It was then that she decided to lift herself up, and make a beeline for the trees in the opposite direction of the gunfire. As she sprinted, the woman let out a barrage of whistles, hoping it was enough to deter the man from following. They wouldn't hear her from here, but it wouldn't stop her from trying until she was within range.
Dot [Tripp]
She'd managed to slip away, but Tripp wasn't stupid enough to try and catch her. Fuck her. Right now, he needed to get the fuck out of this rope, and figure out what the hell is going on with One-Eyed Bitchface before he came back to him.
He began to search the area for anything to cut himself loose, cursing under his breath.
Ledge [Narrator]
Nearby, Tripp would see a variety of old Seraphite weapons propped up against a tree. Collected from the recently deceased who were burning.
Dot [Tripp]
Fucking finally! Dropping to his ass, he moved the ropes against the blade of one of the axes until it finally managed to cut through. Pushing himself to his feet, he grabbed the double-bladed one and rushed towards the grass Bitchface had entered earlier.
Whoever was in there, with the gun, they were his chance to even the odds.
Dot [Bishop]
Once on the road, Bishop spoke up, voice as soft as he could make it while still being heard. "Where did you come from? Is it somewhere safe?"
He didn't expect an answer. But either way they took this road, it would have to lead somewhere.
Art [Clementine]
As he expected, she didn't. Clem didn't even think to.
She pushed the man away in a weak shove. Her knees, so sickly, she fell on her back in the process. "Don't you fucking come near me," she tried so hard to say as tears threatened to show. It'd taken only a single, horrible glance to recognize someone like him: Someone as badly disfigured as Bishop.
Clementine pointed her gun and fired at him; without thinking, and without looking.
Dot [Bishop]
Things changed in an instant, as they usually seemed to do. The bullet tore through Bishop's shoulder, leaving him to howl in pain as he rushed into the tall grass.
Out of sight, he clamped his hand over the wound, cursing under his breath. He had nothing to patch it up with, nor did he know if it went out the other side.
It didn't matter. The girl he hoped to help had become the threat. He wouldn't let her stand between him and Ellie. Not when the world depended on it.
Every step was agony. He was sure that she could still hear him as he tried to circle her, to find her blind spot, but that wouldn't stop him from trying that much harder to hold in his breath.
She was slower. She would let down her guard, even if for a moment. That's when he'd strike.
Art [Clementine]
She tried to stand. She pressed her hands and knees against the rough ground, and she pushed. Clementine could only feel the hard stab against her skin. Her pitiful escape was as good as a crawl.
Clem's mind was crowded with screams as she wondered whether the gunshot had been enough to put him down. The most she could do was threaten to fire another.
Dot [Bishop]
She was as helpless as ever. Emerging from the grass, Bishop placed a boot against the girl's back, pinning her to the ground.
And, with a knee taking the place of a boot, he lifted the girl's head up by her hair, letting the knife finish the threat for him.
"Where is she." He knew that she overheard their conversation with Jackson's leader. "Tell me, and I let you go."
Weaponless and defenseless, but he would stick to his word nonetheless.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine swung her arms and legs, squirmed and struggled. But the girl's efforts were for nothing. All she could do was scream until her throat burned.
The baseball hat flew back toward the grassy field as Bishop pulled Clem by her long curls. The knife forced her neck to straighten, and the pistol to slide clean off her trembling hands. She had to force the words out in a gasp, and so the man's question went unanswered. Clementine hadn't heard a thing.
Dot [Bishop]
Nothing. Disappointing. Reckless. Insolent. When he'd first helped this girl, he had hoped to turn her around to their way of life. To the only way of life. And secure their future while doing it. Instead, she refused to talk. She refused to listen. She refused to accept that her way was outdated, and needed enlightening.
Then he would find Ellie on his own. The Path before him would show itself. It always had.
"I'm sorry, Little One."
He pulled the knife away, clenching his fingers around the hilt as he prepared to jab it through the girl's throat.
Dot [Tripp]
He couldn't see a thing. Grass smacked him the quicker he waded through it, but the axe helped keep some of it at bay. The gunshot wasn't far, now, as he drew further, the sounds of a struggle made themselves known.
Alright, asshole, I'm not lettin' you hurt anyone else.
Emerging from the grass, he swung the axe towards the lanky figure atop the other. The asshole must've heard him coming, though, because he'd jerked to the side, landing on his back. Bitchface grunted, hand clamoring for a bloodied hole in his shoulder.
While the other went for a gun on the ground.
Art [Clementine]
She found herself on the ground again, able to breathe. Clem's fingers rammed the grass desperately as she looked for the gun, until the cold iron was tightly pressed against her palm.
Pulling herself to her feet, she kept the pistol steady and at the ready, all the while the girl's other arm wrapped painfully across her chest.
She wouldn't get a second shot, and yet still she stood, hiding behind the foliage and calming her huffing breath. Clementine had to wait for a chance to hit him back, else he'd kill her first.
Dot [Bishop]
There was no time to think. His new assailant raised the axe, ready to split him in two. Bishop rolled, groaning with each agonizing movement. He kicked at the man's leg, watching as he fell to his knees, using the axe to hoist himself back up.
The girl had made it to the gun, but he still had a knife. He just had to get up faster. He just had to keep pushing.
Nothing else mattered.
Art [Clementine]
As her nose brushed against the tall grass, Clem watched the scuffle with the both of her frightened eyes. The girl felt closer and closer to breaking down, ankles twisting and shaking. But she forced herself to charge at Bishop before he could recover.
Clementine threw herself at the man's back, putting all of her strength into choking him out with the empty pistol in her hands.
All she managed was to buy time until her wounds couldn't keep up any longer.
Dot [Tripp]
The Seraphite had broken free from Clementine's—he had to think about how the fuck she was out here later—grip, and plunged his knife into Tripp's chest.
With a roar, Tripp let go of the axe, wrapping one hand around the man's, while his other grappled for the Seraphite's face.
He pulled the man's hand away until the blade ripped out, while squeezing his thumb into the Seraphite's good eye.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine's coughs left her as high-pitched gasps, leaving the girl groveling against the ground.
Everything hurt; every muscle, every joint and every bone that hadn't healed. And she had to shut her eyes to all of it, or the man who murdered Lee would kill her too.
She yelled until the pain escaped to the back of her mind, and until she managed to stand up just one more time. Clementine stumbled forward, gasping for air… and ahead she saw the glint of steel beneath the grass.
Clem quickly reached toward it. She held the wooden grip between unsteady fingers, raising the axe just over her waist. And then she rammed it against Bishop's side, cursing him all the while. Until Clementine had no voice left to cry with.
Dot [Tripp]
Tripp had let go of Bishop when the axe dug into his side, burrowing through flesh and bone alike. The man let out a scream, but it was damn near drowned out by Clementine's. All Tripp could do was take a step back, waiting for the last bit of life to leave Bishop's bleeding eye before ceasing altogether.
That was when he made sure he could never come back. It took a solid thrust to plunge the knife in, harder still to pull it back out. But, with the deed done, he fell to his ass, one hand on a knee, and the other against the wound left in his chest.
Everything he endured these past few days, and he was still alive.
Through pained grunts, he searched for Clementine's gaze. "Are you… okay?" He'd get into the hows and whys later. Right now, they had more pressing matters to attend to.
Like getting the fuck out of here before infected showed up.
Art [Clementine]
She let it go, and it hadn't come with her. The axe stayed put where it lay buried, strung between layers of entrails that threatened to slip out. When Clementine backed away, hunched and ready to drop to her knees, she felt rage extinguish into soft relief. And when she stared at the thing that'd burst and tore through Bishop's rib cage, she felt relief be replaced by content. Clem hoped he felt every bit of it.
"No," she uttered at the voice, who Clementine wasn't sure was there at all. She finally lost her footing, hands bashing against the ground. Breathing had come so easy before, now it felt trapped in her lungs, deepening the sickness in her stomach. "Help," she said, until her words grew inaudible. "I'm scared. I'm scared."
Dot [Tripp]
Tripp had been living in that mindset for the past two days, but he'd needed to stare fear down until his last breath. Because everyone else had depended on him to get them out of this alive.
But he didn't. He couldn't.
"Hey, look at me," he said, lifting himself onto his knees. Even there, he was only just a few inches shorter than the girl. "I'm not…" he breathed hoarsely, "gonna let anything happen… to anyone else. Right now, that's you."
No matter how much it hurt to move, he still pushed himself to his feet, extending out a hand for the girl.
"There's more out there. We gotta go."
Art [Clementine]
She forced herself to look at him, to look at Tripp, and she swore her eyes were playing tricks. Clementine extended him a weak set of fingers and let him hold her hand.
She let her mind go blank, and her feet be guided forth past the geyser of blood below. Clem just needed to see AJ and Ellie again. Nothing else.
Please be okay.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie didn't have to get all the way back to the house to find out what had happened to Clementine. The minute she set eyes on the girl along the side of the road, accompanied by a man that could be no one else but Tripp, Ellie let go of AJ and set off towards her as if she hadn't seen Clem in years.
It was only the last few steps where she finally slowed down. When reality hit her. Hugs weren't exactly good for her health right now.
"You're alright," she breathed, relieved. Wasn't long before the giant elephant in the room came back into focus, though. Ellie casted a glance towards Tripp, and to the bleeding wound on his chest, before wincing.
"What the hell happened?"
Art [Clementine]
Clem beamed her a tired smile that for once took no faking. She couldn't believe her luck. It came and went, though, just like the flaring in her chest. "Ran into those cult guys again," she said in a raspy voice, holding Tripp's hand all the tighter. "…Looking for you."
Despite the urgency to hear Ellie's side of things, Clementine followed that up with an uncharacteristic amount of humor. "Just need more of the magic pills and I'm set."
Dot [Tripp]
How this girl was still on her feet was nothing more than a mystery to him. Every breath sounded wrong. Every footstep, a resounding wince. Tripp, himself, was doing the same thing for very different reasons.
The only thing keeping him going was knowing that someone else needed him to.
"You're right on the edge of Seraphite territory," he added, "Lucky they hadn't found you already."
Dot [Ellie]
She'd hoped to never see those scarred faces again. Knowing they were still so close, so far away from Jackson, had her grinding her teeth. They just couldn't get away, could they? Everywhere they fucking went, some asshole was there to greet them.
For once, Tripp being that asshole was actually a good thing. At least he'd helped with the other assholes.
To Clementine, she said, "we'll get you some. We just need to get back to the house." The house that wasn't gonna be a permanent solution, it sounded like. Eventually, someone was gonna come knocking on their door.
"These cultist fuckers didn't happen to have any gas, did they?"
Art [Clementine]
Clementine shrugged. "None that I saw."
Dot [Tripp]
When it became obvious that anything other than walking was out of the question, Tripp sighed. "Look, kid, I'd…" He grimaced. "…love to get the fuck out of here, too. But, we ain't got much choice."
It was then that he'd found the kid standing behind Ellie, leaving him to narrow his eyes towards the two girls.
"So, y'all were going after Negan's pet that whole time?"
Dot [Ellie]
The tone in Tripp's voice had her narrowing her eyes back at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "He belongs with the people who knew his parents. Not the ones that took him.
"Not that he wants to stay. Practically had to beg him to after he took off from the house. He's very loyal to Negan and the Saviors."
Art [Clementine]
She didn't want it to show, not now of all times, but it did: Clem looked so unbelievably crushed. "What do you mean…?"
Dot [Ellie]
"He pointed a gun at me, Clem." There was no anger in her voice, but then again, there weren't much else there either. "Said that he wanted Negan and Bonnie. Not us.
"Doesn't get any more clear than that." She sighed, shifting uncomfortably. This wasn't going to go over well.
Art [Clementine]
Clem didn't have an answer ready. Not a glance to share. She felt the weight of the world pressing down on what was left of her, and making a show for everyone else to see. She held in a great many tears and had to swallow all the rest.
"Can I talk to him?" Clementine asked quietly, letting go of the man beside her.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie simply nodded, holding out a hand to help her move, should Clementine need it.
Art [Clementine]
She did need it, and gladly took Ellie's hand in hers. Clementine did her best not to limp and stumble toward the kid waiting alone where the fields turned into narrow roads.
Toward the kid who wanted nothing to do with her.
Clem grimaced at the little words that wouldn't come to her, and at all the jabs of pain needling at her broken body. And in that moment, she had nothing else and no one else in mind.
Her voice was low, stern, and as hard as her eyes. "Say something."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
It was the sound of dragging footsteps that made the child straighten up, his arms crossed over his chest as if he had a reason to protect it. She survived, that's what Ellie wanted. So he's meant to celebrate that, wasn't he? He's supposed to be happy for them. He just couldn't be, not yet. Not with so much left unanswered… This other dude that used to run Jackson being here gave plenty of extra ones.
As her voice broke the silence, his attention moved to face her. His gaze was cold, as if he stared at people who deserved no sympathy for what they're doing. "What do you want me to say?"
Art [Clementine]
Clementine couldn't help the scoff, nor the frown on her lips. "Are you kidding me? You just ran away behind my back!"
The girl's face lost its paleness all too suddenly, and in that moment she felt her voice rise and her fingers curl into fists.
"I almost thought you were dead. How could you do that to me…?"
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"I don't owe you anything. We had one decent day and suddenly you're my friend? Last I checked, I never agreed to that. Hell, I don't even want to be here! I don't even know who you guys are!" Alvin's frame whipped around to face the pair, his voice much higher than he wanted it to be in the moment.
"What on Earth makes me owe you an explanation, huh?"
Art [Clementine]
He pushed her.
"You know what, AJ?" Clementine said, before the mask finally fell, and what was left only served to fuel the shouting match. "I guess you don't! Maybe I should've left you alone to be walker food instead!"
Dot [Ellie]
"Clementine…" Ellie had called out, eyes widening.
She was going to ruin everything she tried to do with the boy. She was gonna get him killed.
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
"Maybe you should have!" His voice was raised, the child practically shouting as he turned around and began storming off back in the direction of the farm house. If he's leaving, he's packing up this time. Bullets, food. Anything.
Art [Clementine]
Clem only watched him leave until she could no longer stand to. Seething, she faced the facts and turned the other way, walking off with an arm crossed around her chest. She only planned to stop when they were all far away from her.
Dot [Tripp]
These kids were doomed. They wouldn't even need some cultist assholes to get them all killed. Tripp sighed as he watched Clementine and the kid take off. At least their spat had given him enough time to try and patch up his wound. Barely. Not much you could do with a strip of cloth.
But now he had bigger fish to fry.
"Alright, go after the kid, I'll deal with your girlfriend," Tripp said, shaking his head. Out of all the people from Jackson, it had to be these fuckin' three.
Dot [Ellie]
"Good luck," Ellie muttered, begrudgingly putting one foot in front of the other. This time, she didn't think she could change AJ's mind.
She wasn't sure what she'd have to do to keep everyone alive, but she sure had a feeling she wasn't going to like it.
Dot [Ellie]
Catching up to AJ had proven more difficult this time around. He was already back at the house, packing a bag, before she had even made it to the porch. Entering, she slowly approached, hoping this time he wouldn't decide to use the gun after all. Not when so much rode on the decision she had come to on the way here.
Possibly the hardest one she's ever had to make.
"Was… there a backup camp? For your people? In case things got bad in Jackson?" Her voice was hoarse, as if it didn't want to come out. But, with everything she'd done to this kid, she needed to say it. All of it.
"I'll take you there. Just you and me. I'll leave you with them, and you'll never have to see us again. Just name a place."
Vi [Alvin Jr.]
Alvin was stuffing his last few borrowed cans into his bag by the time Ellie had arrived. It was far from enough to hurt either girl after he left, but it was enough to make it difficult for him to carry. He looked over his shoulder, leaving his bag on the floor to move across the room and continue looking through the supplies scattered about. "What do you want—" He was mumbling again, his voice low and nearly silent.
It was when Ellie finally spilled her plan did he perk up. He had no reason to trust her, and no reason to believe this was smart… but he had every intention of following it. Any chance to be home.
"We have a lot of camps, I know that much. Names… uh—" Alvin gently hit a fist against his forehead, trying to jog his ever failing memory. "Mm… I remember—uh… I remember school, that's… it. Some school, there's a camp there, but I can't remember the name of it. It's… w… west of girl name… forest… Ashley! Ashley National Forest, and east of Wen…dover I believe. Does that help…?" The boy seemed more excited than before, even if he wasn't a hundred percent sure he got the directions right or not.
As he dug through the remaining supplies, his lower lip pouted, unable to locate any of the bullets he'd need for his revolver. Shame really. He'd have to ask if he were to carry any, but… perhaps it can wait a bit longer.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie listened. Vaguely, the name of the forest sounded familiar. With a faint "come on," she escorted AJ back to the kitchen, and to the map sprawled out on the table. It took a few minutes to find it, but there it was. An area marked by a green shape spanning miles and miles, east of Salt Lake City. Tracing left of that, Wendover sat right at the edge of Utah and Nevada.
So that meant that the Saviors had a base near Salt Lake City. Or in it.
"'Salty lake', huh?" She mused to herself, tapping her fingers on the map. "Looks like we both get what we want, kid. You get to go home, and I get to save the world."
Fingernails dug into the map, tearing two tiny holes into it, but who cared what city it obscured. All that mattered was that this would work. AJ would get to live. The Fireflies—whether knowingly or unknowingly living in the same city as the Saviors—would finally make the cure, and all of this would be worth it.
It would make the sinking feeling in her stomach worth it. The amber eyes she'll never be able to look into again worth it.
Everyone got to live. And she would have yet another reason to hate herself.
Felt like an even trade.