Thanks to gaara king of the sand for the help.


When they realized that Clementine was missing guards immediately began searching for the child left and right.

When they weren't having any luck, panic filled the community.

It was Vince who spot the unconscious child outside the fence after twenty minutes of multiple people searching. The little girl was laid unmoving by Reggie's body, from where he stood Vince couldn't tell if the kid was dead or alive.

However, when he noticed the walkers heading towards her, his body acted on its own. He rushed towards the front of the gate and outside. If there was a chance the little girl was alive, he wasn't about to allow the dead to seal her fate.

He rushed around to the side of the fence where the child laid checked the child's pulse and breathing and sighs in relief when he realizes the little girl is still alive. Carefully, he scooped the little girl into his arms. A groan of pain escaped her lips and Vince quietly apologized.

He began rushing back inside the gates.

He really, really hoped the kid didn't die in his arms.


"So you wanna ring a dinner bell for a horde of walkers? How the hell does that make any sense?"

"At least it'll get us the hell out of here. And Clem, we need to get her out of here." Kenny said. "I'm sure Molly would've thought it was a good idea."

"Carlos, we need you! Now, It's important!" Tavia spoke as she rushed to the gate.

Carlos, who had been talking to Sarah looked over. "What is going on?"

"We need you now!" The woman repeated. It's the little girl!"

That drew everyone's attention.

"Wh-What?" Carlos asked.

The others immediately began asking about the girl, wondering what was wrong.

"She- she's really hurt." Tavia said. "It's pretty damn bad…"

Carlos frowned at that. "Take me to her…"


When Carlos got to the infirmary he was taken aback by the state of little Clementine. When he was told the child must have jumped from the roof, he was even more shocked.

He began checking her injuries. The worse one was clearly her leg. He then examined the wound and fracture site, checking for damage to soft tissues, nerves, and circulation.

He knows there could be a chance of infection. In most case like this a patient would require long-term antibiotics and surgery, but he had to do the best he could with what he had.

The girl seemed to wince in pain every time she took a breath.

Carlos frowned. He was going to have to force the bone back in place. He knew in most cases that was the last thing you would want to do, but he had no choice. He didn't have the equipment for a proper operation.

Grasping the child's leg in one hand, Carlos began to push the bone back into place. Clementine started to scream, loud piercing screams, her body tremoring.

Carlos continued his work and the child let out a shriek of pain. Her face was turning red and her body was shaking.

When he finally stopped the girl's screams had become mere whimpers. He couldn't help but feel guilty, seeing the state she was in.

He knew if not properly treated the child would get an infection and die. The child had pain written all over her face, and her skin felt freezing cold. She was in absolute agony.

He gave the child a shot of morphine to help with the pain and an antibiotic to clear out any infection.

He made sure to thoroughly disinfect the girl's leg and then doing the best he could to wrap and splint it.

Ideally, he would have wanted to stabilized Clementine's leg with external fixation. But he didn't have that option. He did his best with what he had. He knew the child's leg would probably take a good five months to heal… Especially since he didn't have the best equipment to treat her. But at least she was still alive…for now. And if she pulled through, he felt a broken leg was much better than death…

He really hoped that the child would pull through.


Carver was beyond furious when he learned of what had happened. He immediately reprimanded several of his guards and then headed to the infirmary to check on Clementine.

When Carlos spotted him, the man gave a noticeable flinch.

"Well? How is she?" Carver asked.

"She… She's stable for now…" Carlos said. "I did the best I could with her leg… I doubt she'll be able to walk on it for a long while…"

"Fucking brat. I can't believe she actually jumped..." Carver grumbled.

"With all due respect, can she have her clothes back? She needs to be warm, so she doesn't go into shock…" Carlos said.

Carver shook his head. "She's not getting her clothes… You take her to the pen, wrap her in some blankets. That should be enough. You'll look after her leg… until she's recovered. And I want to talk to her when she wakes up."

Carlos just nodded; he knew there was no point in arguing.


From inside the comic bookstore, Luke and Molly had heard how frantic people sounded from outside.

The two wondered what the hell was going on. Luke peeked outside of the door and managed to catch sight of various guards rushing around.

"What's going on?" Molly asked.

"I have no fucking idea. I think their looking for something… Or maybe lurkers got in…" Luke shrugged.

"Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good." Molly noted.

"…Not at all…"

When he peeked through the door again, Luke managed to spot Vince running with a figure in his arms. A small figure. "Oh God… Oh no…" He muttered; eyes wide as he wrecks his brain on what could have possibly happened to the child.

"What's wrong?" Molly quickly asked.

"It's… It's Clem… I think she's hurt…" Luke said.

Molly quickly rushed over to see, practically shoving Luke aside. She noticed the man carrying her girl but couldn't see the extend of her injuries. "I'm going out there."

"Molly don't…" Luke grabbed at her arm to stop her.

Molly quickly shook him off and glared at him, "I need to make sure my girl is okay!"

Luke looked at her with pity. "I know you're worried, but you'll blow our cover if you go out there. There's guards patrolling, you'll probably end up getting shot if anything."

"She needs me." Molly said.

"Molly… please… I'm sure she's fine… If she's hurt Carlos will take care of her." Luke said. "That guy carrying her, that's Vince. And if she's hurt it'll be best for Carlos to take a look at her. If we bring her in here with us, she'll be trapped with no medical supplies. That won't do her any good."

Molly frowned, realizing that was true. As much as she didn't want to, she would have to wait to get her girl. "…Fine, Luke."

"…I know you-"

"I said, fine." Molly turned away from him. "Just stop…"

"Okay… I… I'm sorry, Molly." Luke said.

The woman didn't bother to respond.


Carlos brought Clementine to the pen as Carver had told him to. He was quickly bombarded with questions from the concerned group members.

"Holy shit, what happened to her?" Nick asked.

"What the hell happened?! What happened to her leg?!" Kenny asked.

"Is she okay? What happened Carlos?" Rebecca questioned.

More questions flooded in. Kenny demanded that the doctor hand the girl over, but Carlos refused as he laid the child down, careful not to hurt her leg.

He then walked back over to the group.

"Carlos, what is going on?" Rebecca asked.

"Is… Is Clementine going to be okay?" Sarah asked.

"I- I don't know…" Carlos said.

"What happened to her… Did… Did Bill do that?" Rebecca asked.

Carlos shook his head. "They said she jumped off the roof."

Everyone was shocked to hear that.

"That's bullshit! Clementine wouldn't do that." Kenny argued.

"She did." Carlos muttered.

"Why would she do something like that?" Sarita asked.

"I don't know." Carlos said.

"Was she trying to kill herself?" Mike asked.

"I don't know…" Carlos repeated.

"Is she going to be okay? She'll be okay, right?" Rebecca asked.

"I don't know!" Carlos finally exclaimed causing the group members around him to jump. The man took a deep breath then spoke again, "She jumped off the roof… I'm not entirely certain of her reasoning… I treated her leg to the best of my ability. She had a few minor injuries that I took care of as well… Carver's allowing her to rest here, but when she wakes up… He's gonna take her…"

"Like hell he is!" Kenny huffed.

"We can't fight him… There's nothing we can do but let her rest…" Carlos said. He couldn't help but feel guilty for how he treated the child. "And keep trying to find a way out of here…"


Within the next day, word spread fast about what had happened to little Clementine. Everyone was in shock about what the child had done.

"…I can't believe that kid jumped off the roof." Wyatt muttered.

"Was she trying to kill herself?" Russell asked.

"Can you blame her if she was?" Becca said. "Everyone's been giving her shit."

"For a good reason." Bonnie cut in. "She killed Troy and Reggie!"

"She didn't kill Reggie." Becca argued. "Carver did."

Bonnie frowned at that, she had, had a feeling… "But- But he said-"

"He's a liar. He wanted everyone to blame her. Sarah even said Clementine didn't push him." Shel said.

Bonnie frowned at this feeling guilt fill her. "Oh my God…" She felt bad for how she treated the girl, she just didn't want to believe Bill was capable of that… Though she knew he was, more so than a little child would be.

"I knew that shit was a lie…" Vince said.

"It's crazy… If he's willing to lie on a child about committing a murder, just what else could he be lying about…" Wyatt said.

"I don't believe a thing he says in the first place. And after what I heard that kid went through, I can't fucking stand the guy…" Vince said.

"Me either…" Russell agreed.

"He's been lying about a lot. He spread the rumor that Clem's group attacked them, and that how Troy was killed. Clementine told me it was the other way around." Shel explained.

"Hold on," Bonnie spoke, furrowing her brows. "That's not entirely true on either side. We didn't attack anyone… Bill- Bill was just trying to bring everyone back peacefully. I will admit things got out of hand, but it's because they were shooting at us."

"You guys broke into their camp, to drag them back here against their wills. What did you expect?" Vince said.

"Like I said, things got out of hand… The situation should've been handled better… And I regret the part I took in it… I wish… I wish things went a lot differently."

"That's not the only thing though… Carver the one who told those people they could… hurt her. He took her out the pen so that her group wouldn't be able to protect her. He allowed her to get raped, and that's why he's refusing to give her clothes back. And Clementine's even said, he's raped her himself."

"Oh my gosh… If you know all this wh-why didn't you say anything before?" Bonnie asked.

"Clem said that Carver told her not to tell anyone. And if word got out, he would make a "accident" happen to one of her friends. So, Becca and I had no choice but to keep quiet for Clem's sake. It's not like us saying anything would change her situation if everyone believed Carver in the first place. If anything, us taking her side would probably just turn people against us." Shel said. "But that little girl is innocent. She's just a little kid. And the only way we can help her is if we find a way out of here."

Bonnie felt guilt eating away at her even more. "Fuck… I really hope she wasn't trying to kill herself… I hope that little girl did not try to kill herself."

"Oh, so now you care?" Vince scoffed.

"Hey, I'm not the only one who didn't believe her…" Bonnie said. "And I don't see anyone else helping the kid, so don't make me the bad guy…"

Vince just shook his head at that. "Look, Shel's right… The only way we're gonna help that kid is if we get the fuck out of here."

"How? It's not going to be as easy as just walking out." Russell said.

"We'll figure something out. We'll start stocking up on supplies and when the time is right, we'll go." Shel said.

"What about the herd? Bill says it's gotten closer." Wyatt said.

"We might have to wait it out…" Russell added.

"Whatever happens we have to get that little girl, and everyone else in the pen out of here. They don't deserve to be kept prisoner. And that poor kid has been through enough." Shel said.

Bonnie frowned as they continued discussing plans of leaving. She was torn on that. She wanted to believe it was safer here, but what Clementine was going through proved that obviously was not true.

The others seemed to be set in their decision of leaving when they had the opportunity, they even talked about bringing Clementine with them.

Bonnie just hoped that if she went along with them, she wasn't making a bad decision.


When Clementine regained consciousness, the child was confused. She was no longer on the ground., instead she was laid on a cot. She was back in the pen.

"Clementine you're awake." Kenny's voice reached her eyes.

"Y-Yeah…" The girl tried to force herself into sitting position and noticed some kind of splint on her leg, but no sign of a bone sticking out.

"Take it easy, sweetie. You're still hurt…" Sarita said.

"Wh-What happened?" Clementine asked.

"We should be asking you that. Were you trying to kill yourself? It's a miracle you didn't break every bone in your body." Kenny said.

The girl frowned at that but didn't answer that question. She wasn't trying to kill herself. But being dead would have been better than being trapped at Howes. "How long was I out?"

"For two days. We didn't know if you would pull through. What were you thinking, Clem?" Kenny inquired. "You could've died!"

"I-I was trying to escape…" Clementine said honestly. "I didn't want to be hurt anymore."

"You should've talked to us; we've been working on a plan!" Kenny said.

Not fast enough. Clementine thought to herself.

"You were you just gonna leave us?" Nick asked.

"I didn't want to be hurt anymore!" Clementine said. "No one was helping me."

"Because we couldn't! You were out there, and we're trapped in here. What were we supposed to do?" Nick replied.

Fight for me! Is what she wanted to say, but she didn't. "…How did I get here?"

"Vince found you on the ground. Had to rush you inside before the walkers could get you." Rebecca said.

Clementine furrowed her brows she didn't even know who Vince was.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" Rebecca asked.

"Not great… My leg really hurts…" Clementine said.

"That's because you did something stupid and jumped off a roof." Kenny said. "Do you not realize, you could've died?"

"Maybe I should have…" Clementine replied quietly.

Kenny shot her a look. "Don't you talk like that. Your life is important, Clem."

Clementine doesn't respond and looks away.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like your life doesn't matter? You have people who care about you! People who died for you! You're not supposed to just give up like that!" Kenny snapped.

The child flinched from his yelling and they notice the little girl was trembling a bit.

"Kenny, stop. She's already scared. " Sarita said. "I think she's just confused right now..."

"Well, I'm sorry, Clem. But I think you should be scared. Scared of what could've happened to you." Kenny said.

Clementine didn't response to that.

"So you got nothing to say for yourself?" Kenny inquired.

The child opted to remain quiet. Wordlessly, she slipped her thumb into her mouth.

Kenny rose a brow at that. "Clem, what are you doing? Get your thumb outta your mouth. "

"If she wants to suck her thumb, let her suck her thumb, Kenny." Rebecca said, shooting him a look. "She's not hurting anyone.

"She doesn't need to suck her thumb." Kenny argued. "Take your thumb out of your mouth. "

"Kenny, just leave her alone." Rebecca said.

"Not until she stops sucking her thumb. She's not a damn baby." Kenny said.

"She's a little girl, Kenny. A lot of kids suck their thumbs." Sarita said.

"She a strong little girl. She doesn't need to suck her thumb." Kenny said. "Clem-"

"No!" Clementine mumbled, keeping her thumb in her mouth.

"This is ridiculous, man. Just leave her alone." Mike spoke up.

"Will you all just stay out of this?! I'm the one looking after her, what I say goes." Kenny said.

"Is it really worth picking on a kid about sucking her thumb?" Mike shot back.

"I'm not picking on her! I'm breaking a bad habit! She doesn't need to suck her thumb!"

"Kenny, just stop!" Rebecca said.

"I said stay out of this. I'm looking after the kid, so let me do my job!" Kenny said.

"Your job? If you're her guardian, you haven't been looking after her well." Jane cut in.

"Who the hell are you to judge. I doubt you know how to raise a kid." Kenny argued.

"I never said I do. But you're not looking after her. If you were, she wouldn't have gotten raped. If you were, she wouldn't have jumped off a fucking roof." Jane spoke up. "After all the kid's been through, the least you can do is let her suck her damn thumb."

Clementine was whimpering at this point. She hated that they were fighting because of her.

Sarah glanced to the younger girl with a frown, she knew how she was feeling. She hated the fighting to. Hesitantly she walked over to try to comfort the girl. Clementine was surprised by this, but appreciated it.

The arguing continued and the two girls did their best to block it out, starting a conversation of their own.

"I'm sorry about your leg, Clem… Does it hurt?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah… Pretty bad actually…" Clementine said.

"Maybe my dad can give you more medicine." Sarah said. "…Why did you jump? That roof was really high up…"

"I don't know anymore… I just… want to in that moment…" Clementine said.

"Oh… Do… you still want to?" Sarah asked.

"Even if I did… I don't think I could…" Clementine mumbled.

"Dad said you could've died… I'm really glad you didn't." Sarah said.

"…Thanks…" Was all Clementine said. She herself was glad that she didn't die.

A brief silence fell over the girls.

"…I'm sorry, for being mean… And saying I didn't want to be your friend…" Sarah finally said. "And… I hope that maybe we can be friends again."

"I… I'd like that." Clementine said.

"Me too…" Sarah said with a smile.

The arguing around them continued, and Clementine just wished they would stop.

"Hey! Keep it down in-" Tavia paused. "Holy shit, the kid's awake…"

Clementine wished she could just go back to being unconscious, especially when the woman used her walkie-talkie to inform Carver that she was okay.

Carver was the last person she wanted to see…


It was almost immediately that Carver ordered Clementine be brought to him. Some of the group members protested, but they were ignored.

Clementine couldn't do much to avoid seeing him. The guard who was to bring her, simply picked the child up and carried her to Carver's office.

Now the girl was seated in a chair, face to face with her abuser, the man she wanted to escape from.

"I'm disappointed in you, Clementine… You know you have to be punished… And after I offered to make you my queen…"

"I don't want to be your queen." Clementine said.

"I'm sure one day, you'll change your mind." Carver said.

Clementine doubted that would ever happen.

"I don't think anyone else would've done it. Jumped off the roof like that… What were you trying to accomplish, honey?" Carver said.

The girl didn't respond.

"Let me guess, either you wanted to escape, or you wanted to die…" Carver said. "Either way, you failed. The only thing you succeeded in doing is fucking up your own leg. Pretty stupid if you ask me, honey. I know you're smarter than that."

Clementine still kept quiet. She just wanted to leave, she didn't want anything to do with this man.

"I'm gonna give you a day off, that's it. You don't deserve any longer, seeing as though you did this to yourself." Carver said. "And rest assure that there will be a punishment for your actions."

Clementine knew that. She just didn't understand why he wasn't punishing her now. She'd rather just get the punishment over with. "…Can I go back to the pen…"

"No… You were in the pen to rest… You're not going back there, honey. After what you did, I'm gonna make sure you're in someone's sight twenty-four hours a day. You'll be spending tonight, and your "day off", with me. In fact, you're gonna be with me from now on." Carver told her.

Clementine wasn't at all shocked by his decision. She figured that would be his response… She knew him well enough to know that much by now.


After her "day off", Clementine was forced back to work. The child was given a pair of crutches and told that her task for the day would be a simple one.

"Bill's giving you an easy job, so you don't have to move around a lot. You'll be checking the food in the storage freezer." Tavia had told her.

Clementine didn't think that would be too bad. Cold, but at least it would be easy.

However, the girl quickly changed her mind.

This job wasn't easy, it was awful. The work itself wasn't hard. She was simply tasked with inspecting food for freezer burn and identify items that seemed past its prime.

She wasn't alone either. There was a man with her, but she did her best to steer clear of him as they worked. He didn't seem unkind, in fact he would ask her if she was okay ever so often and the child would merely nod. Now he was checking items and taking inventory, every so often he would glance to her, but Clementine noticed he didn't have lust in his gaze. It was something else. Pity…

The girl tried to continue working, but it was so cold. Too cold.

It was impossible in these conditions. She was shaking, her teeth chattering.

The man seemed to frown at this. He wants to let her leave but knows Carver would likely replace him with someone who will care less about the child's wellbeing.

"Stay here…" The man said.

Clementine was confused by that. "W-Where are you going?"

"I'll be back…" He simply said before walking out.

Clementine was left along, shaking, and fighting back tears. Clementine realized that this was her punishment. Being put in a freezer with no clothing, and nothing at all to shield her from the cold. When her shivering turns into a rattly, rhythmic quaking, Clementine worries she might actually freeze to death in here.

It wasn't long before the man returned with a jacket. "It's not much, but it's all I can give you right now."

Clementine was surprised by this. This man was actual thinking with his brain instead of his dick…

Seeing that the child is frozen like a deer in the headlights, he places the jacket on the little girl, feeling her tense up. "I guess you aren't used to people being nice here…"

When the child snapped out of her daze she spoke, "But- But you'll get in trouble if someone sees me wearing this."

"Don't worry, kid… I'll know when someone's coming in… We'll be fine." The man said.

Clementine was confused, and asked, "…How come you're being nice to me? Why aren't you like the naughty men?"

"Not all guys are like that, kid. You remind me of my little brother actually. He was a lot older than you, but he was strong-minded like you. Even when he was in a bind, he didn't give up. He kept his head high. You deserve better kid, and after all you've been through you have my full respect." The man said.

"Why? How do you know I'm not naughty? How do you know I don't deserve it?" Clementine asked.

"Because no one deserves to go through what's happening to you." The man said. "You know, when I saw you on the ground. I thought you were dead… I'm glad you're not, kid."

"You're Vince," Clementine realized. "The one who saved me?"

"Yeah… That's me." Vince confirmed.

"Thanks for helping me…" Clementine said.

"You don't have to thank me for that, kid… It's what any normal person should do." Vince replied.

"Not a lot of people here help me." Clementine responded.

"Well, not a lot of people are normal." Vince said. "We're gonna get you out of here, kid."

Clementine was surprised to hear that. "What?"

"We're working on a plan. And we're gonna get you out of this place… Me, Shel, and the others…" Vince said. "Just hold on a little while longer."

"I'll try…" Clementine said.

The two continued working in silence. When they are finished their work, Vince handed the child her crutches.

The girl accepts them and attempts to remove the jacket.

"Don't. You keep that. Go find somewhere to warm up…" Vince said. "I'll cover for you."

"Okay… Thank you." Clementine said.

"Don't mention it, kid. It's the least I can do…" Vince said. "Now hurry up and get out of here."

Clementine nodded and walked out the storage freezer.


She had been walking for a while, doing her best to avoid patrolling guards. The girl tried to think of an area where she could warm up without being bothered.

Clementine was still freezing. She needed to warm up. The child was lost in thought, she didn't notice anyone behind her until she was suddenly grabbed. The child screamed and tried to struggle free, but it was no use.


Luke and Molly are startled when the door to the comic bookstore flew open. Sam immediately starts growling and Molly quickly shushes them. They can't get caught right now…

The door soon closes and seconds later they hear a voice hiss, "Hold still you little brat!"

"No! Please don't!" A child cried.

Molly's eyes widened as she recognized the voice immediately. Clementine.

Also realizing that was his owner's little voice, Sam starts barking.

"What the hell?" The man released his grip on the girl and went over to investigate, "How did a fucking dog get in here?" The man grumbled.

Molly stays low as she waits for him to approach and then quickly stabs him before he can react. His body falls to the ground.

Luke, who is trying to get Sam to stop barking is disturbed by this.

Molly quickly makes her way over to Clementine; the girl has backed herself against the wall and Molly realizes the child is whimpering.

"Clem," Molly reached out to touch the child's shoulders.

"N-No! No! Don't touch me!" Clementine exclaims, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Clem, Clementine, it's me. It's Molly!" Molly said.

"M-Molly?" The child opened teary-eyes and without hesitation she reaches towards the woman for a hug.

Molly pulls the girl into her arms, careful not to hurt her leg.

"I-I thought you were dead! I thought you were never coming back." Clementine whimpered.

Molly held the girl close, feeling her heart clench. Her little girl was completely broken. "I would never leave you, Clem. I promise you…"

"He told me you were dead…" Clementine continued crying.

"I'm not. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere." Molly said.

"We're gonna get you out of here, kiddo. We're all leaving real soon." Luke spoke up.

"Lu-Luke?"

"Yeah, Clem. It's me." Luke says.

Clementine is and disbelief, but happy to see them. "I'm glad you're okay," The child says through her tears, "You two look like crap..."

"You're one to talk, Clem…" Molly said as she took a seat, adjusting the child in her arms.

"Nice to see you two, kid." Luke replied in a half joking manner.

A sudden bark grabbed her attention. Clementine beamed. "Sam!"

The dog came over and sat in front of Clementine and Molly Clementine began to gently pet him.

"What happened to you, Clem? What did they do to you?" Molly asked after a few moments, with the child now seated in her lap.

"I…. R-Remember when you asked if Carver touched me?" Clementine sniffled.

"Yeah…. I remember…" Molly mumbled, feeling sick upon hearing this.

"He did more than that now…" Clementine said.

Both Luke and Molly were disgusted upon hearing this.

"Did… Did he r-rape you, Clem?" Molly asked.

"Uh-huh..." Clementine nodded. "H-He fucked me…"

Molly frowned holding the girl closer.

Luke felt like he could vomit. "Oh my gosh... That's horrible..."

"He did it lots and lots! Other people did it too. He said I deserve it, for being naughty." Clementine said. "…Am- Am I a bad person?"

"No! How could you be a bad person? He's the one who did something wrong. It's not your fault." Molly pulled the child into a hug.

Clementine whimpers a bit and soon breaks down and starts crying.

Molly kept the girl close; she hadn't seen the child cry like this for so long…

"I-I can't take it anymore, Molly… I don't want to b-be raped again… I don't want to be fucked anymore! I- I don't want to have to walk around naked. It's been so cold, I'm so cold, Molly... I hate it here! I hate it here! I hate it HERE!" The little girl ranted through her sobs. "I hate Carver… I hate him so much…"

"Shh, shh, shh…" Molly shushed the child. "I am so sorry you been through all this… I'm sorry I wasn't here for you, Clem… But I'm here now… We're gonna get out of here. I promise. We're gonna get the hell out of here."

"D-Do you promise? C-Carver says I have to be his queen… I don't want to, Molly…" The child choked out.

"That sick fuck…" Molly frowned. "It's okay, Clem… I promise we're gonna leave soon. We have a plan…"

"O-Okay…" Clementine continued whimpering for a bit. "l feel really dirty..."

"You're not dirty, Clem. It's okay." Molly hushed the child, gently rocking her.

Clementine doesn't answer. She simply slips her thumb into her mouth.

"What happened to your leg, Clem…?" Luke asked after a few moments.

"…I jumped." Clementine simply replied.

"You jumped from what?" Molly asked.

"The roof." Clementine said. "Everyone hates me now…"

"No, Clem… Don't say that. Nobody hates you. I promise you; nobody hates you Clem." Molly said.

"They act like they do..." Clementine said.

"Is that why you jumped? Was it because you were feeling sad? Did you want to kill yourself Clem?" Molly asked in a gently tone.

"I wanted to run away... but I knew that because everybody hated me, they wouldn't care if I died. So I jumped. Because I didn't care if I died either." Clementine answered.

"My gosh... You should never feel like that, Clem." Molly said. "I'm so sorry… I'm sorry I wasn't here for you…"

"I- I don't want you to leave me ever again. Please don't leave me anymore." Clementine said.

"I promise you I won't. Never ever again." Molly reassured the girl.

"O-Okay..." Clementine said.

"I'm glad I'm back with you." Clementine said. "I don't want to be away from you anymore.

"I'm glad too kid. And you don't have to worry about that. I'm never gonna let you go. Molly said.

"Good... I don't want you to." Clementine muttered as she allowed her eyes to flutter shut. She felt safe in Molly's arms. She knew the woman would protect her.

Molly sighed, holding her girl close. She is angry with herself. She wishes she got here sooner. She wants nothing more than to kill Carver. Seeing the little girl cry like that reminded Molly that Clementine may be tough as nails but even she has her limits and she has just about reached it.

They needed to get out of there soon.


"So what now?" Luke asked. "We get Clem to let the others know we're here?"

"What?" Molly sent him a look then quickly shook her head. "No. That's not happening."

"Why not? I thought the plan was to flag down one of the group members so they could contact the others?" Luke said.

"That IS the plan. And Clem's not a part of it. I'm not sending her back out there." Molly said.

"But she could let the others know we're here." Luke said. "I know she can't get the radios with her leg, but

"Did you not hear what she just said? She's been raped multiple times but multiple people. She's not doing shit. They didn't help her, so why should she help them." Molly huffed.

"We need to get out of here, Molly. Clem could be our ticket out of here." Luke argued.

"It's not happening. We'll find another way out. I'm not putting Clem through anymore hell, Luke. She stays with us..." Molly said.

"Look at her, Molly. She's in bad shape. She needs to be out there where Carlos can take care of her." Luke said.

"Yeah, she's in bad shape, and it's because she was out there. I'm not letting her get hurt again." Molly said. "She doesn't need Carlos. I'll take care of her. I always do."

Luke knew Molly was going to stay stubborn to the end. There was no convincing her.

"If we send her out there, she'll just end up getting hurt again." Molly said, keeping a protective grip on her girl. "That's not happening. Not as long as I can help it."

"Maybe she could let the others know we're here and then come back." Luke suggested.

"It's not happening, Luke!" Molly snapped. "I'm not sending her back out there. She's been hurt enough."

Luke sighed. Molly was right. Clementine had already been through hell. "Alright... you win. She stays with us. We just wait for someone else to flag down."

Molly didn't respond. She just held her girl close.

Luke couldn't blame her for not wanting Clementine to go back out there. He didn't want to either, but he was being desperate. He just hoped they could flag down one of their group members soon.