Clementine was sitting on the couch in the living room of the cabin with a comic book in her hands, occasionally glancing at the picture of Luke and Nick that was on the table next to the old TV.
She sighed slightly, she hadn't even noticed that picture there when she had entered the cabin earlier, and she mentally scolded herself for it, for a small oversight, Carver had only confirmed his suspicions, and now she was an "accomplice" to something even she didn't know.
Her golden eyes went to the stairs, remembering how hysterical Sarah had been when Carver had left the cabin, since then she had stayed upstairs.
Which was good for Clementine, she was in no mood to babysit an older girl.
The sound of the door opening caught the girl's attention. She put the comic book on the sofa and stood up, walking lazily toward the kitchen.
Her golden eyes focused on Pete, who was lying on a makeshift stretcher in the corner of the kitchen, a few feet from the table.
The old man had a weak and tired expression on his face, but his eyes were still open.
Clementine - I told you that maybe you weren't going to die.
She said, sitting down in a chair and looking at Pete. The older man sent a small smile in the girl's direction, as if to say thank you.
Pete- I owe you one. Carlos said that I would be a walker by now if I was still infected.
He said weakly, resting his head on the pillow Nick handed him, sighing slowly, relieved to see the roof of the cabin once more.
Nick approached Clementine, placing his hand gently on Clementine's shoulder, who looked at him in confusion.
Nick-thank you, Carley... I really appreciate it.
He said sincerely, really appreciatively, and Clementine felt a little bad for telling them a fake name as she looked at the sincerity in Nick's eyes.
Clementine- ... It was nothing.
She said simply, averting her eyes from Nick's.
Luke- No, it was. Pete wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. We thank you, Carley.
He approached her, with a sympathetic and grateful smile on his face.
Clementine- You helped me, so we're even. And my name isn't Carley... Clementine.
She said a little embarrassed; she was not used to receiving so many thanks, much less sincere looks like that.
Nick and Luke had a strange look on their faces and looked at each other, but soon they smiled and looked at Clementine again.
Luke- Okay, nice to meet you again Clementine.
Rebecca shook her head and walked out of the kitchen with an annoyed expression, being followed by Alvin soon after, making Clementine roll her eyes inside.
"Nothing I do seems good enough for you? Fucking hell"-She thought.
Clementine- Is he going to be okay?
She looked at Carlos, who finished checking Pete's leg and stood up.
Carlos- He's lost a lot of blood, but with rest and a enough food, he'll be as good as new.
The doctor walked to the sink and washed his hands, still under Clementine's gaze.
Clementine- Is he well enough to travel?
Carlos looked at her, confused by the question.
Charles- Not recommended, it would be too difficult for him and would delay his recovery, and too risky, why?
He walked over to her.
Clementine- Well, anyway, it's not my decision, Carver came here.
She said, and shock took over the faces of the men, who were incredulous and quite frightened.
Nick: What?!
Carlos- Where's Sarah?!
Clementine- She's upstairs, she's been there since he left. He came here shortly after you left.
She explained, getting up from her chair, briefly noting the hesitant look on Carlos' face, who seemed to want to go upstairs to his daughter, but decided to stay there.
Luke - How do you know it was him? Did he say his name?
Clementine - No, but he described you perfectly, said he was looking for his "lost group", and he saw a picture of you and Nick in the living room.
Luke put his hands behind his head and turned his gaze to the floor, muttering a low "oh fuck" as he took a few steps back.
Clementine- Look, it's pretty obvious that you guys are scared of him, so can you explain to me why he's after you? Did you kill some of his men or something?
She crossed her arms, watching Carlos sigh and leave the kitchen, then focused her eyes on Nick and Luke, who still seemed to be having trouble digesting the situation.
Nick- Look, Clem, William Carver is a dangerous, inhuman, cruel man, he is a violent manipulator who doesn't care about anyone but himself. We didn't agree with what he was doing, and now he's after us to send us back. Damn, we ran away from him for so long...
He explained quickly, walking with quick steps towards the living room.
"great, just amazing" - She thought wryly, rolling her eyes internally.
Luke- Look Clem, I'm sorry I got you involved in this, we just wanted to help you take care of your injuries, and then you would be free to leave if you wanted to. But, now that he has seen you, you will be safer with us.
He said quickly, walking nervously toward the living room.
Clementine stared at the door for a few moments, sighing heavily and shaking her head, on one hand it was good, she had nowhere to go anyway, and trying to look for Duck in an unknown place was like looking for a needle in a haystack, it would just be an unnecessary risk, but on the other hand, she also didn't feel very safe having a sick psycho chasing her for something she didn't do.
"Why does everything have to be so complicated?" - She thought half irritated, sitting back in her chair once more and looking at Pete, who seemed oblivious to the previous conversation, focused only on watching the ceiling.
Pete-... How did you know it would work?
He asked after some time in silence, catching the girl's attention.
Clementine- I didn't know, I just thought I had to try.
He looked at her, fixing his eyes on her with an odd glint.
Pete- Why?
Clementine- Because it's stupid to accept death without trying to do something before it. You decided to try, and tricked death, better than simply giving up, where, by now, you would be dead.
He stared at her for a few moments, until he looked up at the ceiling again.
Pete-I have to say, you don't seem the type to value a life.
This time Clementine looked at him in surprise.
Clementine- Why do you say that?
Pete- I've known a lot of people like you in my life, you could say I know the difference. And when you said you had killed before, it only confirmed my suspicions.
Clementine continued to stare at him, not understanding how someone could tell a person apart like that, but curious.
Clementine - Well, what can I say? I killed to survive, after a while, I kind of got used to it, I realized that it doesn't take much to take a man's life...
She said, looking at the ground with a neutral expression.
"Well, sometimes, it takes a lot more than three bullets in the body to take someone down..." - She thought, remembering when Lee was shot, where she thought he had died, only to show up in a walker infested building a few days later.
Pete looked at her again, looking a little sad.
Pete-... The world has become worse than I thought, forcing little girls to kill to survive. I don't know if I want to be part of a world like that.
The girl looked at him, neutral.
Clementine- So you are saying that the efforts of the people around you have been in vain? That even after they've shown they care about you, you still want to die?
Pete-...I didn't say that, it's just...hell, I've never killed anyone, nor do I know if I have the courage to do something like that. But I know Nick has, he had to do it to stay alive, I just can't see it as "normal".
Clementine - Well, you better get used to it soon, it's how the world has become. But if you don't change your mind, and decide that you no longer want to be a part of their lives, you can tell me, I'll put a bullet in your head.
Pete looked at her, no longer surprised by the girl's neutral tone, or her unchanged face, it seemed that he was searching her golden eyes for some remnant of the innocence, of the childishness that had once inhabited her gaze.
But that, unfortunately, was no longer there, all that remained was a cold, opaque gold.
Pete-... Of course I want to be part of their lives, it's the only reason I still want to live.
He looks away again.
Pete- And you, what is your reason for not giving up?
The girl looked surprised for a moment, and then took on a thoughtful face.
Clementine-... A friend of mine, I think, we got separated when we were attacked. Other than that, I think the memory of a person who left me a long time ago. The man who took care of me, he didn't give up on me until... until the end.
She said vaguely, not wanting to open up to Pete, but being kind enough to say something about her past.
Pete- He wasn't your father, was he?
Clementine- No, but when he found me, he decided to take care of me as if I were his. Not everyone would do the same thing, least of all in a world like this.
Pete- Oh, to take care of another man's daughter as if she were his own, I guarantee you that not many men are "fathers" enough to do that. Hell, not even fathers themselves decide to take care of their children. I can sympathize with this man, since I also took care of Nick as if he were my own.
Clementine rose from her chair, walking toward the living room and leaving Pete to rest, however, she turned around once more, and Pete was surprised by the girl's face.
She was sending him a warm smile, a smile that she had long thought had died.
She could sympathize with that.
