- Kenny, are you okay?

Clementine asked, reaching over to the metal door and looking inside the cell he was in, taking a quick glance at Carley who was lying on one of the beds there.

Kenny looked surprised, happy, and even a little gloomy, as if he wasn't very happy to see her there.

- Clem, I knew you were coming... I know you well enough to know you would...

He said with a sigh, in an intonation not quite as happy as Clementine imagined, but she could imagine that being forced to work by a bunch of lunatics could mess with anyone's psyche.

- Where is Duck?

He asked in a worried tone, running his eyes behind Clementine, focusing them for a moment on Mari, who was looking slightly curious.

- I... I'll be honest with you Kenny, I don't know exactly where Duck is... they took him too.

Clementine replied with her grief, watching Kenny's expression become a little more distressed.

He sighed worriedly, running his hand through his hair at the thought of his son being in danger.

After a while, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.

- Those sons of bitches got Aj, Clem. I don't know where they took him, but a woman, Joan I think, took Aj and told the guards to take him with the others.

Kenny said with an angry tone, shaking his head as he looked down slightly.

- Do you know where? Any idea who this woman was?

Clementine asked, turning and crouching down beside the body of the guard she had just killed, looking for the keys in his pockets.

- I have no idea, when I asked, she just said it was to a safe place. And this Joan seems to be one of the people who runs this place, the guards obeyed her orders.

He explained as he left the cell, looking at Mari curiously.

- Hah, you decided to adopt a girl now? What's your name, honey?

Kenny asked, bending down slightly and resting his hands on his knees. Mariana looked at Clementine with an arched eyebrow, but then turned her gaze back to Kenny.

- Mariana. Nice to meet you.

She said gently, causing Kenny to crack a small smile.

- A polite little girl. I'm Kenny.

He introduced himself, straightening his posture and looking again at Clementine.

- Where did you find her?

Kenny asked as he walked towards the door of the building, opening it slightly and looking at the deserted street ahead.

- Long story. Carley, let's go.

Clementine called out to the woman, taking a few steps into the cell where the two adults had been kept.

She arched an eyebrow at the woman, confused that she hadn't shown any reaction.

- She's been like this since we arrived, practically. She said that life had taken everything away from her, even the little bit of fun she had, which in this case was Luke.

Kenny said, looking at Clementine for a few moments before turning back to look at the street.

- Clementine, you know very well that I am no longer the kind of man who abandons others. I haven't been for a long time. But Carley doesn't want to live anymore, Clem. She is in a state where she would accept death at any moment.

Kenny closed the door and turned to Clementine, who still stared at the woman lying on the bed.

- It's just like Jane's sister. Remember when she told us about that? About how she dragged her sister against her will? Unfortunately, Carley is gone.

He said ruefully, and Clementine sighed angrily.

Not at Kenny's words, but because she knew he was speaking the truth. She couldn't force anyone to walk, or to do something they didn't want to do.

Carley had just given up, and that's what made her angry.

She took a deep breath and turned to Kenny, walking towards him soon after.

- There are some other people who came with me, Kenny. They helped me get here, they were also caught. We have to find them. Plus we need more information to find Duck and Aj.

She said, looking at Kenny, who nodded to her.

Clementine opened the door and looked around, leaving the building soon after checking that it was safe enough to stay on the street.

They walked stealthily through the darkness of the night, avoiding all the guards they met along the way. And everything was going well.

At one point, they walked into an alley, thinking that there was no one around.

However, they ended up bumping into some guards resting and chatting softly in the darkness of the place, lit only by a weak candle, as if they shouldn't be there at that moment.

The guards looked at them for a few moments, until finally they realized that they were prisoners and strangers.

Clementine cursed mentally as she saw one of the men pick up the rifle that was beside him. Kenny grabbed a trash can that was beside him and threw it at the guard, seizing the moment, he grabbed the nearest man and threw him over the others, buying enough time for them to run from there, with the guards running after them later.

Clementine was further ahead, leading the way while Kenny ran further back, close to Mariana, to make sure the girl could keep up.

As they turned the corner, Clementine shouted again when she saw two more guards walking towards her, who as soon as they saw her, started running in her direction.

She looked around and saw that they were about to be surrounded. With no other option, she climbed the few steps that led to the door of one of the buildings ahead and tried to open it, but with no luck.

Kenny looked at Clementine and thought about helping, but one of the guards had come too close.

He turned and took advantage of the fact that they were just trying to catch them, punched one of the guards in the face, grabbed the pistol he had in his pocket and pointed it at his head, taking him hostage.

- Clem, we don't have all the time in the world!

Kenny said, taking short strides towards Clementine while still aiming the pistol at the guard's head, making sure that he was right in front of the guards' line of fire in case any of them tried to shoot.

The door opened and Kenny kicked the guard forward, running toward the door.

His eyes widened when he heard Mariana's small scream. As he looked to the side, he saw one of the guards coming up ahead grab the girl by the arms and hold her firmly.

He pointed his pistol towards the guard, putting his finger on the trigger and preparing to kill him. But Clementine stopped him, putting her hand on his arm and forcing him down.

- We have to go! The noise will only make things worse!

She said, pointing behind Kenny, who cursed softly as he saw more guards coming.

He looked at Mariana ruefully, but turned and walked into the building, closing the door and putting a closet that was beside it right in front of him.

- We have to find a way out of here, they're going to surround this building pretty fast!

Kenny said, looking at the fire escape next door.

The sound of something falling, followed by a softly cursing voice, startled both Kenny and Clementine, who turned and pointed their guns in the direction of the noise.

- Whoa, don't shoot!

The man who was hiding behind the counter ahead said, raising his hands and coming out of his hiding place slowly.

- Javi?

Clementine called out, and Kenny looked at her confused, lowering his gun as soon as he saw the girl running towards him.

- Oh, thank goodness. Clem. For a while, I thought I was going to be captured.

Javi said relieved, straightening his posture and looking curiously at Kenny.

- How did you get here?

She asked, scanning the surrounding area again, looking for some way out of there.

- Long story. In short, I met some allies in here, who explained a little more of the situation to me. One of them was captured, the man I was talking to earlier. I managed to escape from the guards, and am heading to the remote location he told me about. Apparently no guards are looking there, since it is outside the walls.

He explained quickly, turning to the door when he heard the sound of something banging against it a few times

- We don't have much time, Clem!

Kenny exclaimed, running towards the fire escape.

- I see you brought company. Where's Mariana?

he asked, looking at Clementine for a moment before he began to look around.

- They got her before we got here.

She answered, looking with some embarrassment at Javi's incredulous and concerned gaze.

- I'm sorry...

She said with some regret, running towards the fire escape and through the door, following Kenny.

- Oh, shit...

Javi complained softly, running after Clementine.

(A few hours earlier - Javi...)

- Oh, thank God, Javi!

Kate exclaimed with relief, running over to him and hugging him tightly. Javi sighed with relief and returned the hug, slightly hesitant because he felt David's gaze glare at him from behind, but he didn't show it.

- I was so worried after we split up. I thought that you, or the kids, had been hit by the shooting.

She said, holding Javi's hands as she gave him a warm and relieved look, alternating her gaze a few times with Gabe, who was further away in the corner of the room.

- Well, I'm fine, Gabe is fine. But, Mariana's been hit.

He said, turning slightly and looking at David, who approached with a shocked expression, uncrossing his arms and looking firmly at Javi.

- What?! Where is she?!

Kate asked desperately, pulling Javi by the arm and making him look at her.

- She's fine. She's with a friend. But, David...your people shot her.

He calmed her, alternating his gaze between Kate and David, staring longer at his brother.

- What?No, Javi, MY group is not the type to shoot first and ask later. I hand-picked the people I wanted to be part of the supply run.

He explained, walking across the office and sitting down on the sofa in front of him, picking up a bottle of water from the desk and filling a glass cup beside it.

- He's telling the truth, Dad.

Gabe said, walking to the end of the couch and looking at David, who sighed.

- I'm telling you, Ava would never shoot anyone, not like this.

He insisted, drinking some water and putting the glass right next to the bottle again.

-Ava? Who's Ava?

Javi asked, sitting down on the couch opposite David, who looked at him slightly confused.

- She is the one who is part of my security and supply search team. Let's just say that she is the team leader. She would never shoot without a reason, Javi.

He explained, propping his elbows on his legs and leaning his body slightly forward.

- There was no Ava, David. Who ran that group wasn't a woman, it was a man named Max, and another guy, ah... Lonnie, I think.

Javi explained, looking at Kate who sat next to him.

- What, Max? But he's not part of... fucking Joan.

David grumbled angrily, running his hand through his hair in nervousness.

- Joan? The leader?

- Remember when I said we were still working out some loose ends? Yeah, I always knew that some guards went out to loot other communities, but I only found out a few names, because there are several groups that go out looking for supplies, and Joan keeps the names of all of them with her, it would be very strange if I started asking about groups other than mine... I suspected Lonnie might be one of them, but Max...

David said, sighing wearily and leaning his back against the couch.

- What? What are you guys talking about?

Kate asked, clearly confused by the conversation.

- The situation is rather complicated, Kate. I've explained some things to you, but there's still a lot you don't know. In short, many people in this community are good people who just want to live their lives, while others... well, these people are rather dangerous, and we have a plan to take them out.

David said in a short, fucking summary. Looking at Kate in a strange way.

- Look, Javi, Clint and Joan want to talk to both of us... apparently they have heard that you are my brother... not only that, but they are probably already aware that our family is here. And that worries me.

He said, getting up from the sofa and walking over to his desk, opening one of the drawers and taking out a pistol magazine, putting it in his pocket.

- We'll have to go see them. There is an apartment south of here, just follow the noise of the zombies and you will see a building with huge blood graffiti in front of it. It is just beyond the walls. There is a closet in front of a small hole in the wall, big enough for you to sneak through. If something goes wrong, go there, no guards patrol that building because it is outside the compound. Kate and Gabe will wait for us there.

David explained, looking at Gabe and Kate as soon as he had finished saying it, staring into their doubtful eyes.

- What? What are you going to do?

Kate asked worriedly, alternating her gaze to the two men.

Javi sighed, but nodded to his brother, understanding why he was so cautious.

- No dad, I want to go too!

Gabe said, causing all three adults to look at him strangely.

- No way, Gabe. You're staying with Kate.

Javi said, putting his hands on his waist.

- I didn't ask you anything, Javi.

Gabe replied angrily, causing both Javi and David to look at him in rebuke.

- Gabriel, more respect to your uncle!

David said in a serious tone, causing Gabe to stare at him wide-eyed for a few moments, but ignore him soon after.

- "Never be like your uncle," you kept telling me that. He's going with you, why shouldn't I?

Gabe said, and Javi crossed his arms as he looked at David with an arched eyebrow, not that he was offended, he was used to that kind of treatment coming from his brother. But, he didn't know he was saying those things to Gabe.

- Because it's going to be dangerous, Gabe. Our lives could be at risk, and you have to protect Kate.

David said, ignoring Javi's gaze and looking seriously at Gabe, who seemed not to hear a word his father had said.

- All the more reason for me to go along. I can help you if something bad happens!

The boy insisted, and David grumbled quietly as he sighed slightly annoyed at the boy's stubbornness.

- Did dad felt this way about me too?

He asked aloud, looking at Javi, who gave him a small smile and shook his head pleasantly.

- Gabe. This is not a discussion. You're going with Kate, and that' s it!

David said, looking harshly at Gabe, who grumbled and rolled his eyes in irritation.

- I bet Clementine would go with you.

He said, walking quickly out of the office.

Kate sighed at the boy's manner. She walked towards Javi and hugged him, giving him a small kiss on the cheek shortly after.

Then she walked over to David and did the same, although Javi could tell she didn't feel very comfortable doing that.

- Just be careful, both of you.

She said, watching David turn and walk to his desk again.

- Here. Just in case things get a little tense.

He said, handing a radio to Kate, who nodded at him.

She left the office shortly after, and David gave the radio to Javi, who put it in his pocket.

- So... who is Clementine?

he asked, walking out of the office and looking at Javi with an arched eyebrow.

- The friend who is with Mariana... she is a little young, but she can take care of herself very well.

Javi answered simply, looking around as they left the building, and started to follow David towards a church up ahead.