Clementine looked at the courtyard ahead, where the reconstruction of the place was already starting to take place, and some of the people were already discussing how they were going to do something like "rebuild a school".
As far as she knew, no one there was anything like an engineer.
She smiled slightly, remembering visiting her father sometimes, whenever he went out to work. Maybe he could help rebuild if he wasn't already dead.
The girl sighed, that school was a place that made her feel like she never felt before in any other place she had ever been. She couldn't remember what it felt like to have a home anymore, but what she felt could compare to that, no?
She never thought she would have a home again, especially after passing through so many ruins of communities, or small groups that appeared along the way.
And she even felt excited at the thought of no longer having to look over her shoulder all the time, afraid that something or someone is going to sneak up behind her. There, she didn't have to act like she was outside those walls.
And who knows, maybe she would even stop killing other people, live a quiet life, without having to get into trouble.
She knew that sooner or later, trouble would knock at her doors, or in this case, at her gates. But, she had a place to return to, to protect, and with people she really cares about, and cares about her.
It was worth it.
- May I ask why the young lady is not in bed?
Louis' voice caught Clementine's attention, and she snapped out of her thoughts.
She looked at the boy with a puzzled look on her face, rolling her eyes slightly.
- I've been lying on that bed doing nothing for days, I'm going to go crazy if I stay there.
Her wounds were already better, although they still hurt, especially in her abdomen. But compared to a week ago, she was much better.
- It's for your own good. You don't want these injuries to take any longer to heal, do you?
Violet asked, standing beside Louis and crossing her arms, arching a suggestive eyebrow at Clementine, who sighed.
- Oh, come on. I'm used to injuries like this. And you're not my parents.
She said, leaning on the small wall in the front hallway of the dormitory entrance, looking at AJ, who was running with Aasim's diary in hand.
- So stubborn, but I can't say no to a pretty little face like that.
Louis said, crossing his arms beside her, also looking at AJ, who threw Aasim's diary to Mitch, who began to read aloud.
- You better not say no to me, or I'll beat the crap out of you.
Clementine said, smiling slightly at Louis's frightened expression.
- Do you only solve everything with violence? You sound like Violet.
He said, pointing at the girl as she punched him weakly on the shoulder.
- See? Ouch.
he said, and Violet punched him a little harder.
- And that's why I like her so much, she understands that you can't talk to certain people.
The girl said, ignoring Louis' gaze.
- So, are you going to tell me why you woke up scared a few days ago? In my room? Right after that "party"?
Clementine asked, crossing her arms and looking with an arched eyebrow at the two, who were a little surprised by the sudden question.
- Well... in my case, I dreamed about the people I killed. Several of them.
Louis said, putting his hand on the back of his head and looking at the ground, eyes distant and unfocused.
- Same thing. I felt horrible for days... I'm better now, but... it's a fucked up feeling.
Violet said, also looking at the floor.
Clementine stared at them for a moment, then turned around.
- Hm... I think I can understand. This feeling will never go away, you'll just get used to it.
She said, leaning back against the wall.
- How did it feel the first time you killed?
Violet asked, looking at Clementine curiously.
- Oh... I was shaky... but at the moment, I didn't even care. I guess I was so angry with the people who kidnapped me, that taking that man's life was the same as nothing. It was only some time after I left that the weight of that life fell on me.
She said, looking up to the sky with a distant gaze, a little disgusted as she remembered what she had been through in that place.
- I don't know how you can live with it... or how AJ can. It is so bad that it makes me think that I don't want to do this ever again. Even though I know I might have to.
Louis said, looking at his own hand, remembering the feeling of holding a rifle and shooting at other people.
At first it didn't even seem that hard, it was only after seeing them dead on the ground, that he really felt bad.
-... So, what are we going to do about people? AJ can get kind of lonely, you know. No new people to meet, other friends... maybe a girlfriend when he's older... or a boyfriend.
Louis said, changing the subject and coming back with his typical slouchy look and playful expression.
- AJ is still too young for girlfriends... or boyfriends, don't corrupt him, Louis.
Clementine said, narrowing her eyes at Louis, who hissed and shook his head, as if that warning wasn't meant for him.
- But I agree with him, even though it's a good idea for it to be just us here forever, occasionally we might run into someone out there.
Violet said, sitting down on the small wall and propping her back on a beam.
- We'll deal with those people when the time comes.
Clementine replied, alternating her gaze between Violet and Louis, slightly suspicious.
- And Mitch, poor Mitch, always lonely, there aren't many girls here, and I doubt he likes men, he's a poor fellow.
Louis said again, and Clementine sighed.
- Okay, this is getting ridiculous. What is it with you two and this talk of girlfriends... and boyfriends?
Clementine asked, it had been going on for a while, and every day, it seemed, the two of them were making the topic even clearer.
- She is so smart for so many things, but so naive for others.
Louis said with a sigh, looking at Violet, who, incredibly, agreed with him.
- Clem, you said that maybe you would think about romance when this thing with Delta is over. Well, it's over, and you haven't even considered thinking about it some more?
Violet asked, and Clementine sighed slightly. She already knew where they were going with this, it was rather obvious.
Only a blind person would miss it.
- Honestly, no. As I said before, I never needed to think about it. I never had a reason to think about it, and even though I feel lonely sometimes, I have AJ to keep me company, which helps me a little.
She answered, crossing her arms and looking at AJ, arching an eyebrow when she saw a knife she had not seen before, right at the boy's waist.
It was not one of the knives they had taken from the Delta members, the center of the blade was black and all around it was silver, serrated. Unlike the other combat knives they had taken.
-I feel like I've been dumped, without even saying anything.
Louis said, and Clementine looked at him, puzzled.
- Like you said yourself, Clem, it only helps you a little. And AJ can't stay under your wing forever.
Violet said, getting up and walking to the main building.
Clementine looked at Louis, who looked back at her, a little nervously.
- I... I'll drown my sorrows at the piano, if anything, you know where to find me.
He said, also walking towards the main building.
Clementine sighed tiredly and put one of her hands on her head. There was always something to give her a headache, she just didn't expect feelings to be the cause of this time.
Feelings were confusing, complex, hard to understand, and it wasn't as if she didn't trust Violet and Louis, she just didn't see a reason to get involved in a love relationship.
Maybe it was because her concerns only centered around AJ, and she sort of didn't feel that need.
Or maybe it was because she was simply afraid to get into a relationship. Fear of being hurt, or of hurting the other person with her twisted personality. Her traumas.
Maybe a little of both.
(...)
- Scott.
AJ tried again, and the man looked at him with an arched eyebrow.
- Do I look like Scott?
The man asked, pulling a fish from one of his traps and throwing it into the bucket.
AJ stood beside him, helping him. This had been his routine all those days that week.
He always woke up early, left school and went to the man, where he spent some time, and then returned with a small amount of fish.
The perfect excuse.
- Hm... I don't know what you are like... Carl?
He asked with a confused eyebrow, and the man chuckled slightly at the boy's expression as he tried to guess his name.
- No. Remember the hint, my name has an "E" in the middle.
The man said, getting up and taking the bucket of fish to his small camp, washing his hands soon after and biting into a piece of an apple.
- Ezekiel?
AJ tried again, and the man smiled as he shook his head slightly.
- That's a good name, but no.
He said, tossing an apple to AJ, who caught it in the air and took a generous bite.
The man took the knife that was beside him and handed it to AJ.
- Do what I taught you. Skin this rabbit. You can take it if you want, nature always gives me more food.
He said, and the boy looked at the dead rabbit at his feet.
It had been a few days since the man had taught him how to skin animals, and something he always repeated was to use every part of the animal he had hunted.
First, because if he didn't use it, it would just be waste, and they couldn't have that luxury.
Second, it would be a huge disrespect to the animal. Unlike human beings, the meat of a rabbit, or whatever, will help him survive, the animal's life will serve for him to continue living, so he should respect everything he hunts, no matter how small.
AJ found it a bit disgusting at first, seeing the animal's body without skin, just the meat and muscles. But after a while he got used to it.
The boy just found it strange that the man had taught him that so early, he had not yet guessed his name.
Well, he was the one who wouldn't complain.
AJ crouched down and began to cut the rabbit's skin, repeating the same movements the man had shown him.
And finally, he managed to remove the skin.
He had made a few mistakes here and there, but as the man himself said, he would get better with experience. You had to make mistakes to learn.
- Good job, for a beginner. I think now that I can continue my journey.
The man said, and the boy looked at him surprised and slightly sad.
He liked the man he didn't even know the name of yet. He was mysterious, but a good person.
And after a few days of being close to him, he had grown accustomed to his presence, to the point where he could even feel comfortable.
He had an air of wisdom around him, as well as many things that he knew, and that AJ would like to learn.
He was fun, despite all the mystery.
- But so soon?
The boy asked, handing the knife back to the man.
- I've been around long enough. And with each passing day, I run a greater risk of being found by one of your community members. As I said, I don't want any trouble.
The man said, finishing eating his apple and throwing the rest into the forest. The forest would take care of the rest.
- Where will you go?
He asked, picking up the rabbit and putting it on his back, the others would find it very nice that he had hunted alone for the first time.
Even though he was not the one who did it.
- I... I don't know. Somewhere.
He said, and AJ bowed his head slightly, he would like to ask him to stay in the community with him, but he didn't know how the others would react.
He had overheard Mitch talking to Aasim, saying about how they couldn't trust adults... or something like that.
Plus they might consider him a threat, and just like he did with Marlon, shoot him.
- When are you going?
AJ asked.
- Tomorrow morning, I'll just pack my things, get some more food, and be back on the road.
He said, smiling slightly at the boy, who had a rather downcast expression.
- Can I come before you go? You know, to say goodbye.
AJ asked, and the smile on the man's face widened. He seemed a little happy about it, excited.
- Sure you can. You know what, when you come, I'll tell you my name.
The man said, and AJ smiled slightly at him, nodding.
The boy turned and picked up his bucket with some fish in it, along with his spear as he tried to balance the rabbit on his shoulder.
He turned to the man once more, and nodded, before walking back to the school.
