Walking toward the RV, Lee looks back once more before getting into the vehicle, running his eyes over the small camp they have made on the side of the road.
Satisfied with the small dinner they had. It wasn't much, but it was enough to call it a meal, at least on days like those.
Looking at his companions, he sighs slightly. It had been days since they had been on the road, and so far, they had found no place that was safe enough to stay for more than a day.
Living like that hadn't been easy, but Lee liked to think that there were worse fates out there.
Focusing his eyes on Ed for a few moments, Lee huffed, shaking his head slightly.
The man hadn't been a problem so far. And, surprisingly to some, he had been quite cooperative even.
Well, followed the orders they were given without complaining, at least.
But Lee knew how Ed felt, and suspected that he was up to something.
It was almost certain that this was the case.
Like it or not, Lee would have to start thinking of a way to get rid of Ed. He recognizes a hopeless case when he sees one, even though he doesn't erase the futile hope that there is still something that can be done.
That was his flaw... one he should fix soon.
Entering the vehicle, Lee focused his eyes on Clementine, who was sitting in the back of the RV, hugging her own knees and with a distant expression on her face. Her hat on the table.
She had stayed that way ever since they left that motel. At first, he thought it was because two people in the group had died, and they had lost everything.
After a while he even considered that it was the fact that she had seen him punch her father, but he dismissed the idea.
The girl was strong, she would have gotten out of it by now if that was the case, there was something more to it.
Considering how quickly the girl had recovered in past events, as well as the mature and rational mentality she had demonstrated in several situations, Lee would deduce that there was something in specific that made her stay that way.
Not something that was left in the past, but something that lingered in the present.
Maybe it was the situation Ed was in, where she had to see every day her father being treated with indifference and only being ordered to do the tasks imposed on him.
Sighing softly, he walked towards the girl, and sat down beside her, who didn't even seem to notice him. She was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't notice when Lee waved his hand in front of her eyes.
- Hey, sweet pea.
He called out, and the girl looked up at him in surprise, being taken out of her thoughts.
The girl ran her eyes around the RV, looking a little uneasy for a moment, but then relaxed when she saw that there was nothing there.
Or anyone but Lee.
She didn't say anything, though, just looked at him for a few moments, and then went back to staring at some random point in the place.
- Clem, it's rather obvious that something is bothering you... you know you can talk to me.
He said, placing his hand gently on her back, feeling her tremble slightly, but it didn't seem to be from fear, or aversion to his touch.
Hesitation... anxiety, perhaps?
- Are you like this because I hit your father?
Lee asked, even though it was unlikely that this was the reason for the girl's strangeness, and she looked at him a little surprised.
-... No, it wasn't about that... I'm not angry with you...
She said after a while, slowly, seeming to think of something different every second.
- Then what is it? You know, your mother has been very worried about you... if it's a secret, I won't tell her, I'll make up some excuse, she'll believe me... but both she and I only want what's best for you.
Lee said, and the girl stared at him.
A different gleam in her beautiful golden eyes, a somewhat piercing intensity that seemed to explore deep into Lee's eyes.
A strangely complex look for a little eight-year-old girl.
After a while of staring at him, the girl lowered her gaze, and seemed a little more hesitant, but determined to say something.
-... If... if one person in our group kills another, for no reason, what would you do?
She asked, and Lee arched an eyebrow, confused by the girl's sudden question, and trying to find some connection that this had with her strangeness.
-... I would kick that person out.
he said, and the girl looked him in the eye again.
- You wouldn't kill him?
- I would only think of killing if I thought this person was dangerous to the rest of us. If the person tried to kill me, for example, I would just throw him or her out, but if that person tried to kill you, or Duck... that's a different story.
He said, following the girl's timid movements with his eyes.
She flexed her eyebrows upward a little, somewhat thoughtfully.
He could tell she wanted to say something, but didn't know if she should. Afraid that it would affect someone there, maybe...
Hmm...
Considering the sudden question, and the past events, maybe, just maybe, someone in the group killed someone else?
Who? A stranger, perhaps?
But he would know about something like that...
And the only people the girl saw die were those bandits, Larry, and Lilly...
Did the question have any involvement with that?
Larry was shot by one of the bandits, he was sure of that, and as far as he knew, so was Lilly...
Maybe she saw Ed stab that guy multiple times?
But it wouldn't make sense, she herself said "no reason", in that case, Ed had a reason to kill.
And it wouldn't make sense that she would be remembering the St John's now, because despite the horrible method Ed used, he also had a motive to kill that day.
Hm... the most likely option is that it would have to do with the attack at the motel, but nothing seemed to catch his attention... apart from Ed's unstable actions, he hadn't seen anything he hadn't already expected.
- At the motel...when we were all going to the RV...I saw Dad leave.
She said, and Lee stared at her.
- No one saw...the others were worried about other things...he stayed behind one of the wooden beams.
She said, looking out the window for a moment.
- He saw you take Larry inside...and I saw when he pointed the gun at your back.
She said, and Lee arched his eyebrows in surprise.
Did he try to kill him?
What?
Why?
What was he thinking?
If he wanted to kill him, why didn't he pull the trigger? Brave enough to point a gun but too cowardly to shoot it when there were so many people around?
- But he turned the gun to the side, and I saw... it wasn't a bandit who shot Lilly, it was him.
She said, and Lee's eyes widened in disbelief.
He killed Lilly?!
What did the woman do to him?!
As far as he knew, Lilly never even argued with him!
Why?!
Lee lowered his head slowly, staring at the ground.
So those shots he heard closest, the only shots he decided to ignore because he was worried about Larry, were that?
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist tightly, propping his elbows on his legs.
-... I'm sorry...
The girl said, and he turned to her, confused by her sudden apology, and arched an eyebrow at her tearful expression.
- For what, sweetie?
- I... I wanted to say, but... I was afraid you were going to kill him... I know he's turned into a bad man, but, I didn't want him to die... I know... he deserves it, but... I didn't want to.
She said through sobs, drying the excess tears that streamed down her face.
Lee sighed and pulled the girl gently toward him, hugging her warmly, letting her cry softly into his chest.
- It wasn't your fault, Clem. You don't have to apologize.
he said, patting her gently on the back.
- Why did he do that?
She asked in a muffled voice, and Lee closed his eyes, sighing wearily.
He himself was searching for some answer.
Did he do something to make the man resent him? Did anyone in that group do anything to make him look that way?
No. No one did anything bad to him.
Then why?
... Oh, of course, he knew why.
It didn't take much for weak-minded people to go crazy. He always had a weak mind, or did something to destabilize it.
Everyone there did horrible things, what did he do that was so special that he got that way?
- Are you... are you gonna kill him?
The girl asked, raising her head and looking at him.
Lee stared into the girl's red eyes, running his finger gently down her cheeks, wiping away the tears that insisted on running down.
-... No... but he can't stay with us.
He said, and the girl sobbed slightly, resting her head on Lee's chest.
-... I just don't want him to die... he can still be a good person, Lee.
She said, and Lee looked out the window.
Honestly, he doubted it, but he wouldn't tell the girl.
- I know he can, Clem...but after what he did, he can be a good man to other people, because to us, he wasn't.
He said, closing his eyes as he felt the girl squeeze him tighter.
They stayed like that for some time, with Lee gently stroking the girl's back until she fell asleep, tired from crying so much.
Sighing ruefully, Lee cautiously holds the girl's body and slowly gets up, laying her down on the small couch without waking her up.
He looks at the girl's peaceful expression as she sleeps. Shaking his head, he exits the vehicle and walks over to Kenny, glancing at the others who were sleeping in separate corners while Ben took first watch.
Kenny was sitting on the ground, staring into the flames of the campfire, slightly ahead of Katjaa and Duck, who were sleeping in a sleeping bag just behind him.
- Hey, Kenny.
He greeted his friend, crouching down beside him and making sure that Ed, or anyone else, heard his conversation.
- Hey, pal. What's up?
He asked, quirking an eyebrow at Lee's rather stiff expression.
- Ed killed Lilly.
He said, and Kenny's eyes widened, alternating his gaze between Lee, and Ed, who was lying further ahead.
- The fuck?! What...?!
- Clementine saw him do it. That's why she's been acting strange these last few days. She just told me.
Lee said, and Kenny shook his head, running his hand through his hair.
- Holy shit, Lee...this son of a bitch has been lying to all of us this whole time, again! He could have killed someone else here! What are we going to do?!
Kenny asked, looking with some irritation at Ed.
- Everyone's asleep, they're exhausted, let them rest. In the morning, I'll tie Ed up and tell the others, either we kill him, or abandon him on the road.
Lee said, and Kenny sighed.
- All right, man. Oh, fuck! I can't believe I let this motherfucker this close to Duck!
Kenny grumbled, staring at Ed, who rolled over in his sleep.
Lee stood up and walked to the side, propping his back against a tree and staring into the flames from afar.