What do you think so far? Well, no need to comment, but I would appreciate it. Enjoy!
- How is Rebecca?
Luke asked, alternating his gaze between Carlos, who was crouched beside the woman, and Rebecca, who was still lying with her back propped against the wall, eating from a can of peaches.
- She'll be fine, but she's not in condition to travel yet. She's very weak, lost a lot of blood.
Carlos said, looking at Bonnie, who was gently swinging the baby in her arms.
- The food Clem brought is over. We still have water, at least, but... it won't last long.
Luke said, leaning on the wall and crossing his arms.
- There is nothing left in the museum. Nor in the surrounding buildings. We'll have to go further for food, and hunt.
Mike said, standing in the corner with his arms crossed.
- Hunting? Luke is out of ammo, Lee is out of ammo... Bonnie?
Nick asked, looking at the woman, who shook her head.
- Great... we have no bullets... where are Lee and Clem, by the way?
Luke asked, and almost immediately they both entered the small store, where Lee was holding a piece of wood with some nails through its base, and Clementine had a wooden bow in her hands, tied with vines.
- What about it?
The girl asked, one eyebrow arched as she ran her eyes over the people in doubt.
- Where did you guys go? And where did you get this?
Luke asked, alternating his gaze between the weapons in their hands.
- We left just before dawn. To get some materials for weapons... rustic, so to speak.
Lee said, leaning the piece of wood on his shoulder.
- We found a book some time ago that taught how to make a wooden bow and arrows. It's not the best thing in the world, but it's good for hunting rabbits, and it's also very light and quiet for zombies.
The girl said, holding the bow between her arm and the side of her torso.
- I suppose you didn't discuss a plan while we were both away, did you?
Lee asked.
- We were discussing it. Rebecca and the baby are the priority, food is over, and we have no weapons or ammo left.
Luke said, running his hand through his hair.
- Hm... there is a place that is close enough that maybe still has something.
Lee said, faking a thoughtful expression, and raising his head slightly.
- Where?
Luke asked.
- Carver's camp.
Lee said, and almost smiled as he saw the incredulous expressions on people's faces.
- What?! Are you planning on going back there?!
Nick asked, looking at Lee in disbelief, and standing next to Luke.
- Some of us can go over there, see what's left.
Lee said, lightly brandishing the piece of wood in his hands.
- After all that, do you really think there is anything left?
Carlos asked, standing up and looking at Lee with his arms crossed.
- Do you think there is something left somewhere in the area? It's worth checking. We don't have many options. Who knows, something might have survived the fire. You saw, the place was full of boxes and bags of food.
Lee said, running his eyes over the people there.
-... We don't have anywhere else to go... actually.
Mike said, scratching the back of his head.
- Not only food, but there might be some weapons left. Ammo, maybe... melee weapons for sure.
Lee said, propping the piece of wood on the wall beside him and crossing his arms.
-... I do think it's worth it... at least checking.
Jane said, with her hands on her waist right next to Luke.
-... What if someone has survived and is still out there?
Luke asked.
- Oh, some people definitely survived. And that's the risk. If Carver has survived, he's probably thinking that we'll try to get the supplies that survived the fire... and maybe, he'll send people there. But it's just a hypothesis.
Lee said.
Risks, their lives were all about risks. And he was used to it.
- And yet you still want to go there?
Luke asked, crossing his arms and looking at Lee with narrowed eyes.
- Do you have any other ideas?
Clementine asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
- Clementine and I will go. We'll look around, see if the place is steady enough, if it's possible to get in, and we'll try to get through the ruins as fast as we can.
Lee said, taking the piece of wood again.
- You're taking Clem with you?! Back to Carver's camp?!
Luke asked.
- Jesus, Luke, Clem and I have been together for years. I know her potential and that's exactly why I'm taking her with me. Not only that, but if we can't find anything, we can go hunting.
Lee said, slightly irritated by the way Luke was acting.
He had known the girl for literally a few days, he had no right to act like he was already close enough to her to think he could boss her around.
Or doubt his way of raising her.
- Another person should go with you.
Jane said.
- Luke can come. You can see for yourself what the girl is capable of. What do you think?
Lee said, looking at Luke with a certain disinterest.
He knew Clementine had told him to treat them a little more kindly, but he couldn't stand a grown man complaining all the time about his choices.
No way.
- So that you can kill him at the first opportunity?!
Nick asked, stepping forward and looking at Lee with a certain anger in his eyes.
Lee stared at him for a moment, and smiled cynically.
- Clem, do you want me to be nice to people like this?
he asked, looking at the girl for a moment.
- Nick, Lee is not Carver. He's not going to kill any of you.
Clementine said, and Nick looked at her for a moment.
- If I wanted to kill Luke, I would have done it already. In fact, if I wanted to kill anyone here, all of you would already be dead.
Lee said, stepping forward and looking deep into Nick's eyes.
- If I wanted to kill any of you, do you think I would have risked my life saving a girl I don't even know? Or helping you guys get out of that camp? Use your head, dumbass.
Lee said, in a dangerously cold tone, without taking his eyes off Nick, who was staring nervously at him.
- Okay, we get it... I'm coming with you.
Luke said, pulling Nick back slightly, and looking at Lee.
- It's still dangerous, even with three people. I should go too.
Mike said.
- No, you seem to be good at physical strength. If something, or someone, can get here, your strength will be needed. Jane should come, she is fast and discreet. Let's face it, you and I are not very stealthy.
Lee said, and Mike sighed in defeat.
- Okay.
Lee looked at Jane, who nodded at him and walked over to the undestroyed part of the deck.
- I think Clementine should stay.
Carlos said, and Lee looked at him curiously.
Not only because this was the first time the doctor had actually said anything to him, but also because of what he had said.
- Why?
- The forest is very dangerous, not to mention that the place you are going is the camp of a cruel dictator. She... she is just a little girl.
Carlos said, looking at Clementine with a certain sympathy.
- You should be thankful that we are on the same side.
Lee said, and Carlos looked at him confused.
- This 'little girl' can kill you in an instant if you underestimate her... and clearly you are underestimating her.
Lee said, looking at Clementine.
- Lee taught me to use this to my advantage. The bandits we used to run into used to underestimate me quite a bit.
She said, looking at Carlos with an arched eyebrow.
- Still... it's just an unnecessary risk... she should stay.
Carlos insisted, and Lee sighed.
He was trying to be nice... well, sort of.
- You can't boss me around. You're not my father, Carlos.
Clementine said, looking at him with narrowed eyes.
- And neither is Lee, as I understand it.
He answered, looking at her angrily for answering.
- He's good enough to be better than my father. What about you?
she asked, looking at the wound on Sarah's leg, a clear provocation, which Carlos fell for like a duckling.
- What you call "unnecessary risk", I call "bullshit". We have been doing this for years. Everything is risky nowadays. She will go, deal with it.
Lee said, looking wearily at Carlos, not wanting to let a small argument form there.
Why did he think he could boss her around?
Lee sighed and turned away, walking out of the small store.
Before he went, however, he glanced over his shoulder at Carlos.
- Far be it from me to tell you how to do your job. But, imagine yourself in my situation, alone with a child against the world of the dead, where the living are the most dangerous things... the way she is, she won't survive.
Lee said, and Carlos gave him an irritated look.
- Who do you think you are to tell me something like that?! I can take care of my daughter!
He said, almost shouted, to Lee, who shook his head and sighed.
This was the first, and last time he would try to help Carlos.
If the girl died, it would be his fault, and he would realize how wrong he was.
- If that's what you think. Whatever makes you sleep well at night.
Lee said, placing a hand gently on Clementine's back, and walking across the small part of the deck.
After they left the building, they both walked to Luke and Jane, who were talking about something further ahead.
- What took you so long?
Luke asked.
- I was trying to be friendly and give Carlos some advice. But, he gets defensive whenever something involves his daughter.
Lee said, walking past the two, who began to walk beside him.
- Yeah... Sarah is different, to say the least. He got that way after his wife died.
Luke said, and Lee and Clementine looked at each other.
He was right.
- I understand him wanting to protect her, I'm the same with Clementine on that, but... he's taking it too far.
Lee said, looking over his shoulder at the building behind.
- Sarah is very childish...you know she can't be like that out here, don't you?
Clementine said, looking at Luke with an arched eyebrow.
The young man sighed slightly and ran his hand through his hair.
- I know, but... like I said, she's different... she's not like you, Clem.
- She's not like me because Carlos has made her dependent on him. It will kill her.
Clementine said.
- How old is she? She looks young, but at the same time, a little older than Clem.
Jane asked.
- Fourteen...she'll be fifteen in a few months.
Luke said.
- Maybe she'll be fifteen.
- Whoa, come on, Clem.
- She's right. Carlos is not a superman. He won't be on her side forever, not to mention that he can't protect her from everything, it's humanly impossible.
Jane said, looking at Luke.
- Although essential, she doesn't need to learn how to fight, or deal with runners, or zombies... not now, for the fact that she is... different. But at least start with the basics of survival, anything to get her out from under Carlos' wing.
Lee said, looking around the forest. The runners had already gone quite far, maybe they will find some runners along the way.
- Build a fire, roast some animals. Learn to scavenge abandoned places, fishing, hunting...
Clementine quoted, putting a wooden arrow on the bowstring, and looking around.
It is a good weapon for killing zombies that have been decomposing for some time. On the other hand, a wooden bow and arrows were not very good for runners, especially since they move a lot.
- I know... I know she needs to grow up, but... Carlos... as Lee himself said, he gets defensive about anything that involves his daughter. And he doesn't seem to realize that his protection is a double-edged sword.
Luke said.
- You are closer to him. Try to talk to him. If it doesn't work out, you teach her in secret from him.
Lee said, and Luke looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
- Why are you worried about this? We're just strangers... and you don't seem like the type to care about other people.
Luke asked, and Lee stared at him.
- Man, I don't know how you see me, but I don't want to see a little girl die because of her father's stupidity. Not only is he putting her at risk, but the people around her as well.
Lee said, looking at Luke seriously.
- Sarah's thoughtless actions can cause problems...like they almost did back at the camp, where she interrupted Carver talking. And it's not exactly her fault, it's Carver's fault.
Clementine said.
- I may not look it, but it's not like I don't care about seeing someone die, I do. Every bandit, every survivor, every person I kill. And i don't want to see a little girl die too. But, my priority is Clementine, and it will always be her. That's why I must teach her, and protect her, from any and all risks. Carlos should think the same, and teach her, not treat her like a child.
Lee said.
Luke stared at him for a moment, and sighed, bowing his head in a mixture of weariness, and even a little shame for having misjudged him.
-... You know he's right.
Rebecca said, looking at Carlos, who sighed angrily.
- He has no right to tell me how to take care of my daughter.
He stubbornly looked at Sarah, who was lying on his lap.
- Of course he doesn't... but he's right. I heard that he and Clem split up because of a herd, right?
Mike asked, and Carlos looked at him with a mixture of seriousness and confusion.
- Yes.
- And the girl survived... in a forest infested with zombies and runners... do you think Sarah could survive a situation like that?
Mike asked, and although Charles had become a little angrier, he was thoughtful.
- We don't want to tell you how to take care of your daughter, Carlos, but... you can't keep treating her like this...
Rebecca said, swinging her kid lightly in her arms.
-... She is my little girl... She is all I have and I will protect her.
He said, still stubbornly, making Rebecca sigh slightly.
- Do you really think you can do it?
A rough and very characteristic male voice made itself present at the entrance of the small store.
Looking to the side, Carlos and Mike stood up suddenly when they saw Carver, with part of his face bandaged, looking at them with a very unfriendly expression.
- You thought I was dead, huh? I saw you go into the forest, I saw which way you went, and what was at the end of it... well, surprise.
Carver said, taking the revolver from the holster at his waist, and shooting Rebecca in the head.