AN: Hey guys I'm back. Sorry for the wait, my prom and graduation are coming up so I was busy. I'm also going to have to prepare for finals to but you can expect frequent updates during the summer. This chapter isn't going to have a viewer response I want to answer everything at once and clarify a few things. First thing, the tweak won't do anything to the walkers directly. The walkers from twdg that we all know and love(?) will stay the same. Second thing I know how the virus works so I don't need 10 people PM-ing me about it lol. Third thing, don't worry about some resident evil crap happening. What happens in RE stays in RE. Fourth thing, I am a fan of the "New game plus" and "Ripples in a pond" idea so expect events to happen differently. I wanna keep Clementine on her toes.
I know all of you wanna know what the tweak is since it doesn't effect the walkers directly but unfortunately I can't because I ran out of room on this chapter. For now, I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with the effects of a walker bite on a person. I might make another AN chapter explaining.
-Line break-
Clementine and Sandra sat in compete silence as the hours went by. Clementine watched Sandra occasionally steal glances at the door, like she was expecting something to come banging on it again.
Clementine wasn't worried at all.
She knew that they wouldn't have any trouble tonight because of all the racket outside. The people scrambling about, guns being shot wildly, and the sound of a car crashing for the third time tonight.
She would have called them stupid but they didn't know anything about what was going on. They were dealt a bad hand in this and it was unlikely that they would survive. It wasn't like she could do anything to help. The odd thing was is that she didn't feel anything at all. She knew that what was happening was sad but it didn't faze her. She supposed that it wasn't so odd because at first she wasn't against letting Sandra die.
Clementine looked at the glass sliding door and thought about how she was going to retrieve the gun. She could go out when Sandra fell asleep. She knew that the walkers couldn't get into the backyard be cause of the fence and it was unlikely that she would be spotted because of the dark and her small size.
She looked at Sandra again and saw the fatigue creeping on to her features and knew she wouldn't have to wait much longer. Clementine remembered what they might have to deal with tomorrow and decided against letting Sandra knockout. It wouldn't be beneficial to have her exhausted during then.
"Sandra." Clementine called out.
Sandra's eyes shifted to the girl.
"I think you should lie down." Clementine said.
Sandra shook her head and said,"I can't do that, what if one of those...monsters got in?"
"They won't." Clementine said firmly.
"Why do you think that Clem?"
Clementine pretended to think for a moment before she spoke again.
"I believe that whatever these things are, they are mostly attracted to sound. With all that noise outside, there is no way that they would come for us."
"I hope you're right..." She leaned back on the couch and said,"Okay I'll rest Clementine but if you feel like something's wrong, tell me."
Clementine nodded.
With that Sandra's mind slowly drifted into a state of unconsciousness.
Clementine sat quietly for a few minutes, making sure Sandra was asleep before she got off the couch.
She slowly crept towards the sliding door making sure not to make any noise to wake Sandra. She slowly pulled it open and felt a rush of cold air race over her skin.
She lightly shivered and noted that before they would leave this place she would definitely bring some kind of sweater to keep herself warm.
She stepped outside and closed the sliding door behind her. She heard the low moaning of the dead around her and knew that everyone in the neighborhood probably turned.
She went up to her tree house and climbed up the rope ladder. Once she was in the treehouse she found her goods just where she had left them. She put in the backpack and started to climbed down.
Then she saw it.
From her current position she could see over the fence and the sight didn't please her. Illuminated by the light of the moon above, dozens of walkers were shambling around. They were all directed west, towards the city which still hasn't quieted down yet. Seeing this many of them behind the fence, Clementine could only guess how many were in the rest of the neighborhood. They were all going in the direction of the noise so most of them should clear out by tomorrow.
She looked away from the sight and got down from the tree house. She walked back to the sliding door went inside. Sandra was still asleep and with nothing else to do, Clementine decided to retire for the night. She went into her bedroom and drifted into a dreamless rest.
-Line break-
Four hours pasted and Clementine was again awake. She got up and looked in her drawer for something that she could wear when it got colder. After looking for a few moments, she found a dark blue sweater jacket with purple stripes running through it. She would have prefered it to be natural colored but it would do.
She left her room and went into the living room. Sandra was still sleeping so she went into the went into the kitchen. She wanted to see if the walkers cleaned out like she thought they would have. She was too short to see out of the window over the sink, she had to pull herself on to the counter to look out of the window.
To her delight she was correct. No walkers were in sight. All she saw was the familiar sight of busted down cars and beat up houses.
Then the phone started ringing.
Sandra woke up after the third ring and rose to get it. She was suprised when she saw Clementine picking it up before she got there.
"Mom?"
"Clementine?! Thank god you're okay! I was so worried." her mother's voice.
Clementine felt a lump in the back of her throat. It has been about 8 years since she heard her mother's voice. She had gotten over her parents death long ago but hearing her mother's voice once more sturred something inside of her.
"Mommy..." Clementine wavered.
Suddenly Clementine's mind was filled with visions of simplier times with mother and father...
Clementine shook those visions from her head. She didn't need those clouding her mind.
Her mother heard her tone and thought the worst.
"Are you okay baby?! If those crazy people are after you need to call-"
"I'm okay mom!" she said quickly.
Clementine heard her mother breathe out a sigh in relief.
"Thank God...I don't know what I would do if they got to you."
"I really miss you mom." Clementine said downtrodden tone.
"Its okay Clementine, will find a way to get you you." Her mother tried to cheer her up.
"You can't do that mom. They're monsters everywhere." Clementine tried to reason.
"I can't leave you alone out there...damn it!"
Her mother paused for a moment.
"...I knew we should have brought you with us. I'm so sorry baby." She sounded like she was going to cry.
"Mom its okay, just find somewhere safe. Me and Sandra will come to you guys."
She heard a sniff then her mom replied,"I know you will my brave little girl."
Clementine knew that her mother thought she was just spouting out some childish dream and she didn't blame her, she was only 8 years old after all. Even so, she felt bad that she couldn't do anything else from here.
"Mom you should stay away from from large groups of people." Even though she couldn't help her, Clementine tried to at least give her some advice.
"Why Clementine?"
"They turn into monsters if they get bitten."
Her mother's heart skipped a beat.
"W-what...? She said in disbelief.
"That means...Oh God-" before she could finish her sentence, shouting and screaming was heard in the background.
"Mom whats happening?!"
"I-I don't know but I think I need to go."
"Wait, mom I have to tell-"
She interrupted by a series of gunshots and shouts that increased in volume.
"I love you baby!"
Beep
The line went dead.
Clementine stood in silence for a few moments before she lowered the phone to her chest.
"I love you to mom." she said in a low voice.
Clementine felt something press on her shoulder and look to see that Sandra resting her hand on it in a comforting manner.
"That call sounded kind of rough..." said Sandra.
Clementine shifted her shoulder away from Sandra's touch.
"I'm fine." She said calmly.
She walked away and looked at Sandra, "Let's just find something to reinforce that door." She said with an unreadable look on her face.
Sandra feared for the girl's mental health but decided not to press the issue. That girl's parents were probably dead and judging by her reaction, bringing them up probably isn't the best course of action.
Sandra would stay quiet for now.
"Okay so what do we use?"
Clementine pointed at the bookshelf.
"That."
"Wouldn't that make too much noise?"
"A majority of monsters cleared out so there shouldn't any within ear shot of here. If you wanna make sure you could look out there." Clementine said pointing at the window.
Sandra took a look herself saw that Clementine was right, none of the monsters were in sight.
Then she heard scraping and looked to see Clementine pulling the table away from the door.
To make the job faster, Sandra went over to her and help her pull it away from the door. Once it was a sufficient distance away from the door, Clementine stopped pulling and went to the shelf and wait for Sandra.
Standing on opposite sides of it Sandra looked Clementine in the eye.
"Ready?" She questioned.
Clementine merely nodded.
About a few minutes, the shelf was moved and the table was in place.
Clementine sat down with stared forward with vacant look in her eyes.
Sandra walked over to her and said, "So should do we do now?"
"Nothing."
"What? Why?" Sandra said in surprise.
"We have food and running water for now, so there's nothing we need to do as of now."
Sandra thought about it then replied,"Yeah I guess you're right."
Clementine looked up and said nothing more.
-Chapter end-
AN: Clementine has a bit of emotional turmoil going on in her head. Will it cloud her judgement or will she push through it. Diana's reaction to the information about the bite was because Ed was bitten along with other people staying at the Marsh House. It can be assumed that they tried to hold out there because we find them as walkers just outside of the place as Lee in season 1.