The Darkness of The Heart

Chapter 3 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, things are going crazy.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.

Chapter 3

Clem groaned as she woke up.

'Urgh, not again...' She thought in dismay.

For she once again found herself waking up to being tied to a chair, she blinked and tried to recover her equilibrium, tugging at her bonds as she did so.

That was when she realized and cried out. "MMMM!?"

She was gagged, tape covered her mouth and she instantly tried to struggle to get free, to get it off. But then she paused, looking around, eyes widening.

For she recognized the location she was held in. 'This is the secret room back in the barn, how did I end up here...Um, fuck...'

She tried to remember, she remembered the burning compound, the frantic escape, rescuing the others, then she remembered it clearly. As she had got out of the burning compound, someone had grabbed her and knocked her out.

'They brought me here, did this to me...but why…?' She wondered to herself.

With a muffled growl she struggled again, tugging at her bonds without much success, they were pretty firm. She then noticed that her denim jacket was gone too, aside for some soot stains her red T-shirt was thankfully undamaged, along with the rest of her clothes.

"MMMMMMMMMM!" She yelled, hoping someone would hear her and help, all the while thinking. 'Urgh, yet more questions, who's taken my jacket now and why...what is…?'

Her thoughts stopped as she looked up at the sound of the door opening.

Her hopes disappeared quickly however, as an irate looking Lilly entered, with Marlon right behind her, looking more awkward than ever.

'No wonder he's reluctant...everything that's happened, God Marlon, you never imagined anything like this when you joined, did you?' Clem realized. ''He's way out of his depth and...What the fuck!?'

Her eyes widened in shock and she gasped through her gag as Minerva also entered. She was still alive, but Clem noticed she didn't get out unscathed. Although charred her clothes seemed to take the most damage to her right side, leaving her with burn scars all over her arm and also on her right cheek and temple. Clementine barely suppressed a shudder as she noted a worrying manic gleam in Minerva's eyes, almost like they were made of sickly green fire. But her attention was drawn back to Lilly with a sharp slap to her face. Jolting and, her cheek stinging, Clem's gaze turned to Lilly who was glaring furiously.

"This is your fault Clem, you just had to interfere, destroy everything for us." She snapped. "Now Delta is gone, our chance at changing things for the better, for getting the power we are due, gone...Whoever isn't dead has been arrested, or given themselves up to the police and turning state's evidence. Delta is ruined and falling apart."

Clem remained tense, realizing. 'And your planned takeover with it, but how is that…?'

Well, I will deal with you, your actions will have consequences, you will pay for ruining us." Lilly growled. "Minerva, this way."

Minerva growled, but turned and followed Lilly out of the room. Marlon hesitated, before remaining where he was.

Clementine saw this as her chance, she just had to get Marlon to take the tape off her mouth.

"MMMMM MMMMMMM!" She cried out, trying to get his attention.

Again Marlon dithered and shifted, but turned away, looking towards the door again.

"MMMMMMMMM!"

Shaking his head Marlon turned. "Clem I...enough...I...I..."

She could see it in his eyes. He was hesitating, unsure.

"I never wanted things to go this far...and, and...I..." He stammered.

Clem tugged at her bonds. 'Urgh c'mon, just take the tape off my mouth already...'

But Marlon did not even move, he just turned away.

"No, I...it's too late now and I have to live with what I've done. But you shouldn't have interfered, none of this would've happened and things would..." He continued.

But it was clear even he didn't believe that. But before he could move or say anything else, the door opened again and Minerva entered, the veritable emerald fire hadn't faded in the slightest as she stalked right past Marlon and got right in Clem's face.

"You...look what you did to me you bitch." She hissed, outraged. "You ruined me, my...my face, I...LOOK AT ME!"

Clem leaned back as Minerva got right into her face, her burns even more prominent at this close distance.

Minerva wasn't done yet either. "You ruined things for me with Violet too, first you poison her mind against me and now, looking like this, I can't even attempt to win her back and you...it's all your fault!"

"MMMMMM!" Clem protested futilely.

Being gagged, she was unable to defend herself. She couldn't explain the completely obvious fact to Minerva, or even Lilly, who had both clearly gone off the deep end, that everything that had currently happened and that they were blaming her for, was all their fault. They had only themselves to blame.

Minerva however soon proved just how far gone she was when she suddenly grinned.

"Well, I'll just have to teach you a lesson, let's see how you like when you are in such pain and...disfigured." She hissed.

Marlon started. "What the, hey, you can't...Lilly wouldn't..."

"Who gives a fuck, now shut up." Minerva snapped at him.

With that she suddenly lifted something up, a red hot branding iron, shaped into a strange symbol.

"MMMMMMMMMMMM!?"

Minerva laughed and Clem screamed as Minerva pressed the branding iron into Clem's left upper arm, beginning the torture for revenge.

End of chapter, things are taking drastic turns now, read and review please.