Carlos sits on the cold floor beside Rebecca's dead corpse. Looking down at her with sad eyes and letting the time tick by slowly without doing anything about it.
I shot Claire for killing Rebecca, Carlos must feel horrible for hastily letting her in, he's been making a lot of mistakes lately... I wonder why.
I glance over at him while he closes Rebecca's eyes, hesitating on if he should put a bullet through her skull, or risk the chance of her coming alive and gripping his throat in a crazed frenzy; after all he must feel that's what he deserves.
The wind is quiet, and my head doesn't pound a whole lot anymore, which means I'm finally feeling better again. Thank god, there's nothing worse than being sick and being hunted down.
It would be the right thing to do; it's better than coming back as a Lurker. Hopefully he makes the right choice.
I turn back around, stuffing my blanket inside my purple bag, the flames in the fireplace are nothing but crisp embers that vaguely light the huge, decaying room, and the blood splatters from where the recent events occurred smell strongly of iron.
Did I really murder someone like that? I can't believe I did that without thinking.
I look down at my hands that are slightly covered in blood; I never would have imagined I'd be the one to kill someone like that; all I've ever killed were Lurkers… But it had to be done; she would have killed us after Rebecca if I hadn't have done something.
But I did it to protect myself and Carlos... Like how Lee protected me all of those times way back when.
Carlos walks over slowly, picking up the revolver that's down by my feet, avoiding my eyes at all costs. He knows it's time. Time to put a bullet between her eyes so she doesn't return as one of them.
He's going to destroy her brain, so she won't come back. It's what she would have wanted anyways... I wonder if the unborn child will turn its best not to think about that now.
I remember her always telling me not to let her become one of those things, if I had to kill her while she was still alive she'd want me to instantly. But I'm not the one making the choice right now, Carlos is. And honestly he should be one to make the choice since he didn't do much to stop Claire.
Standing up slowly, I watch Carlos fire the last bullet into Rebecca's skull; making sure she won't return followed by faint sobs emitting from his direction. Clearly there was more in this picture than I know about.
I can't help but feel bad; I should have just shot Claire the second I suspected something. I had no idea Carlos would be this upset; considering she was married.
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out several more bullets and reloading the chamber while walking towards me, placing the gun in my hand without another word. His eyes avoid mine but his body language says it all.
Carlos hasn't spoken in the past hour ever since the incident. I wonder if he'll ever come around.
My eyes gaze on him as he moves about the cabin, collecting anything useful and packing up his bag. Silence fills the air, leaving nothing but the memories that we both wish to forget.
I still can't feel my heart pounding at all, I feel perfectly fine; minus the fact that I can feel my sanity slipping away. But what did you expect; it's kill or be killed now. I finally understand that after so many years.
I turn around, glancing down at the two bodies that are coated in dark blood and the smell of death and gunpowder emits from both of them, I can't wait to move on from this place.
"We need to leave, Clementine. You're looking much better today too."
After several minutes of silence, he finally opens his mouth and uses his voice. Both startling me and amazing me at the same time, considering I wasn't expecting him to talk for a very long time.
"Alright..."
I don't ask any more questions, Carlos doesn't want to be here any longer and I don't blame him. I just don't know how we'll find the others like this though.
Maybe they are out there somewhere, if I know Luke he's probably ripping into Nick right about now too. They used to be such great friends but now they're drifting apart. And it's all because of me…
I pack up the rest of my belongings, peeking between the wooden boards on the window. The storm seemed to have calmed down a bit, and it's now just a light snowfall. The sky is a nice twilight colour outside, daylight will eventually come. Maybe we'll find them. At least I hope we do.
Carlos pulls the wool blanket over Rebecca's corpse, glaring at Claire's in the process. He stands there silently, unable to peel his eyes off of Rebecca.
"I'm sorry." He mumbles faintly, turning around and approaching the door, slowly moving the tables out of the way so we can leave.
He really seems depressed...
"Carlos, I'm here if you need me." I walk towards him slowly and giving him a hand with the table, there's really nothing else we can do for Rebecca since we can't bury her under all of this snow.
He's still silent, accepting my help with a simple nod.
"It's alright, I've screwed up enough. I've put the life of Rebecca and her baby at risk, I almost killed you, it's a matter of time before we die as well." He sighs, scraping the table against the wooden wall as we pull them away from the door.
Wow, he really took a turn for the worse.
I go silent, he has a good point. I hate to admit that but at least he knows his mistakes, and the consequences.
The light begins to break through the small cracks on the door, telling us that dawn is approaching. So much for sleeping, I was really looking forward to actually getting some rest too.
He deeply sighs, knowing that none of us had gotten any sleep from the whole incident last night, still lingering over Rebecca's corpse.
He clenches the hammer in one hand while opening the door with the other, looking around the snow covered forest with a surprised expression.
The snow can't be that bad, can it?
The trees are frosted with snow, and the ground is covered completely. Winter always looked beautiful to me; but only when I'm inside nice and warm, I hate it when I'm outside freezing.
Snow can be a bad thing; considering Lurkers could be buried underneath. It's all about risking everything at this point; we've lost so many people as it is.
The light snowfall starts up again, creating huge flakes that gently fall around us. I can't help but smile a tiny bit, I've always loved winter; I just wish it wasn't this cold all of a sudden.
"The snow is deep, watch your step." He steps out of the cabin, sinking down into the frozen texture that covers every inch of the ground, and that clings to the bare tree branches all around us.
'Where are we going to go?' 'Where's the rest of our group?' 'How come we're still alive?' All of the questions I want to ask him, but I know well enough if I do it'll cause more stress on his part; and believe me, that's the last thing I want to do.
The freezing air sinks through my thin clothes and stings my skin, and they say we're the lucky ones surviving. That's a load of shit.
The cloudy sky makes it impossible for the sun to break through, we're only going to get colder it seems. I can only keep wishing for the sunlight right now.
My stomach grumbles, I didn't even eat last night because Claire and Rebecca had the last bit, I don't feel regret for giving them the last of our food; except for Claire. I wish I did something about her earlier.
Carlos heads out first, glancing behind him at me to make sure he doesn't lose me either. The snow crunches under his weight and gives away as we walk slowly and cautiously down the small path that we walked last night.
Guys please be alright somewhere, anywhere. Just please be alive...
I've known Kenny since the day this started basically, ten years in and we're still alive together. Nick and Luke both mean the world to me, and even though Lee's done a number for me; teaching me how to survive and the basics, I'd be lost without those two idiots guaranteed.
We continue in silence, I step in Carlos' footprints so I don't get as soaked. He just continues moving on up the road to the bridge, as if he deserves to be cold, wet and miserable.
The snow starts to sting my face a little, my toes feel icy numb as well. And we've only been out here for not even an hour.
"Why is it getting so cold all of a sudden..." Carlos mutters under his breath, stopping abruptly, putting a hand out to stop me as well and raising his hammer in his alert stance.
I stop dead in my tracks as well; he heard something I didn't that's for sure.
"Quiet, something's coming this way."
The second he said that, the tree branches shake near the edge of the forest that's blocked by the thick bushes, maybe it's a deer if there's any left; I'm starving.
I lick my lips, the thought of biting into that delicious venison is enough to fill me right up, I raise the revolver; aiming at the movement so that way I don't miss the chance to take my shot.
I don't even know if it's a deer, I'm too hungry to care at this point.
Blinded by hunger, I still manage to notice something oddly familiar while the rustling branches move closer and closer, and a faded orange colour that's vaguely visible through the thick bushes.
Huh...? It can't be...
I lower the gun, standing there in awe as two figures emerge from the brush with bruises and cuts all over them, their eyes light up the second they see me. Completely changing the atmosphere around all of us.
"Clem!" Luke's smile brings warmth to my body from the frigid cold air. He wraps me in his arms without giving me a minute to speak, pressing me against his chest that's radiating with warmth.
Thank god...
My body burns being heated up from his in this frozen forest, tears of happiness drip down my cheeks while he hugs me tighter, as if he's terrified to let go.
Carlos smiles, probably the first smile he's ever cracked ever since we split up from them.
"I'm sorry kid; I thought we'd be back earlier." He buries his frozen face against my neck, clinging to me tighter like a child parting with their favorite stuffed toy.
"It's okay... I knew you'd both come back; one way or another."
I don't care, I'm glad he's safe... I'm glad they're both safe.
My heart slowly begins to return, thumping smoothly again while he snickers a little, pulling away and looking down at me with his smile still there.
Nick's eyes dart downwards, trying to hide his anger, standing there awkwardly while Luke clings to my side as if nothing ever happened.
Despite all of my happiness that I feel, I still can't shake the feeling that we're missing someone.
My eyes widen, I've forgotten all about him.
"Where's Kenny...?" I question him, Luke's eyes look at me oddly, followed by him glancing back behind him towards Nick who shrugs.
"He was right behind us, I think." He turns around and stares at the makeshift path they came from, feeling a bit nervous.
My heart drops, another one to the death count I guess.
Suddenly, more rustling appears and out pops Kenny, clinging to the shotgun and looking behind him with a worried expression on his face.
I knew he couldn't die that easily.
I smile a tiny bit; my family is safe and sound, most of them anyways.
Kenny's changed. There's no doubt about that, after everything we've been through, being separated for so long, it's all come down to this. I know there's something out there that's making him worried; and we all should be worried too if it's affecting him this bad.
"Glad we all caught up; now let's get the Hell outta here." He smiles a little at me, glad that I'm safe.
Is something wrong...?
I look up at Luke who avoids my gaze, Nick does the same thing. Clearly I'm left out of the loop here.
That's not good.
Carlos heads over towards us, while Kenny's mouth drops. Noticing there's only two of us now.
"Where's Rebecca?"
We all fall silent, letting the snow drift around us in the early morning sunrise. It's best not to open fresh wounds, especially around Carlos who had lost so much this far.
I kick the snow at my feet a little, not wanting to be the one to bring up what happened since it still clings to my conscious freshly.
Someone's going to have to say it...
"Claire shot her." I speak up, knowing Carlos doesn't want to say it either.
His expression goes from curiosity into pure rage. Just like the Kenny I know.
"Shit, she found you guys too?" Kenny exclaims, gripping the shotgun tightly. I feel even more guilt knowing that I was right from the very start.
"Yeah..." Carlos avoids his gaze; he's changed a lot too from yesterday until now.
Luke's fingers form a fist, hatred burns in his brown eyes while Nick backs away slowly, locking eyes with me as Luke's distracted with his own thoughts.
"She killed Alvin and her group's still-"
Nick can't even finish his sentence without the sound of people hollering, and followed by the sound of gunfire not far behind us; more specifically where Nick, Kenny and Luke came from.
Shit, that's why Kenny wanted us to move. And we wasted more time just standing here.
"Oh for fuck's sake." Kenny curses, reloading his shotgun and walking towards them, glancing back at me with a soft expression as if I'm still a little kid who hates swears.
"I'll take care of it, darlin' don't you worry." He spits on the ground, glancing back at Carlos who returns the gaze with a small, tiny smile. Exchanging words without moving their lips.
"You're fuckin' nuts!" Luke shouts, he's caught on.
I feel left out sometimes, I know there's words being said but I can't quite understand, let alone grasp the logic of what they're thinking.
Carlos glances at all of us, and then back at Kenny, gripping the hammer in his hand. It's clear to me now on what he plans on doing. He plans on doing this for not only just me, but Rebecca as well.
They can't be serious can they?! They won't make it!
Confused I watch him carefully; I hope he isn't going to do what I think he's going to do... But it's Kenny, and I know damn well he's going to do it anyways. And Carlos already has his mind set on this.
"Run, take Clementine and run." Carlos hollers to Luke while he sprints towards Claire's group off in the distance with his hammer, without another word and Kenny raises his shotgun, cursing as usual.
And, he did it...
"Fuckin' really?" Luke mutters, not believing what he's seeing. Turning back to focus on Nick and I.
"Shit Carlos." Nick watches in awe, amazed that he'd actually put himself in that type of situation considering throughout the years Carlos tended to stay away from the action as best as he could.
My heart panics, we've already lost four people in a couple days now. I don't want to lose them too. But it's too late, it's not like they can turn back now.
Their group gets closer to ours; As Carlos runs down with full force, he's the literal definition of bringing a knife to gun fight.
"Tie them up and catch that damn girl." One of them hollers at the others, they all spread out and head down towards Carlos and Kenny who look confused.
That's all I needed to hear; they're after me.
The anger now burns from Luke instead of Nick, I have no idea what happened while they were gone but surely it wasn't anything good.
This can't be happening, first Lurkers and now bandits? Can we have one damn break, just one!
"Shit. You well enough to run, kid?" Luke turns to me, pulling out his machete, while Nick moves closer towards us silently, gripping his screwdriver.
My headache's gone, and I haven't felt sick since yesterday, I should be able to. I hope I can, at least.
"I think I can-"
"Good. Run."
What?
Without giving me a warning he grabs my arm, dashing down the road through the thick snow with Nick right behind us. The agonizing screams from Carlos and Kenny are loud enough to feel the emotion while a couple members from that group beat them brutally off in the distance.
"Shoot them! Teach that fucking coward a lesson!"
W-what...?
"NO!" I holler without thinking, slamming my feet deep into the snow causing Luke to jolt backwards really hard. Nick covers my mouth while Luke thinks of something to do, messaging his arm in the process.
The snow blissfully falls down from the sky, making it difficult to see what's going on behind us with their group and a part of ours. Silence clings to the air leaving nothing but the sound of the howling wind, and the lingering questions on what's going to happen next.
Two gunshots are heard in the distance. Followed by the psychotic laughter that roars right after they fall to the ground; dead.
T-they shot them...
"Shit..." Luke's expression softens, that's two more to the death count.
The crimson color is hard to see, but you can make out the rings of blood surrounding their now limp bodies that lay in the snow. Hopefully they were shot in the head.
"Kenny..." My tears freeze to my cheeks, after everything we've all been though this is how he had to die.
Carlos and Kenny spent many months making sure that I was alright whenever Luke or Nick were gone. I wasn't just watched over by those two morons; the entire group pitched in, and helped me. All though I've had doubts on Carlos before, when he threatened to kill me a day ago, I feel bad that he died so I could get away. No one should have to throw their life away for me; Lee already did that... And then Kenny, he was supposed to stay here longer. He wanted to die, before, but he always kept saying he had something to fight for so he didn't want to die just yet.
"Get the damn girl! It's what Avery wanted anyways!"
The gunshots whiz past us, nearly grazing Nick's shoulder, they must have a lot of ammo stockpiled somewhere if they can waste it like this.
Avery...?
"I thought her name was Claire..." I mutter under my breath, I guess she lied to us about that too.
"Claire's her mother. She's the one runnin' this; not Claire." Luke darkly replies, urging us on forward into the thick snow that coats the dirt road ahead of us, leaving us out in the open once again.
How does Luke know all of this? It's like he knew those people before this started.
"How do you know all of this?" I question him as we continue to sprint down the snow covered road, hoping that there's no surprise Lurkers along the way.
The shouts are faint this time, maybe we just might escape this.
Luke goes silent, avoiding my eyes and sighing deeply knowing that sooner or later, he'd have to tell me.
"Avery is my sister."