When I woke up the sun was just starting to shine in the pen. I looked around, Kenny was gone but Sarita remains sleeping in the cot beside where Clem and I had slept. I slowly and carefully got up from my spot on the floor making sure I didn't disturb Clem. I walked over to the burned out fire pit where Kenny sat looking at the white ashes as though they would give him an answer. I said a polite 'hey' before sitting down a few chairs over from him. I had my pick since no one else was awake yet.
"You're up early." He responded sitting back in the chair.
"I couldn't lay there anymore, everything about this place makes me sick. To think I was taking comfort in sleeping here, it makes my skin crawl."
"I hear that." He said in agreement, in all honesty, I think it was the first thing we had ever agreed on. "So, Clem was telling me you were traveling with her and Christa," He started, making an actual attempt at conversation with me. I was surprised but that didn't stop me from answering, after everything he had done for Clementine he was actual a decent guy. He was just damaged.
"Yeah, we were together for a long time, until we were attacked and sent off on our own."
"Omid wasn't with you?"
"No," I never knew Omid but Christa hardly spoke of him, Clem had to tell me the story of who he was and what happened to him. I had mostly peace it together. He was Christa boyfriend, and the father of her baby, his death took a toll on Christa.
"He died before I met Clem," I told him crossing my arms over my chest and slouching down in the chair.
"And Christa? How was she doing last time you saw her? What happened to her baby?" He asked and my eyes stung as I looked down at the fire. Did he need an explanation?
"She was, really depressed for a long time after, the baby…" I trailed off hoping Kenny could put the pieces together. Seeing Rebecca for the first time reminded me so much of Christa it hurt, I feared she might share the same fate. Kenny muttered a few curses in sadness for the lost life.
"So, you and Clem are close?" He asked his voice tight as he shifted from the depressing conversion.
"Yeah, I use to think it was dangers to care about people this much. I couldn't help it with her"
I said smiling at the sleeping girl.
"I hear that, I look at her and still see this small nine-year-old in a yellow dress. She and Duck use to run around and play tag or some stupid shit like that for hours, even with everything that was happenin' they were still happy. They were just kids." He said smiling at his old memories.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your family." I wasn't sure whether this would trigger an angry reaction or a sad one but it was something worth saying.
"Thanks." He was quite for a minute, working to hide the pain in his voice. "It was hard but, I got through it and now I've got Serita. Then Clem showed up with your group and I thought things were really starting to shape up until this Carver asshole showed up."
"Yeah, I'm real sorry you got caught up in this shit storm."
"That don't matter now, besides it's not like it's your fault." He looked around as someone stirred in the sleeping area only to settle down again.
"What do you thinks gonna happen to Alvin? Guys been gone all night and from what I saw at the lodge he and Caver don't seem to friendly."
"I don't know about their full history, I try to stay out of that."
"Smart, don't get caught up in other peoples shit."
"But I do know Carvers a dangerous man, probably the worst man I've ever come across. He'll do anything to get what he wants and he doesn't care who gets in his way."
"I saw that when he knocked the crap out of Clem. Poor girl,"
"She probably saved Alvin's life. But when I saw him put that gun to her head I thought my heart was going to explode."
"That's what happens when you have kids,"
"She's not my kid."
"She's in your group, makes her your kid. I'm sure everyone else feels the same. It be hard not to like that little girl if she likes you too that is." I laughed knowing the truth in his words. It was hard. I tried for a little while back when I first met her, but she saved my life, gave me water and food. Christa was less than happy to be dragging my ass around and wouldn't give me my gun back, but Clem always tried to bring me in on their conversations making sure I was included.
"Yeah but she can be damn intimidating for a thirteen old,"
"She wasn't a year or two ago, just a sweet kid. This world, it's changing her."
"Everyone changes, you have to change. Or you don't make it."
"You're smarter than your brother, he didn't seem to get that. Just thinks you need to be with the right people."
"He's always been a follower." I paused thinking back to who my brother was before all this and in all honestly he wasn't all that different. "You know he dropped out of high school because a pal of his, guy who ran his little group was kicked out."
"Sounds like he's done it again."
"Carvers told him a shitload of lies, I grantee it. Convinced him he'd take care of him. The only difference between now and then is the whole apocalypse thing." I said folding my arms over my chest and slouching back into my chair.
"I'm real sorry about him, seemed like an okay kids when I first met him."
"I knew something was off about him, I just didn't want to see it. I was so happy to have found him, my family when I thought they were all gone. But like I said he's not my brother anymore." I trailed off starting at the long burned out fire. Kenny took this and said nothing more. The two of us remained silent for a long time until other started getting up and joining us around the fire. Soon everyone was up, everyone but Clementine. Sarah was going to wake her but I told her to let her sleep. It had been too long since the girl had actually had some rest. That other woman, the one who had been watching us the night before skulked around casting sharp looks over our group. I had half a mind to say something but was distracted by a cheery Sarah.
"I know we can't play chess but I was wondering if you wanted to play a game with me? Since Clem's still sleeping and dad told me to let him think." I smiled at her pulling myself out of the tight and sunken position I had taken up in the frail chair.
"Sounds fun, what do you want to play?" I asked looking around the bare yard, there wasn't much we could play here.
"I spy?" She asked hopeful that I would agree to her games further.
"Perfect, you go first," I said. Sarah thoughtfully looked around the courtyard; one hand raised to her chin, forehead creased in thought. She and I went back and forth with the silly game until Troy and a few others walked in. Informing everyone Carver was on his way. They rounded us up near the main gate and Sarah scampered to her father's side the second the armed guards stormed in. I made a move to go get Clem but Troy stepped in from of my and ordered me to join the group by the gate pointing his gun to try and intimidated me.
"What the fucks going on?" Nick as aggressively beside me.
"Seems like another one of Carvers bullshits speeches," I said crossing my arms in a defensive stance.
"I'm getting real fucking tired of this shit," Kenny said as he and Sarita stood on the other side of the group.
"You and me both," I said as Clem walked up beside me rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as I put on hand on her shoulder. I offered her a comforting smile which must have betrayed its purpose and shown my unsettled anger because Clem frowned and looked to the rising gate.
"There's been increased walker activity along the fence so be mindful when outside the walls." He stared as he scanned the group in front of him making sure everything was in order. He went on for a few seconds about the wall before changing gears and talking about forgiveness and reposition. Then he heard Sarah and Clem whispering to themselves, Sarah had been deprived of her friend all day, of course, she'd want to talk to her. But Carver couldn't handle someone not paying attention to him and snapped at Carlos to control her daughter. She stuttered an apology but Carver wasn't satisfied. He insisted that Sarah be slapped and Clem jumped in trying to save Sarah from the anguish. Carver snapped a warning at her and she pipped down. I put an arm around her shoulders and looked at Carver with a dark glare. What the fuck? Why would he do this to her? Carlos turned and warned Sarah to close her eyes and she just kept apologizing. But Carlos raised his hand and smacked her across the face. Pain and sadness took over the man's tired features, he would have done anything not to hurt his daughter, he loved her more than anything. But he wouldn't let Carver hurt her more. Sarah fell to the ground and began crying and Carlos stammered his apology when he was cut off by Carver. Everyone started down at the sobbing girl in terror but that quickly changed to anger. My attention was once again drawn up by Carver burning with rage this time. He didn't actually touch her but in my eyes, he might as well have been the one that slapped her.
"Troy, get Carlos to his post. Everyone else should have their assignments. It's time to get to work." I began to follow the others, from what I had been told I'd be working with Kenny on the expansion. Carver grabbed my shoulder and made me stop. I looked over my shoulder at him through squinted eyes.
"You're coming with me."
AN: So sorry it's taken so long to update I've been distracted. I'm going to start up a new fanfic about a game serious called mass effect. I highly recommend the game. If you've played please check it out once I've gotten around to posting. Please review and leave comments and options they're super important and I really applicate them.