A place to call home
Chapter 6: déjà vu
Well, I can imagine some of you are either shocked or happy about the previous chapter. Here's chapter 6, folks, and with that said and done, enjoy the chapter.
Clementine's golden eyes fluttered open, and she sat up and looked at her surroundings. She was still in the RV, but now Lee was gone. Turning to her left, she was relieved to only see him talking to Kenny and Katjaa. So the events taking place when she was eleven really had been a dream.
Lee walked back and approached Clementine. "Hey sweet pea. We're a little delayed, there's a train blocking our way."
The train. Clementine remembered the train clear as the day.
And she was well aware of the homeless man named Chuck living in the boxcar, but that was not the only thing she remembered. Lilly had escaped and took their RV with them, though Kenny did mention she would not get far with the gas they had left. Nevertheless, Clementine made her way to the front of the RV and took the keys out of the ignition and kept them with her. She put on her backpack and joined the others outside.
Clementine turned and saw an ever-so-weak Duck holding onto his mother, and a profound sadness washed over her. He was going to die regardless of events, he was just too sick. She looked back at the RV as if to take a final look at Lilly before joining up with the others.
Like before, Lee had requested that she stay with Katjaa until they were done looking around and she decided that was the best thing to do right now since she was not around when Lee and Kenny figured out how to work the train. All she could do was sit tight and wait.
Clementine would occasionally sneak a glance over at Katjaa and Duck, and thought about talking to Katjaa. In the end, however, she decided not to, since that just might make matters worse. A voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Hey there."
It was Chuck, the kind homeless man in the back of the train cab. Ben was startled slightly and looked like he was about to call out for help, but the old man assured him he was fine before he panicked.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya'll." Chuck admitted before deciding to introduce himself to the strangers. "My name's Charles, but people call me Chuck. I live in that train back there and noticed ya'll coming through. Thought I'd come and greet you."
"Hi," Clementine smiled lightly at the old man.
"Hello there," Katjaa added.
Then, just as before, Chuck pulled out some pieces of candy from his pocket.
"Here. I got some candy if ya'll are hungry." Chuck offered as he took out two candy bars that he gave to Clementine and Ben. Before he long, he set his guitar and decided to go elsewhere. "I'm going to go and meet the other folks in the train. I'll try not to scare them."
Clementine could not help but smile at Chuck's humorous tone. She remembered how calm and kind he was. She began to eat her candy and enjoyed it's sweet flavoured taste.
After a good twenty minutes had passed, the train had roared to life and it was time to go. Lee and Kenny after meeting Chuck and announced that it was time to leave. However, Clementine could not help but notice that Lilly had not yet escaped like before. Did she just change history?
Speaking of Lilly, the woman had emerged from the RV and like last time, she had got free somehow. Since Clementine seemed to be the only one who noticed, Lilly turned around and ran down the road, desperate to escape.
Kenny heard her footsteps and called out, "HEY!" He immediately took off after her. He was faster, and caught her arm in a death grip. "The fuck d'you think you're doin', tryin' to run off?"
"Get the fuck off me!" Lilly demanded, attempting to fight Kenny off my simply slapping him, but that was not going to make him let go. "Why do you care where I go, you fucker!?"
"How in the fucking hell did you break free?" Kenny shouted.
"Doesn't matter, asshole!" she snapped at Kenny as she raised her leg and kicked Kenny in the crotch, causing him to groan in pain and finally release her. Not wanting to waste any more time, Lilly turned around and quickly departed down the road a second time.
("Kenny, no!")
("Lee, stop him!")
("Stop her, Kenny!")
("...")
Clementine watched as she and Lee caught up with Kenny, and she attempted to stop him from going after her. "Kenny, we can let her go!"
Kenny grunted in pain as he slowly stood back up, barely glancing at Clementine.
Lee watched as Lilly continued to dart down the road, empty-handed, with nothing to defend herself with or keep herself alive. He sighed, wondering what would become of her. "Ken...we can't stop her. Let her go," he agreed.
"Fine...fine," he snarled, walking away.
With that said and done, the remaining members of the group (including Chuck) boarded the train and now they were off to Savannah. Along the way there, Clementine turned towards Duck when his condition was getting worse and now she knew what was going to happen next, but how would she prevent Katjaa from killing herself? There had to be a way.
Katjaa had requested Lee to get Kenny like before and he proceeded towards the train cab. A couple of minutes later, the train came to a halt and now it was the time no-one was looking forward to, but Clementine had to figure out a way to stop Katjaa from dying.
Clementine nervously called out to Lee, beckoning him over with her tiny finger. Lee looked in her direction and took a couple of slow steps closer to her. She was going to tell him about Katjaa, to stop her.
"Yeah, sweet pea?" His voice was barely above a whisper, possibly to give Kenny and Katjaa some privacy with their dying son.
("Don't give Katjaa a gun.")
("You have to be the one to shoot Duck.")
("Nevermind.")
("...")
"Lee, you can't let Katjaa use a gun." Clementine explained, looking around his shoulder for a moment, only to see Katjaa comforting their son whilst Kenny tried to make excuses that there could be a chance for him to leave. "She...She...I think she might shoot herself."
(?) Lee will remember that.
Lee looked surprised. He knew that Katjaa would be torn over losing her little boy, but shooting herself? But he felt a pang, and he closed his eyes. "You're right, Clementine. I'll keep the gun with me."
"That's good." she nodded in agreement, but deep down, she may have just saved a life.
Lee walked over to the soon-to-be-grieving couple. "Kenny, Katjaa..." he spoke sadly. "Let me have the gun."
"What?" Katjaa asked, slightly surprised.
"I'll take care of Duck," Lee offered, a sorrowful and remorseful look crossing his features. "No parent should have to do this."
Kenny looked at Lee, a sad look in his eyes as well, but handed the gun over with a sigh. He seemed to catch on to his son's death much quicker than previously. "Thank you, pal. Kat and I really appreciate it."
Clementine watched as Lee picked up Duck and carried him into the woods. A couple of moments later, a gunshot was fired. Kenny and Katjaa hugged one another for comfort just as Lee returned with a expression of sadness across his face.
Katjaa was crying softly to herself, and there were tears streaming down Kenny's face, but nothing came out of him. He had an arm around Katjaa's shoulders and was holding her hands with his other hand. Clementine looked down solemnly, knowing full well what had happened.
Before long, everyone had got back into the train and we're on their way to Savannah. Lee and Clementine were alone together in the boxcar and this time, Chuck had not told Clementine she was going to die unless she learned to protect herself. Either way she was going to learn.
"Lee." Clementine spoke up as she took a pair of scissors out of Chuck's bag. "Can you cut my hair and teach me how to shoot now? It's, going to be a while before we reach Savannah."
Lee looked down at her. "Sure, Clem. What do you want to do first?"
(Learn to shoot)
(Cut hair)
"Let's cut my hair first." Clementine decided.
"We can do that," Lee nodded. "Come sit in front of me."
Clementine obliged, sitting on her knees much like she had done before, and Lee got to work on cutting her hair.
"I got these to tie the ends off." Clementine said whilst digging into her pocket and retrieving two hair ties.
Lee took the hair ties and put them into Clementine's hair, giving her the pigtail style that she had before. Clementine patted her little pigtails and smiled in satisfaction. Lee placed her hat back on her head.
"You look a lot safer now, and a lot harder to grab," he pointed out proudly. "Now, let's get to work on teaching you how to shoot."
He helped Clementine to her feet and handed her the Glock 17 that had belonged to Carley.
Lee placed an empty bottle on a crate and began to teach Clementine the same basics again like taking a small breath, not to lock her elbows and to not be afraid.
With one eye closed whilst Lee had his hands over her ears, Clementine hit the bottle with perfect aim.
"Wow, on the first try," Lee spoke, astounded. "Good job, Clementine. But we should practice some more, to be sure."
Clementine nodded in agreement as Lee placed down more empty bottles. Like before, she hit every bottle without wasting a single bullet. She might be a better marksman than Carley, and ironically, it was her Glock 17 she was holding.
"Great job, Clem!" Lee praised, smiling proudly. Clementine looked up at him and smiled back.
"Oh, shit! HOLD ON, EVERYBODY!" Kenny announced loudly through an intercom. Clementine fell to the ground, and Lee nearly fell too as the train came to an almost immediate halt. Lee helped Clementine up and patted her shoulder.
This was a little weird. Why was the train ride a little short than before?
Stepping out of the train, their way was blocked off by a gas trailer dangling over a bridge. She remembered Lee and Omid had to jump to escape. Maybe this time they could prevent Omid from injuring his leg.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK, FUUUUUCK!" Kenny bellowed, looking up at their blocked way angrily.
"Kenny...please..." Katjaa murmured so quietly that Kenny almost didn't hear. Her voice was drained of life, and Clementine could see that she looked older than her years of age.
"Hmm, well I guess we could probably blast through this thing." Chuck suggested whilst he placed his hands upon his hips. But little did he know that would not be a good idea. "We have a train, after all."
"Chuck, are you sure that's-" Lee began, but a new voice interrupted them. Clementine knew exactly who was speaking.
"Hey, if you keep shouting, you're going to get your face chewed off!" Omid called from above with his girlfriend standing beside them. He was still the same humorous man like she remembered, and Clementine swore she would not be stupid enough to let her gun out of her sight again.
"Are you going to be a problem to us? We could've just kept going," Christa demanded, crossing her arms.
"No, we won't be trouble!" Lee called back.
"Come on, Christa, let's give these guys I break, they might help us." Omid suggested to his girlfriend with his beaming smile as usual.
Like before, Lee climbed up towards the ladder to greet the couple and a few seconds later, Clementine followed. They came back down to join the others after introducing each other to their group and now it was time to find a way to get that tanker down.
"Ya'll want some candy?" Chuck offered when they came down, but he did not get answer from the two.
"Any way we're gonna get that damn tanker down without destroyin' anything?" Kenny grumbled, looking up at the bridge.
Ben climbed to the top of the train, taking over watch as he had done before. Clementine glanced up at him and made a mental note to tell him not to tell Kenny or Katjaa anything about his betrayal of the group.
("What about the station?")
("What about the van up there?")
("What about the train?")
("...")
"What about the station?" Clementine suggested, gesturing her arm towards the station house a little ways down the track. But in her dream, Kenny was the one who suggested this.
"There could be something in there." Omid agreed with the young girl.
"Sounds like a good idea," Lee nodded. "Want to come with me, Clem?"
"Sure." Clementine agreed, but she already knew what to expect with what happened. She was prepared this time.
Christa gave Lee a curious look like she was saying "You're taking Clem with?", but she didn't say anything and went to sit down.
As for the others, Kenny took Omid into the train cab to teach him how to drive in case of emergency, Katjaa went to sit alone in the boxcar, Ben kept watch, Christa sat on the tracks, and Chuck sat on a boulder whilst playing his guitar.
Clementine walked alongside Lee, and couldn't help but still feel a little surprised that he was here, alive and well, not bitten at all. She wondered what was going to happen now that she knew of her parents' fates. She knew that she would be saving most everybody here from certain death.
Lee approached the door and jiggled the knob. "Locked," he muttered.
Clementine remembered the open window at the top of the door. "Maybe I can look inside?" she suggested.
"Sure, c'mere," Lee beckoned her over. Clementine walked towards him, and he lifted her up to the top. As Clementine began to unlock the door like last time, Lee began talking mostly to himself.
"Alright, once we get in there, we should-"
"I got it." Clementine announced as she pulled the lock off from the inside and leaned back.
"What? Really?" Lee asked in astonishment.
He put Clementine down in front of him, and the nine-year-old girl opened the door. It was dark and a little creepy, just how she'd remembered from last time.
"Well, I'll be damned," Lee commented.
"It's dark. Maybe you can use something to pry open the door." Clementine suggested, recalling the previous time when he used a wretch to keep the door open.
"Good idea," Lee noted, taking out the same wrench from his pocket, using it to keep the sunlight in. He looked towards the barred cage. "I think that's the tanker, in there."
Clementine looked up to see the small gap on the top of the cage, but at the same time, she knew there were three walkers in here somewhere, but in the darkness, she could not tell where. But if all went to plan, Lee's gun would slip under the cage. "Maybe I can go through that gap there. There's keys on the other side."
"You sure?"
Clementine nodded, and Lee boosted her up again. Now she was on the other side. She quickly grabbed the keys, knowing what would happen next. And she was right when she heard the familiar groaning.
Lee panicked and quickly took out his Glock 17 in an attempt to kill the walker, but the second emerged out from the darkness and caused him to drop his gun that slid into the cage just like last time. He began backing away towards the door.
Clementine took her chance and picked up the gun, but with the bars in the way, it was hard to get a clear shot. She closed one eye and fired three shots that killed the two walkers.
Lee placed his hands on his knees and panted hard, and then looked at Clementine with a soft smile. "Nice job, sweet pea," he praised.
Clementine smiled, but then the sound of a weak groan caught her attention and she turned around where the walker inside the cage began to limp towards her.
"Clem, give me the keys!" Lee ordered fearfully.
(Give keys)
(Shoot walker)
She obliged, and ever so quickly, he unlocked the cage and pulled her out. He placed an arm around her and killed the walker. He gave Clementine a hug, which she returned.
"Lee. I...I should have just killed it." Clementine admitted whilst she had her head rested into his chest. It felt relieving to still have him with her again.
"Don't worry about it, Clementine," Lee replied, smiling at her softly. "Just let me take care of it, okay?"
Clementine could only nod. Now she was expecting Christa to walk in as she had before, but this time no one entered. She took Lee's hand, enjoying the feeling of its softness, and was ready to head back out.
Before they left, Lee retrieved the blow torch before he and Clementine left the station and headed back to the train with the others. Nothing had changed since they left, and Chuck was still playing his guitar. Nice to see someone keeping their spirits up.
"Hey dude, you got a blow torch!" Omid greeted whilst eyeing the torch in the older man's grip.
"Yeah. There was some close calls, but we made it out alright," Lee smiled at his new friend.
Clementine decided to sit and talk with Christa for a moment, like before, and chat with her. It felt nice for the two of them not to have a strained relationship like they had when Omid had died. This was another thing that could be prevented.
A couple of moments later, Clementine looked up to see Lee dangling Omid over the edge with the blow torch in his hands to break the trailer that had now gone more over the edge.
"You're a real son of a bitch, aren't you?" Omid asked Lee whilst cutting through the cufflinks.
"Shut up and start cutting." Lee ordered in a bossy tone.
Clementine bit her lower lip nervously. What if things resulted the same way, Omid getting hurt? She hoped this wouldn't happen.
Ben looked off into the distance and his eyes widened at the horde heading towards them from behind. They must have followed the train. "Guys, we got company!"
"Shit," Christa muttered, getting up. Clementine followed suit and hurried into the train, looking up at Lee and Omid, who were still on top of the bridge. What was going to happen now?
Soon, Omid stopped cutting, and the gas truck came crashing down...in the opposite direction of the ladder. Clementine let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Omid and Lee hurriedly climbed from the ladder and bolted into the train.
The ladder had not fell down this time and both of them were on board, safe and sound. Next stop: Savannah.
"Thank God you're okay!" Christa exclaimed as her boyfriend climbed onto the train, embracing him. Omid returned the hug and gave her a comical smile that said, "You really think you're getting rid of me that easily?"
Katjaa got up and walked out of the boxcar, possibly to be with Kenny. Both parents were in very deep sorrow at the loss of Duck.
Is she okay...?" Omid inquired.
("She's okay.")
("Don't ask.")
("No.")
("...")
"No." Clementine shook her head slightly in response. "She and Kenny lost their son."
(?) Omid and Christa will remember that.
"Oh." Omid lowered his head in sadness before shifting his gaze towards his girlfriend. Clementine knew why he had done this, and that was because Christa was pregnant.
At that, Clem clasped her hands together. Christa had lost the baby a little more than a day after it had been born, and she didn't know what would happen this time. If Omid survived, would the baby survive too?
There was only one way to find out and that was to keep them safe no matter what. Without the stranger interrupting them, things would be fine. However, regardless of what she did next, she would not be able to prevent Molly from ringing bells that caused Chuck to sacrifice his life for her last time. Maybe if she didn't get cornered this time, then maybe he would live.
That brings us to the end of chapter 6, folks. What a twist of fate so far. Clementine has changed history by preventing Lilly from taking the RV, preventing Katjaa from committing suicide, and preventing Omid from injuring his leg. Now all they have to do is get to Savannah.
