Always the Quiet Ones

Part II: No Going Back

Chapter 4: Five Days Later...

The cold had calmed down, there was only a little bit of snow that was on the ground. The grass was beginning to show again. The three of them had been on the road for five days, Kenny and Nick were at each other throats, and Clementine was stuck to break it up. Or at least try to. The group was broken. The three of them, walking through an empty field that could be called nowhere. The plan was apparently to find Wellington still, Nick still heavily disagreed with that plan.

"There. There's a small little house up on that hill." Kenny pointed to the small house.

"We better rest there for the day." Nick inquired. Kenny held the baby in his hands, not even looking towards Nick. Every time he heard Nick's voice or name, he wanted to kill him.

"Hey, you alright? How's that shoulder feelin'?" Nick asked, Kenny walking a bit forward. The bleeding has stopped after being shot in the shoulder by Arvo.

"I'm okay." Clementine responded.

"You know how I feel now, huh?" Nick chuckled. His wound was pretty much gone at this point. He didn't feel anything in his shoulder, sure it was a tad bit sore - but it was basically gone.

"It hurt like hell." Clementine said.

"I wish everyone else was here. We lost so much people five days ago. We don't know where Vince, Becca, Shel, Wyatt, Russell and Eddie went. We lost Luke, Bonnie, Mike... That russian got away. I shoulda gone after him, but I had to stay to make sure you were alright." Nick sighed.

"Maybe we'll see them again someday." Clementine smiled.

"I hope. That group was a bit quiet though, and they seemed eager for their chance to leave us. Except for Eddie." Nick replied.

"I don't think they fully trusted us." Clementine replied.

"Maybe. Hell, we didn't trust an eleven year old kid. I guess we can't blame them for not trustin' us." Nick said, patting her on the shoulder. The two of them had reached the top of the hill, Kenny looking over the perimeter and then looking through the glass window.

"Seems secure enough." Kenny noted.

"If you say so." Nick replied, walking up the stairs to the porch - opening the front door. Nick cocked his gun, pointing it in any direction that they could come out of. The house was relatively big. A few people could sleep there if they wanted to.

"We could spend the night here." Nick said.

"We can't." Kenny threw down his suggestion, Nick faced him - giving him a dirty look.

"And why the hell not?" Nick questioned.

"Because. We gotta get movin'. Stayin' here any longer is a goddamn mistake." Kenny replied.

"That's bullshit, Kenny. There isn't a motherfucking deadline." Nick retorted.

"We don't have to decide now! Just stop!" Clementine cried. Kenny sighed, pushing through Nick and walking to one of the rooms.

"You need to stop making him mad." Clementine told him.

"Me?! I didn't do shit! We aren't fuckin' machines, Clem." Nick shook his head.

"You're just making it worse." Clementine said. Nick scoffed, "Whatever." Nick said, leaning back on a small living room chair, taking off his hat. He scratched his hair, felt how dirty it was.

"I hope this has running water." Nick said.

"Looks abandoned." Clementine said.

"I guess. But still." Nick sighed, placing his hat on the small coffee table, then rising up from the chair - walking towards the kitchen. He then walked over to the faucet, and then water came through.

"Yes!" Nick chuckled, happily. He then titled his head, so he could get a drink from the water.

"Cold water. That's what I'm talkin' about." Nick chuckled, he then grabbed a small wash cloth, pouring some water onto the wash cloth, then began to rub his hair with it, he then grabbed the dry wash cloth, rubbing his hair again. Nick sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter. Nick looked out the window to see a truck driving towards the house. Clementine walked into the kitchen.

"Shit, hide!" Nick ordered.

"What? What is it?!" Clementine questioned. Nick saw the truck stopping and then a few men came out of the truck. There was a total of three men. One had a big grey beard, looked to be about in his mid-50s, a biker jacket that read 'Lost' in cursive letters. He had a metal baseball bat with traces of blood on it. The second man was a bit younger, he had a small brown beard with long brown hair, he wore a pair of shades, a black long-sleeved shrt with a dark blue vest over it, he also had a pair of black jeans, holding a small pistol and a knife which was attached to his belt. The third man had red hair, it was slicked up and kinda looked like Carlos' hair - he was a bit pale, and had a red sweatshirt, and blue jeans. He was carrying a shotgun in his arms, and also had a knife attached to his belt.

"Kenny. Fucking hide." Nick whispered sharply. Kenny then looked around the room he was inside trying to find a place to hide. He then found a small closet, then he went inside, closing it on him and then he laid down on the floor, hopefully the strangers wouldn't spot him. Clementine and Nick had to find a place to hide quickly.

Nick then spotted a vent, which was pretty big for a vent.

"Clem, c'mon. You crawl in there." Nick told her, opening the vent - which didn't even need a screwdriver to open. Clementine then crawled inside.

"What are you gonna do?" Clementine asked.

"Don't worry, Clem. I'll-I'll think of somethin'." Nick panicked. Nick then closed the vent, and then pushed it tight so it wouldn't fall off. Nick quickly ran to the window to see the three men gathering some supplies from their truck. Nick looked around the house. Nick quickly looked over to where Clem was hiding. It looked hard to see if anyone was hiding in that vent. Nick then spotted a small space, some sort of secret compartment.

"Here goes nothin'." Nick said, pushing the small compartment open, then crawling inside. He saw a bunch of knives, and a few guns. It was really dark in the room, he looked around for a lightswitch. There was none. This would work. He then pushed a black bookcase, so he could put himself behind it. He did, and then pulled the bookcase towards himself. He then leaned back onto the wall, his breathing sped up rapidly once he heard the main door open. He forgot to close the compartment door.

"Ian, you forgot to close the fuckin' compartment. Dumb white trash son of a bitch." One of the men yelled, his voice muffled because he was in the back. He saw the small light shine at the knives.

"I did fucking close it. It was probably YOU who forgot to close it." Ian replied, angrily.

"If it happens again, I'll rip your teeth out." The angry men threatened.

"Both of y'all, fuckin' shut up! I don't need to hear this shit! After a long motherfuckin' day - we need to get some goddamn rest." A new voice yelled. Once one of the men had closed the secret compartment door, Nick had no light left in that room. It was pitch black in there.

Clementine

Clementine was scared. She never had to hide like this before, except back when Carver was holding up the ski-lodge. But she had no idea what these people were capable of. She didn't know where Kenny was, maybe they were gonna find him and kill him. Nick looked like he hid well though, the men had shut the secret door he had went inside.

"Do you think I'd forget about what ya almost did to me!?" One of the men yelled, the one was arguing with Ian earlier.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you if you don't shut your goddamn mouth!" Ian threatened.

"Oh, is that a threat, pretty boy!?" The older man yelled back.

"Both of you! Shut the fuck up!" The red haired men butted in.

"Earl, you stay the fuck outta this, boy!" The older man retorted.

"Clay, you are so fucking annoying! I should shoot your ass right fuckin' now!" Ian yelled. Clay then threw a punch, but was quickly dodged by Ian. Clay then grabbed his metal baseball bat, swinging it in his direction. Ian ducked, then grabbed his foot, biting it. Clay yelled in pain, kicking him in the head so he would get off his foot. The red haired man, was just sitting at the table minding his own business. Clementine twitched her eye at the violence she was watching.

"You'll fuckin' pay for that, you little shit!" Clay groaned in pain, grabbing Ian by the neck, pulling him up and then single handed, he was choking Ian, his feet weren't even touching the ground. Ian was grabbed his arm, trying to scratch his arm, but Clay ignored it. Ian then tried to reach for his knife once the three men heard a clatter noise. Clay looked to the direction of the noise, dropping Ian to the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Clay questioned.

"Hell if I know." Earl scoffed. Clay grabbed his baseball bat again, walking towards the room that Kenny was in.

Kenny

Shit. Shit. Shit. He's gonna find me!

Clay walked into the room, looking at the closet. He then opened the closet, looking around. Then he spotted the man with a baseball cap.

"Well, looky here. What are you doin' here, boy?" Clay questioned. Kenny gasped, and then Clay grabbed Kenny, picking him up. The man was tough as hell, Kenny tried to break free, but Clay then just threw Kenny at the ground.

"I found this motherfucker layin' in our fuckin' closet!" Clay yelled. Ian was still coughing.

"Hmm. Did you have any others with you?" Earl calmly asked. Kenny gave him a dirty look.

"Look, buddy. I'm askin' nice. These assholes don't give a shit about being nice like I am. Might as well answer the question, or else it'll be beat out of you." Earl crossed his arms, rising from the chair.

"I see you only got one eye. I suggest you answer the question or else you won't be lookin' through that one eye." Earl threatened.

"Fuck you." Kenny retorted. Clay then grabbed Kenny, pushing him against the wall violently. Kenny coughed, spitting out blood from his mouth. Clay then raised his fist, punching Kenny in the face, repeatedly. Earl crossed his arms, smiling a bit. The younger man just looked at Kenny, in disgust. Kenny coughed a bit, then Clay threw him back onto the floor.

"Last chance, bud. I do like a man of your spirit, however. It's quite noble. I just want to know where your group is. If you don't answer, my friend Clay here - he'll take out your teeth. Then your eye." Earl told him, crouching down to his level. Kenny's face was bloody, he then gave Earl another threatening look.

"Nobody else is here." Kenny lied.

"See, I woulda believed you if it was the first thing you said. And it's not - so I'm gonna tell you one last fuckin' time. Where's the rest of your group?" Earl said, grabbing his shotgun from the small table.

"Piece a shit." Kenny growled. Earl then gripped the other side of the shotgun, smacking Kenny's face. A splatter of blood went onto the wall. Kenny's face fell flat on the ground, knocking him out.

"Now, come on out now! Y'all are good at hidin'! But Hide and Seek's over now. Come on out or I'll kill your one-eyed friend." Earl threatened.