Chapter 4 – Back at the Cabin
It was morning by the time we reached the cabin, a morning so similar to yesterday's it was almost as if none of the night's events had even come to pass. A nightmare that would disappear as soon as we opened the door.
Carlos and Rebecca were in the kitchen when we came in, speaking in hushed tones. I kicked the door shut behind us, my head burning and all the wind gone right out of me. As the adrenaline began to wear off my shoulder reminded me of its injury and pain shot through my abdomen. Carlos stood first.
"Clementine! Scout... are you alright?"
I glared at him, relinquishing my grip on my shoulder, and nodded.
"Luke's not with you?" Carlos stared at the door. Rebecca got to her feet, her chair scraping against the wood floor.
"Where's Alvin?" She demanded, clearly distraught.
"How the hell should we know?" I coughed.
"What happened?" Carlos advanced. "It's been hours... where are they?"
"We got attacked," Clem found her voice.
"By who?" Rebecca cried.
"Walkers," I answered quickly, my eyes narrowing.
"Jesus..."
"We got split up at the river," Clem continued. "I was with Nick but... Scout..." She looked at me and I realized I hadn't exactly had the chance to tell her what had happened with Pete. Or what he had told me about Carver. Carlos and Rebecca turned to me.
"Pete and I were trapped in the woods. He was bitten, but he helped me escape." I hesitated, looking down at my bloody hands. "If he's not dead now, he will be soon."
"My god..." Carlos whispered.
"Where were you?" Rebecca pushed toward me. "Where were you exactly?"
"By the stream," Clem defended, stepping in front of me. A rare show of boldness – how she knew I needed it was beyond me. I was in pain and my head pounded. Even Rebecca, coward that she was, was more than too much for me now.
"We gotta go," she turned to Carlos.
"Just hold on a minute-"
"My husband is still OUT THERE! Get the guns!"
Carlos sighed, shaking his head but hurrying to obey.
"Luke and Alvin went out looking for you," Rebecca muttered. "I told them not to go... dammit, Luke."
Carlos returned, handing Rebecca a rifle and holding one of his own in his other hand. Rebecca wrenched the back door open and hurried through. Carlos paused, turning back to us. "Clementine... can... can you please watch Sarah?"
I wasn't by any means offended that he asked her and not me. Babysitting detail for a girl like Sarah just sounded like trouble. Besides that, Sarah was older than us. Though I suppose it didn't matter in a world like this. Either you grew up or you didn't. She didn't.
"She's upstairs. Just distract her, and don't tell her anything!"
"We'll take care of her. You can trust us," Clem replied. Carlos seemed to relax.
"Hang in there, Scout, I'll look at your arm as soon as we get back. You'll be safe inside. Just don't open the doors for anything. We'll be back soon. And... thank you."
I nodded once and Carlos disappeared, leaving Clem and I alone in the kitchen.