Episode 2: The Perils Ahead- Recollect

Michael and Clementine ran for what seemed like forever. On and on and on, running and running... but eventually they reached the bed 'n' breakfast as dawn was breaking. Clementine burst in through the front door, followed by Michael. The two paused to catch their breath.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up..." Helga grunted.

"Thank god you two are okay." Maree sighed with relief as she approached them. "We were starting to get worried... When you didn't show up. We thought something might have happened."

"Where's Kenny? And AJ? Did they make it?" Clementine asked worryingly.

"AJ's sleeping upstairs with Hazen, and Kenny went out looking for you. Dusty went with him. But don't worry, I still have my radio on me, and so does Kenny, so now that you're back I'll radio him and tell them you're safe." Maree informed her, scooping up her walkie-talkie and moving into another room.

Michael moved past Clementine clutching his hand, his eyes fixed on the ground as he moved towards the sofa. Wayne spotted Michael's hand and his eyes widened with shock. "Holy fuck." He breathed.

Maree came back, walkie-talkie in hand, confused by Wayne's outburst. "What's wrong?" She asked, her eyes following his gaze and falling upon Michael as the teen slumped down on the sofa "Michael, what happened?!" She cried.

"I got bit." He responded bluntly.

"But he cut it off." Clementine added.

"I can see that." Maree replied. "Why didn't you say anything when you came in here?"

Michael just shrugged his shoulders.

Maree sighed and turned towards Clementine. "I'm going to take a look at his hand. You just... Relax for a bit. Kenny and Dusty will be back soon." She stated, moving over to Michael and kneeling down in front of him.

Clementine observed them from afar before walking over to Helga and Wayne. They too were also observing Michael and Maree. "Did he really get bit?" Wayne asked, a little stunned.

Clementine nodded "Yeah."

"Did he cut it off himself?"

"Yeah." She repeated herself.

"Damn." Wayne muttered.

"Is he gonna turn?" Helga asked while crossing her arms. " 'Cause if he is, I'm not putting him down. And I'm not cleaning up afterwards."

"Since he cut it off, he might have chance..." Clementine replied then she glanced back at Wayne. "Why didn't you go with Kenny and Dusty?" She asked him.

"Someone had to hold down the fort."

"Me and Maree could have managed just fine." Helga gloated. "Don't know much about that Hazy kid upstairs though..."

"I have to say, Kenny seemed pretty worried when he noticed that you were missing... He didn't want to believe that you might have been dead. Before we could decide what to do, he just left... And Dusty went after him. But he was so scared, I could see it on his face. He was terrified." Wayne confided her.

"Don't know why he would get so worked up over her." Helga muttered.

Clementine ignored her. "I'm going to go check on the others." She stated, turning away and walking over to Maree and Michael.

Before she could reach Michael, Maree approached her with a burning question she wanted to ask. "How long ago was the bite?"

"Um..." Clementine paused, lost in thought. "When we were escaping Wellington."

"And how long did he leave it till cutting in off?"

"He removed it a couple of minutes after getting bit."

Maree nodded. "That's good... Oui, that's really good."

"He's not infected, is he?" She asked, glancing over at him.

"If he was, he'd have a fever right now. And a very high temperature. His main concern right now is blood loss." Maree stated. "Some antibiotics couldn't hurt either."

"But we sealed the wound." Clementine responded.

"He might have still lost a lot during the process of cutting it off and afterwards, plus the fact he's more susceptible to other infections in the cauterized area of his hand." Maree informed her.

"He's going to be okay, right?"

Maree paused, obviously wondering how to answer that, and settled with "Probably. I'll do my best..."

"I'm so sorry about Vaughn." Clementine somberly told her, unable to avoid this subject much longer with her.

Maree's expression saddened at the mention of Vaughn's name "It's fine. I mean, you did what you could, I get that. It's just... He was the only family I had left. We lost ma mère, my mother, in the first few days and... I didn't want him to end up with the same way. Now that he's gone... I don't know what to do. You have Kenny and AJ... Wayne has Helga... Who have I got?"

"You have Dusty. He's been there for you all this time. He's supported you after Vaughn died. He cares about you."

(?) Maree will remember that.

"Yeah, I guess he does." She smiled at that. "...Michael and that young man upstairs don't really have anyone though" She murmured, glancing over at the teenager."

"Michael has me." Clementine responded. Maree raised her eyebrow at her. "And the rest of the group" She quickly added. "We all need to get along with Hazen too."

"That's true, he's watching AJ upstairs, you should go check on him, I haven't heard anything up there, not even crying. By the way, what did he say... Y'know, when you and Michael were together?"

"He was sad. He missed his parents. He felt so lonely."

"Well, like you say, he has us, doesn't he?"

Clementine nodded in agreement. "I'm going to go check on AJ and Hazen."

"You do that." Maree agreed as she went back to tend to Michael's wound.

The twelve year old turned her head to glance at the brother and sister one last time before she made her way to the staircase which would lead her up to the second floor. She climbed the stairs and other from the chatter down below and the creaking of her footsteps, it was real quiet. She made it to the top and leaned on the banister to see that the room that was ajar and beginning to fill with sunlight, he could hear whispering.

Clem didn't feel the need to announce herself, so she just let herself in to see the young man named Hazen leaning over an old crib with AJ looking up at him. He noticed her and his face brightened up. "Clementine! You made it, I thought you were-!"

"How's AJ?" Clementine quickly inquired from him.

"He's fine." He just as quickly responded. "I've been watching him ever since Kenny and Dusty went out looking for you. Why? Was I just supposed to let Maree do this?"

The twelve-year-old approached the crib and looked down to see baby Alvie still slumbering, how he could sleep with all this ruckus going on she would never know. "No, you're okay, I was just worried."

Hazen nodded. "I understand, he's family, you have to look out for family."

"Yeah." Clem could agree on that as well. "What were you... whispering earlier, to AJ just now?"

The young man seemed to be taken off-guard at that question, but he soon recovered himself with an answer. "Just a lullaby. Have you ever heard, 'You Are My Sunshine'?

It sounded familiar to Clem, like she heard it from her mother or father so very long ago. Even if they did however, there's no way she could remember on the words. "It... rings a bell."

"I should teach you the words then. AJ's been loving it ever since I started, you definitely would have a better voice than me for it though." He slightly grinned at her.

Clementine didn't expect the compliment. "Sure. Thanks Hazen."

(?) Hazen will remember that.

"So what happened back there? When those gates opened up and our group charged right in, you and Michael just... disappeared. Most of us didn't know you were both gone till we got here. And Kenny went berserk. I wanted to go with him to look for you, but Dusty stopped me and told me to stay here. And then he went off after Kenny."

"I know, that's what everyone downstairs told me." Clem confirmed, she knew good old Ken couldn't wait for her at a time like this. "How did you guys get out?"

"Well, we mostly just pushed through. That woman up top really helped us out, shot a biter that was coming up right behind me, saved my life." Hazen replied. "Did you know her?"

Full of sorrow for the kind woman, Clem would be forever grateful for her help. "Edith, she was really nice, even when she didn't have to be. I wished she could have come with us."

"More and more people like that are fading away every day..." Hazen stated morbidly. "What happens when the last good soul dies?"

"That'll never happen." Clementine retorted firmly. "We always have to keep hope, that's what my friend said a long time ago. Got it?"

(?) Hazen will remember that.

Hazen looked like he was about to respond but closed his mouth and nodded his head. "Got it... I'll keep an eye on AJ up here, he's good okay? Go on and see if everyone's back yet."

"Okay, I'll see you in a bit." Clem nodded and waved both of them off as she exited the room and headed back downstairs.

As soon as she made it to the bottom, the door to the bed 'n' breakfast burst open as Kenny came running. "Oh my god, Clem!" He breathed, rushing over and embracing her in a hug. "You scared me." He whispered softly, holding her close. "I thought... I thought something terrible had happened." He continued, letting go of her and placing his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? Maree mentioned something about a bite."

Dusty had now entered the bed 'n' breakfast and closed the door behind him. "Michael got bit." Clementine told him, calming Kenny's nerves.

"And did he cut it off?" Kenny questioned.

"Yes, Michael did cut it off. Michael is also in the same goddamn room as you!" Michael exclaimed, talking in a third person.

"Right, sorry. You okay kid?" Kenny asked him.

"Don't act like you care." Michael growled. "It's clear the only people you care about are Clem and AJ." He declared bitterly.

Kenny sighed and turned towards Maree. "How's he lookin' ?"

"The wound is sealed up but the blistered skin could split. I might need to run a needle through it. Sadly, I don't have a needle or thread. Or anything to treat it with. All we have is that medicine to help prevent the flu." Maree informed him.

"Then we get some supplies." Helga butted in.

"If you hadn't noticed, kid, we're three years into the apocalypse. Where are we gonna get supplies on such short notice, huh?" Kenny scoffed.

For the first time since Clementine had met her, Helga was silent. The same silence washed over everyone as they all stood there, unsure about what to do or say next.

"I know a place." Michael spoke up.

All eyes fell on him. "There's a mall not far from here-" He began.

"-We've already been there, it's picked clean." Kenny interrupted.

"What? No, this is different. It's down the road a stretch. Quite a long walk but... It's worth it. Last time I went there it was full of supplies."

"When was the last time you went, Michael?" Clementine asked him.

" 'Bout a year ago."

"Then it's probably picked clean." Kenny stated.

"You don't know that." Michael retorted "How Wellington worked was like this; they'd send people out to search the surrounding areas. Once they were picked clean, they'd go further out. As far as I know, they hadn't reached that place yet or had only just started searching it."

"Michael's right, it's worth a shot." Dusty commented. "We gotta check it out, unless someone's got a better idea?"

"Maybe the kid's telling the truth." Wayne added. "I think I heard Xavier mention that mall, about how we was planning on a big supply run there."

"We don't really have much to lose at this point." Maree chimed in.

"Are you guys fuckin' kiddin' me? You're not serious." Kenny argued. "This kid doesn't know what's happened there in the past year. Who knows what we'd be walking into? Damn place could be a walker trap."

"You shouldn't really trust what Michael says." Helga commented smugly "He never gets it right."

"Shut up, Helga." Michael growled at her.

"Hey! No need to make this a big thing, alright?" Dusty tried to keep the peace among them. "We all just have to calm down and think about this."

"Shut it, Soldier boy! It was my idea to leave Wellington, so I'm the leader, so I say where we go." Kenny proclaimed his role to the group.

"Hold the fuck on!" Wayne exclaimed. "Who died and made you leader? We didn't even vote or anything!"

"You wanna make somethin' of it then?" Kenny challenged as he approached him. "You wanna fight for it?"

"Kick his ass Wayne!" Helga backed up his older brother.

"I'll take you on right here old man!" Wayne pushed Kenny, which was a bad move on his part.

"You son of a bitc-!" But Kenny was cut off before he could retaliate.

"HEY!" Everyone stopped talking and froze in their tracks as they turned their heads to see Hazen standing on the staircase. "Baby's trying to sleep! So all of you, shut the fuck up!" His voice was loud and commanding, totally opposite to his usual quiet tone. And without another word, Hazen went back upstairs to calm the cries of AJ. Now that was a good wake up call for them.

Kenny had calmed back down and sighed. Then turned to Clementine for advice. "What do you want to do, Clem?"

"I think we should check it out." Clementine responded, trying to resolute the situation.

(?) They will remember that.

"Alright, fine." Kenny was finally on board with the twelve year old's consent.

Michael smiled at Clementine and stood up. "I know where it is, so I'm going." He established.

"You're not going anywhere, not in that state." Maree informed him.

"I maybe be handicapped, but that doesn't mean you can tell me what to do. I'm going, that's that." And with those words, he made his way over to the door, glancing at Clementine. "If you want to come, then I'll see you outside." He then left.

Maree walked up to Clementine. "I don't like him going out there on his own. Maybe you should go, Clem. He seems to trust you and... You can keep an eye on him."

"Yeah, I'll go and keep an eye on him. But he can look after himself, he proved that when he cut off part of his hand."

"Okay, I know. I'm just worried that he might faint or..." Maree's voice trailed off.

"If the kids are serious about goin', then I'm goin' too. I don't want a repeat of yesterday." Kenny said, walking over to the door. "Lets hope it's not a complete waste of time." He muttered as he left.

"Try not to be too long, Clem." Maree told her. "Hazen and I will look after AJ until you and Kenny get back." Dusty then came up to Maree's side and actually put his arm comfortably around her.

"Don't take too long, Clem." He stated with a smirk. "Don't get locked in any freezers okay? Good luck."

Clementine smiled at that and walked over to the door to open it. "Thanks, guys." She replied gratefully as she left.

Michael and Kenny were outside, standing silently together as Clementine joined them. Michael turned and smiled at her. "I knew I could count on you, Clem." He said fondly.

"Alright kid, lead the way." Kenny told him gruffly. Michael rolled his eyes irritably and walked on ahead towards the empty road. "This better be good..." Kenny grumbled.

"It will, don't worry." Michael replied reassuringly.

"How far is it?" Clementine asked.

"About an hours walk. Or half an hour, I don't know." He told them.

"You better hope it's worth it. For your sake." Kenny warned.

"It will be worth it. Trust me."

A/N- We apologize for the lateness of the update. But we are going to finish this story together. Thank you all for sticking with it guys. and thank you for your patience :) Stay Tuned for the next update and review your thoughts. :)