Maya and Robert arrive late back in camp, surprised to see no one on watch. Maya had her tears dried for a bit, but her heart still aches for saying goodbye to Violet. Even Robert suggests she stays with Violet and the Ericson kids. But Maya will not leave her sister's side. As much as she loves Violet romantically and she is the love of her life, her sister is the most important to Maya over her love for Violet. Aniya is the only resemblance of her tribe and family. If Clementine will let Maya in, she has to let Aniya come with her.
Robert looks at the gates worriedly, "This isn't right. Someone should be on watch."
Maya looks up at the watch tower, "Maybe they are switching out."
"Maybe. But I feel something is wrong." Robert pushes further, "I worry about you, kid."
"I'm fine, Robert. Stop worrying about me." Maya looks down at her feet.
"Maya, I know how much you hurt. Your heart is at that school, not here. I saw how those kids embraced you as they accepted you as one of their own." Robert said in a low voice. "I meant what I said back there, you should go and be with your girlfriend Violet. You love her and it is clear she loves you back."
Maya stops for a moment, "Rob, I appreciate the thought, really I do. And as much as I want to live out my time on this earth with Violet and grow old with her. Sleep next to her and wake up to her sweet face everyone morning, I still have my sister here to think about. Who will look after my baby sister, the one thing left of my tribe and family? Some things Rob holds a lot more priority than my romance with Violet. As much as it pains me to say it because I love both, Aniya is a bit more important for me right now to protect and keep alive. I am staying with my sister." Maya then picks up the walk. Then she spoke, "Please don't ask that of me again. It is bad enough I have to break my heart as well as Violet's when I say goodbye to her."
Robert nods and they walk the rest of the way to the front gate. Robert opens up the gate and lets Maya through first as he follows after her and closes the gate. Robert looks as Maya stood there eyeing Bonnie getting into a heated discussion with Alberto. Maya looks at Robert, "What do you think that is all about?"
"I don't know. Bonnie knows you and I had our little mission so can't be about that. I just left out the part of going to see Clementine and those kids. And thanks to you and Clem on that outing of collecting those drugs. It makes my story legit." Robert spoke to Maya. He turns and heads for the med tent, "I will go take this new stash and stock up my supplies, you get some rest, you look like hell."
Maya nods and is too heartbroken to even come up with a teasing comeback. Maya sighs as she walks over to her tent. As she heads in the direction, she heard a little bit of Bonnie arguing with Alberto.
"Mind telling me what happened to our medical supplies Alberto?" Bonnie eyes him sharply.
"Why are you pointing fingers at me, it is Robert who is in charge of that stuff," Alberto says
"Robert had to go and find more supplies this afternoon because someone stole ours. Was it you?" Bonnie asks.
"For Christ's sake no." Alberto comes back.
"Arvo? You two seem to be buddies recently." Bonnie asked eyeing Arvo buy the weapons. "Which also reminds me, a third of our weapons are missing too. Who are you supplying and giving away all of our stuff?"
"Oh fuck off you old hag. I am not supplying anything. Maybe it was that teenage brat Maya who always seems to sneak out God knows where. Maybe you are eyeing the wrong person when it is her you should be concerned about!" Alberto lays in on Bonnie.
"Leave Maya out of this. She has learned her lesson and is tending to the group duties. I am now questioning your loyalties with this group." Bonnie squares up the 47-year-old man.
"My loyalties are fine. I haven't done a thing to betray you or this group." Alberto stares into Bonnie's blue eyes.
Maya looks at the man and can tell he is lying. But with what Maya still does not know. Maya was too emotionally distraught as she made her way to her sister. She sees Arvo glaring at her, "How was your medicine run."
"Arvo I am not in the mood to get in it with you. Robert is putting the stash away in the med tent if you want to view it yourself. Please just….leave me alone." Maya said.
"Too emotional to fight huh..that is a change." He takes his knife and sharpens it with a stone.
Maya took a deep breath, the sooner I leave this group and go to Clementine's the better. I can't stand this motherfucker. I wish Clementine would have shot this son of bitch when she had a chance. Maya then walks to her tent and she looks to see her sister, Aniya out of their tent eyeing Bonnie and Alberto. "What's going on?"
"Bonnie suspects someone is stealing our supplies and giving them away to others. Where have you and Robert been all day? I had to pull an extra shift of hunting and do your lookout." Aniya turns to her sister.
"Top secret, Aniya. Can't say." Maya spoke. "Why does Bonnie suspect someone stealing?"
"Some of our medical stash is gone secret for what Robert uses. As well as some of our weapons are gone. Knives, and guns mostly. She is questioning everyone. Don't be surprised if she starts to grill you and Rob."
"Bonnie knows Rob and I were gone all day to hit up that drugstore for more medical supplies. Got a huge haul." Maya said.
"Well, that is something. But doesn't explain a third of our weaponry supply mysteriously disappears in the night." Aniya said. "When Bonnie and I went hunting alone, we saw strange footprints up by the river. Like someone or a group of people made camp there, but moved on. And strange that Arvo and Alberto never reported such a sighting when they made their outing there a few days ago."
"That is strange." Maya bit her lower lip. She eyes Alberto now walking to his tent and Bonnie looking crossed. Maya eyes the two questionable men then looks to her sister, "I don't like this sis."
"What?" Aniya looks at her sister.
"Alberto and Arvo. I smell trouble with those two as they are planning something behind all of our backs." Maya eyes Arvo in particular as he gets up from the chair and stabs the knife into the wood block. And then picks up a gun and loads it.
"Planning what?" Aniya asks.
"I don't know. But while I was sidetracked with my love feelings for Vi, I lost my sense of being vigilant with those two." Maya admitted. Maya closes her eyes and turns to look at her sister, "Can I ask you something, a proposal really."
Aniya thought for a moment, then looked at her sister, "Okay what?"
"I don't like where this is heading if my instincts with Arvo and Alberto planning something horrible, and I want to get you the hell out of harm's way. So I have a proposition to make with you here.." Maya breathes and was about to tell her sister about Ericson when Bonnie comes up behind Aniya which made Maya clam up. Aniya saw her sister freeze as she doesn't want anyone to know but her. Aniya turns her head when she heard Bonnie talking.
"How did the run go? You and Robert find anything on your outing this afternoon?" Bonnie asks.
Maya nods, "Rob is putting away the supplies right now."
Bonnie nods and bows her head and puts her hand over her eyes. "Good. We are going to need that, and your herbs Maya." Bonnie removes her hand, "I don't know who or what, but our supplies seem to disappear at the drop of a dime. I know it is not you two or Robert. And Alicia is too young to leave these walls. I have a hunch it is Alberto and Arvo. I will keep watch tonight and tomorrow Maya, I hate to ask this of you….but can you go and scavenge what you can on herbs." Bonnie said, "I don't know how long this stash of yours you brought back with you is going to last. Someone in this group is supplying it to bandits." Bonnie eyes her.
"Sure, I will do what I can, but with it being so close to winter, I don't know how well I can find the herbs." Maya was honest.
"Do what you can. I will go tell Robert to keep that stash in his tent. We may need to use them." Bonnie replies. "Get some rest you two."
Maya looks at Bonnie as she moves past them to go to the watch tower. Aniya looks at her sister, "What the hell was that about?"
"I have no idea." Maya shrugs.
"So this propitiation you were going to tell me about." Aniya urges her sister to continue their conversation.
Maya looks at her sister and then around the camp. "I'll tell you in our tent come on."
…..
Violet moves to sit alone at the picnic table as she silently cries for missing Maya. Violet's shoulders slightly shook as she tries not to show her heart broken but she couldn't hold back the tears. Aasim switches out with Omar who is taking the first watch of the night. He goes to where Violet is and sits down next to her, "You okay Vi?"
Violet looks up at Aasim with tears streaming down her white cheeks, "Does it look like I am okay Aasim."
"Okay, stupid question." Aasim holds up his hands, as Violet slumps down and puts her head in her hands, and her chest heaves. Aasim sighs and puts his hand around her shoulders. "I know how much you love her." Aasim looks at his friend's broken heart, "For the record, I heard it in her voice, she didn't want to leave you. Even that Robert guy begged her to stay behind here."
"What's your point, Aasim?" Violet mumbles with her head buried in her arms.
"Point is I have never heard or seen the pain in Maya's eyes and in her voice the way she left the school. She really truly loves you, Violet—something I haven't witnessed of someone loving you how you should be loved. And how you ran up and hugged her when Maya and Clementine came back. Your whole face lit up, as you greeted Maya as if she always belonged in this group. Your love for her, Vi is real." Aasim sighs, "She makes you happy, which you never expressed the whole time you are here at Ericson."
Violet slowly lifts up her head and looks at Aasim. She wipes the tears from her eyes, "Well…there is no way I can live out my happiness with her. She has her sister to think about. I know I shouldn't be selfish here, as I know how much her sister Aniya means to her. But God fucking damn it, I want her here with me. So, I don't feel so fucking alone." Violet looks at Aasim and casts her green eyes down onto the table, "You know what I mean. Someone I can share my love and affection with like how you do with Ruby or what Clementine does to Louis. I want that, as I finally open my heart up to love again. I feel this love is stronger than what I used to share with Minerva." Violet looks up at Aasim before her eyes go to the gates of Ericson, "Maya is my true love, Aasim. Who I am supposed love." Violet sighs as she moves her eyes from the gates to Aasim, "Is there any way we can ask Clementine to take in both Maya and her sister?"
"Vi.." Aasim was hesitant.
"You saw how she handled herself this afternoon." Violet looks at him.
"Yes..but we don't know her sister," Aasim said.
Violet looks away around the courtyard, "I know, but if she is anything like Maya, she is trustworthy."
Aasim looks at Violet, "Have you personally met your girlfriend's sister aside from the first meeting."
Violet looks back at him and then plays with her fingers in the grooves in the picnic tables, "Not personally, no. We never had time to bond, and well...I spent the time I had with Maya as much as possible. But Maya will vouch for her sister."
Aasim looks to Violet, "Well, it is up to Clementine, and she seemed to change her view on your girlfriend. I don't know what happened when they got drugs for Louis, but something happened out there to have Clementine not be as hostile towards her. At least what I have noticed when they came back."
That put a little smile on Violet's face. "Thanks, Aasim for helping me, but I think I am going to go to bed. My heart…I just need to be alone."
Aasim nods and watches Violet leave to go to her dorm. Ruby came out of the admin building as she watches Violet leave to go to her dorm. Ruby eyes Aasim as she sits down next to him. "Violet looks so miserable worse than I have seen her when discover Minnie…."
Aasim looks to where Violet left and to his girlfriend, "She is heartbroken Ruby. You didn't see the way Maya kissed her goodbye or cried at the gates. I believe Violet is telling the truth, that both of them fell hard for each other."
Ruby looks to her boyfriend, "What are you suggesting to bring Maya back here so Violet can be happy? You know as well as I that won't happen especially when winter is at our doorstep."
"Maybe. But you see how well she gathers drugs. Maybe we all were wrong about her and judged her before we knew her. Maya is not the enemy here, and who knows she can be useful to you sweety." Aasim said.
Ruby noticed Maya handing her a special herb thing to help with Clementine's leg as she gave it to Clementine before she left to come outside. "What is your plan to convince Clementine to get Maya to stay here indefinably."
"The truth, and to stand up and be in Violet's corner for once," Aasim said as the night shadows form around the courtyard. "But in the morning. We all had a busy day. Omar is on watch, and Clementine has morning watch. Since Louis will be out of commission for a while, I guess I have to pick up hunting shifts with Willy." Aasim bows his head, "You know with Louis a man down, already feels like a loss for us. This further makes Violet's case of bringing Maya and her sister here in our group. Both prove to be skillful hunters, and we can use extra hands with losing Mitch, Brody, and Marlon."
Ruby looks at him and Aasim is starting to make sense a little bit. Ruby finally breathes out, "As much as I hate to admit it, you do have a point that we need more people in our group than just you, Vi, Louis, Tenn, Clem, AJ Omar, and Willy. And Tenn and AJ are still young and little only leaves Willy, Violet, and Omar. If you think bringing Maya into our group is the right choice, I believe you."
….
Clementine looks at Louis as she lays down with him and snuggles close to him. Louis looks at her, "Hey it is okay."
"No..you could have died, Lou." Clementine strokes his face. "Thank God Maya had a surgeon in her camp to save you."
Louis's eyes open up and he springs up, "Surgeon what..wha—" Louis felt the patch on his lower right abdomen and felt like millions of knives stabbing him. He winces at the pain.
Clementine sits up with him, "Violet and Aasim diagnosed you had your appendix ruptured, and you needed a surgeon proto." Clementine explains. "I didn't want to trust Violet that she can get Maya over here to help you. She not only brought her, but she brought someone I never expected could be the one to save your life and be the miracle you need. Her friend an older gentleman name Robert preform the surgery on you. Without him…" Clementine looks to Louis.
Louis looks at her and then down at the ground can't believe what she is saying to him. My father was a surgeon. Had his own private practice and that is how he made his life fortune, and my family became rich. And his name…is also Robert. Robert James Mason. It can't be him. Why would he come to me when he is the one who sent me to this fucking school in the first place! Louis was so lost in his mind he didn't hear Clementine's sweet words.
"Louis?" Clementine asks.
Louis looks at her, "You said his name was Robert, Maya's friend that saved me?"
Clementine nodded, "You know him?"
Louis was debating on telling Clementine his father's name, "I might be overthinking it, but my own father is name Robert too. He's the reason I was sent to this school after my parent's divorce. Never did forgive him of that. It could be a different Robert who fixed me up."
Clementine looks at her boyfriend and heard the anger in his voice. Before rescuing of their friends from the Raiders Louis had a sense of guilt for splitting up his parent's marriage, now it switches and he is angry. Angry at a ghost of a person who could be long gone and joining the walking dead. Clementine then winces at her own pain in the leg "Ouch."
Louis's anger washes over him as he looks at his girlfriend who was rubbing her stump. "You're leg?"
Clementine nods in silence. She looks at the vile Ruby gave her that was given to her by Maya. Clementine was hoping she didn't need it, or believe Maya is that gifted in her herbs. But the throbbing pain of her stump was getting too painful to bare the pain. Clementine reaches for the small container and unscrews the jar lid, and dips her fingers in the cool gel substance. Can't believe I am going to try and hope this girl Maya is right on her medicines.
Clementine undoes her prosthetic foot and rubs the substance in her swelled-up tissue. Clementine grits her teeth, at the pain as she rubs the substance in her flesh. It burned but also had a cool touch to soothe it.
Louis looks at her and softly asks, "Where did you get that?"
"It was handed to Ruby by Maya. Maya saw me limping when we got out of the drugstore to get the medicines needed for your recovery. She offered to inspect my foot but I wouldn't let her. My priority was to get to you as soon as possible." Clementine turns to look at Louis with her soft amber eyes. Already with Maya's medicine applied to Clementine's stump, she already is feeling some of the aching going away. Clementine bows her head. "Maybe having Maya around here might not be so bad."
Louis looks confused, "So now you and Violet's girlfriend are new bffs?"
"Not bffs for say. And yes I still hold my judgment in letting her come into the walls when she is a part of another group. But she is not as bad as I judge her, and she did have my back and saved me from threatening dudes when I was being stubborn. Something I didn't expect from her." Clementine admitted. "I promised her I wouldn't shoot her or anyone in this group if she is seen around Ericson and she and Violet are seen together. After all, I kind of owe my debt to her for saving your life. Without her and Robert's help, you wouldn't have survived, and we will be digging another grave." Clementine eyes Louis. And lets out her soft tears. "I could have lost you, Lou."
Louis gingerly moves his body and places his arms around Clementine's tiny waist and brings her close to him. "I'm still here Clem, and well and kicking..well kind of once I regain my strength back, I will be the same charming Lou you fell for."
Clementine smiles and leaned into his touch as they both lay back down on the small nurses aid bed, and slept in each other's arms until Clementine has to go for morning watch.
…
Aniya sits on Maya's bed as she looks at her sister, "So you want to tell me what you were going to ask me before Bonnie came and you claimed up?"
Maya looked around, and in a low whisper, she spoke to her, "Okay, promise me you will keep this very quiet."
"Why are you whispering?" Aniya asks.
"Because I don't want other ears listening in." Maya took a deep breath, "I went to Violet's group to help her friend. Violet lives in a school with well-protected walls. Better than here. And I've seen the other kids she lives with. They have a good life going on and we can be with kids our own age and not with these adults."
Aniya looks at her sister and then down at the ground. "Maya…I don't know."
"They are not as bad as you think they are, sis. They have been through a lot, which is why they act a bit hostile. They are trying to keep each other alive." Maya explained.
"Maya, even if that is true, how can you be so sure they will accept us both," Aniya said. "Arvo said the girl with the prosthetic foot is cold-hearted and doesn't trust anyone."
"You really going to trust what Arvo says to be true? I don't trust that skunk as far as I can throw him. He is a liar Aniya and only in it for himself and seeks revenge." Maya's face grew into an angry scowl. Maya took a deep breath to even out her sudden burst of anger as she looked at her sister. "I've spent time with Clementine and she and I worked through our shit and came to an understanding. And if you see the shit she went through I don't blame her for being cautious and extending trust." Maya admitted.
"How exactly did you spend time together." Aniya looks at her.
"We got locked in a basement of a drug store and had a heart-to-heart moment," Maya said. "Will you think about it? It will be a better life for us, and Clementine and her people are actually decent. And there are no adults."
Aniya was about to refuse when she picked up on the last words her sister spoke, "No adults? At all?"
"Nope." Maya looks at her sister.
"Well…who takes care of them? Are they like wild children running around with no responsibility?" Aniya asks.
Maya gave a little chuckle to that, "They are not wild. They look out for each other and take care of one another. They have hunting and fishing. Like back, our ancestors used to do and rely on food. Reminds me of our home back in Jackson."
Aniya looks at her older sister and looks down at her boots. "I miss our home, mom, dad, and brother. I wish we could go back there."
Maya knows the pain Aniya seeks in her heart. "I know..but we can't. Home is gone. And so is our tribe."
Aniya sheds tears. "You don't know that. Some of our people in our tribe could have made it out."
"Aniya…I want to believe that too, but the truth is, they hadn't. Most of them are the things we see out of these walls. And if they are not walkers, they are dead. That is why Dad pushed us to seek out next of kin in Northern Canada when the outbreak happened. Nanni..she is the one who told us to go find a kin tribe in Canada that hasn't been touched by the living dead, as she stayed behind. She got bit when trying to help the Chief. She knew she wouldn't make it." Maya told her little sister the truth about what happened to their homeland and most of their friends and tribal members.
Aniya looks sad as she sheds tears for her tribe and people, "How come I have not known this had happened."
Maya sighed, "Because you were too young to fully understand why, and Mom and Dad didn't want to upset you as you already were. They also didn't want to upset Koda as well as me. But I already knew."
Aniya looks at her older sister, "So we are the only two who are left of our tribe?" Maya looked at her sister and didn't want to say it, but her eyes already did. Aniya started to sob now as she is realizing this for the first time.
Maya came close to holding her sister. "I don't know if some of our people from our tribe survived. Maybe they found some new place and survived elsewhere like you and I have. But Jackson is gone, and now is the city of the dead." Maya looks at her sister and sighs, "Now you understand why I was so overprotective of you before we found this group. You and I are it, sis. And why you are the only person I want to take with me to live out our days with kids our own age at that school? And I don't have to worry anymore about keeping my eye on you. Or fear someone will harm you."
Aniya looks at Maya, "You really think that school is safe?"
Maya nods, "Yes. I've…been to their school. It is huge. And they have three young kids I know you will enjoy playing with. I know you have a soft spot for Alicia. You can finally have a chance to be a normal 16-year-old."
Aniya wipes her tears, "Sounds like a dream."
"But.." Maya is sensing something.
"What about Alicia, Robert, and Bonnie?" Aniya asks.
"They can't take everyone in sis. We may need to part from those we grew fond of here for a chance at a better life. And living life out with Clem and her group, I see a better future for both of us. Plus there are several cute boys there." Maya said. "besides Louis the dread head."
Aniya looks at her sister, "Really?"
Maya nods. "Will you think about it at least? And I can try and work something out with Clementine?"
Aniya looks at her feet then her brown eyes meet Maya, "You really think her group is a better fit for us?"
"Yes. I really do. I trust Clementine more than I do with Bonnie, and that is saying something, Aniya." Maya spoke the truth.
Aniya eyes her sister and sees a worried expression on her face. "I believe you."
….
It has been about ten days since Robert performed an appendectomy surgery on Louis. Louis still aches from the surgery done on him, and Clementine kept him from doing heavy tasks such as hunting and fixing the traps. Louis groaned when he had to keep off his tasks and work either in the greenhouse with Ruby and sometimes Violet or watch duty with Willy or AJ. And Clementine asks Violet to help Aasim set the rabbit traps until Louis can fully recover. Violet agreed without a fuss, and things between them seemed to ease their long tension. Clementine apologized to Violet for misunderstanding her girlfriend and admitted she acted out on her judgment of her.
Since Louis is still trying to recover, Violet sets out to help reset the traps for the rabbits. Aasim was on hunting duty, so he was tracking rabbits. Violet had just finished up on the last snare when she saw Maya in the distance of the woods. Violet's heart raced, and she finished the snare and follows her girlfriend. Maya was defiantly on a mission for something.
Maya turns around and aims her bow at Violet, "Whoa, Maya, it's me."
Maya lowers her bow immediately, "Oh..sorry, Vi. Never could be too careful out here with walkers."
"I get it. I am armed too." Violet holds out her meat cleaver, then puts it back in its place on her hip. Violet looks at her girlfriend, "What are you doing out here?" Violet asks.
"On an herb hunt. Someone is taking our medical supplies from my group. So Bonnie is relying on me to find as many herbs as I can before winter sets in, and I won't have much to go on until spring. I found some chamomile out there somewhere near the valley. That is where I am heading now. Sorry, I have to come across into your lands and close to—" Maya explained.
"No, I get it. Someone is taking your medical supplies. What about what you and Rob got when you got drugs to help Louis with his after-surgery care?" Violet asks.
"Bonnie has it under a lock-in key of the drugs we got from helping your friend. I can't even touch them. She only is allowing Robert to handle it since he is the one and only doctor we have." Maya spoke.
Violet nods, "Who is stealing your medication? Do you have any clue who it is?"
Maya looks at Violet, "I have a hunch it is Arvo. And it is not just medicine Vi. It is our weapon as well."
"Very good observation Maya…" a voice sounded behind a tree.
Maya stood in front of Violet, and a snarl came on her face when she heard that voice. Arvo comes out from behind the tree. "You sniveling bastard. You followed me?"
"Yes, and lead me right to your little girlfriend." Arvo smiles, and soon four men rush to separate Violet from Maya.
"Maya!" Violet screams as a man with snakes tattoos around his arm holds Violet tightly.
"Let her go!" Maya screams as a burly man holds her back.
"uh ah, you have to listen to us now on bargaining." Arvo smiles at Maya, pacing back and forth, blocking her view from her lover.
"I am not going to give you anything you want, Arvo." Maya glares at him. "Let Violet go! NOW!"
"Your tough act isn't going to help you here as your guardian angels, Robert and Bonnie, are back at camp." Arvo punches Maya in the face. "Tell me where Clementine is at, and I will think about letting you have your precious lover back."
"Eat shit!" Maya growls at him angrily.
Arvo stares down Maya's furious brown eyes, and he strikes her across the cheek with his hand slicing it with his ring. Maya felt a sting in her face but would not give this snake anything, protecting her girlfriend's community.
"Let's try this again. Where is Clementine and the rest of that blonde girl's group." Arvo came close to Maya's face now.
"Go to hell." Maya refuses to talk.
Arvo punches Maya now in the gut. And kicked her in the knees to make her fall to the ground. "I can do this all-fucking day unless you give me something." Arvo was about to strike Maya again when an arm stopped him.
"Leave her alone. Damn it! Maya," Violet screams as tears run down her eyes seeing the love of her life getting beaten.
"That's enough, Arvo. She won't talk that way." The voice spoke.
Maya looks up as she spits blood out and sees Alberto, "You! You filthy traitor, it was both of you! You both were stealing the meds and weapons and giving them to these dudes."
Alberto casts a side look at Maya and then at Violet. "If you want Maya to talk, hit her where she values most in this world." Alberto walks over to where Violet is. Then eyes Maya, "Where is the girl with amber eyes and a prosthetic foot? Tell me, or your girlfriend will get hurt."
Maya looks at Violet, then at Alberto, "Leave Violet out of this. You want to hurt someone, hurt me."
Alberto looks to the man beside him with orange hair, "Lonny, can I borrow your lighter?" the man hands him the lighter, and Alberto lights up a cigar. Maya watches in horror at what he is planning.
"No! Get the fuck away from her." Maya screams. Maya grunts a little as she thrashes and tries to break free. "I'll fucking kill you if you hurt her! Get off of me!" But she is unsuccessful as she is being restrained back by a burly man who only increases his grip the more Maya struggles to get free. Arvo was there too, threatening Maya and pointing a hooked knife at her throat. "Violet!"
Alberto knows he is getting somewhere. He takes a puff of smoke and blows it into Violet's face making her cough. Then with an evil grin, he looks back at Maya, "Last chance Maya, you deny this time telling the location of where the girl Arvo wants to see. Your girl here will pay the price."
Maya looks at Violet and then back at Alberto, "I will not betray my girlfriend. Let her go, Goddamn it!"
"I'm not giving you a choice Maya. Tell me now, or see your girlfriend get harmed. I'm not fucking around." Alberto circles Violet in an intimating way. And soon, he kneels and blows one last smoke into Violet's face and looks at the cigar, then inches to stab the burning bud into Violet's eye. "Hold her eye open, Lonny." Violet's eyes widen in fear as she shakes her head violently to get away. But the men were too strong. Violet's heart raced as she saw the burning bud coming closer and closer to her left eye.
Maya sees the horror and doesn't want any harm done to Violet as she knows Alberto isn't playing around here as he was dangerously close to burning her lover. Maya pleads to her traitorous groupmates. "Wait! Don't Please…I will tell you. Just don't hurt her."
Alberto pulls a little from Violet's face, "We're listening."
Violet looks away from the burning cigar as she eyes her lover. Violet looks at Maya with horror in her eyes and, at the same time, hurt as she feels a little betrayed by her girlfriend. But she knows in her heart Maya didn't want to as she was being forced. Similar to how Lily treated Violet back on the boat. Violet has tears in her eyes as she looks at Maya.
Maya looks at Violet with tears in her eyes as well. As she doesn't want to do this, she has no choice. Either stay strong and let Violet get tortured, or give in to what they want. Maya wasn't prepared to see Violet harmed, so she closed her eyes for a moment. Please forgive me Vi.. In a sad tone, Maya admitted defeat, "There's an old boarding school just south of here called Ericson. Clementine is the leader there with some other kids."
Maya looks up at Alberto and Arvo, "You got what you wanted. Now let Violet go. Please!"
Alberto looks at Arvo, then Alberto drops the cigar on the ground and stabs it out with his foot. "Your girlfriend here will be a nice playing token if this girl Clementine wants to play by our rules. Take her, Ralph."
"No!" Maya screams and fights back. She kicks and tries to pull free, but the man holds a firm grip on her, so she can't go to Violet. "Violet! Fight back." Arvo punches Maya in the mouth and slices her cheek with his blade. Maya felt a sting of burning pain and felt the ooze of blood.
"Stop it, you bastard! Maya!" Violet also tries to fight through her restraint, but the man holds her too tight.
Alberto smiled at Arvo and then held up his hand for him to stop. Alberto turns to look at a defeated Maya. "It is funny how much you are willing to sacrifice here for the sake of true love." Alberto casts a look at Violet and then back at Maya as Maya's face is bleeding, "If you want to save your girlfriend, go and run to tell Clementine to show up at the river west of here by the boat ruins. Try and be convincing now. Because if you are unsuccessful, Maya, this could be the end of seeing your precious lover alive." Alberto smiles at Maya in a conniving way. "You have until dawn."
Alberto turns and clicks his fingers to let the other men come with him. Ralph is holding Violet and forces her to walk. "NO! Get your fucking hands off me! Fuck you!NO! MAYA!" Violet wouldn't go through this again and bit down hard on the man's hand to let him let go of her.
"Oouch, Why you little bitch!" Ralph screamed.
But Alberto was taking no shit from Violet as he slapped her across the cheek with his hand. "You ever want to see your girl again, I expect you to behave!"
"I am not going to—" Violet was going to say something. And she got whacked by Alberto's hand again, but this time he had something in his hand that left a sting on her left cheekbone. Violet sees he has a small knife on him, and he just slices Violet with it.
"That was a warning for you not to talk back. Next time I won't be so nice." Alberto nods to Lonny to take Violet captive as he leads the way back to their camp.
Maya had hot tears running down her cheeks as she watched Alberto and this guy she had seen on the roadway getting the drugs to help Louis. She looks at Arvo, and he looks at his blade and then at Maya, "First, I will kill Clementine, then your girlfriend, and last. You."
Maya spat in his face in a revolt against his threats. Maya looked at him with fury in those brown eyes as she eyes him, "Go to hell, you traitorous piece of shit. Clementine should have shot your ass so you wouldn't live to see the light of day."
Arvo wipes Maya's spit off his face, "Maybe…but she didn't. I shot her first." He then came and used the tip of his knife to lift Maya's chin up as he leaned forward, glaring into her eyes, "Funny thing is, looks like you are the traitor now. At least I know I don't have anything to lose. But you know what, Maya? Falling in love and letting your guard down for that girl was your biggest downfall and what will be the end of you." Arvo moves the blade from Maya's chin. When he did that, it nicked her flesh a little, causing another cut as blood dripped down her neck. Arvo thought about slicing open her neck and ending her life right there. But decided not to. Arvo puts away his knife as he looks at the beefy man behind Maya, "Let's go, Miles."
The burly guy let go of Maya and flung her to the dirt. Then he follows after Arvo. Maya looked up from the ground as her muscles ached, and two new cuts. Maya didn't care as the men grabbed the one thing she loved most in this world besides her sister. Maya rubbed the tears out of her eyes, gingerly stood up, and walked to Ericson, begging Clementine for her help to rescue Violet.