Maya stumbles back to Ericson to warn Clementine and the other kids of what Arvo and Alberto will do. She hates putting Violet's group in this vulnerable spot, but it is the only way to save Violet. And Maya is not willing to sacrifice Violet, the love of her life. Each step it hurt as Arvo beat her hard to break Maya's will.
Maya just prays her sister is not going to be harmed in this crossfire. Why did I do that? Risk everything I love to be the hero and protect Violet. I could lose everything, my sister, my lover. For what? Please…great spirits. Protect my baby sister and Violet. Prays to her ancestors for help which she hasn't done since her parent's death.
Maya sees the dock, as well as the trees with strange ribbons around it as she hurries to the walls of Ericson Boarding School. Walkers were in her way as she had no will to fight after being beaten up. Maya took out her knife and slain one walker and was about to slay the other when an arrow whizzed by her missing her by a few inches. Maya looks up and sees a wild hair child taking a shot.
Maya ran to the gate and shelved her weapon as she yelled at him, "I need to see Clementine! It is important, Please!"
"Why should I let you in, trespasser." The boy aimed the arrow at her.
"Please!" Maya begs, "Violet's in trouble!"
Ruby was nearby, "Maya?"
"Tell him to let me in please!" Maya shouted. She heard moans of the dead coming at her, "Violet doesn't have a lot of time, and neither do I!"
Ruby rushes to the gate and opens it for her as quickly as she shuts it. Ruby turns back to look at Maya as she is bleeding and looks pretty banged up. "What happened to you?"
"I've been attacked by my own group mates, who took Violet." Maya winces as Ruby expects her injuries. "Where is Clementine?"
"She's in the admin building with Louis." Ruby looks at her.
Willy came down from watch, "You seriously going to trust this motherfucker and let her in the walls!"
Ruby eyes Willy and points a finger at him, "Watch your tone, mister, and Maya saved Louis's life. We owe her that. Clementine already made it clear to all of us that Maya is an ally here. And Willy, get back to your post and look out for Aasim." Ruby turns to Violet's girlfriend "Come with me."
Omar looks up from preparing dinner as AJ and Tenn are playing up in the tree house. AJ looked at Tenn and pointed down at the newcomer who came in from the gates. AJ and Tenn both look at each other and come down from playing in Clementine's tree house. Maya winces as she tries to keep up with Ruby. Ruby looks at her, "You sure you don't want me to tend to your injuries? You look like you've been through hell."
"I'm fine. Been through worse." Maya heaves, "Violet needs our help more than me getting looked at." Maya mummers.
"How did this happen?" Ruby looks at the rugged native female.
Maya looks into the red-haired girl's eyes, "Got ambushed. And they try to get me to give my knowledge of this place, and I refuse to talk or say anything to protect you guys. Violet told me you guys were attacked once by the Delta and Raiders, and I didn't want you guys to go through that again, so I stayed quiet. But…Alberto knew how to get to me, and if didn't talk or give them what they wanted he was going to burn Violet's eye. Sorry to put you or cause trouble for you guys. But…I had no choice." Maya admitted. "I wouldn't have spoken and given up the location of the school, but they threatened to harm Violet, and I couldn't watch someone I love be tortured." Maya looks down at her feet as they reach the steps. "Please don't think less of me. I had no choice. Either I give up what I know of this place, or risk harming the girl I love."
Ruby looks at her and sees Aasim is right. They all misjudge Maya and her character. She really is like one of them and the fact she fought to protect the school and everyone inside makes her worthy of being part of this school. Ruby smiles at her, "Fact is you are willing to put your life on the line for us, is worthy enough. I don't think less of you, as you came to us and helped Louis when you didn't need to." Ruby smiles and leads Maya inside. Once Maya enters, she hears sweet music being played in another room. It has been a long time since she heard sweet music. Ruby turned to her and said, wait here.
Maya nods to Ruby and leans her back up against the banister to the grand central staircase. And felt the new cut on her cheek as it would leave a new scar on her face. She waits for Clementine to come out so they can strategies a plan to get Violet back.
….
Clementine was kissing Louis at the piano as he and her were in a romantic moment when Louis was playing the piano moments before. Ever since their first sexual experience, the two lovers couldn't keep their hands off one another, and Clementine felt lucky and blessed that Maya and her friend saved Louis from something that could be fatal and end her happiness.
They were in the middle of making out on Louis's piano when there was a knock, and Ruby's sweet voice echoed through the door, "Clem? Clem, are you in here?"
Clementine pulls back from Louis and tries to wipe the goofy love grin off her face, as Louis knows how to get into her heart with his charming ways. Clementine puts her hand over Louis's mouth, to stop kissing her neck. "Yeah…Ruby."
"Clem, I need you to come out here in the lobby. Somebody needs to talk with you. It's important." Ruby calls back from behind the door as she knows Clementine and Louis are having someone flirting romance time, and she doesn't want to be invasive. Ruby breathes out a sigh and blurts out, "Violet is in trouble, Clem. She needs our help and cooperation with Maya."
When Ruby spoke those words, it made Louis stop being charming and romantic with Clementine, and both of them got up from the piano seat and made their way to the door of the piano room, "What!"
Ruby nods her head where Maya is waiting. Clementine comes out first and rounds the corner to see Maya beaten and looking like shit. "What happened to Violet?! You..you betrayed her and us after you gave me your word you wouldn't harm her or us!" Clementine takes out her knife and looks at Maya and threatening her a little, feeling betrayed all over again.
Maya would explain when this sweet red-haired girl spoke up for her, "Clem.." Ruby looks at her leader, "Maya and Violet were attacked by Arvo."
Maya looks at the teen with a sweet soul, "Thanks Ruby, but I can defend myself." Maya looks at both Clementine and Louis, "You were right about Arvo. He followed me when I was going to valley to get herbs for my group when Arvo attacked Violet and me. No, I didn't plan for Violet to follow me either. She must have seen me heading to the valley and caught me off guard. Someone was stealing weapons and medical supplies in my group, and I had my suspicion it was Arvo, and I was right, but he had a partner, Alberto. Remember those four dudes we saw in that small town? Arvo and Alberto were helping those dudes and…they held me tight. I couldn't get to Violet. I never want to betray you or her, and they force me to tell them where you are at Clem. It was either I gave up the location of the school, or saw Violet getting her eye burned."
"You told them about this school. Now they will come here and demand a fight!" Clementine growls at Maya.
"They won't," Maya spoke.
"How do you know?" Clementine looks at Maya.
"They gave me a time frame before they took Violet hostage. You need to go to the beach where you blew up the Delta boat to see Arvo." Maya spoke.
"Not a chance!" Clementine growls.
"Clementine, they will kill Violet at dawn if you don't go with me to the river," Maya spoke. "Alberto wasn't fucking around back there, and he knew taking Vi hostage will be a way to bring you to see Arvo." Maya sighs. "I'm asking you, one friend to another here, to help me save Violet's life. If we work together, we might be successful here. I will have your back and take down the son of a bitch who threatened the love of my life."
Clementine eyes her closely and turns to look at both Louis and Ruby. "What is your plan, Stands With A Fist, to get Violet back without bringing one of us to our deaths?" Clementine half winks at Maya, showing a sign of faith in trusting her.
Maya picked up on Clementine's honoree name for her of a badass Native American woman in Dances with Wolves. Maya looks at Ruby and Louis, "Is there somewhere we can work out and strategize a plan? I might have an idea."
….
The evening shadows lurk around as the men who lead Violet captive to Maya's encampment. Violet stayed silent and didn't utter another word as she didn't want to get any more cuts. Alberto told the four dudes to remain calm, "Remember what we plan, gentlemen. Wait until I give you a signal, then take the bitch by force if you have to."
Violet looks at her captives and thought that they mean her as being the bitch to take by force, but something else is happening in Maya's group that Violet is unaware of and the same as Maya. Violet was just used as a pawn, to draw out Clementine to them. Arvo came close to Maya's lover and held the blade of his knife close against Violet's skin, "You make one sound bitch to fuck up this plan. I will fucking harm you worse than what I did to your sweetheart."
"What did you do to her?" Violet asks.
Arvo sneers at Violet, and Alberto calls his name, "Arvo, quit fucking around and stick to the plan. You can have your sweet ravage later at dawn."
Arvo looks at Violet and says she is scared. Arvo comes up to Alberto as the two plan a fake attack and is ambushed. Arvo cuts his face with a knife, and so does Alberto.
Violet looked at these two and thought, what the fuck are they doing? Purposely hurting themselves. Sick bastards. Violet soon felt the men binding her hands tight. She already heard Alberto talk to the man she bit in the hand if Violet uttered a sound out of her mouth they were to beat her as well, and the guy Ralph eyes her as intimidating, so she stays quiet and complies with these creepy demands.
…..
Bonnie looks up from cooking the meal as she eyes Arvo and Alberto. "Where have you two been? Was going to have to find..what happened."
"We got ambushed by Clementine!" Arvo said. "She waited for us in the woods as we were hunting and sliced me."
Alberto says, "Maya…she is a traitor, Bonnie, and planned the attack along with Clementine."
Robert looks up from playing with Alicia and hears this as that was a lie. "Alicia, go to Aniya," Robert told the little girl and the little girl went to Aniya, who was hand-making some more arrows to use.
Aniya looked up from crafting the arrowheads at Alicia, "Alicia, what are you doing over here, silly."
"Robert told me to come to you. Arvo and Alberto are acting strange." Alicia pointed to the two guys by the gate.
Aniya looked up and was curious about this. She senses danger and looks at the sunset as it is blood orange her blood ran cold remember Maya's vision warning. Shit.
Bonnie looks at the two men, "Maya would never do that."
"Looks can be deceiving, but it is true. As we hunted, we caught her with her little girlfriend from that group." Alberto lies. "She even stole from another group as well. Those missing drugs…she is working as a double agent and plays sweet angelic to you when she was lying to you all along."
Bonnie is in range now and takes hold of her knife and threatens Alberto. "Get the fuck out of my group!" It is clear Bonnie is fond of Maya as her daughter. All this time, when Bonnie and Alberto were facing off, Arvo snuck up to the watchtower to send the single to the four men to ambush the group.
Aniya takes hold of Alicia and takes her behind Maya and her tent as she reads the situation. Like the time at Wellington. Something awful is about to go down, and Aniya doesn't want to witness it or let Alicia be exposed to whatever fucked up thing is going to happen.
Alberto smiles as the gates bust through, and two men hold Violet hostage. And the other two tackled Bonnie to the ground and kept her there, as Arvo came down from the watch tower. Chaos broke out in Maya's group.
Robert approaches Alberto but soon feels a knife to the throat by Arvo, "Alberto, stop this madness."
"Shut up, Robert, or you will be next." Alberto looks at his groupmate.
"You fucking bastard! Maya was right about you two!" Bonnie growls at them.
"And you stupid bitch, got too close to view her as your daughter. And defended her, and too soft." Alberto smiles. "Well…I won't be as soft as you. And removing you from your leadership."
"Mike shouldn't have let you in the group." Bonnie eyes Alberto.
Alberto smiles at her, then eyes Arvo, "No, Bonnie, it is he who shouldn't have put his faith in you as leadership and should be given it to Arvo after his death."
Alberto hands Arvo the gun for his sweet revenge on killing a woman in power, "This is for Mike, you bitch!" Arvo pointed the gun at Bonnie and shot her in the gut several times.
Violet watches in horror as they just executed this woman before her. Violet looks at Robert, who comes by Bonnie's side.
"No!" Robert moves to Bonnie and holds her wound tightly. "Bonnie, stay with me. Stay with me."
Bonnie shakes and trembles as she sees the light fading, "Robert…."
"I can fix this.." Robert holds Bonnie's wound tightly.
"You can't….Rob.." Bonnie winced, losing blood fast, and felt her body become cold. "Take care of the kids. I trust you only you now…Get…Aniya…Maya. And Alicia far…from here…."
"Bonnie…Bon.." Robert sees she is gone. And holds her body. Robert looks up at Alberto. "What have you done!"
"Justice. Women should not lead the group. Unless you want to end up like Bonnie here, I suggest you step back and follow Arvo's orders." Alberto said. "Arvo."
Robert looks at his dead leader. And puts her body on the ground. He knows she will turn here soon. "Someone should…you know.."
Arvo looks at Bonnie's dead body, and in a cold tone, he says, "Let her turn. It is what she deserves."
Arvo looks at Robert. "We got a surprise trip to the river. Let's go."
"Why?" Robert asks.
"To meet Clementine, that I know you went with Maya with that little outing of yours the past serval days. My friends saw her and Clem in a drugstore. You really think we were that stupid in believing you and her needed medical supplies." Arvo looks at him.
"Then why kill Bonnie? Are you going to kill me too!" Robert shouted in anger.
"I killed Bonnie for having Mike save that little brat when we don't need more fucking mouths to feed. Taking in Maya and her precious sister was enough! and the reason I haven't killed you… you tried to save Mike after he got bit, and we can use you doc. Get your ass going or become dinner for walker Bonnie here soon." Arvo growls at him.
Robert turns and catches Violet's eyes as Arvo and Alberto lead the four men Robert and Violet out of Maya's encampment. Arvo looks to Alberto, and Alberto nods to Adam, "Burn it to the ground. We are done with this place, and once we trap Clementine on the beach, take control of that school."
Robert looks at Violet, and Violet sees Robert's worried face.
What Arvo and Alberto didn't account for and are too busy with killing and removing Bonnie from leadership is Aniya snuck Alicia out of the camp through Maya's secret sneak-out way to meet Violet. Aniya tries to put as much distance and danger between her and what is going on in camp. Aniya turns back and sees their encampment on fire. "Maya…" Aniya looked at the burning ruins as tears ran down her cheeks.
Alicia looks up at Aniya. "Our home. It is on fire. Where are we going to go…"
Aniya crashes into the dirt crying for her sister. She remembers her sister saying there is an old school in these woods with strong walls. "Ericson…" Aniya spoke.
"What?" Alicia spoke.
"We got to find those kids in these woods. They have good strong walls to protect you. Come on." Aniya takes hold of Alicia's hand and holds up her knife as she leads Alicia to the river where they come across the boat ruins and try to follow the footsteps where she found Maya and Violet by a big oak tree several weeks ago.
….
Clementine and Maya talk about a plan. "If I know Arvo's intentions, he will want to take Bonnie out as a leader, so he can be top dog and rule over my sister and me. He has been that way since the day I met him, and he can't stand to have women in charge over him. As long as Bonnie is in charge as leader of my group, Arvo can't do shit. He won't attack the school unless he has full power to do so."
Clementine is listening to Maya's intel. "So, what, we meet him at the river as planned?"
"Yes. But have a few of your guys hang back just in case Arvo and Alberto have something else in mind. Plan one step ahead of Arvo." Maya advises. "He is smart. I will not put it past him to have something else up his sleeve, and he is working with Alberto, who tends to be the thinker in his master plan."
By now, everyone is around the picnic table hearing Maya and Clementine's plan to rescue Maya's sister and Violet from Arvo and Alberto. Clementine thought carefully about what Maya is advising. And looks at Aasim, "Aasim, how good are you in a fight?"
Aasim nervously looks at Clementine, "I can be if the occasion calls for it…but..remember last time with the Raiders."
"I need someone to depend on if things go south here in a few hours. If things go south, I need someone to be my wingman in the forest. I trust you, Aasim. Hang back in the forest as Maya and I go toward the beach. If you see any of his goons sneak into the forest. Shoot them." Clementine told him. "I don't want any sons of bitches getting to this school." Clementine turns to Maya, "You know for certain Arvo is working with the four dudes we saw at the drugstore?"
Maya nodded, "Yes. As one of them held me back and the other guy held Violet and one of them…offered…Alberto a lighter. The other man was on watch out as Arvo and Alberto questioned me."
Clementine turns to Omar, "I know you are not a fighter, and I need you to stay here as the last line of defense and protect the school. You got it."
Omar nods, "Will do Clem."
"Willy, Tenn, I need you two to help Omar prepare the school for the defense. Get working on those bombs and blow anyone up if they get too close to the school, you hear me." Clementine eyes the two younger boys.
"I'm on it, Clem." Willy salutes Clementine.
Clementine looks at AJ, "You ready to be my sharp eye kid?"
AJ pulls out his gun and turns the chamber around a few times, "Ready as ever, Clem."
Maya looks at the boy and then at Clementine, "Wait, you really want to bring him into the mix?"
AJ turns to look at Maya, "I've earned the right to make the tough calls."
Clementine smiles at her little boy, "He has saved my neck a few times in dangerous fights. AJ can handle this."
Maya shrugs and lets Clementine give out the orders to the Ericson kids the plan. Clementine looks at Ruby, "You mind holding back with Omar Willy and Tenn…blood bath is not your style. I know it isn't."
Ruby nods to Clementine, "Sure thing, Clem. Be careful."
Lastly, Clementine eyes Louis. "Louis…."
"I want to fight Clem. Violet is my best friend." Louis said.
"I need you to say behind…." Clementine looks at her boyfriend.
"Clem, I am capable of fighting," Louis begs.
Clementine looks at her friends and pulls Louis aside for a private matter. Maya looks at the two lovers as she already misses Violet and hopes to her ancestors Alberto did not lay a finger on her.
Once out of earshot from the others, Clementine looks up at Louis. "Louis...I can't risk you going with me. You just had an appendectomy done to you, for fuck's sake. What if you have hand-to-hand combat, and someone tears your stitches, and you bleed out? I can't risk it."
"It won't happen. Please let me fight with you." Louis looks at Clementine.
Clementine shakes her head, "Louis…I can't risk losing another person I love in this fucking world! I love you, and I don't want to see you being killed. Arvo is going after blood this time, and I don't want you in his sights, like what he has for Maya. Please…stay at the school."
Louis comes forward now and takes Clementine in, embraces her, and holds her. Softly he spoke to her, "We are in this together, darling. You fight, I fight. I protected you against Minerva and the fucking Raiders…please don't leave me behind."
"It would be different if you never had surgery." Clementine mumbles in his chest. "Because you are still recovering, I don't want you in harm's way if Maya says these people mean business. They really do. I love you and don't want to say goodbye to you too."
Louis holds Clementine tightly. "Let me fight for you. For Violet. Please. Let me be your wall of defense as you trust in Aasim."
Clementine looks up at him, and he leans down and kisses her. Clementine holds Louis close to her, and his kiss says everything. Louis pulls back and looks deep into her eyes. "Ok…but hang back in the woods. Don't break cover unless you see Arvo's dudes breaking away. Louis…you are going to have to kill again if you come with me. Can you handle it? I know you still have your PTSD with Dorian. You can't freeze."
Louis looks at her and nods, "I can handle it."
Clementine looks at him closely, and soon Ruby calls her name, "Clementine, look black smoke!"
Clementine breaks away from Louis and looks northwest to where the smoke is coming from. Clementine asks Maya, "Do you know what is burning out that way that is causing smoke?"
Maya's eyes squinted shut, and she quaked in her stance and couldn't help her tears as they flowed out, "My camp." Maya crashes to the ground and cries out loud, "ANIYA!" Maya looks to Clementine and Louis and moves to the burnt pile and pukes, knowing she may have lost the one person she was keeping alive all this time.
Everyone at Ericson knew all too well about losing someone they once loved at one point or another, and no one blamed Maya for having her moment. Ruby comes forward and helps Maya hope as she tries to speak to her. "We need you to be strong, Maya…you can mourn your sister later, but Violet needs you, and we all are counting on you and Clem here to lead this mission."
Maya looks at the red-haired girl and wipes her tears. And turns from her spot and takes hold of a bow and arrow. She eyes Clementine with fury in her brown eyes, "Let's go get those motherfuckers!"
Clementine eyes Louis as she has never seen Maya this furious. Clementine looks at Ruby, "You're in charge, Ruby, until we come back. All of us. See you all on the other side."
….
Arvo and Alberto tie Violet and Robert to a tree on the beach and wait for Maya to show up as promised with Clementine. The four other men were around a fire on the beach having a meal of a water vole Arvo found. Violet hates the site of this beach, as it reminds her of her traumatic experience with Minerva several months ago.
Robert looks at Maya's girlfriend, "Are you hurt, Vi?"
Violet said nothing as she shook her head and looked down at her feet.
Robert notices her silence. "I can help you if you are hurt?"
"Shut up, will you? You will cause trouble, and I don't want to get beaten again." Violet hisses at Robert. "I'm fine, just..fine."
Robert senses Violet's anger and hurt. He looks down at her from behind the tree he is tied too, facing the opposite direction. "You know it is not her fault."
Violet looks up from her feet and glances at Robert over her right shoulder. And the her he is hinting at is Maya. Violet knows Maya was trying to protect her from harm, which is more than Clementine tried to do in the fight with the Raiders. But still, Violet couldn't help feeling a little bit betrayed and angry at her girlfriend for caving in like that and still letting Violet get captured. In a low mumble, she sighs, "I know…..Please, no more talking...They will suspect something." Violet was trying to keep herself from not getting hurt. Violet looks down at her panther necklace Maya had hand-carved out of love, and she hears her sweet voice echoing in her mind. Keep it close to you when you find yourself missing me or need strength and guidance. I love you. Violet's eyes well up hearing that sweet voice. Goddamn it…I still fucking love you, Maya..please come and get me. I don't want to die. Violet looks over at her captive friend and mumbles softly to him, "I'm sorry about your friend."
Robert looks down at his clothes, still covered in Bonnie's blood. And softly, he sobs, mourning a loss he couldn't save. Violet heard his soft cries and closed her eyes. Sowly reaches for Robert's hand with her white fingers and touches them to comfort him as the old man mourns the death of his groupmate. Violet has empathy for him, and he is the one who saved Louis's life.
The man, Violet bit in the hand, walks over to Robert crying. He mocks his sobbing and tosses a wet bone at Robert as he laughs and walks to the woods to take a piss. Violet glares her angry eyes at him for doing that to someone who is grieving. No respect. She wishes she still had her meat cleaver to stab that man in the face with her weapon, but the man who bound her hands tossed her weapon out on the pathway to Maya's encampment, where she no longer has it. When the blonde hair man with snake tattoos returned from his bathroom break, Violet stuck out her foot to make him trip and fall for mocking Robert in his mourning.
"You punk," the man screams at Violet, takes out his knife, and advances on her.
"Ralph..leave her alone," Alberto warns the young brute.
"She tripped. Me!" Ralph screams back.
"Leave her alone I said. You can fuck her up later, but right now, leave her be." Alberto said.
Violet looks at the main with a hunter's hat and glares at him. I wished to God Maya had killed you. Alberto watches as Ralph moves away from Violet and then Alberto approaches her.
"Try anything bitch, and I will kill you in front of your lover." Alberto looks at Violet closely.
"Leave her alone, Albert," Robert comments back behind Violet. "She's just a kid."
Alberto got up, went to Robert, and smacked him. Violet winces at Alberto, punching Robert in the face. Alberto looks at Robert, "Speak to me again like that, Robert, and you will be sorry." He flips his lighter to create a flame sound to intimidate Violet a little. "You are lucky you are still alive and not dead like your friend. The only reason we are allowing you to live still is because of medical reasons, you know. Like surgery."
Alberto looks up and knows dawn will be here soon. And walks away from the two prisoners. Violet lets out a sigh and looks at Robert. "I wish Maya had killed that son of a bitch back in the woods when you first met me."
Robert looks at Violet from his bleeding eye, "Yeah…me too. Where is her sister? She didn't come with us, did she?
Violet looks at Robert and places her head against the tree truck. Fuck! Maya's sister. Fuck..Fuck FUCK!