Thanks to gaara king of the sand for the help.
Little was said as they drove. Duck had fallen asleep and Clementine spent the ride silently looking out the window until she had eventually drifted off as well.
When she woke up she was surprised to see they were no longer driving.
"What's going on?" Clementine asked.
"Damn road's blocked." Kenny grumbled.
Clementine noticed several abandoned or broken down vehicles blocking the road. "What do we do now?"
"I guess we go around…." Kenny shrugged.
Before he could do anything, the truck in in front of them gave a honk.
They watched as Lilly got out and walked towards their truck.
Kenny rolled the window down. "What now?" He asked the woman, a bit impatient.
"This is it." Lilly said. "We're here."
"Are you kidding me?" Kenny asked. "I don't see any base. I see nothing but abandoned cars. He indicated to the road in front of them.
Clementine too tried to scan out the mentioned base, but the landscaped was dominated by the vehicles.
"Well, that's the thing genius. We're going to have to get out of cars and walk around the blockage in the road." Lilly said.
Kenny raised a brow.
"Just get out the car…" Lilly sighed.
Kenny turned his vehicle off before turning to the backseat. "Clem, wake Duck up… We got some walking to do."
Clementine nodded. She started to nudge the young boy awake.
The minute Duck woke up he started yammering on about how he dreamed of being a superhero.
Clementine was honestly a bit surprised that the kid could be so cheery as soon as he woke up. He was like a ball of fire that was always on.
"Kids, keep it down." Kenny hushed them. "We don't know what's out there…"
Clementine frowned. She didn't like how everyone just lumped her in as a kid. She was just as capable as every adult in the group. She wished they'd see that for once.
Her spirits were even more dampened as Katjaa spoke, "You two stay close…"
Clementine didn't offer a response. She could handle herself… She wasn't the little kid everyone made her out to be.
The group got out of their vehicles and Lilly led the way down the car cluttered road. She led them down-slope, across a narrow trail.
They hadn't heard or seen anyone during the walk and Clementine was starting to get a bad feeling.
As they walked the trail the military base finally came in sight.
The group looked at the scene with wide eyes. The base was even more cluttered than the road they had just come from. Down aircraft on the ground, military trucks smashing into one another. Several dead soldiers, and even some civilians laid strewn on the grass of the field.
Katjaa quickly covered Duck's eyes. "Don't look, honey."
"Holy shit..." Larry muttered.
"What the fuck happened?" Kenny asked.
Lilly just shook her head.
"You think anyone is alive?" Clementine asked.
"I doubt it..." Lilly said. "Stay on your guard. We don't know how many of them are really dead… And try not to shoot unless you have to."
The group agreed, drawing their weapons.
They started towards the entrance of the base. they, noticed the bodies on the ground began to move.
The gate was open. The group made a dash towards the gate, avoiding walkers and killing anything came too close.
Clementine kept her gun close to her as she ran. Then seemingly out of nowhere, something gripped one of her ankles and she tried to keep her balance but tripped, her gun falling from her hand and out of her reach.
Clementine looked to her feet quickly. Fear coursed through her as the decaying body pinned her to the ground.
"Clementine!" Kenny called.
The teen struggled as the walker tried to bite the closest thing on her, which just happened to be her neck.
As she struggled, she felt pain throb from her gunshot wound. The girl gasped in pain.
The walker got closer and Clementine tensed. This was it for her.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, a gunshot rang out. The walker went still and Carley lowered her gun.
Clementine shoved the limp creature of her.
Kenny quickly helped the now shaking and pale-faced teen to her feet. "It's alright." He reassured her. "I've got you…" He handed the girl her gun back.
Clementine accepted it with shaky hands.
"Everyone get into the gate!" Lilly ordered.
They sprinted to the gate, running through.
Lilly forced the gate close. It had a triple-lock mechanism that the woman quickly figured out.
Once the gate was close they turned to the front door which was wide open.
"I can't tell if doors being open is a good thing or not…" Shawn muttered.
"Considering what just happened… It's probably not." Carley said.
"Only one way to find out." Lilly said. "We're going to sweep this place. We see anything, we shoot it."
"W-What if it's a person?" Clementine asked.
"Better them than us." Larry said.
Clementine frowned. She wanted to shake her head. There was no way she could just shoot an innocent person...
"That's the plan. Got it?" Lilly said firmly.
Everyone nodded.
Clementine felt a lump of fear in her throat.
"It'll be alright, darling." Kenny said in a gentle voice.
Clementine sure hoped so.
Fortunately, they didn't have to shoot anyone. The place turned out to be completely deserted. They passed door after door, checking each room, other than the ones that were locked.
The power was out, but the backup lights were on.
"Looks like we're in the clear." Shawn said.
"Yeah…" Lilly nodded. "Still, everyone keep your guard up."
Lilly led the group to the shower rooms.
The guys and girls separated in the shower areas specified for their gender.
Clementine was gratefully for the blast of warm water. Her head slowly clearing, as she allowed the water to wash depressing thoughts away, at least momentarily. Ignoring the pain in her arm, continued to wash herself. she After a couple of minutes, savoring the warmth of the water, Clementine finished her shower and turned off the faucet. She wrapped a towel around herself and dried off.
Clementine finished drying herself and redressed. She felt better now that she was clean.
The teen started to leave the room, when she heard Katjaa called, "Clementine, where are you going?"
"I just wanted to look around." Clementine said honestly.
"Okay, sweetie... Stay close." Katjaa said.
"Yeah." Lilly said. "Don't wander off too far."
"Okay..." Clementine said.
The teen left the room with a roll of her eyes. She knew they were just worried about her, but she could take care of herself.
Lost in her thoughts, she continued down the hall. The girl didn't notice Shawn round the corner, bumping right into him.
Shawn quickly caught her shoulder before she could stumble back.
"S-Sorry." Clementine stammered. Her face flushed from embarrassment. She flushed even more as she noticed Shawn was shirtless.
"You okay?" Shawn asked. "You were completely spaced out."
"I'm f-fine." The teen said, averting his gaze.
Shawn let out a small chuckle.
Clementine looked at him. "What?"
"You're so clumsy..." Shawn said.
Clementine frowned at that. She didn't mean to be.
"It's cute." Shawn gave the girl a pat on the head.
"W-What?" Clementine felt her heart skip a beat. He had just called her cute…
"You're a cute kid." Shawn said.
Clementine didn't respond. She was getting tired of being treated like a kid.
"What's wrong?" Shawn asked.
"Nothing..." Clementine said, shaking her head.
Shawn sent the girl a look. "I know that's not true."
"It doesn't matter, okay." Clementine replied.
Shawn paused for a moment before saying "Okay…"
Clementine was glad that he dropped it.
Shawn took a moment to put his shirt on, while Clementine avoiding looking at him.
After an awkward silence, they decided to check out the base as they waited for the others to finished their showers.
As they walked Clementine's eyes widened as she saw a door, one she knew they had checked. It had been locked before was now cracked opened.
Shawn noticed the teen's gaze. "What's up?"
"That door was locked before." Clementine answered.
Shawn looked to the door, realizing the girl was right.
"Someone else is here…" Clementine said.
The two exchanged looks.
"What should we do?" Clementine asked.
"We might as well check it out." Shawn said. "You got your gun?"
Clementine nodded, pulling out said weapon.
"Alright. Let's be careful." Shawn said.
"Okay…" Clementine said.
Clutching her gun, Clementine nervously made her way into the room.
Shawn followed closely behind the girl.
They were shocked when they noticed the room was filled with supplies.
"Shit…" Shawn said. "Someone's been stocking up."
"Yeah… There's so much stuff…" Clementine said.
Suddenly a loud metallic noise echoed through the room.
The two flinched.
Clementine looked to the now closed door. "Oh no…" She whispered. The girl made her way to the door and tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge. "We're locked in."
"Are you serious?" Shawn asked, joining her at the door.
The girl tried the knob again, with no success. "Y-Yeah." It was definitely locked. She lowered her sore arm with a wince.
Shawn started to pound on the door. "Hey, anyone?! Open the door!"
"I don't think they can hear us..." Clementine said after a few moments. She rubbed over her gunshot wound, which was throbbing slightly.
Shawn noticed, "Does it hurt?"
"What?" Clementine asked.
"Your arm..." Shawn said.
"Yeah... A little. I can handle it." Clementine replied.
"You're pretty damn tough." Shawn said.
"Thanks..." Clementine smiled. "How's your leg?"
"A lot better than it was before. It's still healing, but at least I can walk around." Shawn said.
"Yeah. That's good." Clementine said.
There was another short silence before Clementine sighed.
Shawn and her were trapped in there, alone. She couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious. She didn't understand why.
"I guess they'll notice we're gone soon. We might as well get comfy." Shawn said.
Clementine didn't offer a reply.
Shawn took a seat before glancing to the young girl. "Why don't you sit down?"
Clementine shrugged. She listened to his suggestion and took a seat.
She couldn't even look at Shawn. She didn't know what had come over her. Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
"Are you scared?" Shawn asked her.
Clementine didn't look at him as she said, "N-No... Of course not."
"You don't have to act tough." Shawn chuckled. "It's okay to be scared."
"I'm okay..." Clementine said. She wasn't scared. She was nervous… And it was Shawn's fault.
Shawn shook his head and moved to sit beside the girl.
Clementine felt even more nervous.
"Whenever Beth would get scared she would hold my hand... Would that make you feel better?" Shawn asked the girl.
Clementine huffed. "I'm okay... I'm not a little kid."
"You sure?" Shawn asked.
"Yes." Clementine said.
"Alright..." Shawn shrugged.
The two looked up when they heard the door open, but they froze when they heard a voice say, "Don't move."
Clementine swallowed, feeling her heart drop as she noticed a stranger holding a gun.
"We don't want any trouble." Shawn spoke to the stranger.
"Neither do I." Replied the man with the glasses.
The room was quiet for a moment. Clementine watched the man with a worried gaze before noticing some blood on his sleeve. "You're bleeding…" She said without thinking.
The man glanced to his arm.
"Are you hurt…?" Clementine asked.
The man didn't answer for a moment.
"I can help." Clementine said. "My mom was a doctor…"
The man seemed to hesitate for a while.
Shawn shot Clementine warning a look. "Clem…"
"Please, just let me look at it." Clementine said.
"Alright…" The man agreed.
Shawn frowned. "Are you bit?"
"No." The man said, lowering his gun. He walked further into the room and took a seat on a chair. "There's some medical supplies over there." He motioned some supplies.
Clementine nodded. Standing up, she picked up a first aid kit. Her arm throbbed a bit, but she fought through the pain. She wanted to help. She wanted to show that she was capable of doing something. She then walked over to the man and rolled up his sleeve and examined his injury. "It's not too bad." She spoke after a moment.
Shawn stood as well and approached, looking at the wound. "How'd you do that?"
"Cut myself on some glass…" The man explained.
Clementine knelt in front of him and started cleaning and dressing the minor wound. "There…" She said once she finished playing nurse. "How's that?"
"Better. Thanks." The guy said.
"You're welcome." Clementine smiled. "Glad I could help. I'm Clementine."
Shawn let out a sigh. Clementine was too nice for her own good. He figured he might as well introduce himself as well, this guy didn't seem like trouble. "I'm Shawn."
"Nice to meet you both." The man said.
"Likewise." Shawn said. "And you are."
"My name's Mark." Was the reply.