A/N - Hi there. Been a while since I've posted anything, but it's good to be back. This idea has been brewing for a while, and I'm so glad I can finally release it into the world. I cannot wait to show you the rest of the story that I wish to tell.
Go check out clemxlouis-y on Tumblr for more fantastic content.
I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this. It means everything to me.
Chapter 1 - Desperation Among Survivors
Dry, fragile blades of grass and knotted tree branches danced to the rhythm created by a soft, autumn breeze. This fleeting tranquillity was not destined to last, as Mother Nature built towards a huge, breathtaking crescendo. She demonstrated her strength, by whipping up a fierce gale, that sent the stubbornest of leaves - clinging to the vestige of summer - flying above the horizon, before it darted through the undergrowth. The howling wind drowned out the rustling brambles, the source of this minor disturbance being a small weasel, emerging from the darkest depths of the forest, after gorging himself on sweet, succulent berries.
The weasel's auburn fur was set ablaze in the dazzling light from the midday sun. He hopped through the grass, plant life tickling his underside as he descended a low, sloping hill. He then paused by a smooth, grey rock, which was positioned by a trickling stream. His nose twitched as he bowed his head, intending on quenching his thirst after a heavy meal.
It happened in an instant. The weasel's tongue hadn't even made contact with the water, when an arrow pierced through his stomach, decorating the rock he was now pinned to with blood.
"Nice shot!" Louis complimented, bubbling with enthusiasm, as a proud smile decorated his freckled cheeks.
Clementine lowered her bow, and carefully wrapped the string of her weapon around her torso, relieving herself from the burden of carrying it. She quickly traded a glance with her boyfriend, her lips turning up as she matched his gleeful expression. "Thanks."
The couple rose from their crouched positions, exited the bushes they had been hiding in, and approached the fresh catch. Louis picked up the arrow, stripped the weasel off the tip, and handed the ammo back to her. "Hmm, he's a little scrawny, don't you think?" He questioned, feeling the significant lack of weight in his hands. "Is this really going to be enough for tonight?"
Clementine crossed her arms and shrugged. The young man frowned at her dismissive behaviour, so she offered him a short, blunt statement as an alternative. "We'll make it work."
She left their conversation hanging like a loose thread, and tore her gaze away from Louis. In order to remain vigilant, her watchful amber eyes flickered across the tree line, almost expecting a rotting corpse to crawl out of the shadows, and begin pursuing them. However, no such threat arrived. Perhaps today was their lucky day.
"But Clem..." Louis began, his voice drawing back her attention. "There's no way this is going to feed three people."
The young woman heaved a deep sigh, and refused to enable his pessimistic droning with a response. Truth be told, she just didn't want to admit that he was right. She would give anything to be blissfully unaware of how hopeless their situation was. This sorry excuse for food was the only animal they had seen all day, after waking up at the crack of dawn, only to track and lose larger beasts for hours on end.
Clementine walked past him, in search of the beaten track they had followed to this general location. "Let's head back."
Louis momentarily stood frozen, and rubbed his temple in a vain attempt to lower his stress level. He then jogged to catch up, holding their evening meal by its tail. Noticing that she was troubled by his, albeit gloomy, demonstrations of concern, he opted to lighten the mood, hoping to get at least a chuckle, as well as lift his own spirits. "I guess you could say he didn't weaselly recognise the danger he was in."
Clementine choked on a laugh "Oh- oh my god. That's your worst one yet."
He flashed her a toothy grin, pleased by his successful pun. "Funny, you always say my jokes are the worst, but you never stop laughing at them. I think somebody's trying to undermine my comedic genius."
"Shut up." She retorted through spluttering coughs, before striking his arm with a weak and playful punch. "Come on now, be serious. I need you to keep an eye on your side of the trail."
"You got it, boss." The young man replied with a mock salute.
Clementine rolled her eyes, but failed to hide the stupid smirk plastered on her face. She jerked her head away, wishing to avoid inflating his ego and confidence in terrible puns any further. He's such an idiot. But he's my idiot.
She focused on their main mission; scouting. The return trip to their homestead could prove troublesome, since the blood leaking from the dead weasel was enough to entice at least one hungry walker. Her gaze drifted between the passing trees, searching for any traces of movement amongst the overgrown vegetation. She waited with bated breath for a low, guttural growl to meet her ears.
Mother Nature's fury had burnt out, causing the harsh wind to vanish. A deafening silence tightly gripped the bone chilling air. The heavy thud of their own footsteps didn't provide much comfort. She longed to hear a pleasing chirp from a mellifluous songbird, or the hammering of a woodpecker, trying to feast on slimy insects. Hell, she would gladly welcome an attack from the undead, if it prevented them from enduring another second of this maddening wait.
Moments such as this reminded them how dead the world truly was.
Clementine's heart throbbed, and she caught sight of Louis growing tense in her peripheral vision. His clenched fist shook, violent tremors overwhelming his body as he too meticulously combed their surroundings. The feeling of unease was palpable.
They fought the urge to run, but compromised by quickening their pace. Clementine reached into the pocket of her worn, sandy brown trousers. A calmness rippled through her entire being once her fingertips grazed the handle of her knife. Her other hand traced the string of her bow - plucking it like a musical instrument. She then glanced at the spiked chair leg strapped to Louis' back in a makeshift carrier. You're okay. You're fine. You have weapons, if anything happens, you can manage. You've done this hundreds of times. You'll be fine.
A few agonising minutes passed. The glint of sunlight reflecting off broken glass caught her eye, allowing her to somewhat relax. A wooden structure, sitting beyond the dense trees, was visible - their destination finally within reach.
Ecstatic, Clementine turned to face Louis, who's thoughts still appeared to be plagued with doubt about the dead weasel and its ability to sustain his family. His sorrowful, earthy brown eyes stared blankly at the feeble creature - its limp body spilling over the palm of his hand.
All meat is good meat. Her boyfriend had once said, when advocating for a baby rabbit to have its neck snapped. She debated about whether or not she should remind him of days gone by.
However, words began to roll off his tongue faster than her lips could part. "You know, Clem, this was your catch. If you want to split it between you and AJ, I don't mind going hungry." He locked eye contact - those two shimmering topazes portraying how resigned and content he was about his decision. There were even traces of happiness in his warm expression. She wondered how long he had been mulling it over - perhaps when he had first cradled their dinner in his arms?
"No way, we are not doing that." Clementine outright refused his proposal. "We'll make it work, you'll see. We have to." She added, her tone swimming with determination.
Disappointment swirled around the young man's dark irises as his shoulders sank. He seemed betrayed - hurt to an extent, that she hadn't accepted his offer. This clearly wasn't the outcome he hoped, nor mentally prepared for. "But-"
"No buts. It's not happening, end of story." She shut down his protests immediately. "Besides, you didn't have anything to eat yesterday either..." Her voice wavered off, whilst her amber eyes drifted along the outline of his physique. She had always envisioned that he would grow into his huge, leather coat, but instead... He had gradually shrunk. The thin, green flannel shirt he wore clung to his body, isolating his jagged ribs. They resembled fierce, sharp rocks - jutting out into the ocean, waiting to puncture and sink unlucky ships. She felt compelled to reach out to him, but feared she might draw blood through mere touch.
Clementine's heart sank to the floor, as a pang rattled through her chest. Fuck... How did it get this bad?
"We're here." Louis announced, as he fumbled one handed with his buttons and adjusted his coat, in order to conceal his skinny, malnourished frame from her prying eyes.
Despite his efforts to hide the issue, the traumatic image had already burned through her retinas and tattooed itself onto her brain. The young woman blinked rapidly and forced herself to look away.
Home sweet home. She joked, as they left the twisted, monstrous shadows created by the overhanging trees in their tracks. After carefully stepping over their temporary alarm system - which was a long fishing wire, attached with empty cans, and looped around the edges of the clearing - they had officially arrived at the homestead. It wasn't much of a base; rather just a secluded, rustic, two storey log cabin. It had been someone's passion project, once upon a time - built completely by hand using nearby resources, with a collection of tree stumps being a huge indication. Unfortunately it had fallen into ruin thanks to the hardships of this changed world. There was no security to speak of, since looters had shattered the majority of its windows, leaving only a handful of fractured shards trapped in the frames. The front door was rotten, with one solitary, rusty, determined hinge keeping it from collapsing entirely. Poison ivy had claimed the building as its victim - that tangled mess of vines grew up to the brick layered chimney, and snaked into whatever cracks it could find.
Louis nudged her elbow and flicked his head towards the second floor window, which was relatively intact and open slightly ajar. A dark silhouette peered down at the couple from their high vantage point.
The figure waved. The two adults smiled and waved back, but it was a fruitless gesture, since the inhabitant had already dashed away.
Clementine heard her boyfriend chuckle to himself, while she walked inside, knowing that he would follow close behind. They had barely made it past the front door, when AJ came racing downstairs - his short, wavy dreadlocks bouncing with each thunderous step, unrestrained by Kenny's worn, orange hat. His unzipped, oversized, puffy green coat fluttered behind him like a cape, and showed off his yellow knitted jumper. Mahogany brown horses were frozen mid gallop and stitched into a neat pattern below the neckline.
"You're back!" A joyous cry erupted from the nine year old's throat, along with heavy pants and shallow intakes of breath, after over exerting himself. He eyed them both wearily and clutched the wooden banister so tightly she feared he might get splinters. "No bites?"
Clementine slipped into her role of protector with such fluid ease by partaking in their usual ritual. "We're all good, kiddo. No bites."
An invisible weight was lifted off the child's shoulders. The smile that had been fighting to take ownership of AJ's face won the battle, as a wave of relief washed over him. "That's great."
"How was watch duty?" She asked, treating him to a genuine smile of her own.
AJ fiddled with his closely guarded pistol before answering. "Boring."
Boring is a good thing. She mused. "Haha, I take it you didn't see anything then?"
"No, well- just a walker. Its jaw was hanging off. It was pretty gross."
Louis' nose wrinkled in disgust, but his momentary grimace was short lived. Nowadays, encountering a walker at that stage of decay was common. "What did you do with it?" He questioned.
"Nothing. I let it walk back into the woods."
The young woman nodded approvingly "You made the right call. One walker isn't worth the trouble."
AJ's face beamed more intensely than the sun due to her high praise. "So, how did hunting go? Did you catch anything?"
"We caught this." Louis stated, producing the weasel from behind his back. "You should have seen it, little man. Not only did Clem line up the perfect shot, but she nailed it too."
"Yeah, but I never would have spotted it if it wasn't for Lou's eagle eye." She piped up, giving credit where credit was due.
"True, true. BUT THEN, on the way back, we were attacked by a HUGE bear! He tried to take a chunk out of Clem, so I wrestled him to the ground using my brute strength. He knew he didn't stand a chance once he saw my insane muscles, and ran off with his tail between his legs." Louis boasted, fully invested in his own elaborate tale.
The young boy's chestnut brown eyes sparkled with amazement, as his imagination ran wild. "Wow." He gawked. "What is that, anyway? A stoat?"
Louis sported a devious grin. AJ had walked directly into his trap. "No, this is a weasel. It's stoatally different."
Clementine audibly groaned, to conceal the laugh that was bubbling to the surface. "Oh my god, Louis, please stop." She begged.
AJ giggled, but she doubted that he fully understood the joke. She was quick to warn him before he made the same mistake she did time and time again. "Don't encourage him."
After falling quiet, the young boy began chewing his cracked lips, and studied the dead creature for a few seconds, whilst the cogs whirled inside his head. "Are weasels normally that small?"
It's that obvious? Even to AJ? She wondered - traces of sorrow stitched across her arched brow. "No. I think this one might be a runt." She answered honestly. "I know he's not much to look at, but don't worry, Chef Louis here is going to make the tastiest stew you've ever had."
Louis chimed in with a hum of agreement, before divulging his next task. "Well, I guess that's my cue. I'm going to head out back, get the fire going and start skinning this thing. Shout me if you need anything."
Clementine nodded "We will. Make sure you do the same."
He treated her to a pleasant smile - to confirm he got the message - before addressing AJ in particular "Catch you later, little man." He said, firing off a couple of pretend bullets from his finger guns as he walked off.
She watched her boyfriend exit through the back door, which was in far better condition compared to the front entrance, before turning her attention back to AJ.
"I'm gonna head back upstairs." He stated.
"Alright, kiddo. One of us will switch watch duty with you after dinner."
"No that's okay, Clem, I don't mind doing it until bedtime."
She raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you said it was boring?"
"It's suuuuper boring, but... I kind of like it that way. It's nice, y'know, when nothing's happening. Peaceful. And it gives me time to catch up on my reading." He explained.
"I see. I'm glad you can put a positive spin on it. Just make sure you don't get too distracted by your books." She warned, before playfully messing with his hat.
"I won't, I promise." AJ replied, whilst he adjusted his hat and retreated up the creaky steps. "See ya."
"Bye, goofball. I'll let you know when dinner's ready!" She called after him, as he disappeared from sight.
Left to her own devices, Clementine ditched her bow, and wandered through the open plan house, bypassing the living room and reaching the kitchen in a matter of seconds. She eyed the ancient, broken stove with contempt - annoyed that Louis had to do all the cooking outside. She then shrugged off her navy blue body warmer, and draped it over one of the dining chairs.
"For fucks sake." She muttered under her breath, after catching a glimpse of her torn sleeve. Must have snagged it on a tree branch. She peeled off her ebony black hoodie and stripped down to her under layer, which was a plain white blouse. Thankfully, it had been spared from the wrath of the forest.
She threw her hoodie over her shoulder, and retrieved her backpack from the pile in the corner. She then fished out a sewing kit and loose patches of cloth, before vacating to the living room.
Crisp, charred logs sat in the disused fireplace. The chimney shaft was clogged with soot and dead leaves, making it an unreliable heat source. Clementine had found that out the hard way on their first day. They were almost smothered to death by the smoke that flooded the entire building.
She traded a glance with the stuffed animal heads displayed on the walls. A stag, boar, and coyote. Their glassy eyes pierced her soul, while their mouths hung open in a silent scream. Frozen in a moment of pure anguish. These dust peppered trophies gnawed at the back of her brain, reminding her of the animal skulls she once decorated her room with.
That was a lifetime ago.
She slumped down on the velvet sofa, and laid the hoodie over her knees. Her lips curled into a fond smile, as she traced the white, printed musical notes that floated up from the waist and across to the right shoulder. Fond memories of goofing around in an abandoned shopping mall began to resurface, when she noticed the brim of her signature hat in her eye line. May as well take a look at you while I'm at it. Clementine thought, before removing the purple hat from her head.
Sorrow flitted across her expression when she saw the poor condition it was in. The D logo was lopsided after it had fallen off and been glued back on incorrectly. The hole at the front had grown wider, irreversible blood stains coated the white material, sections had been replaced entirely with alien fabric, and loose threads hung from stretched areas. Her father's beloved hat was falling apart at the seams. She half expected it to crumble right then and there.
She heaved a deep sigh and ran her fingers through her short hair - the absence of her side swept ponytail barely noticeable. I can fix it. I can fix it. I can fix it.
Clementine's eyes strayed away from her hat, and focused on the window. She caught a glimpse of Louis' long, wavy dreadlocks, tied up in their usual messy head bun. I wonder if his coat needs patching up too.
She hopped off the sofa and glided across the rotten floorboards as she headed for the back door. The loose hinges squeaked and the aged wood groaned with effort as she pushed through into the outside world.
Golden sunlight was bleeding from the evening sky, allowing the crescent moon to arrive early and take ownership, bringing forth darkness, as they marched onwards into twilight. At this time of year, the days seemed to pass by like a hazy blur - trickling away faster than sand in an hourglass. To add insult to injury, the temperature had dropped significantly as well. Louis was sat on a bench, tuning his salvaged guitar, while the weasel stew bubbled, and hot flames lapped around the metal pot. She watched the trail of grey smoke rise - becoming lost in the cotton candy clouds - and grimaced at the thought of another survivor spotting their camp.
They would have to be prepared if such a raid occurred. The young woman did a quick sweep of the area for her boyfriend's weapon, since he was no longer closely guarding it. Chairles Junior was incredibly easy to locate, since he stuck out like a sore thumb, and was propped up against the cabin's outer wall. Chairles Senior, god rest his soul, had broken- sorry, 'died' in tragic circumstances two, almost three years ago. That poor old fellow didn't have long left to live when the first cracks started to appear. Louis had tried to patch up his dear friend with duct tape and nails. When that didn't work, he applied more duct tape and more nails. His attempts to save Chairles Senior only prolonged the inevitable. Eventually, the fateful day arrived, when a chunk of him snapped off. But at least he 'died' doing what he loved - cracking a walker's skull open. Clementine couldn't help feeling amused by how Louis got so dramatically choked up every time that inanimate object was mentioned.
"Fuck." Louis cursed, which pulled Clementine out of her trance. She faced him once more, and saw the look of contempt flash across his usually calm expression.
"Having some trouble?" She asked, choosing to approach the subject delicately, since she could see the mounting anger simmering off his body.
"You could say that." He muttered, his voice low and plagued with bitterness. "God, this piece of shit is fucking useless. I could make a better guitar out of cardboard and rubber bands."
She offered him a hopeful reply. "I'm sure you'll get it working eventually."
"Yeah, eventually." Louis droned. He then slammed the guitar down with more force than necessary. That impulsive act of frustration would likely come back to haunt him. However, she couldn't blame him for his rash actions. It was bound to be annoying - trying to keep music in their lives, while his guitar refused to cooperate. She couldn't remember the last time it was in tune.
Louis exhaled softly, any remnants of his anger escaping into the freezing autumn air. He stared passed Clementine, at something within the cabin. She knew what he was looking at, without having to steal a glance. There was a small, rosewood piano tucked into the corner by the fireplace, visible from the window. Whoever lived here before was a professional musician - she had seen the certificates plastered everywhere. She liked to think the previous residents had been an old couple, in their late forties or early fifties perhaps. The husband wanted to hunt game, while the wife wanted to stay behind, and play soothing music until his glorious return.
Louis had begged her incessantly to let him play on that piano. She was wracked with guilt for not allowing him, but... That kind of noise just wasn't worth the risk.
The young man slicked back a few loose dreadlocks, before clearing his throat. His eyes fixated on her, lips twitching as he forced a half-hearted smile. "So what can I do for you, my darling?"
She giggled at his cute pet name. "I was going to give my hoodie and hat some TLC, and thought your raggedy old coat might be in need of some dire repairs."
A mixture of confusion and concern darted across his furrowed brow. "Your hoodie? Why, what's wrong with it?"
"The sleeve was ripped. No idea how it happened but it's nothing I can't handle." She replied.
"And what about your hat?" He quizzed.
The young woman answered through a sigh. "Business as usual."
Unsurprised, Louis turned to the fire pit, and prodded the burning fuel with a narrow stick. "You know, sooner or later, no amount of glue and stitches will be able to keep that thing together. It's not even made out of its original material anymore."
"You're one to talk. You've been wearing the same outfit since I met you, no matter what condition it's in." Clementine scoffed.
"Hey! I started wearing this shirt, didn't I?" He rebutted, tossing away the branch and pinching his green checkered shirt as a demonstration of protest.
Her hands resided on her hips as she shifted the weight of her foot and gave him an unimpressed look. "After I forced you."
He then gestured at his hiking boots. "I changed my shoes!"
"Because they were completely ruined."
"I've got this new scarf." He added, tugging at the aforementioned red scarf, that was wrapped loosely around his neck.
"You thought it was stylish."
"Alright, fine. I never said I wasn't a hypocrite." Louis admitted defeat, wiping the smile from his face. "Look, Clem, I just don't want to see you upset. We both know that hat's days are numbered. Eventually, you're gonna have to let go."
"I know. It just means a lot to me, that's all. It's the only thing I have left of my dad..." Clementine's gaze drifted towards the dancing orange flames - the reality of the situation finally sinking in. "Plus, it'll feel weird, not having something on my head."
"Yeah, seeing you without it will definitely look weird too." He nodded in agreement. Realising how distressed she was about losing such a personal and sentimental item, Louis was quick to come up with a solution. "Tell you what, how about I get you a new hat? A nice purple one. Then you can keep your old one in your bag and won't have to worry about it getting damaged."
Her face brightened up at his suggestion. "Aw, Louis, that's so sweet of you. But I think I'd prefer a pink one."
"Pink? Why?" He asked, bewildered and slightly amused.
"It'll be a good change of pace?" She responded with a cartoonish shrug, while her voice fluctuated in pitch, revealing how unconvinced she was by her own words. It was supposed to be a joke, but there's no point telling him that now. She doubted he would be able to follow through with his offer, no matter what colour she wanted, and the absurdity of a pink hat made her laugh internally.
"Alright. I'll get you the brightest, prettiest, pinkest hat I can find. Call it a late birthday gift."
She chuckled lightly. You won't find one. Not in a million years. "Speaking of birthdays, AJ's is coming up soon."
She wasn't aware of the exact day. She just knew it was not long after her own.
"I remember. We'll have to see if we can find him a present on our next supply run."
"Definitely." Clementine bobbed her head in agreement. "So do you want me to fix your coat or not?" She then asked, shifting their conversation back to its original topic.
"Oh, right, um... Yes please." He replied, before standing up, albeit hesitantly, and peeling off his coat.
While her boyfriend handed the item of clothing to her, and busied himself with dinner preparations, she eyed the glock protruding from his waistband. A desperate attempt to not observe his visibly starved body. But this issue proved harder to ignore when he was so exposed.
Stop. Don't look. A quiet voice barked orders. You don't want to see this.
She did not heed the warnings. One glance was all it took to shake her world at its foundations.
Louis was wasting away.
Near enough skin and bones.
She wiped her eyes, banishing frustrated tears. Swallowed hard, to combat the lump in her throat. She then refocused on his gun, hoping to clear her mind of murky thoughts.
The cold instrument of death pressed against his rocky spine lacked bullets. At the moment, it was nothing more than a glorified paperweight, not to mention extra baggage. Clementine longed for the bygone days when they had ammo to spare. Training him to use a gun had been a tiresome process, which dragged on for days- weeks even, but he improved enormously. She just wished he had more chances to prove how good he was in a firefight.
She draped the coat over her arm, and traded another glance with the weasel stew, which her boyfriend absentmindedly stirred. "How's dinner coming along?"
"Terrible. The meat I got from that weasel barely covered the bottom of the pot." Louis answered, but did not face her. He discarded the spoon and pinched his nose. "I miss Omar. I wish he was here. He'd know how to make this meal last more than a day. He'd know how to utilise every scrap of food, so that nothing would go to waste..." He paused, a deep sigh rattling through his chest. "He'd actually make it taste good too."
Clementine was reeling from the shock of hearing Omar's name - her vocal cords became fried and unable to produce any words of comfort.
His voice was hollow as he continued to speak. "It's funny. I spent so much time watching him cook, but... I never really learnt anything. I was always miles away, trying to remember a song or coming up with my own. Wishing I was back in the piano room, or hell- anywhere less boring. Makes you wonder why I even bothered to stand there when all I did was tell stupid jokes. I should have paid more attention."
"Well, I know one thing." She croaked out. After making a swift recovery, Clementine paused deliberately, hoping to get his attention. It worked like a charm, and he took the bait, eyeing her with curiosity. "You're a better cook than me."
The resemblance of a laugh escaped him. "Not by much."
He hasn't mentioned the other Ericson kids in months. Why now? Clementine wondered. She was about to ask, but Louis already had a question of his own.
"Are we still planning on leaving tomorrow?" By 'we', he meant 'you'. Louis lacked initiative, he wasn't the leader type. Rather, he was a follower who preferred to execute Clementine's every command, beck and call like a loyal dog.
"Yeah. We've been hanging around here for a week, which is more than enough time for me. And there isn't exactly much left in this area that's worth staying for." She elaborated, while gesturing with a sweep of her hand at the empty, withering forest.
Louis appeared slightly unnerved as he eyed the cracked, foreboding, skeletal trees. "Where are we headed?"
Her mind wandered back to their forever faithful and reliable map, which currently resided in her bag. It had been acting as the trio's guide for quite some time. "That town seems like our best bet. If we keep following the road, then we're bound to run into it eventually. It might take a while though, especially on foot."
His brow furrowed at one particular thought, which soon spilt from his lips. "AJ's not going to be very happy about that."
"I know, but our methods of transport are pretty limited. We either walk or... we sit around and wait to die. Can't do much better than that. Besides, it's not like a car is going to magically fall out of the sky."
"Haha, I wish." Louis said through a chuckle. His jovial response was short lived, and his laughter died prematurely. He then hesitated for a moment, before meeting her gaze in a rather sheepish manner, as if he dare not press the subject. "So... Is our endgame still the same?"
A determined nod served as confirmation. "Ever since AJ started to take more of an interest in reading, he's been fascinated by the ocean. I've caught him looking at holiday brochures, filled with pictures of tropical beaches. He's never seen it for himself, and that alone breaks my heart. AJ has so many hopes and dreams, and... Getting to the coast is one of them. I've wanted to take him for so long, and now... There's finally nothing standing in our way. I'd like to make it there before the end of the year." Feeling perplexed, she was then quick to question him after her heartfelt speech. "What's going on, Louis? You already know all this. Why do you need to ask?"
"Well, I-" He paused - jaw becoming clenched, posture tightly wound. He was dodging her watchful eyes yet again, as if Medusa had leapt from the pages of mythology, to freeze his aching bones, and convert his flesh into solid stone. "-I've been thinking lately."
"What about?" Clementine pried, whilst tilting her head in an attempt to catch his eye. She failed, but at least Louis didn't retreat further into his shell - a habit she had experienced regularly in the past.
His gaze retreated to the heavens - longing for that red, hazy, mystic sky to provide him with motivation. Or a strong willpower. Or a backbone. Anything. Whether to pre-emptively shield himself from backlash, or take a firm stance, he folded his arms and presented his case. "This plan is half baked at best. Has been since the beginning. Trust me, I want to make AJ's dream come true just as much as you do, but fulfilling some bucket list isn't going to keep us alive. And I know that was my idea, to give our lives some sort of meaning, but don't you think we need a bigger end goal? We get to the coast, we play around in the sand for an hour, but what happens after that? We march off to someplace different? Pursue another pipe dream?"
She felt a spark of annoyance, for being challenged on something that, not only had they discussed numerous times, but also agreed on, AND made enormous strides towards. She tried her best to squash negative and rash emotions, and answer him calm and factually. "We head south, to Mexico. Maybe we'll even go beyond that."
"And then what? We wander around aimlessly in South America instead?" Louis huffed, his stress level peaking. Any minute now, he was going to start sprouting grey hairs. However, his tone crossed over into mocking territory. That, combined with her underlying doubts, was a recipe for disaster, causing their conversation to descend a slippery slope, and from there, a heated argument became unavoidable.
"I don't know, Louis! What do you want me to say?!" She retaliated, previously bottled up feelings erupting from the depths of her core like a fiery volcano.
"That we'll settle down somewhere and live our lives! Join a community or better yet, start our own! Anything but starving to death in the middle of nowhere, in a country we've never been to before." He shot back, dark eyes burning with spirit and intensity, while frustration became etched into every contour line of his face. However, his overall expression was an odd mixture of a deer caught in headlights, and a bullfighter preparing to tussle with a raging beast. Two very different sides to the same coin.
Now aware of his main concerns, but still seething, Clementine uttered her next few words very carefully through gritted teeth. "That's not going to happen. We're not going to find somewhere like the school. All the big communities are too busy fighting over scraps to care about people like us. I'm not getting dragged into another war." The thought of it makes me sick.
Loose dreadlocks swayed as Louis shook his head, before kicking up a few dying embers and slumping down on the bench. "We should have stayed put at your old house. We had a good thing going there." He muttered, his tone swimming in a bitter, poisonous cesspool.
"That was a temporary solution to an ongoing problem. We weren't living there, we definitely weren't thriving either. We were in hiding." She argued, brushing off the fact that he didn't address her statement. The young woman then clenched her fists, as sweat dripped from her palms. "And 'a good thing'? Are you kidding me? Your vegetable garden was failing!"
"If you had just let me try, I could have salvaged something." He muttered, sounding less bitter and more... hurt.
"Or died trying. We would have ran out of food by the time that soil started yielding anything worthwhile."
"You don't know that." He said in defiance, although he seemed unconvinced, judging by how quiet his voice had become.
"Neither do you!"
"Well it hasn't exactly been any better out on the road. You dragging us in every possible direction, it's enough to drive anyone crazy!"
"So it's my fault now, is it?" Clementine questioned, her anger resurfacing as the ancient and primal beast rattled in its cage. "Funny, because I remember all three of us agreeing that moving on was the right call!"
"I never said it was your-" Louis began, hoping to extinguish her rage.
It was a poor attempt. "If you have such a big issue with my ideas, then why don't you make a few suggestions, huh?" She chastised him. "Go on. I'm all ears."
"I've made plenty. You just refuse to listen." He claimed, proceeding to bow his head, almost as if he wanted to wash his hands of the whole affair.
After the raging storm within her died, and she could see passed her fury, it began to dawn on her how deeply troubled Louis was. Despite this, she felt betrayed by his accusation, and sought to dig up those seeds of planted doubt. "That's not true. You think I want any of this? You think I don't want to settle down? I would love to find a community that's safe and secure and peaceful. So that AJ could read and play all day, and go to bed with a full stomach, and sleep without a gun under his pillow. But this world is dying. People- good people, that were trying to make the best out of a shitty situation, are GONE. Wellington is gone. Richmond is gone. Ericson's is gone. People like Lily and the Delta... Are the only ones left alive."
Silence rippled through the frost bitten air, as Louis struggled with his inner turmoil. He stared at the ground, or perhaps at his dangling, untied boot laces, practically transfixed. He then rubbed his temple and buried his face in his palms - hiding from the nasty, hateful feud, born from his insecurities and anxiety. Was it comforting behind those big, hard working hands? In darkness, did it all make sense?
A light, early winter breeze picked up, and whipped past her, scattering leaves, threatening to snuff out the fire, and chilling Clementine to the bone.
"We can't carry on like this." He muttered in a hoarse whisper. His voice was so inaudible, she couldn't tell if he was even speaking to her anymore. Perhaps it was the dying moan from a broken man - words to numb the pain and defeat, or soothing whispers to appease his vanishing hope, which slipped from his white knuckled grasp, as he tried so desperately to cling on.
Faith in a better life. Faith in a more giving world. Faith in seeing another dawn.
Despite the uncertainty, she still responded. "We don't have a choice. We stick to our routine. We survive. That's all we can do."
A light drizzle floated down from the heavens. Along with it came a harsh wind, which jerked their alarm system, and put her on edge. The dusk sky - a perfect canvas - once decorated by splashes of orange, pink and purple, was now painted over with a sea of dull grey. These were all early signs of an incoming rainstorm, Clementine suspected.
She was making the finishing touches to her ripped sleeve, when Louis entered through the back door, dripping wet and shivering. She had repaired his coat first, hoping to spare him from the cruel weather, but alas, her loving efforts were wasted. It was quite remarkable how tiny droplets of water could soak someone so quickly. However, Louis being in such a sorry state wasn't to be marvelled at. The young woman watched silently, as her boyfriend lifted a shaking hand and removed the hair tie, unleashing his dreadlocks so that he could wring them out. His teeth chattered and her heart sank. If only the damn chimney wasn't clogged.
After creating a puddle on the floor, Louis attempted to tame the wild bird's nest. During this gruelling task, he not-so-subtly cleared his throat, hoping to break the awkward tension which surrounded the duo. "Stew's done." He declared. His tone was dry with no hint of emotion and his skittish gaze avoided her entirely. Instead, those dark eyes traced the outline of the dining table, along with the melted candles resting atop it.
"Great. I'll go get AJ while you start dishing up." Clementine responded, offering him a gentle smile, which he did not mirror.
The young man finally returned his hair to its original messy but convenient state. He proceeded to nod slowly, in an almost robotic fashion, before drifting outside.
Wishing to forget that dreadful encounter, Clementine busied herself with her current objective - which was tightening the loose thread and detaching it from the needle - returning her hoodie to its former glory. She briefly admired her handiwork before tidying away her sewing kit, and slipping the item of clothing on. She then placed her repaired hat securely on her head.
With her job completed, she ventured over to the foot of the staircase, and called out. "AJ! Dinner's ready! So put down that book and come get some while it's piping hot!"
That always gets him moving. He hates cold stew.
"Coming!" AJ shouted back in a hurried manner. Heavy footsteps caused the ceiling to tremble and dust to shake loose. Clementine had barely covered any distance when the young boy appeared, skipping a few steps on his mad crusade to reach the kitchen table first. As soon as his feet made contact with the ground floor, he bolted past her and jumped into his designated seat.
Louis was already there, scraping every last morsel from the pot into three chipped bowls. AJ watched intently, his eyes burning with hunger, while his stomach growled ferociously.
As the young man slid AJ his share, she noticed immediately that her boyfriend had given him a larger portion, but avoided commenting on it. However, when she received her own, the urge to speak grew. The size of her meal, compared to what Louis had given himself, was like chalk and cheese.
She was flabbergasted that he thought he could slip under her radar. After all they had talked about... He was still trying to give her and AJ more food. Food that he NEEDED.
Confrontation would likely cause him to shutdown, or worse - another argument could ensue, so she opted with an alternative, subtle approach. "Lou..."
He responded with a loud hum, to indicate he was listening, since he was busy pulling up a chair.
"I heard the alarm going off earlier. It was probably just the wind, but... Would you mind checking it out for me?"
"But- but I just sat down." Louis whined.
"Please?" Clementine kept pushing, whilst giving him her best puppy dog eyes. "It doesn't have to be a thorough search. If you take a quick look outside, then it will make me feel a whole lot better."
"Fine. I'll be back in a sec." He said through a long sigh, before rising from his seated position and exiting the cabin, on a quest to find the boogeyman.
As soon as he was out of sight, Clementine seized the opportunity and traded her full, uneaten bowl of stew with his measly helping.
AJ observed the spectacle, completely dumbfounded. "What are you-"
She cut him off with a quick shush.
With his curiosity squished like a colony of ants, the young boy returned his attention to his meal, and began scooping up huge mouthfuls with his spoon.
Louis returned moments later, shaken by the chill. "There's nothing out there." He declared, much to everyone's relief. But he cottoned on to his girlfriend's scheme once he sat down again. "Clem, did you switch our..."
She gave him an intense stare, which roughly translated to; Don't even start. Just eat your dinner.
Despite his initial reaction being terror, her sweet, kind gesture managed to coax a shy smile out of hiding. "...Nevermind. Thank you."
Clementine acknowledged his gratitude with a brief nod, before glancing at AJ, who was wolfing down his stew. "So, kiddo, seen anything else during watch duty?" She asked, itching to engage in a polite, casual conversation.
"No, nothing." He replied, his voice muffled by the food stashed in his chubby cheeks. The resemblance to a chipmunk was uncanny.
Her mouth went slack jawed, forming a perfect 'O' shape. "Not even a wood troll?" She questioned in a surprised, playful tone. The image of a stubby, moss green creature, with a bulbous nose and thin, wiry black hair, covered in disgusting warts, danced around inside her head. She could guarantee AJ was picturing the same exact thing.
This earned a giggle and toothy grin from the young boy. "Hehe, nope."
"What about a sleepy rock giant?" Louis chimed in. He was always on the same wavelength when it came to silly, made up bullshit. It was one of the many things she loved about him.
Clementine was eager to make another addition. "Or- or a couple of mischievous fairies?"
The trio soon lost themselves in a fantasy realm, imagining a ginormous titan, with skin as rough and hard as a boulder, and an entire ecosystem thriving on his back, whilst he slept peacefully. This ancient rock monster had a snore so loud it could crack the walls and uproot trees. And then there were the fairies, with tiny, shimmering butterfly wings and clothes crafted from vibrant flowers, who travelled across sunbeams and hid amongst red toadstools - decorated with white splotches - testing their magic on unsuspecting victims.
They were so in sync, they could probably magic these mythical beings into existence through sheer willpower.
"None of those either." AJ said, almost sounding disappointed. "I did see a squirrel though. And a couple of birds."
Louis scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Of course all the animals come out to play after we've been hunting."
She ignored her boyfriend's comment and continued to focus on AJ. "So whatcha been up to then?"
"Reading." He offered her a short, simple reply.
Shocker. "Oh yeah, like what?"
"The Neverending Story."
"Wow, cool!" A period of silence followed, as she waited patiently for him to slip into his usual routine, where he would breathlessly recap the entire plot. However, he made no attempt to do so, and was more content swirling his spoon around the edge of his bowl. This was extremely out of character, but she couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Maybe he just doesn't feel like it tonight. After all, kids will be kids. She rationalised. At the end of the day, keeping AJ in the loop was more important than his reading activities. "Hey, um... Sorry to have to bore you now, kiddo, but I need to give you a basic rundown of the plan."
"Ugh, I knew this was coming." The young boy groaned, disgust overwhelming his soft features.
"I know it's a pain, but I won't take long. Promise." But her reassurance wasn't enough to stop the fun atmosphere from deflating like a ripped balloon.
AJ sighed, and then gulped down another large spoonful of stew before replying. "Alright. I'm listening."
"Ok, so, first things first, we're all having an early night, and I need you to start packing away all your stuff after dinner." Clementine informed him.
"Can I leave my books out?"
"No, sorry, buddy. Like I said, we're having an early night, you won't have any time to read."
"Oh... Ok." He murmured, failing to hide his disappointment. "Where are we heading tomorrow?"
"Do you remember the map we found in that old tourist trap?" She asked, before reminding herself that she needed to eat too, since she had barely scratched the surface of her food. Come on, Clem, you know how to multitask.
AJ quietly nodded in response.
She was smiling even before she could give him the good news. "Well, there's a town nearby that looks pretty promising."
"Do you think there'll be any food?"
"I'm not sure, but I hope so." She replied, her answer oozing with sincerity. "Scavengers have probably run through there before, but people like that only take stuff that's easy to grab, so they can make a quick getaway. But if we take our time, and have a good look around, then I'm sure we'll find something."
Another question popped into AJ's head, and slipped off his tongue instantly. "How long will it take to get there?"
A hush fell over the room. This was the tricky part - travelling was the bane of his existence, and their next few words could make or break whatever goodwill he had left. Well, at least for the rest of the evening.
The rain is starting to come down hard. Clementine noted, briefly distracted by the pounding on the roof, since it was getting harder and harder to ignore. I hope this storm passes soon.
Louis spoke up. "I won't lie to you, bud. It's going to be at least a day's hike. That's what the early night is for, so you're not crabby in the morning."
"I don't get crabby." AJ claimed, after he folded his arms and pouted.
"Sure you don't." He teased, whilst failing to stifle a chuckle.
Clementine interjected with one last nugget of information. "We leave at dawn."
"Alright." The young boy huffed. His spoon clattered as he discarded the piece of silverware in his empty bowl. "I'm done."
"Already?" She blurted out in astonishment. She didn't have much to begin with, but she was still nowhere near finished. Neither was Louis. "You must have been hungry!"
"Yep." He muttered in a dry tone.
Clementine's heart sank. Is there any more? She recalled him asking, time and time again. That question bounced around inside her head like a ping-pong ball, before vanishing into a deep, forgotten chasm, where other memories dwelled. Instead of that gleeful chirp, all she received now was a joyless stare. After months- years of never having enough food, to so much as relieve their appetites, AJ had learned not to ask. And that alone almost brought her to tears.
She blinked rapidly and gently ushered him towards his next task. "Well, you know what you have to do now, mister."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it." He grumbled, hopping off his chair, and shuffling out of the room.
After watching him go, she swiftly wrapped up with her meal. There was no point in dilly dallying, and Louis shared this mentality. There was a flurry of movement, their spoons glinted in the candlelight, as metal clashed against porcelain, and teeth chomped on boiled weasel. From an onlooker perspective, they appeared to be competing in an eating contest.
"That went better than expected." Louis commented after taking his last bite. A moment of pause followed before he rose, his chair squeaking obnoxiously.
"I suppose." She spoke without thought, as her mind was still ensnared, spiralling deeper into the abyss. What if I'm grasping at straws? What if there's nothing in that town?
A slight tremor overcame Clementine's body as she gathered their used cutlery and bowls, and dumped them on the mountain of dishes stacked in the sink. She eyed the structure's base, where mould sprouted from tiny, unconsumed scraps.
The image of Louis' malnourished frame flashed across her vision. If the plan doesn't work out, then how much longer can we go on for?
She rested her hands on the kitchen counter, using it like a crutch as a frothy, white wave crashed on top of her. Once submerged, today's events pulled her down like heavy metals chains. She became lost in the darkest depths of the ocean, where hopelessness and despair lurked, in the form of unsightly creatures, that had adapted to the crushing void.
Louis stood to one side, his hands buried deep in his pockets, as he stared vacantly at a broken light fixture. A black, suffocating aura hung over him too - Clementine swore she could see shapes twisting and convulsing around his outline. He was despondent and in no position to check on her, even if it was just a quiet, feeble 'Are you alright?'
It didn't matter. She didn't expect him to be her comforter. They both knew it wouldn't help anyway. All she needed was a minute of peace. And space. That was the most important part.
After the monstrous sea calmed, and her legs no longer threatened to buckle, Clementine turned to him, in search of assistance. "Will you help me pack?"
"Can't it wait?" He asked, his speech sluggish, almost as if he had just been awoken from a long nap.
The young woman clicked her tongue in mild frustration. "No, not really." She answered. The oncoming headache felt like a power drill, pushing deep into her skull. Pressure was building behind her tired eyes, causing them to throb and water. She just wanted to crawl into bed and never emerge.
"But we don't have anything, just a couple of cans and weapons. It'll take half an hour at best."
"And that's half an hour I don't want to put off." She rebutted. Not wanting to lose her temper or raise her voice, she squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled a calming breath. "Louis, please, I need you to work with me here. Besides, it's not like we have anything better to do."
"There's plenty of things we could be doing." He concurred.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and her brow - already wrinkled with stress - dipped into a frown, while her brain scrambled in a futile attempt to decipher his bizarre riddles. However, the puzzle pieces all clicked into place when he stole a glance at the object of his desire.
That rosewood piano.
"Louis, no, don't even go there. We've talked about this enough already." Clementine took a firm and direct stance, in an attempt to squash his hopes before they became too grand.
"Oh come on, Clem, it's a piano. When's the next time I'm going to see one of those?" Louis responded in a rather childish whine.
The best she could offer him was a tiny shrug and a half baked answer. "I don't know... Probably never..."
"Exactly!" He cried, his pitch rising as his desperation grew. "Please, Clem, it's our last night here. Why not do something special and just fucking enjoy ourselves- for once!"
She shook her head as an act of protest. "It's too loud. Look around you - this place isn't exactly Fort Knox. If a herd of walkers or a bunch of bandits hear you playing, we'll be screwed."
"Then I'll play extra quiet. No Beethoven or anything like that. No one will hear us, I swear."
"...This still seems too risky."
"Clem, darling, please, I'm begging you here. Just one song, that's all I ask. Please." Her boyfriend pleaded. She half expected him to drop to his knees in front of her and grip her trouser leg for dear life.
Ugh... I hate being the bad guy. Her thoughts droned. She scanned Louis for a moment, his gentle, mahogany brown eyes sparkled with roaring passion. Her gaze then drifted to the broken window, where she watched the grey curtain of rain hammer into the dirt, shrouded by fading twilight. Screw it. "Ok, fine. You win. But you better play quietly, or else whatever dangers are lurking outside will be the least of your worries."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Louis showered her with loving kisses, before dashing over to the piano at blinding speed.
Once in close proximity, his pace slowed to a crawl. Her boyfriend was breathless, as he paused to marvel at the ancient instrument. He then crouched down, and blew on the thick layer of dust coating the surface, sending a dull cloud up into the musty air. Even though she was maintaining her distance, Clementine still sneezed, which earned a chuckle from Louis.
After straightening his posture - and with a trembling hand - he delicately lifted the lid, and unveiled the remarkable craftsmanship to the world.
It was in pristine condition, the ivory keys were akin to white pearls - flawless in every conceivable way. Her boyfriend tested one with feverish excitement, and a pleasant note vibrated through the strings. Louis quivered with joy, and began playing a short, wistful melody. "Someone loved you very much." He commented, with a warm, silky flavour to his voice. He then dragged the small, leather wrapped stool out and nestled down. After that, he eased his feet onto the pedals, to check that they were up to code as well.
"Oh my god. She's perfect." He whispered, each syllable laced with affection, as the years melted away before her very eyes, returning him to his youthful, innocent state. "Too perfect. Someone pinch me, I think I'm dreaming."
A spark of deviousness overcame Clementine as she stealthily approached him, and pinched his arm. The old squeeze and twist technique.
"Ow!" He yelped, while flinching away from her touch.
"What? You said pinch me." She teased. She then poked his head a couple of times for no particular reason. The whimsical atmosphere in the room was causing her bubbly mood to intensify.
He lightly slapped her hand with a hint of playfulness, forcing Clementine to retreat. "Yeah, but I didn't mean that you should actually do it!"
The young woman cradled her own hips and disguised her smirk with a frown. "Alright, fine. I can see when I'm not wanted. I'll get back to packing and leave you alone with your new girlfriend now."
"Clem, hold up a sec." Louis said, catching her wrist before she could walk off. "Come on, at least get to know her first instead of jumping to conclusions. I promise she's just a friend, so there's no need to be jealous. I mean, sure, she's pretty and all, but nobody's as beautiful as you."
Even though it was just a huge charade, there were many truths to his statement, which caused Clementine's cheeks to flush bright red.
"Uh oh, someone's a little embarrassed. Either that or they're having an allergic reaction." Her boyfriend joked. He then gently cupped her hand. "You're not actually having an allergic reaction, are you? Was it something in the weasel stew?"
"No, you big dope! I'm not allergic to anything!" She responded through fits of giggles and attempts to hide her face, which resembled that of a nasty sunburn.
"Ok, good. Just checking. Wouldn't want you to drop dead." Louis said, a grin plastered on his freckled cheeks. "After all, the only thing you are... is drop dead gorgeous." He added, winking and blowing a kiss.
"Shut up! Christ, I'll look at the piano, ok? Just stop!" She cried, flustered beyond human comprehension.
Her face radiated with intense heat as she edged closer. However, she only managed to get a brief, sweeping glance at the piano, before Louis yanked on her arm. She fell onto his lap, and bashed her head against his in the process. She heard the stool groan with effort, and feared that it would collapse under their combined weight. But no such event occurred.
She began nursing her head with one hand, while the other smacked her boyfriend's shoulder. "You idiot! What on earth were you thinking?! You could've knocked us both out!" She cried, while uncontrollable laughter burned her throat.
"Why do you sound so surprised? You should know by now that you're the only one around here who has a brain." Louis quipped. Despite his jovial response, he was still quick to check for swelling. "Christ, that fucking hurt. What is your head made out of, titanium?"
"Steel, actually."
"I think it's starting to bruise. Is my nose bleeding?" He asked, performing his latest act, and starring as the injured party.
A hard eye roll accompanied Clementine's reply. "Don't be so dramatic."
He threw his hands up in disarray. "But I need medical attention!"
"Aw, does baby want me to kiss it better?" She teased.
Louis missed a couple of beats before bashfully answering with a hushed "Yes please."
The young woman giggled, and adjusted herself on his lap in order to get a more comfortable position. She then wrapped her arms around his neck, dodged the minefield of hairs that could catch in her mouth, and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. A minor red bump had already begun to develop, but she hoped her act of loving affection would cause it to simply vanish. Her lips lingered there, before traversing over his wrinkles and kissing the bridge of his nose. A dreamy and content sigh vibrated from her throat as she slowly pulled back, and curled a dreadlock around her finger. "How was that? Do you feel any better?"
"A little." He croaked out. He didn't seem quite as relaxed, judging by his evasive stare and incredibly tense body.
He turned away rather sharply, and this action troubled her. She studied him for a few seconds, in an attempt to decipher meaning from his features. However, after being unable to read him, she touched his freckled cheek, and nudged his head, encouraging him to face her once more.
There was something vile and grotesque gnawing at the back of Louis' head. Something old. Its teeth were razor sharp and sunk deep. It robbed happiness. Stole dreams. Fed until he was nothing but an empty husk. Its gaping maw reeked of death, and from those jaws came ugly whispers, reminding him of his mistakes. Of his guilt.
Her boyfriend moved his head and pressed his mouth against her palm. His lips traced the map of creases, planting kisses on uncharted locations. A sigh rumbled through his chest, and she caught his hot breath in her grasp. Perhaps she could keep it safe in a jar.
"I'm sorry, about earlier." He apologised, his voice resembling the squeak of a skittish mouse. He took her comforting hand in his own, and stroked her knuckles with his thumb. "I didn't mean to cause such a fuss. I just... I miss belonging somewhere, you know? The school was my home... for years. I guess, even after all this time, I'm still homesick."
"I get it. You don't have to apologise. I'm the one who should be sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Clementine expressed her sympathy. Homesickness was not a foreign concept to her. "I miss belonging somewhere too. I've been on the road for so long. It's exhausting. I've joined a few groups, stayed in a couple of places here and there, but nothing lasts. I've lost people along the way... friends... family... It never gets any easier. I began to think I was cursed. No matter where I went, destruction always followed. AJ was my last chance. Someone who I had to keep safe. Someone who I couldn't lose. We scraped by for a while, but then... We ended up at your school. It felt like home. But my curse caught up with me - deep down I knew it would - and everything fell apart. I wish... We could have stayed there longer."
She retracted her hand and pulled Louis into a tight embrace. She hoped this would banish that malicious creature, or at the very least, loosen its grip.
"We could still go back." He mumbled into her shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
"There are probably still some walkers roaming around, but we know how to deal with those. Lily and her people, they'll be long gone. We could rebuild and start over." He suggested, his tone filled with conviction, almost as if he was drunk on this elaborate fantasy.
"Louis, you know that's not possible. The three of us, maintaining a place as big as that? We'd be stretched thin. It wouldn't be long until we buckled under the weight of such pressure." She responded, trying to let him down gently whilst remaining factual.
His entire body sank into her arms. The disappointment radiating from him was palpable. "It was just a thought."
Clementine cradled his neck and traced circles on his back. "I know."
They stayed in that position for an eternity, allowing their words to settle and to share each other's warmth. However, Louis was the first to pull out of the hug, and his hands swiftly moved to the ivory keys. He cleared his throat, hoping to relieve himself of such crushing sadness. "Here's a better idea. How about we play a little game called 'Name That Tune'?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You know my knowledge of music doesn't stretch very far."
"Aww come on, it'll be fun. I'll start off with an easy one for you."
"Ok, fine." She said through a defeated sigh.
"Great!" Louis cheered. He then put on his best game show host voice. "NOW GET READY TO NAMMMMMMMME THAT TUNE!"
The melody he began with was simple and straightforward, in fact he could most likely perform one handed if necessary. He was only a few notes in before Clementine recognised it.
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?"
"DING DING DING! We have a winner!" He cried with glee.
"Oh cool! What do I win?" She asked, curious to see what he could possibly make up on the fly.
"The satisfaction of getting one right!"
She made no attempt to hide her frown. "That's not a very good prize."
"We're working on a very tight budget, I'm afraid." Her boyfriend offered a short, easy explanation. "But what would you like to win?"
"Hmm..." The young woman stroked her chin as she pondered. "A brand new car."
"I'll see what I can do. Now let's head to round 2!"
The musician aligned his fingers with the correct keys, and began playing a different, far more elaborate and complex tune. Clementine scrunched up her nose as she concentrated, and after a lengthy period of time, along with a few guesses rattling around inside her head, she came up with a definitive answer.
"Oh, I remember this song!" She blurted out, her face beaming with excitement. "Well, I have no idea what it's called, but I know you were playing this for AJ on the day we met."
"It's a Chopin piece." Louis clarified.
"...That sounds like complete gibberish to me."
"Haha, fair enough." He chuckled. "God, this really takes me back. Everyone was so tired of AJ's temper tantrums, so Marlon dumped him on me, said I could 'Go nuts! Do whatever it takes to calm him down.' As soon as he showed interest in my piano, I jumped at the chance to play him every song I knew. He was pretty much hypnotised when you walked in - I was already riding high that morning because someone actually liked my music, but after you appeared, like some sort of angel, my heart... Just exploded." Her boyfriend paused momentarily, those two shimmering topazes lost in pure nostalgia, while the biggest, stupidest grin spread across his bright, happy face. "The way you smiled and laughed... I remember thinking that, there was no way someone so... Extraordinary could exist, and yet there you were, practically glowing in the sunlight. I guess you could say it was love at first sight."
"...Holy shit." Clementine breathed.
Louis looked somewhat alarmed. "What? What is it? What did I do?"
"Nothing, it's just- you're so-" She stuttered, the words catching on her tongue. "You're so cute."
"Me? Cute? Nah. You on the other hand? Absolutely. In fact, you're the definition of cute."
She pinched his cheek. "Then I guess you must be the definition of adorable."
"That's why we're a match made in heaven." Her boyfriend chimed, nuzzling his nose against her own.
Unprompted, he started playing another song, without the previously established game show host routine.
"What is this? Round 3?" She questioned.
"Ah, forget the stupid contest. I'd rather play something from the heart instead."
Phew, that's a relief. I would've lost if we were still playing. "So what's this song called?"
"Moon River. Have you ever heard of it?"
"No, never. Does it have any lyrics?" Clementine quizzed, her curiosity peaking.
"You betcha." He replied, bobbing his head while his hands continued to glide with such precision and grace.
"Can I hear them?" She requested.
"What, you want me to sing? When I haven't even warmed up my voice?"
"Just do it, you big dope." She urged, eager to hear his golden pipes.
"Hehe, alright, if I must."
Louis restarted the instrumental, whilst Clementine waited with bated breath. Finally, his moment to shine arrived, and his singing voice sent her heart into a crazed, unrelenting frenzy.
"Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way."
His dark, chocolatey brown eyes floated away from the piano as he tilted his head to face her. She sat unmoving, completely transfixed by such a grand, but also immensely personal and sentimental display.
"Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me..."
His voice trailed off, as Clementine closed the tiny gap between them, and kissed him on the lips. His peach fuzz tickled her chin, and his itchy scarf brushed against her neck, while her hands caressed his rosy cheeks and combed through his tangled hair. She had longed for this level of intimacy - moments like this were rare and special, they lit a spark within her that ignited into a roaring flame of love and desire, that would continue to burn for eons. She savoured his touch, savoured this kiss, like it was the last time she would ever hold him again.
Refusing to come up for air, Louis shifted slightly, and though one hand cradled her hips, the other became buried in his coat pocket. She did not know his intentions, and frankly she did not care. All she wanted was to enjoy this blissful moment with him, for as long as it could possibly last.
A loud clatter shattered the quiet atmosphere, and brought their whole world crashing down.
Something- someone had triggered the alarm.
They both instinctively broke away, and shared a momentary glance, before she jumped to her feet. Clementine charged towards the entrance hall, and caught sight of Louis racing into the kitchen through her peripheral vision. Adrenaline coursed like molten lava through her veins, as she snatched her bow from its resting place, and slammed the front door wide open, almost knocking it off its last hinge.
The harsh wind and the blistering rain was a shock to the system, and robbed her lungs of air. Night had claimed the forest, cloaking her surroundings in such a thick darkness, she could barely make out the treeline.
Fighting against her fear and the bitter cold, she readied an arrow and pulled back her bow.
"Who's there? Who are you? What do you want?!" Clementine screamed into the black void. Her voice quivered and her arms trembled.
"ANSWER ME!"
Louis arrived, carrying their emergency flashlight. She couldn't remember the last time they used it. Did it even have any juice left?
Judging by how desperately he was flicking the switch on and off, in a vicious, never ending cycle, she guessed the answer to that question was a strong no.
He cursed under his breath as he pounded the flashlight against his hand. Finally, by some miracle, it switched on, and the forest was illuminated with a blinding white light. The beam frantically darted from left to right, and then back again, as her boyfriend searched for whatever triggered the alarm.
God, could he just point the damn thing in one direction and keep it there?! I can't shoot this fucker unless I can see them!
A few bushes rustled close by, and Clementine failed to stifle a panicked scream. Louis yelped, but managed to remain focused, and lit up the source of the noise. A pair of glowing yellow eyes reflected the flashlight beam.
The young man exhaled a sigh of relief. "Clem, relax. Look, it's just a fox." He pointed out. The creature eyed them curiously, but lost interest fast, and with a flick of its orange tail, it scampered off into the wilderness. He laughed gingerly, and slipped into his usual routine, in order to lighten the mood. "Where was that guy when we were trying to score some meat, huh? And showing up on our last night too? It's like he's trying to taunt us. Sly little bastard."
"You're lucky it wasn't a walker or a person. See, this is exactly why I didn't want you touching that fucking piano!" Her amber eyes burned with fury as she shot him an angry glare.
Louis took a step back and threw his hands up in self defence. "Jesus, Clem, I just wanted us to have a good time, like we used to. We were having fun, YOU were having fun!"
"Yeah, well, I've had enough fun for one night. I'm turning in." She declared, before stomping towards the cabin.
"Clem-"
"I said I'm turning in!" She shouted, more forcefully than she had intended. Her next few words were hushed, but still laced with venom. "Goodnight, Louis."
"Goodnight." He whispered, but his words were drowned out by the rain. Whilst Clementine vacated the scene, Louis glanced over his shoulder, and took one last sweeping look at the treeline.
Anything could be out there... Hiding in the shadows... He shook his head. It was a fox. That's all. Just a fox.
He turned towards the cabin and switched off his flashlight, plunging the forest into darkness.