Joel had just finished one more lap around and stopped to care to his injury.
"Thank god Elizabeth is good at this kind of shit" Joel said before turning around. He fought he heard footsteps in the camp and wondered if Clementine was back. He started whistling when he saw nobody there. Joel then paused as he saw nobody.
"I stop for one god damn minute" Joel says.
Joel then starts shouting out loud "Meg! Tara! God damn it"
"Liz and Ruby are not going to be happy about this" Joel said quietly before trying to spot Tara and Meg.
Any feedback please. It's short because idk what to do with Joel now as he has no real leads but yea that's my first post back on this stuff. Like I said any feedback appreciated.
Joel had just finished one more lap around and stopped to care to his injury.
"Thank god Elizabeth is good at this kind of shit" Joel s… moreaid before turning around. He fought he heard footsteps in the camp and wondered if Clementine was back. He started whistling when he saw nobody there. Joel then paused as he saw nobody.
"I stop for one god damn minute" Joel says.
Joel then starts shouting out loud "Meg! Tara! God damn it"
"Liz and Ruby are not going to be happy about this" Joel said quietly before trying to spot Tara and Meg.
The growls are becoming louder and louder. Clementine still hasn't gotten used to the walkers and all the dangers which originate from them. The dump sound of her pulse raising is beating through her ears. *I gotta react fast*. Hiding in the dense undergrowth the little girl covers herself under soil and leaves, hoping for the walkers to walk past her. Now she can see them, stumbling past her, three - no, seven. They suddenly stop walking as if they are taking notice of something, when they start to walk around, like vultures circling around their kill. *Patience, Clem... you're smarter than all of them*
**Scene Switch**
An arrow pierces a goons head lightning-fast as he falls down a pit. "There's so many of them", Elizabeth says to herself, putting her hand in the shirt pocket for her box of cigarettes, yet her hand grasps at nothing. "Dammit... I really need a smoke." The pale woman turns around looking at the huge hole in the ground for a while when she makes a decision. At a slow pace she walks towards it, looking down at the goon, who is wearing a long jacket. In a single bound she reaches him, checking for useful things. Then she grabs what she was hoping for and her heart is beating faster as she releases a big smile. Elizabeth takes out her lighter and opens the box with shaking hands when she realizes, that it's ... empty. "Fuck! Fuck, fuck, FUCK.", she whispers to herself as she begins to smash the dead man's face in with her muddy boot. When there is nothing left of his face Elizabeth gathers her wits. *Easy girl, snap out of it. The little girl needs you now.* When she climbs to the top she can hear hasty steps on the leafy ground. In the distance she can see a short haired silhouette hurrying between the trees when the person suddenly looks at her. Liz's brows lower until folds gather above her nose. "Meg...", she whispers to herself, as the slender woman suddenly takes a sprint into the deep forest.
**Scene Swap**
Drops of sweat are rolling down Ruby's temples as she takes a look at the round ball on the sky - it's noon. She's been walking for hours so she comes to a stop crouching down from exhaustion, trying to get a clear brain. *I should probably turn around and check our camp...*. Then suddenly a familiar sound interrupts her musing. *Was that...?*. Ruby is reminded of her childhood. She walks to the direction where she has heard the noise when it resounds again. After a while she reaches a clearance and there's the proof that her ears didn't fool her: A horse tied to a tree, eating grass. Ruby looks at it in awe as she slowly steps closer to the beautiful creature. Luckily it isn't bothered by her at all. "Hi, fella.", she whispers, smiling as she pets its muzzle. The delicious smell of something cooking distracts her. Following it she reaches another clearing hidden by trees and bushes. In the middle of it she can see a boy playing with a branch, pretending to have a sword as he fights his imaginary opponent. There's also a man stirring his dish in a pot over the small fire. As she wants to hide behind a tree she steps on a stick emitting a noise - Ruby can hide just in time when the strange man looks around him. After a while he goes back to business. Ruby sighs in relief and wants to return at the time when something pointy is being pressed to the back of her head. "Don't - turn - around. Don't make a move, not a sound... Regress until I tell you to stop. Understand?" The deep voice vibrates through her body causing her flesh to crawl. "Yes, sir." Ruby walks backwards like the man told her, trying to both take care of the ground as well as the sharp thing nearly stinging her head. A few moments later the voice speaks once again: "Stop. Put your hands on the back of your head and turn around - slowly." Ruby nervously obeys his order until she can finally see her threat: A pair of greenish grey eyes is staring at her with folds on his forehead until he suddenly raises his eyebrows and opens his mouth. Ruby is wondering about his sudden change of attitude. His once evil look vanished now displaying his soft features. Ruby swallows: he looks shocked, even sick at heart. Right when she is about to say something he suddenly speaks: "Ruby." All of the sudden the scales fell from her eyes. Images of Lauren and Peter rush through her mind as a tear pours down her cheek.
**Scene Swap**
A long tense while later the walkers eventually headed forward. After she made sure of them being gone the girl comes out of her hideout. Brushing off the dirt she becomes very nervous since she hasn't gotten far at all. *They may overtake me every minute*, she says to herself looking for the best direction to take. *Elizabeth went there, while Ruby...* Loud high pitched screams clanging through the wood interrupt her. "Mom! Mommy!!! Mooooom!!!". Clementine knows in a second that it's nobody else but Tara. *How could she find me?*, she asks herself as she runs towards her. "Tara - I'm here - please, shut up - you're ruining it!" The small girl is all red, her face drenched in tears. Clementine gives her a hug as she speaks: "That was very stupid, Tara. Never follow me, again - did you hear me? Go back to the camp.", Clementine speaks as Tara sniffs: "No, I won't!" Then Clementine recognizes a red mark on the girl's swollen cheek. She shudders by the sight of it: "What happened to you?". Tara replies gasping: "It was Meg - she hit me! I want my moooom, and my doll. She took it - I'll never see it again...". Clementine is puzzled by the shaggy words. "Wait a second - she hit you and ran off?", she asks and Tara nods: "She said we have to go, and then she hit me - it hurts so much! And, *sniff*, and then she ran away!"Trying to sort her thoughts Clem reminds the walkers. "Tara, listen: We can't stay here. You can go with me, but only if you'll promise me not to speak and to stay right by my side. We need to find someone. Promise?" Tara rubs her tears away: "Ok, promise."
The two girls have crossed a corn field when they come to a broken farm near a country road. It's late afternoon. The little girl has been crying after her doll for hours, but now the only thing she wants is water. The heat is also nearly killing Clem, therefore she's very happy to see that there is a pond behind the rotten building. "Look Tara - water right ahead.", she says smiling. Before they have the chance to walk further a shot bangs, then another one. Clementine squats down directly drawing Tara with her. "Don't move! Run to the field when I tell you!", Clementine whispers but the little girl won't listen. Yelling with fear Tara jumps up when another shot hits her in the shoulder. "No!!!", Clementine screams when a man grabs her from behind. Not being able to say anything Clem sees two other man stepping out of the field as Tara's screams are resounding through the area. One of the men speaks into a walkie talkie: "Good news: we got two other girls. Still a dozen left. Over." The other man who is holding Tara remarks: "They are not from our latest delivery. I don't recognize 'em." Holding Clementine's mouth even tighter the third man replies: "Doesn't matter - they are women and nothing else matters."
Soft moaning and groaning comes from Tara's mouth as she rolls around on Clementine's lap. The girl's eyes are closed, she's fast asleep but occasionally tumbles onto her wounded shoulder. Clementine looks up at the night sky through the small keyhole of the car they're in. It's a family car, large enough to fit 7 people, but their captors have bound the girls' wrists and locked them up in the trunk of the car with no way out. Looking back down at the girl laying on her lap, Clementine notices the filthy wound waiting to be bound and taken care off. Although the blood has stopped flowing, the wound seems to be turning an unhealthy green color. "Tara?" She whispers, trying to wake the seemingly lifeless girl. "Tara, wake up." Her calls are only responded by more moans and a short sigh. She realizes Tara is in horrible shape and needs to be taken care off as soon as possible. "Hey!" Clementine starts to scream with a trembling voice. "She-- I think she might be dying!"
Mumbling is heard from the front seats, the girl hopefully awaits her captor's decision. "I... I guess we could have a look." One of the men says with hesitation. More angry mumbling and commotion follows before the car finally slows down and stops. Clementine holds her breath when a set of footsteps approach the trunk and unlock it. As the moonlight floods the small compartment the girl tries to take in the surrounding area. Trees and shrubbery have been replaced by what appears to be endless plains cut through by one long road dawning from far beyond the visible horizon. The first man, scratching his rough beard, picks up Tara and examines the wound they themselves had inflicted upon her. "Good thing we took the bullet out, at least." He says to his armed accomplice. "This flesh is infected as hell. Good thing we've got enough med's back at the camp." Putting Tara back into the trunk, the bearded man closes the trunk and locks it. Footsteps and slamming doors are heard once more before the car starts to move again. Tara is still sleeping, but Clementine's worries are too great for her to be able to sleep.
When Clementine's tiredness finally wins and puts her to sleep, a loud thump awakens her. She and Tara both open their eyes in disorientation as the sharp rays of sunlight pierce into their eyes. "Rise and shine, little ladies." The bearded man greets them with a seemingly trustful smile. He picks up Tara with his strong and muscly arms as he had done the night before. "I'll take her to the doctor, don't you worry. She'll be with you before you know it." Clementine slowly climbs out of the trunk, getting helped by one of the other men. He escorts the girl through the large camp full of different tents and to a small broken-down shed, which is heavily guarded by two men armed to the teeth. "Wait. No. I want to stay with Tara." She plead to the guard in panic, pushing him away and running to the medical tent marked with a red cross. The man quickly catches her and pulls her back to the shed before opening it, revealing a large group of terrified female faces. A moment later the man throws her in with hands tightly bound and bruised.
Soft moaning and groaning comes from Tara's mouth as she rolls around on Clementine's lap. The girl's eyes are closed, she's fast asleep but… more occasionally tumbles onto her wounded shoulder. Clementine looks up at the night sky through the small keyhole of the car they're in. It's a family car, large enough to fit 7 people, but their captors have bound the girls' wrists and locked them up in the trunk of the car with no way out. Looking back down at the girl laying on her lap, Clementine notices the filthy wound waiting to be bound and taken care off. Although the blood has stopped flowing, the wound seems to be turning an unhealthy green color. "Tara?" She whispers, trying to wake the seemingly lifeless girl. "Tara, wake up." Her calls are only responded by more moans and a short sigh. She realizes Tara is in horrible shape and needs to be taken care off as soon as possible. "Hey!" Clementine starts to scream with a trembling voice. "She-- I t… [view original content]
Soft moaning and groaning comes from Tara's mouth as she rolls around on Clementine's lap. The girl's eyes are closed, she's fast asleep but… more occasionally tumbles onto her wounded shoulder. Clementine looks up at the night sky through the small keyhole of the car they're in. It's a family car, large enough to fit 7 people, but their captors have bound the girls' wrists and locked them up in the trunk of the car with no way out. Looking back down at the girl laying on her lap, Clementine notices the filthy wound waiting to be bound and taken care off. Although the blood has stopped flowing, the wound seems to be turning an unhealthy green color. "Tara?" She whispers, trying to wake the seemingly lifeless girl. "Tara, wake up." Her calls are only responded by more moans and a short sigh. She realizes Tara is in horrible shape and needs to be taken care off as soon as possible. "Hey!" Clementine starts to scream with a trembling voice. "She-- I t… [view original content]
Ruby can't trust her senses. *Can this be?*. Gazing at the tall man in front of her she comes to the conclusion that there's no doubt about it: This *is* Bryan. That man looks exactly like what Clem has told her about him: Sized and muscly, blonde with green eyes, strong and awe-inspiring, yet there's something else about him: a gentle core is revealed by his piercing green eyes and the few soft features. His threatening build as well as his deep and strong voice cover up his true nature, his good essence. Ruby now somewhat understands Clem's and Peter's fancy for him. Bryan misinterprets Ruby's tears hence he speaks: "Listen: you don't have to be scared of me, I won't hurt you. This might sound ... weird, but ... I know your husband, and I met daughter.", he says gently, lowering his head all possessed by his feelings of guilt.
"I know ... Bryan.", she says outright. Dazed by her reaction and mention of his name he raises his head immediately like hit by lightning, asking: "How do you know?" Promptly putting her hand into the back pocket she hands him the letter she has found on her husbands grave. Still very confused Bryan reaches after it looking at the woman like she was some kind of ghost that isn't supposed to be here before he finally reads the letter. His eyes jump from line to line until he lowers the hand, standing there silently for a long while. Ruby is fascinated by his obvious sadness, which doesn't fit him at all. For one moment a stupid thought rushes her mind, the realization that she has more sympathy for the strange man than sad feelings about the fact that she is faced with the death of her family once again. A cold chill goes down her spine, when he speaks: "I am so sorry, Ruby but I gotta tell you something: Your family ..." "... They didn't make it. I know.", she finishes his sentence. Then she answers his puzzled face by adding: "I came across their grave. It's so horrible, but ... I am kinda relieved to be honest ... relieved that she got to see her dad again. Peter is a coward, though..." Overwhelmed by her feelings she sinks her face in her hands, crouching down and weeping.
Bryan just stands there when he eventually kneels down to her. "He was a good guy, your husband ... I'll never forget what he has done for me, and all the things he told me about you - he was so into you." Sniffing and wiping her tears away Ruby takes a quick look at the man being that close to her. As if he could read her thoughts Bryan stands up and steps back a little when Ruby says: "Yeah, I can never be angry at him ... bastard took advantage of it all the time, actually... and now I gotta learn to live with that, right? So ... I just keep walking, I guess..." Taking a deep breath Ruby closes her eyes for a moment as she stands up shaking her limbs. "Alright... enough with the blues. May I ask what you're up to? What are you doing in this area, anyway? Are you with the folks around the corner?" Bryan watches the now bubbly acting woman calmly when he eventually says: "That's many questions. Yes, I am with these guys - temporarily. I am ... looking for someone. I mean: *we* are looking for people". Ruby looks at him in excitement: "Is it ... a girl?" Bryan's hands begin to shake until he makes fists. Ruby interprets his tension that she's right, so she moistens her lips before she speaks: "Ever since I met her she's been giving me a hard time by fantasizing about that man, who would come to find her. Turns out she was right all that time." Bryan's body shivers by Ruby's words from both hope as well as from fear when he slowly speaks: "Name. What is the girl's name..." "You know what her name is...", Ruby answers as he suddenly grabs her at her shoulders yelling at her with his eyes widely open: "I asked WHAT'S HER NAME!" Ruby shies away from him surprised by his sudden change of attitude as she yells back outright: "CLEMENTINE! That girl's name is Clementine!!" As her pulse raises from fear of his temper Bryan slumps down. Then he looks up to the woman that released him from his biggest fear: "You gotta take me to her."
At that moment the man from the fireplace comes over: "Bryan, are you alright? I heard you ...". Ruby turns around which leads him to draw his gun. "It's okay, Jesse - put it down. She's no foe." As he lowers his weapon Bryan steps to him at a hurried pace: "Listen: I gotta go. She'll lead me to the person I was looking for." Jesse looks dissatisfied by these words. "I don't know, Bryan. I thought you would help me finding Joel, he can't be far." Bryan raps Jesse's back: "Sorry, but I believe you gotta go find him on your own..." Ruby interferes speaking to Jesse directly: "There's a wounded man at our camp. He's been with us for like three days and we took care of him. His name is Joel, guess chances are high that he's your brother. You might wanna come with me to make sure that it's him." The young boy approaches hiding behind his dad. "Great - what are we waiting for? Let's go get your someone and my brother." Before Jesse gets the chance to walk past her Ruby hinders him: "Wait, buddy, two things: You can have your brother but the girl is under my custody - if you think you can just come and *get* her: Forget it! Second: ..." Ruby turns to Bryan: "We have a problem ... Clementine ran off. We've been trying to find her and I really hope that she's back at our camp at this moment, well and sound." The anger rises up in Bryan - *So close and yet so far*. "Lead us to your camp.", he mutters.
Elizabeth puts her feet firmly into the ground, preparing to run after the short-haired woman escaping from her sight. Hesitation stops her in her tracks as she realizes that Meg is running towards a large group of walkers, and that chasing after her would be unreasonably dangerous. Silently cursing her, she runs the opposite direction in an effort to find the camp, hoping Clementine has come to her senses and has come back to the camp. A few walkers are killed by Elizabeth before she finally reaches the edge of the rim of trees encircling the encampment. A set of voices is heard arguing, alerting the woman of their presence. "What the fuck, Joel?" Elizabeth identifies the first voice as Ruby's. She sounds distressed and the peculiar way of speaking makes her sound broken. "Meg and Tara are both gone? How the hell did you lose them?" She shouts in anger. Joel desperately tries to explain the situation, but Ruby's temper is too great for her to be able to listen closely. Arguments like these are the exact thing that made her hate being around people in the first place. All the time she had been on top of that roof with Selma she had merely been coping with her, tolerating her in the hope that one day she would simply go away. Then, when she finally did leave it wasn't nearly as relieving as Elizabeth had initially figured. Now she is forced to make the same decision. Does she still want to be alone, or have things changed? A few seconds of silence pass before she finally makes her choice. Noiseless, she sneaks away from her former group and onto the direction Ruby had patrolled to find Clementine, hoping to one day find a chance to redeem herself.
The Shed - Exact location unknown
Anxiously, Clementine looks around the poorly lit room and into the eyes of over a dozen women, each seemingly more terrified than the last. She catches a glimpse of a few girls her age, but most of them are swallowed by the tiny sea of older women, mostly of Ruby's age. The shed, although small, is cramped full, making any movement a complicated ordeal. "Hello... My-- My name is Clementine." She hesitantly says in the hope that the group will stop staring at her. Her hopes are fulfilled as most look away and resume whatever they were doing before they were interrupted. One person with sleek brown hair tightly strung into a ponytail keeps looking, her eyes are wide open and so is her mouth. The face brings up a familiar feeling, yet the dim light keeps Clementine from fully placing it somewhere in her memory. When the tall girl finally raises her arm and reveals a disturbing stump she realizes the identity of this mysterious figure. "Danielle..." She mutters before working her way through the crowd and hugging the girl with an excited smile on her face. Danielle doesn't answer, but simply presses Clementine's body against her own as hard as possible. "I can't believe I've found you again. Especially in this place." The younger girl says. "I guess we've got a lot to talk about." Clementine simply keeps smiling until she notices Danielle's mouth has formed a downwards curve. A hint of doubt springs in Clem's mind until she finally gets the courage to ask what's wrong. Danielle doesn't respond. She only tilts her head upwards and looks the girl straight in the eyes before slowly opening her mouth, revealing a tiny pink stump in the place of her tongue. Her actions tell more than words ever could.
"What the..." Clementine exclaims before the world starts spinning and everything turns black. She hits the ground with a loud thump, followed by the sound of gasping women.
Elizabeth puts her feet firmly into the ground, preparing to run after the short-haired woman escaping from her sight. Hesitation stops her … morein her tracks as she realizes that Meg is running towards a large group of walkers, and that chasing after her would be unreasonably dangerous. Silently cursing her, she runs the opposite direction in an effort to find the camp, hoping Clementine has come to her senses and has come back to the camp. A few walkers are killed by Elizabeth before she finally reaches the edge of the rim of trees encircling the encampment. A set of voices is heard arguing, alerting the woman of their presence. "What the fuck, Joel?" Elizabeth identifies the first voice as Ruby's. She sounds distressed and the peculiar way of speaking makes her sound broken. "Meg and Tara are both gone? How the hell did you lose them?" She shouts in anger. Joel desperately tries to explain the situation, but Ruby's temper is too great for her t… [view original content]
Ruby is walking up and down like a lion in a zoo cage as Joel, Jesse and Mason are celebrating their reunion with hugs and busy talks. "And they just helped you? Lucky bastard! Who's been the person shooting you in the first place? Was it ... Weston?", Jesse asks excitedly. Joel answers him every question, grateful for his brother saving him from Ruby's anger. Bryan's hand on her shoulder makes Ruby turn around. "We have to go *now*!", he says with a strong voice yet a worried expression. "I know how you're feeling but we can't right now. We are a group, and the people are probably still around looking for her. We agreed upon meeting right here in the afternoon so we would check if she came back. Liz will be here soon, and Meg and Tara probably just went for a pee or something...", she bleats at him. Bryan pets Miles' snoot with a look at the blue sky. "It's damn late. Your friends better show up soon or I'll go find her on my own." Terrified by his lack of thoughtfulness she glances up angrily as he adds: "Time's a wasting." Then images of Clem being bit by a walker or caught by men arise. "You are right.", she eventually admits.
"We're leaving.", Joel says as he gets up when Mason comes to assist him. Ruby sighs drawing circles on the ground with her feet. "I guess I can't convince you of helping us finding her. She's a little girl and all by herself ... I know I'm a failure for being such a bad caretaker, but I won't be able to find them myself." The group of three looks at her with obvious guilt pangs when Joel says: "I need to rescue my wife and kid, and I don't have anyone but Jesse and Mason helping me. I am so thankful for you saving my life, but ... I can't waste my time anymore." Ruby heads of from disappointment. "You have an entire group by your side and I am convinced that they'll show up soon so you can go get her. Thank you, once again... Hey, and one more thing: ..." Joel steps to her as he strokes her cheek. "You're not a failure. It's not hard to see what you're feeling for her." Eventually she gives him a hint of a smile. "Nice try, Joel. Anyway, I appreciate it. Now go get that asshole and your family back." As the men disappear in the wilderness behind the car Bryan says walking towards Miles. "An hour has passed. It's going to get dark soon. If you wanna be a good caretaker its best to go now." "Where are they?", she asks herself loudly. "How could I lose four people within very few hours?" Bryan leads his horse to the miserable woman. "Doesn't matter right now. I'm good at tracking if that comforts you a little." Then he reaches after her backpack handing it to her. She puts it on hesitantly. Bryan reaches out for her arm, helping her to bestride his horse. She accepts. They ride off slowly, checking the ground for tracks. Ruby turns her head one last time until the vehicle disappears behind trees.
The shrill shrieks and desperate pounding of a young girl wake Clementine from her slumber. Her head hurts from the fall, but Danielle is kneeling right beside her, a comforting sight. "Thanks." She mumbles while trying to sit up straight, using the wall as support. Danielle grunts as she tries to restrain her friend onto the ground. Her angry face is confusing at first, but Clementine soon understands the situation when the teen's angry face turns to the source of the noise that she had awoken to a minute before. It's Tara. The little girl is endlessly pounding against the weak doors of the shed with her healthy arm, crying tears of desperation and begging to be let out. Tired of the physical strain being put on her aching body, Tara collapses, tears flowing infinitely onto the cold dirt floor. "Tara..." Clementine hesitantly whispers. She pants and moans, struggling to get up from the floor. As Clementine finally manages to straighten her legs, Danielle supports the weight as they walk to the broken little girl silently weeping on the ground. The teen carefully lets go of her younger friend as she crouches down, laying a comforting hand on Tara's shoulder. "Tara? It's going to be alright." Clementine starts. "You've made it out before and I'm sure we will this time." Tara looks up from her vulnerable position. Tears cloud her beautiful brown eyes as she begins to cry even harder than before. "Mommy was there. Meg was there. Now they're not." She weeps. "Last time, they... They locked us up in a s- shed just like this one. They... Kept us here for so long... I don't think I-- I don't--" The little girl's back curls into a backwards "C" as her steady breath turns into hasty huffs and puffs. Clementine jumps up in shock before Danielle pulls her away from the crawling little girl in front of her. "What's happening?" Clementine shouts in confusion. The other women in the shed have swarmed in a circle to witness the spectacle. Many are screaming, some of the younger girls bury their faces into the clothes of their mothers. A few anxious seconds later Tara's back moves back into it's normal position. The room is dead-silent, safe for the faint echo of the girl's short inhales. "We... We need to help her." Clementine says while throwing herself onto the floor. Suffering and pale, Tara twitches in Clementine's lap. They look around indecisively, unknowing what to do about the girl's odd condition.
"We need to get help." Clementine finally says. She looks around at the rotten walls before eventually turning to the group of women. "Please. I just need you to scream. To shout. To pound these walls. Just... Do anything to grab their attention." A feeling of disappointment rushes through her as the group backs away with an awkward frown on their faces. The only person she can rely on is Danielle, her mute friend. "It'll have to do." She mutters before running to the doors and hitting them with all her force while yelling for the guards to come. "She just had some kind of attack!" The girl yells. "Please, help her!" After many minutes of screaming, the calls are left unanswered. Tara's body has settled down, but her breathing is still heavy. Exhausted, Clementine puts Tara's head on her lap once again, slowly cradling her head. "Tara... I need you stay with me. You need to calm down. Just... Breath in. And out. In. And out." she says while holding her head between her hands. "Why don't I... Sing you a song?" Her head sporadically scans the shed's backside, which is filled with an assortment of oddities and unlabeled crates. "Danielle, could grab me that guitar over there?" Danielle obeys and fetches the instrument. "Thanks. Now, Tara, I need you to pay attention to me, alright? Ruby taught me this song before we met up with you and your mother." Tara pants as she faintly nods her head, staring into Clementine's eyes with a hopeful expression. The older girl carefully places the large guitar on her lap, moving Tara onto Danielle's. The rest of the women slowly swarm around the girls, waiting for the show to start.
Clementine clears her throat one more time before finally singing her song. Her voice is shrill, her skill with the guitar okay at best. But the girl soon gets comfortable, shutting out anything happening around her, forming a world consisting only of her and Tara.
(This is the song, just imagine it in Clem's voice ; P : www.youtube(.)com/watch?v=ANeHmk22a6Q&list=PLEbNxzY5EBRwkrn3lZHwk-APAPcL-B032&index=7 )
(Simply remove the brackets. I recommend watching/listening it entirely before continuing.)
As the song comes to an end, the group of women is speechless. Clementine puts the guitar down as Tara's breath appears to have steadied again. The two share an intimate embrace as Tara whispers into her ear. "Thanks, Clem. Now let's go."
Ruby and Bryan were riding the horse, looking for any clues that could be found.
"Anything?" Ruby asks, rather impatiently as she wants to find Clementine.
"It's not that easy" Bryan says, quickly getting the point across.
Ruby sighed, she was anxious, the images of Clementine...bitten...dead...were too much. She didn't want to think like that, but every second that ticked by, every mil-second that ticked by, the images kept showing in her head, the screams. The little voice from the walkie asking for help, she knew she needed to find her, she was just being impatient.
Bryan made the horse stop, and stepped off.
"What the hell are you doing?" Ruby asked rashly.
Bryan didn't answer, he bent down near a tree, and looked at the bottom of it, and on the tree. Bryan points to the footsteps near the tree where there's mud and easily visible footsteps and then shows that the tree has being climbed by pointing out the scratches from someone's boots.
"You think that's Clementine?" Ruby asks. It'd only being a bit since they left the camp, but it felt like a week.
Bryan nods "footsteps match a little girl but..."
"Well there's lots of little girls out there Bryan! I think. What if that's just a walker's footsteps" Ruby asks.
Bryan shakes his head, before pointing at the tree. "Come on, we atleast have a direction now" Bryan says quick.
Ruby climbs the horse, as Bryan gets Miles ready. They start to ride off again, atleast they have a direction now.
Ruby and Bryan
Ruby and Bryan were riding the horse, looking for any clues that could be found.
"Anything?" Ruby asks, rather impatien… moretly as she wants to find Clementine.
"It's not that easy" Bryan says, quickly getting the point across.
Ruby sighed, she was anxious, the images of Clementine...bitten...dead...were too much. She didn't want to think like that, but every second that ticked by, every mil-second that ticked by, the images kept showing in her head, the screams. The little voice from the walkie asking for help, she knew she needed to find her, she was just being impatient.
Bryan made the horse stop, and stepped off.
"What the hell are you doing?" Ruby asked rashly.
Bryan didn't answer, he bent down near a tree, and looked at the bottom of it, and on the tree. Bryan points to the footsteps near the tree where there's mud and easily visible footsteps and then shows that the tree has being climbed by pointing out … [view original content]
It's been a long and exhausting day. Clementine's song not only awoke a hint of hope among the group of women but also made most of them get heavy eyelids. Tara yawns as she puts her head on Clementine's lap. "I am tired...", she whispers. "We all are. I think it's best if we slept.", she responds calmly, stroking Tara's raspy hair. The feel of it is strange yet she gets used to it pretty fast while many 'goodnights' can be heard until everyone becomes silent. As she carefully puts Tara's head on the blanket next to her Clem glances around. Danielle lies bending against the wooden wall. She looks more mature now. Clementine notices the hint of muscles on Danielle's arms. But there is something else that wasn't there before: the cold look. 'She must've gone through a lot ... I wonder what happened to her tongue', Clem says to herself. The longer she thinks about it the worse she feels. "It's my fault.", she says right before she is the last person to fall asleep.
A noise makes Clem jump up. Her eyes rush next to her: Tara is still here, thank god. With sleepy eyes Clementine examines the shed: Everybody is sleeping, apparently. Relieved that she isn't all by herself Clem bends her head back so that it rests on the wooden planks. Before she goes back to sleep the noises come closer. A light comes through the tiny cracks in between the planks. It's a car parking not far away from the shed. Judging by the darkness as well as the silence it must be the middle of the night. Then she can hear steps coming closer, probably more than one person. The engine suddenly stops. Not feeling that sleepy anymore Clem presses her ear to the crack, trying to get an idea of what is happening. "Miss Lloyd... what a surprise. We haven't been expecting you, frankly said.", says a nervous sounding male voice. Some tense seconds later a woman answers. "Oh, is that so. I must admit that worries me a little. I've been waiting for the missing deliveries after all. Ashley's depending on them, as you should know. I came all that way to sort out this peculiar matter. My informant wasn't able to give me specific reasons and so I thought I should come and see it myself. What worried me most is the fact that you received the payment, trucks full of vital supplies. And what have we got? Nothing ..." The man replies stuttering: "Oh, I am SO sorry, Miss Lloyd ... If I had only known that ..." "Shhh - shhh! Enough, we'll talk tomorrow.", the woman says. Her voice is delicate, yet it's able to make the muscly men all anxious. "Of course, Miss ... I'll bring you right to your accommodation ...". A moment later the voices and noises are all gone. "What was that...", Clementine asks herself as she gets back to sleep.
"Get up! You know how this works!!". When Clem opens her eyes the bright light glares her. Tara is clinging to her arm anxiously looking at the open door with the two armed men looking at them, one of them screaming. "You'll build pairs of two and walk out this door, slooowly! Nobody talks! You'll look on the ground otherwise you'll get punched by these.", the brute says raising his AK47. As the women and kids are forming a row of pairs uneasily Clem takes Tara's hand. "Stay close and please look at your feet while walking, don't raise your head.", she orders. "I gotta pee.", Tara answers. Clementine knows it's because of the brutal men who are scaring her. "Shhh, Tara, don't talk.", she whispers. "That's right, and now: everybody to the washrooms! Come on, hurry!"
Danielle is walking right in front of Clem and Tara whilst holding another woman's hand. When they step out of the shed the warm daylight and fresh smell of clean air dazzles Clementine, yet the anxiety to make something wrong is nearly paralyzing her. Some other men are observing them making sure that nobody gets out of line. "Eww, how gross! You definitely need that shower, you smelly piece of shit!", that man says to an elderly lady. Clementine can't barely stand the humiliation - why are they so mean? Suddenly Tara pulls Clementine's sleeve. "I... I peed myself.", she says with tears in her eyes glowing in the sunlight. That sight is too much for her. Clem stops walking, looking at the girls trousers soaked. "It's okay, honey, nothing happened. I'll take care of it later, okay?", she says when she gives her a big hug. All of the sudden Danielle looks terrified as the angry man is walking to the broken line in a hurried pace. "What did I say?! What the ... did you just piss your pants?! What did I say?! I said stay in the fucking line!!" When the man raises his rifle to hit them with the end of it suddenly a woman screams: "STOP!!!". Everyone is silent and looks at the person: It's a small and delicate beautiful woman with short dark hair, red lips and a beautiful red dress. She looks very well-off and like out of this world. Fast yet gracefully she comes over. "Is that really what I am paying you for?! I am rewarding you for bringing us these people, these human beings! I am NOT paying you for treating them like low life! This is not to be tolerated! Give me that gun...", she orders when she gives him a big punch. As he falls to the ground screaming she whispers to herself. "Oh lord, that explains a lot... these poor souls". Another man arises. "I am so sorry, Miss Lloyd - that is definitely not the regular way we are treating our ... women." Miss Lloyd ignores him as she steps to Tara and Clementine. "I am so sorry, girls, are you alright?" "Yes, I guess...", Clementine answers. The heavenly smell of the woman's perfume numbs her ability to speak. "I never meant to hurt you, trust me. I'll take care of it, don't you worry. What are your names?", Miss Lloyd asks. Clem replies. "You both got a gorgeous name. I am Ava. Nice to meet you." Then she jumps on a crate, clearing her throat. "Here and now I promise that something like that will never happen again! This is the very last day of captivity. Your new life will start in five days. Now go and get a shower. As long as I am here you are allowed to move freely within the fences. We'll meet in the big tent after lunch and I am going to tell you about that wonderful place we are heading to. Rejoice - you'll be a part of something greater."
"Brya-" Ruby said but instantly saw what he was doing.
Bryan commanded Ruby to follow him, and she followed instantly. He was trying to run away as fast as he could whilst still keeping Ruby on track. Hiding wasn't an option when a horse was following them.
The car suddenly speed up, obviously knowing about some sort of presence.
"G- GO, RUN!" Ruby said, whilst having a hard time to breathe.
A sudden crack on some sticks and a fall could be heard, it was Ruby.
"Augh, fuck!" Ruby said a little bit to loud.
She was struggling to get up, but couldn't.
"I- I think that I'm stuck, ge- get me up!"
"Hush, I'll get you up." Bryan said, surprisingly calm.
Perfect, just perfect. Bryan thought to himself, as he was trying more and more to get her up for every struggle.
"Dammit, I can't see where you're stu-" Bryan said just before noticing that Miles has stopped next to them.
The engine suddenly went quiet.
"Miles, GO." Bryan tried to emote the best he could to get him away, but nothing worked, he just stayed right there.
Bryan, quickly taking a look, saw two people exit the car.
"Oh shit, bro, is that a horse?" The driver said.
Bryan quickly prepared his bow.
"Yeah man, seems like i-" The passenger said, being suddenly interrupted by a bullet to his head.
"FUCK!! SIMO-" The driver said, before ending up in the same fate.
The shooter revealed herself.
The two were shot by a beautiful woman, who had short dark hair, red lips, and an incredible red dress, something that looked completely out of this world, Bryan saw as she was walking up to the car.
She walked like nothing had happened to the driver seat, with confidence. She then slowly drove away.
"Bryan? What. Happened?" Ruby said, both being relieved it was over, but also frightened as this woman was heading the same way as they were headed.
"Oh my god, B- Bryan!" Ruby said.
Bryan is looking over at the sunset, reminding him off the fact that time is running out. But he had to… more keep his nerve.
"Bryan! Come over here, NOW!" Ruby said as she continuously got more and more stressed.
Bryan didn't respond, but simply walked over to her. He immediately saw what it was.
Looking down at a rock, what it looked like seemed to be blood caused by a bullet.
"It's recent." Bryan simply said.
"Oh christ, Ta- Tar- Cleme- Clementin-" Ruby stuttered, feeling guilt and worry.
"She's a strong girl." Bryan said, being all that was required for Ruby to calm down at least a small amount.
Them having no time and one definitive objective, they both knew exactly what to do without saying a single word.
Bryan whistled Miles over but instantly regretted it as a car suddenly was approaching.
bum bum
"Brya-" Ruby said but instantly saw what he was doing.
Bryan commanded Ruby… [view original content]
"Oh my god, B- Bryan!" Ruby said.
Bryan is looking over at the sunset, reminding him off the fact that time is running out. But he had to… more keep his nerve.
"Bryan! Come over here, NOW!" Ruby said as she continuously got more and more stressed.
Bryan didn't respond, but simply walked over to her. He immediately saw what it was.
Looking down at a rock, what it looked like seemed to be blood caused by a bullet.
"It's recent." Bryan simply said.
"Oh christ, Ta- Tar- Cleme- Clementin-" Ruby stuttered, feeling guilt and worry.
"She's a strong girl." Bryan said, being all that was required for Ruby to calm down at least a small amount.
Them having no time and one definitive objective, they both knew exactly what to do without saying a single word.
Bryan whistled Miles over but instantly regretted it as a car suddenly was approaching.
bum bum
"Brya-" Ruby said but instantly saw what he was doing.
Bryan commanded Ruby… [view original content]
Heading off of the place of events the woman approaches a much younger person, speaking with a low voice. "You're in charge now. Please make sure they are all safe and sound. I will need them at the lunch table. Some of them are in need of new clothes - arrange it.". "I will." Then the person comes over - it's a boy, probably 14 or 15 years old. He strokes back his blonde hair as he speaks to the women with confidence. "Before you will have a shower you can get new clothes if you want to. In that cas: Follow me."
The armed men look around them in confusion, purposeless until they eventually leave the place, going to their tents. While Clementine just stands there, still wondering about what is happening, Danielle takes Tara's hand leading her to the big truck the boy is heading to followed by other women. The men are giving up, just like this. That nice woman has a lot of influence. Ava ...", Clem thinks as she tries to catch sight of her but she is nowhere to be seen. "Clementine!", Tara shouts. Her and Danielle are the last people in line, the others went to the bathrooms. Still a bit puzzled by the actions Clem rushes to them. "Are we free? Can we go?", Tara asks Danielle. Her reply is a cynical look that speaks volumes. "Whoever she is - she seems nice.", Clem responds. Again, Danielle looks skeptical - *Are you kidding me? "Anyway, we will see at lunch.".
When they reach the end of the line the boy asks them quickly: "What do you need?". Danielle takes of her jacket immediately, throwing it to him with a cold look on her face. He gets what she needs and hands her a new one. Like all the clothes he is handing out it has a blue color. Danielle then heads away in a rush. He observes her with a hint of sadness. "Don't mind her - she's been through a lot.", Clem says to him. "What do you need?", he asks of routine. "She needs new trousers and shoes and ...", Clem says looking at her own skirt she's been wearing all that time, "new trousers for me.". "How about a new hat?", he asks slightly smiling. A rush of adrenaline goes through her vains but then she contains herself. "No, thanks." "Nevermind. You sure that you want trousers? The skirt suits you well.", he says cheekily. "I love skirts!", Tara screams in excitement, so the others share a good laugh. "Skirt for Tara, trousers for me, if you have, please.", Clem decides as she hands him Tara's shoes so he can check the size. When they are done Clem gathers her bravery and asks him questions: "What's your name?". He hesitates first. "Pattrick. My friends call me Pat, though." "Is Miss Lloyd your mother?", Clem asks him and regrets it immediately - he doesn't look anything like her. "She adopted me. Sorry girls, but I have a lot of things to do. I will call you for lunch. See you later.", he speaks as he closes the trunk of the truck. "Wait!", Clementine shouts. "She said that we are about to be brought somewhere. Why? What place is that?!". Pattrick's reply comes fast as a bullet: "The best place on earth. Once you get there you will never want to leave." Clem watches him leaving. The best place on earth... but what about Ruby and Bryan? After a while she comes back to earth, eventually. Tara is wearing her new shoes and playing with her skirt."Come on, Tara. You can get dressed in it after shower.",
Heading off of the place of events the woman approaches a much younger person, speaking with a low voice. "You're in charge now. Please make… more sure they are all safe and sound. I will need them at the lunch table. Some of them are in need of new clothes - arrange it.". "I will." Then the person comes over - it's a boy, probably 14 or 15 years old. He strokes back his blonde hair as he speaks to the women with confidence. "Before you will have a shower you can get new clothes if you want to. In that cas: Follow me."
The armed men look around them in confusion, purposeless until they eventually leave the place, going to their tents. While Clementine just stands there, still wondering about what is happening, Danielle takes Tara's hand leading her to the big truck the boy is heading to followed by other women. The men are giving up, just like this. That nice woman has a lot of influence. Ava ...", Clem thinks as she tries to catch sight of her b… [view original content]
Clementine tightly holds Tara's tender hand as she and the group of women enter a large hall filled with bunk-beds. "Real beds..." Tara whispers in awe. "Can I take the upper bed?" She asks while pulling Clementine's sweater in glee. "Go ahead, sweetie. I'll be right over." Clementine pats Tara on the back as the little girl eagerly climbs onto her bed and undresses to put on her new clothes. Miss Lloyd had brought all 30 of these beds within one of her army-trucks, a feat she described as just the tip of the iceberg of what the women could expect once they were to arrive in Ashley. Ava's coming had meant nothing but joy and improvement so far, but Clementine knew she had to make a decision whether to follow the well-dressed woman towards what seemed like a paradise or to deny the offer and continue her search for Bryan. A terrifying thought strikes the girl like thunder into a tall tree. What if she doesn't have a choice? What if miss Lloyd will force her to live in Ashley, inconsiderate of her needs and wishes? Clementine's trail of thoughts is interrupted by an excited squeal coming from her designated bed. "Clementine! You've got to feel these mattresses! So soft..." The girl turns around to find Tara laying on her belly with her eyes shut tightly. The older girl giggles before silently installing herself onto the lower part of the bed and laying her damp hair onto the fluffy pillow. "I have never felt better in my life." She mumbles before turning to Danielle, who has chosen the bed next to hers. The teen's mouth is stuck in the same depressing position it has been ever since they had met up in the shed. Her eyes appear dreary and lifeless. As if a constant cloud of darkness lurks over her. A burning feeling hurts Clementine's tongue. She needs to know what happened. "Danielle. I am so sorry for what happened back at the settlement." Danielle's head only slightly nudges. "A man... Got to me. I left you and Bryan and everybody else. Kenny, Frank, Jack. They all died because of me." Deep ridges mark Danielle's face with a sorrowful frown. "Wherever I go. No matter what I do or who I meet. They always end up missing, dead or worse. And I am sorry." With a terrible feeling Clementine turns her back to Danielle and shuts her eyes to block out the dim moonlight.
She is awoken from her sleep by a soft whimper coming from above. Disoriented, the girl steps out of her bed and climbs onto Tara's. She gently strokes the palm of her hand across the girl's wet cheeks and smears the tears across her face. "What's the matter, sweetie?" Tara slowly opens her eyes. "I... I can't sleep." She weeps. "I can't sleep without my dolly..." Clementine holds her hand as she looks right into the girl's eyes. "Now, now. Why would a brave little girl like you need a doll to fall asleep?" She asks with a smirk. "She... She looked like my mommy..." Clementine's smile instantly disappears as she realizes the true meaning behind the seemingly harmless doll Tara had lost when Meg left the group. "Oh... Honey." Clementine says as she initiates a warm embrace. "How do you do it, Clem?" The older girl raises her brow in confusion. "How do I do what?" Tara snorts before answering the question. "How do you forget something like..." Understanding what the girl means, Clementine replies with confidence. "You never forget, Tara. You just... Learn to move on."
Clementine tightly holds Tara's tender hand as she and the group of women enter a large hall filled with bunk-beds. "Real beds..." Tara whis… morepers in awe. "Can I take the upper bed?" She asks while pulling Clementine's sweater in glee. "Go ahead, sweetie. I'll be right over." Clementine pats Tara on the back as the little girl eagerly climbs onto her bed and undresses to put on her new clothes. Miss Lloyd had brought all 30 of these beds within one of her army-trucks, a feat she described as just the tip of the iceberg of what the women could expect once they were to arrive in Ashley. Ava's coming had meant nothing but joy and improvement so far, but Clementine knew she had to make a decision whether to follow the well-dressed woman towards what seemed like a paradise or to deny the offer and continue her search for Bryan. A terrifying thought strikes the girl like thunder into a tall tree. What if she doesn't have a choice? What if miss Lloyd … [view original content]
Tara drowns her head in her crossed arms in order to think about what Clem just said to her. For a minute Clem has been asking herself whether it was good or bad telling these things to that little girl. Will she ever understand? Maybe one day. But for now it's too much expected from an innocent child. Clementine shakes her head to clear her mind of thoughts like these. Then she looks around her: The large hall serving as the bedroom is filled with many women enjoying the mattresses as well as their alleged freedom. The air is filled with fresh smell of shampooed wet hair as well as clean skin. A scent of optimism lies in the air as the women and kids are gathered in many groups humming and laughing with smiles on the faces. The bed next to them is empty, though. Where is Danielle? That moment Clem's stomach releases a loud and unmistakeable growl. She then takes a look out the window: it looks like noon. Ava mentioned something about a lunch. She can see some of the women walking through the camp freely as the armed men are observing them in secret. A very young teenage woman passes one of them flipping him the bird, yet he just turns away.
Clementine suddenly gets the urge going outside to investigate a little, so she checks on Tara who has fallen into a deep sleep, eventually. An elderly lady looks at Clementine suspiciously. "Do you mind taking care of her? I'll be right back.", says Clem. The haggard faced woman nods. "Thanks." As Clem passes some of the beds slowly she catches snippets of some conversations: 'We are very lucky' ... 'considering the comfy beds I am expecting nothing but lobsters for dinner' ... 'but they kidnapped us! something's fishy' ... 'the men don't lift a finger no more' ... 'have you seen her dress?' ... 'why would they bring so many beds just for us? she is badly intentioned, I swear. they'll keep kidnapping women!' .. 'What's her name? She said we will leave today. What about my husband? He is still out there.' ...
The more Clem catches the more does her head spin. Eventually, she rushes outside all too grateful for the silence.
Even though the camp is open it is fenced effectively. Why would she say that we're free, Clementine wonders. Patrick is bending over a car hood making notes in a little book while looking at something in the distance. "Hi.", Clem says while taking a seat on the hood. She likes him. Patrick seems to be more mature than most of the young people she knows yet she has a feeling that he is a good person with pure intentions. "Oh, hi .. Claudia?", he says with an uneasy smirk. Clem raises her brow. "Nice try. I'm Clem, though." "Please accept my apologies, Clementine. Get yourself ready for lunch, the bell will ring pretty soon.", Pat speaks, as he raises his head from his notebook again. Then Clem tries to get what he is looking at following his eyes. Danielle is leaning to a wall in the distance looking at the fences with a grim. "She doesn't talk to me.", Pat remarks, answering Clem's thoughts. "I tried, yet she keeps ignoring me." "Danielle ... well, she just can't even if she wanted." Pat stops to write and looks Clem in the eyes "What do you mean?" Clem's throat is getting dry. "She ... has no tongue. Sorry for putting it that bluntly." The boy's face is getting pale in an instance. "Oh ... I err ... poor girl. I am so sorry. Do you know what happened to her ... arm?" Clementine swallows. She's been hesitating until she tells him eventually with sadness written allover her face: "It was me. A walker got her and ... there was nobody else to take care of it.", Clem sighs whilst trying to prevent the tears from flowing. "It has nothing to do with you, she's just been having a rough ride." As she has finished the sentence she can feel a sort of relief in her chest. Pat takes a deep breath whilst closing his eyes. Then the much older boy turns to her placing his hands on Clem's shoulders as he speaks: "I am so sorry, Clem. See: this is the reason we are doing this. These monsters out their are about to ruin our lifes, killing our loved ones, destroying all that is worth to live for ... and me and my mom, my friends and my family: we do not tolerate this! Ashley does not tolerate it. You can accept that they destroy entire mankind and do nothing about it. Or you can accept that they are here yet it's not over, yet. We are working on it, and we've been very successful. Our hopes our high, so high that we don't have doubts anymore. Ashley can and Ashley will do it. We are strong, but only if the little people left work together. Those things that happened to you and poor Danielle: they don't need to repeat." Then he releases her and takes his notebook. "Sorry for bothering you. See you at lunch."
Still amazed by his speech Clementine hops of the hood walking towards Danielle. She passes a weird looking man with a gun. After thinking back and forth Clem wants to try something: She turns back showing him the finger. He just keeps staring. Giggling Clem finally reaches Danielle. She does not react at all. "Danielle, are you alright? Lunch is almost done and..." In the middle of the sentence Clementine can hear some noises so she stops to speak. The noises turn out to be growls. Then her eyes fall onto the fence right where Danielle is looking at: There is a walker chained to a tree. He can walk in circles. "Jesus ...", Clem speaks as she notices that there are even more of them in the perimeter. "Watchdogs ...". Danielle looks at Clem and nods. "Are we ... trapped?", she asks. The elder girl doesn't say anything yet the look on her face says she agrees with Clem.
Suddenly a car can be heard. All eyes are on the fenced gateway, when a ruckus starts. "Everybody, get away from the streets! We will not warn you again: get into the building!", a loud voice comes from the speakers. Before Clem can do anything Danielle suddenly grabs her arm pulling her behind a bunch of barrels. When Clementine stares at her Danielle puts the finger on her mouth. The guards are all trying to get the women away from the gate and the arriving truck comes to a stop. It's a car very similar to the one Tara and Danielle were captured in. All of the sudden someone grabs Clem's shoulder so she jumps up as a high pitched voice yells. "THERE you are! You haven't been ...". It's Tara! Danielle drags her behind the barrels pressing her hand on Tara's mouth. As Danielle makes sure nobody noticed them Clem whispers to her little friend: "Sssssh! Be quiet! Please don't talk. Please, promise not to talk!" The growls behind the fence are getting louder so Danielle turns Tara's head away from that gruesome sight. The little girl nods. "Alright. Now stay quiet." The streets got almost emptied and the gate is being opened, so the truck enters the camp. A few moments later the campmen open the trunk so two women jump out. Some of the guarded men are talking to the drivers. The girls can catch some phrases: "Ashley is here! Guess what: we are not allowed to touch them. Crazy? Yeah, no shit..." Then the drivers turn to the women giving them their backpacks. Clem cannot see them well as they are hidden by the trunk. One of the women suddenly moves quickly as she reaches a gun out of the drivers gun holder. Then she runs a few yards and falls onto her knees. Clementine and Tara cannot trust their eyes: It is Meg! Her eyes are full of fear yet resolve. She releases a loud yell: "You will not fucking get me!" A shot bangs followed by a dump bump of a slender woman's body hitting the dusty ground. Tara starts to cry and runs away, while Danielle is trying to stop her. Everything happens so fast now: Many men are coming over to see what has happened, so are the women. Some of them witnessed the tragic occurrence from the distance. Then a boy and a red silk angel reach the scene. Ava's face is full of disgust and disbelief. "Good lord! What is wrong with you bloody pillocks?! Have you even the slightest idea what I do look like in front of these people?! Do not just stand there like half-arsed idiots: Get rid of her - now!" The men do as she says and while the other women flee into the building the lifeless body of Meg gets dragged into the car. Then Patrick comes over taking care of the other woman who has arrived with Meg. Being in a shock she gets led to the bedroom hall. When nobody can be seen Danielle dares to take her hand off of Tara's mouth. The short haired kid is still in denial, as she screams: "Is she dead?! She can't be dead, right? She is alive, isn't she?!" Still shivering by what has happened to one of her own people Clementine moves slowly towards the gate. The blood is still seeping into the ground next to a backpack. It gets opened by her with trembling hands. There are some cans of food as well as another bag. Clem notices it's Tara's almost immediately. A tiny hand is looking out of the opened zipper.
When she arrives the barrels Clem bends over Tara who is being rocked by Danielle. The tiny wet eyes fall onto the object brought by the sad looking figure with a hat smeared in blood. "My dolly ...". The dinner bell rings.
Comments
"Thank god Elizabeth is good at this kind of shit" Joel said before turning around. He fought he heard footsteps in the camp and wondered if Clementine was back. He started whistling when he saw nobody there. Joel then paused as he saw nobody.
"I stop for one god damn minute" Joel says.
Joel then starts shouting out loud "Meg! Tara! God damn it"
"Liz and Ruby are not going to be happy about this" Joel said quietly before trying to spot Tara and Meg.
The growls are becoming louder and louder. Clementine still hasn't gotten used to the walkers and all the dangers which originate from them. The dump sound of her pulse raising is beating through her ears. *I gotta react fast*. Hiding in the dense undergrowth the little girl covers herself under soil and leaves, hoping for the walkers to walk past her. Now she can see them, stumbling past her, three - no, seven. They suddenly stop walking as if they are taking notice of something, when they start to walk around, like vultures circling around their kill. *Patience, Clem... you're smarter than all of them*
**Scene Switch**
An arrow pierces a goons head lightning-fast as he falls down a pit. "There's so many of them", Elizabeth says to herself, putting her hand in the shirt pocket for her box of cigarettes, yet her hand grasps at nothing. "Dammit... I really need a smoke." The pale woman turns around looking at the huge hole in the ground for a while when she makes a decision. At a slow pace she walks towards it, looking down at the goon, who is wearing a long jacket. In a single bound she reaches him, checking for useful things. Then she grabs what she was hoping for and her heart is beating faster as she releases a big smile. Elizabeth takes out her lighter and opens the box with shaking hands when she realizes, that it's ... empty. "Fuck! Fuck, fuck, FUCK.", she whispers to herself as she begins to smash the dead man's face in with her muddy boot. When there is nothing left of his face Elizabeth gathers her wits. *Easy girl, snap out of it. The little girl needs you now.* When she climbs to the top she can hear hasty steps on the leafy ground. In the distance she can see a short haired silhouette hurrying between the trees when the person suddenly looks at her. Liz's brows lower until folds gather above her nose. "Meg...", she whispers to herself, as the slender woman suddenly takes a sprint into the deep forest.
**Scene Swap**
Drops of sweat are rolling down Ruby's temples as she takes a look at the round ball on the sky - it's noon. She's been walking for hours so she comes to a stop crouching down from exhaustion, trying to get a clear brain. *I should probably turn around and check our camp...*. Then suddenly a familiar sound interrupts her musing. *Was that...?*. Ruby is reminded of her childhood. She walks to the direction where she has heard the noise when it resounds again. After a while she reaches a clearance and there's the proof that her ears didn't fool her: A horse tied to a tree, eating grass. Ruby looks at it in awe as she slowly steps closer to the beautiful creature. Luckily it isn't bothered by her at all. "Hi, fella.", she whispers, smiling as she pets its muzzle. The delicious smell of something cooking distracts her. Following it she reaches another clearing hidden by trees and bushes. In the middle of it she can see a boy playing with a branch, pretending to have a sword as he fights his imaginary opponent. There's also a man stirring his dish in a pot over the small fire. As she wants to hide behind a tree she steps on a stick emitting a noise - Ruby can hide just in time when the strange man looks around him. After a while he goes back to business. Ruby sighs in relief and wants to return at the time when something pointy is being pressed to the back of her head. "Don't - turn - around. Don't make a move, not a sound... Regress until I tell you to stop. Understand?" The deep voice vibrates through her body causing her flesh to crawl. "Yes, sir." Ruby walks backwards like the man told her, trying to both take care of the ground as well as the sharp thing nearly stinging her head. A few moments later the voice speaks once again: "Stop. Put your hands on the back of your head and turn around - slowly." Ruby nervously obeys his order until she can finally see her threat: A pair of greenish grey eyes is staring at her with folds on his forehead until he suddenly raises his eyebrows and opens his mouth. Ruby is wondering about his sudden change of attitude. His once evil look vanished now displaying his soft features. Ruby swallows: he looks shocked, even sick at heart. Right when she is about to say something he suddenly speaks: "Ruby." All of the sudden the scales fell from her eyes. Images of Lauren and Peter rush through her mind as a tear pours down her cheek.
**Scene Swap**
A long tense while later the walkers eventually headed forward. After she made sure of them being gone the girl comes out of her hideout. Brushing off the dirt she becomes very nervous since she hasn't gotten far at all. *They may overtake me every minute*, she says to herself looking for the best direction to take. *Elizabeth went there, while Ruby...* Loud high pitched screams clanging through the wood interrupt her. "Mom! Mommy!!! Mooooom!!!". Clementine knows in a second that it's nobody else but Tara. *How could she find me?*, she asks herself as she runs towards her. "Tara - I'm here - please, shut up - you're ruining it!" The small girl is all red, her face drenched in tears. Clementine gives her a hug as she speaks: "That was very stupid, Tara. Never follow me, again - did you hear me? Go back to the camp.", Clementine speaks as Tara sniffs: "No, I won't!" Then Clementine recognizes a red mark on the girl's swollen cheek. She shudders by the sight of it: "What happened to you?". Tara replies gasping: "It was Meg - she hit me! I want my moooom, and my doll. She took it - I'll never see it again...". Clementine is puzzled by the shaggy words. "Wait a second - she hit you and ran off?", she asks and Tara nods: "She said we have to go, and then she hit me - it hurts so much! And, *sniff*, and then she ran away!"Trying to sort her thoughts Clem reminds the walkers. "Tara, listen: We can't stay here. You can go with me, but only if you'll promise me not to speak and to stay right by my side. We need to find someone. Promise?" Tara rubs her tears away: "Ok, promise."
The two girls have crossed a corn field when they come to a broken farm near a country road. It's late afternoon. The little girl has been crying after her doll for hours, but now the only thing she wants is water. The heat is also nearly killing Clem, therefore she's very happy to see that there is a pond behind the rotten building. "Look Tara - water right ahead.", she says smiling. Before they have the chance to walk further a shot bangs, then another one. Clementine squats down directly drawing Tara with her. "Don't move! Run to the field when I tell you!", Clementine whispers but the little girl won't listen. Yelling with fear Tara jumps up when another shot hits her in the shoulder. "No!!!", Clementine screams when a man grabs her from behind. Not being able to say anything Clem sees two other man stepping out of the field as Tara's screams are resounding through the area. One of the men speaks into a walkie talkie: "Good news: we got two other girls. Still a dozen left. Over." The other man who is holding Tara remarks: "They are not from our latest delivery. I don't recognize 'em." Holding Clementine's mouth even tighter the third man replies: "Doesn't matter - they are women and nothing else matters."
Mumbling is heard from the front seats, the girl hopefully awaits her captor's decision. "I... I guess we could have a look." One of the men says with hesitation. More angry mumbling and commotion follows before the car finally slows down and stops. Clementine holds her breath when a set of footsteps approach the trunk and unlock it. As the moonlight floods the small compartment the girl tries to take in the surrounding area. Trees and shrubbery have been replaced by what appears to be endless plains cut through by one long road dawning from far beyond the visible horizon. The first man, scratching his rough beard, picks up Tara and examines the wound they themselves had inflicted upon her. "Good thing we took the bullet out, at least." He says to his armed accomplice. "This flesh is infected as hell. Good thing we've got enough med's back at the camp." Putting Tara back into the trunk, the bearded man closes the trunk and locks it. Footsteps and slamming doors are heard once more before the car starts to move again. Tara is still sleeping, but Clementine's worries are too great for her to be able to sleep.
When Clementine's tiredness finally wins and puts her to sleep, a loud thump awakens her. She and Tara both open their eyes in disorientation as the sharp rays of sunlight pierce into their eyes. "Rise and shine, little ladies." The bearded man greets them with a seemingly trustful smile. He picks up Tara with his strong and muscly arms as he had done the night before. "I'll take her to the doctor, don't you worry. She'll be with you before you know it." Clementine slowly climbs out of the trunk, getting helped by one of the other men. He escorts the girl through the large camp full of different tents and to a small broken-down shed, which is heavily guarded by two men armed to the teeth. "Wait. No. I want to stay with Tara." She plead to the guard in panic, pushing him away and running to the medical tent marked with a red cross. The man quickly catches her and pulls her back to the shed before opening it, revealing a large group of terrified female faces. A moment later the man throws her in with hands tightly bound and bruised.
"I know ... Bryan.", she says outright. Dazed by her reaction and mention of his name he raises his head immediately like hit by lightning, asking: "How do you know?" Promptly putting her hand into the back pocket she hands him the letter she has found on her husbands grave. Still very confused Bryan reaches after it looking at the woman like she was some kind of ghost that isn't supposed to be here before he finally reads the letter. His eyes jump from line to line until he lowers the hand, standing there silently for a long while. Ruby is fascinated by his obvious sadness, which doesn't fit him at all. For one moment a stupid thought rushes her mind, the realization that she has more sympathy for the strange man than sad feelings about the fact that she is faced with the death of her family once again. A cold chill goes down her spine, when he speaks: "I am so sorry, Ruby but I gotta tell you something: Your family ..." "... They didn't make it. I know.", she finishes his sentence. Then she answers his puzzled face by adding: "I came across their grave. It's so horrible, but ... I am kinda relieved to be honest ... relieved that she got to see her dad again. Peter is a coward, though..." Overwhelmed by her feelings she sinks her face in her hands, crouching down and weeping.
Bryan just stands there when he eventually kneels down to her. "He was a good guy, your husband ... I'll never forget what he has done for me, and all the things he told me about you - he was so into you." Sniffing and wiping her tears away Ruby takes a quick look at the man being that close to her. As if he could read her thoughts Bryan stands up and steps back a little when Ruby says: "Yeah, I can never be angry at him ... bastard took advantage of it all the time, actually... and now I gotta learn to live with that, right? So ... I just keep walking, I guess..." Taking a deep breath Ruby closes her eyes for a moment as she stands up shaking her limbs. "Alright... enough with the blues. May I ask what you're up to? What are you doing in this area, anyway? Are you with the folks around the corner?" Bryan watches the now bubbly acting woman calmly when he eventually says: "That's many questions. Yes, I am with these guys - temporarily. I am ... looking for someone. I mean: *we* are looking for people". Ruby looks at him in excitement: "Is it ... a girl?" Bryan's hands begin to shake until he makes fists. Ruby interprets his tension that she's right, so she moistens her lips before she speaks: "Ever since I met her she's been giving me a hard time by fantasizing about that man, who would come to find her. Turns out she was right all that time." Bryan's body shivers by Ruby's words from both hope as well as from fear when he slowly speaks: "Name. What is the girl's name..." "You know what her name is...", Ruby answers as he suddenly grabs her at her shoulders yelling at her with his eyes widely open: "I asked WHAT'S HER NAME!" Ruby shies away from him surprised by his sudden change of attitude as she yells back outright: "CLEMENTINE! That girl's name is Clementine!!" As her pulse raises from fear of his temper Bryan slumps down. Then he looks up to the woman that released him from his biggest fear: "You gotta take me to her."
At that moment the man from the fireplace comes over: "Bryan, are you alright? I heard you ...". Ruby turns around which leads him to draw his gun. "It's okay, Jesse - put it down. She's no foe." As he lowers his weapon Bryan steps to him at a hurried pace: "Listen: I gotta go. She'll lead me to the person I was looking for." Jesse looks dissatisfied by these words. "I don't know, Bryan. I thought you would help me finding Joel, he can't be far." Bryan raps Jesse's back: "Sorry, but I believe you gotta go find him on your own..." Ruby interferes speaking to Jesse directly: "There's a wounded man at our camp. He's been with us for like three days and we took care of him. His name is Joel, guess chances are high that he's your brother. You might wanna come with me to make sure that it's him." The young boy approaches hiding behind his dad. "Great - what are we waiting for? Let's go get your someone and my brother." Before Jesse gets the chance to walk past her Ruby hinders him: "Wait, buddy, two things: You can have your brother but the girl is under my custody - if you think you can just come and *get* her: Forget it! Second: ..." Ruby turns to Bryan: "We have a problem ... Clementine ran off. We've been trying to find her and I really hope that she's back at our camp at this moment, well and sound." The anger rises up in Bryan - *So close and yet so far*. "Lead us to your camp.", he mutters.
The Shed - Exact location unknown
Anxiously, Clementine looks around the poorly lit room and into the eyes of over a dozen women, each seemingly more terrified than the last. She catches a glimpse of a few girls her age, but most of them are swallowed by the tiny sea of older women, mostly of Ruby's age. The shed, although small, is cramped full, making any movement a complicated ordeal. "Hello... My-- My name is Clementine." She hesitantly says in the hope that the group will stop staring at her. Her hopes are fulfilled as most look away and resume whatever they were doing before they were interrupted. One person with sleek brown hair tightly strung into a ponytail keeps looking, her eyes are wide open and so is her mouth. The face brings up a familiar feeling, yet the dim light keeps Clementine from fully placing it somewhere in her memory. When the tall girl finally raises her arm and reveals a disturbing stump she realizes the identity of this mysterious figure. "Danielle..." She mutters before working her way through the crowd and hugging the girl with an excited smile on her face. Danielle doesn't answer, but simply presses Clementine's body against her own as hard as possible. "I can't believe I've found you again. Especially in this place." The younger girl says. "I guess we've got a lot to talk about." Clementine simply keeps smiling until she notices Danielle's mouth has formed a downwards curve. A hint of doubt springs in Clem's mind until she finally gets the courage to ask what's wrong. Danielle doesn't respond. She only tilts her head upwards and looks the girl straight in the eyes before slowly opening her mouth, revealing a tiny pink stump in the place of her tongue. Her actions tell more than words ever could.
"What the..." Clementine exclaims before the world starts spinning and everything turns black. She hits the ground with a loud thump, followed by the sound of gasping women.
Brilliant. Both parts.
Ruby is walking up and down like a lion in a zoo cage as Joel, Jesse and Mason are celebrating their reunion with hugs and busy talks. "And they just helped you? Lucky bastard! Who's been the person shooting you in the first place? Was it ... Weston?", Jesse asks excitedly. Joel answers him every question, grateful for his brother saving him from Ruby's anger. Bryan's hand on her shoulder makes Ruby turn around. "We have to go *now*!", he says with a strong voice yet a worried expression. "I know how you're feeling but we can't right now. We are a group, and the people are probably still around looking for her. We agreed upon meeting right here in the afternoon so we would check if she came back. Liz will be here soon, and Meg and Tara probably just went for a pee or something...", she bleats at him. Bryan pets Miles' snoot with a look at the blue sky. "It's damn late. Your friends better show up soon or I'll go find her on my own." Terrified by his lack of thoughtfulness she glances up angrily as he adds: "Time's a wasting." Then images of Clem being bit by a walker or caught by men arise. "You are right.", she eventually admits.
"We're leaving.", Joel says as he gets up when Mason comes to assist him. Ruby sighs drawing circles on the ground with her feet. "I guess I can't convince you of helping us finding her. She's a little girl and all by herself ... I know I'm a failure for being such a bad caretaker, but I won't be able to find them myself." The group of three looks at her with obvious guilt pangs when Joel says: "I need to rescue my wife and kid, and I don't have anyone but Jesse and Mason helping me. I am so thankful for you saving my life, but ... I can't waste my time anymore." Ruby heads of from disappointment. "You have an entire group by your side and I am convinced that they'll show up soon so you can go get her. Thank you, once again... Hey, and one more thing: ..." Joel steps to her as he strokes her cheek. "You're not a failure. It's not hard to see what you're feeling for her." Eventually she gives him a hint of a smile. "Nice try, Joel. Anyway, I appreciate it. Now go get that asshole and your family back." As the men disappear in the wilderness behind the car Bryan says walking towards Miles. "An hour has passed. It's going to get dark soon. If you wanna be a good caretaker its best to go now." "Where are they?", she asks herself loudly. "How could I lose four people within very few hours?" Bryan leads his horse to the miserable woman. "Doesn't matter right now. I'm good at tracking if that comforts you a little." Then he reaches after her backpack handing it to her. She puts it on hesitantly. Bryan reaches out for her arm, helping her to bestride his horse. She accepts. They ride off slowly, checking the ground for tracks. Ruby turns her head one last time until the vehicle disappears behind trees.
"We need to get help." Clementine finally says. She looks around at the rotten walls before eventually turning to the group of women. "Please. I just need you to scream. To shout. To pound these walls. Just... Do anything to grab their attention." A feeling of disappointment rushes through her as the group backs away with an awkward frown on their faces. The only person she can rely on is Danielle, her mute friend. "It'll have to do." She mutters before running to the doors and hitting them with all her force while yelling for the guards to come. "She just had some kind of attack!" The girl yells. "Please, help her!" After many minutes of screaming, the calls are left unanswered. Tara's body has settled down, but her breathing is still heavy. Exhausted, Clementine puts Tara's head on her lap once again, slowly cradling her head. "Tara... I need you stay with me. You need to calm down. Just... Breath in. And out. In. And out." she says while holding her head between her hands. "Why don't I... Sing you a song?" Her head sporadically scans the shed's backside, which is filled with an assortment of oddities and unlabeled crates. "Danielle, could grab me that guitar over there?" Danielle obeys and fetches the instrument. "Thanks. Now, Tara, I need you to pay attention to me, alright? Ruby taught me this song before we met up with you and your mother." Tara pants as she faintly nods her head, staring into Clementine's eyes with a hopeful expression. The older girl carefully places the large guitar on her lap, moving Tara onto Danielle's. The rest of the women slowly swarm around the girls, waiting for the show to start.
Clementine clears her throat one more time before finally singing her song. Her voice is shrill, her skill with the guitar okay at best. But the girl soon gets comfortable, shutting out anything happening around her, forming a world consisting only of her and Tara.
(This is the song, just imagine it in Clem's voice ; P : www.youtube(.)com/watch?v=ANeHmk22a6Q&list=PLEbNxzY5EBRwkrn3lZHwk-APAPcL-B032&index=7 )
(Simply remove the brackets. I recommend watching/listening it entirely before continuing.)
As the song comes to an end, the group of women is speechless. Clementine puts the guitar down as Tara's breath appears to have steadied again. The two share an intimate embrace as Tara whispers into her ear. "Thanks, Clem. Now let's go."
Here's Ruby:
Hope you like her! And I would love if the thread got resurrected again. : )
Anyone? : /
I just.... Don't have any idea... on what to write...
I know that I NEED to write soon...
But it just feels difficult at this time...
That shucks... We need to get some posts out there again. I miss them. ; O
Ruby and Bryan
Ruby and Bryan were riding the horse, looking for any clues that could be found.
"Anything?" Ruby asks, rather impatiently as she wants to find Clementine.
"It's not that easy" Bryan says, quickly getting the point across.
Ruby sighed, she was anxious, the images of Clementine...bitten...dead...were too much. She didn't want to think like that, but every second that ticked by, every mil-second that ticked by, the images kept showing in her head, the screams. The little voice from the walkie asking for help, she knew she needed to find her, she was just being impatient.
Bryan made the horse stop, and stepped off.
"What the hell are you doing?" Ruby asked rashly.
Bryan didn't answer, he bent down near a tree, and looked at the bottom of it, and on the tree. Bryan points to the footsteps near the tree where there's mud and easily visible footsteps and then shows that the tree has being climbed by pointing out the scratches from someone's boots.
"You think that's Clementine?" Ruby asks. It'd only being a bit since they left the camp, but it felt like a week.
Bryan nods "footsteps match a little girl but..."
"Well there's lots of little girls out there Bryan! I think. What if that's just a walker's footsteps" Ruby asks.
Bryan shakes his head, before pointing at the tree. "Come on, we atleast have a direction now" Bryan says quick.
Ruby climbs the horse, as Bryan gets Miles ready. They start to ride off again, atleast they have a direction now.
Awesome post! : D
I can see improvements, bud - and it's even colored!
"Now in color!"
GUYS. WRITE! PLEASE.
Nevermind.
Awesome. We are lazy, indeed. XD
Okay folks, I think I'm gonna write. Can I?
You should ask HSP. He went to a concert and I think he was still gonna write.
Yeah, you should definitely write.
It's been a long and exhausting day. Clementine's song not only awoke a hint of hope among the group of women but also made most of them get heavy eyelids. Tara yawns as she puts her head on Clementine's lap. "I am tired...", she whispers. "We all are. I think it's best if we slept.", she responds calmly, stroking Tara's raspy hair. The feel of it is strange yet she gets used to it pretty fast while many 'goodnights' can be heard until everyone becomes silent. As she carefully puts Tara's head on the blanket next to her Clem glances around. Danielle lies bending against the wooden wall. She looks more mature now. Clementine notices the hint of muscles on Danielle's arms. But there is something else that wasn't there before: the cold look. 'She must've gone through a lot ... I wonder what happened to her tongue', Clem says to herself. The longer she thinks about it the worse she feels. "It's my fault.", she says right before she is the last person to fall asleep.
A noise makes Clem jump up. Her eyes rush next to her: Tara is still here, thank god. With sleepy eyes Clementine examines the shed: Everybody is sleeping, apparently. Relieved that she isn't all by herself Clem bends her head back so that it rests on the wooden planks. Before she goes back to sleep the noises come closer. A light comes through the tiny cracks in between the planks. It's a car parking not far away from the shed. Judging by the darkness as well as the silence it must be the middle of the night. Then she can hear steps coming closer, probably more than one person. The engine suddenly stops. Not feeling that sleepy anymore Clem presses her ear to the crack, trying to get an idea of what is happening. "Miss Lloyd... what a surprise. We haven't been expecting you, frankly said.", says a nervous sounding male voice. Some tense seconds later a woman answers. "Oh, is that so. I must admit that worries me a little. I've been waiting for the missing deliveries after all. Ashley's depending on them, as you should know. I came all that way to sort out this peculiar matter. My informant wasn't able to give me specific reasons and so I thought I should come and see it myself. What worried me most is the fact that you received the payment, trucks full of vital supplies. And what have we got? Nothing ..." The man replies stuttering: "Oh, I am SO sorry, Miss Lloyd ... If I had only known that ..." "Shhh - shhh! Enough, we'll talk tomorrow.", the woman says. Her voice is delicate, yet it's able to make the muscly men all anxious. "Of course, Miss ... I'll bring you right to your accommodation ...". A moment later the voices and noises are all gone. "What was that...", Clementine asks herself as she gets back to sleep.
"Get up! You know how this works!!". When Clem opens her eyes the bright light glares her. Tara is clinging to her arm anxiously looking at the open door with the two armed men looking at them, one of them screaming. "You'll build pairs of two and walk out this door, slooowly! Nobody talks! You'll look on the ground otherwise you'll get punched by these.", the brute says raising his AK47. As the women and kids are forming a row of pairs uneasily Clem takes Tara's hand. "Stay close and please look at your feet while walking, don't raise your head.", she orders. "I gotta pee.", Tara answers. Clementine knows it's because of the brutal men who are scaring her. "Shhh, Tara, don't talk.", she whispers. "That's right, and now: everybody to the washrooms! Come on, hurry!"
Danielle is walking right in front of Clem and Tara whilst holding another woman's hand. When they step out of the shed the warm daylight and fresh smell of clean air dazzles Clementine, yet the anxiety to make something wrong is nearly paralyzing her. Some other men are observing them making sure that nobody gets out of line. "Eww, how gross! You definitely need that shower, you smelly piece of shit!", that man says to an elderly lady. Clementine can't barely stand the humiliation - why are they so mean? Suddenly Tara pulls Clementine's sleeve. "I... I peed myself.", she says with tears in her eyes glowing in the sunlight. That sight is too much for her. Clem stops walking, looking at the girls trousers soaked. "It's okay, honey, nothing happened. I'll take care of it later, okay?", she says when she gives her a big hug. All of the sudden Danielle looks terrified as the angry man is walking to the broken line in a hurried pace. "What did I say?! What the ... did you just piss your pants?! What did I say?! I said stay in the fucking line!!" When the man raises his rifle to hit them with the end of it suddenly a woman screams: "STOP!!!". Everyone is silent and looks at the person: It's a small and delicate beautiful woman with short dark hair, red lips and a beautiful red dress. She looks very well-off and like out of this world. Fast yet gracefully she comes over. "Is that really what I am paying you for?! I am rewarding you for bringing us these people, these human beings! I am NOT paying you for treating them like low life! This is not to be tolerated! Give me that gun...", she orders when she gives him a big punch. As he falls to the ground screaming she whispers to herself. "Oh lord, that explains a lot... these poor souls". Another man arises. "I am so sorry, Miss Lloyd - that is definitely not the regular way we are treating our ... women." Miss Lloyd ignores him as she steps to Tara and Clementine. "I am so sorry, girls, are you alright?" "Yes, I guess...", Clementine answers. The heavenly smell of the woman's perfume numbs her ability to speak. "I never meant to hurt you, trust me. I'll take care of it, don't you worry. What are your names?", Miss Lloyd asks. Clem replies. "You both got a gorgeous name. I am Ava. Nice to meet you." Then she jumps on a crate, clearing her throat. "Here and now I promise that something like that will never happen again! This is the very last day of captivity. Your new life will start in five days. Now go and get a shower. As long as I am here you are allowed to move freely within the fences. We'll meet in the big tent after lunch and I am going to tell you about that wonderful place we are heading to. Rejoice - you'll be a part of something greater."
"Oh my god, B- Bryan!" Ruby said.
Bryan is looking over at the sunset, reminding him off the fact that time is running out. But he had to keep his nerve.
"Bryan! Come over here, NOW!" Ruby said as she continuously got more and more stressed.
Bryan didn't respond, but simply walked over to her. He immediately saw what it was.
Looking down at a rock, what it looked like seemed to be blood caused by a bullet.
"It's recent." Bryan simply said.
"Oh christ, Ta- Tar- Cleme- Clementin-" Ruby stuttered, feeling guilt and worry.
"She's a strong girl." Bryan said, being all that was required for Ruby to calm down at least a small amount.
Them having no time and one definitive objective, they both knew exactly what to do without saying a single word.
Bryan whistled Miles over but instantly regretted it as a car suddenly was approaching.
bum bum
"Brya-" Ruby said but instantly saw what he was doing.
Bryan commanded Ruby to follow him, and she followed instantly. He was trying to run away as fast as he could whilst still keeping Ruby on track. Hiding wasn't an option when a horse was following them.
The car suddenly speed up, obviously knowing about some sort of presence.
"G- GO, RUN!" Ruby said, whilst having a hard time to breathe.
A sudden crack on some sticks and a fall could be heard, it was Ruby.
"Augh, fuck!" Ruby said a little bit to loud.
She was struggling to get up, but couldn't.
"I- I think that I'm stuck, ge- get me up!"
"Hush, I'll get you up." Bryan said, surprisingly calm.
Perfect, just perfect. Bryan thought to himself, as he was trying more and more to get her up for every struggle.
"Dammit, I can't see where you're stu-" Bryan said just before noticing that Miles has stopped next to them.
The engine suddenly went quiet.
"Miles, GO." Bryan tried to emote the best he could to get him away, but nothing worked, he just stayed right there.
Bryan, quickly taking a look, saw two people exit the car.
"Oh shit, bro, is that a horse?" The driver said.
Bryan quickly prepared his bow.
"Yeah man, seems like i-" The passenger said, being suddenly interrupted by a bullet to his head.
"FUCK!! SIMO-" The driver said, before ending up in the same fate.
The shooter revealed herself.
The two were shot by a beautiful woman, who had short dark hair, red lips, and an incredible red dress, something that looked completely out of this world, Bryan saw as she was walking up to the car.
She walked like nothing had happened to the driver seat, with confidence. She then slowly drove away.
"Bryan? What. Happened?" Ruby said, both being relieved it was over, but also frightened as this woman was heading the same way as they were headed.
To Clementine.
Oh my... That was awesome! Seriously: very well written and suspenseful
Great job! I think you're well on your way to write more descriptive posts! : D
It's your turn, Slenduck
Heading off of the place of events the woman approaches a much younger person, speaking with a low voice. "You're in charge now. Please make sure they are all safe and sound. I will need them at the lunch table. Some of them are in need of new clothes - arrange it.". "I will." Then the person comes over - it's a boy, probably 14 or 15 years old. He strokes back his blonde hair as he speaks to the women with confidence. "Before you will have a shower you can get new clothes if you want to. In that cas: Follow me."
The armed men look around them in confusion, purposeless until they eventually leave the place, going to their tents. While Clementine just stands there, still wondering about what is happening, Danielle takes Tara's hand leading her to the big truck the boy is heading to followed by other women. The men are giving up, just like this. That nice woman has a lot of influence. Ava ...", Clem thinks as she tries to catch sight of her but she is nowhere to be seen. "Clementine!", Tara shouts. Her and Danielle are the last people in line, the others went to the bathrooms. Still a bit puzzled by the actions Clem rushes to them. "Are we free? Can we go?", Tara asks Danielle. Her reply is a cynical look that speaks volumes. "Whoever she is - she seems nice.", Clem responds. Again, Danielle looks skeptical - *Are you kidding me? "Anyway, we will see at lunch.".
When they reach the end of the line the boy asks them quickly: "What do you need?". Danielle takes of her jacket immediately, throwing it to him with a cold look on her face. He gets what she needs and hands her a new one. Like all the clothes he is handing out it has a blue color. Danielle then heads away in a rush. He observes her with a hint of sadness. "Don't mind her - she's been through a lot.", Clem says to him. "What do you need?", he asks of routine. "She needs new trousers and shoes and ...", Clem says looking at her own skirt she's been wearing all that time, "new trousers for me.". "How about a new hat?", he asks slightly smiling. A rush of adrenaline goes through her vains but then she contains herself. "No, thanks." "Nevermind. You sure that you want trousers? The skirt suits you well.", he says cheekily. "I love skirts!", Tara screams in excitement, so the others share a good laugh. "Skirt for Tara, trousers for me, if you have, please.", Clem decides as she hands him Tara's shoes so he can check the size. When they are done Clem gathers her bravery and asks him questions: "What's your name?". He hesitates first. "Pattrick. My friends call me Pat, though." "Is Miss Lloyd your mother?", Clem asks him and regrets it immediately - he doesn't look anything like her. "She adopted me. Sorry girls, but I have a lot of things to do. I will call you for lunch. See you later.", he speaks as he closes the trunk of the truck. "Wait!", Clementine shouts. "She said that we are about to be brought somewhere. Why? What place is that?!". Pattrick's reply comes fast as a bullet: "The best place on earth. Once you get there you will never want to leave." Clem watches him leaving. The best place on earth... but what about Ruby and Bryan? After a while she comes back to earth, eventually. Tara is wearing her new shoes and playing with her skirt."Come on, Tara. You can get dressed in it after shower.",
Awesome!
Thank you, Heidy
Clementine tightly holds Tara's tender hand as she and the group of women enter a large hall filled with bunk-beds. "Real beds..." Tara whispers in awe. "Can I take the upper bed?" She asks while pulling Clementine's sweater in glee. "Go ahead, sweetie. I'll be right over." Clementine pats Tara on the back as the little girl eagerly climbs onto her bed and undresses to put on her new clothes. Miss Lloyd had brought all 30 of these beds within one of her army-trucks, a feat she described as just the tip of the iceberg of what the women could expect once they were to arrive in Ashley. Ava's coming had meant nothing but joy and improvement so far, but Clementine knew she had to make a decision whether to follow the well-dressed woman towards what seemed like a paradise or to deny the offer and continue her search for Bryan. A terrifying thought strikes the girl like thunder into a tall tree. What if she doesn't have a choice? What if miss Lloyd will force her to live in Ashley, inconsiderate of her needs and wishes? Clementine's trail of thoughts is interrupted by an excited squeal coming from her designated bed. "Clementine! You've got to feel these mattresses! So soft..." The girl turns around to find Tara laying on her belly with her eyes shut tightly. The older girl giggles before silently installing herself onto the lower part of the bed and laying her damp hair onto the fluffy pillow. "I have never felt better in my life." She mumbles before turning to Danielle, who has chosen the bed next to hers. The teen's mouth is stuck in the same depressing position it has been ever since they had met up in the shed. Her eyes appear dreary and lifeless. As if a constant cloud of darkness lurks over her. A burning feeling hurts Clementine's tongue. She needs to know what happened. "Danielle. I am so sorry for what happened back at the settlement." Danielle's head only slightly nudges. "A man... Got to me. I left you and Bryan and everybody else. Kenny, Frank, Jack. They all died because of me." Deep ridges mark Danielle's face with a sorrowful frown. "Wherever I go. No matter what I do or who I meet. They always end up missing, dead or worse. And I am sorry." With a terrible feeling Clementine turns her back to Danielle and shuts her eyes to block out the dim moonlight.
She is awoken from her sleep by a soft whimper coming from above. Disoriented, the girl steps out of her bed and climbs onto Tara's. She gently strokes the palm of her hand across the girl's wet cheeks and smears the tears across her face. "What's the matter, sweetie?" Tara slowly opens her eyes. "I... I can't sleep." She weeps. "I can't sleep without my dolly..." Clementine holds her hand as she looks right into the girl's eyes. "Now, now. Why would a brave little girl like you need a doll to fall asleep?" She asks with a smirk. "She... She looked like my mommy..." Clementine's smile instantly disappears as she realizes the true meaning behind the seemingly harmless doll Tara had lost when Meg left the group. "Oh... Honey." Clementine says as she initiates a warm embrace. "How do you do it, Clem?" The older girl raises her brow in confusion. "How do I do what?" Tara snorts before answering the question. "How do you forget something like..." Understanding what the girl means, Clementine replies with confidence. "You never forget, Tara. You just... Learn to move on."
Oh fuck... this post is one of your masterpieces so far. You seem to be perfect yet you're still improving? #HOWCUDUDAT
#HOCUUDIDODAT INDEED?
Tara drowns her head in her crossed arms in order to think about what Clem just said to her. For a minute Clem has been asking herself whether it was good or bad telling these things to that little girl. Will she ever understand? Maybe one day. But for now it's too much expected from an innocent child. Clementine shakes her head to clear her mind of thoughts like these. Then she looks around her: The large hall serving as the bedroom is filled with many women enjoying the mattresses as well as their alleged freedom. The air is filled with fresh smell of shampooed wet hair as well as clean skin. A scent of optimism lies in the air as the women and kids are gathered in many groups humming and laughing with smiles on the faces. The bed next to them is empty, though. Where is Danielle? That moment Clem's stomach releases a loud and unmistakeable growl. She then takes a look out the window: it looks like noon. Ava mentioned something about a lunch. She can see some of the women walking through the camp freely as the armed men are observing them in secret. A very young teenage woman passes one of them flipping him the bird, yet he just turns away.
Clementine suddenly gets the urge going outside to investigate a little, so she checks on Tara who has fallen into a deep sleep, eventually. An elderly lady looks at Clementine suspiciously. "Do you mind taking care of her? I'll be right back.", says Clem. The haggard faced woman nods. "Thanks." As Clem passes some of the beds slowly she catches snippets of some conversations: 'We are very lucky' ... 'considering the comfy beds I am expecting nothing but lobsters for dinner' ... 'but they kidnapped us! something's fishy' ... 'the men don't lift a finger no more' ... 'have you seen her dress?' ... 'why would they bring so many beds just for us? she is badly intentioned, I swear. they'll keep kidnapping women!' .. 'What's her name? She said we will leave today. What about my husband? He is still out there.' ...
The more Clem catches the more does her head spin. Eventually, she rushes outside all too grateful for the silence.
Even though the camp is open it is fenced effectively. Why would she say that we're free, Clementine wonders. Patrick is bending over a car hood making notes in a little book while looking at something in the distance. "Hi.", Clem says while taking a seat on the hood. She likes him. Patrick seems to be more mature than most of the young people she knows yet she has a feeling that he is a good person with pure intentions. "Oh, hi .. Claudia?", he says with an uneasy smirk. Clem raises her brow. "Nice try. I'm Clem, though." "Please accept my apologies, Clementine. Get yourself ready for lunch, the bell will ring pretty soon.", Pat speaks, as he raises his head from his notebook again. Then Clem tries to get what he is looking at following his eyes. Danielle is leaning to a wall in the distance looking at the fences with a grim. "She doesn't talk to me.", Pat remarks, answering Clem's thoughts. "I tried, yet she keeps ignoring me." "Danielle ... well, she just can't even if she wanted." Pat stops to write and looks Clem in the eyes "What do you mean?" Clem's throat is getting dry. "She ... has no tongue. Sorry for putting it that bluntly." The boy's face is getting pale in an instance. "Oh ... I err ... poor girl. I am so sorry. Do you know what happened to her ... arm?" Clementine swallows. She's been hesitating until she tells him eventually with sadness written allover her face: "It was me. A walker got her and ... there was nobody else to take care of it.", Clem sighs whilst trying to prevent the tears from flowing. "It has nothing to do with you, she's just been having a rough ride." As she has finished the sentence she can feel a sort of relief in her chest. Pat takes a deep breath whilst closing his eyes. Then the much older boy turns to her placing his hands on Clem's shoulders as he speaks: "I am so sorry, Clem. See: this is the reason we are doing this. These monsters out their are about to ruin our lifes, killing our loved ones, destroying all that is worth to live for ... and me and my mom, my friends and my family: we do not tolerate this! Ashley does not tolerate it. You can accept that they destroy entire mankind and do nothing about it. Or you can accept that they are here yet it's not over, yet. We are working on it, and we've been very successful. Our hopes our high, so high that we don't have doubts anymore. Ashley can and Ashley will do it. We are strong, but only if the little people left work together. Those things that happened to you and poor Danielle: they don't need to repeat." Then he releases her and takes his notebook. "Sorry for bothering you. See you at lunch."
Still amazed by his speech Clementine hops of the hood walking towards Danielle. She passes a weird looking man with a gun. After thinking back and forth Clem wants to try something: She turns back showing him the finger. He just keeps staring. Giggling Clem finally reaches Danielle. She does not react at all. "Danielle, are you alright? Lunch is almost done and..." In the middle of the sentence Clementine can hear some noises so she stops to speak. The noises turn out to be growls. Then her eyes fall onto the fence right where Danielle is looking at: There is a walker chained to a tree. He can walk in circles. "Jesus ...", Clem speaks as she notices that there are even more of them in the perimeter. "Watchdogs ...". Danielle looks at Clem and nods. "Are we ... trapped?", she asks. The elder girl doesn't say anything yet the look on her face says she agrees with Clem.
Suddenly a car can be heard. All eyes are on the fenced gateway, when a ruckus starts. "Everybody, get away from the streets! We will not warn you again: get into the building!", a loud voice comes from the speakers. Before Clem can do anything Danielle suddenly grabs her arm pulling her behind a bunch of barrels. When Clementine stares at her Danielle puts the finger on her mouth. The guards are all trying to get the women away from the gate and the arriving truck comes to a stop. It's a car very similar to the one Tara and Danielle were captured in. All of the sudden someone grabs Clem's shoulder so she jumps up as a high pitched voice yells. "THERE you are! You haven't been ...". It's Tara! Danielle drags her behind the barrels pressing her hand on Tara's mouth. As Danielle makes sure nobody noticed them Clem whispers to her little friend: "Sssssh! Be quiet! Please don't talk. Please, promise not to talk!" The growls behind the fence are getting louder so Danielle turns Tara's head away from that gruesome sight. The little girl nods. "Alright. Now stay quiet." The streets got almost emptied and the gate is being opened, so the truck enters the camp. A few moments later the campmen open the trunk so two women jump out. Some of the guarded men are talking to the drivers. The girls can catch some phrases: "Ashley is here! Guess what: we are not allowed to touch them. Crazy? Yeah, no shit..." Then the drivers turn to the women giving them their backpacks. Clem cannot see them well as they are hidden by the trunk. One of the women suddenly moves quickly as she reaches a gun out of the drivers gun holder. Then she runs a few yards and falls onto her knees. Clementine and Tara cannot trust their eyes: It is Meg! Her eyes are full of fear yet resolve. She releases a loud yell: "You will not fucking get me!" A shot bangs followed by a dump bump of a slender woman's body hitting the dusty ground. Tara starts to cry and runs away, while Danielle is trying to stop her. Everything happens so fast now: Many men are coming over to see what has happened, so are the women. Some of them witnessed the tragic occurrence from the distance. Then a boy and a red silk angel reach the scene. Ava's face is full of disgust and disbelief. "Good lord! What is wrong with you bloody pillocks?! Have you even the slightest idea what I do look like in front of these people?! Do not just stand there like half-arsed idiots: Get rid of her - now!" The men do as she says and while the other women flee into the building the lifeless body of Meg gets dragged into the car. Then Patrick comes over taking care of the other woman who has arrived with Meg. Being in a shock she gets led to the bedroom hall. When nobody can be seen Danielle dares to take her hand off of Tara's mouth. The short haired kid is still in denial, as she screams: "Is she dead?! She can't be dead, right? She is alive, isn't she?!" Still shivering by what has happened to one of her own people Clementine moves slowly towards the gate. The blood is still seeping into the ground next to a backpack. It gets opened by her with trembling hands. There are some cans of food as well as another bag. Clem notices it's Tara's almost immediately. A tiny hand is looking out of the opened zipper.
When she arrives the barrels Clem bends over Tara who is being rocked by Danielle. The tiny wet eyes fall onto the object brought by the sad looking figure with a hat smeared in blood. "My dolly ...". The dinner bell rings.
Last comment June 27...
I know I can't continue but...
It sucks to see this place like this. It was so good....