Chapter Text
A defiant glare towards Lilly, Clementine stood her ground. Lilly attempted to sway her into joining The Delta, meanwhile Abel held AJ in her grasp.
She wasn’t willing to hear a word they say, she wanted AJ safe and the two stay away from them. She didn’t care about their war, or her and Lilly’s history. She just anted to protect AJ.
Clementine’s gaze lingered and spotted Louis and Violet sneaking up from behind, perched on a hill with a bow and arrow ready.
”Be smart about this, Clementine. It's an us-or-them kind of world, Clem. If you want to save your little one, you won't pick them.” Lilly warned.
“Shoot!” Clementine yelled out.
Suddenly, an arrow is lodged into Lilly’s shoulder, and in a moment things are in a daze. As Clementine manages to get AJ to her side, Abel swings and fires, hitting Louis in the shoulder as well. AJ and Clem ran, and they ran fast. They hear Abel and Lilly rushing to follow them, the sound of gunshots crackling behind them. Clementine and AJ rush through, jumping pass a log as they duck through a cavern.
Lilly slips off the log as she falls onto the dirt, spraining her ankle badly as he curses.
“Lilly!” Abel kneels down to help her, but is pushed.
“No! Get them! I’ll be fine!”
Abel nodded as he stood up, shotgun in hand as he ran under the cavern and beelines into the trees.
Clementine and AJ rush through the forest, kicking pass dirt and tree branches as they hear the sounds of footsteps from behind. Clementine panicked, all she thought about was AJ at the moment, and she needed to be bait. She needed to be hunted, not him. Clem looks at AJ and the two lock eyes, and they both nod at each other.
They switched directions. AJ turned to his left and bounded fast into the forest while Clem moved right, hoping, no, PRAYING, that Abel will follow her.
And like an angel answered her prayers. She heard the footsteps run after her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Only for AJ, for her, she still needed to run as fast as possible.
She kept running. She ignored everything else but the straight path ahead of her as she continued pressing on. She heard the footsteps of Abel get farther away. She knew she was losing him. She turned to the left to shake him off and she manages to make it to a clearing, where suddenly she feels a yank at her ankle and she falls right into the dirt, her face slamming hard.
Clementine laid still for a moment, her breath shallow as she now was on the ground, her leg having been tripped by a branch coming out of the dirt. The girl lifted herself up for a moment until the sound of an automatic rifle clicked beside her head, making her freeze.
“Not a move.” A man’s voice spoke coldly.
She curses under her breath “I won’t join your group! I won’t! Leave me and AJ alone!”
“What?” The voice spoke for a moment, confused as she heard others approach.
“You got something?” A woman’ voice asked.
“Just some girl. Found her laying here.” He answered back.
“She got any good sh*t?” Another voice asked, young sounding.
“Can’t be sure.” The first man said “Alright, you just gonna sit down now and don’t try anything, okay girlie?”
Clementine slowly sat onto the ground and her eyes drifted upwards towards the three figures. One of them, who was pointing the gun, was an Asian man with a black beard and messy dark brown hair down his shoulders, staring coldly with a hardened gaze. The woman who came was black, with her black hair tied into a bun and wearing dark green camo. The second guy was a younger black man, staring at Clementine with a fixated expression on his as he simply glared at her.
“Y-You’re not with Abel or Lilly?” Clementine asked, her eyes narrowing.
“Who?” The woman asked, tilting her head.
”Those sound like Delta members.” The Black Guy looked at her.
”Who are you?” The Asian guy spoke, holding up his gun.
“I’m just…surviving.” Clementine answered vaguely, not wanting to divulge anything to these possible bandits.
”Nah. You said something about a kid named AJ?” The black man raised an eyebrow “You being chased?”
Clementine doesn’t answer, simply glaring, and the black man seemed agitated as he suddenly lifted his leg and kicked Clementine in the chest “Ypu dead or something?!”
”Russel!” The woman tried to calm him down.
Clementine fell onto her face again, groaning as she heard the sound of wheels, a cart coming into the area, she lifted up her head, seeing a carriage being pulled by horses, with several guards standing on either side. All of them had weapons. Semi-Automatics, shotguns, rifles, all heavy ammo. They all stared at Clementine.
“Look what we got here.” A dirty blonde haired woman, Vera, spoke passive aggressively “Who she?”
”Don’t know. She’s not saying her name.” Vince told them.
One of the guards, an Hispanic woman named Tisha, laughed “Not really nice, no?”
Clementine sneers slightly as she breathed heavily “Okay, whatever. It’s Clementine. Happy now? What the hell do you all want from me?”
After a few shorts seconds, there was silence. The entire group went quiet, no laughs, not even smiles anymore. They all stared at her, with wide, unblinking eyes. Clementine looked taken aback, and she…was nervous. What was going on?
After a moment, the curtains of the carriage draped back and stepping out was someone, a large figure who dressed himself in a coat, jeans and wore a white mask, with blank mouth and small holes.
“Clementine, is that your name?” The figure spoke, his voice gravelly with a tone of intimidating malice.
Clementine eyebrows furrow at the voice “Who the…who the f*ckare you?”
A laugh came from the man, stepping closer “It’s been a while hasn’t it? My, my. You have grown a lot. Haven’t you?”
“Wh..What?” Clementine’s eyes widened “We…haven’t met before?”
”Come on, Clementine, you have to know who I am…” He tilted his head “What? Doesn’t my voice already give you a clue?”
She began to shake her head, as suddenly a twinge of terror entered her mind, beginning to shake “No….no I-it can’t be no….its not.”
“Lambs to the slaughter, no shepherd to guide you.” He spoke, his voice with delight and malice “It’s great to finally meet you again, Clementine.”
Horror entered Clementine’s body, and she froze up “….Carver.”
“Surprise.” She could tell he was grinning beneath his mask.
“You…you died.” Clementine shook her head “Kenny…he bashed your face in! You’re dead!”
”Oh yes he did…he really did. But I guess I had some…divine intervention.” Carver began to laugh “Now…Clementine…I couldn’t help overhear something about a kid named “AJ” you’re looking after right?”
”No…” Clementine’s eyes widened.
”I wondered…what does ‘AJ’ Stand for?” Carver began to lean closer.
Clementine stared into Carver through his white mask, after five long years.
”Where’s my son, Clementine?”
The meeting came to an end when Abel entered the field “Alright! Where are you pun-“
Everyone froze, and everyone’s gaze went to Abel, who immediately stared back and his eyes widened and then, replaced with rage “Oh, you f*ckers!”
His shotgun muzzled, and before anyone else knew what was happening, Vera flies backwards, shotgun pellets ripping into her body as she’s killed instantly. Clementine can just hear the sound Abel says as he looks at her.
“RUN!”
Clementine ran.
Next thing Clem knew, she was now running with Abel through the woods, a moment that she couldn’t comprehend was happening, but couldn’t question it at the moment. She heard sounds of gunshots echoing through the woods, piercing rounds that zip and hit trees besides where they ran. Clementine knew she was hit somewhere, and as soon as the adrenaline wore off, she’d feel it. Right now, she was running.
Soon enough, the two were confronted by a horde of walkers, and Abel pushed Clementine to the side to get them away, to go around them. Clementine nodded as she and Abel ran, running through the trees away from the walkers grasp. Soon enough. After several moments, all the Walkers were mowed down, their heads popping open as they fell onto the grass.
Carver stood in front of his group, their muzzles head and smoking after gunning each walker down. He stares around, and each of the members all gaze through the forest, realizing that they lost Clementine and Abel.
Russel growls as he looks at the Asian man, Vince, and says “Great job. We lost them.”
“Russel.” The black girl, Tavia, tried to calm down.
Carver was silent, staring at the mushy brains of one of the Walkers before he spoke, his voice stopping everyone else “My boy is out there, folks. And I’m gonna get him back. I’m getting my son back.”
They found some moment of calm, and Clementine was leaning against a tree, clutching her shoulder, which now she felt was oozing blood. She panted as she leaned forward and dry heaved. Abel was staring at her, his gun trained on the ground as he was also panting. Many questions were running through her head and she looks at her unlikely savior with a glare.
“Why…the f*ck?”
“You’re welcome.” Abel spat back, groaning.
”How do you know them?” Clementine asked, fixating her glare.
“How do you?” Abel narrowed his eyes “It looked like you knew the f*cker in the mask.”
”I met that man a long time ago.” Clementine spoke, her mind going into that moment in her life before she suppressed it.
Abel shook his head “I know about that guy, Carver his name is. Listen, he’s a real sick f*ck I’ll tell you that.”
“You met him before?” Clementine asked, curious.
”Somewhat. He’s one of those people you’re suppose to know about. Not to f*ck…sh*t. I just killed one of his own. f*ck.” Abel curses under his breath, looking up at the sky “I’m f*cked. No no, we’re both f*cked here.”
”What are you talking about?” Clementine asked.
“Carver has his sights on both of us now, he’s gonna go after anyone we’re associated with.” Abel told her.
Clementine eyes widened “Erickson. AJ.”
She tried to run before crumbling, grabbing her shoulder as it began to burn and flare.
Abel groaned as he leaned against a tree, the shotgun tapping against his head “We’re so f*cking f*cked dude.”
Suddenly, Abel was muffled by a silence and Clementine looked over, seeing someone placing a hand on Abel’s mouth, and his eyes widened. Clementine sees it’s a walker…but it wasn’t. It was someone wearing Walker skin.
“Not gonna hurt anyone.” He held his mouth up “Quiet.”
Both Abel and Clementine stared in wide eyed as they see some walkers moving in the trees, moving pass them and towards the direction the gunfire was going to. The boy looks over at Clementine and her state as they passed.
“Hurt?”
Clementine slowly nodded, and James released his hand from Abel’s mouth as he slowly approached “I’m going to help. Get the bullet out.”
James kneeled down and look at Abel and gestures to him. Abel slowly walked over and kneeled down, his eyes locked onto the walker skin wearing boy.
Clementine pulled her jacket to show the hole that was covered in blood. The boy placed Clementine against a tree, and handed a knife out to Abel “Get the bullet out?”
”You kidding?” Abel furrowed his eyes.
”I’ll hold her still.” He simply spoke as he placed Clementine with his hands.
Clementine glares at Abel “You try anything I’ll kill you first.”
”Yeah, yeah.” Abel nodded as he took deep breaths and began to use the knife to dig out the bullet out of her shoulder. Clementine squirmed and groaned as she curses out, and soon the bullet falls out of her wound. The boy takes out some bandages snd wrapped her shoulder, stopping the bleeding.
Clementine sighed softly “T-Thank you.”
The boy stands up “There’s camp just over here. You need to rest.”
”Hey, we ain’t trusting you, plus we got someone each one of us gotta find.” Abel glared as he took a step back.
”Yes. I found them, they’re there at the camp.” The boy tells them.
Clem’s eyes widened “AJ?”
“Lilly?” Abel stepped forward, his face softening.
”The boy and the woman, yes.” He nodded “The boy is fine, but the woman had a sprain leg. She’s resting. Please. Come.”
Abel and Clementine shared a glance with one another, and not seeing much of a choice, followed.
Inside the small campsite, Clementine spotted AJ and she ran over to him. AJ sat up from his log and ran over, the two hugging.
”Goofball!” Clementine was relieved as she held onto him.
”Clem!” He nodded as he squeezed her tightly.
Abel was Lilly laying on a blanket and ran over, kneeling next to her “You okay?”
”Abel. I’m fine.” Lilly seemed relieved as she gave a sigh and then her gaze fixated on Clementine and AJ.
Abel nodded before he sighed “We have bigger problems now.”
“What?” Lilly raised an eyebrow.
The boy walked over and sat down at the fire “You both met William Carver.” He spoke at Clementine and Abel.
”What?! Carver?” Lilly whispered to Abel.
Clementine looked at The Boy “You knew it?”
”I had to help you both. Sent herd out.” The Boy told them “To distract them.”
“You sent walkers?” Abel looked incredulous.
”He’s a Whisperer.” Lilly explained, glaring at the boy,
”Used to be.” He spoke, still looking at fire.
”What are the Whisperers?” Clementine asks.
Lilly sat up, seething from the pain “A group of deranged cultists wearing skins of the dead and walks in herds.”
”We moved among them, guided them sometimes,” Ne nodded “I split apart. They went to war with a community. Saw the carnage. Didn’t wanna be apart of it.”
There was a silence as Clementine glared at Lilly and Abel “How do you two know of him?”
Lilly glared back and then sat up more “We saw some of his work.”
”Kidnaps people. Forces them into labor.” The Boy told them.
Clementine begins to scoff “Not too different from what you guys were doing. Why aren’t you guys friends?”
Lilly sneers at Clementine “Don’t you dare.”
”This guy ain’t like us, he’s a f*cking maniac.” Abel defended as he raised an arm “He’s a psycho.”
“A lotta people seem to be nowadays.” Clementine glared.
“Neither of you should fight,” The Boy spoke “Both of you have a problem.”
”A problem? Really?” Clementine sighs.
”Yeah, I shot one girl do tjeors and you got away.” Abel shook his head “We’re both targets of him.”
Lilly tilted her head “How do you know of Carver?”
Clementine stared coldly at Lilly for a few moments “After Lee died, I met some people. Good people, who used to be with Carver. I met him. He broke someone’s fingers, he threw another guy off a roof. He beat Kenny’s face in with a radio and then I saw him get his faced smashed with a crowbar.”
After a moment, she glanced at AJ, who stared up at her confused. Clementine shook her head, wrapping an arm around AJ as she held him close. Lilly stared at Clementine, her expression softening slightly as she understood what she just explained.
”Look. Okay, we all got off on the wrong foot.” Abel began.
”You almost shot AJ.” Clem glared.
“I wasn’t gonna do it!” Abel defended “But regardless! We both are screwed unless we take care of Carver, and the fact is. Your community is kinda rucked as well.”
”What do you mean?” Clementine glared “We can just do fine without your help.”
”I’m sorry sweetheart, you seen that?” Abel asked as he lifted his hand up “They had automatic rifles, more than we even we do, and they have a ton of a lot more men than you guys. Well, I think we would barely win against them with all our numbers, let alone you group of kids fighting.”
Lilly sighed “Be reasonable about this, Clementine. You know Carver yourself. You know how dangerous he is.”
Clementine grimaced for a second, recognizing his point before she glared “And what if we take care of him huh? You guys are just gonna take us anyway?”
”That doesn’t matter. If Carver gets what he wants, both Erickson and Delta are dead. Our friends and family are dead.” Lilly spoke clearly.
Clementine sighed for a second as she clenches her eyes shut. She didn’t want them to die. She knew how ruthless Carver was, and she didn’t know how even more deranged he probably is now five years after their last meeting.
“Okay…okay, maybe…we can do that. But as soon as Carver’s finished, you’ll leave us all alone.” Clem glared.
”Deal.” Abel immediately agreed and Lilly simply nodded.
Clementine hissed, her hand on her shoulder and the boy looks over “Your wounds need proper cleaning. You need medicine.”
Clementine sighed as she leaned back “I need to back to the school.”
Abel leaned forward “Listen, tomorrow, in the morning, you take us there. We can be your f*cking prisoners.”
”Abel…” Lilly glares at him.
”No, we can be your prisoners, and you can get your medical help, and you’ll explain, their lives are gonna be in danger.” Abel told them “And that we all need to work together to survive through this.”
Clem sighs again “Not sure if they’ll even let us in. We’re not welcome there anymore.”
”Don’t got much of a choice.” Lilly simply said.
Clementine sighed once more and nodded “Fine…fine.”
After a moment of silence, she looks over at the boy “What’s your name?”
”Been a while.” The boy spoke “Since I’ve said it.”
After another second, he removed his mask, revealing a young Korean boy who stares at the fire “James.”
Abel whistled slightly “Wow. You do look better without the mask.”
Lilly rolled her eyes “Wow, so you just go around the woods to save random people?”
”After I left my group, I wandered. First time alone, ever. Saw war everywhere. First against walkers, then against each other. Hoped it would be better here. Where are you from? Here? Or somewhere far away?” James looked around at everyone.
Clementine sighed softly “Georgia.”
Lilly nodded slightly too “Yeah, Georgia. We both.”
“Long way from home.” James comments.
Abel chuckles “West Virginia. Small town by a lakeside. How about you kid?”
James sighs “Washington. The state. My….dad ran a hotdog stand, I helped.”
There was a silence as Clementine stayed silent, still holding her shoulder as AJ seemed concerned “Are you gonna be okay?”
”I’ll be fine AJ.” Clementine assured.
”All of you should get rest.” James said as he stood up “I’ll take watch.”
The four looked across at each other, still doubt and suspicion on all count as they turned away and laid down, but right now, any differences they had, any hatred and contempt. It was all to be set aside. Because now. A bigger threat has inserted himself in.
And they were on his target.
