#I almost forgot to tag tenn

[zellybelly]

Bloody Hell (Part 3)

Part 3! AAAAA

I’m much more invested in this than Familiar Faces, so this will probably be what’s posted for a bit beside one-shots and art

This and the others are going to be long since I forgot how much shit went through this episode 0_0

It was a long, not really, and slow, really, awkward walk to the gate by the greenhouse. Not just because of the silence. Louis let her sit beside the wall to rest.

Honestly, she’d been through so much worse, she would be fine. She could still defend herself, walk, but it took a lot of energy. After this though, she’d try to take it a bit easier. 

She looked down beside her, at the overgrown weeds around them. A dandelion caught her eye.

She reached over and grabbed it. She saw another, this one was dead, with all the seeds. She grabbed it too.

She twirled the dead one between her thumb and forefinger. She noticed that Louis looked over to her, watching her.

She turned to look up at him, and his head snapped away so it would seem like he hadn’t been staring. He only glanced back when she offered him the dandelion. 

He stared at it. 

His hand reached out and took it. When he did, “Make a wish,” she told him.

One blow was enough for all the seeds to detach and fly around in the air.

“Louis?” Her voice was soft, and she avoided his eyes when he looked at her. “I never got the chance to... but I’m sorry. For... everything.” Her eyes stung. One hand came up to cover her eyes, “I didn’t stop AJ from shooting him. I somehow.. taught him to kill monsters. Guess I wasn’t specific.” Her voice cracked and a hiccup caught in her throat. “I wish I could change everything if it meant you all didn’t have to be in so much pain and-”

“Stop.” She looked up. His arms were crossed and he was looking ahead at the school, where it all happened. “In a few weeks, or days or hours those raiders be here, burn down our plan, and steal or kill us.”

“They aren’t burning or stealing anyone.” She snapped. 

He swallowed. “You sound like Marlon.”

She gaped at him, and he quickly finished his thought, “Not about fighting... but when he was trying to cheer us up. Give us hope. For years I sat around making stupid jokes, playing stupid games, while my best friend was left with all the responsibility. All the tough calls. All the sleepless nights. And, eventually, a bullet in the head.” He squeezed his eyes shut. His hands tighten their grip on his coat. “And I didn’t do a damn thing about it.” 

She looked down, back at the dandelion in her head. Its golden color was bright and happy. At least something was. She looked back up to Louis when he continued.

“And then when you tried to tell us what he was really like, and AJ shot him, I blamed you. Both of you.” It was then that he turned to her, and knelt down so he was sitting on his knees and closer to her level. “If I could take it back, I would. I knew that as soon as you got back, I-I still do.” 

“Louis.” She interrupted him. “I told you. AJ killed him, and I didn’t do anything. No one saw that coming. And he was your best friend, you were right to be so pissed. Even if it hurt.” She raised a had to where her heart was. “It felt like you hated us. I understood if you did but I...”

He cut her off with a hug. “I never hated you. Either of you. I just... didn’t know what to do.” He whispered to her. He pulled back and stood up.

Any sign about their conversation was gone, and his smile was back. She accepted his hand to help stand, wincing as it stretched wound a bit. 

“Thanks for being my cane.” He responded with that goofy grin of his.

She didn’t really know what to expect, never having seen a greenhouse in her life, but this wasn’t really what she thought.

It was a large glass building, the glass was ridiculously fogged over. And she thought that the weeds and plants were overgrown, this brought it to a whole new level. Ivy growing on the wall was thick, couldn’t see the glass behind it. 

“I guess I didn’t realize how long it’s been. How much it’s changed.” Ruby commented. She walked up to the door and tried the knob. That didn’t work, so Ruby gave a good kick to the door with her body, but nothing happened from that either.

“That’s not budging.” Mitch crossed his arms, coming to stand by Ruby.

“You gonna stand there sulking all day, or you going to do something useful?” Ruby scolded him.

Louis laughed, but Clem had the decency to cover her mouth to muffle the giggles from her throat. “Well, we’re just going to have to find another way in. We need that barbed wire.”

Mitch didn’t respond. He just turned and walked around the corner.

“Um, Louis? You can stop.” Clementine told the boy who gave her a raised eyebrow expression. “I can walk. It’s not that bad.”

“Yes, you were only shot 3 times in the stomach.” He replied sarcastically, but let go.

“I’ll check around the corner, you help out Ruby?” She offered. When he nodded, she walked over to the corner, where Mitch was being an angsty teen. 

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t go to talk to him. He’d just talk up more shit. First, she headed to the window and look through. Well, tried to anyway. She couldn’t see jackshit in there.

The only other thing she could really check out was the ladder. It looked like it was falling apart. She just hoped this would hold out better than the helicopter blades back in Richmond. 

It led up to the roof. She took a few steps back so she could see the roof better. She couldn’t see much, but it looks like there was a broken window. “Looks like there’s a broken window. We can climb up the ladder and get in through there.” 

Ruby and Lou came around the corner, Ruby had a big smile on her face. “ Good spotting, Clem. Mitch, gimme a boost.” 

Mitch, as always had a different idea. “Wait. Make her go first.” He pointed at Clem. Clem gave a sigh, seemed like this guy wanted her to die. “We send the one we don’t mind losing.” The tone of his voice kinda made her a bit worried like he was ready to kill her in a second.

“Mitch! That’s an ugly thing to say!”

“Dude, she’s injured. She could die in there.” 

She took on a glare. “Well, I’m the only one who really has a plan, but sure, I’ll go.” She turned to Louis and lightly hit his arm. “Make sure walker Clem eats him first, okay?”

She grunted when they gave her a boost to climb the ladder. It agitated her wound, but she could deal. She’d been through worse shit than this. 

“Be careful!” She heard Ruby call to her when she made it to the top. She glanced back down at them and gave a nod. “Give a holler if one grabs you.”

With a heave and a flash of pain, she jumped through the window. She landed with a loud thump on the wooden counter there was. Instinctively, a hand went to her wounds. They weren’t throbbing, but she felt her heartbeat as if her heart was now in her hip. 

She glanced around the place and climbed down from the counter. The beds were overgrown with weeds and other plants. Though some looked like the herbs that would help out, with food or medicine. 

Her thoughts were cut off by groaning. She looked to see that the walkers, who she thought were dead, were getting up. “Fuck.” She cursed.

The others must’ve heard the groaning because she could hear them banging at the door. 

“Clem? Clem!” She heard both Louis and Ruby, but not Mitch. Big surprise. She quickly ran, or hobbled over and grabbed a knife, just in time for the first walker to get there. She quickly stabbed it in the head, but before she had time to respond to her friend’s distressed calls, the other two came.

She did the same as she did to the first, and did a quick stab in the head, but the blade wouldn’t come out. She groaned as she tried to pull it free, but it wouldn’t budge. 

Seeing the last one get close, she just shoved the walker away, as well as the knife. “Fuck, fuck fuck fuck.” She muttered out loud, though it was loud enough for the others to hear. The banging on the door got louder.

She dodged the walker when it came up to her, avoiding the arms. She couldn’t dodge the second one when she bumped against one of the walls. She glanced behind her to see if anything useful was there, and she managed to catch sight of a crowbar.

Without a second thought, she grabbed the bar and with both hands, stabbed it through the walker, right between the eyes.

She felt the blood get on her face, and it was only then, did she realize how shaky her breath was. 

She hobbled over to the door and removed the wood, before leaning against one of the garden boxes, an arm around her torso. The wound was hurting again. 

Louis and Ruby practically broke down the door when they opened it. Ruby went up to her and placed her hands on her shoulders, “You okay?” She gave Clem a smile when she got a nod. 

“I’m fine, but... it hurts.” She commented on the wound. Ruby gave her a concerned look, turning to Louis. He got the hint, coming over and putting a hand around Clem. She leaned on him while they looked around. 

They found a lot of good weapons, and with Louis’s help, though it was really all him, she got the knife out of the walker’s skull. A crowbar, a shovel, and some hedge clippers. 

They, as in Mitch and Louis, got a cabinet open, showing off tons of barbed wire. More than enough for what they needed. 

Mitch found fertilizer underneath it all and began talking about making a bomb.

Clem look from Mitch to Ruby. They had found the school nurse, the one adult who stayed with them. She had taught Ruby everything she knew about meds and patching people up.

They were arguing about burying her or setting her corpse on fire. Louis didn’t get in the crossfire, so it was up to her to break it up.

“We’re burying her, After all that she’s done for you, it’s the least we can do for her.” She snapped at Mitch.

“It’s not a her, it’s a walker!” “Brody was a walker when you buried her, how is this any different?” That shut Mitch up.

The next two weeks were hell. No signs of Lily or Abel, but that just made it worse.

Since she was injured, Ruby told her to take it a bit easier, but she still helped out where she could. Discussed plans with people, took watch a few times, anything really. 

When she wasn’t, she was getting to know Rosie. She was a sweet dog, and Clem just loved her. Some nights, Rosie would come into their room and sleep by Clem’s bed. She offered the dog a spot beside her, and Rosie jumped, literally and figuratively. 

By the time the end of the second week rolled around, she felt back to normal. Well mostly. This skin around the wound was still a bit sensitive, but everyone knew to avoid that area.

AJ went to join Tenn on patrol, or correction, look out. Totally different. 

Her attention was drawn when she heard arguing. It was Louis and Violet. Not that she was surprised. With their different personalities, she would be surprised if they didn’t fight. 

“I have other stuff I need to do.” “What stuff?”

“Nothing. It’s just... it’s important.” Oh boy.

Violet’s eye twitched. “Goddammit, Louis, take this seriously, for once in your life!”

“Hey!” Louis cut in to defend himself. “I’ve been taking this seriously for fucking days! Almost two weeks!”

As always, Violet had a response, “So has everyone. Get over yourself!”

She just stared awkwardly at the two until they noticed her there. Lou shook his head and walked past her. She felt a pang of hurt that he didn’t even acknowledge her. Maybe she was too used to hearing his jokes now. “I thought Lily and Abel would show up days ago. I’m not sure why they're holding off.”

Violet sighed and crossed her arms.

“All I wanted was more time to prepare, but this waiting sucks. It’s got everyone on edge.”

“You want my help?” “Sure. Can you check up on everyone? I need to board up the hallway since Louis isn’t going to.” Clem nodded.

Ruby was fine, Willy and Aasim were nowhere to be found, Omar was walling up some windows, and Rosie was trailing behind Clem like she was a duckling.

All she had left was to check up on Louis and Mitch.

She went to Mitch first, knowing that when she would talk with Louis, it would a long conversation, and she’d probably forget to check on Mitch afterward.

“Hey, what are you doing? That the bomb?” She crossed her arms. It was an instinct now, whenever she was talking with someone, to have her hands on her hips or her arms crossed.

“Nah, test. Gotta see if the bomb will go off.” Her arms uncrossed and she stared down at the small device in Mitch’s hands. He saw the expression of horror on her face and he smiled. Smiled. “This little thing won’t kill anyone. Just gotta see if it’ll light.” “Let’s hope so. Our entire plan rests on that ‘little thing’.” Mitch just rolled his eyes. He stood from his spot and tried to light it, but his hand seemed too stiff from messing with the bomb. She offered to do it, and surprisingly, he gave it to her without any comment.

She bent over and lit it, taking a step back. Mitch did the same, both of them were about 3 feet from it.

The fuse went all the way to the end, and nothing happened. “Fuck!” Mitch cursed. The two of them walked closer to the bomb.

Like it was waiting for them, it exploded, sending flying pieces of plastic everywhere. Clem yelped, tripping over her own feet. She fell onto her butt and scooted away from where the bomb was.

They had caught the attention of everyone outside, all looking in their direction.

“Well, that’s better than the last one,” Mitch spoke with pride.

“Hey, as long as it’s ready when they get here, you do whatever you need to,” Clem commented. She stood and dusted her pants off, not that it did much.

And with that, she headed over to Louis. Honestly, she hoped that they could at the very least talk. She noticed within the past few days, whenever he was near, her heart picked up speed, and fluttered in her chest. She found herself staring at him more, admiring his features.

“Hey, Lou.” “Why hello there, your Majesty.” She rolled her eyes and gave him a soft smile. One night they spent playing the piano, and Louis came up with the idea for nicknames. In the end, they settled for Queen Clem, and King Louis, after much pleading on Louis’s part. She caved when he promised to never call her Clemster. She hated that nickname.

He gave her a smirk and pulled back the string on the bow he was holding. He released, and the arrow flew... right into the ground. “Ugh, shit.”

“Louis?” She walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, lightly turning him to her. 

“Clem... I...” His voice died on himself, having to swallow for a moment to continue. “I know... I know we went through this when you got back... but...” He looked away from her.

“Louis. I know.” She gave him a slight smile. “We need to put it behind us. We both know we’re sorry, and that we forgave each other.” Her hand on his shoulder gave it a squeeze. “Although, not sure that will help your archery skills.” She joked. The area was filled with arrows, and only one hit the target, nowhere near the middle. 

“Hey, think you could do better?” He challenged, offering the bow. She took it gracefully.

“I know a can.” “Damn, go ahead then.” He gave her one of those toothy smiles, “In that direction please.” He pointed to the target. “And when you miss, I am totally laughing out loud.”

She rolled her eyes and took aim. She got in the proper stance, nocked an arrow, took a deep breath... and released

THUNK!

She gave Louis a cocky smile, seeing that her arrow hit a bullseye. “Take that, King Lou.” She gave him a playful wink. 

Louis just shook his head but applauded her nonetheless. “Fine, fine. Your skills outweigh mine, Queen Clem.”

The two of them gave small chuckles. Clem stopped, however, when she noticed Violet coming out of the admin’s building. “Hey, I’m going to check in with Vi, okay? Then, more target practice?” She offered.

He nodded. She gave him a wave before leaving him to pull all his arrows out of the trees and ground.

“Back hallway’s secure. How is everyone? Okay? Or, you know, a complete mess?”

“They’re trying-” “Trying isn’t going to stop the raiders. Trying isn’t-”

“Vi.” Clem gently interrupted. “They are ready.” She assured. “We’re defended and everyone is eager to get the fight over with. Louis was even practicing with a bow.”

Vi gave her a look. “Louis? And a bow? How did that go?”

Clem let out a hearty chuckle, “Only one arrow hit the target, wasn’t even close to the middle.”

“Yeah, Louis was never a long ranged person. He’s up close and personal.” She felt her face heat up and she lightly smacked Violet’s shoulder.

“Shut up.” 

Vi opened her mouth to say something, but they were interrupted by the doors opening and arguing.

“Because you’re boring and your idea is stupid!”

“I’m being stupid? You’re the one who can’t think straight. If you could hear yourself-” “Guys! What the fuck?” Violet interrupted them. The argument caught the attention of everyone, forming a crowd around Aasim and Willy.

“Violet told us to work on the traps together, but Aasim won’t listen to anything I say!” “That doesn’t mean you have to scream at each other.” Ah, Louis, always the peacemaker.

“Stay out of this,” And Aasim. The stubborn one. “I have an idea for duffel bags filled with bricks. We drop them on the raiders if they get to the admin building. Willy here,” She glanced over to the smaller kid, who looked like his nerve was about to pop, “wants to use a giant, idiotic swinging log to take out one raider at the most. It’s completely stupid.”

Clem looked between the two of them and went over their ideas in her head. Willy’s trap would cause more damage, but it would only be good for one swing. And it would take a lot of work to set it up, plus, if it did kill someone, they’d have to plan for it hit the head, prevent reanimation. Aasim’s plan, while not as flashy, would definitely be easier to pull off. And if they were dropping them on the raiders, it would hit the heads first.

“Guys,” arguing, “guys,” arguing, “Guys!” She barked, walking between the two of them, one hand on each shoulder to keep some distance between them. “We’re using Aasim’s plan. It’s more practical, and it won’t take as long to set up.”

“Mine’s practical!” Willy defended, pushing past Clem to get closer to Aasim.

“No, it isn’t. It’s exactly the kind of thing a child would think of. Especially a child who has no idea what he’s up against-” That was it. Willy’s fist balled up, striking Aasim right in the gut. She winced, hearing the sound of contact. Aasim doubled over in pain.

Everyone else took a step back, and Willy seemed to realize what he just did. His feet shuffled before he darted away into the building. 

“Dude, you okay?” Louis went over to Aasim, but he was waved away.

“Yeah. Fine, shit!” Aasim walked away, cradling his torso.

“At this rate, we’ll all kill each other before the raiders get here.” Violet rubbed her temple. Clem nodded with her and watched Aasim sit on one of the giant plush couches. 

“Right, what we need is something to break the tension.” Louis agreed with them. He turned and started to walk over to Aasim. Vi and Clem followed, curious about what his plan was. 

“Hey, buddy, how’s it hanging?” Louis plopped himself next to Aasim, who was still cradling his stomach. Clem sat herself down on a comfy armchair next to them, and Violet was on the other couch.

“Dude, fuck off.” As always, Louis shrugged off the insults.

“Sulking in the corner isn’t gonna help us fight the raiders. Or turn that frown upside down.” Clem raised an eyebrow. She knew Louis was a cheesy guy, but that was just... awful.

And just as she expected, Aasim kept his head down and the insults rolling, “You get more annoying every day.”

“Regardless,” Louis frowned lightly, “I’ve come up with a plan to make everyone feel better.”

“Let me guess,” Clem cut in, pulling her legs underneath her, “a game?” 

Louis gave her a smile, “Correcto mungo!” He cheered.

“Uh, haven’t played a game in weeks, since that night with Marlon.” Clem looked down, feeling her stomach sink with guilt. Though she had been forgiven by the kids, she still felt the guilt of it on her shoulders. 

She noticed Aasim looking away, towards Ruby with a small smile. “I mean, if you wanna go ask Ruby to play, I don’t mind waiting.” 

“Shut up, dude! I swear to god.” Aasim snapped at Louis, who had the biggest victory smile on his face.

“You have a crush on Ruby?” Violet inquired. All they got was Aasim’s nervous glances. That confirmed it all.

“What’re we playing?” AJ and Tenn walked up, joining the game. Tenn sat by Violet, and AJ sat on the ground by Clem’s chair. 

“Truth or dare!” Louis shuffled up the cards, picking out random sections and placing them in the top or bottom.

“But you don’t use cards in truth or dare.” Violet protested.

“You do in this. Highest card get’s to ask, lowest has to answer. Clem, if you would?” He handed her the deck after drawing a card of his own. She grabbed hers, and the deck went around until everyone got a card.

She got the low card, and Violet got the high card. The blonde pushed her lips together in thought, “Hmm, this should be good. Let’s see...” She paused once again. “Marry, Fuck, Kill.”

“Vi.”

She rolled her eyes, “Fine. Marry, Flip, Kill. Ruby, Aasim, or James, that guy who saved you.”

Clem placed a hand to her face, “Oh my god.”

“Hey,” She felt Louis tap her shoulder, “You gotta answer. Them’s the rules.”

Clem thought about it over her head, running through all her choices and options. “Okay... let’s see, I would marry... Ruby.”

Louis threw his head back with laughter, “Watch out, Aasim, she’s totally going to swoop in and ruin your dreams.” He warned, nudging Aasim lightly with his elbow.

“You gotta admit, Clem’s a way better catch than you.” Violet cut in, giving Clem a wink. She responded with a smile and a roll of her eyes.

“I would um... Flip?...”

“Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip-”

“Flip, flip, flip, flip.” AJ and Louis chanted. She gave Lou the stink eye.

“... James.”

“That’s...” Violet trailed off, “an interesting choice.”

“Funny, you say ‘horrifying’ differently then I do.” Clem smacked his shoulder giving him a glare, before looking away with a flush on her cheeks.

Violet ignored him, “Didn’t you say he wore skin, like, human skin?” Clem nodded, “I wonder if he would take it off to...ugh... you know what, nevermind.” Clem get out a bark of laughter, bending over a bit.

“And that means you’re killing-”

“This is amazing-”

“Aasim!”

She noticed his shoulder slump in relief, “Oh, thank god.”

“What?!” Louis cried. “You’d rather die than marry or flip Clem?” 

“No!” Aasim quickly denied, unable to look at the amber-eyed girl. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“It’s fine Aasim.” She dismissed with a laugh, “I get it. Round two boys!” She reached for the deck and drew a card and passed it around the group.

“I win!” She cheered.

“And poor Aasim loses.”

“Definitely a dare.”

Aasim raised an eyebrow, “Okay, do your worst.”

Should not have said that. Cause what she had in mind would make him want to hurl. More than once. “You have to kiss... a walker.”

“What?”

“No way.”

“Gotta play by the rules, my dude.”

“That’s like, I could die!”

“Avoid the teeth, go for the cheek.” She replied with a smirk. Violet shuddered, but they all watched attentively as Aasim walked up to one of the impaled heads on the spikes.

After much mumbling on his part, he did it. He kissed a walker. And almost immediately, he ran away, gagging. They burst out in laughter as he stalked back to his seat.

There were lots of calls from, “I can’t breathe!” Louis, “That was amazing,” Vi, and “I hate... everyone.” from Aasim.

“Well,” Louis concluded, “I think we all learned something about our good friend Aasim today. Mainly that he has no romantic charm, whatsoever.” Aasim replied with shut up, but everyone knew, Louis would never ever shut up.

“Look sharp, y’all. It’s time for round three!” They passed around the cards again.

She got the low card, and Louis got the high card. He stared at her card for a moment before nodding, “I got it. We’ve been pretty hard on Aasim here, teasing him about sweet Ruby. Seems only fair we mercilessly tease someone else about unrequited love.” He turned to her with that cheeky grin of his, “So, Clem, anyone here you like-like?”

“Like-like? What are you, six?” “Seven, thank you.” 

“I’ve made a lot of good friends here... but I’m not sure I have a crush on someone.”

Louis raised an eyebrow, and she caved. “Yeah, yeah I guess I do, sort of have a crush on someone. And I think they like me back.” She felt her cheeks burning, so she buried her face in her hands.

The game ended on a nice note. Tennesse told them of his idea, that walkers wouldn’t always be around, mentioning how the world moved in cycles. It was a beautiful thought. She doubted they would live to see it, but it was a nice thought.

She was offered to hang out by both Violet and Louis, one at the bell tower, and the other at his beloved piano. 

She knew which one to go with. No second thoughts.

BALALALALLALALA Ughhhh... this took so long