You're Too Young To Be So Broken

Fire and Brimstone

Author's  Note:  I  used  this  title  because  it  essentially  means  God's  Wrath...  and  I  found  it  fitting  :)

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Duck was held harshly by his hair. His scalp screamed for reprieve but he knew he wouldn't get any.

"I can't believe it's come to this...I thought you had finally learned your lesson Kenneth."

Duck sneered, hawking and spitting at Joan. Badger growled, landing a hard blow to his stomach. He doubled over in pain before he was forced to his feet. Joan smiled, an eerie look behind her eyes.

"A fighter to the end I suppose." Shrugging, she walked away to stand before Clint. "Announce the trial, and tie him up."

Clint looked weary. "This soon? We haven't even decided on punishment yet..."

"Yes, I have. Public execution. We have to show these people what happens when they step out of line. He'll be the example and when we find the others they'll have the same fate."

"But Joan-"

"Put the noose on his neck, and call the people to the front now!" Her voice rose an octave.

Clint sighed, turning on his radio to call the meeting.

Meanwhile Clem and Mari had been not too far from them, and Mariana had heard every word. She signed to Clementine. "They're going to kill him publicly, as an example."

Clementine scoffed, "No they won't. We're not gonna let them." She racked her brain trying to think of what to do. Rushing up on the stage to take him by force wouldn't work, the place was too surrounded. They'd have to be smarter about this.

She looked toward the top of the building, smiling as an idea pooped into her head. "I know what we can do but we have to work fast." She grabbed Mariana by the hand before the girl could reply. She stayed as quiet as she could be, and remained hidden behind.

Luckily for them Duck had decided to act at night allowing there sneaking to be a bit easier. Moving in the darkness was the perfect camouflage. Clementine worked her brain trying to remember where the armory was in the community.

"We need a gun, just one we don't need to be greedy." Clem signed as they weaseled their way through the streets. "Then we need to get to the roof of one of these buildings-"

She suddenly stopped moving, reaching out to press Mariana against a barricade. At first she was confused, but then she heard the voices of two soldiers idly walking by. They stopped right in front of them, both of them too entranced in their conversation to see them there.

Shit. Don't turn around.

Mari could feel her palms start to sweat, all it would take was for one of them to turn and they'd be caught. They sat there for what felt like forever but eventually the two continued on their journey.

"That was close. How'd you know they were there?"

Clem shrugged, "I felt it, I don't know how to explain it." Her eyes scanned her surroundings before she and Mari dashed toward one of the buildings close by. "Someone taught me to listen to my senses, to not ignore certain feelings...he was an ass but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a helpful lesson."

The two continued on their journey until Clem spotted a familiar building. She had only been in the armory once before and even then she wasn't supposed to be. Duck hadn't been home that night and she knew he'd be there, loading magazine's into guns. So she forced her way in, and demanded to see him.