A Better World

Chapter 5

Carley sat in her seat, confused, angry, sad, worried, and shocked. What had just happened? What was going to happen next? What was going to happen to Lee and Clem? Her mind was racing at a million miles a second. A whole lot of outcomes, worries, and scenarios were playing in her head all at once. She couldn't take it, so she broke down and cried. Cried for her husband, cried for Clem's safety and the worry of never seeing her again. Cried for the hope that all these current thoughts would turn into hope for the future. She stopped.

"There has to be a way to stop this," she said to herself. She thought about what needed to happen. First, she needed to get Lee out of jail and his records cleared, so that when the time came, they could adopt Clem and get a house. It wasn't going to be easy. Nothing was easy. She needed to talk to Kenny and Katjaa about her plans.

Governments had started to settle back into the States. Unfortunately, however, court meetinghouses were still unsure of what to do in terms of unsigned laws. As governments required reconstruction, so did the United States and its law structure. As Lee was brought into the courthouse for his court date, he wondered what was going to happen with the new governments. Lee was walked into the main courtroom by two officers, who had handcuffed him before they walked in. As they opened the doors, the first thing that Lee could see, was everybody staring right back at him. Everyone was glaring at him; some were wearing looks that said Ill kill you myself. As Lee walked closer to the front, he could see Carley, Kenny, Katjaa, and Duck in the very front row of the seating area. They were the only ones giving him looks of concern and support. The only person he couldnt see was Clementine. Where was she? He was lead to his seat in front of the judges desk. He was sat down in his spot next to his lawyer, who shook Lees hand, but that didnt last for too long, as the judge came out onto the floor.

"All rise for Judge Clinton," said one of the officers who had walked with Lee. Everyone, including Lee stood up as the judge walked into the room. He was an older man with white hair and very noticeable green eyes. He wore a very serious expression, which scared Lee a little. He walked to his seat with a folder of papers in his hand, which Lee assumed was information about him and his case.

"Officers to the back door, you all may be seated. Thank you for coming to the court case of, Lee Everett?" said Clinton, gesturing to Lee with a nod.

"Uh, yes sir, that is correct," said Lee, making sure not to say more than he needed to. He saw the judge grab an envelope and hold it up for everyone in the room to see.

"I'm sure youve noticed by now that Clementine isnt here with you. That is because she has been placed in foster care," said Clinton, pausing to let the information sink in. For Lee, it sank in all right.

"She said that she didnt want to come,"

That broke Lees heart a little after hearing that as he frowned and looked down sadly. He looked back up to see the officer bring him the envelope that Clinton just had. He grabbed it from the officer and opened it.

"She wrote the reasons why she didnt want to be here," said Clinton. Lee started to read the note.

Hi Dad, or I mean, Lee,

I didnt want to come to court with you because I just didnt want to see you like that. I didnt want to see you in jail clothing. I want to see you when youre out of jail, whenever that will be. I wanted to ask you if you and Carley were going to adopt me? I know its your choice, but I love you guys and want to live with you. I know you havent gotten started with adoption yet, but could I call you and Carley mom and dad from now on?

Love, Clementine.

Lee started to tear up, he was going to do everything in his power to get back to Clementine. Carley noticed this and couldnt help but feel the same way. Kenny and Katjaa looked at each other, talking silently to each other. They then looked back at Lee, who had regained focus of the current situation.

"So, what happens now?" asked Lee. The judge looked down, grabbed the folder that he had brought with him, and grabbed a piece of paper from it. He held it up showing Lee, which turned out to be a picture of a man, but Lee couldnt tell who it was.

"You are the convicted murder of Georgias previous State Senator Sam D. Lawrence, are you not?" asked Clinton, staring Lee straight in the face. Lee gulped; guess hes getting straight to the point. Lee nodded. At this response, Clinton put the picture down. He rested his chin on his hands and just stared at Lee intimidatingly.

"You have no excuse for what you have done, and I really should send you to the hole, AND trust me, I REALLY, REALLY want to," said the judge, as Lee looked down sadly.

'This is it, this is where it ends. Ill never see my wife or Clementine ever again,' Lee thought to himself. He wasnt sure what he was going to do now. All his hope for Clementines future had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"But I cant, unfortunately," said Clinton. Lee immediately shot up in his seat. Did he hear that right? He was going to be let go?

"Wait, what? How? Theres no way tha-" He was cut off by the judges hand.

"The previous laws of the United States of America, are no longer in force. The previous government was destroyed in the apocalypse, leaving the United States an unstable, free-taking anarchy. I cant charge you with any felonies against the law, because those laws dont exist anymore. They have to be rebuilt under the Constitution of the United States. The U.S. Constitution still exists, but I cant do anything, your free to go." said Clinton, smiling at him.

"Okay?" said Lee, giving him a confused look. Lee looked behind him and saw that Kenny also had a confused look on his face. They looked at each other and shrugged. Lee looked over to an officer who walked over to him to unshackle his cuffs. Now it was time to get to work, to get Clementine back.