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Javier sat next to Mackey, his eyes fixed on the road. He was quiet, occasionally she could hear his breathing but that was all.
Every once in a while, Mackey would catch sight of Clementine in the rear view mirror. She was something, all right. Mackey had seen just about every visible scar Clem would let show; the one that stretched on her arm, the stitches still sewn into her flesh, and the one of her missing ring finger were still a surprise whenever Mackey saw them.
Taking a deep breath, Mackey spoke up. "Are you always this quiet?"
Javier didn't immediately respond.
"Not usually..." Javier's voice quavered.
"Oh good, I thought I'd be here in the deafening silence," Mackey chuckled. Her face drew serious as she said, "So what's the plan? Y'know, once you get your folks back, what'll happen?"
"What always happens—we get back on the road." Javi states. Something inside Mackey dies. "Oh really? I—well I'd hoped maybe you'd stay? It's much safer in Prescott than it is out here. I could get Tripp to change his mind about you two..."
"What's it with you and Tripp? You two a thing?" Javi asked curiously.
"No... no of course not," Mackey said defensively. "I wouldn't date him if it were the end of the world."
"Well, it kinda is."
"I liked you a lot better when you didn't talk," Mackey said, rolling her eyes. "But in all seriousness, he's a friend. A good friend if he considers me the same."
Mackey's eyes fixated on the sun, blindingly seeping in on the horizon. It had to be five or six in the morning; Mackey was usually never up at this time. The trees grew on either side of the road, only making it seem narrower and narrower.
More bits of scenery past by before Clementine piped up and said, "Guys... that's the place."
Mackey slowly stopped the car and slowed it down outside the junkyard's entrance. Javi slowly shook his head and muttered, "Oh, shit..." Rushing out of the car before Mackey was even able to park the vehicle.
Having Clementine hand her a rifle from the back seat, Mackey hopped out of the truck and stood next to Javi. "What a goddamned mess, man."
Javi carefully inched towards the interior of the junkyard, assessing the destruction in his path. Clementine sighed. "Jesus, must've been hundreds of them..."
"I don't think this was the dead ones, Clementine," Mackey said cautiously.
"Kate's good in a crisis—she'd know how to get shelter," Javi reasoned. Mackey had her eye on something on the ground. Javi must've taken notice because he followed her gaze and his eyes widened. On the floor was a little gray box, lying near a dead walker, to which Javi kneeled down and reached for it. The supposed dead walker sprung to life and reached out, groping the air in hopes of catching breakfast.
