SILENCED [TWDGS4 Clouis]

-. ..- -- -... . .-. 4

In the shock since falling into the water and passing out, I've forgotten the other kind of shock I suffered. My brain has been abused and broken, and I can't stand right. As I walk into Marlon's room, I remind myself once more that I can't talk.

Violet always told me to shut up, and her wish has come true.

I follow her to the desk, and wait. She pulls out the map from the drawer and lays it down.
"This line..." she points at the safe zone, "is gone. There are no more raiders. We'll be safe anywhere in the forest."
I stand there, numb. I shrug and go sit down on the floor.
"Louis. You can't mourn. I know you want to, but you have to take your mind off of things." I shake my head and hug myself in the gloomy light.
"Louis!" Violet hisses, But I'm not up to it. And I have no other way of saying other than shaking my head.

~~~

I drag my feet across the corridors, making way to my room. I'm tired and broken, and there's nothing like a bad sleep to break me more. I open the door and collapse into my bed. My lips feel dryer than the desert, and my eyes wet as the ocean. I face the wall and try to sleep. The room darkens as the final rays of the sun die from beyond the trees.

Tomorrow is another day, but honestly, I wish it wasn't.
I yawn and close my eyes, and the darkness embraces me.

~~~~~

I become aware of a few things simultaneously. First, I hear shouting, and the storming footsteps, and secondly, the moan of walkers. I force my eyes open and sit up. Mustering my remaining energy, I get up and go outside.
Silence. I'm greeted with silence.
I want to call out, but I can't. I look around, and notice a silhouette at the end of the corridor. It's not Violet. It's not one of us.

I close the door hastily but silently in terror. Backing up, I search my room for any means of defence. A knife, a long stick.. where's Chairles? I grab the knife, and grip the hilt right until my knuckles go white. I think about jumping out of the window, but it's a stupid idea. The window...

I look over, out into the yard, but there's nothing different. It's the same as yesterday. The gate is still balanced and in its place. So who is in the corridor? I daren't open the door. I don't want to find out. But I have to. So I open the door.

War breaks out around me. There's Violet fighting a fully grown man, and I'm pounced by a man in heavy leather clothing.
"What your name?" He asks, his voice a warped mixture of Abel, Marlon, My father, and every one who once wronged or abused me.
"You better watch out, because I am the Silencer, and I would love to Silence you." His voice bends the air, twists my mind. So much that I jolt awake.

I sit up in my bed, looking around. It's morning, and sunlight streams into the room from my window.

It was just a dream. A nightmare.

I walk outside, much easier than in the dream, and look around. I hear Tenn and AJ talking somewhere nearby, and I also hear Ruby. Slowly, I walk along the corridor, following the voices. When I reach the end, I turn to see Ruby on one of the seats. She looks up and waves. I wave back. I'd like to ask her where Clem is, but it's too much of an awkward situation. I walk past and head downstairs. The main entrance. I love this place. It leads to my favourite room. It's probably best that I don't head into the music room, but I can't stop myself.

The room smells sweet, like candles, and there's a banner hanging from the ceiling with 'we're getting them back' painted on it. I see the piano, and my mind is bombarded with the songs I've sang while playing it. I cough. Scrolling to the list of songs in my head, I sit down on the piano seat. I know what I should play. So I focus my mind, and play "Don't be afraid."

It's a tune from the past, but it brings me into the present. For the first time since the game before the raid, I relax. This home is good. I'm safe here, and the people like me, with or without a tongue.
"Louis?" I hear Violet's voice, but I'm too deep in the song to stop now.
"L-LOUIS! FUCKING STOP!" I hear the pain in her voice. I stop and look at her.

Her hand is bathed in scarlet blood, and her middle and ring finger are missing.
I stare helplessly, and point up, indicating where Ruby is. Or was.

She tenses and says, "I can't find Ruby. She's not upstairs. And not in the other building."

———

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