scars • clementine x louis

Chapter 17: Blame

James' body stayed limp onto the ground. The woman behind him had her rifle in hand from when she shot him.

"James!" Clementine yelled. AJ looked at his dead body and widened his eyes in fear. Lilly took this opportunity to push AJ over and take his gun. She aimed it at AJ, making Clementine's eyes expand in fear. She tried to move, but she couldn't. She was too weak.

All of a sudden, the ground began to shake. The smoke rising out of the chimney rose faster and faster. Crates started to fall over. Clementine knew exactly what was happening.

"Shit, the bomb! AJ!" She ran over to AJ, attempting to save him. But it was too late.

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Louis and Omar had made it outside the factory. By now, the place was completely overrun by the walkers. But Violet was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the fuck is Violet?" Louis paused as he realized who else was in the building. "Shit. Shit, Shit. Where's Clem?! She's still in there!"

Louis tried to run back into the building but was pulled back by Omar.

"Omar, we have to save her! She might be--"

"I know, Louis. I know she means a lot to you. But you cannot risk your life. Clementine is smart. But people these days come and go. It's just how life is."

Louis sighs in defeat. He was right. But what if she died? Would all their time together be a waste? 

Just then, Louis and Omar jumped when they felt the ground shake. They both looked at the factory just in time to see huge explosions bursting in and out of the building. Louis widened his eyes. Was his Clementine gone?

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Clementine wakes up on a broken platform that was hanging from the building. She looks around to see the whole building splitting into two and fire spreading from place to place.

"AJ!?" She screamed, looking around frantically.

"Clem! Help!"

Clementine looks in that direction of the voice to see AJ hanging on from the railing. She looks below the building to see the riverbank swarmed with walkers. If one of them fell in there, they would be dead for sure.

Clementine looked back up at AJ who was losing his grip on the railing. She gulped in fear as she thought of an idea. "AJ, I need you to trust me! On the count of three, let go and I'll catch you."

AJ's optics widened as he looked down. "Promise?"

"Promise!" Clementine replied back, with a bit of uncertainty in her voice. AJ takes a deep breath and lets go of the railing, slightly brushing against the rooftop that was now facing sideways. With one swift move, Clem jumped forward and grabbed AJ's hand. She pulled him onto the platform. Unfortunately, the surface wasn't strong enough to hold both of them. The base started to creak and snap. 

"Shit, AJ, jump over there!" Clementine pointed to the railing that eventually led to the big platform right above the entrance. AJ did what she said and jumped onto the railing. 

As Clem was about to move, the base she was standing on collapsed and was now hanging by one of the corners. Clementine yelled as she fell but quickly held on, gripping onto one of the little holes in it.

"Clem!" AJ yelled with worry.

"I'm fine! Just get down from the railing, quick!" Clementine points to the platform that was just above the entrance. AJ nods as he jumps from the railing to the orange platform. But then, Clem's hat drops from her head and falls into the river, sinking slowly. She widens her eyes in the process. That was the last memory of her dad she had left. Clementine soon composes herself when she climbs up and jumps to the railing, almost losing her grip on it. She takes a breath to compose herself, but soon a huge crat comes falling down.