The Paths That Tie (Clementine x Violet)

{19}

(...There is no introduction needed for this chapter. To those who have stuck around through my hiatus, thank you. This second half of the previous chapter will hopefully reward you for the effort by answering some long going questions about the main plot. Enjoy...)

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The wall lights of the dimmed conference room began to flicker, as the sound of thunder roared outside the hotel's sanctuary of sorts. Only an unopened box sat between the two girls, as they sat inches apart at the table similar to the Student Body room back at the school.

Words of the weatherman echoed in Clementine's mind, as she recalled what she has previously easedropped on as she began to walk out the front door of her house.

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"Residents of the Morris county area can expect to see light to moderate rainfall for this evening, as well as a potential development for scattered lightning. It is advised that you stay indoors for the evening, as road conditions could worsen due to rainfall-"

Clementine's focus on keeping the box in her hands discreet made the outside noise muffled, as AJ's attention to the box was beginning to become an issue.

"Is it an animal? Oh! Is it a toy?" Clementine sighed, as she lifted the box slightly higher in the air to keep from AJ's reach.

"No, kiddo. Now come on, we'll be late at this rate. You don't want to keep your friend waiting, do you?" Putting on a pouty face of sorts, AJ shook his head sulkingly as he grabbed his small jacket from the coat hanger.

Peaking her head around the corner of the house's designated workroom, Clementine gave one last wave goodbye towards Lee.

"We should be back in a few hours. Do you need anything while we're out?" Clementine asked, as she watched Lee's hands lift from the computer keyboard.

"All I need is for you to be safe driving, okay? Weather's only  supposed to get worse as it gets later." Clementine smiled, as she gave Lee a reassuring thumbs up.

Walking back to the front door, Clementine grabs her car keys from the built in shelf. Slowly turning the door knob, she took in her last few moments of ignorance as she realized that everything could change for her shortly from whatever was going to be written in those letters.

Looking into the bright eyes of AJ as he looked back once more before walking out the door, Clementine was once again reminded why figuring out what was going on was extremely important. If there was even a slight chance of those who she loved getting hurt, she had to get to the bottom of it.

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"Clem? You ready?" Violet whispered, as if she didn't want to disturb the eerie silence that had previously filled the room.

Snapping out of her daze, Clementine looked over at the anxious looking teen next to her. Realizing the toll that this had taken on Violet as well, Clementine softly placed her hand on Violet's shoulder.

"Hey...It's going to be alright. No matter what these letters say, we'll figure it out together." Easing her previously stressed looking eyes, Violet placed a hand on top of Clementines.

"Together." Violet repeated, as if to reassure not only Clementine, but herself.

After the tender moment passed, the two turned their attention towards the box once more. Exchanging one last nod, they each took an end of the lid before lifting it up together.

Taking the letter that was labeled as '#5', Clementine slowly opened the seal of the letter as her body seemed to want to elongate the process as much as possible. Eventually, Clementine was holding the familiarly formatted letter in her hands. Beginning to read the words on the page, she could feel as her hands began to clamp up from slight fear of the contents.