TWDG\\II-South State

NINE

Clementine
I woke up and shivered. It was too fucking cold. The sky outside was overcast, and I looked around to see that both AJ and Ethan were gone. Louis shifted from his spot, and saw me.
"Hiii." He cooed, and grinned. I smiled back. I haven't seen that smile in a long time.
"Are you okay?" I ask, and move closer to him. I was cold, and I could see the goosebumps along Louis's jawline, so I wrapped my arm around him.
Louis shook his head. I looked at him, to see his bottom lip trembling.
Sometimes I forget how sad Louis would be; his tongue getting cut off, to being shipped from place to place, his friends dying...
Louis pointed to his mouth.
"You're...sad?" I ask, and Louis nodded. "Yeah. It's your tongue, isn't it?"
Louis nods again. I look over at Violet sleeping, her back turned to us. I didn't notice that I was staring until Louis nudged me with his shoulder. I looked at him, and Louis wiggled his eyebrows. I had to cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing so hard.
"Shut up." I said.
The metal scraped across the floor as the cell door opened. Violet stirred from her sleep, and all three of us concentrated on the man walking in. The usual guard.
"So, kids." The man put his hands on his hips, and smiled. "The other two are shootin' rifles. You guys will have breakfast first, or lunch or whatever the fuck y'all call it. And then I'll be setting some tasks for you."
Louis, Violet and I exchanged glances.
We usually have leftovers here in the cell.
"Uh, don't we usually eat down here?" Violet asked as she stood up. Louis got up too, he too was suspicious. He crossed his arms. I reached for my leg, and strapped it on.
"Well, yes, but obviously things are changing." The man said, his voice hunting agitation. "Now hurry the fuck up."
I walked outside, the chill causing me to whimper. I could see my breath in the wind, as we walked across the sleet that covered the ground.
As we walked, I heard a loud gunshot. I jumped, and the man held his hand up.
"It's okay, dumbasses." He said, and rolled his eyes. He continued to walk, and the rest of us did too. "It's just the little ones learning to shoot."
As we walked to what seemed like a mess hall, I heard yelling.
I twisted my head, and in the distance, there was a large outpost overlooking the SouthSide perimeter wall, where I saw a grown man walk down the stairs in anger. I frowned, and squinted to find a coloured figure of Ethan, and right beside him, AJ. I smiled to myself. I saw another unfamiliar man hand Ethan a rifle, and all three of them turned to face toward the pine trees that represented a neverending forest.
"Hey!" The man guarding us said. I jumped, and he was in my face.
"What?" I asked, and I hobbled forward, Violet and Louis stopped to see the verbal conflict.
"Hurry up, bitch." He said. "You want food?"
I didn't answer, I just walked in front. I felt his gun behind me the entire time as we walked past vegetable patches of all kinds.
"Jesus." Violet shook her head as we walked inside. The cold temperature outside was turned to crisp inside, large tables of all sorts organised from start to finish of the hall. I saw a few people agreed in armour, and weapons eating and laughing. A few of them stared at us, and one of them nudged and whispered to his friend.
"Sit here." The man ordered. He gestured towards a plastic fold table, with mis-matched chairs. We all reluctantly sat on the chairs, and the man walked past us. He went and sat with the other group, and they passed around bowls of food.
"What an asshole." Violet rolled her eyes. "He supervises me when I chop logs. His name's Todo. God, sometimes I wanna fucking murder him."
I smiled, and looked around.
"Guys, I think our plan is working." I said, and Violet grinned at me.
For a second, I saw hidden meanings in her smile. Before she looked away quickly, obviously retracting her actions, and looked down.
"Y-yeah." She stuttered, and Louis smiled warmly. "It is."
"I saw Ethan and AJ shooting." I said, talking about the outpost. "That's where the gunshots came from."
Louis smiled, and looked behind me.
I saw a dark haired man, with a denim, schooled jacket walk over. He handed plates out, and I examined the portion.
A small fold of bread covered cooked beans, which had steam potrouting from the plate, as well as a few apple slices.
"Thanks." I said, and Violet nodded.
The man smiled and walked away.
"How long do you think it will be before they trust us?" Violet asks.
"It seems like they already are." I reply.
...
Louis
I swear, it's like a grenade went off after Abel arrived. We started losing arguments, and eventually eachother. When Clementine mentioned she liked someone during that game, I was hoping it was me. But, it wasn't. I found that out pretty quickly, and I didn't even have to to wrap my head around her being with Violet when the raiders took me.
I was too loud, and I knew that. I had a gut feeling that the others weren't going to let them make us fight. And I was happy for that. I just wish I'd shut myself up sooner.
I just kept yelling, and talking. The guards warned me, and threatened me. I just didn't listen. Lilly cam along, and dragged me away at one point; I remember thinking that that was it. She was going to kill me. I expected it.
She hit me out, and I don't remember anything after that.
I woke up, and my mouth was on fire. At first I thought the heavy feeling in my throat was just a gag, or something. I was about to ask a guard something, when I opened my mouth, and blood trailed out.
I had an anxiety attack that day; I stuck my fingers in my mouth, and all I could feel was a bloody, half tortured tongue. Aasim and Omar tried calming me down, but I couldn't. I was just crying, and trying to talk. Eventually, I passed out.

I was happy to see Clementine. And then suddenly I knew that Clementine and I were only ever going to be friends. And I was okay with that. And then she lost her leg, and all I could think about was me losing a tongue. How I was selfish. People are dead, and I sat there complaining with my life. Those who did the right thing died, and I disobeyed, and I lived. I just didn't deserve it.
And then I was leaving my home; with an old truck as protection. Fun. I kept a positive attitude, trying to talk without a tongue, and trying to interject my opinion when I just couldn't. And I noticed AJ was getting darker...Clementine wasn't accepting that fact. He shot a man, and betrayed her at Austin. He then snapped at her right before we were ambushed. I can't blame him. He just lost his best friend, but only because of what he did. And then Violet and Clementine split up. For what reason, I don't know.
When Gabe took me away and admitted Clementine had screwed up a little, and I knew Clem had tapped Gabe somehow.
And then Violet getting pissed with Ethan in the group, and making Clem pissed about Gabe not showing, which in retrospect, I also believe he won't turn up.
I've lost people too. Omar, Aasim, Ruby? Willy, and Mitch. Marlon. These were my friends!
And it's time I wasn't so silent.