A Shred of Hope (The Walking Dead) (The Final Season Retelling)

21. Searching for Answers

Clementine handed the photograph to Violet and Louis, watching as their expressions turned to one of confusion. The fact that the same photo was lying in a closet in Jonathan's house, provided no room for any doubt that the photo was given by him. But there arose far too many questions if that was the case. She couldn't understand what the photo was doing with the walker in the store.

"Where'd you find this photo?" Violet asked, turning it over repeatedly, letting it sink in.

"When I was with AJ before I met you. It was with a walker in a store. I remember thinking that the walker didn't seem to be as old as the others," Clementine replied. She paused. "Now that I think of it, it did look like the man in this photo."

"So, the man and Beth were... together?" Louis asked. "But what does that make Jonathan?"

"Don't know. But they do know each other. He probably sent one copy to them and kept one for himself. But why keep a photo of someone you hate?"

"It doesn't make sense. What does he have to do with them?"

"No idea," Clementine said. "Are there any more in the closet?"

"Let me check," Violet replied, digging into the drawers to find anything that would help them understand what was going on. "Found something," she announced, pulling out a couple more photos.

They passed around the newfound items to each other, taking a close look at the people in them. One of them had Jonathan and Beth posing for the camera. The two of them looked considerably younger than they did now. There didn't appear to be any enmity between them. On the contrary, the two of them looked joyous.

The second photo was of Jonathan holding a baby in his hand. By his side stood a woman, who was also in the photos along the staircase wall. Beth and Matthew were also in the photo.

"Looks like a family to me," Violet observed. "Here. This woman is probably Jonathan's wife. And this is..."

"Jared," Clementine answered. "At least, I think it is."

"Yeah, me too," Louis said. "But what happened? Last I checked, Jonathan was trying to kill Beth."

"They fell apart? I mean, that's what usually happens to people, even family. Maybe she joined Delta and he didn't like that?"

"But going as far as trying to kill each other? That's gotta be something horrible, right?"

"Could be," Violet said. "Finding out their link could help us with Delta and getting the others back."

"It will," Clementine immediately said. "We just need to find him and ask him about this."

"Did he say where he was going to be? That could help us in finding him," Louis suggested.

"No. But he isn't home. Neither is Jared. That gives us the chance to search his room."

"You sure you want to do that, Clem? I don't imagine he'll be very happy if he catches us in there."

"It doesn't matter. We should know what other secrets this guy has. I don't want to stay with someone who could sell us out," Violet said.

Clementine felt anger wash over her at Jonathan. He knew who Beth was and had lied to her. He could have told her sooner and they'd already have a plan, instead of wasting an entire day, a day with AJ separated from her. She folded the photos and pocketed them before leading the trio downstairs. They paused outside Jonathan's bedroom door, looking at it. The door clicked open as Clementine turned the handle.

The curtains had been pulled over the windows, making the room much darker than the outside. The light coming in through the orange curtains gave the room a warm glow. A large bed jutted out from the opposite wall into the middle of the room, with small bedside tables by its sides. A study table sat on one side of the room, near the window, along with a chair. Papers and books sat atop the table, delicately balanced. Bookshelves ran along the walls, filled with countless books, interrupted only by the bathroom door and the closets.