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

26. Three of Us

"Holy fucking shit..." Violet whispered, stunned. "No wonder you have nightmares."

"Yeah. It's something that I really wish I didn't have to see. It fucked me up for the longest time. Made me question joining groups after that," Clementine replied.

"Who wouldn't? And here I thought life at Ericson's was bad," Louis said. "I don't think I would've survived that night."

"Honestly, I almost didn't. When that man got me, I just wanted it to end. And then when I saw AJ... I knew I couldn't give up. It just didn't feel right leaving him alone like that."

"Not a lot of people would do what you did. Remind me to not mess with you."

Clementine chuckled.

"So, you never saw the Infinites after that?" Violet asked.

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "I was lucky enough to get away once. I don't think I'll make it twice."

"They make Delta sound like babies."

"But these 'babies' still have our friends," Louis reminded Violet. "I just wish all of us could go live on an island. At least we'll be away from all this shit."

"Sounds like something I'd be totally for," Clementine said. "Right after we get everyone back from Delta, we'll go find a new home. I wouldn't mind another Forest House."

"That would be nice," Violet said. "Wish we didn't have to leave the Forest House."

"Yeah, me too. It was the first place I could call home after the breakout."

"Really?" Louis asked.

"Yeah," Clementine replied, feeling the memories flood through her mind. "I can't believe it's been just a few days since we left."

"Way too many things have happened since then. Most of which I wish wouldn't have..." Louis trailed off. Clementine and Violet knew from his tone that he meant Brody's death. A sudden silence descended upon them, a heavy pall of gloom weighing them down. It had been just over a day since Brody had died, but it already felt like years. It all seemed to be going downhill, one event after the other.

"Is it just me or does it look like it's going to rain?" Violet asked, trying to keep them from the negative thoughts. "Look."

They looked at where her finger was pointing. The dark clouds gathered on the horizon, slowly inching towards them.

"I never liked the rain much," Clementine told them.

"I kinda still enjoy it. It's one of the few calming things left in the world," Louis said.

"It calms you?"

"Yeah... don't you feel it too? It's raining heavily outside and you're in your home, watching it pour through the window."

"Ever since I remember, it just reminds me of the darkness. Cold and damp."

"I used to love it. Then I got sent to Ericson's. That just kinda ruined it for me," Violet said. "Hated it whenever it rained there."

"Hey Vi. Do you remember Mitch trying out his 'can bomb' on the dorm door?" Louis asked her.

"Yeah... he got the beating of his life that day." She paused, remembering the moment. "Wasn't it raining then, too?"

"It was. He thought the sound would be masked by the sound of thunder outside. Good plan, bad execution."

"He made a bomb? What happened?" Clementine asked. The stories Louis and Violet told seemed almost unreal. Clementine was from a regular school, where the wildest thing she ever saw was her seniors kiss in the washroom. Suffice to say, she wasn't particularly thrilled then.