TWDG\\II-South State

TWENTY

Louis
"Well." Jerome spoke calmly, as he turned his attention from a nervous AJ to Violet, who didn't shake at his intense presence. "For starters, we weren't completely stupid when this young man attempted to steal a box full of bullets."
AJ frowned at his feet, and Clementine stiffened in her place.
"Ethan is currently in the imprisonment cell due to the fact that one of our men caught him sneaking a shot gun into his pocket." Jerome spoke again, walking around the room as he laid individual attention on us.
I felt worried and strained. I hope Ethan just didn't spill the beans on our plan...and I hoped they weren't hurting him down there...
Jerome glared at me. I resisted the strong temptation to look away, since that would make me guilty. Guiltier than I already am. Jerome looked away.
"Ashley is the most reliable member of this community. Therefore, if Ashley says there is something fishy going on, there is something fishy going on." Jerome continued. He paid his attention back to the other girl, who had black hair that curtained her shoulder blades, her face hidden from where I was standing. That must be Ivan's sister. Little bitch. "Is there anyone else in on this plan?"
Ashley, who was already exposing his brother's acquaintances in crime, visibly looked hitched.
"Um..." she spoke, avoiding direct eye contact with the man in front of her. "Uh—"
"It's obvious there's more than these people." Jerome almost had a sarcastic tone as he said this. "Come on Ashley. You've already snitched these fiends in. What—"
"Ivan." Ashley spoke, choking back her bitter betrayal against her brother. Clementine ad I shared disgusted looks between eachother.
This girl exposed our plans of escaping; we were ready to execute our plan, ready to leave this imprisonment of a community. With the help of a caring guard, who was betrayed by his own flesh and blood.
Jerome's face dropped dramatically for a moment.
"Oh." He spoke, his words clipped. "Oh my."
He began walking back around us, his pacing making not only me nervous, but AJ, who had a sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"What shame." He said. "Wynn always told me he was a good and understanding worker here. Shame he had to ally with a bunch of unintelligent children."
Jerome picked up his radio, and spun the dial through channels of static, before arriving at a clear and quiet connection.
"Ivan Prior." He spoke, and a beep returned to the receiver.
"Jerome? You want me to come and pick up—"
"No. I would like you to leave the work to the other guys. I want you at my office. Now." Jerome clicked the walkie talkie off without any longer response. The silence after was nerve racking, and caused me to do a new unhealthy habit; bite the skin around the part where my tongue got cut off.
Jerome stopped in front of Clementine, who at this point was leaning against the wall to support her dodgy leg.
"Tell me, Clementine." Jerome stared deep into Clementine's eyes. Clem, who didn't seem like it disturbed her, stared back, unflinching. "Were you planning something? Or has Ashley simply misread the situation?"
Clementine kept her strong will, and glanced over at the other girl in the room, who was stare ahead, but her eyes curiously met the situation. Clem looked back at Jerome.
"No, Jerome." Clementine's words filled the word. "You know, why the fuck would we wanna escape? It's not like we're naive kids who have a life to live. And it's not like you killed off most of our friends. It's not like we work every day, and for WHAT?!"
Clementine's broken rant was addressed with a sob at the end. Clem's hand twitches at her side to cover her mouth, but I saw her bite onto her lip, not allowing any tears out.
Violet took a deep breath beside me, her fist curling into a ball.
Even though Clementine didn't mean it, she basically spilled why we would want to rebel.
Jerome's face read shock, his eyes studying Clementine, before turning around, trying to compose his posture.
"Interesting." He said, but his voice broke. Why was this man surprised by the outburst? He influenced it upon us.
Everything was quiet...until the door to Jerome's office opened. We all turned our heads to see Ivan, standing there. He saw Clementine crying, AJ's head down, and Jerome facing away from us. Watching the white bits of snow fly in the wind outside. Snow.
Ivan saw his sister, who guiltily looked away.
"Ashley? What are you—" Ivan moved forward to approach his sister, the door shutting behind him. Jerome held a hand up.
"I would stop if I were you, Ivan." Jerome spoke, and Ivan stopped moving, confusion and anger plastered on his face. Jerome smiled at his control. "You want to know why you're here."
AJ looked up then, moisture visible in his eyes.
"No. I don't know." Ivan said, but it was obvious he did. All of the members of our escape plan are here, along with his liar sister.
"Fine." Jerome nudged a disturbed Ashley with his foot. "She uncovered and ruined that plan of yours."
Ivan's face turned red, and his head snapped to Ashley's direction.
"What?!" He exclaimed. "Ash....why would you—"
"I'm..." Ashley stutterd. "Ivan...I—"
"And this girl only made it worse." Jerome briskly put a hand on Clem's shoulder.
Clementine twisted around, and punched Jerome right between his shoulders. Jerome stumbled back, but didn't fall, and grabbed Clem's wrists, twisting them. Clem yelled out a strangled scream.
Violet grabbed Jerome from behind, and yanked him backwards, his grip on Clem releasing as Violet threw him to the ground.
I ran over to the desk, and retrieved a hand gun. I didn't check for any bullets. I just aimed it at him.
"Guys!" Ashley yelled, as Jerome focused his gaze on the people around him. I walked directly in front of him, the barrel aimed in between his eyes. I'm terrible Aim, but I'll get this man. I'll get this one. Ashley began to struggle getting over here, but Ivan held her back, taking on her punches and kicks.
"Just shoot him!" Ivan yelled. "Shoot him Louis!"
That's when my hold on the gun began to shake, sweat dripping down from my face to my neck. I swallowed, and I loaded the gun.
Violet, held him to the ground by his shirt, her leg held on his groin; this meant that whenever he struggled her heel went deeper.
"Come on, Louis." Violet begged. "Shoot him. Shoot him!"
Clementine looked back at me, her face unreadable. This must be normal for her, let her do it. I was about to forfeit the gun to her, so she could make the shot.
"C'mon mute boy." Ivan said, his face sweating too, his top lip bleeding, the area around the skin bright red. "You can make the shot, right?"
I was faced with the same feeling I felt when I had shot that woman on the boat. The arrow went clean through her throat, and she choked as she fell to the ground. I bit my lip, and squeezed the trigger.