A Yellow Dress Forgotten [ABANDONED]

Ep. 3.3 | Dragon's Fire || 3.4k

They roamed in pairs, Clementine and Javier taking the lead while Gabe and Kate followed. All was quiet underneath the half-moon's light, and Clementine hoped that meant nearly-everybody on shift would be asleep as Ava promised. Behind her, she heard Javier sharply whisper, "Uncle? Do you have the truck in sight?"

She rolled her eyes, glancing over her shoulder. Her small grin was in sharp contrast against Gabe and Kate's befuddled stares. "Uncle...?" Gabe asked slowly. Kate shrugged.

"No, not— Wait, it's there." Right where Ava promised them. Along a chain-linked fence, they looked into the yard. Across them was a metal barn, surely housing the promised truck.

"Alright," Javier whispered, his joking smile wiped away. "Clem, you and I will head inside to get the truck. Gabe and Kate—" he turned to their earnest gazes— "be ready for anything." He pulled open the sliding gate with Clementine armed and ready.

As she took one step through, Gabe scoffed. Both she and Javier turned to him. "Oh I see what's going on," he hissed. "You're punishing me for telling everybody what happened, right? Screw that, I'm going to get the truck, and you stay behind to keep watch."

Javier looked like he was going to wring the boy's neck. He sighed, however, as he anticipated this; if Gabe was mad, it didn't matter why. "We all have a job to do," Javier said, stern. "This has nothing to do with shit. Grow. up. Now is not the time to be thinking about the past, or any petty bullshit."

Gabe frowned, working his jaw for a retort. Clementine inhaled, stepping back through the fence. "Hey, Gabe," she said softly, "I need somebody to watch my back, okay?"

Immediately—to Clementine's relief—he paused, then nodded dutifully. "O-Okay, well somebody has to be look-out."

Clementine pulled a smile over her face, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks." Her smile dropped and eyebrows rose as she saw Kate chuckle from over Gabe's shoulder. "What?" she hissed.

Kate shook her head. "Nothing. Gabe and I will be fine back here."

Clementine nodded, stepping back through the fence. Javier, under his breath, whispered, "Quick thinking."

"It's come in handy before," she replied.

Javier chuckled, following her while Gabe and Kate stepped through, only to remain close to the gate. He looked around, noting how secluded the area was—especially that the fence was the only obvious way out. To his left stood Gabe, who leaned against a brick toolshed. Arms crossed. Eyes narrowed and gaze on Clementine.

There was a heavy sigh. Javier walked to his nephew, who eyed him bitterly the closer Javier was. "What do you want, Javi?"

"Look, Gabe, I understand, okay?" Gabe shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "I know you want to help. I know you want to do the right thing, but there's a lot at stake, and we need everybody to do their part, and do their part well. You know? Clem and I can't watch our own backs while trying to pull a damn truck out."

"I— Yeah, I get it," Gabe spat, "but that's the problem. She— She's my age, and you don't treat her like a kid! But you do with me!"

Javier closed his eyes, and he slowly inhaled. "Gabriel." His voice shook through his effort to control it. "What did I tell you not two fucking hours ago?! She. Is not. A kid. I told you. She grew up too fast, okay? Clementine had the luxury of being a teenager stolen from her. She can't just fuck up and it be okay—"

"What, so now I'm a fuck-up?!"

"No, that is not what I said."

"I-I— I don't care what you say! I get that she's not like me, but you're the one that killed him! You're the one who threw his life away, and— I can't tell if what you say is good enough after that!"