Alone and Forsaken (TWDG)

Hatred

"You okay kid?" I woke up to see Bruce helping Arvo. This would've angered Jake if he was in the room. "Thank you." "Here let me see that. Jesus. He could've killed you. The fucks wrong with him?!" I slowly started to lose respect for Bruce. He disrespected my brother, I disrespect him. "Hey you're up." Christa said smiling at me. "Jakes outside trying to get a truck working." I look to my side to see Kendra and Abigail sleeping. Ken had her arm around Ab. Must've been trying to stay warm. "Here Clem, eat something." Christa handed me a can of peaches.

"You okay?" "I'm fine." "I'll go get something to clean that up with." Bruce said. "Goddamn that kid." Bruce said cursing Jake. Ned was sitting beside Arvo. "Hey kid." "Hello." "Sorry about what happened. Jake is a stupid kid." "What am I to?" I say standing up. "Hey look-" "No I'm not done. You don't have the right to disrespect my brother. He tries to keep us safe and you just throw it back." "He beat Arvo nearly to death." "I don't give a fuck!" I was furious. "Clem, watch your language." Christa said grabbing my shoulder. I ripped away. "No, every person me and Jake stay with always think he's dangerous and say we need to leave him. Fuck this!" "Clem, Clem I'm sorry." Christa says.

I ran toward Jake. "Hey sis, what's wrong?" I run up to him. I gave him a hug and started to cry. "Hey kiddo, what's the matter?" "Everyone talks behind your back. And I don't like it." "What do they say?" "They either curse you or say you're dangerous and we need to leave you behind." I hug Jake tighter. "Ken and Abigail does this to?" "No they trust you. Ken loves you and Abigail sees you as a brother." "What about Christa?" "She hasn't said anything." "So it's just Bruce, Arvo and Ned then huh?" "Yeah, Katey just ignores it and says nothing." "We'll deal with them later. I could use a hand with this truck though." "Yeah sure." "Okay good. Heres the keys." He hands me the keys. With all the hate going towards Jake made me a bit depressed.

"Hey Clem, I'm not gonna be left behind trust me, I won't let them." He says wiping a tear away. I give him a smile and get in the truck. "You know our dad was different before you were born. He drank and everything. He was a mean son of a bitch. But he taught me respect. People like Bruce can learn a thing or two about that." "I lost all respect for him." I say. "Feels like another Nick situation to me." Jake said. He was right. Nick wanted to leave him and so dose Bruce. "You know there's another place up north like Wellington. It's called Yankton. Maybe we can try our luck there." Jake says. "Yeah I'm with you big brother." I say smiling. Jake smiled back.

"Turn it." I turned the keys to start the truck but it didn't start. "Did you turn it?" "Yes." "Goddamnit!" Jake said kicking he truck. "Jake, are you okay?" "If we really want to keep Lee alive we gotta get to Yankton." "I know Jake I know." "Gonna try to warm up the battery. Go inside sis." I did what Jake said and went inside. "Hey Clem. We need to talk." Bruce said. "What is it jackass?" I said. "Hey c'mon no need for that." I crossed my arms. "Out with it." I say with an attitude. "Okay so Jake is getting that truck ready right?" I nod. "Okay good. When he's asleep we take everything and get in the the truck, leave that poor son of a bitch here to die, yeah?" This enraged me. "One. Jake rarely sleeps these days. Two. Hell no. Three. I'm not leaving my brother." "Clem c'mon! What do you see in that bastard? He can kill us all!" I had it.

I turned around and slapped Bruce as hard as I could. It left a red hand mark on his face. But it also left my hand in pain. Christa walked from behind me and put her hands on my shoulders. "Clem honey, let's go." She brought me into a room her and Lee were in. "What was that about?" She asks. I wipe a tear away and explain. "Well Bruce comes up to me and says that we are gonna take the truck and leave Jake behind." I start to cry again. Christa pulls me in for a hug. Instead I cuddled with her. I won't leave my brother. Not now. Not ever.