Hey everyone. I'm so sorry that this took as long as it did to update. I hope you guys enjoy the next chapter of Second Chances.

Second Chances

Chapter 6: A New Enemy

Clementine's POV

Clementine was currently outside collecting leafs that had blown inside the Motel. She liked making leaf rubbings and she was always looking for new types of leafs. However, there was only so many types of leafs around the Motel and then she could only get those that had blown INSIDE the walls.

Jane sat on top of the RV, keeping watch.

Normally Lilly would watch during this time but Jane had taken her place.

Considering that it was three days since they met the St. Johns it wasn't that surprising. Lilly had barley come out of her room for the last three days.

Almost no one was told what happened inside the meat locker. All everyone else knew was that Larry had died ... and that it was Kenny's fault.

Clementine sighed as she finished anther leaf rubbing.

Clementine was bored.

So to rectify that she decided to go exploring, again.

Clementine always liked how she could find something new every time she looked. It made the Motel much more checked around the back, as very few people went there that often. Always interesting things to be found there.

Clementine crawled around, finding very little this time.

Clementine sighed.

She was about to leave when she saw movement.

There was a medium sized bug crawling near her.

Most little children would panic at the sight of a cockroach, but Clementine had learned that bugs weren't scary. At least not compared to walkers.

That didn't mean she would touch it. It was still gross, just not scary.

Clementine got a great idea, and she grinned mischievously as it took shape.

Clementine looked around and found a small container.

It took some work but she eventually managed to get the cockroach inside.

Clementine walked back out into the main area, sure to make sure that no one saw her as she walked to Duck's room. Before she went in she was sure that Duck, Kenny, and Katjaa were all outside … which they were.

Clementine quickly stepped inside.

Clementine opened the box and laid the cockroach on Duck's pillow and quickly left the room.

Clementine slowly stretched.

She hated the mornings, she always felt so sleepy. She hated it even more when she realized that she was alone. Clementine knew exactly where Jane was and what she was doing.

Clementine was about to leave the room when she shivered. It was starting to get cold.

Clementine looked back at the little dresser that was hers. She knew that it had something to keep her warm. A Brooklyn hoodie.

She hadn't worn it yet … but she would be lying if she said that she didn't want to.

Clementine sighed in defeat.

As Jane had predicted the hoodie was her size. Clementine had to admit that the hoodie was comfy … and warm.

She walked outside to see that Jane was exactly where she thought she was.

Jane was on top of the RV on lookout.

Jane turned to look at her when she stepped out of their room and gave her a weak smile at the sight of Clementine wearing the hoodie.

Clementine wandered about, looking for something to do.

Duck was sitting alone in the corner filling in his coloring book.

Clementine decided to go join him.

When she sat down Duck gave her a look that was odd for Duck.

It wasn't a happy one.

"What's wrong Duck?" Clementine asked

"You put a bug on my pillow. That wasn't nice." Duck replied

"Don't be such a cry-baby, it was just a bug. There are worse things out there than bugs." Clementine replied

Normally Clementine wouldn't have replied in such a harsh manner but she felt Duck needed to grow up, at least a little.

Duck looked outside the walls and sighed "Yeah."

Clementine smiled at the fact that she got through to him, Duck almost never saw the world as it was … and to be honest neither did she for a long time. That had changed … ever since the meat locker.

Clementine felt that she had done Duck a favor.

Clementine picked up a piece of blank paper and started to draw.

"Lunch time!" Katjaa called

Clementine looked up to see Katjaa starting to lay lunch on the table.

The table itself was the best part of the Motel if you asked Clementine. It was just like the tables used for large family gatherings. It was big enough to have all of them seated down, like the big family they were now. However, the effect was slightly ruined by the fact that the only place in the Motel that could fit it was the outside lot.

The only reason that they even had it was that Jane had argued that having something like this would help them all bond together … which it did, at least a little.

Clementine gazed up at Jane, who was still on lookout.

"Shepard, did you hear?" Carley asked

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute."

Clementine was hesitant to start eating the bits of meat that were on the plate, the experience with the St. Johns lingering on her mind.

Clementine wasn't the only one.

The only people who didn't have this issue were Carley, Doug, Ben, and David since none of them were there.

Today was some apples and oranges with a small side of jerky.

Clementine had to force herself to eat the jerky.

This was one of three times a day that she would see Lilly. Lilly was a mess, her hair disheveled, and the bags under her eyes were dark.

Lilly sat near her, as Lilly new that Jane would be sitting next to her.

Before the meat locker Clementine had noticed that Jane and Lilly never really got along, now Jane was one of the few people Lilly was willing to talk to. She just shut out about everyone else.

Clementine hoped she would be ok.

Everyone gave Lilly some space, though some had different reasons.

Kenny stayed away because Jane told him NOT to go anywhere near her. Kenny had agreed though he still maintained that he did the right thing for everyone. Clementine could tell that Jane didn't believe that.

Jane was busy eating when she suddenly froze.

"Jane?" Clementine asked

Jane turned around and looked out over by the wall, offering no explanation.

"OH SHIT!" Jane screamed as she tackled Clementine

Clementine heard three wet snaps.

"FUCK!" Jane yelled out

Clementine saw the end of an arrow sticking out of her back.

NO!

Around her gunshots started to go off as the rest of the group reacted.

More arrows started landing around all of them.

Jane looked furious.

Her eyes were red again, and Clementine now got a much better look at them being this close.

The center of her eyes had a deep red glow, each one surrounded by three smaller orbs around the center one.

It was unlike anything that Clementine had seen before.

Jane snarled.

Jane stood quickly and fire three time into the forest.

Three distinct screams could be heard from that direction.

Clementine saw the THREE arrows that were sticking out of her back. Clementine watched in horror as Jane vaulted over the barricade and ran straight into the forest.

"SHEPARD! What the fuck are you doing?!" Carley yelled

Jane disappeared.

Clementine rushed towards the wall.

Someone grabbed her from behind. It was Lilly.

Clementine struggled to get free, but as always she was too little to fight back.

"DOUG! Watch after Clementine! Carley, let's go!" Lily yelled

"WHAT! That's suicide! There are walkers and bandits out there! We need to stay here, Shepard is on her own." Kenny retorted

Clementine could feel herself starting to get angry.

"Fuck you, Kenny! Not everyone can't write off our own people in an instant." Lilly responded, her tone filled with barley contained fury.

Kenny opened his mouth to speak.

Several gunshots started to ring out, and then suddenly stopped … after a large explosion sounded off.

Clementine's heart started to race even faster.

Everyone was silent as they considered what they needed to do.

That 'something' turned out to be absolutely nothing.

Jane emerged from the forest dragging a struggling bandit by his left leg.

Carley opened the gate.

Jane was covered in blood, though if Clementine had to guess most of it was not hers. Jane dropped the struggling man, and then gave him a sharp kick to the head.

He stopped struggling, though he was still breathing.

Jane had only knocked him out.

"Katjaa … I need some help here." Jane said

Katjaa moved forward.

Jane pulled out a knife and cut off most of her shirt, as it was stuck to her … or more accurately it was stuck to the arrows that were stuck in her.

"Let's go to a room." Katjaa said

"It's fine … let's get this over with." Jane muttered

Jane finished cutting off the rest of the shirt.

Clementine watched the facial expressions in the group change from concern to just pure shock.

Clementine did not blame them.

Jane was COVERED in scars.

Clementine had a scar on her knee, something that she had gotten during soccer practice so she knew what they looked like. Usually little lines that were colored a little differently than her skin.

Jane must have had dozens on her body … and all they could see was just part of her chest.

There were several that were most like blobs rather than lines … and they were all a lot bigger than Clementine's little scar.

Another thing of note was Jane's muscles. Clementine had never seen so much muscle on a girl before. She had known that Jane was strong, which is the only reason she wasn't that surprised.

"Damn" Carley said

It wasn't clear if Carley was referring to the scars, the muscles, or both.

Jane sighed.

"I have been shot, stabbed, electrocuted, burned … and a lot of other unpleasant things." Jane muttered

Clementine believed her … sadly.

"This might hurt." Katjaa warned

Jane gripped the side of the truck she was sitting in.

Katjaa pulled out one of the arrows.

Jane didn't say anything. For a moment Clementine thought that it didn't actually hurt.

Until she saw Jane crush the part of the rail she was holding with her bare hand.

This happened two more times as Katjaa pulled out the other arrows and stared to treat the wounds.

Clementine winced every time that an arrow came out. It had to have hurt, no matter how tough Jane looked through the whole thing.

Carley went to get Jane a shirt as Katjaa applied the bandage and she came back just as Katjaa finished.

Jane slipped on the new shirt.

Jane rolled her shoulders and winced.

"Now to tend to our new 'guest'." Jane said

He was still unconscious.

"We have anything to bind his hands?" Jane asked

"Yeah." Doug muttered as he went off to grab something.

He came back with some rope.

"This stuff is heavy duty, it should work."

Jane bound the guy's hands.

"Someone tell me when this guy wakes up. I need a nap." Jane muttered

Lilly nodded and sat in a chair that faced their prisoner.

Carley went up to take over watch duty.

Clementine raced after Jane.

When Jane laid down Clementine curled herself around the woman.

"Jane. Are you ok?" Clementine asked

"I've been worse, but thank you for asking." Jane chuckled

Clementine grabbed onto her tightly.

"How did you know?" Clementine asked

"Always the perceptive one. I heard something and then I saw one move between the trees."

"Oh"

Jane soon fell asleep. No matter how tough Jane was Clementine knew that she was only human … she wasn't invincible.

She really wished Jane was.

A few hours later their 'guest' had woken up.

He had started to scream at Jane's presence. When he tried to crawl away Jane pulled him back.

The man was scared to death of her and Clementine wondered why.

Jane slugged him hard across the jaw.

"Mind telling me what you people from the Save-Lots were thinking?" Jane sneered

The man opened his mouth to answer … but no words came out.

Jane hit him across the jaw again.

Blood droplets landed on the ground below the man.

"TALK!" Jane yelled

He looked up at everyone other than Jane. He looked terrified.

"Do you even know what she can do?!"

Clementine wasn't expecting that.

Shepard clenched her fist.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Kenny asked

Everyone else threw questioning glances at Jane.

Clementine frowned at how easily they were turned against Jane, even in such a small degree.

"Why the Hell are you here!?" Jane snapped

"Our leader … we wanted to offer a … trade. Medicine for … 'protection'. We were sent to ... motivate you to accept." The man said, hesitantly

Jane growled.

The man whimpered just slightly.

He looked back at the others.

"PLEASE! Do anything that you want to me, just don't leave me with HER!"

The fear from this man was so intense … what was he afraid Jane would do?

The others seem to ponder this as well.

Jane grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air.

"What? You expect mercy after you tried to kill HER!" Jane yelled while at the same time pointing at her.

The man struggled to speak.

He wheezed as Jane squeezed.

"Jane" Clementine whispered

Jane didn't let up.

"Jane!" Clementine yelled

Jane still didn't hear her.

Clementine grabbed her shirt and tugged.

Jane looked down at her.

Jane dropped him.

He started coughing as he tried to breathe again.

"Get out." Jane whispered

He didn't move.

"GET OUT!" Jane screamed

Everyone jumped at least a little.

The man, still wheezing ran over to the gate. Carley opened it and he stumbled out. They watched him disappear into the forest.

"What the Hell did you do that for?" Kenny said

"As a warning." Jane said cryptically

No one asked for clarification … no one wanted to know.

Clementine had gotten an idea of what happened, though.

Jane's … powers.

Clementine smiled up at Jane when she looked at her.

Jane gave her a weak smile in return.

"Everyone, we need to prepare. Despite what that man is going to tell his comrades where ever they are I can GURANTEE they will not believe him. Those bandits will be back, and soon. We need to get ready. Work on the wall is now priority number one."

Everyone nodded.

"Carley, we're going downtown to see if they is anything that we might be able to get with the truck later. Let's go."

"Right behind you." Carley said

"Please be careful." Clementine whispered

Jane nodded and proceeded out.

Clementine watched as everyone worked on the wall. Ever since the attempted raid two days ago almost everyone worked on the walls at all times.

It was boring, but there was nothing else to do really. Not unless she wanted to play with Duck.

She wasn't feeling up to dealing with Duck at the moment.

"CLEMENTINE!" Duck yelled

Clementine sighed, it looked like she wasn't going to get a choice in the matter.

"Yeah?"

Duck started to start going off about something that he found in the back.

Clementine looked over the wall.

Something moved.

Duck continued to speak as Clementine focused on the forest outside the wall.

Clementine saw a bow peak out of the tree line.

"WATCH OUT!" Clementine yelled

Clementine tackled Duck to the floor.

It was a good thing that she did too, several arrows landed where Duck had been.

Everyone took cover as a volley of arrows and bullets flew from the forest.

Clementine hid behind the RV, with Duck following her.

A fire fight broke out between the bandits and her group.

Clementine covered her ears against the roar of gunfire, but she could only do so much.

Clementine looked around the edge of the RV.

The Motel had instantly transformed from a safe refuge to a war zone.

Duck was whimpering next to her.

Most of the adults were pinned down near the gate. Ben had been on watch, but he had rapidly climbed down, and cowering in a nearby corner.

Clementine wasn't surprised.

Jane quickly shot over the wall, and Clementine watched a bandit's head explode.

No one in the group was nearly as good of a shot compared to Jane.

Carley took a peek over the wall for an arrow to go right over her head.

"Shit!" Carley yelled

Clementine took cover for a moment and went back towards the other end of the RV.

Thankfully the bandits were not able to get that close to the walls, her warning giving the group enough time to bunker down.

It was a stalemate at this point.

Clementine watched a bandit throw a small spherical object towards Jane.

Jane saw it mid-air.

"GRENADE!" She yelled as she tackled Kenny to the floor.

The object exploded.

Clementine ducked back down behind the RV. She was breathing hard, despite how much she fought to stay calm she was only a little girl. She wasn't ready for any of this.

Duck was even less ready, despite his older age.

Clementine heard yelling, though she couldn't hear what was being said as the gunfire was too loud.

Eventually the gunfire ceased.

Clementine poked her head around the RV.

Everyone was picking themselves up. It didn't look like anyone was hurt.

"CLEMENTINE" Jane yelled frantically.

"I'm here." Clementine said as she walked around the RV.

Jane sighed in relief.

"Duck!?" Kenny yelled

"Is it over?" Duck asked, from around the RV.

"Yeah, it is." Kenny replied

"It appears that we are going to have to a lot more careful from now on. Lilly, go keep watch. They might want to double back, catch us off guard by attacking again so soon." Jane stated

Lilly nodded and headed back up the RV.

"Great. Bandits are fuckin' us, will we ever get a fucking break." Kenny muttered

"We knew that they'd be back." Jane replied

"Yeah, that warning that you mentioned sure gave us a lot of time." Kenny said sarcastically

Jane frowned.

"Well at least no one got hurt." Carley said, trying to remove the tension that was slowly building.

"Thanks to Clem." Doug said

Clem shrugged.

Jane crouched down.

"Not bad at all. Thanks for the warning, you probably saved lives today." Jane said

Clementine beamed at the compliment.

Jane chuckled and gave her hair a playful ruffle.

Clementine watched the outside of the Motel from her room.

Clementine frowned.

As a 'reward' for warning the group Jane had basically locked her in the room.

"I just want you to be safe."

Clementine huffed.

The door opened. Jane walked in.

Clementine frowned at her.

"It's for the best, sweetie."

"Am I just going to stay in here forever?"

Jane sighed.

"No, I know that would never work. You're too stubborn for that." Jane said, with a smile.

Clementine smiled.

Then she frowned again.

Jane chuckled.

"Don't worry, Clem. Just indulge me for the rest of the night."

It was the least that she could do for her.

"Ok." Clementine mumbled.

"Thank you, sweetie."

Jane laid down on the bed, inventing Clem over with the tap of her hand against the bed.

As usual Clementine immediately answered.

Clem curled around Jane.

"Are you alright?" Clementine asked

Jane looked down at her in surprise.

"I thought I'd be asking you that."

Clementine shrugged.

"Duck told me how you saved him." Jane said

Clementine didn't reply, what was there to say?

"Clementine … we need to talk."

Clementine sat up.

"Oh no, what happened." Clementine said

"Nothing bad. After today … I realized that you need to be prepared. I've been thinking about it since the St. Johns to be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"Clementine … I got shot THREE times today. I can't promise that I can always be here for you. I need you to be able to protect yourself." Jane said

Clementine hugged Jane tightly.

"Don't say that. Nothing is going to happen to you."

Jane chuckled sadly.

"I'm not going anywhere … not without one Hell of a fight. But I've had … bad luck before. I need to know that you can take care of yourself."

Clementine nodded, only because she wanted Jane to move on from this topic.

"So … what am I going to do?" Clementine asked

"YOU are going to learn how to shoot, and I'm going to teach you."

Clementine smiled.

She would be lying if she said if she had never tried to figure out how to ask Jane about that very thing. She wasn't stupid enough to believe that she wouldn't learn eventually. Her logic, or at least the logic she was planning on using was why wait.

"We have to talk about your hair. It's not safe."

Clementine frowned.

"That's not nice!"

Jane looked really confused.

"What?"

"Are you saying it smells?"

"No."

"Cause it does, kinda."

Jane shook her head.

"Remember at the dairy, when Andy grabbed it?"

"Yeah."

"I could happen again, and if it's a walker … We need to make sure that it can't get grabbed." Jane explained.

Oh

"Just a trim, right?"

Jane shrugged, a guilty smile on her face as she pulled out some scissors out of the dresser.

Jane HAD been thinking about all of this beforehand.

Clementine cringed.

Clementine turned around and took off her hat. Jane started to cut.

"You know what you're doing, right?" Clementine asked

"Yeah. Of course."

"I don't believe you."

"That's good. You need to know when people are lying to you."

"I'm going to look like a boy."

"But think about how safe you'll be."

"I rather be dead."

Jane stopped cutting and lightly gripped her shoulders.

"Don't say that."

Clementine mumbled an apology.

Jane continued cutting.

Clementine tried not to imagine what her hair looked like.

"I think I'm done, just need to tie these pieces back with something."

"I have hair bands in my backpack, front pocket."

Jane went up and grabbed them.

"Where did you get these?"

"Lily gave them to me for sleeping."

"Why haven't you used them?"

"I forgot about them."

Jane put on the ties.

"There you go. Nice and safe."

Clementine felt around her head.

She slumped.

"Does it look dumb?"

"No … I think it looks kinda cute."

Clementine hoped she was right.

"So … can you teach me now?"

Jane chuckled.

"Someone is eager. We'll do it tomorrow, it's getting dark outside."

Clementine turned back to the window.

It was getting dark, and she was surprised that she hadn't noticed already.

"Oh" Clementine replied, disappointment thick in her voice.

Jane chuckled.

"Sooner you go to sleep the sooner you wake up." Jane said

Clementine basically flew into bed.

Shepard's POV

Shepard slowly opened her eyes.

Clementine was sitting in the chair on the other side of the room.

She was twitching in anticipation.

Shepard smirked.

"You sure you're ready?"

"I think so." Clementine replied

Shepard nodded.

Despite her bravado Clementine was still a little nervous.

Shepard didn't blame her.

Shepard sighed.

It finally hit her that she was about to teach an eight-year old how to kill.

Even the war didn't require children to fight. The biotics from the Ascension Project didn't quite count.

Shepard got dressed and followed Clementine out of the door.

Shepard led Clementine towards the back, where there was a long hallway in-between the buildings where she set up a little target practice lane with some empty wine bottles.

It was their shooting gallery.

Shepard crouched down.

"Don't be afraid of it. It's just a tool, and a particularly useful one at that." Shepard explained as she passed the weapon to Clem.

Clementine nodded and accepted the weapon.

Shepard put the holster on Clementine.

"Shepard. What are you doing?"

Shepard turned back to see Katjaa looking at her.

"I'm teaching Clementine how to shoot."

Katjaa's jaw slacked open.

"What! Why?"

"Clementine needs to learn. I got shot three times and I'll be damned if I leave her here without knowing how to take care of herself."

The rest of the group started to gather around.

"She's just a little girl, Shepard!" Katjaa replied

"THEN SHE'LL DIE ONE!" Shepard screamed

Everyone, herself included, was surprised by this outburst.

"The walkers don't care! The bandits don't care! NO ONE FUCKING CARES! If we keep treating them like children then they will end up dying. I REFUSE TO LET THAT HAPPEN!" Shepard continued

"They're just kids! They could hurt themselves or the rest of us. We need to wait until they get older!"

"No, they're not. They are survivors, just like us. Age means nothing now, death doesn't just wait just because she is small."

Katjaa turned towards Clementine.

"Clementine, sweetie, give me the gun. It's just too dangerous, and I don't want you getting used to this."

Katjaa held out her hand.

Shepard stepped aside.

Clementine had to make this choice on her own.

Clementine looked down at her weapon. Clementine holstered it and smiled up at Shepard.

Shepard nodded.

Katjaa did not look happy.

"Since that is settled would you mind giving us some space here?" Shepard said

Everyone dispersed.

Shepard knelt down to Clementine's level.

"Thank you for trusting me." Clementine said

Shepard smiled.

"Ready?"

Clementine nodded.

"Use the little notch to aim."

Clementine aimed her pistol at the bottle.

Shepard bent Clementine's elbows and covered her ears.

"A little higher and a little to the left."

Clementine shot and missed.

She missed two more times.

"My hands hurt … can we stop now?"

"You'll get used to it. Let's keep going, alright."

Clementine sighed.

Shepard bent Clementine's elbows again.

"A little higher. And a little to the right."

Clementine shot … and hit.

"I got it!"

"Good job, let's practice some more."

And they continued on like this.

Eventually Clementine shot … and hit, without Shepard having to make any suggestions.

"I did it!"

"Great job. You're my little crack shot now."

Clementine beamed. Then frowned.

"They're not walkers though."

Shepard was glad that Clementine realized that she still had more to work on.

"No, they're not. We'll graduate you to walkers one day."

'My hands kinda hurt and there's this ringing in my ear, like EEEEEEEEE!"

"You'll get used to it."

"Can I try one more time?" Clementine asked

Shepard nodded and reset one more bottle.

Clementine aimed, and fired.

Click.

Clementine frowned at the gun in frustration.

Shepard chuckled.

"Here, let me show you."

It didn't take long for Clementine to learn how to reload.

Clementine loaded the gun and took aim.

She fired and hit the bottle on her first try.

Shepard squeezed Clementine's shoulders with pride.

"Nice shot, Clem."

The pair turned around to see Carley looking at them.

"Thanks." Clementine replied

"Clementine's quite the shot." Shepard stated

"No kidding. I have an idea." Carley replied

"What?"

Carley pulled out a camera.

"What about a picture of you and the big game hunter." Carley said

Shepard smiled.

Shepard crouched down and wrapped her arms around Clementine.

"Say cheese."

Carley took the picture.

Carley handed Shepard the picture as soon as it popped out.

"Thanks." Shepard replied

Shepard turned to Clementine and held out the picture for her to take.

Clementine shook her head.

Shepard was about to ask when Clementine answered.

"It's ok. I've got the real thing after all." Clementine said right before wrapping her arms around Shepard.

Clementine was always good for a smile.

Shepard grabbed her rifle and followed Kenny out the gate.

It was time for the daily supply run back to the drugstore.

Shepard absolutely despised them.

The shit they saw sometimes was just horrific.

Shepard looked around for anything that could be of use.

Today was one of the few days that they deviated from the drugstore. They were searching a hardware store that was nearby.

Kenny was nearby, searching around the tool section.

Shepard looked back towards him and sighed.

After the meat locker their friendship had nearly collapsed. Only Shepard's protection of Duck had kept the possibility of it alive.

"Find anything yet?" She asked

"No, you?"

"I found a pair of girls tennis shoes. They might fit Clementine."

Kenny nodded and went back to it.

Shepard looked the shoes over. They were a little worn but that wasn't surprising. The same probably couldn't be said for the owners.

Shepard shook her head to clear out those thoughts.

She didn't want to go there.

Shepard noticed a large shelf that had completely collapsed. It wasn't completely lying flat though, meaning that something was underneath it.

"Hey, Kenny. There might be something under this book shelf. Can you help"

Kenny walked over.

They heaved until it was back in its original place.

Kenny gasped.

Shepard looked down to see what had scared Kenny.

There was a little girl.

She was dead now, crushed by the shelf.

Shepard couldn't speak.

Thankfully the girls head had been crushed … if it hadn't.

Shepard wasn't sure she would be able to put her down.

Shepard looked down at the girls feet.

She still had her shoes on.

Shepard swore under her breath.

The rest of the trip had been conducted in silence.

It just happened to be the one time they never ran into walkers … and she wished that they had. Walkers would have made a good distraction.

When they got back Shepard had kept Clementine in sight for the rest of the day, and had held on to her tight when they went to sleep.

Shepard sighed.

She continued to jog forward, Kenny following close behind.

Shepard stopped in front of the drugstore.

There were no walkers anywhere.

"Looks like this is our lucky day." Kenny muttered

"Maybe, they do tend to take us by surprise." Shepard replied

"Yeah, well, the less I see the happier I am." Kenny replied

Shepard started forward.

Shepard looked into the Tim's Tools & More store.

The girl's body was still there … most of it at least.

Something had taken a few bites of it.

Shepard turned away and started towards the truck next to the drugstore.

"Mmph, man." Kenny said, mainly to himself.

His gunshot wound was still sore.

Story of my life.

"You made up your mind yet?" Kenny asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"About?"

"When it comes to getting' the Hell out of Macon. I bet you're in the 'let's stay put' camp, considering that I've been pushin' everyone to leave." Kenny said, just a hint of disdain in his voice.

"I don't know. You and Lilly both have EXCELLENT points. The Motel is a target for bandits now, but it has kept everything out so far. Besides where the Hell would we go. I think that we will need to leave … but I think we should have a plan before we do." Shepard replied

"The longer we wait the more likely something bad is gonna to happen."

"The less we plan the more likely something bad is going to happen." Shepard retorted

They made it to the truck.

"Ok, just like last time. Over the rig, into the pharmacy and scrape whatever together whatever supplies are left." Kenny stated

"We didn't leave much in there." Shepard remarked

"We're out of options. Somethin's better than nothing." Kenny replied

Kenny was right about that.

Shepard took lookout while Kenny climbed up the ladder.

She heard a crack.

"Shit!" Kenny whispered

"You ok?" Shepard asked

"The ladder's come loose. I'm not sure how many more trips she's got in her." Kenny replied

Shepard turned around to see that the ladder was indeed on its last legs.

"I'm not sure how many trips we've got in US." Shepard said

"No kidding." Kenny replied

Shepard touched the ladder.

It completely collapsed.

Of course.

"Looks like she's done." Shepard sighed

"What now?"

"I'll figure something out."

"Better get a move-on." Kenny muttered

Shepard noticed that a nearby army car had a hook on it.

Shepard pulled on it until it started to unwind itself, then dragged the hook towards the truck.

"Lilly's not doin' so good, huh."

"She just needs time." Shepard said

Lilly had improved with in the last few days.

She actually came out of her room for more than to eat and go to the bathroom.

"If you say so. You're the only one she seems to give a damn about anymore. Well, you and Clem." Kenny stated

Shepard had noticed that too.

She attached the hook, and went back to the truck to turn on the winch.

The army car was dragged towards the truck.

"Your girl still upset with us for taking stuff out of that car last week?"

"Yeah … well with the rest of you. I apologized to her and she forgave me."

"Not surprising." Kenny replied

Shepard climbed onto the car.

"Duck was asking about that guy at Hershel's farm last night."

"Really? I wasn't sure it phased him."

"Of course it did."

"It was a scary situation for him."

"I'm just worried he'll always think it was his fault. You made out of that a hero in his eyes." Kenny said

"It's never about that. It's about saving lives."

"I know."

Kenny reached down to her.

"You sure about this?" Shepard asked

"Shepard, I'm fine. I've got this. Gimme your hand." Kenny said

He sounded pretty confident.

Shepard jumped and grabbed it.

Kenny started to pull her up when the bullet wound must have flared.

Shepard found herself falling.

She slammed straight into the windshield. It cracked … loudly. Shepard waited for walkers to descend on them.

They never did.

"Nice one! Next time, I'm bringing Ben." Shepard said

"Sorry, you ever been shot?" Kenny asked defensively

"Yeah, actually. Remember the scars?"

Kenny muttered under his breath.

A loud scream rang out.

Shepard turned around.

A woman burst from one of the stores.

"NO! GO AWAY!" She screamed at the walkers following her.

She tripped.

"HELP ME!" She screamed

Shepard wasn't sure if she was yelling at them or … just at the sky. The woman just started screaming again and ran in circles.

"What the – what the Hell is that?! A walker?!" Kenny asked stupidly

"Walkers don't scream. It's a girl. We have to help her."

"How? We can't get to her!"

"We have to do something!"

Shepard looked down the scope, just in time to see the girl get bitten on the ankle.

"Fuck, we got to shoot her. Put her out of this misery."

Kenny shook his head and smiled.

"They don't know we're here."

"What?"

"We leave her alive and she draws them all to her, buying us time."

"Kenny …"

"Think about it! We're always worryin' about the ones we can't see – she stays alive and brings them all out of their holes!" Kenny stated

Shepard sighed.

She really wanted to help that girl but … but they needed the time.

Shepard lowered her weapon, though not without regret.

"Good, let's go. She'll keep them busy."

Kenny lifted her up and they ran inside the drugstore.

"We should be good to clear this place out, but we ain't got all day. Get everything you can out of these racks." Kenny said

"Don't forget underneath the counter this time!" Shepard yelled

"I'll clear down here and then we gotta go!" Kenny replied

Shepard reset one of the shelves and started grabbing everything that she could see.

The woman was screaming outside. It soon cut out.

"She's gone. There's not much time now." Kenny said

Shepard continued her search, grabbing everything that she could see.

Walkers started banging on the door.

"Fuck! Incoming! Come on, Shepard!" Kenny yelled

"Up and over." Kenny said to himself as he reached the counter.

Kenny vaulted over the counter.

Shepard followed him.

"We're still clear, let's hustle." Kenny said

As soon as he said that the door collapsed right on top of her.

"Kenny! HELP!"

Shepard slowly pushed the door up and rolled out of the way.

Kenny hadn't moved an inch.

"Fridge!" Kenny yelled

Shepard knocked over, killing a walker immediately.

"Out! Let's fucking get out!" Kenny said as he shot two walkers.

Shepard ran towards him, only to be confronted by a walker in an air-force uniform.

Shepard smacked it with her rifle but the helmet prevented her from killing it.

She shoved in back straight onto a set of rebar that was sticking out, impaling it instantly. It reached for her, but it was unable to reach.

Shepard ran to Kenny.

"What the fuck was that?" Shepard sneered

"They're everywhere; you took care of yourself, didn't you?" Kenny replied

Shepard frowned but followed him out through the hole in the wall.

The pair was silent on the trip back. They had nothing to say to each other after that little incident.

They made it back in about an hour.

Shepard gazed at the arrows sticking out of the wall.

Fucking bandits.

She also noticed Ben was on watch from outside the compound.

When they got inside she noticed Clementine talking to her radio.

Weird.

Clementine looked up and noticed her. Clementine soon ran over.

"You're back. Ben found some stickers in a drawer and I put 'em on my walker!" Clementine said, holding out her radio.

"Hey, sweetie. That's great! I need to go talk to Lilly. I'll come talk to you after i'm done." Shepard replied

Shepard knocked on Lilly's door.

Lilly walked out.

"Looks like we got the kid on watch again." Kenny commented

"What'd you get?" Lilly asked, straight to the point.

Shepard handed her the rifles.

"We might as well leave a sign out that says 'the men are gone, come rape our women and children.'" Kenny said

"Ha" Lilly humorlessly replied as she walked towards the back of the room.

"So what did you get?" Lilly asked again, a bit more hostile this time.

"What was left." Shepard answered

"Which was a lot, actually. Take a look." Kenny replied as he handed off the backpack.

Lilly opened it up on her bed.

"We're FINE by the way …" Kenny said

"Nice work. This'll keep us going. If we carry on like this, we'll get through the winter here." Lilly said

"The winter? We'll freeze our asses off here." Kenny objected

"Because piling into an RV with you, after what you did to my dad, is so appealing." Lilly remarked

"Why wouldn't it be? You know I'll do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe."

"We're already safe."

"Take a look at the wall, Lilly. That's not graffiti. Those are bullet holes. And we got enough arrow shafts sticking out of it to dry our laundry."

Shepard stepped in.

"We have to go eventually, Lilly." Shepard replied

There simply wasn't the supplies to sustain them here.

"I know, Shepard. I know. Eventually is different." Lilly replied

"At it again, are we?" Carley asked sarcastically

"Can it, Carley." Kenny said dismissively

"Don't boss people around." Lilly replied

"I'm sorry. Someone needs to make executive decisions for the group though, and I don't think you're capable anymore." Kenny said, in a non-hostile tone.

"Cut this crap out. Both of you. We're strongest together." Shepard started

She turned towards Kenny.

"I know you think I'm on her side but there are no sides, damn it." Shepard continued

"What about the food situation? What about protection? What about when this place falls? Somebody's gotta be thinking this shit." Kenny continued

"He has a point there Lilly. We do have to think about this stuff, and have plans to deal with them. Which is why we are ALL going to start to preparing for those possibilities." Shepard said

"How has this not been working? We have everything we need." Lilly asked

"Cause of me, Lilly."

"No, because Shepard knows how to take care of PEOPLE, not just things." Lilly retorted

"Kenny, I promise that we can deals with these issues, just give us a chance."

"And when fifteen bandits hop over that wall in the middle of the night? What then? You just going to deal with that."

"Everything that happens to us is another excuse for you to pull this crap about leaving. All I want is a week of peace; of not hearing it."

"Do you know how we got these supplies? Your pal and I got lucky and let a girl get eaten out there."

"What?" Katjaa asked, horrified

Shepard glared at Kenny.

"Some girl came screaming out of an alley. She had dead hanging all over her. She gave us enough time to get everything we could out of the drugstore."

"And you just let her suffer like, what, like bait? God what is happening …" Lilly started

"She was dead anyway, she already got bit before we could react. I … had to make a call. Maybe I made the right one … maybe not." Shepard said remorsefully

"We've been putting our lives on the line doing these runs into the city. You wouldn't believe the shit we see." Kenny said

"We all appreciate it, Ken." Katjaa said

"You should be thanking Shepard for not shooting that girl."

"It's not so EASY for her."

Shepard saw Carley frown at Lilly and then move off.

"Look, Macon and its people aren't savable. It's not a town. It's full of walkers and the people who WERE left are dying and wandering out onto the streets. It's Hell on earth and its coming, this way."

"IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASIER OUT ON THE ROAD!" Lilly screamed

"How would you know?" Kenny asked condescendingly

"WHAT I KNOW? I know you're not above murder! I know someone has been STEALING our supplies, that's right STEALING, and I know the list of people I can trust here gets SMALLER EVERY DAY! Now everybody GET OUT!" Lilly yelled

Shepard ushered everyone out of the room.

"She'll be fine." Shepard stated in Lilly's defense

"She's riling everybody up, otherwise."

"You understand, Ken." Katjaa said, like a sheep

"All I know is whenever this shit happens I'm the fucking bad guy. I'd like a thank you for once. FOR ONCE." Kenny said

Kenny walked off and Katjaa soon followed him.

"Oof. Things are coming to a head." Carley said

"You could say that." Shepard replied

"Well I think you did good today, and I find myself thinking that most days."

"I'm glad someone does." Shepard sighed

"Almost everyone here does, actually. If you were here more often you would see that." Carley said with a shrug

"If I was here more then I wouldn't be doing a good job."

"Exactly." Carley replied with a smile.

"It's probably worth following up with Lilly about what she was saying about missing supplies. With her wound up the way she is, I don't want to see her paranoid." Carley continued

"No kidding."

Shepard sighed.

"You probably better get to it. Tell me what you find out." Carley said

Carley took off to the second floor of the Motel.

Shepard went straight to Clementine.

"Hey, Clementine."

"Hey, Jane."

"What are you working on?" Shepard asked

"It's called a leaf rubbing. My teacher Miss Moore showed us how to do 'em when we went to the Botanical Garden once." Clementine replied

Clementine picked up a leaf and her drawing.

"See? It's the same! Uhm, kind of."

"That's really something." Shepard replied

"I'll make one for you, too!" Clementine replied

"Thank you, sweetie. I'd love one."

Shepard looked back over the Motel.

She had to admit that Kenny had a point earlier. This place wasn't going to last much longer as much as she wanted to believe too.

They would need to leave ... sooner that they would probably want.

But what does everyone else think?

"Do you like it here?" Shepard asked

"I don't LIKE it here."

"Do you want to leave?"

"Where are we going?"

"Other than somewhere else ... I don't know."

"I don't know. Maybe if I knew where."

"Yeah, that would be a nice thing to know."

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm starting to believe that we might have to leave here. Between the lack of food and bandits attacking this place has run its course."

"Ooh, ok." Clementine said sadly

Shepard didn't blame her for that reaction.

"You like your haircut?" Shepard asked

Clementine frowned.

"I'm just worried everyone thinks it looks dumb." Clementine said

"No one thinks it looks dumb. I bet no one has even stared at it."

"Well, Duck did."

Shepard took a quick look around.

"Duck doesn't count."

Clementine giggled.

"I'll talk to you later, Clem."

"Ok."

Shepard went back to Lilly's room. Shepard opened the door.

Lilly was holding her head in her hands.

Lilly looked up.

"I'm sorry."

Shepard sat near her saying "You don't have to apologize."

"Did you come in here to give me Hell or to coddle me?"

"I do take requests."

Lilly chuckled.

Shepard's grin disappeared.

"I'm worrying about you."

"I know. I'm trying. I'm trying. I just … I feel like a crazy person."

"Can I do anything to help?" Shepard asked

"Yes. I need help. There's a traitor, somebody, one of us, out there. He or she or they have been taking things."

"What do you have?" Shepard asked

"Yes for real. And I don't have shit. I just know."

"Lilly …"

"The count's off and it's the good stuff. Antibiotics, oxy, fuck, anything with opium in it."

"I check the count every day. It's fine."

"I keep my own. That one's getting messed with. I'm a fucking mess right now but I'm not stupid. I know what happens if I start a witch hunt."

Shepard's eyes narrowed.

"So you want me to start one?" Shepard asked accusingly

"I want you to poke around." Lilly explained

Shepard sighed.

"What's there to go on?" Shepard asked

"I found this tossed into the garbage." Lilly said as she handed Shepard a flashlight. It was one of their higher quality ones.

"We don't toss out equipment. We fix it. You'd only try to get rid of a flashlight if you were using it when you shouldn't."

Lilly was right.

"Ok. I'll poke around a bit."

"Thank you." Lilly replied

Shepard walked out of the room.

"A mystery."

Shepard looked down to see Duck crouching next to the door.

Duck normally was not a very stealthy person, or at least she hadn't thought so.

He must have learned from Clementine's example, unfortunately.

"Duck." Shepard sighed

"I'm sorry … I heard you guys talking."

"I need you to forget everything you just heard." Shepard replied

"Can I help?"

"What did I just say?"

"You're the greatest detective and I can be Dick Grayson! Your ward!"

Shepard stared at him.

"That's Robin." Duck explained

"I know who it is." Shepard replied

She had absolutely no clue what so ever.

Shepard sighed.

"You can help, but don't tell anyone."

"So … what do I do?"

"I don't know. Go look for anything … weird." Shepard said

Duck ran off.

Shepard shook her head.

She went straight to Carley.

"You talk to Lilly yet?" Carley asked

"Yeah, it looks like there COULD be something going on. I would like to think that no one would do that here but …"

"But you would rather be sure." Carley replied

Shepard nodded.

"You know anything about this flashlight?" Shepard asked, holding out the flashlight.

"It's broken."

"I know it's broken."

"AND the batteries might be in backwards."

Shepard frowned.

"It uses just one."

"Everything should. What was the question?" Carley replied quickly

"Did you break the flashlight?"

"No"

"Ok"

"Talk to you later Carley." Shepard said

"See ya."

Shepard went back downstairs to Clementine.

"Hey, Clementine. Did you break a flashlight?"

"No, did Duck say I did?"

"No. Did Duck break the flashlight?"

"I don't think so. He's just always blaming me for stuff."

"Like?"

"Putting a bug on his pillow."

"Did you do that?" Shepard asked

Clementine was silent for a moment.

"Yes" Clementine said, with a small smile.

Shepard sighed.

Clementine giggled.

"I'll talk to you later, Clem."

"Alright."

Shepard walked over to Kenny and Katjaa.

Katjaa had been a little colder to her ever since she had taught Clementine how to shoot.

"Do you guys know anything about this broken flashlight?"

"Fuck … we don't go many of those." Kenny said

"Yeah, it's a problem. The glass and the bulb are all busted out."

"I saw some broken glass over by the ice machine. I meant to clean it up before the kids hurt themselves on it; I forgot though." Katjaa answered

"Thanks."

Shepard started to walk away when Katjaa called out to there.

"Yeah?" Shepard asked

"Do you have a moment?"

"Sure."

Katjaa led her a few feet away.

Shepard had been expecting this.

"Tell me what happened in the meat locker." Katjaa said

She hadn't expected that.

Shepard frowned … but decided that Katjaa had the right to know.

"Larry had a heart attack. I start to administer CPR … but Kenny put a stop to that."

"How?" Katjaa asked hesitantly.

Shepard sighed.

"By smashing his head in."

Katjaa gasped.

"Everything keep changing." Katjaa muttered as she walked away.

Shepard had to agree with that.

She started over towards the glass when she decided to talk to Ben about the flashlight.

"A flashlight is broken. Was it you?"

"No." Ben answered lamely

"You're not in trouble if it was. I know you get nervous, it probably was an accident. Then you decided it would better just to toss it."

"What's with the third degree? I didn't break any flashlight." Ben replied

Ben was slightly more convincing this time.

Ben got nervous when blamed with anything, even if he knew he didn't do it. At this point it was just as likely either way.

"Alright." Shepard responded

David was nearby.

"Hey, David. You accidentally break a flashlight."

"No … all I know is that I saw glass over by the ice machine. Almost stepped in in it. Maybe that's where it was broken?" David replied

Shepard nodded.

She walked over to the ice machine and found the glass. One of the glass shards fit exactly.

That's when Shepard noticed a pink X.

Shepard ran her finger over it and some of it rubbed off.

"Chalk." Shepard muttered out loud.

"Pink. Hmm."

Shepard looked over to see Duck right next to her.

"What do you think it is?" Shepard asked

"A clue!"

"Well … yeah." Shepard replied

"Maybe it's a sign."

Shepard took another look at the X.

It was on a section of wall that could be seen from the outside of the gate. It was also pink, which was bright and easy to spot.

"You might be right." Shepard muttered

"Ok, back to investigating!" Duck said before he ran off.

Clementine is the one who plays with the chalk.

Shepard was making her way back towards Clementine when she decided that a talk to D

She knew that he wouldn't have broken the flashlight. She just wanted it fixed.

"Hey, Doug."

"Hey, Shepard. What's up?"

"I was just going to ask you if you could keep an eye on parts for this flashlight. Someone busted it up."

Doug looked the flashlight over.

"I'll see what I can do. At least this will give me something useful to do for a change."

Shepard didn't like the way he said that.

"Doug, you do a lot of useful stuff around here. Please remember that."

"I … alright."

"See you later Doug."

"See ya."

Shepard went back to Clementine.

"Hey, Clem."

"Hi, Jane."

"Do you have any pink chalk?"

"No. It's gone somewhere."

Someone must have taken it.

"Do you want blue?" Clementine asked

"No, no. It's ok."

"Psst. Shepard." Duck called

"Yeah."

"I found something."

"What?"

"I found this pink chalk and a scuff of it over by the gate!"

Shepard was immensely surprised on how much of a help Duck was being.

Maybe he wasn't as dumb as everyone assumed.

"Good job, Duck."

Duck ran ahead over her and met her at the gate. Duck held his hand for a high five.

She indulged him.

His grin was ear to ear.

Shepard pushed open the gate. As Duck said there was pink chalk.

She would have to go outside.

"You stay here this time. I don't want anything bad to happen."

"Ok" Duck said with a shrug.

Shepard stepped outside and walked the perimeter of the outer wall.

It didn't appear that there was anything out of the ordinary.

Until she noticed a grate with something inside it.

She opened it up to find a bag. Inside the bag was several different types of bottles with medicine inside.

Shepard sighed.

Lilly had been right.

Shepard walked casually back to Lilly's room, trying to appear that she hadn't found anything. She knew that the traitor would have been watching her, waiting to see what she found.

"Have you come up with anything yet?" Lilly asked when Shepard returned

"Yeah." Shepard said as she presented the bag

"It has a portions of the meds in it. The bag itself was in a grate on the outside wall and there was a sign on the other one." Shepard continued

"Holy fuck."

"Yeah"

"Ok. We line everybody up. Everybody."

"Absolutely not. I will look into this. Discreetly."

"What!? WHY?!" Lilly yelled

"Because lining up everyone is going to cause tensions to rise, and they are already high enough as it is."

"Shepard, we need to …"

"Lilly do you trust me?"

"Yes" Lilly replied, without hesitation.

"Then trust me to do this. Please."

Lilly debated internally for a minute.

"Fine."

"Thank you." Shepard said

She went all the way back up to think about things. She need to be absolutely sure before she accused anyone.

Clementine's POV

Clementine noticed Jane walk upstairs to their room.

It was a little strange to see as Jane enter the room before bedtime. Lilly walked outside and started looking around the wall.

Clementine shrugged and continued to draw.

Jane would have told her about it if it was anything of importance.

Clementine finished her leaf rubbing for Jane. She made it using the largest and prettiest leaf that she had. She hoped Jane would like it. She was about to get up and deliver it when she thought she heard something.

Clementine looked over the wall.

Nothing.

Clementine turned around to find something that shouldn't have been there.

There were several people behind all of them.

All armed.

"DON'T MOVE OR WE'LL POP YOU!" the leader shouted.

Everyone froze.

The leader let out a whistle and several more bandits soon hopped over the walls.

The bandits herded them into a single group towards the front.

Clementine was terrified.

The only person who wasn't there was Jane.

"Y'ALL BETTER GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE! WE AIN'T FUCKING AROUND!" The leader yelled

Nothing happened.

"YOU MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIVES!"

Another moment passed in silence.

"Enough of this bullshit! Drew, start putting your boot to these doors!"

"Yeah!" Drew yelled

Jane stepped out of the room.

She looked VERY angry.

"Get down here asshole!" the leader said

Jane jumped from the second story, landing with a thud.

She looked fine though. Clementine would have assumed that would have hurt.

The bandits all took one step back.

"You think this is going to get you what you want?! You would be wise to leave!" Jane yelled

"Listen to this bitch! She tells US that it would best to leave when we have already won!"

"This is going to end in all of two ways. You are either leaving while you can still breathe or we throw your body outside the walls for the walkers." Jane replied

All the bandits pointed their weapons at her.

She smirked.

"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TOO?!" the leader screamed

"Not particularly." Jane said smugly

The bandit leader cocked his weapon.

He fired.

Clementine thought she was going to see Jane fall over dead, blood flying out of the back of her head ... the nightmare that she had always had.

Instead, she started to glow blue.

Jane's face contorted into a very intimidating smile.

"My turn." Jane whispered

I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, or critiques please few free to Review or PM.

I apologize for any grammar mistake that I missed.