Three of them headed down to the dining area, where people were eating together. Clementine and Sarah moved toward the kitchen to grab their food and rejoin the group, while Reggie stayed behind, watching everyone closely, especially Luke and Kenny.
"Reggie, I'm stepping out for a smoke. Just keep an eye on them for a few minutes," said one of the guards stationed at the door.
"No problem. I've got it… don't worry, Troy," Reggie replied.
"I'm not the one who should be worried," Troy said, pointing toward the group. "Carver put you in charge of them. You're already wasting your second chance. Screw this up too, and that's it... bye-bye."
Troy waved dismissively and walked off.
Reggie swallowed his unease and forced himself to focus, scanning the group to make sure no one did anything stupid.
Clementine noticed that Reggie was alone and let out a quiet sigh of relief. Before she could speak, Rebecca cut in.
"Sarah, can you go to the kitchen and ask for a cup of water? I'm thirsty."
"O-okay… one cup of water," Sarah said, hesitating before heading off.
Once Sarah was gone, Rebecca turned to Clementine.
"Did you get the armory key imprint?... The soap I gave you?"
The expectation in Rebecca's eyes was unmistakable. She wasn't the only one watching; the others were staring at Clementine just as intently.
"It wasn't easy," Clementine said, pulling out the bar of soap, "but I got it."
"Good," Rebecca said. "With this, we finally have a chance when we make our move."
Kenny grabbed the soap and shoved it into his pocket.
"Luke and I will start cutting the key. We're getting out of this goddamn place tonight. You all finish digging the escape hole?"
He looked to Sarita, Walter, Mike, and Nick. They nodded.
"We finished it," Sarita said, "but the watchtower guards are on duty twenty-four hours a day. Even at night. With those floodlights, we'll stand out like targets."
"I've thought about that," Kenny said. He turned to Rebecca. "You get the code to the hardware store's electrical room from Carver's office?"
Rebecca handed him a small scrap of paper.
"Don't ever ask me to go talk to that man again," she snapped, clutching her pregnant stomach. "The man who killed my baby's father."
"Alright. I hear you," Kenny said.
He turned to Clementine.
"Luke and I handle the key. The rest won't be easy. Think you can do it?"
"I'll do it," Nick said quickly, irritation sharp in his voice.
"Back off, kid," Kenny snapped. "We all know what you can...and can't...handle."
Nick's gaze shifted to Walter. Walter's expression darkened as memories resurfaced of his boyfriend, the one Nick had accidentally killed. Forgiveness hadn't erased the weight of it. Nick's confidence crumbled, and he looked away.
"Your job is to cover the hole and distract the guards that come near the closet," Kenny said firmly. "That's it. Stick to that."
Kenny turned back to Clementine.
"You good?"
"Yes," Clementine said. "But what about the night guard at the power room? If he's still there, I won't get close."
"Leave him to me," a voice said behind her. "I'll move his sorry ass."
Clementine turned to see Jane, one of the guards, secretly planning to escape with them.
That helps, Clementine thought. Now we just don't screw it up.
"So, today's the day, huh?" Jane said. "Guess I should pack."
As Jane walked off, Sarah returned with a cup of water, fear flickering in her eyes.
"Jane… why isn't my dad back yet?" She asked softly.
"Oh, he's busy in the medical room," Jane replied with a thin smile. "Kind of impressive, actually. Treating people with one hand. Almost funny."
The smile unsettled Sarah. Jane didn't notice or didn't care as she walked away.
"Alright! Lunch is over!" Reggie called out. "Back to work."
He glanced toward the door, briefly wondering why the guard hadn't returned, then pushed the thought aside.
The group rushed to finish eating and headed back to their assignments. Sarah and Clementine followed Reggie toward the greenhouse. On the way, Clementine spotted Bonnie, the woman who had found her and brought her here.
"I need help making ammo," Bonnie said. "Mind if Clementine comes with me?"
Reggie hesitated. "Uh… yeah. That's fine."
He continued with Sarah, who walked beside him, her worry written all over her face.
Clementine turned to Bonnie; her expression was hard.
"Tell me what you need."
Bonnie sighed. "I know I lied to you. This place isn't what I said it was. But it is safe. You get food, water, and protection. Just… give it a chance."
Clementine didn't hesitate.
"Prisons have food, water, and guards too," she said flatly. "People still don't want to be there."
Bonnie fell silent. She already knew why.
"Come with me," Bonnie said quietly after a moment.
She led Clementine into the room where ammunition was made.
"Your job's easy," Bonnie said. "Hand me the bullet casings from the bag. And… one more thing."
She paused and reached into her pocket.
"I think this belongs to you."
Bonnie pulled out a diamond ring.
Clementine snatched it from her hand.
"Yes. It does," she said coldly. "You took it."
"'Took' is a bit strong," Bonnie replied. "We don't allow personal belongings here. I had to give mine up, too. But when I saw how you reacted, I knew this ring mattered. That's why I kept it with me instead of turning it in."
Clementine slid the ring onto her finger. A rare, genuine smile crossed her face.
"That's the first time I've seen you smile," Bonnie said softly. "What makes it so special?"
Clementine stared at the ring for a long time.
"It was the first gift someone I love ever gave me."
She closed her fist around it, pressing it to her chest as if it might vanish.
"Then keep it hidden," Bonnie said gently. "Don't show it to anyone. Just us."
Clementine nodded and slipped the ring safely into her pocket.
Hours passed before Bonnie finally spoke again.
"That's enough for today. We'll finish tomorrow."
Clementine pulled off her gloves, set them on the bench, and stepped outside. Jane was leaning against the wall, waiting.
"I'll take her for some work," Jane said casually.
Bonnie didn't argue. She let Clementine go.
After they'd walked a short distance, Jane asked, "Once we escape, what are you going to do?"
Clementine answered without hesitation.
"I'll find Max. Go back to living with him...like before I came here."
Jane's expression shifted.
"I never asked… who is this Max you care about so much?"
Clementine's guard slipped, just a little.
"He's smart," she said, suddenly more animated. "He taught me almost everything...fighting, hunting, and even dancing. He's strong, Brave, and caring. And yeah… he's handsome. Knows all martial arts, even sword fighting."
She knew she was rambling...but she didn't stop.
Jane watched her quietly, struck by how this normally reserved girl came alive the moment she spoke about his name.
With a slow sigh, Jane said, "Don't you think you might be blinded by love? You should put yourself first, people change... feelings change. In this world, people leave...even the ones who swear they won't."
Clementine smiled faintly.
"I know," she said. "But some things don't change. Choice doesn't, and he has always chosen me."
She looked ahead as she spoke.
"If he tells me he will fight the whole world for me, I will believe him...because I've seen him do it."
Memories surfaced unbidden, Max pulling her out of danger, taking care of her when she was hurt, holding her at night so she could sleep, always putting her happiness first, both of them dancing on the starry night. The images blurred, and her eyes stung.
Jane shook her head slightly. She's lost, she thought. The man she's describing doesn't exist. She's blinded by love.
"Enough about Max," Jane said aloud. "When we escape, don't stay with the group; that kind of loyalty gets you killed... come with me instead. I'll help you find him."
She studied Clementine closely, reminded painfully of her sister, the one she couldn't save.
Clementine didn't argue. She nodded.
"I wasn't planning to stay with them," she said evenly. "They'll go their way, I'll go mine. If you want to come with me, you can."
She turned toward the kitchen, though her thoughts stayed with Max.
Sometimes I wonder… can I ever love him as much as he loves me?
Inside the kitchen, everyone was eating, including the guards. Their last meal until morning.
Clementine grabbed her soup and sat beside Sarah. Carlos ate quietly next to her.
Suddenly, everyone stood.
Confused, Clementine rose with them and looked over her shoulder.
Carver.
He approached slowly, a hammer hanging loosely at his side. Troy and Tavia flanked him. Fear tightened the room like a noose.
Sarah trembled. Carlos placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. Kenny subtly shoved the key deeper into his pocket.
Carver stopped at their table.
He looked at Sarah. Then Carlos.
"Don't you think your daughter's old enough to take care of herself?" he asked calmly. "You never taught her how to survive."
Before anyone could react, Sarah cried out as her glasses were slapped from her face, skittering across the floor. The sound cracked through the room.
She sobbed quietly, staring at the ground, too afraid to look at her father, even though she wanted to.
Carlos froze, fury burning beneath his skin.
"I know it's hard to watch," Carver said evenly. "But pain is how we grow strong."
He pointed at Clementine.
"Like her, she's strong... That's what the world needs. What we need, our kids need to be strong."
He paused, smiling thinly.
"But I'm getting distracted."
Carver turned to the table.
"Troy," he said. "Tell them what you found."
"When I was...uh... out smoking," Troy said, "I found an open closet. Inside...there was a big hole leading outside."
Carver tapped the hammer against the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Every strike silenced the room.
"When a ship starts sinking," Carver said slowly, "the first thing to flee is a rat. And today, I found rat holes in my camp... not a small one."
He smiled wider.
"A big one... which means there's more than one rat."
His eyes swept across the room.
"And before rats multiply," he continued, voice cold, "you exterminate them."
He straightened.
"I think our hunt starts now."