Chapter Text
It seemed like an unlucky day for Louis and Clementine. They’ve struggled to find gas for their car as it had ran out halfway back to Richmond. The vehicle started to slow down near an abandoned beach, but it still had enough fuel, meaning it was still able to be parked near the water.
The pair grabbed their belongings and walked around the area, searching for gas. The hunt was unsuccessful, so they made their way back to the car. Knowing there are no salvageable supplies and fuel nearby, The dreaded boy had an idea to kill time.
“Why don’t we play a game?” He asked, looking at his short girlfriend as he sat on the hood of the vehicle. Clem looked at him with a sour look, but sat beside him eventually.
“What’s today’s game, oh wise Card Master?” She asked back playfully, resting her head on the boy’s shoulder. He held onto Clementine’s small hands and intertwined his fingers with hers as a response. “It’s not a card game for once. Just something basic. You okay with some rounds of ‘I spy’?”
Clem hesitated for a moment, but said “Sure” eventually.
“Okay, cool. I spy with my little eye: A part of a walker.” The freckled boy pointed out the information, causing Clem to inspect her clothing first, and found an organ part on her boots. She quickly kicked it off.
“My turn!” The girl smiled as she looked at her surroundings, finding a lonely piece of paper in the sand. “I spy with my little eye: Flying.’”
Lou was clueless. He looked around, but couldn’t find the card that advertised Richmond. In fact, he couldn’t find anything that flew. “Come on! What is it?” He asked with a dumb face.
Clementine on the other hand, couldn’t resist bursting into a laugh. Her happiness melted the young boy’s heart, even though he cursed inside his head a moment ago while trying to find what his love told him to.
“There, the pamphlet! 'Flying Higher Than a Bird: A flight history exhibition in the Museum of the Richmond Airfield’.” She read the words off the old card.
“That’s unfair! It was hidden from my sight!” The boy defended himself.
“Oh really?” Clem chuckled softly.
Louis was somewhat glad that they were stranded on this beach. Clementine didn’t smile on a daily basis. It was more than amazing to see her like this. “Really!” He answered while joining the laughter. “Okay, okay! My turn!” He said, trying to calm down. “I spy with my little eye: Beauty.” Lou watched as the waves moved up and down in the sea. You could say that the gold color the water was the thing the boy referred to as beauty, but you would be totally wrong. He referred to the girl he adored. The beauty with gold eyes. “You have a clue yet?” He asked, wearing an ear to ear smile on his face.
“No. But I’m assuming it’s me. You wouldn’t make such a smile if it wasn’t the answer.” She explained while looking up at her boyfriend. Louis found Clementine gorgeous as she was surrounded by the Sun’s golden aura. He leaned closer and gently kissed the girl he admired so much.
Three more rounds passed, and a new idea had crossed the playful boy’s mind.
“Well, now that we’re here, why don’t we go swimming?” He asked as he jumped off the car, kicked his boots off into the sand and took his shirt off. The girl’s happiness faded instantly as she remembered how her old friend had passed away years ago.
“Don’t. Please. It’s dangerous…” Clem pleaded worriedly as she made her way to the boy. Louis considered the fun more important than his girlfriend’s sudden worries at that very moment.
“Why not? It’s just water! What could go wrong with swimming like 3 short laps?” He knew that Clementine was always protective, but he hadn’t thought about the dangers the sea could have.
“It’s more than likely to be filled with walkers that are crawling at the bottom. But hey, if you want to die, than go! Play around in the water while you still can! Pretend I didn’t warn you..” She turned her back to him, trying not to get overwhelmed with the memories of Luke’s death.
“What’s up with the tone? When we got here like an hour ago everything was fine. Now you hear the word swimming and go nuts at me for wanting to have a good time!” He raised his voice while putting his olive shirt back on. As the words escaped his mouth, Louis instantly felt regret. Deep down he didn’t want to talk to her like that, and the feeling came up to the surface. His surprised face turned sad, and he tried to approach Clementine to apologize. “Shit, Clem I’m-”
“I had this one friend, Luke. He was the one friend who was there for me from the day we met to the day he died.” She let out a weak sigh and looked at the boy she loved so much. “It was winter, so the lake we tried to cross was frozen. He was already shot in the leg, I was surprised he could walk, but when the ice started to break below him? That’s when shit hit the fan.”
Louis’ expression became more and more sorrowful as he heard the story unfold further.
“Half of his body was still up on the ice, the other half in the water. Walkers were gathering up behind him, so he told me to draw my gun and shoot them. This other woman who tried to help him told me to approach Luke instead of killing the undead, but I wanted to fulfill what he wished me to do, so I started shooting.” Clem’s jaw tightened and her eyes where shut. She was fighting back the tears that dared to escape. “They both fell in. I ran over to help as I heard them pounding on the ice, and when I broke a new hole in it, I lost my balance and fell too.” The girl tried hard to control her breathing. She didn’t want to start taking heavier and heavier breaths, even if she felt like she was stuck underwater again.
Her boyfriend stepped closer to her and placed his hand in hers as he tried to help her stay calm. “Clem, look at me. I’m here.. I’m here.” She slowly opened her eyes and squeezed Louis’ hands in fear still fighting with her fears and feelings.
“I know..” Her words were barely above a whisper as she answered while looking for comfort in the tall boy’s chocolate eyes. “But Lou… It was horrible… I..” the boy pulled the short girl in a hug. “I can’t let that happen to you..” She sobbed in Louis’s shirt.
“I’m sorry.” He said, placing a soft kiss on the girl’s temple. “I didn’t know…” He apologized.
“I’ve lost almost everyone I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t know what I’d do if I lost you too.” She let the tears fall while she was hugging her lover, but tried not to think too much about all the tragedies she had to live through.
“Oh, you’ll be begging to lose me in a few years.” He chuckled while taking a look in the distance. A familiar van was heading their way.