Violet paced around in front of the main gate anxiously, watching from a distance as everyone struggled to settle back in, all of the other kids still shaken and exhausted from the night's occurrences. She, however, was restless, refusing to let herself relax for a single moment until she knew that Clementine and AJ were safe, back home with the rest of the ragtag, dysfunctional group they called a family.

It had been nearly half an hour since the blonde left them to fend for themselves against the horde of walkers that surrounded them on the bridge, Clem unable to climb the fence that separated them and AJ unwilling to part from the older girl. Part of her wished that she'd stayed, helped protect them, but she knew she couldn't just let herself be devoured by walkers trying to save the girl she cared so deeply about.

"Anything yet?" she asked, looking up at Willy who was keeping watch from the lookout tower.

"For the last time no!" he snapped, groaning as he once again turns his attention to the forest surrounding the school, "now shut up and let me keep an eye out for them!".

The blonde couldn't exactly blame him for getting upset, she had been harassing him for the better part of the said half hour, hoping, praying that he'd caught sight of their friends somewhere in the tree line, but the whole area had been eerily silent ever since the explosion on the boat. The noise itself must have caught the attention of every walker for miles, drawing them all towards the source. But that still didn't ease her worries in the slightest.

"Fuck..." Violet muttered, balling her hands into fists as she tried to fight off a wave of anger that slowly overtook her, "I should have stayed with them… there were so many walkers, and with Clem's leg all fucked up like that… fuck. Fuck!".

She'd already lost Minnie, and Sophie, Tenn, Brody, Mitch, and so many others… there was no way in hell she was going to lose Clementine too.

No way in hell.

"If something happened to them… if they're hurt because of me, because I wasn't there for them-" she said, placing a tentative hand on one of the cement pillars supporting the gate, shutting her eyes tightly as she forced herself not to think about what might have become of her friends. But it was an impossible feat and Violet couldn't stop herself from acting out on her emotions, pure rage and self-loathing fueling her actions. She balled up her fists once more and reeled back, punching the cement pillar with all her might, yelling out in anguish as she did so.

If Clem and AJ were dead because of her… there was no way she'd be able to live with herself.

"ARRHG, Fuck! Fuck!" she yelled again, tears now streaming down her face. Of course, everyone noticed her cry out in pain, all of them rushing up to her in worry and confusion as she continued her assault on the pillar, a smear of blood now forming on the cement. "Goddamit!".

"Vi!".

"Violet!".

"Hey, somebody stop her!".

Violet didn't want anyone to stop her, the pain was a welcomed distraction from the thoughts swarming around in her head even if she knew it wasn't a good way to handle her emotions. It just gave more insight as to why she was so cold and distant with her feelings, and why she ended up at Ericson in the first place (aside from the obvious).

She continued to yell, thrashing around when somebody grabbed her from behind, strong arms pulling her away from the gate and into the safe confines of the inner courtyard. "Get off me! Get the fuck off me, leave me alone!" she continued.

"Violet, calm down!" Ruby said, doing her best to sound comforting but to no avail, "We know you're worried about Clementine but-".

No. No one got to tell her how she felt, no one got to pretend that they understood what she was going through. They didn't know… they didn't understand. "Shut up!" Violet yelled, "shut the fuck up! You have no idea what's going on… my girlfriend is out there, she's hurt and alone with AJ and it's all my fault!".

"Vi, it's not your fault-" Aasim began, stopping midsentence when the scrappy blonde jammed her elbow back into whoever was holding her, feeling as they dropped her to the ground, grunting in pain as they silently stumbled back.

Violet figured out who it was a moment too late, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach as she turned back to see Louis on his knees, clutching his gut in pain. She blinked, taking a raspy breath as her senses came back to her. "Lou… I- I'm sorry…" the girl continued, a small sob breaking through the emotional walls she'd built up over the years, "Louis, I'm sorry… fuck, I didn't…".

He didn't let her finish, the boy just looked up at her and smiled softly with that stupid, idiotic smile he always had no matter the situation, nodding silently in understanding as he caught his breath.

"Just, everybody try and calm down," Ruby said standing between them, doing her best to keep the peace between everyone, "We know it was an accident, Vi, but just take a breath and we'll figure this out… can you do that?".

She nodded vigorously and scrambled up to her feet, dragging an arm across her face to hide her tears. It wasn't often that she showed any real emotions to the other kids, most of them just accepting her cold, brooding personality. She'd gotten better at being more open ever since Clem found her way into her life, but now… everything felt like it was falling apart before her eyes.

"Good, now… now go settle down while we try to think of something to do. It's still dangerous out there since we dont know if any more of Lilly's people survived the explosion," the southern girl continued, walking up and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, looking over at Louis who slowly climbed back up to his feet, "We'll send out a search party to find them, Vi, you have our word,".

The small crowd of kids nodded and murmured in agreement, everyone offering her encouraging and reassuring words. She wanted to believe them… she wanted to believe that Clementine and AJ would be found safe and unharmed, but Violet just couldn't shake the feeling that something horrible had happened to the duo. She shrugged Ruby's hand away, wrapping her arms around herself protectively as she walked off to the farthest end of the courtyard, cradling her bloodied hand against her chest, embarrassed and ashamed of her outburst.

It wasn't like this was the first time they'd seen her like this, nearly the same thing happened after Minnie and Sophie were kidnapped, Violet herself felt like a small part of her had been taken as well, but like she'd told Clem before everything went down on the ship… she wasn't sure if she could handle losing someone else.

And she couldn't.

Clemintine was all she had left.

A few more tears rolled down her cheeks as the blonde silently cussed herself out for acting so weak and immature… she was the leader now, and she needed to be strong for the whole group's sake, even if Clem (whether she believed it or not) was the strongest of them all.

With a sigh, Violet looked down to see Rosie trotting up beside her, whining and whimpering softly as she nudged her massive head against her leg. She'd barely even noticed the large dog following her around, having been so withdrawn and preoccupied with finding out where her friends were. "I know girl… I'm worried about them too," she muttered, reaching down with her uninjured hand and scratching behind her ears, "Goddamit, Clem, where the fuck are you?".

They both stood in relative silence, watching as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, sunlight breaking through the holes in the barriers surrounding the school, the only thing that got Violet to budge from her spot was the very obvious footsteps walking up to her. "Ruby, I appreciate you checking up on me but I want to be left the fuck alone," she sighed sharply, crossing her arms over her chest, "I'll talk when we're ready to go find them,".

There was no response, only a light tap on the shoulder.

She shrugged the hand away, ready to yell again, but when she turned around to face whoever had come up behind her, Violet held back her words. "Oh… it's you," she said, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly, "What do you want Louis?".

The taller boy smiles equally as awkward, making a few grunting and humming sounds before holding up a roll of gauze.

Violet rolled her eyes, already knowing that Ruby send him over to patch her up, probably wanting her to apologize again for elbowing him in the gut. "I'm fine, Louis… it's not bleeding that much," she said, letting her gaze drop to the floor, "I don't need help".

It was very clearly a lie, but she was far too stubborn to admit it. Besides, it hurt seeing Louis like this… mute and shaken to his very core. How he was still smiling was a complete mystery… but Violet had to admire the fact that, despite everything… he was still the same old smiling Louis, even if he too was trying to hide his pain.

"Uhgg, you aren't going to leave alone until you help me… are you?" she asked, watching as he just stood there making a chuckling sound, shaking his head with a worried smile as he gesturing to her hand again, then at the roll of gauze. "Fuck… fine, just… just make it quick," the blonde said, finally showing the boy her injured hand, "I need to be ready...".

Of course, Louis remained silent as he patched her up, nodding along as she spoke.

"And..." Violet said, eyes still glued to the ground, "I'm… I'm sorry for being such a dick to you,".

She knew she didn't have an excuse for treating her friends like shit, but emotions were running high and everyone was still on edge over what had happened, especially her. She'd watched Tenn get killed right before her eyes, for fuck sake... and while she wanted to be upset at AJ for pulling the trigger, she couldn't deny the fact that she wouldn't be alive if he hadn't.

But still, he was just a kid… the last connection she had to Sophie and Minnie… he didn't deserve to die that way, he didn't deserve to die at all, no one did. But in this fucked up world, nothing was ever truly fair., and all the blonde could do was hope Tenn was in a better place, the one he always talked about.

She hoped Sophie was there too.

Violet hadn't even realized she was tearing up again until Louis grunted, the taller boy trying to drag her attention away from her thoughts, the spaced-out look on her face making it clear she was thinking too much about the past. He reached over and gave her shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze, a concerned look in his eyes.

She looked up at him, biting her lip to stop it from trembling. "I-... I'm," she began, desperate to hold back a small sob, "I'm so fucking scared, man. Clem is hurt and as good a shot as AJ is, he's just a fucking toddler… he can't protect her against walkers 3 times his size. I just… fuck… I can't lose her too, Louis, I can't… I just can't,".

Of course, Louis didn't know what to do, having never seen her so emotionally raw vulnerable like this before. Sure she was pretty torn up about losing the twins, they all were, but the blonde had always slinked off to wallow in sadness on her own. But the time for feeling sorry for herself was over, and all Violet could do was hope she could hold herself together long enough to get Clem and AJ back home safe.

The smaller girl couldn't help but tense up when she once again felt strong arms wrap around her, except this time, they felt safe and comforting, if not slightly apprehensive and awkward. As kind, funny and friendly as Louis was, affection was never his strong suit, at least… he never showed it genuinely, only in a joke-like manner.

She timidly hugged him back, not really sure what else to do since he was just trying to help. He didn't say anything (not that he could) or make any sounds, he just stood there trying to comfort her, gently patting her back as she sobbed as if to trying to say " It'll be okay, ".

But Violet still, despite everyone's attempts to reassure her, couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't. She knew somehow, that Clem and AJ were in danger, she could feel it in her soul, and standing around crying wasn't helping them. She needed to do something, she needed to go out there and find them, bring them home.

She'd promised Clementine that she'd see her through to the end, and that's what she intended to do.

Violet would be the one to bring them home... no matter the cost.

Louis looked confused when she pulled away abruptly, quickly trying to recompose herself, a sudden, fiery determination glowing in her eyes. Rosie noticed the shift in emotion too, barking in response to the blonde once again shouldered her friend's hand away.

"Fuck this," she hissed, aggressively dragging her bandaged hand across her face as she trudged off to the middle of the courtyard, "Fuck. This. Shit,".

Rosie continued to bark as she followed Violet, watching as the blonde made her way over to the small armory of weapons they had compiled both before and after the raid on the boat, all their weapons laid out neatly on a picnic table. She grabbed her (technically Marlon's but fuck that guy) bow and quiver, throwing both over her shoulder as she pocketed her cleaver… just for emergencies.

"Vi? What are you doing?".

She sighed sharply, realizing that the dog's constant barking no doubt caught the attention of the other kid's, specifically Ruby.

"I'm going to go find my girlfriend and the kid… alone ...end of story," Violet responded, turning around to find the southern girl blocking her path, "Now get out of my way,".

"Like hell you're going alone! Those Delta assholes might still be out there, and if they kill you, what happens to Clem and AJ then, huh?" she snapped back, "Louis and I will go with you, we'll have your back".

Having Louis join her, she understood, he was one of the most able-bodied and experienced kids they had at Texas Two (okay, maybe Clem was right, that name was pretty dumb) but Ruby?

"As tough as you are," Violet said, shouldering past her as she headed to the main gate, "You can't fight for shit, you'll slow us down. Stay here, Ruby,".

"You said she was injured, right? Well, I'm the only one of you who knows first aid, so you're not going to be able to move Clem anywhere without my help, so I'm going!".

"No you're not!" the blonde yelled back, quickly losing grip on her emotions again, "We need you here for when we come back, none of us can afford to lose the only medic we have. What I say, goes!".

"Uh, guys?" Willy suddenly said, looking down at the quarreling girls below him.

They all ignored him, continuing on with their bickering.

"Who the fuck put you in charge anyway?" Aasim said, stepping up beside Ruby as Omar made his way over to the group, "If anyone is going to lead us it should be Clem".

"I stepped up in that asshat Marlon's place when none of you fuckers would! And Clementine isn't here right now, so I have authority!" she continued, shouldering Louis away again when he tried to get her to relax, "Louis and I will go find her and AJ, all of you need to be ready for when we come back, understood?".

"Guys?".

"She's hurt, Violet! You told me yourself, you need my help!" Ruby insisted, "I'm going with you whether you like it or not!".

"Like hell you are! "You'll help her when we bring her home!".

"Why should we listen to you?" Assim cuts in again, "You're fucking hysterical!".

"Guys!".

"Fuck you! Remember who saved your punkasses from the boat in the first place!".

"Violet! Calm down!" the other girl cut in, watching as she lunged for the boy, Louis once again stopping her, "Fighting isn't going to help find Clem!".

"We'd find her faster if you all just fucked off and let me and Louis go get her!".

"GUYS!".

The yelling ceased for a moment when Willy's voice broke through the cluster of voices, all of the teens looking up at the smaller boy in the lookout.

"What the fuck do you want, Willy?" Violet hissed again, working her way out of Louis' grasp, "We're kinda busy here,".

The boy didn't respond at first, just pointed to a tiny figure in the near distance, whoever it was was clearly making haste to get closer to the school as stealthily as possible. Instinctively, everyone drew their weapons, ready to protect their home once again, but they lowered them when he continued.

"Guys...it's AJ,".

Violet's cleaver immediately dropped from her hand as she broke away from the group, rushing over to the fence to let Clem and AJ back in, Louis and the other's promptly following behind her, the fight they were just having being quickly forgotten.

"Oh thank fuck," she said, pulling the gate open to let them in, "we were just about to head out and look for you and-".

She paused, watching as AJ walk up to the gate, covered in blood and walker guts, his small, fragile body trembling as tears rolled down his red-stained cheeks. He looked absolutely shaken, eyes wide with an unsettling darkness hidden behind him

"-Clem…".

The boy barely acknowledged her presence as he walked into the courtyard, rushing past everyone and basically jumping into Louis' arms whilst breaking out into deep sobs, Clementine nowhere to be seen behind him.

Oh no…

"AJ?!" Ruby yelped, trying to coax him away from a very confused and startled Louis who also did his best to calm the small child, "Sweetheart, what happened, where's Clementine?".

The boy just continued to cry, gripping on tighter to Louis each time Ruby or one of the other kids tried to pull him away. It's the most emotional Violet had ever seen him, part of her wondered if it was even possible for someone as emotionally vacant as AJ to cry given how numb he seemed to everything.

But this… this terrified her.

Because AJ never cried.

"AJ?" the blonde muttered, her voice thin and shaky, "Where's Clementine…".

No answer.

Please… no…

"I need to know AJ… please,".

More sobs.

"I- I need to know if she's… if she's-".

Violet couldn't finish and let the statement hang in the air as the boy continued to sob, allowing herself to sink slowly to her knees as the reality of the situation finally sank in.

"No….".

Ruby looked over at the blonde, her own eyes filling with tears as she gently patted AJ soothingly on the back, "Fuck…I… I'm so sorry, sweetie, I'm so sorry,".

At that point, she wasn't even sure who the southern was talking to, a deep sympathy coating her words. Everything just seemed to go numb around her, guilt and shock overwhelming all her scenes. Aasim, Omar and Willy joined back up with the group, slowly embracing each other in a small huddle, tears shed between all of them.

There was nothing but the sound of quiet sobbing filling the courtyard, even the gnats that always filled the morning air ceased to buzz, and it seemed even the world was mourning the loss of their friend…

… but only for a moment.

"Please…" AJ's small, muffled voice suddenly said, "She… she needs help,".

Violet blinked and took in a ragged breath, seeming having been the only one to have heard the boy, not even sure if she'd heard correctly.

A moment of silence passed again, more sobs.

"Clem needs help… please…! ".

The other's heard him too, lifting their heads and pulling away from everyone else. "What happened AJ, where is Clementine?" Ruby asks, finally prying the boy away from Louis as he wipes smeared walker guts off of his face, "What happened to her?".

The boy mumbles again, drying his own dace of tears and blood, and says, "We… we tried to get away from the monsters but… but there were so many and Clem was hurt, she couldn't move and she… she…".

"W- what happened, AJ," the blonde pipes up, hands trembling slightly, "Tell me… please,".

AJ just stares at her, with those big brown eyes, full of fear and horror, and chokes back a sob. "She got bit… trying to protect me..." He says, "She… she wanted me to kill her, that was our rule, but I… I couldn't! She got bit because of me and wanted me to kill her… that's, that's murder! Clem wasn't a threat she…-".

His word's dissolved into more sobs at that point, and Violent felt the tiny sliver of hope she felt be torn away, right out of her grasp. Her face fell as she placed a hand over her mouth, trying not to let the loud, anguishing sob escape from her lips, tears finally spilling from her eyes.

"Oh god, no… please…," she mumbled, "please no… this can't be happening…".

"God this is so fucked," Aasim said, looking over at Ruby who was still trying to comfort the younger boy, "This is so fucking fucked…".

"What are we going to do now?" Willy asked, anxiously kneeling beside Violet.

"Everybody is going to take a deep breath, first," the redhead says, "Then… I don't know. Someone has to go get the body and-".

"NO!" AJ yells, "NO, we have to go help, Clem! We don't have time, please… she needs help!".

The teens just looked at each other for a moment before Omar walked up to the boy, bending down to meet him face to face, "AJ… you… you do know what happens when somebody gets… bit… right?". It was common knowledge in this world, something people are taught young, and quick, and it's definitely something AJ should already know.

"But she's now bit anymore!" he insists.

"W- what… what do you mean, n- not bit anymore ?" Violet mutters, somehow managing to speak through her heavy sobs, "You can't get unbit , AJ!".

"Violet…" Ruby hissed softly, watching as the boy winced at her sharp words.

"B- but you can survive if you cut it off fast enough,".

There was a look of horror that washed over everyone's face at AJ's words, realization settling in just as quick as the shock. That was true… even Clem knew of people who survived bites after amputation, but most of those people had trained doctors, real medicine and, antibiotics.

"Where is she…" the blonde asked, forcing herself up on unsteady feet, "Where is she, AJ?!".

"J- James' barn…" he responds, "I- it's by the road, not too far from the bridge. Now we have to hurry! She'll die without help, I- I…".

"Calm down, sweetie," Ruby says, "We'll find her and get her help, but we need you to stay here, okay? We need you to help protect the school until we come back,".

"But I… I want to help!".

"AJ, please don't make this difficult. Aasim, Omar and Willy will take care of you, but we really need to go if you want to see Clementine again," Ruby said, being surprisingly brash and honest with the smaller boy as she set him down in front of her, "Louis, Violet and I will bring her back, that's a promise,".

Making promises like that was dangerous, especially when this kid was expecting to see his guardian walking up to the gates when they returned, none of them knowing if Clem was… if she was even still…

Violet shook her head and forced herself to recompose herself, looking over at Louis who seemed just as worried and determined as she did. Despite the overwhelming rush of multiple emotions, nothing was going to stop her from going and finding Clementine, desperately holding on the the tiny sliver of hope that AJ had provided.

"We have to go… now, " she said, picking up her cleaver again, "We don't have much time,".