Chapter 29- Meeting Again

- General POV

"Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do?!" James argued to Clem's request. "I know, and I'm sorry. I just have to get my friends back." She looked away, fearing for the worst answer - rejection. "Clearly you don't know. Just..." He paused, looking around and clutching the mask in his hand even tighter. "Let me show you." James finished, trying to push back the anger in his tone. He led the two of them to a barn, a little ways outside of the safe zone. "Just let me check things inside before I let you go in." He said, pulling on the mask and leaving Clem to go find AJ. "Clem, what's this?" The younger boy asked in confusion. She examined it a moment before a grin ghosted her face. "It's called a salt lick." She said, watching the boy crouch down and examine it closer. "So... It's salty? It'd taste good then, right? Cause salt tastes good. Maybe it'd taste like a bag of chips." He pondered to himself. "Go ahead if you want, lick it. It tastes gross though." She shrugged as he bent down closer. "Ack, it tastes gross!" He spat in the dirt after making contact with the object. "I told you it would." Clem laughed as he raised his head to look at her inquisitively. "How'd you know it'd taste gross? Did you lick it?" AJ asked with his face turned into a slight frown. She paused a moment, remembering all those years ago. "I don't know." She mimicked the tone she'd had, smile dissolving into the memory. AJ looked at her weirdly before standing up and continuing on his way.

"It's ready. You just need to put on the mask and go inside. That way I hope you can see how peaceful they really are." James handed Clem the skin mask, making her slightly grossed out from the feeling of it. Regardless, she put it on and entered the barn timidly. Inside, dozens of walkers roamed freely and aimlessly. She walked through, heart racing and beating loudly in her ears as she passed them, praying they wouldn't hurt her. Finally she reached the set of wind chimes, raised her hand and almost freaked out as a walker's mouth lingered around it. She stood on her tiptoes and hit them, attracting all the walkers as they crowded around her. Clementine stared to the ground as she stopped the urge to grab her knife. Finally done, she practically ripped the mask of as she exited the barn, legs shaking as she tried to calm down. "What do you mean you just let her go inside?! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?!" She heard near shouting from in front of her. Looking up, Clem saw none other than Louis looming over James in worry. "Louis?" She questioned as his head snapped up from the other boy, expression changing upon the sight of her.

"Clem, are you okay? You didn't get bitten, did you?!" Louis asked worriedly as he practically ran up to her, not hesitating to hug her and make sure she was okay. "I'm fine, Lou. I was just... Negotiating." She said, although she hugged back tighter than she realized. "Well?" James accepted the mask back as he stopped in front of them. "I'm really not sure what to think. Of course they were peaceful, but..." She trailed off, remembering the peace of the things they all considered monsters. "You still want me to get them killed for you..." He said sadly. "They're already dead!" Louis interrupted in irritation. "They're just in another state!" The other boy defended as Clem interrupted the rising argument. "James, I get what you're saying but... My friends have names. Do yours?" She asked as she thought of the other kids trapped on the boat. "I..." He trailed off, unsure of what to think. "What's the name of the woman in the blue shirt? Or the man in the plaid button-up?" She challenged as he tried to think of what to say. Finally James sighed, nodding and agreeing to help.

"Why are we here?" James asked in confusion as we ducked behind a log. "The people you saw, we're going to save them. We need help moving the walkers." Clem answered quietly, trying not to attract their attention. "So are we moving the cart then, or... I mean it could make a lot of noise if we did." He pointed to the caged wagon used to carry their friends away. She nodded, watching AJ briefly before putting the plan into action. Sadly they were short of Louis, who went back to the school to inform the rest. This is going to be a bit tricky... She thought to herself as they made noise distractions in another area, throwing rocks at the trees to get the walker's attention. Once they all headed in the same direction, the three of them pushed the cart closer to the area the boat was in. As planned, the walkers followed aimlessly as the cart rolled and crashed down a slope. Dodging them, the three now weaved their way through, avoiding them and moving back to their safety. "I'll keep them going from here, you guys go back and get ready to save your friends." James whispered as they nodded, leaving the boy with his mask, once again doing what he was best at.

Back at the school, AJ and Clem walked down the corridor to their room. "Oh hey Clem. How'd things go with that... Guy?" Ruby asked, hands full with pillows. "James. He agreed to help us." She smiled in relief. "What're you doing with the pillows?" She asked in curiosity. "I decided we should throw one last hootenanny before we attack the Delta." She said smiling. "What's a hootenanny?" Clem asked in return. "Just another way of saying party. Just a get-together before the big thing, y'know? It'll help everyone's nerves before tomorrow." Ruby looked down with a new expression, slight doubt. "It's a nice idea. We'll be there for sure. And Ruby? Don't worry, we're getting them back." Clem smiled to her with reassurance, allowing the ginger haired teen to brighten up almost instantly, going on her way to set up the party.

Yeah I know the last part sucks. My work load for this week is a fair bit so I might be more busy than usual. So sorry it took so long to publish another part of this story, it's been kinda hard with like, a bit or writer's block lolThanks for reading and I hope you guys enjoyed!!