Chapter 5
Clementine(Patch!) (Patch!) (Patch!)
Clementine Hänsenberger, court… Due to the murder of the landlord. She claimed it was self-defense. …But… even if that were true… it doesn't explain why she shot him when he was already unconscious. The police found 8 bullets. Clementine had shot him multiple times.
Police officer: "...Miss Clementine Hänsenberger, why did you commit the murder?"Clementine: "I already told you… he tried to assault me!"Judge: "Then tell us the story again."Clementine: "Hahh… two days ago… at 8 p.m.!"
(Two days ago, 8 p.m., March 3, 1965)
That night, Clementine was in her apartment when there was a knock at the door.
(Knock, knock!)
Clementine: "Huh?"
At that time Clementine was different — shy, no tattoos, didn't smoke.Clementine: "Yes?"
She looked through the opening. It was the landlord. She opened the door.
Clementine: "Oh… Mr. Benoit… how can I help you?"Benoit: "The rent payment."Clementine: "...Oh… I'm sorry… I'm still missing some…"Benoit: "Listen… I've had enough of this. Every single time with you… Just because you failed your studies doesn't mean you can't get a job."Clementine: "I do… have a job… but it's not enough… I still need $2000."Benoit: "And those $2000… when will I see my $6000? I'm tired of only getting part of it… I've been nice to you."
He looked at her. She was sad and quiet.
Clementine: "I'm really sorry…"Benoit: "...Ah… that reminds me."
He eyed her body.
Benoit: "...There's another way you could pay."Clementine: "Really, how?"Benoit: "...With your… body."Clementine: "What?"
He stepped inside with an evil grin.
Benoit: "Come on… you've got a really nice body."Clementine: "...Mr. Benoit!"
He grabbed her.
Benoit: "Come here… hehe."
Benoit held her and started unbuttoning her jacket.
Benoit: "Hehehe… oh yes… let me see your body."
She resisted, moved around, until a lamp fell to the floor. She grabbed it and hit him over the head, then kicked him away. In the scuffle, his gun fell. He quickly stood up again. She crawled toward the gun. He grabbed her legs.
Benoit: "Wehehehehehehehe…"Clementine: "...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
(Bang!)
She managed to fire, hitting him in the stomach.
Benoit: "Urk."
He fell to the ground. She stood up immediately.
Benoit: "…urk…ghhh… help… me… please… I'm sorry."Clementine: "You… ghhh… grrrrrrr… grrrr… aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhh!"
(Bang!) (Bang!) (Bang!)
Clementine: "You son of a bitch! Die! Die! Die!"
(Bang!) (Bang!) (Bang!)
(Splash!) (Splash!) (Splash!) (Splash!)
Clementine: "Hahh… hahh… hahhh… hahhh… damn it… what… what should I… I killed him… what happened to me… why… he was already… unconscious…"
There are moments… when humans… lose control. The moment when people… kill… and commit cruel acts. The moment when the senses… vanish. Our mind and nervous system… more complicated than we think… As if one becomes… another person.
Clementine: "Hahhhh… h…hahhh…"
(Patch!) (Patch!)
"Behind me is the criminal… who murdered poor Benoit!"
"He was a very good man… kind. This woman is lying. He would never do such a thing…"
Clementine (thinking): "(That's not true… he really tried to… grab me!)"
This world… is unfair. There are wars… where soldiers abuse women, and those soldiers… are celebrated as heroes. Benoit… was known from the Vietnam war… where, according to some sources, he abused especially underage girls. Including an 8-year-old girl — abused and murdered. As if that wasn't enough… he wasn't the only one. In war there is never… true "goodness," except maybe in self-defense — but even that is used to justify genocide. Later, of course, Benoit's crimes were confirmed. That's why Clementine was eventually acquitted, after it was discovered he had been notorious in the war for such acts. This came to light when his ex-wife revealed photos of his victims… But that only happened later. For 4 years Clementine was branded a murderer, which destroyed her psyche.
(Patch!) (Patch!)
"Now turn left."
She did so.
"Now right…"
She did so. And they took photos."Now look forward…"
She looked forward. Dark circles under her eyes, her gaze soulless.
(4 years later)
It was decided to release Clementine Hänsenberger after Benoit's crimes were confirmed. But for Clementine it was too late. Her hatred for people had grown, her despair. Her parents had already given up on her when she failed her studies, and after the case, not a single visit. She was even told her name had been erased from the family. Yet her family waited once they found out she was innocent.
Mother: "Oh… my dear Clementine… there you are."Clementine: "Hahh… do we know each other?"Mother: "It's me… your mother."Clementine: "Hmm… I have no mother. She died long ago."Mother: "That's not true. I'm here."Clementine: "...In truth… in my heart… you chose instead of your daughter… to tell father and the whole family… that I didn't care about them. A family that prefers a stranger…"
She shoved her away.
Clementine: "Go away!… Disgusting… touch me again… and this time… I'll commit a murder on purpose! And I'll start… with you!"Mother: "Ugh… oh my god… what… what's happened to you…"
Clementine walked away.
She also received money as compensation for her time. She got tattoos: a sword piercing a skull on her back, a cross on her neck, and one on her arm.
Clementine: "…hmm…"
(A few weeks later)
"Hmm… so you want to work for us."Clementine: "Yeah.""Good… but you'll have to prove you can."Clementine: "How?""…See that person at this address? He owes us money. I don't want you to kill him… but beat him up…"Clementine: "…And if he does nothing?""…Then kill him."Clementine: "…Alright then…"
She set off.
"Wait… take a gun."Clementine: "That's boring…"
She turned around, opened her mouth — behind her tongue was a sharp shard.
"Oh… hehe… fine then, if you say so."
(A few minutes later)
Clementine: "Huh… that must be the place."
She entered the building using a door opener.
Clementine: "Hmm."
On the bed lay three women… in the middle, a young man.
Clementine: "Tsss… having a good time, huh?"
She kicked his foot. He woke up startled.
Man: "Ugh… what…"
Clementine: "Good morning, sunshine. I'm here for the money you owe the drug dealer."Man: "…What? Get lost before I hurt you."
He stood up.
Clementine: "Hey, hey… put that thing away. You can't fuck me."Man: "Hehe… oh yeah?"
He lunged at her. She dodged his attacks.
Clementine: "Hahh…"
She pulled out the sharp shard when he slipped, and she pressed it against his neck.
Clementine: "…Well? Gonna give me the money now, or should I slice your throat?"Man: "No… no… here, here! Take it."
He handed her the cash.
Clementine: "Thanks… that's better. Now I won't bother you any further… huh?"
Voice: "Clementine?"
She turned. One of the girls was staring at her.
Clementine: "…Hanna…"
Her little sister.
Clementine: "Ghh… what… what did you do to her, you sick bastard?! That's my sister!"Man: "Hey, hey… calm down…"Clementine: "…Ghhhh… I can't kill you… but…"
She beat him savagely, breaking his ribs and his nose.
Clementine: "Hahh… hahhh… hahhh… hahhh…"Hanna: "Clementine…"Clementine: "Shut up! …Damn it… wherever I go, I find you all… If you tell our parents or anyone else… you'll regret it!"
She stormed out.
(A few minutes later)
Clementine: "Here's your money."Voice: "Oho… you're good."
The person took off their cap. It wasn't a man — it was a woman.
Clementine: "…You're a woman. Hahh."Woman: "I know you. They said you were a murderer, but turns out you were innocent and only defended yourself."Clementine: "Aha…"Woman: "Since you did your job well… I'll give you some advice…"Clementine: "Hmm?"Woman: "The past is the past. Leave it behind… before you become the very thing you hate most… a criminal."Clementine: "Honestly… that line is so bad… I love it, but I never want to hear it again. Don't you want me to work for you?"Woman: "…Actually, yes… but… it's not too late."Clementine: "Tsss… I don't care. Then I'll become a criminal. I already am, even though I defended myself. Even now, many think I shouldn't have killed him when he was still alive. They'll always believe I'm a bad person."Woman: "That reminds me of something. Our neighbor once said… there are people who, from birth, are labeled bad no matter what they do… and there are people who, no matter how many murders they commit, are celebrated as heroes. Look at soldiers — many have killed innocents, yet they're honored as heroes. My father was a soldier once… he told me himself he killed innocent people."Clementine: "Hmph… I don't care…"Woman: "Sounds to me like you're ready… to become a criminal."Clementine: "…Hmm…"
She looked at her… then smiled. Clementine's hatred of people, and being abandoned even though she only defended herself, made her decide to truly become a criminal.
Woman: "Hehehe… good. Then you'll come with me to our gang."Clementine: "Fine."Woman: "By the way, my name is Mei."
Mei brought her to the gang's meeting place.
Gang member: "Huhhhh?"Another: "A new member?"Another: "We don't need another woman in the group. Is she strong enough?"Mei: "Fine. How about this — you fight her, and we'll see."Member: "Oho… I like that…"
They surrounded Clementine.
Mei: "Show them what you've got."
Clementine smiled, took off her jacket. She wore a tank top, tattoos covering her back and arms.
Clementine: "…Alright."
One man attacked with his fist. She dodged, grabbed his arm, and threw him into some crates.
(Crash!)
Clementine: "What's wrong?"
Gang member: "Damn you!"
Another attacked, but missed. She was fast.
Clementine: "Too slow."
She punched him in the stomach.
Man: "Urk!"
The last one stood, holding a knife.
Mei: "Ugh… hey…"Clementine: "…Hmm…"
He slashed — barely missed, but cut her shoulder.
Clementine: "Ghhh… oho… thanks. That gives me the right to kill you."Man: "What?"
She grinned wickedly, attacked, struck him in the stomach, then held her sharp shard to his throat.
Clementine: "…Checkmate."
Mei: "Wait — don't kill him."Clementine: "Why not? He wanted it."
(Bang!)
Suddenly Mei shot him herself. He died.
Mei: "Because I take responsibility for him."Clementine: "…Hmm. Aha."
She tossed his corpse aside.
Clementine: "You could've just said so."Mei: "Hehe, sorry."Clementine: "Okay."Mei: "Clementine… that's your name, right?"Clementine: "Clementine Hänsenberger."Mei: "Your reflexes are impressive. Where did you learn them?"Clementine: "In prison…"Mei: "I see."
And from then on, they worked together… until that one mission.
Mei: "I want you to sell drugs for us."Clementine: "Where?"Mei: "On the street by the woods… you know it?"Clementine: "Yeah… I know it."
(She set off)
Clementine delivered the drugs. But then, on her way back—
Clementine: "Huh?"
(Wee-oo… wee-oo!)
Police.
Officer: "You there, what are you doing out here at this time?"Clementine: "…Chilling… why, is that forbidden?"
The policewoman approached her.
Officer: "Well, it's like this… in this area, drugs are often sold."Clementine: "Oh dear… and what does that have to do with me?"Officer: "Well… someone saw you selling drugs, so we need to check you."Clementine: "Tsss…"
They searched her. And indeed, they found drugs.
Clementine: "Fuck…"Officer: "…Hands up. Right now."Clementine: "Yeah… yeah."
She raised her hands.
Clementine: "Tsss."
(A few days later)
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Guard: "Your trial starts in a few days. Be ready."Clementine: "Hahhh…"
(About 2 weeks later)
Judge: "Miss Clementine Hänsenberger… I sentence you to at least 8 months in prison."Clementine: "What… that long? Come on, it was only cannabis!"Judge: "That doesn't matter… you've been here before, and clearly haven't improved. That's why it's harsher this time."Clementine: "…Tsss…"
(8 months later)
Guard: "Clementine Hänsenberger. Up, up, you're being released."Clementine: "Hmm."
Once again, she left prison.
She knew exactly who could help her, so she went to them.
Clementine: "Yo."Mei: "Oh… look who it is."
On Mei's lap sat her girlfriend.
Mei: "So… you're out."Clementine: "You could've warned me there were so many cops around."Mei: "Oh dear, sorry… won't happen again."Clementine: "What are you up to?"Mei: "Well… we were planning to rob a bank."Clementine: "Oh… am I in?"Mei: "Of course… hehe… You're the most important one here. Two weeks… so get ready."Clementine: "Aha."
(2 weeks later)
It was time for the operation. Everyone prepared.
Mei: "Alright, masks on."
They did so and went inside.
Mei: "Hands up… everyone!"
Everyone obeyed.
Clementine: "Anyone moves, they die!"
Hands shot into the air.
Mei: "Good… now hand over the money."
The staff handed it over. But one quietly pressed a button.
Mei: "Come on… faster!"
Minutes later, sirens. Police.
Mei: "Ugh."Clementine: "Damn it… which one of you did this?"John: "We're screwed!"Mei: "No time — we have to run!"
They bolted.
Mei: "Ghh… over there!"
They climbed up. A policewoman fired — the bullet hit Clementine in the shoulder.
Clementine: "Urk."Mei: "Huh?"
Officer: "I got one!"
Mei ran to Clementine.
Clementine: "Mei…"Mei: "Ugh!"Clementine: "Huh?"
But Mei didn't help. Instead, she kicked Clementine off the stairs.
Clementine: "Ugh!"
She fell hard to the ground.
Bystander: "Oh my god."
Clementine lay unconscious.
Officer: "Damn it… we need an ambulance, quick!"Other officer: "Why would they do that… abandon their own friend?"
The ambulance arrived, took her away.
(Beep!) (Beep!)
Clementine: "Hahhh… hahhh… hahhh…"Medic: "Hold on, sweetheart…"Clementine: "…Ugh…"
She whispered:Clementine: "…I'm… sorry… I… don't want… to die."Medic: "Ugh…"Clementine: "Hahhh… hahhh…"Medic 2: "It'll be alright…"Officer: "Stop talking nice — she's a criminal."Medic: "I know who she is… Clementine Hänsenberger… the girl who went to prison for defending herself against a molester, and no one believed her. If we hadn't ignored her back then… she wouldn't be here now…"
He stroked her head gently.
Clementine: "Hahhh… hahhh…"Medic: "…Where's your mother? Your family?"Clementine: "Left me… alone."Medic: "Hmm…"
She was brought to the hospital. A few days later, she was out of danger.
(Knock, knock!)
Judge: "Clementine Hänsenberger… this is the third time you're back in prison. What's wrong with you?"Clementine: "Hmm."Judge: "…The verdict: 12 years."Clementine: "Huh!"
She was shocked, couldn't believe it.
Clementine: "…12… years…"
Then she was taken to her cell.
Clementine: "…Damn it… those bastards… especially Mei… she threw me away… she'll pay for that."
(2 years later)
Clementine: "…Hahhh…"
Clementine was waiting for a meeting.
Clementine: "…Hmm…"
She waited with a policeman.
Clementine: "…Tell me… will this take long?"Officer: "Soon."Clementine: "Hahh…"
Suddenly—
Voice: "Aaaaaaaaaaaarghhh!"Clementine: "Huh?"Officer: "Urk… what's going on?"
They opened the door. Prisoners inside.
Prisoner: "Drop your weapon, or we kill the two!"Officer: "Ghhh…"
He threw down his gun. Clementine just sat there… calm.
Prisoner: "You there! Take the gun! Help us!"
Clementine looked at them.
Clementine: "…You mean me?"Prisoner: "Who else? Come on!"
Clementine picked up the gun. Suddenly, she shot one in the leg. He screamed.
Clementine: "Hmm."Prisoner: "You'll regret this!"
One rushed her. She dodged, punched him in the stomach, grabbed his head, slammed it against the table.
Clementine: "Hmm."
The other two still held hostages, trembling.
Clementine: "…Let them go. I'd recommend it. Everyone heard that gunshot."
They rushed her.
Clementine: "Seriously."
She beat them down.
Clementine: "Ah… it's been a while since I did that… my goodness… hmm?"
She saw one of the hostages was a woman.
Clementine: "Are you okay?"
They didn't answer — still afraid because she held the gun. She handed it to them.
Officer: "Yes… thank you…"
Others arrived.
Guard: "What happened here? What did you do?"
They looked at Clementine.
Officer (hostage): "No, wait — it wasn't her… she saved us. She's no criminal… she's a guardian angel."Others: "What?"
A few hours later, everything was cleared up. Clementine was back in her cell.
(A few days later)
A policeman came.
Officer: "Huh… I knew you still had one percent humanity in you."
It was the same officer who once pitied her.
Clementine: "…Hahh… are they okay?"Officer: "Yes. In fact… you have a visitor. Come."
He opened her cell. Someone was waiting.
It was a young man.
Clementine: "Huh."Officer: "That's the woman."Man: "Thank you… thank you so much."Clementine: "Huh?"Man: "You saved my wife… hahh… that day… hahh… thank you."Clementine: "…Uh…"Man: "She was pregnant… we found out after the check-up. You didn't just save my wife… but also my child. You're a wonderful woman. An angel. Thank you."
He held her hand and cried on it.
Clementine: "Ugh… well… uh…"
Man: "Thank you."
Clementine felt something strange… finally, someone who valued her, who recognized her as… human.
It was a beautiful feeling.
That was the moment Clementine decided… to help people.And never again… to be a criminal.