Author's note: Okay, so this is my first The Walking Dead story. And with that in mind, this franchise has many different outcomes and variations as you go. As a result, I will use the choices from my first playthrough and you'll see some smaller aspects of my decisions peppered through. I suppose once I get further along (S4 era) then it will be less subtle. Anyway, enjoy!

My Saviour, My Lifeline - Chapter 1 - Frosty


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I'm running for my life. My chest is tightening as I sprint, my breathing coming out as sharp, ragged pulls for oxygen, the cold air burning in my lungs. They're coming is all I can think, the two words repeating themselves in my head like a broken record. Yet I am numb, unfeeling and unresponsive, except for the laborious strides my legs are taking, automatically leading me through the chunky trees of the forest.

They're coming.

I heaved myself over a fallen tree, ensuring the cord, with a solitary gold ring threaded on it, I clasped in my hand was secure. Slowing my pace down to a jog, I tuck it into my jean pocket so as not to lose it.

They're coming.

I ease my jog up to a run, eager to increase the gap between myself and them, whoever they were. I didn't stick around to find out. I grabbed the necklace and bolted.

My run is at a steady pace, but I know I will have to slow down and stay quiet soon. I don't want to attract those things. I pause for a moment, draw her knife, and keep going. The sharp smell of damp soil lingers in my nostrils and the wet leaves squelch under my mud-coated boots. I readjust the straps on my backpack and push my grimy glasses up my nose, the lenses smudged with fingerprints and flecks of blood. I pull my beanie, a discoloured white now resembling a shade closer to grey, out of my back pocket and drag it over my head before pressing on.

I take two steps before I hear a twig snap underfoot. I take half a step before realising it wasn't under my foot.

"I wouldn't do anything rash if I were you," says a female voice behind me. It sounded youthful, but it had a no-nonsense, cold edge to it. It sounded like it belonged to someone who was well beyond their years. I feel the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head. The simple touch of it makes me sick to my stomach. I announce that I'm going to place my knife on the ground and raise my hands. Slowly, I carry out the actions I promised.

"Now turn around, slowly," says the voice, to which I comply. Standing before me is a girl no older than myself, sporting a grubby baseball cap. A small, chubby face appears over the girl's shoulder; the face of a toddler. The toddler stares at me. I stare back.

"Are you alone?" asks the girl with the gun. "I heard a gunshot."

"That wasn't me," I reply. "I don't carry firearms."

The cap-wearing girl pulls a face of surprise before saying, "If that wasn't you, then we better get going. I don't want to find the people who did fire that shot."

"They're not friendly."

The girl with the cap doesn't reply and walks off. After a few strides, she pauses, registering that I wasn't following. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah."

I jog to catch up to her.


Night has fallen, the crispness of the afternoon has been replaced with an unwelcome chill. The Cap had said it would be best to set up a camp as she was too far away from her community.

"A community? I've always avoided those," I reply, grimacing. The Cap responds with a heavy sigh, bouncing the toddler on her lap. He continues to stare at me.

"You got a name?" I ask the Cap.

"Clementine. And this is AJ. What about you?"

"Alexandra-" I cringe, as I hate the name, "-Alex," I reply, extending a hand. Reluctantly, Clementine takes the hand, and shakes it. I note a tattoo she has on her hand, reading 'AJ'. I conclude that the girl has raised the toddler thus far and that his parents were probably dead. Judging from the lack of family resemblance, I suspect that they probably weren't related. But the tattoo and Clementine's manner with him suggest that she loves him more than anything.

We sit in silence, the weak crackling of the campfire barely filling the mute void. I retrieve the cord from my pocket and let the ring sit in the palm of my hand while the damaged cord dangles. My gaze is locked on the ring, yet I feel nothing. No grief or sadness, just numbness. I shoot a quick glance at Clementine, who is sat against a tree and is gently talking to AJ. I tie the frayed ends of the cord together, forming a tight knot. I examine my handiwork before threading it over my head.

Clementine looks up and spots the glint of gold on my chest. "What's that you've got there?" she asks. I don't reply, instead staring into the red flames of the fire. I watch out of the corner of my eye, I can see that she is staring at me. She seems taken aback by my indifference to the fact that I had completely ignored her. "Rude," she mutters, shaking her head in disbelief. She thinks that I didn't hear. She pulls AJ closer. "Are you warm enough, Goofball?" she coos, leaving a gap for him to respond. Nothing.

"He doesn't talk much, does he?" I pipe up, pulling my beanie more securely onto my head, my unkempt brown hair jutting out of the hat. I watch as Clementine's face creases with concern. "How old is he?" I continue.

"About two."

"He should be talking at this age."

"I know," Clementine grumbles, pulling AJ even closer to her. I can see his tiny body violently shivering against hers. Seeing the tiny tot suffering in this climate is painful. Watching Clementine's desperate and futile attempts to help him sends a pang of pity straight into my chest. I barely know this girl, yet I want to help them out.

"Here," I start as I peel my denim jacket off, "he needs this more than I do." I gently place the jacket around AJ's shoulders.

"Are you sure?" Clementine asks with a concerned expression - this time for my wellbeing, not AJ's.

"I'll be fine," I admit. Judging from the fact that I'm only sporting a T-shirt, Clementine looks unconvinced. I tense my body to mask my shivering and fold my arms across the chest for warmth. "He's just a baby. He's a lot more delicate than I am," I add as I push my glasses up my nose. The fire dies down, the faint lick of warmth it was providing me evaporating away, allowing the bone-chilling elements to work their way into my skin. I gently blow on my hands. I try to keep it quiet enough so Clementine doesn't hear. She's watching AJ slowly nod off, gently caressing his tiny head. She looks up at me.

"Thank you," she whispers, smiling with gratitude.

"No worries," I reply flatly with a dismissive wave of my hand, fighting to keep the shivering out of my voice. She gently brushes a few strands of hair out of her face.

"You don't talk much either."

I shrug. "What is there to talk about?"

"Maybe the fact that you're absolutely freezing?" she presses, shooting me a disapproving look.

"It's no concern of yours," I pathetically mumble, feeling my brow furrow into a scowl.

"It is when I have your jacket right here," she retorts. "Now stop being a stubborn idiot and get over here."

I feel my face twist with a perplexed expression. "Uh... why?"

"It's warmer when you're with other people," she offers weakly. She seems unsure of herself, as if she doesn't know what she's trying to offer. I can tell she's struggling to make her mind up about me; whether she can trust me or not. She's cautious, and even though I'm freezing my ass off, I respect her approach to me. While she's struggling to decide whether I'm trustworthy, I'm likewise unsure of her.

I shake my head. "Clementine, no offence, but I don't know you. I mean, you did have a gun to my head only a few of hours ago."

"I don't know you either, yet I'm letting you stay," she says simply. "But if you want to freeze to death, that's your choice."

We sit in silence again and I concentrate all my energy on not letting my teeth chatter. I watch Clementine and study her. Strong, quiet, pretty.

What? Where did that come from? I remind myself that I only just met this girl. I know nothing about her. I don't know where she's from and I haven't got the slightest idea of the things she's done to survive. I've done some grisly things myself - who hasn't? - but I don't know why she might have done said gruesome things. Has she done stuff to protect herself, or just for the hell of it? Mother or sadist? Who knows? The wind whistles, lapping at my ears and chewing my skin. As I sit shivering, I recall that Clementine mentioned she was trying to get back to her community, so I ask her about it.

"They're called the New Frontier," she says, "and they're based in Richmond."

"And they took you and AJ in?"

She nods.

"If they take in a defenceless kid who can't contribute, then I take it that they're an accepting group?" I muse aloud.

She frowns at me. "Just because AJ is a kid-"

"-who said I was talking about AJ?" I interrupt, feeling a cocky smile grow on my face. She scowls even harder before her face melts into a smile. She lets out a small, sweet laugh. "Sorry, I couldn't resist," I apologise, my face still wearing a half-smile. "In all seriousness, the fact that you're looking after a baby is incredible. I mean, I guess we're like the same age? I can barely take care of myself."

She smiles at the compliment and I feel the chill leave my body. I sit up from my slouched position and shuffle closer to her. "You really have your shit together, Clementine. I respect that," I say, awkwardly looking away from her. What the hell am I doing? I only just met this girl... could this be viewed as flirting? I hope not.

"If anyone has made it this far," she replies, "then they have their shit together. You need to if you want to live."

"Debatable."

"Why's that?"

"I dropped my gun down a sewer drain months ago," I confess. "I was running away from some of the dead. I tripped over and let go of my gun. I watched it skid across the road and clatter straight down the drain," I resume, my voice adopting an unimpressed tone. I sigh, before continuing. "It's one of those stupid mistakes that ultimately get you killed. But for some reason, despite these screw-ups, I seem to be able to get out of some really tight spots. I don't know if it's reflexes or quick-thinking or simply luck, but there have been a lot of close calls that I should not have survived."

"I say that shows you have your shit together," she offers, rubbing her nose.

"For how long though?" I return. "One of these days, I'm going to end up in a tight spot that I won't be able to get out of. I can feel it." I feel my throat tighten as soon as I finish speaking. How much time do I have left? Days? Weeks? My stomach turns thinking about it. My pessimistic thoughts are interrupted by AJ, who emits a tiny squeak as he sleeps. Clementine beams as he shuffles in her arms. My heart melts at the sight of the pair. She peers up and I'm caught looking.

"Alex?"

"What?"

"You were looking at me."

"No, I wasn't."

"You were."

"Nope."

She glares at me and I can't tell if she's genuinely annoyed or is trying to mask a smile. It's unnerving. Clementine looks terrifying when she's pissed. She's even harder to read. It looks as though she's debating whether she would rather stab me or beat me up. Scary.

She attempts to stifle a yawn with little success.

"You get some sleep, I'll keep watch," I offer. She thanks me and starts to drift off while I prepare myself for a long, bitter night.


Clementine

I wake up to AJ poking my face, a habit he's recently gotten himself into whenever he wants my attention. I gently grasp his tiny hand to restrain him.

"That's enough Goofball," I murmur sleepily. He desists his prodding, allowing me to rub my eyes. The bright sunlight is painful at first, but my eyes readjust. I look over to Alex, who is still awake. I blink a few times before register that she looks blue. "Oh my god!" I exclaim, hastily placing AJ on the floor and springing to my feet.

"Morning, Clem," she utters weakly with a pained smile. I whip the jacket off AJ and force her to put it on, which is a clumsy and uncoordinated process.

"Are you okay?" I cry, unable to register what was happening.

"I'm fine," Alex slurs, "I just can't feel my face. Or my legs. Or anything."

I start panicking, unsure of what do to. AJ starts bawling on the ground, clearly hungry. I try to calm him down, painfully conscious of the attention he is going to attract. I watch as Alex sinks out of consciousness, rolling onto her side. I curse. Is she dead? I don't want to stay long enough to find about, but what if she's okay? I can't just abandon her! If she hadn't given me her jacket, this would be AJ instead; she was right, he is more delicate!

She mumbles something, but I can't work out what it is. She's alive! I grab AJ and place him on my back, his screaming piercing my ears. "AJ! You will eat soon but now you need to keep quiet!" I plead, hoisting Alex's backpack over mine. I drop to my knees and slap her face. She stirs, her icy blue eyes briefly locking onto mine. "I'm going to get you out of here," I say shrilly, watching her fade back into unconsciousness. I fumble on her neck to find a pulse; it's dangerously weak.

I think about how far away my car is. Twenty minutes? Thirty? I'm not sure, but I know it will take even longer to get Alex there. I grab her under her arms and start dragging her. She's a lot lighter than I was expecting but we have a long way to go. AJ isn't settling down and it's making my ears ring. I keep dragging Alex but I starting to feel the strain creep into my arms.

Two walkers emerge from the distance, clearly being drawn in by AJ's crying. "Come on Alex! Work with me!" I hiss as I pull her along faster. She's not stirring. For now, the walkers are a comfortable distance away from us, but it would only be a matter of time before that distance shrunk. I pass a decaying, mossy log, which I think nothing off until I see the rotting arm of a walker shoot out from underneath, grabbing onto Alex's boot. It crawls out of its hiding place. I drop my companion, whip out my knife and lunge towards the walking corpse, sinking my blade into its head. It stops moving.

I sheath my knife and pull out my gun instead, before heaving Alex back up. As I drag her along, the arm of the walker I just killed breaks off, its hand still tightly latched onto her foot. Gross. I have to keep moving and I do. I keep dragging, dragging, dragging, constantly watching all my surroundings for any walkers. More of them seem to be cropping up in the distance and no matter how hard I beg, AJ will not stop crying.

I hear a walker snarl behind me. Instantly, I twist around, still holding onto Alex with one hand, and fire a round. The bullet embeds itself right between the eyes of the walker and it drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The gunfire causes AJ to start screaming harder and I wince in pain. I keep dragging Alex, who is still showing no signs of stirring.

It feels like an eternity of dragging Alex, killing walkers, and enduring AJ's cries before I reach the car. A brief wave of relief rushes over me as soon as I lay my eyes upon that scrap heap, but I don't stop. I feels my muscles screaming as I continue to pull Alex, yelling as I go: "Come on Alex! Stay with me! We're almost there!"

"W-what's going on?" she mumbles weakly.

"You're almost safe," I pant, feeling my legs buckle beneath me. "I just need your help to get past the last little bit. Can you walk?"

"Yes," she mumbled. I stop dragging Alex and help her to her feet, with her arm hooked around my neck, mine around her waist for support. The sudden lack of strain on my arms is a sweet relief, and we stagger to the car. I open the read passenger door and bundle Alex inside, before tearing open the front passenger side door and placing AJ on the seat. I buckle him up and hastily slam the car door. As a spin around, a walker lunges at me, pinning me against the car. My muscles start singing in agony again as soon as they have to hold up more weight and I find that I can't move. I feel my arms slowly give way beneath the walker, drawing it in closer...

My face is sprayed with a cold, disgusting-smelling liquid and the walker sags in my arms. I shove it away from me, where it tumbles to the ground. I breathe heavily, unable to process what had just happened. And then I see the knife sticking out of its head. I look to my left and find an exhausted-looking Alex clinging to the car door.

"Could you get my knife for me?" she asked quietly. "Because if I let go of this car door I will fall over."


So that's it! If you enjoyed it, drop a review and if you're interested in more, slap it on your alerts list with a follow!

Until next time,

Subtle