The Walking Dead
This will be a story about Kenny, Clementine, AJ and Luke, trying to make their way to Wellington. After their escape from Howe's, this is where the story diverts from the main game and becomes and Alternate Universe, where everyone is lost, and are unknown status until our characters discover otherwise, if they discover anything at all. There was no meetup point at Parker's Run as the escape happened too fast as they were discovered by Carver in the garage (like in the game), but they weren't able to discuss escape plans due to Rebecca's early birth of AJ.
The people that are left are Clementine, Luke, Kenny, AJ, Bonnie, Mike, Jane, Sarah and Nick. Everyone else is either dead or missing. Carlos died in the escape, just like in the game, however Nick is not shot and wounded, and instead of Luke and Nick running after Sarah, it is just Nick who chases after her. Sarita also dies just like she does in the game in the crowd of walkers.
In the end, Nick chases after Sarah with Jane following. Mike and Bonnie disappear together, with Kenny, Luke, AJ and Clementine escaping together and eventually come upon an abandoned church, which is where this story will start.
Works in progress:
The walking dead game video - Lee and Clementine tribute - Lee's Legacy (completed on 25/03/2015 /f3l19vvpr2o)
My first impressions on the walking dead, episode by episode videos - In progress, 0.5% complete (hehe)
An alternate scene with Luke/Kenny/Clementine and AJ - First Draft complete - Additions in progress
Lost our way
18/3/2015
added a little background to why Kenny is acting the way he is, fleshed out searching the crypt a little too, and revealed what was used for firewood.
21/3/2015
added some information about the escape and why AJ was born early.
26/03/2015
Added more content. Backstory for Clementine's escape from Savannah. Luke and Kenny's feelings leading up to their confrontation. Why Kenny has changed his attitude after the fight. Clementine's feelings when Kenny and Luke are fighting etc. I would like to say the chapter is complete, but I will leave it down to you guys to decide if it needs improving some more.
01/04/2015
Chapter 2 in planning stages
06/04/2015
Chapter 2 up to 3,000 words
29/04/2015 chapter 2 up to 11,632 words, scene 2 almost completed, reducing chapter 2 to 3 or 4 scenes. Updated chapter 1 to have the story flow more fluidly, and brought chapter in line with what chapter 2 will read like. Almost as if I had forgot to write really. It has been about 5 years or more since I last wrote something so although some bits of this chapter were good, it was still very rusty and inconsistent. Hopefully this review will iron all of that out. Current estimated progress on chapter 2 is around 40% or a little less.
30/04/2015
proof read chapter 1 ready to upload. Attempting to continue with chapter 2.
06/05/2015
Chapter 2 released, started planning of chapter 3. Found music for my next tribute video, which will be to Clementine, again, but without speech. I would also like to apologise for the darkness of chapter 2.
Would like to credit Lilacsbloom for helping with the characterisation, and helping me improve all aspects of the narrative, and with that extending my whole hearted thanks for all of the support you have gave me, thank you.
Thank you to all who have taken the time to review my story so far, I am pleased it has been positive, as all the hard work I spent researching has paid off by the looks of it, although it is very early days right now. I will keep updating on my progress for my work on Tumblr and twitter, follow me at and /pabloOftheDead
I do plan on making more stories, but for now I am focusing on this one.
10/05/2015
Chapter 3 started, given the title of Bitter Sweet.
Chapter 3 completed
?/05/2015
Chapter 4, given the title Friends to the End.
Chapter 4 completed
03/06/2015
Chapter 5 started, given the title To Parker's Run.
Theme tune for this chapter is Never Meant to belong by Shiro Sagisu (give it a listen while you read.)
Lost Our Way
Kenny, Luke and Clementine, who was carrying AJ ever since the escape from Howe's, had come upon a small church in the middle of a meadow, right as a storm was passing by. This was no ordinary storm however as temperatures were plummeting, and the wind not too far off hurricane speeds at times. As they approached the church, which looked quite derelict and run down, it became obvious that the doors were sealed shut from the inside. Kenny slams his fist on the door and exclaims.
"Fuck, its locked. These doors are sealed shut, there's no way in."
Clementine flinched at the noise the door gave off when Kenny slammed his fist onto it, trying to open the door to no avail. Looking at her surroundings she spotted a crypt not far off the church in the graveyard, facing the doors to the church.
"What about over there?"
Clementine was pointing out the crypt that she had spotted. It had a narrow entrance which faced the church, it looked perfect, but was it clear of walkers?
Kenny looked in the direction Clementine was pointing, taking his hat off and rubbing his hair for a moment as he thought about it for a second. Out of options, he replies.
"Clem, see if you can find your lighter, we are going to need some light in that place."
Pleased with her find, Clementine patted her pockets looking for the lighter.
"Sure, I have it right here."
Pulling the lighter out of her left pocket, shaking it to see if there was still gas in it, she smiled at Kenny and said cheerily.
"Still has gas I think."
Frowning slightly, Kenny remarked.
"Good, last thing we want is no way of making a fire, not with this god damned wind and rain."
Kenny approached the crypt with caution, the wind howling an eerie tune as it whistled through the gaps in the crumbling walls.
"This place is perfect, we can see the entrance to the church from in here, so if any of our friends make it here, we will know."
Luke, walking in front of Clementine and AJ, looking out for any trouble, had a thought, and spoke his mind.
"We should see if we can find something to make a sort of torch. There aint gonna be nothin' out here, everything's too wet."
Kenny nodded and said.
"Okay, should be something in the crypt to light it, hopefully an oil lamp. Stay close, don't wanna get chomped by a walker. Pass me that lighter Clem."
Clementine handed Kenny the lighter, and he tried to light it, but will not light because of the wind and rain. Kenny shouted in frustration.
"God DAMMIT. I can't get this useless piece of shit to work."
Luke sensed the anger in Kenny's voice, and calmly suggested.
"Calm down Kenny, it should light if we try and huddle together and keep the wind from it."
Clementine nodded and smiled at Luke as she interjected.
"Luke's right Kenny, we just have to stop the wind from effecting it too much."
Kenny realised that losing his temper would not help right now calmed down enough to reply courteously.
"Alright, fine. Without light, we aint going in there, god knows what could be lurking inside."
Luke turned to Clementine and they exchanged a nervous smile as he reminded Kenny.
"Right, we've lost enough tonight that's for sure."
Kenny glared at Luke as the group huddled together, Clementine holding AJ close to her chest with her back to the wind. Luke stood right next to Clementine, his back to the wind too.
"Okay stay like that, I think this should work, come closer to the entrance, so we can light it."
Clementine and Luke edged closer to the entrance, with Kenny walking backwards, trying not to trip over the uneven ground leading up to the entrance.
Kenny took several attempts to light the lighter, but it sparked to life.
"Okay good, that's good, come into the entrance, and lets see what we have here."
Kenny turned around so he was facing forwards, holding the lighter in front of him, shielding the flame with his hands, the flame flickering because of the wind and scanned the place for walkers.
What they saw was astonishing, the dim light from the lighter revealing a crypt with a marble coffin in the centre of the room, with coffins from floor to ceiling, reflecting gold in the dim light. Wherever this was, it must have been for someone important. Out of the corner of his eye, Kenny spotted an oil lamp hanging next to the entrance.
"Thank Christ. An oil lamp, lets get this thing lit, so we can see better."
Kenny took down the oil lamp, and fiddled with it trying to get it to light. After a couple of attempts, the oil lamp flared into life, giving off a brighter light that they could use to search the crypt for walkers and make it safe.
Luke rested his hand on Clementine's shoulder as he spoke to her with confidence.
"Lets see if there are any more so we can see properly, Clem, keep watch at the entrance, while we look around."
Looking into his eyes, exchanging a nervous smile she nervously replied.
"Okay, I'll keep an eye out for our friends, and I will shout if any walkers come lurking."
Smiling, trying to reassure Clementine, Luke scratched his chin for a second.
"Right, this place doesn't look too big, but we can't be too careful right?"
Looking down to the floor and biting her lip for a second, she looked up, her face full of anxiety.
"Be careful okay?"
Sensing the nervousness Clementine was feeling, Luke tried to reassure Clementine, giving her a confident smile.
"You know me Clem, Kenny and I can take care of ourselves, right Kenny?"
Arms folded as he carefully watched Luke and Clementine's little exchange, his face like thunder.
"I gotta take care of all of you, aint nobody else getting nothing done round here."
Luke frowned at that comment, but kept it to himself. Kenny was acting like a real jerk, because he lost Sarita just a few hours ago, but for Luke, he had lost people too, and he did not know if they were alive or dead, something he felt Kenny did not get. That was eating away at Luke, could he have done more to keep everyone together? He felt sure he could have, he knew it in his bones, but here they were, with just himself, Kenny, Clementine and AJ. All he could do was hope that they found their way to the church too.
Kenny and Luke entered the crypt, the glow from the oil lamp lighting up the marble floor, which was seriously damaged, the floor cracked, and some tiles poking up, with Luke almost falling over one.
Rolling his eyes, Kenny snapped.
"Dammit Luke, keep your shit together would you."
Surprised and a little embarrassed Luke quickly stood up.
"Sorry, I tripped on the broken tile there."
Slowly they walked up to the marble coffin in the centre of the room. It was still sealed shut. The engraving on the side reading The Cardinal of St. Peter's church 1807.
The light from the oil light revealing that the crypt was not very big at all and was like a box room, however there looked to be a small passage right at the back of the room, so Kenny and Luke headed for the passage, with caution. There was nothing to be worried about, the small passage led to what looked like another crypt of the same size, however, there was a steel gate, which was locked, just inside the passage where they were. There was another steel gate at the end of the passage, which also appeared to be locked. Next to the gate, hung another oil lamp which they took down and lit.
Kenny and Luke headed back to Clementine giving the all clear.
Grinning ear to ear, Luke smiled and cheerily called over to Clementine.
"This place is not big at all, no walkers that we can see, and we could use the coffins to make a fire, and we have plenty of light."
Smiling back, relief washed over her, as the anxiety she felt washed away, she replied thankfully.
"Good, AJ will need to keep warm, this wind is freezing, and the rain is making things worse."
Ushering Clementine away from the entrance and toward the centre of the crypt, where Luke put down his machete and carry bag with his things in.
"Okay come away from the entrance, and let me get the fire started. Help me check these coffins, I don't want no surprises."
Going through the motions Clementine allowed Luke to gently lead her away from the entrance and to the centre of the crypt. She put her bag down next to Luke's carry bag. Laying AJ down in between her bag, and Luke's carry bag, so he felt like he was still being cuddled, Clementine took a quick look at his sleeping face, grinning slightly as she did so. Snapped back to reality she looked up at Luke, dread spreading across her face, she managed to reply in a defeated tone.
"Okay, I will help."
Putting his duffel bag down near the entrance to the crypt, Kenny sat down and started staring at the coffins, the gold reflecting back the light from the oil lamps. His face reflecting that of a broken man. He was reflecting on the events that had taken place just a few hours earlier. Sarita was his love, and now she was gone, yet another failure in his life that he felt powerless to stop. Would this never ending cycle of failures stop? He felt hopeless, worthless, yet he could not find the will to end it all on his own. He had to carry on, he had to fight. He promised Rebecca he would take care of AJ, before she died he promised.
All of his guilt, all of his failures, he had resolved that he was going to do the right thing by AJ. He was all that mattered now. He cared deeply for Clementine, but a part of him knew she could take care of herself. When he was beaten to an inch of his life, he wanted the pain to end, he felt at peace that he was finally going to a better place. When he woke up, he felt relief at first that he was not dead. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, he wanted to end this hellish existence. He was in pain, but as a man, he felt he could not show it, he had to be stong, he had to be strong for everyone. Sarita understood him, and she comforted him when he was angry.
Sarita was a woman he had never felt such a connection with other than Katjaa. He missed Katjaa so much, she meant so much to him, but to take her own life like that? Kenny could not forgive her for that, it confused and angered him that she would do that. When Sarita found Kenny, he had all but given up. He did not know how long it was since he had last eaten, or even slept, and frankly he did not care. His strength was leaving him, until this woman called Sarita came and saved him from himself, and from the walkers that were about to enter the restaurant called Gil's pitstop.
This woman was one of a kind. She was kind, and gentle, but a very strong woman in herself. In the first few days Kenny was close to dying, and Sarita tended to him, keeping him alive, feeding him and giving him water until his strength had returned enough to walk out of Gil's pitstop unaided. Sarita had talked none stop to Kenny, reassuring him that he was going to make it. He saw Katjaa in her, and even though he wasn't capable of looking after himself at the time, he grew fond of Sarita very quickly indeed. By the time he was able to get up and walk on his own, he had really formed a strong bond with Sarita, a one he had thought would never be broken, not while he was alive. He would die protecting her, that was his vow to himself, if they were in trouble, he would die saving her.
How wrong he was, here he was, in a crypt with Luke, Clementine and AJ, and Sarita was gone. He had failed again. The anger he felt towards himself was building up with each passing minute. He only had two things left in his life that he wanted to protect. That was Clementine, and AJ. He was NOT going to fail this time.
He looked up at Luke, watching him and Clementine as they pulled a coffin free of its tomb.
The suspicion he felt towards Luke had been eating away at him from the first time he met him. He could only ever imagine Clementine with Lee by her side, so it was odd when he saw Clementine being so positive about Luke when he first reunited with her back at the lodge. There was something about Luke that Kenny could not put his finger on. He didn't like how Clementine and Luke acted like they had known each other for years, it just didn't seem right. Maybe he was being paranoid, but Kenny felt like Luke was trying to take everyone he cared about from him. A sudden burst of rage filled him, which he quickly suppressed by looking out of the entrance towards the church and watching the rain drops bounce off the floor like a fountain.
Clementine was helping Luke to remove one of the many coffins lining the crypt, the gold reflecting back, bathing their faces in a yellow glow. Clementine was concentrating hard, breathing heavily and her face twisted a little as she tried to lift the coffin.
"Ugh, this thing is heavier than it looks!"
"Don't drop it Clem!" Luke exclaims as they attempt to lift the coffin together.
Starting to lose grip of the coffin, she struggled to keep the coffin up, her face changing from pained to shocked as the coffin slipped free of her hands crashing the front end of the coffin to the floor.
Luke saw Clementine was struggling, but was too late to be of any help as she dropped the coffin. Concerned for Clementine's well being Luke exclaimed.
"Woah, are you okay Clem?"
Nodding slowly, her hand over her mouth, she replied, shock in her voice.
"Yeah, are you? I couldn't hold on, sorry."
Luke grinned at Clementine and playfully said.
"I know, it's not like your as strong as me, being a grown up and all."
Playfully punching Luke in the shoulder Clementine joked.
"You know Luke, you sure are a funny guy aren't you."
The pair laughed for a brief moment and then both of them focused on the contents of the coffin that had spilled all over the floor.
Rummaging through the debris, Luke looked up at Clementine with a slight frown on his face.
"Whoever this was has been dead a long ass time."
"Yeah I guess. Their head is in tact. Whenever they died was before the dead started walking again." Clementine replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah thank god for that." Luke agreed.
Clementine looked across at AJ where she had laid him down, after she was given the all clear. She had wrapped him in his blankets snugly, and was still laying peacefully next to the marble coffin in the centre of the crypt. Still in between Clementine's bad, and Luke's carry bag. She was pleased to see he was still fast asleep, very surprised that he was still asleep, as he was no more than a few hours old at this point. The escape from Howe's had went horribly wrong at first, and then everything just happened so fast, that everyone got separated.
Everything was going to plan until Carver came across everyone in the garage preparing to leave. He held them all at gun point as Clementine returned from the office. She had never been so scared in all of her life, she was sure that Carver would notice her on the racking above him. Her heart was pounding fifty to the dozen as she leapt from the racking to land on Carver. She missed him by a fraction, but it was enough to distract him so everyone could gain the upper hand.
It however did not change the fact that before she got back from the office that he had shot Rebecca right after she gave birth to AJ. Everybody had banded together to deliver the baby that day just before they were trying to escape. They all knew they had to escape because Rebecca feared for her life, not knowing what Carver was going to do. It was one of those things that won't ever leave a person, not knowing whether AJ was Alvin's or whether it was Carver's. In the end, nobody will ever know, and Rebecca no longer had the chance to raise her child. Kenny had helped deliver AJ alongside Carlos, the stress of all of the events had sent Rebecca into an early labour. If everybody had not pulled together, AJ would have been another victim of Carver's wrath.
Upon giving birth to AJ, she made Kenny promise that AJ would be safe, and that he would take him away and make sure Carver would never get his hands on him. After Carver had killed Alvin, a small part of Rebecca had died that day, and she had grown to be really quiet, until she gave birth to AJ. She had never trusted Kenny, but she had started to trust Clementine by the time they reached the Lodge. As Lee had once said, that girl had been a survivor right from day one, and Rebecca could see how well she handled herself. She had regretted everything that she had said to Clementine when they first met, and she even apologised to Clementine explaining that with her so close to giving birth, that her mood was all over the place. She did not expect Clementine to understand, but she did hope she would remember her words if anything had happened to her.
"Clementine, I want you to promise me that if anything ever happens, that you will take care of my baby. I want you to make sure they are safe. I have not known you long, but you are resourceful, and I am sorry that I was so mean to you when we first met. I was being...emotional when we first met, you know being so close to birth I really did not want to be in harms way. Honestly I wish things could have been different, maybe Alvin would still be here, I just don't know what to do any more. I just want to know that my baby will be safe."
Clementine had not known what to say at that time, she was shocked at the change that Rebecca had gone through from when they first met. She had seemed so sure of herself when they first met, but now, she just seemed...broken.
A look of disdain on her face, Clementine replied "I can't make any promises Rebecca, I don't know how to raise a baby, maybe Kenny would be better, he has had Duck to raise before."
Clementine had always felt regret at what she had said to Rebecca, as it is the last time they ever spoke. Looking at AJ all peaceful, being wrapped up tightly in his blankets, a determination was growing inside her like a warm fire. She had to keep this baby safe, no matter what.
Luke caught Clementine's gaze and guessed at what she was thinking about.
"Rebecca did like you, you know. She was just looking out for us when she first met you."
Clementine looked to the floor, holding her left arm with her right hand she sadly replied "I know, I just wish I had said something nicer before Carver murdered her."
Sensing the guilt emanating from the slim figure before him, he tried to reassure her by stooping down to her level and looking her in the eyes. "There aint nothin' any of us could have done. He would have killed you had you arrived but a moment sooner. I am glad you didn't have to see it, it was horrible."
Closing her eyes and looking away, her voice breaking slightly as she replied"It doesn't change the fact that I didn't promise her. I really wish I had."
Calmly Luke tried to reassure Clementine, hugging her as he stroked her hair "All you can do now is help us all look after him, so long as you take care of him, I am sure Rebecca will be watching down on us and smiling that you are there for AJ."
Looking up into Luke's eyes, her eyes wide and hopeful "I sure hope so, I like to think mom, dad and Lee are looking down on me and protecting me."
Sensing the pain behind her eyes, Luke said softly "I would like to think that too Clementine. Every little helps to keep it together these days. There's not much hope left in this world, but you and AJ, your our hope okay kid? Just remember that. We need to get to Wellington and get everyone safe, so there can be hope for our future."
Snuggling in for but a second, Clementine released their embrace and once again looks to the floor, her voice filled with trepidation. "I hope Wellington is out there, we need somewhere safe, where we can live and not fear for our lives every passing minute of every day, that is all I want."
Kenny had been watching Luke and Clementine's exchange and caught the sadness in her face. The anger he felt washed away in an instant and was replaced by sheer sadness and guilt. He felt sorry for Clementine, even if it was for but a moment. She had been through so much, he felt ashamed at what he had said to Clementine when she was trying to help fend off the walkers from Sarita. He had failed to protect his love, and he took it out on the person he felt closest too. His face was glowing red and balled his fists as he looked down to the floor for a moment to try and compose himself.
The anger he felt was boiling inside him as he shifted his gaze to Luke, what was his game anyway? Was Luke trying to steal away what little he had left in this unholy world? How ironic, that in a holy place like this crypt, that these hallowed grounds were soiled by the walking dead, rotten corpses living to take away all that he cared about. And now Luke too? Kenny felt lost in that moment, like he had lost his way, and was losing what he was fighting so hard to keep. He stood up and walked over to AJ to have a look at how he was doing, turned and spoke to Clementine.
"He's doing fine Clem, I don't know how he is still asleep, considering he is only a few hours old. He should need feeding soon, could you check your pack for some formula and get that fire going, he will need fed soon."
Sensing the irritation in Kenny's voice, she replied softly "Okay Kenny, let us get this fire started first okay?"
His fists balled for a second, his face flush as he tried to control his emotions, Kenny managed to reply in a civil manner. "Okay Clem, but quick as you can, we don't want him crying much or we are fucked if walkers start piling in here."
Becoming irritated with Kenny's micromanagement, Clementine snapped. "I know Kenny"
Clementine looked at Kenny trying to figure out what was going on inside his mind, and she didn't like what she saw. She knew that look, Kenny was in a dark place again, and she no longer knew how to bring him back. She was worried now, so she hurried as fast as she could to help Luke use the wood from the coffin to start the fire.
Sifting through the debris, Luke picked up what looked like an old cloth, dusty and old, he turned and asked. "Clem, light this old rag for me would you?"
Happy to help as best she could, Clementine cheerily replied "Sure, Luke."
With that Clementine lit the rag, and it burst into flames immediately it was so old and dry.
Luke was arranging the wood from the coffin so it would burn more efficiently, while Clementine went over to her backpack next to the marble coffin in the centre of the crypt, she had a quick look towards the church doors to see if there was any movement, there wasn't. All she could see was very heavy rain pounding off the ground, creating a thunderous noise like drum rolls as it did so. As she took the baby bottle and formula out of her backpack she looked over to Luke and spoke.
"We ought to respect the dead you know Luke, we need to lay the remains to rest properly"
Thinking along the same lines, he did not know how to bring it up without angering Kenny. Clementine had beaten him to it, so he replied, slight relief in his voice. "I know, your right. As much as we need this fire, I don't want to disrespect this persons remains, whoever they may have been."
Becoming more and more irritated by Luke and Clementine's little exchanges, Kenny snapped. "Fuck the dead, they aint gonna know are they? We need this fire, AJ need's this fire, do what the fuck you want, but I aint helping you with that shit."
Frowning with his cheeks burning Luke raised his voice slightly. "Kenny, stop being such an asshole, its not a matter of who needs what, we just want to respect this persons remains, that's all."
Balling his fists, frowning Kenny snapped back. "What, you think your some saint now Luke? Fuck you."
Scared as to where this would lead, Clementine tried to make peace with Kenny. "We're all tired, I think we should rest a while, we are all exhausted from running."
Having none of it Kenny continued his tirade. "My Sarita is dead because of you Clementine, I told you to watch her"
Holding her left arm with her right hand, and looking at the floor, Clementine tried to defend her actions. "I was watching out for Sarah, I am sorry Kenny, when I saw Sarita being attacked I tried my best to stop the walkers, but I am just too little, I couldn't stop them all."
Unhappy with the way Kenny was treating Clementine, Luke raised his voice again, anger in his voice. "You know Kenny, you could have got us all killed screaming like that, it aint right y'know, there aint nothin' none of us could have done, right Clem?"
Looking up and looking into Kenny's eyes Clementine replied with regret in her voice. "I did what I could, I'm sorry Kenny, it happened too fast."
Anger rapidly rising, Kenny suppressed his rage as best he could. He replied with anger and sorrow filling his words. "Too fast? So all of a sudden you got slow now huh? Don't give me that bullshit, you could have stopped it Clementine, but you were more concerned for that Sarah than my Sarita."
Defeated and thoroughly exhausted Clementine replied. "Kenny don't, I just...I...sigh."
Clementine hung her head with tears in her eyes. She was painfully aware of what had happened and she felt helpless. Had she just been that bit bigger and that bit stronger, she could have fought her way to Sarita faster couldn't she? She no longer knew what to say to Kenny to bring him back to reality. He was hurting bad and was in a dark place, but so was Clementine. She was just as upset at losing Sarita as Kenny was, even though she did not know her long at all, she knew she meant a lot to Kenny. It hurt Clementine to think that she had failed to save Kenny's partner, and she was well aware of the bond they had between each other. She knew more than anyone the pain that is experienced when you lose someone so close to you, she had lost Lee, and she had lost both of her parents in the space of ten minutes. The emptiness she felt at those moments was too painful. Upon leaving Savannah, she was lost both figuratively and literally, she can not recall how she ended up outside of Savannah. She just left the jewellery store and wandered aimlessly, feeling lost and lonely. She did not even look up at all the walkers around her, she just kept her head down, her head swimming with sadness as she wandered slowly down each street.
Eventually she was no longer in the city, just wandering across some fields, alone. She had never felt so lost in all of her life. She kept herself going by reciting the last words of her friend Lee, and the last phone call her mom and dad had made. Her hat was dirty, and she hoped her dad would forgive her for that, there was no way on earth it was going to stay clean in this hellish existence. She had to stay strong, she had to survive, she did not want Lee to have died protecting her for nothing. Her heart was bursting with pain, and she knew how Kenny felt, but Clementine was able to keep going, she HAD to keep going, she did not want Lee to have died in vain. Clementine did not understand what kept Kenny going any more, but she did know that he had grown a sudden attachment to AJ and was certain that that poor little boy's well being was what drove him to keep going. She was uncertain if Kenny still felt protective of her any more as his moods would swing wildly from being upbeat to bursts of rage. He was losing it, slowly but surely, and she was sure that nothing that she would say right now would stop Kenny from being tipped over the edge, so she chose not to say anything.
Observing Clementine, Luke noticed the shift in her body language and knew he had to stop this before things got out of hand. Sternly Luke tried to keep the peace. "Look we need to rest Kenny, one of us needs to watch that entrance for our friends, I'll take first watch."
Physically and emotionally exhausted, Kenny was at breaking point, snapping. "Fine, but don't you go wandering off, or I'll end you, you hear me?, try ANYTHING! and I'll end you."
Luke tended the small fire he and Clementine had made, to do two things, one, to keep AJ and everyone else warm on this horrible night, and two so that anyone passing close to the church could see the crypt glowing with the warm orange light it radiated. The oil lamps were well lit by now and the crypt was bathed in light. Luke turned one of the lamps off so it was not too bright, so Kenny and Clementine could rest a little bit easier. He picked up the baby formula and bottle and put them back into Clementine's bag, making sure everything was in its place.
Clementine could not get to sleep easily, for a good while she would stare at the ceiling replaying the events of the escape in her head. Was she to blame? Could she have saved Sarita? What about Sarah? Where is she now, is she dead? She had no way of knowing how Sarah was or what any of the others were doing, they were lost, horribly lost. How had it come to this?
The wind was fierce and the rain driving into the ground sending water droplets dancing above the ground, with the monotonous soundtrack it produced, little AJ breathing heavily as he slept. How she fell asleep, she does not know, maybe the sound of the rain had hypnotised her into a trance and sent her to sleep, or just the sheer fact that she was exhausted beyond anything she had ever felt before. Clementine was aching head to foot, but sleep eventually took her, just like death takes you eventually.
Luke was watching Clementine and AJ, not concerning himself with Kenny, as he could take care of himself, the warm glow of the fire lighting up their faces like angels in the night. Satisfied they were both sound asleep he looked back to the church entrance, nothing had stirred, no sounds of footsteps, nothing. Just wind and rain, the incessant howling of the wind getting louder, the trees in the woods not too far behind the church grounds could be heard rattling against each other, leaves rustling loudly, as the storm raged on.
An hour passed, then another, and another, the storm was getting worse. The wind was so strong the weather vein could be heard spinning on its point, the squeak squeak squeak, akin to that of a crank shaft off the really old cars that had to be started with a handle. The noise was tremendous, so Luke was taking extra care to look for any movement at all, that wasn't trees blustering about or debris flying past, all they needed was to be attacked by walkers now, that would be horrible.
Flash
Suddenly a flash lit up the church, its spire rising tall all the way to where a bell once was, it was gone, so Luke assumed this church was either abandoned or in disrepair, or one of those new age churches which replaced the bell with a speaker system. It's stain glassed windows depicting the birth of baby Jesus, Luke thought to himself that's hope right there, maybe that's a sign for you AJ buddy.
Kenny was trying to get to sleep as Luke took first watch, and he found that no matter how hard he tried he could not get to sleep. The sight of all the coffins in the crypt got him thinking about everyone he had lost who he had loved. Katjaa, Duck, Sarita and dare he say Lee? They had not always seen eye to eye, but Lee was a good man, who made valid points at every turn. That guy was smart, and he found he did actually miss him too, despite them not always getting along.
Come to think of it Clementine and Lee were like two peas in a pod, they were never far away from each other, always there for each other. And this somehow left Kenny feeling angry. He felt angry that Luke was trying to take care of Clementine, like he was her big brother or something. It should be Lee who was taking care of her, not him. The more he thought about this the angrier he became, his thoughts soon turning to AJ. The paranoia and sense of loss was filling Kenny with rage, he was fit to burst. He wasn't going to let Luke get near AJ, he was not going to let him try and take over looking after him too, there was no way he was going to let that happen.
Luke went over to AJ, slowly and quietly so as not to wake anyone up, to look at his face a little closer. It was a mistake that almost cost him his life.
Kenny was not asleep still and heard Luke creeping closer to where AJ was asleep, he could not suppress his rage any longer.
Raising his voice, Kenny shouted. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
Surprised and caught off guard Luke only managed to utter. "wh..." Before Kenny jumped up out of his sleeping position landing a punch square in Luke's chest sending him reeling backwards. He stumbled on a paving slab and fell out of the crypt, banging his head hard outside.
bang
The sound of the thunder erupting like a volcano spreading its thunderous echo all around, it must be a fair distance away, as it took a good twelve seconds between the flash and the bang.
Luke was taken aback by the violence that had erupted from Kenny. He had thought he was asleep, and he was wrong. He had been thinking about his friends and praying that they were all okay. Deep down inside he regretted not being with them, he cared for Clementine as the little sister he had never had, but he still missed his friends. He missed Nick, and the thoughts of that sparked something inside him. Being a passive person, it took a lot to anger Luke, but Kenny had crossed the line, and he felt his anger rising as he tried to stand up. It was freezing cold outside and the wind was howling now, the storm really was raging around them, the rain coming down like a waterfall.
Clementine woke with a jolt, like she had had a really bad dream and sat up bolt upright. Where's Kenny? Where's Luke? She glanced over and AJ was still sound out, his chest heaving up and down as he slept.
Standing over Luke, Kenny screamed. "What the fuck were you doing to AJ you prick?!"
Dazed and confused, Luke tried defending himself. "I was just checking on him y'know, making sure he was okay."
Luke knew that Kenny could lose it completely, but to be honest he was at breaking point himself. Too much shit had happened that day to last a lifetime, and he just could not find it in himself to let it drop. The anger was starting to build inside himself, but he was managing to stay calm for now, but he did not know how long that would last.
Balling his fists, Kenny yelled. "Yeah sure you were, you think I was born yesterday country boy?"
Kenny dragged Luke to his feet, blood visibly running down his face, wind pulling at his clothes flapping his pants around hopelessly, the rain bouncing off his head before dropping back to earth.
Clementine noticed a shape moving beyond the fire, and then heard Kenny's voice over the wind, dammit.
Running to the crypt entrance, Clementine pleaded. "Kenny, STOP!, what are you doing?"
Desperately trying to calm him down, Luke begged. "Kenny, listen to her, I wasn't doing nothin' I swear."
Luke was starting to lose patience with Kenny now, and he was finding it hard to control his anger.
Convinced their was some other agenda that Luke had, Kenny was having none of it. "The fuck you were'nt, you were planning on takin' him weren't you, you shitbird. I told you I would end you if you tried anything."
Kenny punched Luke right in the stomach, the thud was loud as Luke fell to his knees.
Gasping for air he tried speaking to Kenny. "Kenny stop, we don't need no more drama tonight okay? Just calm down okay? Clem talk some sense into him will ya?"
Flash
The lightning illuminated their surroundings but for a moment. The church was in the centre of what appeared to be a small meadow, which was surrounded by woods. The trees standing tall, like silent spectators to this fracas between friends. The church was old, really old, and looked in need of some desperate TLC, but it was sturdy and still standing. The rain was coming down like a river now, the rain so heavy and loud that it was hard to hear anything at all.
Trying desperately to get through to Kenny, Clementine pleaded. "Kenny, listen to me for once in your life! STOP IT! We are all that is left, do you want to be responsible for Luke's death?"
Kenny turned to Clementine for a second, his face twisted with rage as he barked
"Don't talk to me about being responsible for death, YOU are just as bad, if not worse, Sarita is dead...because of YOU!"
Bang
That comment to Clementine was the last straw for Luke. He had finally lost his temper with Kenny, and started to fight back. He was not gong to let him treat Clementine like that, no way. Luke had no choice but to fight back. Kenny wanted to kill him and this had to stop, now.
The thunder cracking loudly overhead as Luke tried to take Kenny down so he could restrain him, by kicking behind his knee, he failed to connect properly.
Kenny lashed out catching Luke in the side of the face, cutting his cheek in the process. A river of crimson spilling out onto his face, immediately diluted by the heavy rain fall.
Despite being so fired up now, Luke was not going to win this fight. Kenny just seemed so much more fired up than he was. Something had totally snapped inside Kenny, and all Luke could do now, was defend himself, and stop Kenny from killing anybody else today.
"Clem, do something!"
"Kenny please stop, please stop, pleeeeease."
Clementine was witnessing two friends trying to kill each other and yet again, she could not stop it, she was too small. The only thing she had to gain her friends attention was her gun. Surely they would not make her shoot them? She did not want to choose who to shoot, surely they were not selfish enough to make her choose between them were they? Her heart was breaking again for the countless time that day, how much more pain would she have to suffer? Would this endless cycle of death ever end?
The emptiness she felt once again washing over her like a giant wave of pain. Her heart imploding, crushed with sadness. Once again she found herself struggling to stop the adults around her from permanently changing her life for the worse.
Flash
The trees were still staring, watching, silent witnesses to events that would haunt Clementine for the rest of her life.
The churches earthing rod was not there, the metal no longer sitting proud on the top of the church, it had simply disappeared over time, maybe this church really was abandoned.
She pulled the gun from her lower back and cocked it
"please Kenny, please stop, pleeeeeeease stop. Both of you stop it, pleeeease!"
She closed her eyes repeating it over and over, tears streaming down her face as the men continued to trade blows, the wind was dying down, and so was the rain. She was helpless, lost, lonely, sad, and worst of all witnessing her friends that she cared for dearly, intentionally hurting each other. She did not want to shoot anyone, she could not hurt anyone else.
"A part of growing up is doing what's best for the people you care about, even if sometimes that means hurting someone else."
The words Lee had said to her prominent in her mind, as she remembers all too clearly that night in the RV. Lilly had completely lost her senses too, and she had killed Carley right in front of Clementine. She would never forget that night, never.
"I don't want to hurt anyone."
The tears flowing freely down her face as events of that night flashed through her mind.
"It's not that easy."
Those final words breaking her heart even more. How could she stop her friends from hurting each other without hurting them? She took a deep breathe and looked at the two men fighting, aiming her gun towards them. She went to pull the trigger but she could not bring herself to do it. Why won't they take any notice of me?
BANG
The lightning struck a tree at the edge of the forest, an enormous crack and the sound of wood splintering as the tree groaned and protested. With an almighty bang, the tree was felled, split in two right at the top. The noise of the tree falling was horrendous.
Out of frustration Clementine fired her gun, into the air BANG, BANG!
"STOP, Please stop! Stop it! stop it!"
Kenny was in a complete rage, all he could see was black. He had finally snapped when he saw Luke approaching AJ. He could not remember how he came to be outside, or how he and Luke were all beat up. The darkness receded when he heard shots being fired, it jolted him to his senses, and a sense of remorse washed over him as he looked down at Luke. He had gone too far, he had lost it again, he was ashamed once again that he was failing to keep the people he cared about most safe.
Clementine fell to her knees, sobbing and repeating over and over, her heart pounding and all of her pain being let out at once as she shook with emotion, unable to bring herself to look up any more. She felt that her friends had killed each other and she had never been so afraid. Would she be alone again? Just her and AJ now?
Kenny looked over to where the gunshots had come from and what he saw not only made him feel completely ashamed of what he had just done, but in the same moment, felt a deep deep sorrow for Clementine, for he finally realised that what he was going through, that that poor little girl must be going through too. He strode up to Clementine and put his hand on her shoulder unsure how to comfort her.
"I'm sorry Clem, I just...I...I just lost it, I..."
Clementine could not bring herself to look up, she was physically and emotionally drained, she had no tears left. All she could do was let out little sobs as her limbs fell limp by her sides. She was exhausted, scared and felt all alone.
After a few moments Clementine looked over to the man lying on the floor, his face covered in blood. The rain had eased off now and the wind had died down to practically nothing. They were in the eye of the storm.
Attempting to explain to Clementine, Kenny appealed to her. "I just saw black...I...I'm sorry clem, I keep forgetting, your just a kid, and I just..."
Clementine stood up, practically ignoring Kenny and walked over to Luke.
Wisps of white came from his mouth, like ghosts haunting this sacred site, it went as soon as it came.
Luke had fought as hard as he could just to fend off the blows that Kenny had rained down on him. Even so, he had lost this one, losing conciousness when Kenny connected with his jaw. He was too slow to stop it and Kenny was like an enraged bull, he didn't stand a chance really. Luke was pretty good in a toe to toe fight, but never in his life had he fought someone who was so enraged and fired up. He had fought hard, but he lost. Was he dead now? He didn't feel like it, he felt alive didn't he?
"He's alive, thank god he's alive!"
Luke's chest was heaving up and down, the air so cold you could see his breath...barely.
Clementine bent down and put her head to Luke's chest, he was breathing and his heart was pumping strong dun dun, dun dun, dun dun.
"Luke? Are you okay? Luke?"
Guilt and sorrow plagued Kenny, apologising for what he had done, he said. "I'm sorry Clem, I really am. Oh god, why did I have to do this?"
The guilt Kenny felt was nothing like he had felt before. Everything had come to a head, and it was all his fault. He had let everyone down, Clementine, AJ, Rebecca, everyone. He was responsible, and there was no changing that. The anger he felt was replaced by guilt and sorrow. He had resolved that this would not happen again. He was going to protect everyone, he would die for them. Even Luke. His episode had given him an epiphany, a realisation, a new vision of what his purpose in life was. He knew what he had to do now, and he would die trying if it came to it.
Regaining conciousness, Luke saw a face looking down at him, through his blur vision he saw an outline of a white and blue hat. "Clem?"
Clementine hugged Luke so hard he cried out in pain
"Not the face Clem, not the face...owwww!"
Sitting up, Luke looked like he had done twenty rounds with Mike Tyson. His face was starting to bruise, and the cut on his cheek actually looked worse than it was.
Flash
The light illuminating the tree line and small meadow around the church once more, revealing several walkers stumbling towards the group.
Clementine stiffened up and the horror on her face was plain as day.
"W...Walkers...AJ!"
Adrenaline filled Luke's veins once more. Determined he looked to Clementine and said. "Clem, help me up."
Concern and determination filled Kenny's voice as he ordered. "Clem, run and get AJ, I've got Luke."
Surprise in his voice as Luke exclaimed. "What the fuck, Kenny?"
Pulling Luke to his feet and looking him in the eyes, Kenny explained calmly. "Listen, you were both right okay, I'm sorry. I snapped, I...I can't explain it, but it was like it wasn't me, like I was watching it happen from somewhere else."
Confusion spreading across his face Luke replied with a hint of anger. "So, you expect me to forget it happened?"
His eyes softened as he looked to the floor, looking back up, his voice sincere and determined Kenny said. "No, but let me tell you one thing Luke, I aint lettin' no one else die, not if I can help it. AJ and that little girl is what's important now."
Bang
Clementine ran back into the crypt. Incredibly AJ was still asleep, even after all the noise of the storm, the fighting and the gunshots.
She quickly picked up AJ, cradling him in her arms, holding him closer than ever before.
"Your gonna make it little guy, we are watching over you. All of us will see you right, you'll see. Alvin and Rebecca would be so proud of you. I hope mom, dad and Lee are proud of me, I am doing my best for you, I have to hold everyone together or we will die out here."
Clementine was talking more to herself than AJ, and what she didn't know is that Kenny and Luke heard every word, despite their differences, they exchanged glances, and from that day on, they would do whatever it took to keep Clem and AJ safe, as she and AJ are mankind's future.
Flash
Standing at the entrance to the crypt, a determined and proud look crossed Kenny's face as he said urgently. "Lets go Clem, we don't wanna be trapped in here."
A battered and bruised southern man grinned at Clementine as he joked. "Yeah, lets go slowcoach, what's keeping ya, you'd think you had to pick every bodies gear up or something"
Clementine shot Luke a glare that only Clem could produce.
Walking across to his carry bag and machete, Luke picked it up as he talked to Clementine, his voice more serious. "Okay was just saying. We gotta move."
Kenny strode in and picked up his duffel bag which had his belongings in and his handy crowbar. He opened his duffel bag to check everything was there, and glancing over to the pile of wood from the coffin, started piling some of the smaller pieces in, along with more dry rags that had spilled over the floor.
Luke helped Clementine gather her things, checking she had water, and all of the baby things they needed. They had enough formula for now, but they were going to run out pretty soon, so they needed to find somewhere where they could get some supplies soon. Quickly making sure that the baby bottle was still there Clementine put out the fire with some of her water, and the three friends stamped on the fire to make sure it was out.
On the way out, Kenny picked up the oil lamp and blew it out, and placed it in his duffel bag.
"Lets go, they are getting close, we need to high tail it right now!"
They all hurried out of the crypt and headed towards the tree line, running as fast as their legs would take them.
Bang.