Prologue: Wake Up

~Clary~

Rick and I never leave Carl's side after the walkers in Alexandria. Not for more than a few minutes, while Rick went to check on Judith, and I left to check on Daryl and Glenn. I lean in the door on the day after, Rick having made his "new world" speech this morning. "Rick," I say, causing the officer to look up. "Can I have a few minutes alone?"

He looks down at his son, then gets to his feet. Rick gently squeezes my shoulder as he passes, whispering, "Take care of my son."

I don't speak, not trusting myself enough to not break down. I simply nod, closing the door behind me. I get on my knees at Carl's side, taking his hand. "Please, Carl, if you can hear me," I say softly. "No, it's probably better you don't. I don't know if you can make it through this. Denise says we got you here in time, but I don't know. Something this serious, I don't know if you'll survive."

Carl's hand tightens around mine like it did earlier this morning, a soft groan escaping his lips. I lean closer as he repeats it, closing my eyes as I understand what he's saying. "Clary."

"Shh," I shush him. "Don't talk."

"I should've listened," he whispers, still not opening his remaining eye, but I think he's with me. "He had the gun."

"I know, I know, shh," I tell him. "I know, I know, shh. I didn't stop him in time."

"Before we got out there, I knew they weren't going to make it."

"I know, I know."

"I had the gun and I lost it to him."

"I know, save your strength and stay alive!"

"Don't worry about me."

"I can't do anything but," I say, pulling my hands away from his to wipe my eyes. I turn back, only to find that he's gone still. "Carl?" My voice rises as I start to panic, thinking that he's gone. "Carl! Carl!"

I don't turn away from him as the door opens, Rick rushing in. "Clary?" he questions, his panic showing in the quickness of his voice. "I heard his voice!"

"Carl, please!" I beg, crying now. "Please, stay alive!"

Rick kneels beside me, taking his son's hand. "Carl, can you hear me?"

I got to my feet, stretching to lean over Carl. I lean down, my cheek hovering above his mouth and nose. I close my eyes, impatiently waiting, then feel his breath on my cheek. "He's alive," I manage. "He's still alive." I look back down at Carl, pressing my lips to his forehead. "Just stay alive. That would be enough."

~Carl~

I look down at Clary as she lays on the bed beside me, curled up against my side. I'm not sure if she's asleep or not, either still awake or sleeping for the first time in days. It'd be good if she was. It's not healthy, the way that she's constantly running on just a few hours, never a full night's sleep, and then making it stretch over a few days. I mean, I get why she doesn't sleep. She's too often plagued by nightmares, of the horrible things she's endured throughout her entire life. I think the reason that I look up to her so much is because I've often questioned if I would've survived everything she's been through, every corner she's been backed into. And most of the time, my answer to that is no. So I get why she doesn't sleep, because there isn't anyone left alive today that doesn't have nightmares. It's just one of the things this world has forced upon them.

"This world," I say, looking down. "It's taking a toll on you, and it's making you into a different person. I don't know what kind of person that is, but you're fighting every day, becoming stronger against this world. Someday, you're gonna be humanity's strongest. I might not be able to remember some things that have happened since the beginning… well, a lot of things, actually. But I remember your strength. How with each fight, no matter what toll it takes on you, you always emerge victorious. Stronger, too. So listen when I say this: Let the walkers, the people, whatever we face, let them do their thing. They will never defeat you. I know you can face the world on your own, but know that you're never all alone. Clary, I hope you hear me. That's my wish. For you to be the best you can still be. But, I won't lie. I wish I was still there standing proud by your side. I know those times are over. I can't fight anymore. We used to be a duo. We weren't quite like you and Daryl, or you and Glenn, but we did kick ass together every now and then. Those were my best moments, when I got to be the person I've always wanted to be. I'm sorry that's over."

"Don't be," Clary mumbles, the sleepiness in her voice making it obvious that I woke her. She doesn't even move, still lying where she was at my side. "We kicked ass, but I was too busy lookin' after yours at the same time." Clary opens her eyes, looking up at me. "I heard you, just so you know. All of it. You'd be surprised, the promises I've heard you make when you thought I couldn't hear you."

"Don't think what happened was your fault. Nothing could've prevented it."

"Aside from me killing Ron when I wanted to, but you stopped me."

"Okay, yes, that technically would've prevented it. But it happened and that's not going to change." Clary gets up, pulling on her boots. "Hey, where are you going?"

"Relax," she says. "I'll be back. I haven't really seen Daryl since he got back."

"You'll be back?"

Clary pauses, then looks over her shoulder at me. "I'll be back."

~Clary~

"What're you writing?" Carl questions from where he sits, his back resting against the headboard.

"Hmm?" I question, looking up from my notebook.

Carl gestures to the notebook. "I asked about what you're writing."

"Oh," I say with a small laugh, looking down at it. "Well, it's, uh, everything you've done. Things I've seen you do. 'Cause I heard you sayin' you don't remember a lot of stuff. Like, um, when you saved my life at the quarry."

"I saved your life? Are you sure it isn't the other way around?"

"No, I'm sure," I tell him, moving to sit next to him. I pass him the notebook, watching as he skims over it. "Walkers, a whole group of 'em, came. We were gettin' to the RV. I guess… I guess Shane didn't see it, or maybe he just wanted me dead. I don't know. It wouldn't really surprise me if that's what it was. I mean, he tried to kill me more than once. But, um, this walker came up. Grabbed my arm. You just grabbed my other arm, kept pulling me away. That's when Daryl, Glenn, Rick… T-Dog. That's when they got back. Daryl killed that walker, but you, you saved me."

"Sounds like I didn't do enough," he mutters.

"That's what you always said about that night," I tell him. "You always thought that. But you saved me when Shane wanted me dead." Carl's silent, and it dawns on me that he doesn't remember how Shane lost it. "Hey, Carl. Look at me." He lifts his eye, his expression unreadable. "I'm, uh, I'm sorry for what I said about Shane. I know you cared."

Carl glances at the necklace around my neck. "That's his."

I put my hand over it, as if it'll make him forget I'm wearing the necklace that used to belong to his father's best friend. "I took it after he died. Shane mighta wanted me dead, but all he did was teach me to stay alive. Made me realize I had to fight, I couldn't back down, if I wanted to be there for the people I care about."

"So you wear it to remind yourself," Carl states. He glances down at the notebook, then back up at me. "We were in a prison?"

"Yeah," I say. "That's where…"

"My mom died," he finishes. "I don't really remember losing her."

"I don't know if that's better or worse," I admit. "I wish I could forget Merle, forget Sam. Forget Beth. But then I wouldn't have anythin' to keep fightin' for."

"Wait, Merle? You mean your brother? He was alive?"

"Carl, what's the last thing you remember? At the quarry?"

"That's kinda hard. I mean, I remember little things from after it, but they're kinda fuzzy. The quarry, the last thing I remember is my dad and the guys leaving to go get Merle. And then, after that, I remember a farm, but I don't remember Merle being there. I thought he died back in Atlanta. I guess he was with another group."

"Yeah, another group," I say, curling my hand into a fist as I think of the Governor and all that he's done to us. To me. "The Governor."

"The Governor?" Carl repeats. "I think… I think I remember him. He had an eyepatch?" I nod once. "He ran the other group?" I nod again, not meeting his gaze. "You okay?"

"Honestly?" I question, looking up. "No. The Governor… he did things to our group. To me."

"What'd he do?" Carl inquires, taking my hand.

"I don't like talkin' 'bout it," I say, looking down at the hand in my lap. "You know I don't scare."

"And it terrified you," Carl guesses, then wraps his arm around my shoulders. "It's okay. He's dead, isn't he?"

"I killed him."

"You… you killed him?"

"Like I killed the other twenty-one."

Carl looks at me now. "You've killed twenty-two people?"

"And caused the deaths of more. I'll kill more before I die."

"You're… Clary, you're not gonna die. I couldn't stand it if you died."

"One day, one way, I'm gonna be gone."

"Clary, stop," Carl begs, his remaining eye shining with tears. "Please, just stop. I don't remember much, but I remember you. I remember that house, the pudding. I remember both of us squeezing into that one bed in a cell."

"At the prison," I confirm. "We used to walk the perimeter at night sometimes, before we went to bed. You did it 'cause you knew I have trouble sleeping. When flowers started growing, after Rick started growing plants with Hershel, that's when we started patrolling. One time, I remember you picked a flower. It was a Cherokee Rose. You, uh, you put it behind my ear. You said, 'It's pretty, but not as pretty as you.'"

"Hey, Clary?"

"Hmm?"

"That hasn't changed."

I smile softly, resting my head on his shoulder. We both look up as the door opens, Rick stepping through. He studies the two of us for a moment, then turns to me. "It's nice to see you smile again," he says. "That's something I haven't seen for a while." I duck down, trying to avoid his hand as he ruffles my hair, causing Carl to chuckle. "Do you mind if it's just me and Carl?"

I shake my head, climbing out of the bed. Carl kisses my cheek before I go, making me promise that I'll come back. As if I'm not already planning on it. I open the door, then pause when I hear Carl say softly, "Love you, Clary."

I turn around, looking back at him. I don't think he expected me to hear him, but I still did. "Ditto," I reply.

~Glenn~

I open my eyes as I hear Clary murmuring my name, realizing we both fell asleep in the living room. She was curled up on one end of the couch, while I fell asleep at the other. "Hmm?" I question, rubbing my eyes to wake up. "Clary? Did you say something?"

"Glenn," she repeats.

Is she talking in her sleep? Why is she saying my name? What's she dreaming about?

"Glenn," she whimpers, her voice wavering. "Don't die… please… don't leave me."

I knew she had nightmares about us dying more often than not, and I've seen her in the aftermath of them, but never during. And not like this. "Clary," I say, leaning over to shake her awake. "Hey, Clary! Wake up!"

She opens her eyes, looking up at me. "Glenn?"

"I'm here, Clary," I tell her. "You just had a bad dr—" I cut myself off halfway through as she threw her arms around me, slightly surprised at how she's clinging to me. Lately, she's been distancing herself more and more from everyone, even her brother. I wrap my arms around her, holding her as she shakes. "It's okay. I'm here. It was just a nightmare. I'm here. You just have to wake up."

I'm back again with yet another Clary Dixon fanfiction. I also made a trailer for this one, and it can be found on YouTube at watch?v=gfR2NRlcoGg. If you don't feel like copying the link, search "BewareTheWalkers" and my channel should be the first thing that comes up.