I don't own The Walking Dead or any of its characters

I do own Anne Marshall

Tess Carver belongs to Celebrityfan


Anne's POV

It's now been five days since we left the cabin, and we are tired as hell, especially Rebecca.

I slouched over as I walked. Honestly, how much longer are we gonna walk?!

Up ahead, I could see a large red bridge, as well as mountains in the distance. I inwardly cheered. We're almost there!

I set my bags down as Luke pulled out the map to examine it. Clementine climbed up onto a large rock and peered through a pair of binoculars.

"See anything?" Luke asked.

"She better see something." Alvin moaned. "We've been walking for a damn week."

"There's a lift or something." Clem observed.

"Chair lift? Must be that ski resort." Luke said before looking back down at the map.

"I've never been skiing before." Clem said. "Bec and I went skiing once." Alvin brought up. Rebecca smiled. "It wasn't pretty." she admitted with a chuckle. Clementine picked the binoculars back up. "There's a building on the mountain." Clem said, gaining our attention. "What's it look like?" Luke asked.

"It's big."

"That sounds like a good place to spend the night," said Tess.

"There's a little house by the bridge."

"How big is it?" asked Carlos.

"Pretty small." Clem said as she put the binoculars up and climbed down. "We have to cross that bridge. Let's go." Carlos said crossing his arms.

"Hold on, now. We can't go sprinting across that thing, OK?" Luke pointed out. "If we get spotted, we're gonna be trapped."

"Going around that lake will take too long."

"Right, but we've got no idea what's out there. I'm gonna sneak across and make sure it's clear before we bring the whole group over."

"You think splitting up the group is a good idea?" asked Carlos. Luke smiled lightly. "I never said it was a GOOD idea, but it's better than risking everyone at once."

"What's your plan, then?" asked Tess.

"Clem and I can scoot across low and slow and make sure nobody's waiting for us on the other side."

"We'll have a tough time covering you from back here." Alvin pointed out.

"Well, we just turn back if it gets hairy." said Luke.

"Clementine should stay here, she's-"

Luke cut him off. "She's what?"

"She's just a little girl, Luke."

"I can do it." Clem said confidently. "It's gonna be fine. We'll signal you guys in ten minutes. Just watch for a light at the far side." Luke instructed.

"I can go too." Nick said standing up. We exchanged nervous looks. He really shouldn't be doing stuff like this... especially since Pete...

"You can stay here with the group." Luke said.

Nick frowned. "I'm fine, Luke."

Carlos crossed his arms. "I don't like this." he muttered. Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, when's the last time you liked anything, Carlos?" he shot back. "I'll cover you." said Nick.

Luke sighed. "Come on." he told Clem as they headed towards the bridge. Nick started to go after them, but Tess placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at her before he reluctantly stepped back.

I sat down, watching Luke and Clementine until they disappeared from our sight.


For several minutes, we stood there, waiting for Luke to give the signal.

I started tapping my foot impatiently.

What's taking them so long? Did they get held up or something?

I looked up, and I noticed something.

"Hey guys, what's that?" I asked, gaining their attention.

On the bridge, I could see a figure approaching Luke and Clem. He seemed to be holding a rifle, but he lowered it as he approached them.

What's going on? Is that man holding them up?

Nick's eyes widened when he saw the mysterious man.

"They're in trouble!" he exclaimed as he ran towards the bridge before we could object.

"Nick, wait!" Tess called as we darted after him. Damn it, he's gonna get himself killed if he keeps doing this!

Moments later, when we reach the bridge, I can see Nick aiming his rifle at someone, but I can't see who. Suddenly, we hear a gunshot ring out. We pick up our speed. What happened?! Who shot who?!

As we reach the bridge, I see someone falling off the side and into the lake below.

I can see Luke and Nick arguing. The man from earlier is gone. What happened?!

Once we caught up, I heard Nick ask, "Did I get him?! Where is he?!"

"I told you not to shoot!" Luke exclaimed. "Why didn't you wait for our signal?"

"We thought you were in trouble! You were wavin' your arms, so I thought that meant shoot!"

"He was going to help us..." Clementine explained.

Wait, who was going to help them?!

Nick scowled. "How do you know that?!"

Luke shook his head. "Dammit, Nick! I told you not to shoot!" he snapped. "How was I supposed to hear you? You gave me a clear shot!" Nick retorted.

Luke then sighed. "That shot rang out for miles! Come on, we need to get off this bridge." he muttered as he turned on his heel. Once all of us made it across the bridge, I placed a hand on my hip and glared at them.

"Alright, would someone mind telling me what the f*ck is going on?!" I snapped.

"We ran into someone, but Nick here thought he was gonna shoot us, so he shot him!" Luke explained.

HE DID WHAT?!

"WHAT?!" Tess exclaimed.

"Who was that back there?" Rebecca asked as she leaned over, holding her back. "Looked like he had a gun on you!" Alvin said. "That asshole drew on me! He was about to shoot!" Nick said.

"Oh, was he?" Luke asked. "I'm telling you, man, he drew first!" Nick defended himself.

"That's not what it looked like to me!" Tess said.

"Everybody calm down!" Clementine said. "What did you see, Clem? Was that guy gonna shoot?" asked Alvin.

"F*ck you, Luke! You've been on my case the whole week!" Nick snapped. "And why do you think that is?" Luke asked calmly.

"He wasn't gonna do anything..." Clem told us. Nick scowled. "I know what I saw!" he insisted.

I frowned. "Just because it LOOKED like he was gonna shoot doesn't give you an excuse to shoot that guy in the f*cking neck!" I snapped as I stepped up to him. "You coulda hit Clementine or Luke!"

"Yeah, but I didn't!" Nick shot back. I opened my mouth to say something, but Tess stepped in between us and gently pushed us apart. "Alright you two, break it up!" she said.

"Look, I know Pete was close to you, but-", Luke began to say, but Nick angrily cut him off. "Don't you f*cking talk about him!"

"Do you think he was with Carver?" asked Carlos.

"I don't know... I- No. I don't think so. But he fell over." Luke said. "He fell off the damn bridge?!" Alvin asked.

"We have to keep moving." Carlos butted in. "I can't. I need a minute..." Rebecca said. I looked at her. She seemed pretty tired as she sat down.

"Fine." Carlos agreed. "Luke, Tess, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked. Carlos, Luke, and Tess headed over to a tree nearby. Nick scowled and stormed over to a bench over by the station.

"Hey, Clem? You got anything to eat?" asked Alvin. "Bec's dying here."

"Alvin, I told you, I'm fine." Rebecca insisted.

"Sorry. I'm out." Clem said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"What about you, Anne?" he asked me. I shoved my hands into my pockets. "Nope. Sorry." I admitted.

"Wish we still had those juice boxes..."

"Me too..." Sarah agreed.

Clem looked at the building nearby. "That man said he had food in the station." she brought up.

"Mind checking it out? Maybe we could spend the night in there, but looks a little small for us, though..."

"Sure."

Alvin smiled. "Thanks, Clem." he said as he sat down next to Rebecca. I looked down at Clem.

"Mind if I come with ya?" I asked. She nodded. "Sure."

The two of us headed over to the station. Nick looked up and frowned as we approached him.

"Thanks for backing me up there." he muttered sarcastically. I crossed my arms. "Nick, give her a break." I chided. Nick looked past us, and saw Carlos, Luke, and Tess talking.

"I'm sure they're talking about me right now. 'Luke, Tess, he's becoming a danger to the group!'" he said, mimicking Carlos's accent. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from smiling at Nick's imitation of him.

"So who was that guy?" he asked. "I swear, it looked like he was holding you guys up. I figured that he was with Carver."

"He seemed nice..."

"Damn..." Nick whispered. "If Alvin is in front of me, he takes that shot. What a f*cking mess... Maybe I am losing it... I don't know anymore." Nick sighed. "God, I'm hungry... What time is it, anyway?" he asked as he looked down at his wrist, but found nothing. "Damn. Damn it!"

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I left my watch back at the cabin. It was Pete's... he gave it to me..."

Clem then smiled. "I found it back at the cabin." she said as she reached into her bag. "Let me get it."

Nick's eyes widened. "What? Really...?" he asked as Clementine handed him the watch. Nick smiled. "Thank you. This means... thank you, Clem..."

I smiled myself. Good call, Clem.

Nick then stood up. "You know what? I'm gonna go talk to them." he told us as he stood up and walked towards Luke, Tess, and Carlos. Clem and I turned back to the station. We still gotta check...

Clem opened the door and we stepped inside. Hm, Alvin was right. The place looks too small for us to stay the night in...

I noticed Clementine head over to a bed near the fireplace. "I guess that man slept here..." she thought aloud. My eye wandered over to a radio. I pressed the power button, but nothing happened. I rolled my eye. Of course it's dead...

Clem wandered over to a trunk. Next to it were several cans. I knelt down and examined them.

"All empty..." I muttered.

"That man said he had lots of food. There's gotta be something left," Clem said. I grabbed the lid of the trunk and tried to open it. No luck.

"Damn it. Needs a key..."

"That man probably had it." Clem guessed as she walked over to a table and picked up a survival knife. She examined it and slashed the air with it. "Feels pretty good," she commented as she placed the knife back in it's sheath. She walked back over to the trunk, pulled the knife out, and slipped it behind the lock. A moment later, she pried it open.

"Wow. Nice job." I praised as we peeked inside. There were two cans of peaches, as well as a few books. Just then, Alvin stepped inside. "Man... and I thought WE had it bad. Look at this dump..." he muttered as he examined the place. He then noticed the can of peaches Clem held in her hand. "Guess he did have food. Man, f*ck Nick... He's lost a lot of his people, that's for sure, but that doesn't give him any excuse to go and shoot strangers."

"He was trying to help." Clem said. "Yeah, and someone died cause of that. I ain't no judge, but that's straight up murder in my book. I mean, you ever known anyone who would do a thing like that?" Alvin asked. "Actually, yeah... a woman in our group. Her dad died... and then... she just shot this other woman..." Clem explained.

I rose an eyebrow. She must be talking about the woman who shot this 'Carley'...

Alvin's eyes widened. "Damn. What did you guys do?" he asked. "We brought her with us, but she stole the RV and ran away..."

"Damn..." Alvin muttered. He then knelt down and pulled the other can of peaches out of the trunk. He looked at it, smiled, and showed it to us. "That's funny. She looks just like you." he said, referring to the girl on the can.

I looked at Clementine and held back a chuckle. She's not amused...

"Hey, Clem, there's not a lot of food left, and Rebecca... well, she eating for two. You think you can keep this just between the three of us? I'd hate to even say it, you know but- I'd never go against the group, but I gotta put Bec and the baby first..."

Clementine smiled slightly. "Rebecca can have it. I won't say anything."

"Thanks, Clementine." Alvin said before he turned to me. "You OK with this?"

"Yeah. She can have it. My lips are sealed." I said. He smiled before we looked out the window, seeing Luke, Carlos, Nick, and Tess talk about something. "It's a shame. Nick was a good guy. He's still a good guy, but he's just losing it... God knows we're not perfect... Hell, I'm glad you're with us, Clementine." he said, earning a smile from Clem. I noticed something by the bridge, and rose an eyebrow. "What the hell is that?" I asked as Alvin and Clem came up to my side.

Shit, lurkers are coming!

"Walkers!" Clementine said. We darted out of the station. "Guys, we got a problem!" I exclaimed as the rest walked up to us. "Yeah, we saw." Luke said with a nod. "Alright, we're heading up!" he announced before we started running away towards the large hill nearby.