Everyone had gathered at the courtyard as soon as they heard of the arrival of the raiders. Duck made sure to grab his bow and quiver before meeting up with the others.
''I can't believe they're really here,'' Ruby said, sounding a slightly frightened by that fact.
''Don't worry. We've prepared for them,'' Clementine assured everyone. ''If they get inside, I'll keep them focused on me. That should give Willy and Mitch enough time to set up the bomb.''
Mitch nodded. ''It's ready. I'll set it up on one of their carts.''
''And after it does, we fall back into the admin building and lead them into the traps.'' Duck finished
''Those bastards are in for a rude fucking surprise,'' Aasim said with a grin.
''So, uh, you guys got some final words of encouragement?'' Louis asked, looking at Clementine and Duck, who have had experience in these kinds of situations.
''No matter what happens, always look out for-''
BANG!
The sound of a gunshot cut Clementine's words short and made everyone jump. Omar cried our in pain and fell to the ground clutching his one leg that was now leaking blood. Duck looked to the direction of where the shot came from and saw a brief of light from something up in the trees beyond the school walls.
''Sniper! Get to cover!'' His shout snapped everyone out of their shock and did as told.
Duck and Clementine grabbed and started carrying him to cover. Loud banging could be heard from the gate as if someone was trying to tear it down.
''Clementine! I know you're in there!" Lilly's voice shouted from the other side of the gate. ''Let us in or we'll do it ourselves!''
Once they were safe behind the overturned tables, Clementine looked to his left and right and saw her bow was resting on another table just a few feet my away, ''Shit! My bow!''
''Go, I'll stay with him.'' Duck told her.
Clementine nodded and made a run for her bow. Another gunshot sounded and the bullet missed her by just a few inches. She grabbed the bow and crouched down, pushing the table over and moving it closer to the rest. Immediately after, the gate came crashing open. Lilly could be seen along with seven other armed raiders, Abel being among them.
''Lilly!'' Clementine roared as she got up from her hiding spot with her bow drawn and aimed at the woman.
The raiders aimed their weapons at her but Lilly held a hand up to cease them from firing then looked back at her. ''Where're our new recruits?''
''You're not taking anyone with you. Not a damn one!''
''We'll see about that,'' Lilly said the turned to her group. ''Spread out and search the yard. If Clementine moves, shoot her.''
The raiders followed her orders and combed the yard. Duck scanned the trees again and found where the sniper was hiding. If a fight started, he would have to take that one out first or they wouldn't stand a chance.
''So where's Duck? I know I shot him back in the woods. But I also know he's alive and somewhere close by.'' Lilly spoke.
''And what makes you so sure you didn't kill him?" Clementine asked.
''You would've already killed me if that was the case,'' She stated. ''Not that I'd blame you. We'll take both of you AND that little boy of yours.''
''Over my dead body!'' Clementine snapped, her hand tightened on her bow.
Lilly simply shook her head.
''So that's how it's gonna be? Rather than listen to reason, you'll pick fights you can't win? God, you're just like him. You know that?'' She asked. ''Lee would've been heartbroken, knowing he taught all the wrong things.''
''Lee taught me everything he could. He wasn't perfect, nobody is, but he was a good person. Better than you'll ever be.''
''That's the problem, Clem. Good people only last so long in this world.''
Mitch and Willy had made it to the carts without being spotted and were planting the bomb. Clementine's distraction was working perfectly.
''If you won't help me find the others, I'll find someone who will. We've recruited from this school before.'' Lilly said. ''Minnie wanted to come along tonight, to tell you how she's adjusted to our life. How happy she is.''
Ducks eyes went wide as he realized really was trying to get the other kids to surrender. He could do nothing but listen as she continued talking.
''She said she had a girlfriend back here. Friends she missed. One guy who could always make her laugh, no matter what. And her little brother. She missed him the most.''
''Shit.'' Duck swore as he saw Tenn step out from cover and started to approach Lilly.
''Where are my sisters?'' The boy asked.
Lilly put on a fake smile and held out a hand for him. ''Let me take you to them.''
''I-I can't,'' Tenn took a step away from her. ''I just want them back. Please.''
''You'll be happier where they are.''
''Tenn no! She's lying to you!"' Clementine shouted.
Lilly took advantage of Tenn's distraction and quickly grabbed then wrapped her arm around his neck.
BOOM!
One of the carts exploded and the blast sent Lilly and the raiders to the ground. The horses, now free, panicked and ran away. The other kids got out from cover and began firing arrows at the raiders.
Duck quickly stood and aimed at the sniper. Remembering what Aasim taught him, breathe in, aim, breathe out, then released. Duck watched as the arrow hit its target and the silhouette of a person fall from the tree. He had no time to celebrate hitting his mark as the raiders recovered and some began firing at his position and forcing to take cover again.
Lilly tried to grab Tenn again but Mitch let out a battle cry and charged towards her. She responded by driving a knife into his neck.
A look of horror was plastered on Duck's face as he saw Mitch fall down, clutching his neck in a vain attempted to stop the blood of gushing out.
''Mitch no!'' Willy cried and tried to run to his friend but Aasim grabbed and pulled him back.
Mitch's suffering was ended when Lilly stabbed him through the eye, killing him instantly.
''Kill who you have to and take the rest!'' She ordered the raiders.
''Get inside!'' Clementine yelled as she shot one of the raiders.
As the others ran for the admin building, Duck tried to grab Omar and carry him but the boy wouldn't let him.
''I'm only gonna slow you down,'' He said. ''Go without me.''
Duck hesitated but nodded grimly before making his way inside, hoping he didn't just leave the boy to die. He slammed the doors to the admin building shut and made it to the staircase where Clementine was already crouched by the rope holding the brick trap.
A few seconds went by until the doors were kicked open and Abel came with his shotgun drawn. Two more raiders joined him and slowly made their way to the staircase. When one got close enough, Clementine cut the rope and duffel bag filled with bricks came falling down on the unsuspecting raider. The sound of bones shattering echoed throughout the room.
''No!'' A female raider cried for her fallen companion.
Duck and the other quickly ran up the stairs as Abel and the raiders began firing at them. Once reaching the top, Duck, and Clementine pushing the couch towards the staircase. When the female raider came into view, they gave one final push and sent the couch tumbling down the stairs and crashing into her.
Abel then appeared holding a flaming Molotov in one hand.
''I told Lilly you wouldn't cooperate!'' He said, before throwing the Molotov at them.
Clementine grabbed AJ and jumped out the away. The fire had spread quickly and separated the trio from the other kids. They went into the office to escape the smoke.
''AJ, the door, lock it!'' Clementine coughed.
The boy was only halfway to doing so when Abel ran and kicked the door wide open and sending AJ flying to the ground in the process.
Abel ignored him and stared at Duck and Clementine with a sneer on his face. "Your friend Lilly ain't around this time. But don't worry, I'll make this quick."
Having run out of arrows, Duck gripped one end of his bow and swung it like a baseball bat at Abel's head. But the adult easily caught the other end with his one hand and punched Duck in the chest with the other. The blow was so hard that Duck lost grip on his bow and was flown back, unable to breathe properly.
The man then shifted his focus to Clementine, but as he tried to grab her, She pulled out her knife and slashed his hand. Abel let out a pained and scream before punching her in the face with his good hand. Clementine knocked back against the desk and grabbed her arm, twisted behind her back just like he did to AJ, and pinned her against it.
Even as Clementine screamed in pain as her arm was being twisted, Abel spoke, ''Y'know, whenever I see someone like you: weak, small, afraid, and still alive? Well, I bet a lot of folks died to get you here.'
Duck's breathing slowly started returning to normal and he tried crawling his way over to the two. Hearing Clementine's screams of pain ignited something inside him. A surge of adrenaline kicked in. He saw her knife close by and grabbed it.
''LEAVER HER ALONG YOU BASTARD!'' Duck scream as he got up and charged at them.
Abel barely had any time to responded he felt the knife get driven deep into his shoulder. He let out an agonized scream and released his grip on Clementine. But Duck wasn't finished with him yet. He charged once again at the man and sent both of them out onto the edge of the balcony. As the two of them struggled, the wooden rails broke off and Abel lost his balance. He grabbed Duck by his arm and they fell over the balcony and hit the ground below.
Surprisingly, Duck's body didn't feel as badly as he thought he would from the fall. Had Abel not been there to cushion him, he would've definitely have been dead. The man beneath wouldn't stop screaming and cursing when Duck looked to his right he saw that Abel's one leg was bent in an unnatural angle as well the bone sticking out.
He looked up only to see the barrel of a rifle mere inches from his face and Lilly breathing rapidly.
''Shit, this should be easy.'' She said.
Duck glared at her. ''What's the matter? You lose your taste in this?''
''Shut the fuck up!'' Lilly snapped. ''And be grateful you're more useful to alive than dead.''
Before Duck say anything, Lilly lifted her booted foot and bringing it down on his head.
To Be Continued...