Chapter 10: Old Friends

Anne's POV

Clem, Chris, Tess, Emily, and I were inside the small building to see what kinds of food we could find for Bec. Clem headed over to a bed near the fireplace.

"I guess that man slept here…" She thought aloud. "He must have." Tess agreed.

"It's too small for all five of us to search it. I suggest someone go and make sure everyone okay." Chris said.

He sounded like he was getting scared. His claustrophobia must've been starting to get to him.

"I'll go." Emily said as she headed for the door when Tess stopped her.

"No, I'll go." Tess said, but Chris looked worried.

"You sure, Tessie?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I'm sure." She said as she walked out the door. I looked at Chris to see he looked extremely worried and Emily and I knew exactly why.

"She'll be fine." Emily and I assured him. Emily then went to keep her pregnant half-sister company.

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

"Empty…" He muttered.

"That man said he had lots of food. There's gotta still be something left." Clem said. I was about to grab the lid when Chris stopped me.

"It needs a key, baby." He said to me, pointing to a lock.

"That man probably had it." Clem guessed as she walked over to a table and picked up a survival knife and slashed the air with it.

"Feels pretty good." She said and Chris looked at her.

"Keep it. It'll come in handy if we run into lurkers." He said to her. I then looked at the lock and had an idea. I drew my Sai and cut the lock off.

"Good thing there was no alarm attached to that." Chris joked and I giggled. Then I opened up the trunk and found two canned peaches a few books.

Just then, Alvin came into the building. "Man… and I thought WE had it bad. Look at this dump…" He said as he looked the place over. He then saw the can of peaches in Clem's hand. "Guess he did have food."

"Man, fuck 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." Chris said.

"He was trying to help." Clementine 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. Chris and I looked at Clem to see she had a saddened look on her face.

"Actually, yeah… a woman in our group. Her dad died… and then… she just shot this other woman…" Clem explained. I knelt down and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Was she the one who shot this Carley?" I asked and Clem sadly nodded.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Chris said.

"Damn. What did you guys do?" Alvin asked.

"We left her behind." Clem replied.

"Damn…" Chris and Alvin muttered. Chris pulled the other can of peaches out of the trunk, looked at it, then Clem and smirked.

"That's funny. She looks just like you." He said, referring to the girl on the can. I looked at Clem and held back a chuckle. She's not amused.

"Hey, Clem, there's not a lot of food left, and Bec… well, she's eating for two. You think you can keep this between the four 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…"

Clem smiled a little. "She can have it. I won't say anything."

"Thanks, Clem." Alvin said before turning to us. "You guys OK with this?"

"I am if you are, Annie." Chris said to me.

"Yeah. She can have it. My lips are sealed." I said. Chris gave me a quick kiss on the lips while Alvin looked out the window. Carlos, Luke, Tess, and Nick were talking about something.

"It's a shame. Nick's 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, making Clem smile. Suddenly, Chris saw something and I grew concerned.

"What is it, sweetie?" I asked, earning Alvin and Clementine's attention.

"What's that?" He asked, pointing to the bridge. The three of us came to him and went wide eyed, as did he.

"Shit!" Chris, Alvin, and I said as we ran out the door. "LURKERS!" Chris shouted. "We have to get out of here!" Clem shouted as we all headed up the mountain.

Chris's POV

We finally made it to the ski lodge, but it's dark now. Nick and Carlos were looking around for any signs of life while Bec, Anne, and I were panting as hard. I knelt down, extremely exhausted. My half-sisters came to my side and put my arms around their shoulders to help me to my feet.

"T… Thanks." I managed to say while panting. "Don't mention it." They said at the same time.

"Well? What're we waiting for?" Bec asked, clearly exhausted. "I'm with her on this one, Carlos." I said.

Carlos turned to us and looked at us as we reached our destination. "We need to be careful." He said.

Bec scoffed. "Careful? We've been on the road for five days. My back is done being careful." She retorted.

I managed to catch my breath when I see Anne hunch over, placing her hands on her knees.

"I'm with Bec on this one." She said. "My feet feel like they're gonna fall off at any second now…" She added.

I then had an idea. I crouched down a little and looked at her to see she was confused. I nodded towards my back and she realized what I was doing. She then hopped onto my back and wrapped her arms around my neck while I grabbed her legs.

"Chris…" Emily started before I cut her off. "It's okay, Emmy. I can manage." I said as I slowly straightened out my legs. I then looked to my right shoulder to see Anne's eye was closed, which told me she was asleep. I decided not to wake her.

Alvin stepped onto the deck and examined the boarded up windows. "Doesn't look like anyone's home." He observed as the rest of us stepped onto the deck.

"Can't be too careful, big guy." I said, earning a nod from him. He then noticed a passed out Anne on my back.

"She asleep?" He asked. "Yeah, she is." I replied and he nodded in understanding and walked over to Bec to help her.

I looked to see Tess attempting to pry off a board, to no avail. "Damn, this is STUR-DAY!" She muttered. I then walked over to her and stopped when I reached her side. "Whoever nailed these down did a damn good job." I muttered.

"I'll go check around front." Alvin said.

"I'll go with you." Carlos said as the two men headed towards the front. I hoisted Anne back up to keep her from slipping. Nick saw this and walked over to me.

"How about we trade? I'll take her and you can take my rifle." He offered. I looked thoughtful for a moment, and nodded my head. I turned around and allowed him to pick her up. I then picked up his rifle and glared at him.

"Drop her, and I swear, you'll never hear the end of it. Both from me, and from her." I warned, and he nodded his head in understanding. He then carried her over to Bec and Emily while walked to Clem and Luke, who were observing the ski lift.

"… Could probably get a better view up top. You feel like taking a look?" He asked her. I looked at the top of the lift. I then looked to see Anne walking over to us.

"It'd be just like climbing a treehouse, Clem." I said to her.

"You know, just a really tall treehouse. Made of steel." Anne said.

"What am I, a monkey?" Clem asked.

"... You said it. Not us." Luke said, and I stifled a snicker.

Clem then started climbing the lift. Anne then took my hand and Luke smirked. "One word out of you, Luke, and you'll need a new set of teeth. Clear?" I asked. "Crystal." Luke replied, albeit with slight fear.

"Don't fucking move!" I heard someone shout. Anne and I ran back to the deck to find a few people with Tess, one holding a rifle.

"Hey, back off, pal!" I said.

Carlos and Alvin came running around the corner as a man with a beard shove Tess to the ground. I was furious when I saw that and ran to her.

"You okay, sis?" I asked and she nodded her head. Jennifer stood in front Rebecca.

"This is our house! Get the hell out!" The bearded man said.

"Fuck that!" I said as I pointed my rifle at him. "And don't push my half-sister again unless you wanna lose a fucking kneecap!" I added, this time, with venom in my words. "Besides, we've been walking for five days! Give us a fucking break!" I said as he pointed his rifle at me.

"Are you thieves?!" Another asked. This one sounded like a teenager. "I swear we're not here for that!" Anne exclaimed. Luke came running up to us.

"What's going on here?!" He asked as he held his hands up in surrender.

"There's more of you?!" Beardy growled.

"Listen everyone, just calm down!" Luke said.

"Fuck that, Luke!" I snarled before turning my attention to the asshole who had his rifle drawn on me. "Tell us who you are, or else I've just found me something for target practice." I said as a woman came outside.

"Who are you?! Are you trying to rob us?!" She asked. Judging by her accent, I'm assuming she's Indian.

"Excuse me, honey, but do I look like a fucking thief?" Bec snapped.

Tess threw her hands up in surrender. "Look, this is all just a misunderstanding!" She exclaimed.

I saw Anne glare at the people. "We're not robbing anybody! God, how many fucking times to I have to say it?!" She asked, and I sensed frustration in her voice.

"Everyone calm down!" A guy with a red sweater said.

"Tell your asshole of a friend here to lower his gun and I MIGHT calm down a little." I barked, but Beardy refused. "FUCK THAT!" He said.

"Hey, man, calm the fuck down!" Alvin shot back to sweater guy. "Save your breath, Alvin." I hissed, now pointing the gun at another teenager. "Anybody moves, and Buzzcut over there gets a bullet in his skull. I kid you not." I ordered as the other teenager steps in front of him. "Kill my brother, you kill me." He said. "Don't fucking tempt me." I retorted.

"Sarah, get behind me!" Carlos said as Sarah did as she was told. Emily stepped forward a little. "We thought this place was abandoned! We'll leave right now!" She said.

"Just tell us who you are!" Sweater-dude said. "FUCK YOU, DOUCHEBAG!" I shot back. Tess put her hand on my shoulder. "Tess, don't touch me right now. I don't wanna hurt you." I told her and felt her hand leave my shoulder.

"Please… Just DO what he says!" The Indian woman pleaded. "SHUT UP, BITCH!" I shouted. I looked at beard-man and saw he was furious. "Don't talk to her like that!" He ordered.

Suddenly, we heard a gasp behind us and I turned to see Clementine weaving her way through us. She looked straight at the guy who had his gun aimed at me. He looked at her and looked completely shocked.

"Holy shit." She said.

"Wait one fucking minute! You KNOW this guy, Clem?!" I asked her. I looked at the man who drew on me and assumed he was Kenny. He kept looking at Clem in shock.

"Clementine…?" He asked.

Suddenly, Clem leapt forward and hugged him and he hugged her right back.

"I'll take that as a yes." Anne said.

Kenny then looked to us. "These people with you?" He asked and she nodded.

I walked up to them. "Somebody wanna tell us what the fuck is going on?!" I asked as I looked at the two teens and rose an eyebrow. I followed their gaze to Anne, then look back at them to see their wide eyed faces.

"Is that…"

"N-no… It can't be…"

"Uh, you guys know my girlfriend or something?" I demanded. "Yeah, what are you two talking about?!" She asked.

"Anne?" The one who stood in front of his brother asked.

"Am I supposed to know you?" She asked.

Buzzcut stepped closer to her when I stepped in between them. "Close enough, bub." I warned, pointing the rifle at his chest. He looked past me and at Anne. "Anne, come on… It's us, remember?" He asked her. "Back. The. Fuck. OFF!" I demanded, pushing him back with the barrel of the rifle.

"D-Dylan?! Chase?!" She exclaimed as she leapt past me and hugged the two brothers. "Wait a minute! You know these people, baby?" I asked as soon as she pulled away from them. "Yeah. This is Chase and Dylan Enheart. I met them four years ago." She replied as I lowered the gun.

"Man, it's so good to see you again." The one with the buzz cut, who I presumed was Dylan, said as he hugged her. I was getting jealous and walked over to them. "Okay, that's enough of that." I snapped as I pulled him off of her.

"Sorry. It's just… I can't believe it's her." He said as the older guy, who I assumed was Chase, walked up to us.

"We can talk inside." Kenny said. Anne and I walked with Dylan and Chase when I had a look of extreme guilt. "Sorry for threatening to kill your brother, Chase." I said to him, and he smiled. "Just don't do it again, and we won't have any problems." He said. He extended his hand and I shook it.

"So, how do you know Anne?" Dylan asked me.

"He's my boyfriend. This is Chris Carver. These are his half-sisters, Tess and Emily." Anne said, introducing me and my sisters. Chase and Dylan nodded their heads to us. We all then walked inside. I whistled. "Nice place you people have here." I said. "Thanks." Chase said as he looked at Jennifer and smirked.

"I'm Chase." He introduced himself.

"I'm Jennifer Hudson, not the actress." She introduced herself when I saw her blush at Chase's smirk. I then saw Dylan smirking at Rebecca and nudged her to him.

"Hi." She said sheepishly. "Hi. I'm Dylan." He said. "I'm Rebecca Townley." She said and I smirked. "Mission accomplished." I thought to myself.

That's chapter ten. Review and I'll post more chapters.