A Second Chance

Chapter 21

Fire burned in my eyes as I stormed down the street, the only destination in my mind was the train.

"They've got to be there. Please, God. If you have any heart whatsoever, let them be at the train." I muttered, feeling something squelch beneath my shoe. I bent down to investigate and found a blood-soaked baby grow. My heart dropped. I grasped it tightly in my hand and sighed. We had picked it up that morning in the damned childcare store. I shook my head, effectively snapping myself out of it. It was not the time to get emotional. It was time I got to my family.

"Come on, Everett. Get a grip!" I scolded, gritting my teeth and standing, feeling my back crack painfully. I grunted, stepping away from the house and focusing on the train.

Half an Hour Later

Nowhere. The train was gone. I missed them.

"Fuck!" I shouted, running my hands through my short hair. I simply stood for a while, thinking about what I would do. Anger flooded through me, aimed at myself. "Why did I have to be the hero? I could've done anything! I could have… oh, who am I kidding? I couldn't have done shit."

"Yeah, you're right." A voice behind me said. I turned in surprise to see a small figure, somewhat strutting up the hill towards me. I pulled my gun from my pants and kept it in front of me. "You couldn't have done anything." Somehow, their voice sounded familiar. So did their orange hoodie.

"Hold it." I warned, raising my gun to keep them at bay. They stopped, raising their arms into a surrender. I smirked, feeling triumphant. "Take the hood down." I commanded, taking a step forward, not lowering my weapon. They sighed, slowly lowered the material and took off the surgical mask covering their face. I gasped in surprise. Stood before me was Molly.

"That better, jerkoff?" She smirked, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. I would have hugged her if I hadn't remembered that she didn't know me. She made as if to walk towards me and I kept my gun fixated on her.

"What's your name and what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice low and my palms sweating. She arched an eyebrow and looked at me sceptically. I simply stayed stone-faced. She sighed in frustration.

"The name's Molly. I lived in the Crawford area of Savannah before the world went to shit." She replied, still smiling. "Now, your turn. Why were you out here, shouting to thin air?"

"My… my family…" I sighed, lowering the gun and walking towards her. I groaned, running my hand over my stubble. She looked at me sympathetically. I pulled the crumpled note from my pocket and held it out to her silently. She took it in her small hands and read through it, her eyes filling with sadness.

"Clem and Logan. They your kids?" She asked, handing it back. I nodded, folding it neatly and making as if to put it in my top pocket. I felt another piece of paper there and felt my body become numb. I shakily brought it out and unfolded it. I immediately recognized Clementine's child-like scrawl and was taken back to the day I was given it. I'd just found out about Carley's pregnancy. Clementine was eight-years-old. God, it felt like years since then. Molly looked at it and patted my shoulder. "Look, you'll find them. I'll help."

"You sure?" I asked, smiling at the picture. I folded it up once again and smiled at the small woman. She smirked back.

"Yeah. If I didn't help you, what kind of person would I be?" She laughed, bringing her ice-pick out in front of her and pointing west. "Macon's that way. You ready to go?"

"Hell yeah." I said, walking slowly, stuffing my hands in my pockets. She sauntered beside me, staring curiously.

After about an hour, I heard her talk once again.

"Carley… Is she your wife?" She asked, completely throwing me off. I looked at her, amused slightly.

"No. We met in the first days of this mess." I admitted, smiling at the memory. "We've been together for about seven months."

"Oh. So, if you don't mind me asking, how old are your kids? You seem like a family-kind-of-man." She pressed, obviously curious.

"Clementine's nine and Logan's… wait… what time is it?" I stopped, looking down at my watch. "He's ten hours old."

"Holy shit." She responded, her eyes widening. "It must suck, being away from them."

"Yeah, it does." I said, staring back down at the gravel road beneath my feet. I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder. I looked over to see a small smile playing at her lips.

"You'll find them." She said softly, moving her hand away. "I've got no doubts."

On the Train

Carley sat in the corner of the stuffy boxcar, cradling Logan and staring down at him. She glanced over her shoulder and what she saw made her heart stop.

Clementine sat next to Duck, her head resting in his shoulder and their small hands intertwined. She smiled softly seeing how content they were. Logan squirmed slightly and opened his small mouth into a yawn. She would have smiled if their situation wasn't so serious. His father was gone… possibly dead… and she was powerless to do anything.

"Hey…" She heard a voice call. She looked up to see Lilly stood awkwardly. Patting the space beside her, she smiled.

"Hey." Carley addressed the small boy in her arms. "That's your Aunt Lilly."

"Hey buddy." The other woman smiled, reaching over to touch the duck-fuzz that coated his head. Her face got suddenly serious as she addressed his mother. "How're you holding up?"

Carley's eyes cast downwards, her emerald orbs turning a reptile, dull green.

"I'll manage." She said, sighing loudly. "I mean, countless other women managed to raise a child alone. Why can't I?"

"But, you're not going to be alone. We're all here for you." The younger woman said, patting her shoulder gently. Carley looked up at her, eyes tired.

"Look, I do appreciate it… but we're in the middle of an apocalypse and I'm sure you've all got other things to worry about." She said, running a shaky hand through her hair and taking a steadying breath. "I can do this. I have to." She said, averting her eyes to look down at her baby-boy. "I'm not leaving him without his mom."