OH BOY. Here we go… I hope you enjoy! Telltale owns TWDG

Chapter 38

I rapidly closed the distance between Gabe and I. Rain poured and collected everywhere on the soft earth. He was practically on the other end of the field. He stood, waiting for me. Nothingness filled his eyes. I could make out the figures a little better now, but it was still very dim. Lightning flashes in the distance was the only way I could make out clear expressions. After I was only about five yards from Gabe, I halted.

"Gabe… what the fuck are you doing!?" He stood, unmoving. Then he smiled. Then started laughing. He's really a fucking psycho. Clem and I should have killed him when we had the chance.

"Oh, poor Noah. You really don't understand, do you?" It unnerved me, how much he sounded like an experienced, malevolent villain, not a mental teenager. It almost made me feel bad for him. Almost.

"Don't understand what?" He laughed again.

"You won't stop me."

I smirked. "Oh really?" He took a step away from Clem, towards my right.

"You know, I am surprised you even made it past the walkers. I pretty much flooded the house. So, congrats for that. Too bad you won't live long enough to enjoy it." He sounded so… not like a kid. A kid! That's what he was… but now, he isn't. No one is, not in the apocalypse. You don't get that luxury. And it was scary. I remembered what had happened to everyone. And now… it was the three of us! And we were all teenagers. And… during this hellish life, we matured faster that we could have known. We weren't kids anymore. And that made it all the more chilling as Gabe slowly circled me.

"You can't do this, Gabe. You can't just leave with her!"

"Oh… I already have. See, you may try and stop us, but, you can't. There is no hope, Noah." He tilted his head. "Don't you realize that? No hope. This world is fucked. Fucked beyond recognition, and Javier… he knew that. He knew it! He was good, too good. Too good for… this. And now… you are going to try and stop me? Let me tell you something, Noah. How did you feel when your mother died?" I clenched my jaw. "Yeah, her. I saw it. I was hurt by it. I liked her, Noah. She was a good person. And she died. Now, Javier has met that same fate. And it feels… surreal." He paused, letting the rain fall on his face before turning to me, wearing a slight grin. "Everything feels like a dream. A blur. I feel like I am watching myself, but also like I am stronger. Like I can do anything and no one can stop me." He locked his cold eyes with mine. "Did you feel this way?"

"... Yeah, but no! It was-"

"See!" He turned and looked up at the sky. "I told you he would say it! I knew he would." Gabe was talking to air. "I knew it." I glanced at Clem. She looked just as freaked out as I was.

"Gabe… what did Javier say to you."

"Don't say his name." His body flipped back towards me, and his voice turned cold, almost raspy. "You don't get that. You didn't earn it."

"Gabe, tell me what Javier said to you." Gabe sneered.

"You don't know shit, ok Noah. Shit. There is nothing."

"There is always something, Gabe!" I explained. "And even if there is nothing, that doesn't mean you can't just go and do whatever the hell you want without consequences!"

"Yeah." He shrugged. "Yes it does. There is no rule anymore. No law. No leaders. There is nothing, just anarchy and entropy." He took some more steps around me. "Ever since Javier's death, there has been no order. Only death and carnage and loss and no one cares! It's just how things are now. You have to understand that."

"Then why her?" I motioned to Clem.

"Because... "

"I'm not letting you take her. I can't… I won't let you."

"You'll have to understand. Otherwise, you are going to die."

"Why? Gabe, I felt this too." My voice turned raw. "My mother died not that long ago too. But I came back! I am still here." I paused. "Don't do this, Gabe. Trying to force your view won't change the fact that there are still consequences." He stared at me, as if contemplating my words. A count of ten passed before he spoke again.

"No." He stated simply. "No. No, my view is the only way!"

"You're fucking mental! Javier and everyone else has fucked with your head, Gabe!"

"Don't say his name!" He shouted.

"Javier, Gabe. Javier, Javi, Big J, whatever. Javier. I said his name." Gabe turned away in frustration.

"He said to watch out. He said not to let other people get in your way. He said to always do what you think is right. And this. This is right. Taking her is right. I know she knows I love her. And it is only right for what we can have happen, happen." He unsheathed his knife. I scoffed a bit internally, bit it was consumed by anger.

"Gabe, let Clem go. You can't just take her, against her will. So let her go, and then we can talk." He shook his head. "I won't let you take her. She deserves a choice."

"You won't have to." He turned and locked eyes with me. "Because I am going to kill you." I narrowed my eyes. My heart pounded in my chest. My face was beet red from the chilling wind and rain, but my body felt warm with the rush of adrenaline.

"I can't let that happen either."

"Too bad. Javier said it, and I mean it. Maybe you'll see her on the other side." I didn't know if he was referring to Clem or my mother. The tension of the moment focused my thoughts.

"She doesn't love you, Gabe!"

"I beg to differ."

"That's not the point. She is being held against her will. Can't you see that?"

"That's isn't important. You have to die. It's what is right." Fine. I heard a scream come from Clem. She was watching us, and I couldn't tell if rain or tears filled her eyes. I turned away from her and towards the kid who was once my friend, kinda. I unsheathed my knife. "You will die," he whispered. His hair flopped without his beanie to hold it. His face was contorted with confusion and rage. I saw it in his eyes, one still a bit blue, but both empty. Hollow. He only focused on what he thought was right. He was insane… he really believed what he said. He was crazy.

He had shifted into the gap of blur and reality. He was lost in the blur.

And then, he lunged.

He swung his knife towards my head. I ducked, but I could hear the whoosh pass right over my head. He swung backwards, and I blocked his arm with mine. Seeing the opportunity, I punched him across his face. He stumbled towards the ground. I run up towards him and kneed him in the stomach, before shoving him into the ground. There he laid in a daze. I turned and rushed towards Clementine, who was still bound and gagged. Working quickly, I cut her bonds, then pulled the gag from her mouth.

"Watch out!" The first thing she yelled after her gag was torn out. Without hesitation, I tackled her to the ground and rolled us both away from a charging and ever angrier Gabe. I stood up over Clem, who was still dazed on the ground. Gabe sneered.

I leaped towards him, knife in hand. I swung, and he dodged. He grabbed my arm with his hand, and he slammed my hand into his knee. The knife tumbled out of my grasp as my fingers throbbed with pain. That isn't good. He swung his knife over his head, the point primed and aimed at my neck. I turned and grabbed his downcoming arm with my hand. We were locked. Both of our focus was on his knife. It was slowly inching its way towards my back. I pushed with all my strength, and finally I wrestled his nails free, and the knife clattered to the ground. I kicked it away. In response, he headbutted me. I tumbled backwards, pain ringing through my head.

He ran at me, forgetting completely about his knife. He tackled me into the dirt. The air flew out of my stomach. Oof. He tried to pin me, but I was able to wrestle him off, until I kneed him in the side and we disconnected from each other. I got up first, and I tried to lunge at Gabe. He was ready though, and he got below me. He slammed his fist into my gut. Smack, smack, smack. I felt like I had to throw up, and nausea rang throughout my abdomen. Clem ran up and hit Gabe away, running into him and tackling him like a pro football player. As I caught my breath, I saw Gabe sneer, then kick Clementine in the stomach. She flew back and landed on the earth with a thud. He turned quickly back towards me, like a wild cat, and we looked at each other, hatred full in each of our eyes. We had a quick mental conversation.

'You're dead.'

Sorry bud, but I think that title belongs to you.

Then we charged, directly at each other. We slammed into each other like sumo wrestlers. The earth shook beneath us. Two tyrants locked arms. The music was at it's crescendo. We huffed. I could feel his hot breath bouncing off my ear. We both strained against the strength of the other. We stumbled backwards and forwards, trying to get the edge on one another. The rain pounded on our backs, and lightning only illuminated the strain in both our faces. He had a look of steel determination. I pushed, and he pushed back. Finally, we shoved each other apart, and we both stumbled to the ground. I could see Clem. She was still getting up as well. I see her, and the fire reignites in my gut. I push myself to my feet, and charged. Gabe just stood as I slammed my shoulder into his gut. All the air in his body whooshed over my head out of his mouth. I carried him, and punched his kidneys too many times to count before smashing him into the ground. Mud and water erupted from the weight. He laid unmoving as I picked myself up. Then he coughed and spluttered back to life. Again to fight.

I sat on him, and raised my fist. And I punched him. Again and again. I stopped to grab a breath of air. Gabe spat blood from his mouth and sneered at me. Anger fueled my body, and I raised my fist again, but he was quicker. He did a quick punch right in my nose, and my head flew back. Then he brought up his legs and kicked me in the stomach. I flew backwards, and landed with a thud. My head slapped into a hard patch of mud. Pain raged throughout my body, and my head throbbed. I managed to look up, and saw a great sight. Clementine was kicking Gabe.

"You-fucking-I-can't-believe-" She said in between kicks. Then, I saw Gabe grab her leg mid-kick. He threw it above his head, then used her as a lever to pick himself up. Gabe looked at Clementine. And he raised his arm. And he clocked her right across the face. She stumbled and fell to the ground. That bitch! My anger shot through the roof. I was so angry I leapt up, ignoring the raging pain, balled my fists, and nearly screamed. He hurt Clementine. I saw her on the ground, and I followed the gaze to Gabe. I traced his gaze, and saw what he was looking at. He was staring at his knife. Immediately, I burst into action. I rushed towards my knife, and so did he. He was quicker and got to his first. I was a few feet from mine when a hand yanked me back. Gabe. I barely had time to register the face before my entire left arm erupted in fire and pain. He had driven the knife hilt deep into my left shoulder.

"Agh!" I shouted. Gabe smiled through his cracked lips, and punched me right across the face, ripping the knife out. My arm screamed with pain. It felt as if it had been chopped off and frozen in dry ice, then nuked and reattached poorly.

Very luckily, I landed right on top of my knife. Gabe didn't know that. With my good arm, I snuck it under my body, and grabbed the hilt. I was huffing, my body aching with pain. Gabe approached menacingly, slowly. I sneered at him. Then, Clem burst into the scene. She slammed into Gabe with all her force. Her strength was amazing. He stumbled backwards, but he still was stronger. He grabbed her, and threw her back. His knife blade cut into her arm as she flew into the ground. I knew because a splat of her blood landed on my neck. She collapsed. Gabe turned back to me, and smiled.

"What did I say, Noah. You. Will. Die." And he raised the knife. I took my chance. I lunged, knife in hand. Lightning struck. I sliced my knife.

Gabe was lucky, for I mistimed the swing. The blade cut a thin line across his stomach. Blood streamed out of the cut, but it was just a flesh wound. Nothing serious. Which meant I was screwed.

He stumbled back in shock. I tried to push myself up, but my arm flared with pain. Gabe lunged again. I pushed myself forward in an attempt to get away from him, but found myself at a halt, implanted in the ground by a knife.

My right leg blew up with pain. Gabe had lunged and drove the blade, again hilt deep through my right leg. My head lolled forwards. My entire body was pumping and throbbing with pain. I was dizzy, my vision blurry. Tears started to stream down my cheeks, or was it rain?

Painfully, I turned my throbbing head. I saw Gabe, standing, smiling.

"Stay away!" I croaked. In a weak attempt to save myself, I threw my knife at him. It passed right over his shoulder. Then he started laughing.

"Oh… pitiful, Noah. I expected better from you."

"If I had Bor, you'd be dead by now." I gritted through my teeth.

"Yeah, well you don't. Instead you have two badly bleeding stab wounds. And you're about to have three. One right here." He smiled and pointed at the center of his forehead. "I'll make it quick, Noah. I already said it." He smirked. It was that devilish, crazed smirk. I was done for. He leaned down and tore the knife out of my leg. I coughed and doubled over in pain. He walked slowly over to me, and, before I could get another look, he drove his foot into my ribs. My side burned as I flipped on my back. I could feel the blood pouring out of my leg.

He stepped over my corpse, knife in both hands. Time froze. The rain pellets froze in the air. Wind ceased. It was silent. Then, a soft voice. Gabe.

"Goodbye, Noah." He raised the knife.

Squish. Rain and blood splattered over my body.

I opened my eyes.

Gabe stood over me, wide eyed. A knife bulging from his sternum. He gargled, breathed in, and toppled over. My knife still through his chest, he landed with a thud on the ground. Mud splattered around him. Even with all the extra noise, I could hear his last breath perfectly. A slight and soft inhale, then silence.

And Clementine stood above me.

She had thrown me some bandages, and I wrapped them around my wounds. Very painfully, I might add. My femoral artery had not been severed, or else I'd probably be dead. After throwing me the bandages, Clementine sat against a tree. And we both collapsed into either a sleep or a silence. I can't remember.

I woke up, or sound brought me awake, or I regained consciousness, I don't know, something happened. I opened my eyes to an early sunrise. The sky was coated with gray and blue, the sun just peeking over the horizon. It wasn't raining, and the dew had collected on plants and grass and myself. It was a nice, peaceful setting.

I heard the sound of shoveling. I turned my head, and my body decided to remind me of the pain I had experienced. My leg and arm burned hot like fire. I grimaced and looked towards the sound. Clementine stood with a shovel. How she got said shovel? I have no idea. She looked as if she was filling a deep hole. Then I realized it was a grave. Gabe's grave.

With much effort, and a lot of pain, I managed to stand. My left arm hung limply at my side and I limped with my bad leg, over to her. She turned to look at me. I saw her blink rapidly a few times before turning back towards the dirt. Eventually, I managed to hobble next to her. I watched in silence for a few seconds. She was nearly done filling his grave. I couldn't see the body.

"Hey," I said with my dry voice. She stuck her shovel into the dirt. "Thank you. Really. You… you saved my life." She filled more dirt, then spiked the shovel into the dirt. Clementine turned towards me.

"How's your arm? Your leg?"

"They're ok. I'll be fine, thanks to you."

"Noah…"
"No, it's true. I would be dead without you."

"And I'd probably be like an abused slave or something worse without you."

"Well, I still issue you a thanks. Sincerely." She turned away, back towards the grave.

"Gabe…"

"Clementine, he was… crazy, for lack of a better term. He lost it. He was somewhere else mentally. And he wasn't coming back. Not from that, not like I did." I paused. "I'm sorry."

"He… I-"

"Hey, you said it yourself. You could be someplace terrible right now. I couldn't let that happen." I grabbed her shoulder. "I wouldn't let that happen." She blinked a few more times. It almost looked like she was blinking water out of her eyes. She smiled a tiny bit, then turned towards him.

"Before you… showed up… a way long time ago... Gabe and I…"

I stepped back. "You're kidding me?"

"No. It wasn't-we weren't a thing. But we… hung out alot. It was that kind of deal. I thought I liked him. Then I… wasn't sure. And I didn't want to. And then AJ… and I just couldn't."

"Well… hopefully he rests somewhere peacefully." I looked up. "Maybe he'll find Javier up there, somewhere. I hope he can find his peace, be himself again..." I pursed my lips, and inhaled the fresh cold morning air. "Did you put him down?" I asked after a few moments had passed.

"Yeah." Her voice cracked a tiny bit. More silence passed in the peaceful morning.

"Are you sure you're ok to walk?" Clementine asked. I nodded, pretty confident. Then I nearly took a spill at a patch of mud. My leg was burning with a little less heat than last night. "Here, let me help you down the hill." She said. She wrapped her arms around my ribs and helped me walk down the muddy slope.

As soon as we got down, we headed back towards the cabin. It was the only place we knew. So we walked, well she walked, I hobbled. She didn'tr let go of me, and I didn't to her.

Oh. My. God.

Guys.

The novel is almost to a conclusion. We have only a few more chapters left.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the story so far. Next chapter is a long one (like 6k words). Anyways, please review! I would appreciate it greatly. I will se you all in the next chapter! Peace.