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Modern Period of The Walking Dead Game

High School AU


Chapter 46: Thank You


Nurses flooded the halls. Speed walking pass the teen couple as they made their way through. Hand in hand, neither of them broke apart even when their hands gotten clammy. The tall boy with dreads held a tight comforting grip onto his small girlfriend's. He felt her trembling as her face clearly expressed what is going on in her head. Worry. Fear. Lost.

Three twelve. Three twelve. Three twelve. Three twelve. Three twelve. The brunette kept repeating in her head. Her amber eyes scanning each room number down the maze halls. Each number, her heart sulked deeper in her organs. She felt choked up, barely breathing or saying a word. Nothing could be said since she got a call from Lee twenty-five minutes ago. That phone call made her world crash and turned upside down.

Hearing her father voice crack was the first. It scratched her heart into shreds. Then burnt the shreds until it's nothing but ashes.

Clem thought she wasn't going to hear from them after her call with him after the emergency alarm. The thought of never seeing their faces brought her back to memories of losing her loving biological parents.

Her last conversation with her adoptive father was brief on the detail. All he said is to come to the hospital. Instantly, the girl knew it had something to do with Carley.

"Clem! Right here." She paused from the sound of her boyfriend's voice. His usual voice sounded light and divine instead it's heavy and sympathetic. Something she didn't want to hear from him.

Him experiencing this with her made her heart ache. Appreciated how far her dealt through her worst and ugly than having good memories with her. He stuck to her side no matter how unattractive her face mask looked on her, horsey her laughs are, chaotic and crazy her family is, and broken she can be behind all those smiles.

Louis Knight stayed beside her through it all. What more can she ask for him?

Three twelve, the sign read. The large lump throbbed in her throat. Undecided to let put vomit of agitation or down to the pit of her stomach where she stored the rest of her it that she abled to bottle up.

Louis, let her go. She felt lost when she lacked his touch until he boldly held her around her shoulders. He pushed in the door, helping her shaky legs move forward. As he shut the door behind her, the man beside the bed stood up on his feet. The girl jolted towards him, hugging him tight. Sobbing heavily in her father's arms. The man stroked her head, easing her and shushing her to quiet down.

Clem vision blurred due to the tears. She pulled away to see her sleeping mother, lying on the bed peacefully. The bed caved in as the teen girl sat on the edge of the bed to brush the hair on her adoptive mother's cheek. A few scratches ruined her beautiful face. Her left arm had two bandages and her wrist protected with a hand brace. An IV connected to her vein. The dreadful image before her appeared to be not as awful as the girl imagined.

"She will be okay, Clem. She just needs some rest." He reached out, gripping her shoulder. The girl kept her eyes on her mother.

"Good...Good to know everything is fine..." She held a strong face. She looked up at Lee. Narrowing her eyes as she asked him-

"Who did this?"

"Molly, my student. She been on the run for weeks. The police doing their best-"

"Screw them." She wept. Face crumbling as she took hold of Carley's hand in hers. How could she? How could she try to kill a beautiful being ever.

The first thing planted in her mind is to end that son of a bitch that tested her family.

.

.

"Here." Lee passed Louis a cup of coffee. Louis thanked him quietly as he placed the cup on the table beside him.

Lee sat back down next to his wife. Still out cold from the medication that they gave her and exhausted from what happened last night.

The sun broke out, brightening the world from the darkness. The light crept between the curtains in the dull room. The shaded room allowed the two women in the room the slumber some more.

The father looked at the boy, content that Louis made time for his daughter.

Clementine snoozing on Louis's lap soundlessly. He held her in his arms, protecting her. Her face would fold hard at times, but she relaxed her brows once she felt his lips on her forehead or temple.

Lee smiled softly.

"Thank you, Louis." Louis picked up his head to glance at the girl's father. As much as he met him, he still felt shy around Lee. Especially when the two didn't properly told either parents that they are official.

"You're welcome sir."

"No. I mean it. I really appreciate how much you risk your time to spend with my daughter. And to tell you the truth, I'm happy you're here for her at a time like this. Thank you again." Lee grinned.

Louis smiled, feeling something unfamiliar ripped open in his chest. Never once he felt like this with his own father unless it is about his performance. It had been awhile hearing a father figure express love and sincere gratitude.

"No problem. Just know I do anything for Clementine. She means a lot to me."

"Glad. And I approve your relationship with my daughter. I can see she really likes you." Lee chucked. Louis glimpsed at Clem, smiling at her in his arms. She shifted her head closer to his neck, straddling his lap. She released a soft moan, muttering something in her dream.

"I like her a lot too, Sir. Even though we run into horrible situations, everything ends alright. Learning about and facing the bad first is a good thing, y'know." Louis said as he rested his hand on Clementine's mid back.

Lee arched his brow, intrigued by Louis's comment.

"What makes you say that?"

"'Sometimes we have to go through darkness to get to the light.' Everything isn't rainbows and sunshine. And dealing with hard shi-stuff makes us stronger and wiser." He cleared his throat. Lee nodded, agreeing what the teen is saying. Already like this kid's mind.

"Right. You know, when I first dated Carley, it was hard. She didn't believe she deserve me because of her past being a nerd and all. It was cute. I was a history nerd but played football my entire life. Even though, school labeled me as mister popular, I didn't just fall for her nerdy beauty or brains. I fell for her. Her cheesy humor, the way she dances, cooking while singing country songs from way back, and much more. Growing with her through it all is my dream. My long-term goal is staying on her side through thick and thin." He leaned to the side of the chair while stealing a glance at his wife. Hoping she would wake up and tell him to shut up for being mushy in front of Louis and Clem. But no sign of her moving, instead of breathing in a deep sleep.

"Wow. Clem's lucky to have you guys."

"Oh, I assumed she told you she's adoptive?"

Louis nodded. Lee shook his head while chuckling to himself.

"She was so adorable. Still is. Since we couldn't conceive a little one, we decided to adopt. Clem, she's a tough one. As much as she feared to be alone again, we know we raised her head up high. Don't let her fool you that she is weak. She's strong." Lee said. Louis took his coffee and drank it.

"I know. She flipped me over once." Louis drowned the rest of the bitter coffee. Lee jerked his head back. Coughing to hide his laughter.

"Seriously? Is that what you're into." Lee smirked. He could imagine his small Sweet Pea flipping over someone as tall and lean as Louis. He remembered her karate class at the age of thirteen. The day she got mad at some bully in a lesson, she 'Rey Mysterio' that big kid on the mat was unbelievable that he's glad he caught that on tape.

"Louis."

"Yes, sir."

"First call me, Lee. And second... Promise me to protect Clem. She's baby girl. And that girl still out there. I know I'm asking for a lot but... Keep Clem away from trouble."

"Definitely." Louis eyed Clem, watching her face scrunched up.

"Lee?" He glanced down to see a smiling Carley. He immediately got up, leaning to her.

"Hey." He smiled back, giving her a tender kiss on the lips. She responded gently and weakly. He pulled away from her, cupping his hand on her cheek.

"I was so scared, Lee." She confessed weakly. He frowned.

"Me too. Soon as you pressed the alarm, I made sure to call the cops. I got a ticket for running through five red lights and flying to save you." He heard her giggle for the first time. She shut her eyes, sinking in his warm large hands.

"I can pay-"

"No. It's fine. I can handle that. Just relax for a bit." He told her. She nodded. She looked around.

"Where's Clementine?"

"Sleeping on her boyfriend." He pointed at the other side of the room. Carley perked up her head, twisting her head to see Louis waving at her shyly with Clem sleeping on his lap. Her eyes widened. Narrowing her eyes as a sly smile appeared on her bruised face.

"What-I knew it!"

"Since when?" Lee, hurt how he didn't catch on before her.

"What? He's always over. They always flirting in the living room. They're inseparable. Clem would be on her phone turning red and giggling like a goblin. It so adorable." The three in the room laughed lightly.

"I do not!" Wide awake from hearing them pick on her. She rubbed sleep off her eyes while adjusting herself on Louis's lap. She turned around to see her mother awake. The girl hopped off Louis, happily rushed over in Carley's arm.

"So glad you're okay!" She cried. Carley giggled. The sight of her baby girl filled her heart.

"Yeah. Me too. All I thought of is you two. I couldn't imagine a life without you guys. I love you, Clem." She kissed Clementine's cheek repeatedly. Clem, buried in kisses, smiled her might.

Louis watched from a distance. Family. This is what family supposed to feel like, right?

He felt his chest. Why at his house, he felt nothing but competition and emptiness?

"Louis, come over here." Carley called Louis. Louis pointed at himself and she fanned her hand gesturing for his company.

He got up and walked toward them. Suddenly, Carley's hand pulled his shirt, giving him a warm family hug.

"Thanks for being there for our daughter. Take good care of her." She whispered in his ear. Louis raised up, nodding with a smile on his face. Clem giggled, wrapped her arms around his waist.

Sucked. Keeping it a secret was hard, but they are happy that her parents approved the relationship.

.

.

After talking to his father on the phone for thirty minutes, Louis told Clem he had to return home with another earful.

"I'll text you when-" He felt arms around his waist. Louis naturally circled his arms around her. She smelt his sweater, cherishing the sweet cologne.

"Thank you." She looked up at him. One of his hands cupped her chin. He leaned down, pecking her lips.

"Anything for you." He said to her.

"You're just saying that, Dork." She looked down at the marble floor. He lifted her chin up, her gaze back on him.

"I'm serious. I know we just started dating but I really do like being with you. And it kills me every time leaving you."

"I feel the same way with you. I hope your family don't hate me." She bit her inner cheek. The boy shrugged his shoulder.

"My father is scary, and mother barely worries unless I break a finger. But its whatever. Like I care about them hating you. What matters the most is our feelings for each other." He kissed her forehead. Clem scrunched her nose while smiling wide, aching her cheeks.

"I feel like you be rehearsing shitty romantic quotes from Tumblr." She said with a serious voice. Louis chuckled in her hair.

"This is all natural." He winked at her. Little did he know, his charm worked on her. She rolled her eyes, pulling him down to her level. Their lips meet again before parting ways.

She really likes him.

.

.

A foot gut kicked a guy to the wall, creasing a dent and cracks on the surface. Bodies lied on the ground, defeated by one teen who glared down at the trembling auburn-haired young adult. He kneeled on his knees, begging for mercy.

The dark-haired teen fisted the man on the floor collar. Lifting him up to see his bruised face.

"You lost. Now tell me, who is the Muerto. Why are they stealing the Whispers product and selling it to you idiots?" He asked calmly with a serious face. Ben sadly pissed his pants. Although, he kept a brave face.

"We can't tell-Ack!"

James fisted Ben's gut, losing air from his lungs. The man crashed down to the ground. Cradling his stomach in a feeble position.

"I won't ask again." He barked.

"It's a girl! She's the one selling it us!" One guy shouted as he struggled to sit up. Ben shot him a glare.

"A girl?" James stomped on Ben's head. His face contacted the floor harshly. Cheek kissing the dirty floorboard of old alcohol or sex juice.

The more pressure James pressed on his skull, Ben screamed. The teen boy, not fazed by Ben clawing at his booted ankles.

"Please! I give up! I give up! I'll tell you!" He begged like a bitch. James dropped his foot on the hard floor. Ben gasped, struggled to sit up.

"She goes by Muerto. And the reason why she selling us you boys' product is for an exchange of CDs." Ben told him honestly. James rolled his eyes.

"What's in the CDs?"

"Noth-" Ben's body flew to the bed that was a yard stick away. His back crashed into the wall and down the bed.

"Care to speak?"

"It's all contain that whore bitch fucking my friends and I!" He sworn. The floors creaked as James made his way up to Ben. Ben back up, fearing another attack from the Asian kid.

"You guys made a deal with some little girl?" James asked. Ben rapidly nodded. Scared to get up and be brought back down to the hard floor.

"Why bother changing the Whispers party drug into a sex pill?"

"People would spend more money on them. Paying for thirty of them and ask us to distribute them at parties to get people going."

"You know you're making us look bad." James flinched his hand to Ben's neck, causing him to gag and vomit on the bed. James causally stepped over the scattered bodies across the room.

Shut the door behind him and saw his great friend, Glen keeping watch outside the door.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Anything for you man." He patted his back. Glen escorted James out the dormitory premises. Thankful that Glen is the head of the guys dorm and link to the Whispers gang.

James got on his father's bike. Slid his head in the red helmet. Roaring the bike as it started running. He whipped the motorcycle and drove off.

The only thing on his mind is finding this girl.

Muerto.