I leaned against the wall of the attic, closing my eyes.

"That could've gone better."

"Everyone okay?"

"Nobody got bit?"

"Lee's still bitten."

"Shut up."

I tried to regulate my breathing, calming my pounding heart.

"Okay, let's get out of here and keep movin'."

"Kid's right; we gotta keep moving. Think there's any chance we get Clem and catch up to those goddamn thieves?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Well we're not going out through this window. No latches, no roof access, and thirty feet straight down."

"Anyone have any ideas?"

"I bet this guy would. He's got a resourceful air about him."

A hand softly touched my shoulder. "You okay, Marcey?"

"Knock it off."

"Dixon Kent the third. Industria-"

"Omid!"

"Christa. I'm just trying to lighten the fucking tone."

"We need solutions! Not stupid jokes."

I let out a small groan. There were so many voices speaking that I couldn't even think properly. All I wanted to do was breathe and find Clem. That was the priority, and looking after her would be the main concern.

"I'm sorry."

"We need to look around. It's not necessarily true that we're trapped up here," that was Travis, the only voice I'd really listened to.

"We're no use to Clementine dead."

"We need to do something," I whispered, turning to face the group.

"So it's decided. We search the place and-"

"Lee? Lee? Lee!" A small voice made my eyes snap open. "I'm okay. I'm where my parents - oh no!"

"Clementine," I gasped.

"She's at the hotel where her parents were staying. He hasn't moved her," Lee spoke.

"Yet," Kenny commented.

"Yeah," Christa agreed. "Yet."

"We need to find her," I pushed myself off the wall.

"Like right this goddamn minute!" Lee joined.

"Let's look around," Travis repeated again. "Find a way out of this place."

Kenny frowned at Lee's arm. "I think we need to have an adult conversation about what happens if Lee takes another spill."

"Kenny-"

"We could be looking at a Larry situation here," Kenny continued.

I remembered the angry man who never returned from the dairy farm.

"Who's Larry?" Christa enquired.

"It don't matter," Kenny brushed the question off.

"He looks fine to me," Omid stated.

"Why the fuck are we having this conversation?" I snapped, rage filling me. "I'm so sick of the group fighting all of the fucking time for no reason. Lee was bitten, yeah, but for now that's not a problem. Our main concern is getting out of here and finding Clementine. That's what Lee wants and that's what the rest of us want, so that's what we're gonna fucking do!"

Everyone stared as I held my hands in fists.

"You're gonna listen to me!" Kenny demanded, approaching me with narrowed eyes. "We will get Clementine back, but Lee may die and-"

"No!" I screamed, hating the thought. "We are not going to talk about how Lee is a dead man when he's perfectly fine! Stop trying to cause shit!"

"This is stupid," Travis stepped between Kenny and I. "We need to stay calm about this."

"Calm!" I laughed, a bit like a mad woman. "Calm in an apocalypse, that's a fucking brilliant joke."

"Marcey," he put a hand out to me.

I stared at it, suddenly overwhelmed with a dozen emotions. I turned and kicked the wall with all of my strength, getting rid of the anger.

I stared at the hole in the wall, ignoring the intense pain I now felt in my foot.

"Did you play soccer?" Omid asked, a smile playing on his face.

"Shut up, sweetie. Look," Christa said.

I stepped back while Kenny investigated the broken wall. I tried to ignore Travis and Ben watching me and looked at the floor.

"It's corroded to hell."

"What's on the other side of this wall, a thirty foot drop?"

"The mansion next door," Travis answered. "They're connected. We should take turns breaking through the wall."

The group agreed and Kenny went first. Lee, Christa and Omid went to sit together on some sofas while Ben went to sit alone. I went to the opposite side of the room, sitting down on the floor and closing my eyes.

There was a shuffling sound next to me and then a voice.

"Are you okay?"

I opened my eyes and looked at Travis. "I didn't mean what I said. I'm..."

"It's okay."

"I'm sorry. I don't like to admit it, Trav, but I'm fucking terrified."

His arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"You're okay. We all are. We'll find Clem, I promise."

"I hope so. Are you okay?"

"I guess, not so sure about Ben though."

I looked over at the boy, who stared into nothingness.

"I didn't really think about how much he missed his family," Travis admitted. "I try to not think of mine."

"Yeah, me too."

"What... What happened to them?" He tried.

I bit my lip as Lee walked over to us, sitting down on the floor near and resting against the wall. I knew both of them enough to speak of it, so I did.

"My parents ... I'll start from the beginning. I was just outside, playing with the dog as usual. I remember the sun was so hot and I was in such a good mood. The bad neighbour I had, well they started hitting on the fence that separated our houses. I figured it was because I was making too much noise and the dog was barking, but then the fence broke down. I was so confused, I just stared at her but... She wasn't the neighbour anymore. She attacked but Sammi ran at her and defended me. While she did that, I grabbed a hammer from the shed and I just hit the neighbour over the head. I don't remember her name. I wouldn't want to."

"Sounds similar to my story," Lee sighed. "Clem saved me from her sitter who had turned."

"It's good to have people look out for you in a world like ours," Travis stated. "What about the rest?"

"My parents were out at work and that was just it. They never came back. I walked through Macon trying to find them for days when it started. I found my dad's car with its windows smashed. I didn't find much else but walkers until I met Lee."

Lee smiled slightly at me and I returned it.

"I'm glad you did."

"Me too."

Lee stood up and moved away to speak to other people, leaving Travis and I alone to listen to the sound of the wall breaking down. Omid had swapped places with Kenny at this point.

"Do you think we'll get out through there?" I wondered to my friend.

He shrugged.

"We need to get to Clementine."

Travis looked at Lee and remained silent.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, turning more so I faced him.

"I was wondering what's going to happen to Clem, who's going to look after her?"

"Lee will," I narrowed my eyes, hoping he wasn't getting at what I thought.

Travis didn't speak.

"Travis, tell me what you mean. I won't shout."

He hesitated before explaining. "Lee was bitten, Marcey. I don't think we cut that arm off in time. Look at him. He's coughing and he looks like he's overheating, and I'm sure the stress of Clementine going missing isn't helping at all. Maybe it bought him some time, but I don't think we've saved him in all honesty."

I tried to prevent tears.

"Clem is going to need someone to look out for her like Lee does."

"I know," I whispered. "But... Lee and Clem should decide."

"Yeah, okay."

"I'm through!" Omid exclaimed. We all stood and gathered around while he looked through the hole in the wall. "No walkers. Things are looking up."

One by one, we crawled through the gap and entered the room on the other side.

"Everyone keep a goddamn eye out," Kenny ordered.

I walked around and my eyes fell onto two bodies on the bed.

"Oh, God..."

The group approached and we all observed the two people who had self inflicted gunshots through their heads and their hands held together.

"At least they got to end it together," Travis sighed.

I turned away and went to the window, looking out over the streets.

"We should move," Omid stated.

"Yeah," Christa agreed.

Kenny picked up the gun from the deceased man's hand. "Got at least one shot left."

Everyone began searching the room for an exit and supplies.

"You okay, kid?"

I turned to face Lee and shrugged. "Apocalypse is taking its toll on me."

"Yeah." He absently looked at where one of his arms cut off.

"I'm scared for Clementine."

"Me too," he sadly stared at the floor. "But we'll find her. We have to."

I took a deep breath. "Let's get moving then."

Lee smiled slightly and we went to investigate a white door on the far end of the room.

"Might be the way out," Lee suggested, twisting the handle and opening it.

It lead to a small balcony opposite a building.

"You think we could make that jump?" I wondered.

"Looks like we can stay off the streets all the way to River Street if we're careful," Kenny pointed out.

"Let's go."

"Shouldn't someone else go first?" I asked as Lee moved forward.

"We don't know how safe this balcony is to jump," Lee shook his head. "I should try it first to make sure it's safe."

I wasn't happy with that answer, but let the man go anyway. The tall man stood up on the balcony rails and threw himself across the drop, reaching the roof safely and smiling at us.

Omid followed, then Christa. Kenny stepped forward until Travis stopped him.

"Don't you think Marcey should go next?"

"He can go first," I folded my arms. "I'm in no rush to cross that gap."

Kenny did go next, but there was a creaking while he jumped.

"What was that?" I stepped forward onto the balcony and felt the weight shift under my feet. I tried another step and it moved even further.

"Marceline, come back right now," Travis calmly instructed.

"I can't move," I froze.

I looked up to see the group on the roof wide eyed and watching me.

"Marcey you have to walk back or jump. The balcony is going to fall."

"I can't move."

"Give me your hand, Marceline," Travis reached out.

"Marceline," Ben suddenly appeared very slowly alongside me. "Come on, let's get off this balcony."

I nodded my head, heart racing.

He put a hand on my back and gently pushed me back inside the building.

The balcony creaked. Ben looked at us with his eyes huge.

"Ben-"

The balcony fell, along with the boy.


Broke my heart writing about Ben's fall. I did wonder how to approach this scene, so I hope I've done it okay.

You all know we're nearing the end of the story, and now the reviews are suggesting you guys want this to continue into season 2... So you're just gonna have to wait for the ending!

Thank you so much for the reviews you've all given, especially s0ul-spir1t for the repeat reviews! Also big thanks to Lizeyli for your review, I loved your suggestions and I'm so glad you've enjoyed the story so far. :)

See you all on Wednesday for the final chapters... Yes, chapters! x