Welcome to chapter 17! I'm posting this on my second week of school, which means the chapters will be coming in slower but will without doubt still be worked on as much I can with my time, enjoy!
"I'm staying behind, ain't makin' it like this." Troy showed off his stomach wound, he was stumbling around a lot. How much had he loss?
I grabbed his arm, "B-But, Troy! You don' need to do this!". My mind was racing with dozens of possibilities, but I didn't see one where we could effectively get away from here with Troy. He was too hurt.
"I'm making my own decision for once, James. I've been told what to do since shit hit the fan." there was no changing his mind about this. I didn't know what to do, I latched onto him as some sort of... goodbye hug. To my surprise he did hug back, he really wasn't half the asshole he played himself off as. When we stopped he looked me in the eyes, "Get that girl outta here safe, golden boy, or I'll come back just to kick your ass!".
My voice was shaky, tears swelling up in my eyes, "O-Okay... I w-will!". I picked up Sarah, who was still in shock, and ran up the stairs and onto the roof. Just as I slammed the door shut I heard a scream, then it really hit me.
No, no, no , no, NO. I wanted to scream, I wanted to scream and cry and throw a fit. I couldn't do that anymore, I have to be an adult, for Sarah if not for myself. I punched a wall, trying to let my anger out a bit. Did it help? Sort of, fucked up my hand a bit though, I guess that will happen when you punch a cement wall. "We gotta jump these rooves, get on my back." I hoisted Sarah up onto me, man... I haven't jumped any roofs since high school. That's right, James, think of other things right now.
The door behind us started to shake, who knows how many walkers were behind it, it was either jump or die. I started to run, lunging off of the roof. Oh god, don't look down and... we made it. Not without making my side flare up, it was still bleeding... it shouldn't be too serious, even if it was I have to get Sarah out of here, to the others.
This situation was all too familiar, my mind was racing, remembering things from years ago. I jumped another roof, and another, and another. Adrenaline won't allow me to stop, until a familiar man's voice rang out, "James?!".
"N-Nick!", we took a moment to stare at each other, this …is the first time we spoke today, he's talking to me again. I wanted to get closer to him, looking around I noticed a fire escape on the side of the building. I jumped down onto it, nudging Sarah to get off my back. "I-I'm gonna lower Sarah down!". I didn't like how this was wobbling, I needed to get her off now.
"Okay!" Nick held out his arms, honestly he looked kinda funny like that, but this wasn't a laughing time. I laid on my stomach, lowering Sarah as far down as my arms could allow, not to mention I wasn't the strongest person out there. I felt a wave of relief when Nick caught her, she was safe now, that's all I cared about.
I could hear the moans of the walkers near us, it was the horde from the bakery, I had to get down and fast.
The metal started to shake more, this was not the time for it to give out. Okay, all I have to do is get on the rail and jump – The metal gave out before I could do the second part of my plan, falling from underneath me. It'd be fine if the rest of it didn't come down on top of me, "F-Fuck, I think it hit my leg.", my voice cracked, it hurt bad but I don't think it pierced anything, I hope it didn't.
Kenny came running over, I could hear him chanting "Not again." under his breath over and over, what did he mean? I gasped when the metal came off my leg, it was relieving feeling, not being pinned under metal. His voice went back to normal, "Can you walk?".
I got up off the ground, trying to walk, I had a small limp but I was fine. That's what I felt weight on me... it was Nick, his arms wrapped around me. I teared up, hugging him back, I was so glad to see him again...
We didn't let go, until we heard awkward coughing from Luke, "Arvo said he has a house not too far, with supplies. We're headin' out.".
"We can't sit around, there's a horde on it's way. We gotta get moving." Jane was right, the sooner out of here the better.
We all started walking until Luke stopped, "Wait – Where's Troy?".
I just kept walking, I didn't have the energy to talk about it. Just to think that... he's back there. He... he turned. I just – I can't think about it. Nick put his arm around me, I leaned my head onto him. Despite the cold, and the threat of walkers, I felt safe. I made sure Sarah walked with us, I didn't want her being too far away from me, I kept a promise to Troy.
While walking I could hear a conversation between Jane and Clem.
"Look... I know you're probably pissed about me leaving... when I heard the gunshots I... I knew it was a mistake. If it helps, the things I'd normally do is walk away for good... but I didn't. Despite what my instincts are telling me. Despite... everything I've seen..." Man, Jane was giving a speech here.
"I'm not pissed... I'm glad you're back. I didn't want you to go in the first place." Clem really did like Jane, it was kinda cute to watch them talk.
"Thanks. That's... that's good, because you're one of the reasons I came back, and it'd probably get pretty annoying if you hated me the whole time." Jane joked with Clem, it's nice to see Jane has a silly side.
"Wouldn't want it to be annoying.", Clem joked back with Jane, this was cute.
"No. That would suck. I'm gonna try to make this work... All I can do is promise you I won't abandon you again. Which, to be fair, I've never done before...", I feel like my analysis on Jane was right. She doesn't like getting close in fear of losing, it was her way of coping to leave before getting attached. I don't think it was the same with Luke though, she cares but I don't think she wanted a relationship.
It felt like we've been walking for hours, that was until Luke tripped over.
"Wait up! Wait, We need to stop." Bonnie helped Luke to his feet, with the assistance of Mike.
" No! No, I'm... I'm fine, okay? I just need a second. Sorry, I just... I just put more weight on it than I should've." Luke was a bad liar, it was obvious that he was in pain.
"Alright, wait there!" Kenny yelled out to Arvo, who kept moving. "Hey! What'd I say?" Kenny grabbed him, throwing him to the ground. "When I tell you something, you fuckin' listen, you understand?".
Mike stepped up, "Kenny, come on! There's no need for that.".
"He's getting' what he deserves" Kenny aimed his gun at Arvo, to keep him on the ground.
I sighed, Arvo didn't 'deserve' this, he was leading us to supplies for god's sake, "Ken, back the hell off.". I called out to Arvo in Russian, "It will be okay.".
"Should've known you'd be buddies with the fuckin' ruskie." Kenny shoved past me, sitting down on a tree stump.
"I'm gonna have a word with Kenny. He doesn't have to treat him that way. Kid's been through enough as it is." Mike was trying to be a voice of reason.
"Good, teach 'im some manners while yer at it." I couldn't hide that I was angry, it was true that Kenny has no filter though.
When Mike walked away I heard a gasp, looking over I saw Luke putting pressure on his leg.
"You look like crap." Clementine remarked, making all of us laugh a bit.
"Don't make me laugh, all right? Hurts when I laugh.", Luke's smile soon faded as he sighed, "How'd we get here?".
"We walked... at least most of us did. You and James basically had to be carried." Clem was in quite the joking mood today, perhaps it was to try to lighten the mood.
"Hey." I teased, gesturing to clementine, still giggling. Only one of us wasn't laughing, Sarah.
Clementine put her hand on Sarah's shoulder, "Are you alright, Sarah?".
"I... will be... Thanks, Clem." Sarah smiled for the first time today, good. I'm glad she has another child with her, despite their differences.
Bonnie walked up, fresh bandages and rubbing alcohol in her hands, "Hey, Clem... go over and see if you can change Kenny's bandages. I offered but... I don't think he was comfortable with me doin' it. You know him better than I do, maybe he'll let you do it. ".
The mood dropped again, Clem sighed, "If I have to.". She took the items, walking over to Kenny who had his usual pensive stare.
"Whoa, what happened to your hand?" Bonnie grabbed my arm, I forgot all about my hand. "Here, let me clean that.". I forgot all about my hand, the pain in my leg and side must've muted it.
"Oh, I-It's nothin'. It just... it hit the ground when I fell, y'know?", I knew I was a bad liar, probably worse than Luke, but I didn't want to bring it up.
"That's pretty messed up for just hittin' the ground... but it's not our business, right Bonnie?" Luke intervened.
"O-Of course.", I knew Bonnie meant well though, we were friends after all. As she cleaned out my wound on my hand I felt light headed, soon all I could hear was the faint noise of Nick calling out my name as I slipped under.
Warmth, there were warm fingers going through my hair, why was everything warm in winter? "Good Mornin', Jamesy boy.", it was the voice of an old friend. Devin? No, it couldn't be.
"Hn..? Mornin' Dev. Farah up?", my words were not my own, this was no dream. It was a flashback, to a time before all of this. Not too far before though, only hours before.
"Oh, I took 'er to camp for ya, you needed th'sleep, birthday boy.", ah yes, Devin the ever so sweet friend. Farah always liked going to camp though, it was nice for her to stay active during summer.
The flashback started to blur, soon I was walking to Nate's truck hurriedly with Farah.
"Why do I gotta leave camp early, Uncle James?" her voice , so innocent, so full of curiosity. If only...
Getting into the truck I reassured her, "Well ya see, hon, you get to help us get ready for the party!". I reminded myself of Carlos here, trying to shelter her from the bad, I had seen the news report earlier.
"I don't, heh, I brought my fair share of help" Nate was his classy self still, raising a pack of beer, what had ever become of him?
"Do you think mommy and daddy are gonn' be there?" She rarely saw her parents, they were both busy, in their own ways. Whether it was because of Rodney's infatuation with a certain bar a town over or Quinn's workaholic nature keeping her away from us.
"Well, I sure hope so. Haven't seen your mom in a while." I was so excited to see Quinn, to let Farah see Quinn. We might've had... problems, after Joe's arrest, but I still loved her no matter what she thought I did to get him in trouble.
This is when the radio started blaring an emergency signal, I never liked how loud those were, made me anxious. Nate turned it off scoffing, "It's a bunch'a bull anyway. Now let's fuc–freakin' party!". At least he made effort to not curse around Farah...
I returned to consciousness, Nick ran over "You alright?". As he helped me up onto my feet I winced from the pain. Not even from my bullet, but from my hand and leg as well.
"Heh, yeah. Just.. stressed. Can't really stop to let it out.". So much had happened today, but I'm alive, I shouldn't complain.
I heard a small chuckle escape Nick's throat, "Yeah, I know what you mean.".
"Well, let's head out" Bonnie called out, I had to admit I was embarrassed for making the group wait.
The sun was setting, the temperature lowering. If it weren't for Nick's warmth I'd be freezing my ass off by now. How long was it until we reached the house? We stopped when we found a... power station? This wasn't a house at all.
"Is that it?" Kenny yelled at Arvo, who didn't answer. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"
"What? It what?" the poor kid didn't understand him, he was probably as tired as us too.
"What do you mean 'what'?!-" Kenny was about to go off the deep end.
"He doesn't speak much English.", Jane cut him off.
"Yeah, I can see that!", then why was Kenny yelling at him?
Kenny was about to start up again but I hushed him, my Russian was still rusty as hell but it beat listening to this kid get yelled at for half an hour "Is this the place?".
"Is still more walk, some more hours.", Kenny wasn't going to like Arvo's answer.
Kenny waved his gun around as he grunted, "Goddammit, I knew this was gonna happen. This guy fucked us."
"Like walking aimlessly is any better? We'd be fucked regardless, at least we have a better chance of supplies now." Jane did have a point, what was Kenny's plan exactly?
Bonnie walked up, "It's getting' dark. Maybe we should stop for the night.". We weren't gonna make it to the house in time before nightfall, this was the best idea.
"This is bullshit!" Kenny hollered, his face was red again.
"Relax." Jane's voice was tense, she sounded annoyed.
"Don't tell me to relax." Kenny's voice was getting tenser as well.
"Instead of fightin' how 'bout we make sure this place is safe? We're all tired, stressed, we need to take a moment." I tried being the voice of reason, though I knew this wasn't my strong suit.
"Can we just try and have a calm, quiet night?" Clementine sounded drained, we all were.
"I'd be up for that." Mike chimed in.
"Yeah, sounds nice." Luke really wanted to get off that leg for the night, this was the perfect place.
"All right, y'all wait here. I'll go make sure this ain't some walker nest we're lockin' ourselves into.", I think some of us were glad that Kenny was gonna go down, it'd give him time to cool down and us time to relax a bit.
Jane spoke up, "I'll go with you.". Now they're working together? Great, maybe they'll talk out their problems. Probably not, but a man can dream, right?
"Take Alvie for me, Clem." Kenny handed Alvin to Clementine, she was holding him like a natural, unlike Nick. She stuck her tongue out, making him laugh. Finally, we were gonna get a night of peace.
At least I hope so.
Nuker357 – If they could I'm sure they would have a burial, but at least he got to make his own choice after being bossed around forever, too bad it had to be a fatal choice. :(
Avid-8Cancer – Things are definitely about to go down in Episode 4 and 5, might lose some friends might gain some, I'm glad you're interested!
bigherosixty – I'm not sure if his death would be categorized as selfless, it is in a way, but he made this choice for himself. He wanted to go out in his own way and I hope I ended his character off well, if anything he got more development then in game lol
It'sAKirbyBaby – Omg could you imagine him getting bitten on his stump? Poor Troy.
Guest – One of the reasons I didn't like playing as Clem is because she can literally be anything you want her to, so what's to say anything is ooc for her? (I do love her though) Also Arvo felt weird, like he had no meaning for the plot, I do plan on making him more likable since I have that power as a writer but I don't expect everybody to like him because of what goes down in game haha.
lllooneytoonbro – I'm glad we agree about Arvo, and I'm glad I got the chapter out super fast but sadly I have school now so they'll be a bit slower. I'll try my best to get them out still though!
LUKE JOINS TOO I – This is the best thing I've seen, you put my story to SHAME. Also Troy confirmed furry now.
Guest – No words have been spoken truer.