Y/N raced through the thick forest, best he could, chasing after the giant child known as Nick. More and more walkers emerged from the brush as Y/N finally caught up to him.

"They're everywhere. They're everywhere" Nick yelled in a panic.

"We're gonna have to go back to back and fight our way through" Y/N replied, stabbing another walker in the side of the head. Nick began to fret and panic more, smacking a walker with the butt of his rifle before yelling:

"Shed!"

and running off.

"Fuck sake!" Y/N yelled in anger, killing another walker and kicking another back before chasing after Nick again.

Y/N made to the door and slammed it behind him, groaning with effort as he dragged a heavy bench over to the entranceway as walkers already began to try and force their way in.

"You gonna fucking help?" He yelled as Nick sat down in the corner, just quietly looking at his feet.

"Are you fucking listening?" Y/N roared, using more debris within the old shed to block the only entrance. He continued to get no response back.

"Fine just sit there. Useless cunt!" Y/N snapped again, pushing a heavy barrel against the bench, satisfied it would hold for the time being. He climbed on another bench, looking out the high window.

"Fucking looks like there's a lot out there. Too many to make a stand without getting blocked in. Why the fuck did you run in here and not back to the house?" Y/N asked, glaring at Nick as he did.

"There was walkers and-"

"There's always fucking walkers. That's no excuse to get yourself fucking trapped! I'm guessing Pete and Luke are the only reason you lived so fucking long!"

Nick didn't answer as Y/N looked around the shed for anything he could use. His eyes fell on a shelf of jars and then to a contraption next to it.

"That's a still" Nick said as Y/N walked over and peered into the top.

"I know what it is" Y/N replied, feeling relieved it was empty. At least he didn't have to worry about the shed blowing up while they were in it.

"The fuck you do" Nick muttered.

"Cunt of an old man used to run moonshine outta the club headquarters. Made me help from time to time" Y/N replied. He opened one of the jars and sniffed, instantly his nose and eyes overwhelmed with the aroma of bootleg booze.

"And is that moonshine?" Nick asked.

"Whiskey" Y/N replied as he screwed the lid back on the jar. He walked back over to the bench to look out the window but stopped when Nick got up and went over to the shelf, picking up a jar and taking a sip.

"What are you fuckin' doin'?" Y/N asked aggressively, instantly angered.

"Having a drink" Nick replied as he drank again, before holding the jar out to Y/N and adding: "Drink with me."

Y/N took the jar, had a sip and then threw it hard against the wall, the glass jar exploding on impact.

"Why'd you do-"

Nick was cut off as he was shoved hard to the floor, Y/N glaring at him as he roared:

"The fuck is wrong with you? Pete's out there. Clem's out there. We have to fucking get out and find them, not get wasted. What is your fucking problem?"

Nick stared at Y/N for a moment before getting to his feet and grabbing another jar. He sat and sighed:

"I had to kill my mom. That sounds weird when I say it out loud, huh? Luke always used to push me. I never wanted to go into business with him. I remember when he sold me on it. His big plan. Some fuckin' plan. A case of beer in, he just said,"Nick, we're burnin' daylight." And that was that. After six months, we were flat broke. But I didn't care. We were havin' fun. I wish I was like him. I wish I could just keep movin' all the time. But I'm just not... built like that. Everyone I grew up with. It all... happened to them. And now it's going to happen to us. We're all so fucked. This whole world is fucked."

Y/N stared at Nick for a couple of moments before he exploded.

"That's it? You had to kill your mum. I had to kill someone who was like a brother. That's what the fucking world is now man. Fuck it's what it's always been. So what, you're just gonna give up? Cry and piss your pants cos life's fucking hard? Grow the fuck up. We need to pick our spot, be ready, and fucking fight our way to Pete and Clem. Or you can drink yourself stupid and die in this fucking shed. Don't make no difference to me..."

—~—

Walkers pounded on the side of an abandoned cigarette truck in the middle of the woods. Clementine and Pete had taken shelter within, hiding from the surrounding dead.

"Well, they shouldn't be able to get through that. On the downside, we can't get through them" Pete sighed.

Clementine watched as Pete sat down, holding his obviously injured right leg.

"What're you lookin' at? Starin' ain't polite. Come on out and say it" Pete asked calmly.

Clementine sighed sadly. She really liked Pete.

"I'm really sorry Pete. How are you feeling?"

Pete chuckled and replied:

"Other than this bite I'm just dandy. Hand me that would you?" He asked, pointing to a hacksaw.

Clementine nodded, handing it over and saying:

"It worked for our friend Lee. Y/N cut his hand off after he was bit. But it was right after and-"

Clementine stopped, emotion overtaking her. It had been when she was taken. When they lost Kenny. What about Lee and Carley and Christa now? The man had said one was dead. Who was it? What ab-

"You ok there girl?" Pete asked, interrupting Clementine's internal monologue. "I'm the one who was bit."

Clem nodded apologetically and handed Pete the small saw. He held it against his leg before throwing it away.

"I'd bleed out like a stuck pig. What are you gonna do, carry me outta here on your back? Hell. Just...just give me a minute."

Clementine sighed. This still got to her, watching a man come to terms with his own impending death. She knew Y/N was completely cold when it came to this kind of thing. He just was now. It's how he dealt with it all. Unless it was someone he cared for, he completely closed off when someone was going to die.

They had met a man a few weeks earlier. He seemed ok, nice enough, didn't come across as creepy or anything. On the third day he'd been bitten on the shoulder while they were fighting through some walkers- Y/N had stabbed him in the base of the skull as soon as he'd noticed, "didn't see the point in troubling a good man with bad news" Y/N had said without emotion. Again, Clem could understand why Y/N had become like this, but she still felt dreadful for Pete.

"I'll be ok. Just need to rest" Pete said with his head against the wall of the truck.

"Ok I'll see if I can find anything useful" Clementine nodded. She looked through various boxes before Pete called out:

"Anything good back there?"

"Lots of cigarettes" Clem yelled back.

"Gimme one of those. Probably tastes like pine tar by now. But I'd smoke a dead coon's tail if you had one. Hand it here."

Clementine did and watched Pete light up, saying to him:

"Y/N smokes from time to time when he finds them. He never lets me though. Would you show me how?"

"Hell no!" Pete chuckled.

Clementine was surprised and asked "why not?"

"Ellen Breslin, San Bernadino boardin' school, June '63. One pack and I was hooked. Ah, that broad. Couldn't kiss worth a damn."

He inhaled and quickly coughed, saying:

"Well, that tastes about as bad as it smells.

"Now what?"

"We wait." Pete sighed. Clementine sat down near the front of the truck and quickly dropped off to sleep.

—~—

Clementine slowly woke up, feeling disoriented. She looked for Y/N before realisation kicked in. She was in the van. She had been separated from Y/N. Pete...

Pete!

Clementine shot up on her feet, noticing Pete was slumped over and quietly groaning.

Clementine grabbed the hacksaw and approached him quietly, whispering:

"Please be alive. Please be alive"

She sighed in relief as he sat up and coughed loudly.

"Damn it. I feel like ten pounds of shit in a five pound sack. Jesus. Stuck in this can the whole damn day. You want to hear somethin' funny? I've been thinkin', and I don't want to die. Never thought I'd be the kinda idiot to say somethin' like that. But there it is. I'm scared, Clementine. Jesus, I'm scared."

"What does it feel like?" Clementine asked concerned.

"It feels like... like a rope is wrapped around my neck, gettin' tighter every second. It feels like I can't... can't breathe. Would you... would you promise me you'll watch out for Nick? I love that stupid kid. No matter what you think, he is a good boy. He's been playin' a tough hand, but he is a good boy."

"I'll do what I can." Clem said, unsure how she would sell the idea to Y/N. She hoped he and Nick had got on ok, she had no worries about his safety. It was Y/N- if anyone was safe it was him.

"Thank you. But it's been nearly a day and they ain't gonna find us."

He stood and slowly opened the door a crack as Clem asked fearfully:

"Where are you going?"

"I'm not gettin' outta this. You're gonna have to make a break for it. I'll buy you some time."

He limped up towards the front of the truck, Clementine saying "thank you Pete" as he started blaring on the horn. He yelled as walkers smashed on the doors and windscreen: "go Clem. Now!"

Clementine opened the back door, slammed it behind her, and ran.

—~—

Y/N was sat on the bench staring out the windows as he had for hours. Nick was snoring, having drank half a jar of whiskey and passed out earlier.

Y/N had tried to wake him, well kick him seven or eight times, as his snoring was riling up the walkers. He had no luck though, Nick was out.

The sun was starting to get lower when Y/N saw Luke and Alvin emerge from the brush about forty yards from the shed.

"They could be in there man. Those lurkers are pretty wiled up" Luke said quietly to Alvin.

"Yeah man, but what are we supposed to do. There's what, ten there?" Alvin replied when they both jumped. Y/N had smashed out the window with his elbow and preceded to yell:

"Luke! Have you seen Clem and Pete?"

"No? What happened?" Luke yelled, Alvin backing up slightly as the walkers attention was drawn from the door of the shed.

"How many are out there Luke?"

"About ten. Nick with you? I don't know what we can-"

"You get them away from the door so I can get out!" Y/N yelled, his face disappearing from the window.

"But what if-"

"FUCKING DO IT!" Y/N screamed as he cleared the door as fast as he could. Luke yelled, getting the attention of the walkers as the doors opened, Y/N shooting one with his crossbow before dropping it and pulling his knife.

Luke and Alvin watched in shock as Y/N took down one after the other after the other in quick succession, blood splattering on him as he did. He snarled and growled animalistically, a half crazed look growing in his eyes as the last walker fell dead.

Luke and Alvin looked at him terrified.

"Uh Y/N you... you ok man?" Luke asked, genuinely scared of the teenager in front of him.

"Never fuckin' better. You ain't seen Clem or Pete?" Y/N asked as the rush started to leave his bloodstream, his breathing slowing as he picked up his crossbow and slung it over his shoulder.

"No. What happened?" Alvin asked.

"We wandered on a shootout at the river then got overrun by walkers. Pete and Clem got separated from us. I gotta find her."

Y/N turned to leave, Luke grabbing his shoulder causing Y/N to turn and raise a fist.

"Whoa whoa whoa, Y/N. I want to find them too. But let's just get us out of here and then find them. Now do you know where Nick is?"

"Yeah he's in there passed out" Y/N said with a tone of disgust.

"Is he hurt?" Alvin asked walking apprehensively passed the dead walkers and towards the shed.

"No he's fuckin' drunk. We wandered on a bootleggers still and that idiot decided gettin' shitfaced was more important than helpin' me get out" Y/N replied.

"Alright, let's get Nick up and back home and we'll find Pete and Clem, together?" Nick said, as much a question as an idea. Y/N sighed.

"I kicked him six or seven times trying to wake him. You've got five minutes before I stab him in the leg."

—~—

Clementine ran and ran, as fast as she could away from the truck and the walkers. It wasn't long until the horn couldn't be heard and she stopped, catching her breath and looking around the forest.

She looked up at the sun, its position in the sky, and thought back to where it was earlier that morning.

"The house is this way" she smiled. Y/N's lessons had sunk in. She ran for another ten minutes before finally arriving back at the house out of breath and sweaty.

She opened the door to find Rebecca and Carlos sat at the kitchen table.

"Clementine, are you alright? Luke's not with you?" Carlos asked as Rebecca screeched "where's Alvin? What happened? It's been hours. Where are the others?"

Clem caught her breath and tried to answer them both all at once.

"I don't know where the others are. We got attacked by walkers at the river this morning. Pete and I got separated from Y/N and Nick. Pete was bit."

Rebecca covered her mouth, Carlos whispered "god."

"Y/N and Nick haven't come back, Clem asked?"

Carlos shook his head and panic set in for Clementine. It was Y/N. She'd assumed he'd made it back and would have been out looking for her, but to not make it back at all? As she internally panicked Rebecca went off again:

"We gotta go! Go get the guns!"

"Now wait a min-" Carlos tried to answer before Rebecca roared again:

" My husband is still out there! Get the guns!"

Carlos left the room as she continued to Clementine:

"Luke and Alvin went out looking for you. I told them not to go. Damn it, Luke!"

Carlos returned and handed Rebecca a rifle and she ran out the door.

"Clementine, can you... can you please watch Sarah? She's upstairs. Just distract her."

Clementine thought it was odd since Sarah looked older than her, but she nodded as Carlos said "thank you" and ran out the door.

Clementine looked out the window for a moment, praying Y/N was ok, before begrudgingly walked upstairs. She entered Sarah's room and jumped at a flash and a "cheese!"

Sarah took a photo of Clem and blurted out:

"I found this under the house. There was all kinds of old stuff!"

She looked at the picture, then handed it to Clem, adding: "It's so cool! Take one of me! Come on, take one of me. Please?"

"I'm not in the mood" Clem said back, going over and looking out the window.

"Sorry. Grinchy" Sarah giggled before she took a selfie with a silly face and a peace sign as the photo came out the bottom of the camera and she shook it quickly, trying to get it to develop.

"Are you going to introduce me to Y/N now?"

A tear rolled down Clem's cheek she wiped away as Sarah asked:

"What's wrong?"

"We were attacked by walkers down at the river. Pete was bit, I was separated from Y/N and Nick, I thought Y/N would be back by now. It's not like him not to be."

"Is that where everyone is?" Sarah asked. Clem nodded and the older girl groaned in frustration.

"Ugh I'm so sick of this. Dad always treats me like I'm a baby. Hey I found a gun earlier under the house. Teach me how to use it?"

Clem was about to answer when Sarah saw someone out the window and said happily "oh Luke is back!"

She ran downstairs, Clem excitedly in pursuit before Sarah stopped in her tracks, saying to Clem with a voice full of fear:

"That's not Luke. It's Carver. He can't see me. Please!"

Clem looked at the girl shocked before nodding and whispering "hide."

Sarah ran into the lounge as Clem snuck over and tried to lock the door before it was swung open, an arrogant looking man standing there.

"Hello there" the man smiled, speaking with a gruff, gravelly voice.

"I have a gun" Clementine said, trying her hardest not to be intimidated. The man was a few inches taller than Y/N, which made him massive to Clementine. His coat made him look bulky as well.

"Smart girl. I would too. But I'm not a bad guy, honey. Promise you that." The man smiled as he began looking around the kitchen. Before Clementine could reply he quickly added:

"My family and I are set up a ways downriver. I'm... kinda surprised we haven't run into each other yet. What's your name?"

"Clementine. What's your name?" Clem asked suspiciously, internally screaming at herself the moment she gave her real name.

"George. Pleasure to meet you" 'George' smiled, holding he hand out. Clementine shook it, noticing the gun on his holster.

"You mind if I come in for a bit?" George continued as he walked to the other side of the kitchen.

"I do actually. You need to leave"

"Real nice place you got here. Is there anyone around? You don't usually see cabins this big out here. Sure could pack a lot of folks in there."

"I'm just here with my bo-best friend. He's out hunting right now but he'll be back soon."

"Bo-best friend you say? That's a Freudian slip if I've ever heard one" the man chuckled.

"I don't know what that means. You need to leave before Y/N gets back or-"

"Y/N? That's a good strong name. He's out hunting you say? Clementine how old are you?"

"I'm... uh 13. Why?" she asked puzzled.

"How old is Y/N?"

"14. Again, why?"

"Just wanted to check. Hate to see a young girl be taken advantage of in this god forsaken world. You two been here long?"

"Not long. We're going north. We just have to find our friends first."

"Oh to Shangri-La. Lotta nonsense if you ask me. Funnily enough though I'm looking for people too. Seven of them, to be exact. They've been gone a long while and... I'm worried they might've gotten lost. Maybe you've seen 'em. Couple of farm boys and an old man... Spanish guy and his daughter. Quiet girl, bit taller than you. A big black guy. This big. And a pretty little pregnant lady."

"That's a lot of people to lose" Clementine replied.

"Tell me about it. Where does this go?" He asked, picking up a large knife. Clementine stepped back, trying to hide her fear as she pointed to a drawer and said "over there."

The man smiled and walked over, placing it in the drawer and remarking:

"That's a lot of dishes for two people. Looks like a tornado's been through here."

"I'm supposed to be cleaning them. Look you need to leave before Y/N gets here or there'll be trouble. You really don't want to make Y/N mad."

A look came over the man's face, one that reminded her of the brothers at the farm for some reason. His eyes seemed to darken, a smile growing on his face. It wasn't a happy one.

"Is that a fact. Dangerous is he? Someone to be scared of?"

"You have no idea. Y/N will kill anyone who tries to hurt me. He's killed lots of people who wanted to hurt me. You need to leave bef-"

"Well it's a good thing I'm not trying to hurt you" the man said cutting her off and walking into the lounge. He noticed a mid game chess board and remarked:

"Well, well...white's in trouble. Three moves away from checkmate. Huh, that's a distinct shirt. I knew someone who wore one just like that."

The walked over and picked up the plaid shirt, continuing:

"Doctor. Real smug son of a bitch. But a smart man. I miss him."

"What happened to him?"

"Let's just say we had our differences. Sooner or later, people close to you will find a reason to cross you. Happens every time."

"Not Y/N. He wou-"

"What was that?" The man asked, jumping up and pulling his gun.

"What was what?" Clem asked.

"Noise upstairs" he replied, walking up before Clem could try to stop him. He pulled his gun from his holster as Clem replied:

"It's probably the wind"

The man entered Sarah's room and looked around before holstering his gun.

"Must have been. Had to check wouldn't feel right if I'd left you al-"

He stopped, bending over and picking a picture of Sarah from the floor. A dark smile crossed his face as he asked:

"Who's this?"

" Well, it's a kid."

"Yeah. Looks like it was taken in this room. You have no idea who these people are, do you?"

Clem knew she was caught as she desperately tried to think of something, stammering:

"They-I- I don't-"

"Lemme ask you this. The first time they meet you, what did they do?"

"They... they locked me and Y/N in a shed" Clementine replied looking down sadly.

"If people don't trust you Clementine, how can you trust them? Well, I think I've troubled you long enough. I can let myself out."

As the man walked down the stairs Clementine yelled out:

"I wasn't lying. You need to keep away. Y/N will kill you!"

"You have a real good day now, y'hear" the man smiled as he left the cabin.

—~—

"Where is he?" Sarah asked, emerging from one of the bedrooms.

"He's gone" Clem replied adding "we need to find the others."

"I'm not allowed to go out" Sarah replied as they entered the lounge and sat down.
They were sat in silence for about ten minutes before they heard a door burst open, something hit the ground and a voice yelling "Clemmy!?!"

Clem gasped "Y/N!" and shot up on her feet. In less than a moment Y/N had rushed into the lounge and the two had embraced in a silent, emotional, warm and tight hug, Y/N lifting Clem from the ground as he spun her, his arms around her back as hers were around his neck. Clem sobbed while Y/N replied:

"Thank God you're ok Clemmy. Been worried sick all day."

Clem caught a jealous glance from Sarah before Carlos called out her name and she rushed to the kitchen. Y/N gently lowered Clem to the floor as they heard Sarah scream:

"He was here. Carver was here!"

There were gasps and yells and swearing as Clem whispered to Y/N:

"We've got a problem."

"What was he- you just let him in? Rebecca yelled out as Clem and Y/N entered the kitchen, joined by the hand. Clem wasn't letting go.

"I didn't let him in. He just walked in. He said he knew you though. Said you were a real smug son of a bitch" Clem said to Carlos with a glare, Y/N chuckling loudly.

"He saw my photo dad. He-"

"Photo? WHY WERE YOU TAKING PHOTOS?" Carlos roared, looking at Clementine infuriated. Y/N pulled Clem behind him, his eyes narrowing as he said coolly:

"You better watch who you're talking to like that. Now I'm sick of fucking asking this but who the fuck is Carver?"

The doctor sighed as the others looked away.

"He was scouting. We got lucky. He wasn't expecting to find us. Clementine must have surprised him. If she hadn't been there... Well, he was too smart to stick around. But he'll be back with the rest. We don't have much time."

"He's right. Everyone pack up. We're movin' out." Luke added.

"Who the fuck is Carver?" Y/N snapped again. Again he was ignored, Alvin left the room, Rebbecca saying "Alvin wait" and following him out. Carlos looked at Sarah:

"We have to leave now, sweetie, before he comes back with more bad guys. But it's gonna be okay. Let's just go get your things."

They were about to leave when suddenly they dropped, a gun firing and a window smashing as Y/N held the glock he had refilled that morning out to the side, smoke still whisping from where he had just fired it.

"Next time this points at one of you. Who the fuck is Carver?" Y/N snapped again.

Carlos looked up at Y/N terrified as he released his hands from his ears:

"Clem, I don't know what he told you, but William Carver is a dangerous man. He's the leader of a camp not far from here, and he's very smart. We were lucky to escape. Look, I'm sorry to involve you, but now that he's seen you, you'll be safer with us. We have to leave."

"We have to find Pete" Nick added, ignoring the glare he was getting from Y/N.

"We'll find him on the way out. Clementine knows where he was, right?" Luke asked.

"Yeah..." Clem replied as Luke called out:

"Alright. Everybody grab your stuff. Let's hit the road."

Clem and Y/N quickly picked up the few things they had and closed the bedroom door.

"He caught me off guard Y/N. I'm sorry. I told him things. About us. About you. It just slipped out."

"It's fine Clem. This business, it ain't none of our business. We need to split from them and try to find our people first chance we get."

Clem nodded before the two of them left their room and headed down to the others.