A nine-year-old Clementine Marsh sat with her legs dangling off the side of a boxcar as she watched the scenery zoom by. The rhythmic clacking of the train wheels against the tracks created a soothing sound...

????: Something on your mind, sweet-pea...?

CLEMENTINE: Lee?

Looking up, Clementine's eyes met with Lee Everett, who, in turn, smiled down at the girl as he took a seat next to her. The small girls hands gripped onto the end of her dingy white sundress as Lee eased himself onto the edge of the boxcar. His long legs hung over the edge next to Clementine's. They both gazed out at the passing landscape, the sun casting a warm golden glow over everything it touched. Lee was correct, lot's of things were plaguing the child's mind.

CLEMENTINE: We'll be in Savannah soon...

Lee couldn't see Clementine's face, the brim of her cap obscuring her features, but he could sense the mixture of longing and trepidation in her voice. Their journey was reaching it's end, and the pair had lost so much just to reach this point

LEE: Yeah, that's right, we will...

Clementine shook her head

CLEMENTINE: We lost a lot of people...

The man felt a twinge of sadness in his chest at Clementine's words. Lee Everett was a former US history professor, and yet, there weren't enough words in the English lexicon to describe the depth of loss they had all experienced. His face fell before replying

LEE: Yeah... Yeah, we have

The two sat in silence for a moment, each collecting their thoughts, coming up with what they wanted to say next. After a few more seconds of shared silence, it was Clementine who would break it

CLEMENTINE: You remind me of my dad...

LEE: Oh, and uh, what makes you say that?

CLEMENTINE: Because you always know what to do and what to say...

Lee chuckled

LEE: You know something? Part of it is... just me making it all up as I go along. Seeing you up in that treehouse, all alone, it just wouldn't have sat right with me to leave you there

Clementine smiled

CLEMENTINE: You'd be a great dad, Lee...

LEE: ...

CLEMENTINE: What's wrong? Did I say something bad?

LEE: ...No, you're fine, Clementine. I was just... thinking about someone

Despite her compliment, Clementine noticed how Lee's expression wavered. It was as if...

CLEMENTINE: Lee...?

Lee opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He closed his mouth, taking a deep breath as he looked out at the passing scenery. Clementine's concerned eyes were fixed on him, waiting for him to continue. After a moment, Lee finally found his voice...

LEE: It's nothing, sweet-pea. Hey, so I was thinkin' we should probably start talking about Savannah, and what we're gonna do when we get there. We don't know what to expect--

Lee's words barely registered with the girl as she stared at the man beside her. His attempt to change the topic didn't go unnoticed, but she could sense that there was something he wasn't sharing. Clementine was a perceptive child, and she was beginning to pick up on the nuances of people's emotions during their journey. Eventually, Lee noticed that Clementine wasn't paying attention, and decided to speak...

LEE: Clementine

CLEMENTINE: Sorry...

As the train continued on, both Lee and Clementine looked over a map, planning their next steps before they would arrive in Savannah. Though, every now and again, Clementine would find herself occasionally glancing at Lee. Soon, she'd be reunited with her mother and father, and thought the thought made her happy, there was also a bittersweet feeling that lingered. As the soft hum of the train wheels persisted, The landscape outside gradually dissolved...

*Crash*

The abrupt noise caused Clementine to stir in her sleep ever so slightly

*Crash*

There it was again, the distinct sound of glass shattering causing Clementine to sit up. Her eyes opening ever so slowly. Wiping away the sleep from her eyes, she realized she was no longer on the train, but in a dark, unfamiliar place... a shed

*Crash*

CLEMENTINE: (Cautiously) ... Nick?

*Crash*

She watched from a distance as a glass bottle shattered against the stone wall of the shed her and Nick had taken refuge in only hours prior. Taking a few cautious steps forward, the twelve-year-old girl breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted Nick slumped against the wall...

CLEMENTINE: Nick... what are you--

*Crash*

Clementine flinched as Nick sent a bottle flying past her head and straight into the wall behind her. Her heart raced, having barely dodged the flying glass. She turned back to Nick with a look of disbelief...

CLEMENTINE: Hey! Stop doing that. You could have hit me!

She frowned as she watched Nick pick up a larger bottle. However, instead of throwing it, he took a long gulp from it. He was drunk, the smell of alcohol heavy in the air. Clementine's concern deepened, realizing the gravity of Nick's emotional state...

NICK: (Drunk) I watched my mom blow her brains out, you know? That sounds weird when I say it out loud, huh? Uncle Pete was supposed to do it... I guess he couldn't. 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, (imitating Luke) "Nick, we're burnin' daylight." (normal voice) And that was that. After six months, we were flat broke. But I didn't care. We were havin' fun. (drinks whiskey) 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.

CLEMENTINE: You're drunk...

NICK: *Burp* ...Yup

Nicks takes another sip

CLEMENTINE: We have to get out of here

He takes another sip, grumbling when he realizes he'd run out...

*Crash*

NICK: (Drunk) You don't see me stopping you...

CLEMENTINE: (Sternly) I'm not leaving you here

Nick laughed at the girl's statement

NICK: (Drunk) Heh... W-what are you gonna do, drag me out of here with all those lurkers shuffling outside?

Clementine gave Nick a stern look and crossed her arms

CLEMENTINE: Wouldn't be the first time I've done it...

Nick raised a brow but shook his head

NICK: (Drunk) You wanna keep goin' be my guest, but I'm not leavin. I'm done with all this bullshit

Clementine huffed in annoyance. No matter what she said, there was no way she'd be able to convince Nick, the young man had made his choice. Standing up, Clementine peered out the window, watching as a walker shuffled by...

CLEMENTINE: Fine... be that way, but I'm getting out of here

Nick looked back down at the ground, playing with a small shard of glass as Clementine made her way toward the shed entrance. It was quiet, at least compared to when they'd first arrived. A few moans could be heard from the undead outside, but that was to be expected. Moving the crate she and Nick had used as a barricade, Clementine cracked open the shed door slightly as she took in her surroundings...

CLEMENTINE (Thoughts): Shouldn't be too hard. Most of them are all scattered away from each other...

If she played her cards right, her escape would be easy. Multiple walkers shuffled about the woods, but through the darkness, Clementine could make out a clear path ahead.

*Inhale*

*Exhale*

CLEMENTINE (Thoughts): Okay Clem, just keep moving forward...

As Clementine steeled her nerves, she pulled back the door and was about to step outside until her body stopped. She cursed. There was absolutely nothing stopping her from making her escape, but then why? Why wouldn't she move? This should be easy...

CLEMENTINE: ...

She didn't owe these people anything...

NICK: Hmm?

Nick dropped the small shard of glass he was playing with as he looked up, locking eyes with a very stern Clementine...

CLEMENTINE: All Pete ever wanted to do was keep you safe. Back at the river, when he... when he got bitten, he still thought about you. So if you choose to sit here and die, then everything he's done up until now won't mean a thing. Get up, fight, and stop feeling bad for yourself... it's pathetic

Her words cut deep, for a few moments, Nick seemed to fall out of his drunken stupor as he took in the raw honesty of Clementine's words. He blinked, his gaze shifting from Clementine to the ground and back again. Her unwavering determination and the memories of his uncle Pete seemed to finally reach him in that moment.

NICK: *Sigh* (Shaking his head) ... Fuck

His vision burred somewhat as he stood, trying to push past the effects of the alcohol that had clouded his judgment. He rubbed his face with his hands. Though he was still a bit tipsy, he managed to find his balance, his movements still unsteady, but his determination beginning to outweigh the haze of his drunken state.

NICK: Shit... how the hell did I get here? Needin' a little girl to knock some sense into me? Alright, let's hurry and get the fuck outta here

Clementine smiled

- Later -

Clementine runs back to the cabin. She quickly opens the door and finds Rebecca and Carlos sitting at the kitchen table. The two stood with varying looks of concern evident on their faces...

CARLOS: Clementine, are you alright? Where are Pete and Nick?

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Clementine spoke

CLEMENTINE: Me and Nick got split up, and Pete... Pete was bitten...

CARLOS/REBECCA: WHAT!?

Carlos stepped forward as Rebecca covered her mouth in shock

CARLOS: Clementine, where were you exactly?

CLEMENTINE: By the river. There were a bunch of dead bandits, almost like they got into a shoot out. We started checking their bodies and Walkers showed up...

Carlos placed both hands above his head as he stepped back, trying to process the news. Rebecca's eyes widened as she turned to Carlos in a panic

REBECCA: Oh, God. Luke and the others are still out there! Carlos, please! Get. The. Guns!

He knew that arguing with the distressed woman was a pointless endeavor. Carlos only offered a nod before running off to grab a couple of weapons. He returns with a rifle in hand and a small handgun for Rebecca. Turning to face Clementine, Carlos spoke...

CARLOS: Clementine, can you... can you please watch Sarah? She's upstairs. Just distract her. And don't tell her anything. She gets... nervous...

CLEMENTINE: Just go. Hurry

Carlos narrowed his eyes. After his and Clementine's altercation the night prior, he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to leave his daughter in Clementine's care...

REBECCA: Carlos!

However, he didn't have the time to complain as Rebecca snapped. Clementine watched as Carlos and Rebecca rushed out of the cabin in search of the others. The girl didn't like the thought of being on baby-sitting duty, especially for someone who was older than her. Just then, Clementine turned to find none other than Sarah, the older girl standing there with a confused look upon her face

SARAH: Hey, Clementine... What's going on? Where's my dad?

*Inhale*

*Exhale*

- Later -

SHAWN: I should have gone with him...

Troy watched as his "Partner" paced back and forth. Carver had left an hour or so ago in order to scout ahead...

TROY: He'll be back, now will you just sit the fuck down already? (Under his breath) ... spoiled brat

Both Shawn and Troy perked up as they heard footsteps approaching from the woods. Troy breathed a sigh of relief as he laid eyes on his leader...

SHAWN: You're back, so what happened?

CARVER: ... Found' em

Troy, who was sitting at the back of the moving truck, stood, taking up his assault rifle as he replied

TROY: No shit?

Carver nodded

SHAWN: And?

Carver sighed

CARVER: They're situated on the other side of the river where we had that run-in with the bandits. The good news is, it's just them, holding up in some cabin in the woods...

SHAWN: ...And the bad news?

CARVER: No bad news at all. Though, if I had to guess, this little goose chase Luke has us on is gonna last just a bit longer

SHAWN/TROY: What!?

TROY: The hell do you mean? You said they were right there, right? So we take our people, march back up to that little cabin of theirs, and then--

CARVER: Troy?

TROY: ...Yeah?

CARVER: Shut up

TROY: ...

Carver rolled his eyes before turning to both Shawn and Troy before speaking

CARVER: There was a girl there, round Shawn's age. Pretty perceptive, too, but predictable. Luke and the others will return soon, and no doubt once they hear I was there, they'll high-tail it out of there...

SHAWN: So we'll catch them while they're out in the open

CARVER: Exactly

Carver then looked past Shawn and spoke

CARVER: Today is the day you all truly prove yourselves

The other people Carver was talking to, two of them to be exact, stepped forward as the man spoke

CARVER: Part of this ever growing family of ours has lost their way... strayed, from the rest of the flock. From now on, you all will act as shepherds, bringing the sheep back to safety. Never forget, what we offer is a service, a safe haven from the wolves who would otherwise see the people we care about... hurt. But we don't just protect our own, we bring others into our fold. Those who resist us, who question our ways, they're the ones who put themselves in harm's way.

Shawn listened to Carver's words. There was a disconnect between the Everett boy's heart and mind. A part of him, like Carver, was determined to reunite his newfound family by any means necessary. Though, there were times when he found himself once again questioning whether or not they were doing the right thing...

SHAWN: ...

Reaching down, the boy unsheathed the knife that once belonged to his mother. Throughout the years, he'd managed to take great care of the blade, making a habit of cleaning it almost every day. It was his weapon now, a tool he'd use to protect himself, and his newfound family...

SHAWN: By any means necessary

A/N: Short chapter, I know, but if we're being honest I just didn't feel like writing one huge chapter this time around. I'll probably end up making "In harms way" a two or three part series of chapters. As always, I hope you all enjoyed and I will see you next time.