Y/N POV.

*BANG*

I had just put an end to my father's suffering...it was the worst experience of my life. Then just when I thought I had at least a second to catch my breath..

*CLICK, RUMBLE, CRUNCH*

The door came off its hinges and the monsters started to pour in, so with only my dad's knife, gun, and the clothes on my back I sprinted out the back door and hopped a fence.

Y/n: Dad...I'm sorry, but I gave you my word and I swear I'll keep it.

I got back up and started to jog around houses and people's back yard to stay out of sight. I kept running until I finally got tired and jumped one more fence which landed me in a backyard with a big white house, a swimming pool, and a tree house with a tire swing.

Y/n: Oh cool, a treehouse.

I made sure to keep my voice down but I was still very excited because I always wanted one but I just never got around to making it. Then I heard the groans of monsters nearby.

Y/n: Hmm, I'm not sure if I should go into that dark house because it could be dangerous but the tree house will do just fine.

I walked over to the tree and noticed a pink tea set but then I started climbing.

??? POV.

I heard someone or something outside and....I'm scared...So I grabbed my hammer until I heard what sounded like a boy's voice. He was talking about my tree house until we heard the monsters coming and he decided to start climbing...

Y/N POV.

As I climbed and reached the top I put my gun in its holster but kept the knife out just in case. As I'm about to enter through the little door way I'm met with a mixed girl with curly brown hair in a baseball cap with a "D" on it, in a white dress and I couldn't help but blush a bit until I saw her holding a hammer up looking like she was about to swing.

Y/n: Wait! I'm not a monster!

She stopped and I fully entered as I did she stepped back a bit.

???: S-So your not gonna try to hurt m-me?

I looked at her and shook my head to say no.

Y/n: What? Of course not, my name's Y/n L/n

???: M-My name is Clementine

Y/n: Well that's a pretty name and nice to meet you clementine.

I saw that when I called her name pretty she blushed and looked away.

Clementine: Th-Thank you, your name is pretty too.

I blushed and looked down but the red was still a bit visible on my face but then we both sat down and started to talk.

Y/n: So Clementine...

Before I said anymore she looked at me and said...

Clementine: You can just call me Clem...Clementine is just a mouth full.

She blushed again and looked away.

Y/n: Well okay Clem, so how old are you?

Clem: I'm eight, how about you?

Y/n: Oh well I'm nine, but why are you up in this treehouse and where are your parents?

Clem looked down and seemed saddened which I felt bad for.

Y/n: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. You don't have to answer if you don't wanna.

Clem: It's okay y/n, my parents went on a trip to Savannah and they left me with my babysitter Sandra but she ended up becoming one of those monsters.

I looked at her saddened by what she told me...

Clem: What about yours?

I looked and my previous expression was now dimmed and I looked at her with tears in my eyes and my voice started to break.

Y/n: M-My Mom passed away from c-cancer a year ago and my D-Dad got bit by a monster, s-so he asked me to kill him and I...I d-did.

Clementine looked at me and without hesitation she pulled me into a hug, at first I was hesitant but then I melted into the hug.

Clem: Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry

We both pulled out of the hug with blushes on our faces but still holding hands, I used my free hands to wipe my tears away.

Y/n: Thank you so much Clem

Clem: Of course, so does this make us friends?

I only smiled at her and pulled her into one more nice hug and then I let go and said..

Y/n: Of course, best friends...

Clem smiled at this knowing that even in all this chaos she made not only a friend but a best friend, who she'd admit to herself is insanely cute but she didn't know if he thought the same about her.

Y/n: So Clem, what do you like to do?

I asked her this while sitting beside her.

Clem: Well I really like to draw, how about you?

Y/n: That's awesome and as for me I like a lot of things, like martial arts of which I know Jiujitsu and Boxing. I also like cartoons.

Clem looked at me in awe and smiled

Clem: Wow, your awesome!

Y/n: Not as much as you!

We both laughed and it felt genuinely good.

Y/n: Hey Clem...

Clem: Yeah Y/n?

Y/n: I want you to know that I promise to protect you and stay by your side no matter what!

I said with conviction and a smile just like my dad would. She looked at me with a smile and blush on her face and hugged me.

Clem: You promise?

I looked into her eyes and whispered into her ear...

Y/n: I promise

Clem: Well I'll do the same for you, no matter what!

I smiled and we hugged

Clem POV.

As we smiled I felt butterflies in my stomach and I didn't know what it meant, all I know is Y/n is someone who is very important to me now, even if we've just met. We Held each other then both of us drifted into sleep, I laid my head on his shoulder and he laid his head on mine...we both had a long way.

??? POV. (In a cop car)

Policeman: Well I reckon you didn't do it, then?

???: Why do you say that?

Policeman: Y'know, I've driven a buncha fellas down to this prison. Lord knows how many. Usually is 'bout now I get the "I didn't do it.

???: Not from me

Policeman: 'Cause guys in your position already said it enough?

Police radio: We've got what looks like a 10-91E near Peachtree Exit of 285. All cars asked to keep on the lookout for a 91V in the area.

??? looks at the rearview mirror.

Policeman: I followed your case a little bit, you being a Macon boy and all.

???: You're from Macon then.

Policeman: Yep. Came up to Atlanta to be a city cop in the seventies. Always wanted to work a murder case, like that senatorial mess you got yourself mixed up in, with all due respect. A real shame, that is.

??? looks out the window as another police car speeds past in the opposite direction with its sirens on.

Policeman: Hell, the whole family used to be regulars at your folks' drugstore right in downtown. Still there?

???: Sure is.

Policeman: Good.

Police Radio: Be advised of medical personnel on route to Hartsfield, various 10's and 20's coming in.

??? looks at the radio and speaks...

???:Any of that seem important to you?

Policeman: All of it, but that box never shuts up. Sit in this seat and pay too much attention and you'll drive yourself crazy

??? looks again at the radio...

Policeman:You'll have to learn to stop worrying about things you can't control.

There was a silence for a couple seconds until the Policeman spoke up again...

Policeman: I got a nephew up at UGA, you teach there long?

???: Going on my sixth year.

Policeman: You meet your wife in Athens?

??? looks distressed and turns his face away, looking out the window.

Policeman:You wanna know how I see it?

Several more police cars pass by with their sirens on, along with a SWAT truck, all of them driving in the opposite direction.

???: Sure.

The policeman opens his mouth, about to speak, but notices ??? glaring at him and stays silent for a few moments.

Policeman: Regardless, could be you just married the wrong woman.

??? opens his mouth to speak, but decides not to, grunting dismissively.

Police radio: Riot in progress. All officers available for incoming 217's. Rolling calls and dispatches to all locations.

A helicopter, two SWAT trucks, and several police cars pass by.

Policeman: I'm driving this man once, h--he was the worst one. He wouldn't stop going on about how he didn't do it. He was an older fella. Big, soft eyes behind a pair of smart folk glasses, and he's just wailing back there, says it wasn't him. Crying and snotting all over, right where you're sitting.

Police radio: All officers are available for incoming 21--

The policeman turns off the radio.

Policeman: Then before long he starts kicking the back of the seat, li--like a fussy baby on an airplane. And I tell him he's gotta stop, that's government property, and I'll be forced to zap him otherwise. So he stops, and having exhausted all his options, he starts crying out for his Mama. "Mama, it's all a big mistake! It wasn't me!"

???: So did he do it?

Policeman: They caught the fucker red-handed! Stabbin' his wife, cutting her up as the boys came through the door! He sits in my car screaming bloody murder that it wasn't him! I think he actually believed it himself. It goes to show, people will up and go mad when they believe their life is over. Oh, I got another good one for ya. This one's a little bit less depressing and a bit more hilarious if I do say so.

The policeman turns as he is talking, looking away from the road as a zombie wanders right in front of the car.

???: Oh, Shit!

Policeman: This other time--

The car crashes into the person on the road, veering out of control, through the guard rail, and off the edge of the cliff. Half-conscious, the man sees zombies moving outside the car and hears screams and growls before passing out.

??? wakes up some time later.

???: Ugh... Oww...shit.

??? tries to take off his handcuffs but is unable to.

???: Thirsty... Ahh! Fuck, my leg.

??? looks at the large, bloody cut on his upper leg. He looks out the back window and sees the officer lying facedown on the ground with blood smeared behind him. Lee turns to the side window and grunts as he continually kicks it until it falls out of the car.

???: I need to...drag myself out that window...

??? climbs out of the window, landing painfully on the ground. He stands up and walks around the edge of the car, reaching the area where the officer is.

??? leans down and picks up the shotgun shell, placing it in his inventory.

??? approaches the officer and takes the keys. He tries to unlock his handcuffs but drops the keys.

???: Shit.

leans down to pick up the keys that have fallen next to the officer's face. He unlocks his handcuffs and rubs his wrists. The officer starts groaning faintly.

???: Uh, officer...?

??? falls backward as the officer growls and tries to grab him.

???: Ahh! Holy shit!

???: What in the hell?!

???: What the fuck are you?!

???: What happened?! What HAPPENED?!

??? scoots backward as the officer crawls toward him.

???: Get away from me!

??? picks up the shotgun next to him and tries to load it with the shotgun shell, but drops it.

???: SHIT!

??? picks up the shell and loads the gun, pointing it at the officer.

???: Don't make me do this...

??? shoots the officer in the head and throws the shotgun to the ground.

???: Man.

???: His skin's all rotten...and he smells like shit. What the hell is this?

???: Are you dead? HEY! ARE YOU DEAD?!

Y/N POV.

*CRASH*

Clem and I stood up quickly and looked at each other with worried faces.

Clem: What was that?!

Y/n: It sounded like a car crashing.

Clem: We should go see if someone is hurt or worse...

Y/n: You're right but let me go down first to make sure no monsters are around.

Clem: O-Okay

I then proceeded to climb down the tree house and I looked towards the front and saw nothing.

Y/n: Okay Clem your good

Clem nods and starts to climb down but slips, I was fast enough to catch her bridal style and we both blush at each other and I sit her down.

Clem: T-Thanks

Y/n: N-No problem

We then proceed to hop the fence but I looked over beforehand to make sure it was safe enough and it was, so we walked for like a minute until...

*BANG*

A loud shotgun blast rings out which makes Clem and I look toward the direction it came from.

??? POV.

I see two children, a little boy and a little girl, they're a little bit away but I can still see them.

???: HELP! Go get someone! There--there's been a shooting!

They ran away. Slow-moving zombies emerge from the forest. ??? tries to run, but trips over the officer's body and falls. He gets up and limps away as he is chased. He climbs over a fence to escape, crawling backwards as the zombies pound on the fence. Shots are fired in the distance, and the zombies leave to chase the sound...

Y/N POV.

We ran back hopped the fence and I had Clem get in the tree house first.

Clem: T...That man shot the other one

She was clearly shaken so I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her until I pulled away and said...

Y/n: By the way it looked the other guy was a monster so the guy with the gun was just defending himself.

Clem: O...Okay

We then stopped hugging and heard a thud over the fence, I peeked out and in real quick and saw the man.

Clem: W...Who is it?

Y/n: It's the man from outside the fence.

She looked at me with a scared look on her face.

Clem: S...Should I drop this hammer on his head.

Y/n: No..lets see what he does

Clem looked worried but trusted me anyway...

Clem: O..Okay I trust you

Y/n: Thank you Clem

??? POV.

??? gets up and looks around, noticing he is in the backyard of a house in a small neighborhood.

???: Hello? Anybody?

???: HELP!

???: Somebody? YELL IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!

???: IS THERE ANYBODY HERE?!

??? calls up to the tree house

???: Anybody up there?

??? calls out to the tree house again

???: Hello? Anybody in there?

??? calls out to the tree house again

???: I thought I saw a little girl and boy in the forest... Are you up there? I'm not one of those things.

??? calls out for the final time

???: (shrugs) I guess it's empty.

??? knocks on the sliding glass door.

???: Hello? Anybody home? I need a little help

??? opens the door

???: Coming in. Don't shoot, okay?

??? entered the house and closed the door behind him and then holds his leg in pain.

???: Ahh, shit. Hello? I'm not an intruder...or one of THEM.

??? notices that the furniture in the living room is knocked over and there are bloodstains on the floor and wall of the kitchen.

???: These people might need more help than I do.

??? sees a puddle of blood.

???: Jesus...

??? then looks around the living area and sees a kids painting that says

???: God, a kid lived here...

??? enters the kitchen, slipping on the pool of blood but gets back up and sees a cup of water and takes a sip.

???: Ah...

??? opens the drawer near the fridge and takes the radio. The answering machine beeps until ??? turns it on.

Automated voice: Three new messages. Message one. Left at 5:43 PM.

Diana: Hey,Sandra , this is Diana. We're still in Savannah. had a little "incident" with some crazy guy near the hotel, so we had to get him back to the ER and have it checked out. Anyway, he's not feeling well enough to drive back tonight, so we're staying an extra day. Thanks so much for looking after Clementine, and I promise we'll be back in time before your spring break! (chuckles)

Automated voice: Message two. Left at 11:19 PM.

Diana: (panicked) Oh, my god, finally! I don't know if you tried to reach us; all the calls are getting dropped. They're not letting us leave and aren't telling us anything about Atlanta. Please, please, just leave the city and take Clementine with you back to Marietta. I've got to get back to the hospital. Please let me know that you're safe.

Automated Voice: Message three. Left at 6:51 AM.

Diana: (tearfully) Clementine? Baby, if you can hear this, call the police. That's 9-1-1. We love you...we love you...we love y--

The machine beeps after the last message. ??? picks up and looks at a picture near the phone, which shows Clementine and her parents. Then his walkie-talkie activates.

Y/N POV.

Clem told me she used a walkie-talkie to help talk to her parents when they were mad at each other and how one is still inside so we are gonna use it to talk to him.

Clem: Daddy?

???: Hello?

Clem: You need to be quiet.

???: I'm not a monster.

Clem: Good

???: Who's this?

Clem: I'm Clementine. This my house.

???: Hi, Clementine. I'm Lee.

Clem: You're not my daddy.

Lee: No, I'm not.

Lee: Are you alone?

Clem: No, I'm with my best friend Y/n

I leaned over and started to talk.

Y/n: Hey there Lee, as Clem told you my names Y/n.

Lee: Nice to meet you.

Y/n: You too Lee.

Lee: How old are you both?

Clem: I'm eight but Y/n's nine. How about you?

Lee: And you both are all alone?

Clementine: Yes. We don't know where anybody is. How old are you?

Lee: I'm, uh...Thirty-seven

Clem: Okay

Lee enters the kitchen, avoiding the puddle of blood, and stands over by the window.

Lee: Are you guys safe?

Clem: We're outside in my tree house. They can't get in.

Lee: That's smart.

Clem: See?

Clem and I show ourselves.

Clem: Can you see me? I can see you through the window.

Clementine and I wave at Lee and he waves back.

Clem: AHHH!

Y/n: LEE BEHIND YOU!

Clementine jumps back into the treehouse and closes the door. Lee turns around and sees a zombified Sandra behind him. She growls and tries to attack him, but he pushes her to the ground. As he tries to run away, he slips on the puddle of blood and hits his head on the counter. His vision is blurry, but he can vaguely see Sandra crawling toward him and he kicks her away.

Lee: AHH!

Lee gets up and tries to run, but Sandra grabs his leg and trips him. He punches her away as she attacks again. Clementine and Y/n run up to the glass door and opens it, Sandra attacks again and Lee pushes her away, continually kicking her in the head and crawling backwards.

I pulled out my knife and stab Sandra in the brain through her eye socket and lee pushes her off.

Lee looks at us and thanks me for helping him as he stands up.

Lee: Man..Hi there.

Clementine takes a step backward as Sandra's blood oozes across the floor.

Clementine: Did Y/n kill it?

Lee: I think something else did. Before him, I think.

Clem: I heard her scream two nights ago. Maybe one of the monsters got her.

Lee: Two nights ago? Yeah, that's probably what happened.

Lee kneels to be at our eye-level.

Lee: You've both been all by yourselves through this?

Clem: Yeah. I want my parents to come home now.

Lee: I think that might be a little while, you know?

Clem: Oh.

Clementine looks down sadly and I put my arm around her then Lee moves closer.

Lee: What about you Y/n?

Clem looks at me because she knows what happened and they both notice I start to tear up.

Y/n: My Mom passed away from cancer a year ago and my dad...