Project V (Clementine X Male Reader Book 4)

Air

You've been to an airport, long ago. It was a few years after the start, and it about got you killed. You decided to never go into another. You remember the way the planes sat there, unused for years, starting to breakdown. It was actually a cool sight to see, and then Walkers ruined it. You started exploring a plane, and then POW! A bunch of Walkers inside. You assume you stumbled upon a group of survivors that sought out refuge inside it at the start. One either got bit and killed the rest, or they starved. You couldn't tell. They died; what did it matter how?

But this airport is different, full of people and the planes actually work.

Emma: You're going to be at a different building from most people, so you won't have to deal with the lines. I'll be coming in with you to make sure everything is sorted out.

Just as she said, she drives past the main building. There are a ton of people there. It's still jarring to see mass amounts of people. If only they knew how dangerous that really was. That's why you'll always prefer living in your cabin in the middle of the woods. If something happens, you won't have to deal with getting out of the city.

Emma: Once you land, you will be met by your driver. They will be with you most of the time. Any questions?

Brooklyn: Nope.

You: How's Clementine?

So many people here. All of them are happy. Sure, they may not think they are. They may be working a dead-end job or being paid well under the amount needed for comfortable living. But you... You just died and left a world where all this was a pipe dream. You found out your daughter wasn't real and that your wife was stuck in that hell until her life in there was over. These people don't understand how good they really have it. They don't understand how much worse it could be. They don't understand that they are happy; they're just bored.

Emma: She's doing well... Yeah, she's doing well.

You: What was that? 'Yeah, she's doing well.' It sounded like you were trying to convince yourself.

Emma: Things in there are-

You: I told you-

Emma: I know, you don't want to know.

You: Then don't tell me anything. Don't even think about it.

Throw these people in the apocalypse and then see how they react to coming back to this. They'd be happy and grateful beyond belief. They're husbands and wifes safe. They're kids not growing up in a world full of death. Not having to kill those closest to them.

Emma: Here we are.

She pulls into a parking space in front of a building. It's smaller than the other, but it looks similar. And it's less crowded.

You hop out of the car and take in the fresh air. It's warm, which is great. The winter was brutal when it came around. Your body wasn't used to it in this world.

Brooklyn: I still can't get over how nice it smells.

Emma: This doesn't smell nice.

You: You haven't smelled dead air for years.

Emma: Point taken.

You pull your bags from the trunk and wait for the other two. You watch a plane take off from the runway. It's stunning, really. You couldn't imagine ever seeing one actually flying, not to mention actually being in one.

Brooklyn: Come on.

She taps the back of your leg with her foot.

You trail a step behind Brooklyn, who is a few behind Emma.