Clementine x Male reader : We Are Monsters

Chapter 32

Y/N Pov :

A week passes. Each day, at least one detonation could be heard, either coming from the forest or the buildings outside the barricades. These shots didn't make any victims into town, but were specifically made to scare the whole town. The snipers on the roofs only shot down one guy, and they weren't even sure if it was a biter or not, the enemy snipers always operating at night. Most of the time, the enemy snipers would just shoot at the watch towers - which are now protected by three layers of heavy and thick sheet metal plates -, sending sparks everywhere. The guards inside the watch towers would jump on the ground, the inside of the watch tower resonating like if they were inside of a church bell, then the snipers on the roofs of your buildings would shoot at where they think the enemy sniper is. It's a cat-and-mouse game.

Right now, you're walking into Main Street, your boots sinisterly clacking against the sidewalk in that dark night barely illuminated by a crescent moon. You have an AR-15 in hands, and two extra magazines slipped inside the front pockets of the military bulletproof you're wearing. You're on your way to the South Independence Avenue barricade, replacing Nick's shift. Your AR-15 is equipped of an EOTech XPS2-0, a Viridian X5L, and a suppressor. Your breath is condensating in the fresh air, and you adjust your collar. You didn't want to put on a bulletproof vest, knowing that you'll get hot inside of it, even at night, but Lydia firmly insisted and menaced of kicking you in the balls if you don't put it on. She convinced you to accept very quickly after that.

You arrive at the barricade at 4:37 am, just a little bit late. Your shift is sensed to last from 4:30 am to 6:30 am. Nick is smoking one of his cigarettes, which dried so much over time that you're amazed that he still has the heart to smoke them. He hears your footsteps and turns around, passing his head by the empty space just in front of the ladder, the only side of the watch tower which isn't protected.

- It's about time you show up, kid, he says while starting to climb down the ladder, an AKM tied to his shoulder.

- I'm late of a few minutes, that ain't no big deal, you say while shrugging.

He doesn't answer, still climbing down the ladder. The wooden stock of the AKM is swinging in the air, hitting his hip from time to time. Finally, he arrives at the end of the ladder and jumps on the tar.

- Still, he says with his cigarette dancing at the corner of his lips. Time is time. You're not the one who had to wake up at 2:30 am, right ?

You hummed while shrugging.

He squints at you, then takes a puff out of his cigarette.

- Well, he says while stretching his neck and back, imma go to bed. See you around, kid.

He walks past you, and sinks into the obscurity with the extremity of his cigarette glowing in the dark and illuminating his face. He turns right on Main Street, and disappears. You sighed, mentally encouraged yourself while thinking that it's just the routine, just two hours of a deep boredom, and that someone has to do the job anyway. You climbed the ladder, your arms protesting. You didn't get enough sleep at your taste. Barely a couple hours. During the whole week, at night, you passed more time awake, ruminating and worrying about the food and water reserves, than sleeping.

You arrive on top of the ladder, and rolled on the floor before staying for a bit on your back, tired, your eyelids heavy. You know that the people surronding and watching you all day and night long have in mind. They want to starve you. Without any possiblity for you to go outside, your days before you run out of food and water are numbered. You sighed, and slowly get up, your legs numb. You blinked a dozen of times, your eyes dry, and loaded a round into the AR-15. In the obscurity, at maybe 50 feet from you, growls and shuffling steps are raising out of the obscurity, reminding you of the perpetual presence of the biters. They're coming your way. You sighed again, louder this time, blinked, and raised your AR-15 which seems to weight 70 lbs for you.