Chapter 40: Take Us Back

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AJ POV

AJ: Since I can remember, Clem and Y/N have always been there with me. They taught me to be careful. To be quiet. To be strong.

AJ: To always aim for the head.

AJ: To kill people that try and hurt us.

AJ: To show mercy, sometimes.

AJ: I always listened to them. Always. But... I've been thinking more. I don't know if their right every time.

AJ: They told me to shoot them if they got bit.

AJ: That doesn't feel right. We're doing a lot of bad things. To save our friends. To protect our home.

AJ: And when Dad told me to shoot Lilly...

AJ: I got mad. So mad. I don't... I don't know what I feel anymore. I don't know if they know either. But I remember all the rules. And the first one... is never go alone.

Y/N POV

I wake up with Clem next to me.

Y/N: Clem wake up!

I shake her and she does.

I then look over and see Lilly's body with several bullet holes in it.

Me and Clem stand up and an explosion knocks off our hats. I tried to catch both of them but was only able to catch Clem's.

Y/N: Here.

I hand it to her.

Clem: What about yours?

Y/N: I'll live without it. I know how important yours is to you.

Clem smiles.

AJ: Mom, Dad!

We look over and see AJ holding onto the edge of the boat.

Y/N: We're coming!

There are several more explosions as Clem and me jump over to a lifeboat.

Clem: AJ, you have to trust me. On the count of three, let go, and we'll catch you.

AJ: Promise?

Y/N: Promise. One, two, three!

AJ lets go; he falls, but Clem and I grab his hand.

AJ: Hurry, Guys! I'm slipping!

Clem and me pull him into the boat.

AJ: Now what?

Clem: We need to find a way down. This ship isn't gonna stay afloat much longer.

An explosion rocks the boat, fraying one of the ropes holding it to the Delta ship.

AJ: There! We can climb down from there.

Y/N: Good thinkin' bud.

Clem: Well, we have to get there first. Okay, we've got to jump.

AJ: It's far.

Clem: I know it's far, but it's the only way. You'll have to go first. You'll need a running start.

AJ: I don't know, Mom.

I put my hand on his shoulder.

Y/N: Come on, you can do this, AJ. Just run, and jump. You got this.

AJ: I got this... I got this!

Clem: AJ, what do we do when we're scared?

AJ: Fuck off, fear!

Clem: Atta boy.

AJ runs and jumps onto the part of the Delta ship that is more stable.

Y/N: You're turn babe.

Clem turns to me and kisses me.

Y/N: Be safe.

Clem: I will.

Clem then runs across and jumps but the rope snaps just as she jumps.

Y/N: Shit!

I hold onto the seat as the boat hangs from one rope now.

AJ: Dad!

Clem: Babe!

Y/N: Get to the pier. I'll meet you there.

AJ: I'm not going to leave you.

Y/N: There's nothing you two can do. I'll find a way there. Now go!

I pull myself up and jump onto the railing moments before the lifeboat falls into the water. I climb across, avoiding some falling debris. An explosion knocks AJ and Clem onto the tarp and part of the railing breaks off.

AJ: Hurry!

I climb to the edge of the railing.

AJ: You got this, Dad! Jump!

Y/N: Let's do this!

I jump onto the tarp moments before the railing collapses and the ship is hit with more fiery explosions. Me, AJ and Clem climb onto the pier.

Pier

An arrow hits the post near Clem, me and AJ. A raider is armed with Clem's bow.

?: You forgot something!

We duck as the raider continues firing.

?: Where do you think you're going? No way you're just walking out of here. You come up here, kill my people... And think you can just leave? Fuck you!

Y/N: Clem grab that arrow.

Clem takes one of the arrows out of the post and stabs the raiders foot as he turns the corner.

I wrestle for the bow then headbutt the raider which knocks him back.

I shoot the raider in the head with an arrow, and he falls into the water.

Y/N: Come on!

Me Clem and AJ run as the ship falls over and explodes, disorienting us.

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