In the Willows

Chapter Forty: Maybe

As you walk out with Alec, the soldiers of Misery stop what they are doing at look at you. You can hear them whispering amongst themselves. They point at the head you hold in your hand.

"Kai slayed Gluttony, he won against the beast!" one soldier calls out.

"Kai the beast slayer!"

"Kai the conqueror!"

They raise their weapons to you, chanting Kai the conqueror.

Alec pats your shoulder, "That's your que to say something."

You look at the soldiers chanting your name and raise Gluttony's head, "Let it be known, this will be the fate of all New Salem."

The crowd of soldiers cheer as you walk to meet Alec at the FOB.

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Clementine's POV

You place some flowers you picked at the grave of Y/N Everett and sit down.

"Hey, its me again. You would be surprised to see Louis, he definitely made a complete turnaround from when you first met him. He's been with Josephine now for a couple months."

You can't explain it, but you feel Y/N's presence. Sometimes in the corner of your eye, or a silhouette of him.

"I hope you like our last name. I adopted it from Lee."

The baby starts kicking "Our baby is going to be one hell of a walker slayer. He's practicing his kicks right now, or she."

You hear someone walking up from behind and you see it's Josephine.

"Hey Clementine, you mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead."

You and Josephine managed to patch things up, she joins you at Y/n's grave sometimes.

"How goes it?" asks Josephine sitting down.

"Same old, just talking to Y/N."

"I wish he was still here."

"Sometimes I feel like he's still around, that he hears me."

Josephine looks down, "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"You can't tell anyone."

"Ok? What's going on?"

"I'm- uh..... pregnant."

"Congratulations?" you say hoping it was intentional.

"I love Louis, I do. I'm just scared."

"It is scary, you need to tell him."

"I don't know what he'll do. What if he doesn't want to be with me?"

"He won't do that."

Josephine sighs, "I'm sorry for bringing this up while you're with Y/N. I just couldn't keep it a secret and I needed to tell someone."

"It's fine." You say getting up, "You need to tell Louis."

"Can you come with me, please?"

"Of course."

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Kai's POV, a few hours later

You look at the Misery soldiers dance and sing as the sun starts to disappear behind the buildings. Alec left to go speak to the King and the medics brought Emory in an hour ago. She's laying in bed trying to recover. The silhouette stands just out of your peripherals.

"Why don't you go out there Kai?" asks Emory.

You shrug your shoulders, "Not my kind of thing."

"But killing monsters is."

You look at her then back at the soldiers outside.

"Did you want to talk about it?" she asks.

"I can't explain what that thing was, or how a man can change into that."

"I can't either, but there has to be something. Maybe New Salem found a virus in that lab."

"Maybe."

Emory groans.

"You ok?" you ask walking over and taking a seat by her bed.

"Yeah, just hurting."

You take her left hand and she squeezes hard.

"I'm sorry Kai."

"You don't have to be sorry for anything."

"Alec and I would be dead if you never joined Vanguard. I hated that you got to be Vanguard so easily."

"I don't think that's true Emory."

"I was kind of a bitch to you, a lot."

"Sometimes."

She chuckles, "You like my sword?"

"It's ok I guess."

"You guess?"

You nod.

"You're right. My dad found it in a pawn shop in New York before we got to California. Well, I got to California."

"You lived in New York?"

"I performed in Broadway for a while. You ever heard of Annie?"

"No."

"We should watch it sometime."

You don't reply. You can see her eyes get heavier.

"Thank you, Kai. For saving me." she says as her grip loosens from your hand.

"Rest up Emory." you say getting up.

The silhouette is sitting on your bed as you walk to the window. The soldiers of Misery continue to dance and sing outside. You feel the silhouette stand next to you a put an arm around your waist.

You feel a comforting warmth from the silhouette. You get a sense of love from the silhouette, like you knew them closely. Maybe a parent? You still don't know, but you like this feeling.

As quickly as the feelings came, you go back to feeling cold and alone. The quiet snore from Emory is all that keeps you company now.