The Attack
The cold night air bit at Y/N's skin as she, Clementine, and AJ made their way through the woods. Their steps were quick but careful, the tension of the vote still hanging between them. The decision had been made—they were leaving the school, but something in the pit of Y/N's stomach felt off. A part of her wished they had stayed behind for just a bit longer, maybe to patch things up with Mitch. But it was too late for that now.
AJ tugged on her jacket, pulling her back to the present. "Y/N, are we really leaving forever?"
Y/N glanced down at him, the sadness in his voice tugging at her heart. "For now, AJ. But Clem's right—we'll find somewhere safe."
Clementine was ahead of them, scanning the dark woods for any sign of danger. Her hand stayed on the hilt of her knife, her expression hard but focused. The woods were eerily quiet tonight, save for the crunch of their footsteps on the dried leaves beneath them.
But that quiet didn't last.
A distant rustle sent a jolt of alarm through Y/N, and she instinctively tightened her grip on AJ's hand. "Clem, did you hear that?"
Clem nodded, raising a hand to signal them to stop. The three of them froze, listening to the night air, but before anyone could react, gunfire erupted through the trees. A shot whizzed past them, and Y/N barely had time to throw herself in front of AJ, pulling him to the ground.
"Get down!" Clem shouted, drawing her knife as she crouched low behind a tree.
Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as she pulled AJ closer, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of their attackers. Another shot rang out, and she could see the flash of a gun barrel in the darkness.
"Lilly!" Clem spat, her eyes narrowing as the realization hit her. "She's here."
Y/N's stomach dropped. Lilly—the leader of the raiders, the one who had terrorized their group and wanted to take the kids for her war. Y/N had hoped they'd seen the last of her after their previous run-ins, but it seemed Lilly had other plans.
"Come on, we have to move!" Clem urged, her voice low but urgent. She motioned for Y/N and AJ to follow her as they darted from tree to tree, trying to avoid the line of fire.
Just as they made it to the next bit of cover, a figure emerged from the shadows—one of Lilly's men, Abel. His disheveled appearance and sinister smirk made Y/N's blood run cold.
"Well, look what we have here," Abel sneered, pointing his gun directly at them. "I told Lilly you wouldn't get far."
Clem growled, stepping in front of Y/N and AJ, her knife gripped tightly in her hand. "Leave us alone, Abel. You don't need us."
Abel chuckled darkly. "Oh, but we do. Lilly's got plans for you, Clementine. You, your little brat, and anyone else you care about."
Y/N's pulse quickened as she glanced around for an escape route. They were outnumbered, and with Abel standing between them and safety, their chances were slim. But Y/N knew they couldn't give up. Not now.
"We're not going with you," Y/N said, her voice trembling slightly but steady enough. "You'll have to kill us first."
Abel's smirk widened. "That can be arranged."
Just as he raised his gun, Clem lunged at him with her knife, slashing at his arm. Abel cursed, staggering back and firing a wild shot into the air as Clem kicked him to the ground.
"Run!" Clem yelled, grabbing Y/N's arm and pulling her toward the trees.
Y/N didn't hesitate. She scooped AJ into her arms and bolted, her heart pounding as the sound of gunfire echoed behind them. They weaved through the trees, the darkness swallowing them as they ran faster than they ever had before. Her legs burned, and her lungs ached, but she didn't stop. Not until she was sure they were far enough away from the gunshots.
After what felt like an eternity, the three of them finally slowed down, collapsing behind a large fallen tree. Y/N set AJ down gently, gasping for breath as her heart raced in her chest.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice shaky as she checked AJ for any injuries.
AJ nodded, though his eyes were wide with fear. "I'm okay... I think. What about Clem?"
Y/N turned to Clem, who was clutching her side, blood dripping through her fingers. Y/N's heart lurched at the sight.
"Clem, you're hurt!" Y/N gasped, rushing to her side.
Clem winced but waved her off. "It's just a graze. I'll be fine."
Y/N didn't feel reassured, but they didn't have time to worry. Lilly's group was still out there, and they could come after them at any moment. They needed to find shelter, fast.
"We need to keep moving," Clem said, her voice steady despite the pain in her side. "There's an old train station nearby. It's not far. We can hide there until we figure out what to do next."
Y/N nodded, helping Clem to her feet as she grabbed AJ's hand. They moved cautiously through the trees, staying low and quiet, their eyes constantly scanning the area for any sign of Lilly or her raiders. The night felt darker than before, the fear of being hunted pressing down on them with every step.
After a few more tense minutes, they finally reached the train station Clem had mentioned. It was run-down and abandoned, but it was shelter. They slipped inside, barricading the door behind them as they collapsed on the floor, exhausted and shaken.
Y/N glanced over at Clem, worry still gnawing at her. "Are you sure you're, okay?"
Clem nodded, though her face was pale from the blood loss. "Yeah. I'll be fine. We just need to rest for a bit."
Y/N wasn't sure how long they had until Lilly found them again, but for now, they were safe. She leaned back against the wall, pulling AJ into her lap as he rested his head against her chest.
The world outside was falling apart, and their future was uncertain, but in this moment, Y/N was grateful for one thing—they still had each other.
