The Calm Before the Storm
The night settled in like a heavy blanket over the school, a quiet tension filling the air. Y/N stood by the gate, keeping watch alongside Mitch and Clem as the rest of the kids prepared for what was to come. The traps were set, weapons were ready, and every corner of the school was fortified, but the anxiety lingered. They all knew that Lilly's attack wasn't a matter of "if" but "when."
Mitch tightened his grip on the spear in his hand, his eyes scanning the dark treeline beyond the gate. "They'll come at night. That's how they always do it," he muttered under his breath, his voice low enough that only Y/N and Clem could hear him.
Clem nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her knife. "We need to be ready for anything. Everyone knows their job, but if it goes south... we regroup inside."
Y/N swallowed hard, glancing at the others stationed along the walls. AJ sat nearby, quietly sharpening his knife, his small face set with a seriousness that always made Y/N's heart ache. He was too young to carry this burden, but in their world, there wasn't much choice.
"We'll be okay," Y/N said softly, trying to reassure herself as much as the others. "We've got each other's backs."
The night dragged on, the oppressive quiet only broken by the occasional rustle of wind in the trees. Every snap of a twig made Y/N's nerves spike, but nothing came. Hours passed, and still no sign of Lilly or her raiders.
Then, just before dawn, it happened.
A distant thump echoed through the air, followed by another, closer this time. Y/N's heart skipped a beat as she exchanged a quick look with Clem. The sound of engines rumbled in the distance—vehicles, and they were headed straight for the school.
"They're coming," Clem said, her voice sharp with urgency. "Get everyone ready."
Y/N and Mitch rushed along the walls, signaling the others to take their positions. The tension rose as the sound of trucks and motorcycles grew louder, the unmistakable hum of Lilly's group drawing near. The kids all knew what was at stake, and their faces were set in grim determination as they gripped their weapons.
Y/N took her place by the gate, her hands trembling slightly as she held a bow she'd scavenged days earlier. Her fingers brushed over the arrows, her heart pounding in her chest as the first of the vehicles appeared through the trees.
Lilly was at the front, standing in the back of a truck, her eyes scanning the school with cold intent. Behind her, her raiders followed—armed to the teeth, ready to strike.
"Remember the plan," Clem called out, her voice cutting through the rising tension. "Stick to your stations, and don't engage unless they get inside the walls."
Mitch glanced at Y/N, his eyes dark with worry. "You ready for this?"
Y/N's stomach twisted, but she forced herself to nod. "Yeah. Let's do this."
Lilly's voice rang out as her truck stopped just beyond the school's barricades. "You've had your chance, Clementine. This is your last warning. Surrender now, and I'll spare some of you."
Clem stepped forward, standing tall despite the fear in her eyes. "We're not surrendering. This is our home, and we're not letting you take it."
Lilly's lips twisted into a sneer. "So be it."
With a flick of her hand, the raiders charged forward, and chaos erupted.
Explosions rocked the gates as raiders threw grenades toward the barricades, and Y/N's ears rang from the blast. The school's defenses held for the moment, but the force of the attack was overwhelming. Y/N barely had time to steady her bow before arrows and bullets flew through the air.
"Mitch, behind you!" Y/N shouted, her heart leaping as she saw a raider scale the wall near him. Mitch whirled around, stabbing the man in the chest with his spear, but another raider was already closing in.
Y/N fired an arrow, her heart pounding in her chest as it struck the raider square in the shoulder, knocking him back.
"Thanks," Mitch gasped, his breath ragged as he tried to hold his ground.
Y/N didn't have time to respond before another explosion shook the gate. The force of it sent debris flying, and the wooden barrier cracked under the pressure. Lilly's group was relentless, and the walls wouldn't hold much longer.
"Fall back!" Clem shouted, signaling for the others to retreat into the school. "We'll hold them inside!"
Y/N grabbed AJ's hand and hurried toward the building, her heart racing as she followed Clem and Mitch inside. The sound of gunfire and screams filled the air as raiders began to pour through the weakened barricades, but the kids didn't give up. They fought tooth and nail, using every weapon they had to hold the line.
Inside the school, the hallways were dark and narrow, making it easier to defend. The kids set up choke points, using the tight spaces to their advantage as they tried to push back Lilly's forces. Y/N stayed close to AJ, her heart pounding as they ducked behind a barricade in one of the classrooms.
"We have to hold this door," Clem said, her voice urgent as she took a position by the window. "We can't let them get inside."
Y/N nodded, her hands trembling as she gripped her bow tighter. The sound of footsteps echoed outside the classroom, and her breath caught in her throat as the door handle rattled.
"They're coming," Mitch muttered, his face pale with fear.
The door burst open, and Y/N didn't hesitate. She fired her arrow, striking the first raider that came through. Clem slashed at another with her knife, while Mitch held the barricade, his spear ready to strike.
The fight was brutal, but they managed to push the raiders back for the moment. Y/N's chest heaved as she caught her breath, her mind racing as the sounds of the battle outside continued to rage on.
"We need to get to the greenhouse," Clem said, her eyes scanning the room. "It's our best shot. The walls are thicker there."
Y/N nodded, grabbing AJ's hand again as they made their way through the halls, dodging bullets and debris as they fought their way to the greenhouse. The kids inside were doing their best to hold the line, but it was clear that Lilly's forces were gaining ground.
As they reached the greenhouse, Y/N's heart sank. The roof had been damaged in the attack, and there were holes where raiders could easily slip through. But it was the only place left that offered any real protection.
"We'll make a stand here," Clem said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "We have to."
The group took their positions, preparing for what could be their final fight. Y/N crouched behind a pile of debris, her bow drawn as she watched the raiders close in.
Suddenly, a shout rang out from outside.
"They're retreating!"
Y/N's heart skipped a beat as she glanced at Clem, who looked just as surprised. She rushed to the window, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Lilly and her remaining raiders retreating into the woods, disappearing into the darkness.
"They're leaving?" AJ asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"For now," Clem said, her expression hard as she watched them disappear. "But they'll be back."
The tension in the air remained thick, but for the moment, the battle was over. The kids let out sighs of relief, their bodies sagging with exhaustion as they realized they had survived another day.
Y/N sank to the ground, her hands trembling as she tried to steady her breathing. They had made it, but just barely. And she knew that this was only the beginning. Lilly would be back, and when she came, it would be worse than ever.
But for now, they had each other. And that was enough.
