Walker? or Zombies? (Walking Dead Game x Strong OC)

Chapter 10: Gas Tank

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"Nice? Honestly, yeah, you are, Zack," Carley said, her voice gentle but firm. "You're kind in your own way, of course. I know you act tough and indifferent, but deep down, you care. You could easily leave Ben and Travis behind, yet you choose not to. That speaks volumes about your character; you're still just a kid with a big heart."

(Yeah, I misspelt Carley's name so many times, don't blame me, haha)

Zack chuckled, his voice filled with amusement and disbelief. "A kid?" he echoed, laughter bubbling up again. "You have no idea..."

"You really should take a break sometime," Carley suggested, her smile warm and inviting as she met his gaze. "Spend some time with Clem and Duck; they could use your company."

"For what?" Zack shot back, his tone turning serious, the laughter fading from his face. "You know I can't—or won't—do that. I don't play games, Carley. I hunt, kill, and fight just to survive."

Carley nodded slowly, a shadow passing over her features as she recognized the truth in his words. "But still, Zack, you're a good person. If you weren't, Clem and all of us wouldn't be standing here today."

With a heavy sigh, Zack glanced out into the distance, where the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. "So, don't let that go to your head, Carley," he replied, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his voice. "What Clem said is true—I'm only human, and I can die just like anyone else."

Carley nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Yeah, I know you work so hard for us."

Zack stood up, his silhouette framed against the backdrop of the setting sun. He sighed once more, deeper this time, as if the world's weight rested on his shoulders. "Just know I do this for Clem, not all of you." With those words, he walked outside the cab, leaving the warmth of their conversation behind, while the others watched him go, a mix of admiration and concern etched on their faces.

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Clem turned her gaze to her adopted brother as he stepped out of the cab, a hint of concern shadowing her features. "Lee... do you think Zack isn't quite himself lately?"

Lee met her eyes, curiosity sparking within them. "What do you mean, Clem?"

She hesitated momentarily, her thoughts swirling like leaves in the wind. "He seems lost... like he doesn't recognize who he is anymore." Her mind flickered back to the subtle changes in Zack's behavior. While he was growing, becoming more thoughtful and resilient, there was an unsettling sense that he was also drifting away from the person he once was.

Lee's smile was warm and reassuring as he responded. "I don't think he's lost, Clem," he said gently, his voice steady like a lighthouse in a storm. "He's evolving into someone better, but we need to be there for him, guiding him on this journey of change."

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Zack let out a deep, weary sigh as he perched on the train's rooftop, the wind tousling his brown hair into disarray. Below him, he could see Kenny, who had approached with a mixture of concern and camaraderie.

"You okay there, Zack?" Kenny called up, his voice barely rising above the train's rumbling.

Zack shot him a sideways glance, disbelief flickering in his eyes as if Kenny had just uttered something preposterous. "What do you want?" he retorted, his tone laced with frustration yet underlined by an unspoken bond.

Kenny leaned against the train, his expression softening into a smile, but it was short-lived as a profound sigh escaped his lips. "I just want to say thank you... I know you might not want to hear it, but I need to. Zack, you saved my damn family back there. Hell, you've saved us more times than I can count. They mean everything to me. If you hadn't been there... they'd probably be gone." His voice faltered, the weight of his gratitude heavy in the air.