The Lucky One//twd

022. The Clock is Ticking

Madison's POV

I didn't sleep.

The cot felt like concrete, and my brain wouldn't shut up. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Glenn's face. That blank, hollow look—like he'd already written me off.

I deserved it.

When the overhead lights flickered on and the low mechanical whir of the CDC stirred to life, I was already dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed with my arms wrapped around my knees.

The world was still ending. And I was still the girl who ruined everything.

⸻

We were told to gather in the main room. Jenner looked tired, even more than before, like his bones were barely holding him up. His voice was flat as he told us the CDC was locking down permanently in a few hours. Decontamination. Fire. No one in. No one out.

Great.

Panic rippled through the group—raised voices, frantic movement, people packing bags like it would help. But I stood still. Frozen.

I didn't even flinch when a hand touched my arm.

"Hey."

Blake.

I turned slowly. His hair was a mess, his expression unreadable. For once, his eyes weren't smoldering or hungry. Just... tired. Guarded.

"We need to get out of here," he said. "You packed?"

I nodded. "Mostly."

A beat of silence passed.

He looked like he wanted to say something. Maybe ten different things. But all he managed was, "Did you sleep?"

I shook my head.

"Me neither."

We stood there in that weird stillness while the world buzzed around us. It felt like the eye of a storm.

"I didn't come to your dorm last night," he said after a second. "I wanted to. But I figured..."

"I'm glad you didn't," I said quickly. Too quickly.

His jaw tightened. "Right."

"I just—" I started, but the words caught in my throat. I exhaled shakily and crossed my arms. "I can't jump into something with you. Not after what happened. Not with Glenn still—"

"I get it," he said.

And weirdly, I believed him. He wasn't pushing. Wasn't chasing me down a hallway or kissing me against a wall. He was just standing there, quietly watching me try to keep it together.

"I don't even know what I feel right now," I whispered. "I'm not okay. I'm not ready for any of this."

"You don't have to be," he said.

"But you want me to be."

He didn't deny it. Just looked at me with that raw honesty that was somehow worse than anger.

"I'm not expecting anything," he said finally. "I just want you to know... I'm here."

My throat tightened again. "Blake—"

"I said I'd back off. And I meant it."

I nodded slowly. It didn't feel good. Nothing did.

"I should go," I mumbled. "Finish packing."

He didn't stop me. But I felt his eyes on me the whole walk down the hallway.

⸻

An hour later, the countdown began. Lights flashed. Sirens wailed. Everyone scrambled. Rick shouted something to Jenner. Carol held onto Sophia like she was afraid the air might rip her child from her arms.

I shoved the last of my things into my bag and ran toward the exit. Dale was yelling about the doors being locked. Shane was threatening Jenner. Everything was unraveling. Again.

But as we finally forced our way toward the garage, Blake caught my eye across the room. Just for a second.

No words. No desperate reach for my hand.

Just a look.

Heavy. Unspoken.

Not yet.
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AN:Hello everyone! So as the chapters continue they will get longer as I've had time to actually focus in on them, so i hope you enjoy!