A New Verge

Surviving the Impossible

"I can't believe I found you." Luke spoke, his warm brown eyes focused on Clementine as she sat across the table with AJ. Javi was sitting at the head of the table and Kate sat next to Javi. Luke sat next to Kate, and across from Luke sat Gabe. Clem was across from Kate, next to Javi.

"Well.... I can't believe you're alive!" Clem's voice was full of shock, excitement. "I...saw you die." Clementine repeated again, thinking back to that day on the ice. Clementine had followed Luke's directions, but Bonnie had gone after Luke. Bonnie had unfortunately lived while she thought Luke died. Clementine felt her resentment building again, but she realized one thing. Bonnie was dead and gone and she would never have to see or deal with her again.

Luke nodded at her words, thinking back to the terrible nightmare that was that night. "I'll tell ya...what I remember happenin'. A lot of it is still blurry to me...But I'm alive, and I'm here now."

Luke closed his eyes, thinking back to that nightmare of a day. The memory was alive and real, honest again in his mind. He began to think of every word said, every little detail and action.

"No...Clem! Do not come near me. Please. J-just listen to me o-okay? The ice is too thin. Keep the walkers off and I'll come to you." Luke held up his hands to try to halt Clementine and the others.

Truthfully, Clementine and AJ were his main worry. He couldn't stand the idea of putting either of them in danger. Especially when he didn't think that someone coming towards him on thin ice would help.

"Luke...let me help you!" Bonnie spoke, her eyes full of emotion due to her love for Luke. It was plain as day to everyone just how much Bonnie liked Luke. She clearly wasn't thinking logically now as she made her way across the ice. Clementine however, was doing absolutely amazing as she shot walker after walker. She was giving Luke the window he needed, even though she was terrified and wanting to run into his arms to help.

"L-Luke?" Clementine's childish voice trembled in fear, watching in horror as she saw the ice break. Clem saw his hand extend up, seeing Bonnie fall in as well.

"Oh my God!! Luke!?" Clementine spoke, instantly running over to the edge of the ice without care if she fell in. Clementine's breathing picked up and the panic set in as she kneeled by the edge.

Luke knew that this was beyond bad and he didn't see a way of it getting any better. The only thing he could try to do was save Clementine and his friends and family from falling into the icy lake abyss with him.

Once he was in the water, he didn't know how to process a single thought or action. He couldn't help but be pissed at Bonnie for coming after him when he felt he had it under control. Luke thrashed a bit when he fell in, but his survival instincts kicked in and fold him to conserve his energy.

He was entirely numb, and he wasn't able to shake it off. As much as he tried to tell himself to stay still, anxiety and panic grew and soon he tried to swim to the surface with all the force he had left.

Almost just as soon as he tried,  he felt a walker pulling him down and clawing at his boot. Luke had his machete on his back and rifle...if he could only reach it. He kicked and thrashed as hard as he could, managing to wiggle free of the walker's hold. Luke was trying to fight up to the surface, but he just sank deeper and deeper and further downstream. To the naked eye, it would look like he was dead. And soon he would be if he didn't figure something out.

He pushed himself up to the surface, frankly not knowing if he would be able to make it, or where he even was. He felt the oxygen practically ripped from his chest, his muscles tight and constructed from the cold as he drifted downstream from the cabin.

He began to feel himself fade out, but he saw a small opening in the ice, surging towards it and barely dragging himself out alive. He panted heavily as he dragged himself to the side of the lake, weakly. But soon he was met with strong hands assisting him in his survival.