If everything I love turned to dust {TWDG LOUIS x CLEMENTINE/CLOUIS}

7

It's dark out in the woods, and we're moving very fast. I'm about to drift off when I remember something.
"A-AJ! We have to turn back!" I shout.
"We can't. Violet will protect him. We're too far away." He reassures me, but I still feel like a traitor. Kenny died for AJ, so many damn people died for his survival, and I've just left him inside an attic while the house burn below him.

I cry into Louis' chest. I've got nothing left, apart from him. Now all we can do is hope that violet is successful. And then I hear them. Over Louis' heartbeat, I hear the groans and growls of the walkers.
"Shit." I grit my teeth, "Louis, run!"
"I'm trying! But my shoulder.." he gasps for air. He's trying too hard, and the walkers are coming from every direction. He takes a deep breath and starts to sprint as fast as possible. The swarm of walkers are staggering towards us, but Louis is mustering enough strength to outrun them. After many minutes of running and panting, he decides that we're safe. He carefully puts me down against a tree and collapses beside me.

I lean in to kiss him, and we lock in that kiss for what feels like an hour, but was probably just a few seconds. The trees tower over us as we drift off to sleep, our hands connected.
I shut my eyes, and let the darkness take me.

~~~

I wake up at the sight of a dark morning. Birds are chirping, but none are visible under the many leaves of the trees. We had strayed farther than Louis had ever been - past the safe zone. Louis is sleeping peacefully next to me. I don't want to wake him up. So I rest my head on his shoulder and hold his hand and attempt to dip into sleep again, but I can't do it. Something's off. I look at Louis and realise what a fool I've been; we never took the bullet out. I stop holding his hand and slap him.
"Ow!" He jerks awake.
"Take off your jacket."
His eyes widen.
"Ummm... why?"
"I need to take out that bullet." I say quickly. He takes off his coat and gives me his right hand. I look at the bullet hole. It's a large bullet, and would take months to recover. I grit my teeth and look into the bullet hole.

The bullet shines. It's too deep to get out without help, or without pain.
"Louis. This is going to hurt." I say as I look at the tools we have. I select the chosen tool.
Louis whimpers in anticipation.

~~~

Louis holds my hand with one arm and his shoulder with the other as he rests. The bullet was large, unfortunately for us. We stopped the bleeding with my hoodie, but that's all we were able to do, considering our situation.
"We need to go back. The raiders will be gone by now." I tell Louis.
"But how do we even know which way is back?" He groans.
"Breadcrumbs." I reply. He looks at me questioningly.
"My knife. I made it point towards which way we can from when we first sat here. I shimmy to the side, and sure enough, see my knife gleaming on the floor. It's pointing to our right.
"I can't carry you." He says, clutching his shoulder.
"Who says you have to?" I reply.
He shakes his head.
"No. Just no. I am NOT leaving you here." He says.
"What other choice do we have? We'll die out here. We've got no chance. Go to the school and see if anyone remains, and if anything's left." I tell him.
Once again, he shakes his head.
"I am not leaving leaving you out here to die."
"Should we BOTH die slowly out of hunger, or should it be a scenario where we either both love, or only I die? It doesn't matter. You're going. And that's it." He tries to refute but I glower at him.
"F-Fine. Ok. Just don't die." He gets up.
"I won't. And you. Please find your way back."
"I will."
He looks at the knife and starts to go, hand still on shoulder.
"I love you." He says.
"Me too."

✩ A/N: ✩
Heya. Cheesy ending, but I'm trying my best.
Anyways, don't forget to leave a comment with feedback or just some random stuff,
And keep on surviving!