I Walk Alone

Chapter Five

I slowly opened my sleep coated eyes and carefully sat myself up. Scanning the room, I groggily swung my feet over the wooden floor, padding my way to a window. I stared drearily out at the sight of a few Walkers skimming the edge of the woods, but ignored that fact. I was too busy looking at Clem walking away with Pete as Nick was taking a piss by a tree. What they were up to, I had no idea, but a door opened behind me, and in came Carlos with his little girl.

"Mea, right? Clem's going to be fine, but you might want to be careful today." he told me slowly, as if I was going to get scared by his presence. I nodded.

"But why? I feel fi-" I started, then came the sharp pain in my side. I cried out and fell to my knees. Immediately Carlos was at my side, tending the wound. All I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears. I looked up to Sarah, who was just calmly giving her dad supplies, and then Luke came bustling in. He still had a freshly-out-of-bed look on him, with his messy bed hair and the almost dopey look in his eyes. His voice was also slightly hoarse when he spoke.

I listened to this muffled conversation for a good five minutes. Before I knew it, Luke had picked me up and laid me back in bed.

"You'll be fine, sweet pea." he reassured me. I only nodded while he covered me back in my blanket, watching as he carefully stuck out his tongue as he concentrated on the blanket like he was dissecting a frog. He finally looked up and smiled at me, but I couldn't give the smile back. My side and half my back was burning in an unknown pain I couldn't identify. I sat up a little more, but Luke rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Carlos said you were going to try to fight it and be tough. You can't be tough with a wound like that. Not with how large the scar's gonna be," he shook his head at me, chuckling slightly. "He said you'd be a fighter. I could tell when we first saved you and that little girl."

"Her name is Clementine. She means the world to me, too, so don't try screwing her over with anything." I warned, a scowl on my face. Luke looked slightly taken aback, but then nodded. He backed off, at least, after that. Carlos came in with breakfast and set it down on the bedside. I nodded a thank you, in which he returned the gesture with a "dad" look in his eyes.

"I'm sure she'll eat by herself, Luke, you'll not have to spoon feed her. She looks like she can handle this, for now. We'll see the wound after she eats." Carlos said, walking out of the room.

I scrunched my eyebrows together and looked out the window, watching the breeze rustle the leaves together outside. Wound? I thought. What wound are they talking about. I don't have-

Images of the previous night came crashing in as I remembered the walker coming in from the hole Clem wiggled through. She panicked and cried out, getting up too fast and knocking down the sharp-edged anchor that was hooked onto the wall. It overturned, and cut along side the left side of my back, and across my side as I tried to turn away from it.

I passed out after that. I don't know how long I've been asleep, for all I know, it could've been days. I took a bite of the warm cinnamon porridge, noting that if they had this kind of food...

I hear a soft rapping on the door as I turned to see the little girl just beyond the threshold. I give her a small smile.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure, little one?" I ask, and she giggles softly. She comes to the side of my bed, with a cup of orange juice.

"My dad always forgets the drink. I'm Sarah, by the way. What's your name?" Sarah innocently asked while setting my juice on the bedside table.

"My name is Mea. It's very lovely to meet you." I say with a soothing voice, taking her hand in mine and shaking it carefully. She nodded and looked down after I took my hand away, as if she had this big question on her mind. "Hey, what's going on in that little head of yours?"

"D-Do you know the girl that came into the house last night?" She asked, her eyebrows scrunching together as if in major thought. I caught my breath and bit my lip, unsure how to answer her question. Do I risk her tell the others, or do I just keep quiet?

"Its okay. Me and her made a pinky promise. We're going to be best friends." She exclaimed excitedly, a smile beaming from her face. I nearly snorted, but held it back.

Clementine? Friends? Not with the attitude she's gotten. Before I left...she always tried to act like a grown up. I'd imagine nothing has changed much.

"Yeah. I do know her. Did you help her?" I ask, deciding to not make her feel like a child - even though she is one. I looked her up and down, but I noticed the biggest part of her innocence had to be her glasses, how big and clunky they seemed on her face. They were a fading pink, and I'm sure she would be greatly blind without them.

"Yeah," she said with a shy upturn of her lips, "she was hurt, so I wanted to help her out. You won't tell on me, will you?" This time, she was fidgeting with her hands, and her eyebrows scrunched up in worry. She was biting her lip as she awaited my answer.

Well, it wouldn't be much of a secret anymore if they saw the supplies on the table last night, and Clem was stitched up before they came in. I never covered her arm, so they should've seen it. However....something tells me she doesn't want to get in trouble. I need her to trust me, maybe tell me more about this group.

God knows that they only have so long before someone...

"Sarah. What are you bothering Ms. Jackson for? Go play in your room, she'll talk to you when she's ready." Carlos softly ordered, but his dark eyes were hard. Luke walked in after Sarah scurried out, his eyes in a confused haze before registering that Carlos was in the room as well.

"Are we ready to see her wound, doc?" He asked, coming over to take away my breakfast and setting it over on the dresser. I gave him a thankful smile before returning my attention to the doctor. Carlos nodded before offering me a hand, and as I took it, a sharp pain shot through my side. Cringing, I slowly stood up, careful not to strain it anymore an I should. As soon as I lifted my shirt to see my gauze wrapped stomach, there was a bang from downstairs, and a frantic yell for help.

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Oh. Well. I'm back! And I have to decide right now if I want to enter this into this year's Wattys, or not. So....
You guys discuss that in the comments. If I do, it will be under the Fanfic Feels category. Because, ya know, we need more TWD fans to read about the video game.
Anywho. Vote, comment, and etc.
Love chu all.
- Jussy.xxo