Ericson's Containment Facility

Chapter 1

Clementine was a short girl for her age.Of course, she could blame it solely on the apocalypse but she knew that wasn't true.Her mother had been short before her (or at least she hoped so, the last memories of her mother she had was from when she was eight,and she was almost half the size then that she is now)
But either way, despite starving for days regularly and despite all of the moving, she still managed to maintain a feminine figure on her hips.Her tan skin was clear, other than some dirt and grime, her eyes were a bright shade of amber and adorned atop of her short, dark curls was her signature 'D' hat.Of course, the pretty girl wasn't alone though, she had AJ.The little goofball (despite arguing otherwise) was only 5 years old, at most; and that meant she was the sole carer for him.And even if she hadn't promised Rebecca and Alvin, she'd still care for him with every inch of her being.The two had been through too much together, she was like a mother to him.

Speaking of what they've been through...

The two had been travelling for days and while walking,the bushes had rustled.But it wasn't a walker like expected.No, not at all.It was a young doe, who had led them to the tiny cabin that they rest in now.It was somewhere in the woods of.....Actually, Clem's not sure where.Just that they're somewhere.Either way, thank fuck that they had been led there by the doe, for if they hadn't found it then they'd be camping in the woods all night.That was an experience Clem and AJ both didn't want to go through for a 4th night.

The cabin is barely lit, stunning orange rays of sunlight greeting the dark oak floorboards.There's a dining table surrounded with chairs and a red sofa (which AJ sits upon) while pictures embrace the walls, containing a family of four adventurers, all beaming in each photo.Clementine wishes she still had photos like that with her.

She rests against one of the few empty walls, opening up her grey backpack ,sighing, as she rummages around in it for any remaining food.

The teen's fingers scan over a half-empty bottle of water, a small wrap of bandages and some rubbish, paper mostly.Clementine's hands pulls out a scrap.Its creased and a yellow stain of... something has drowned a corner of the page but the typed writing (most likely printed) is still legible.

"YOU!
The tragedy that has swept our great Nation has wiped out such a vast majority of civilians,
But the Government has risen!
Under our new President's rule, multiple buildings have either been rehabilitated or constructed to house homeless survivors such as yourself.
A facility is located WEST of this poster by FOUR MILES.
There, you will be gifted with simple pleasures such as electricity, food, hot water, shelter and -most importantly- a home.
Please make your way to the nearest facility to you, as explained above.

Thank you,
The Nation prays for your safe arrival.

~President Andrew E and The Newfound Government. "

Clementine sighs as she looks over the crumpled poster.She had questioned going to a facility with AJ a while back, when she first started seeing the posters pop up.They promise food and shelter, and the luxuries of the past.And despite how amazing that sounds, she always feels a sense of wrongness . There's always a cold chill rolling down her spine when reading the old poster, which she's had for about a year, tucked here in the crevices of her bag; only to be read on random occasions.And every time, her gut still aches with that horrible feeling. Clementine does not argue with her gut, that's for sure.That means that she tries to stay as far away from those facilities as possible.
Shaking her head to rid her thoughts of these facilities, she throws the paper back into her backpack carelessly, rummaging around for another few seconds before finding the thing she was looking for.

Right at the deepest, darkest depths of the bag is the last piece of jerky she has, so with a sad huff, she drags it out.Of course, "food" has been on the list of things to find for weeks, yet there's none of it around the woods, other than a few berries and sparse nuts.

Clementine looks back to AJ ,who is nestled in his small, black coat.Its too small for the afro haired boy.Thats why clothing is another thing she needs to find before the harsh winter arrives, it's been on the mental list for a few weeks too.

"AJ-"

"When are we eat-"

"I was just about to get to that, goofball."
Clementine cuts in,rolling her eyes playfully at his eagerness, yet still knowing he had every right to be hungry.They had eaten a few berries while in the woods, but they were difficult to find and over half of what they found was inedible.
Either way, AJ still sulked at her eye-roll, but his eyes held a glimmer of
joy; for a second, before his gaze turned to worrisome.
"We need to find more food." The little boy mumbled, Clem could only nod miserably.After all, it was impossible to lie in this situation.
"Yeah we do.But we'll be alright, won't we?" Clem asked, giving a small smile, in hopes of lifting his mood.She hated seeing AJ fretting over food or shelter.Yeah, it was important.But he was still only five at the end of the day.
"Yeah.We're always gonna be ok." AJ replied, smiling back.

Clem smiled again, offering the jerky to AJ,
"Here-"
But that's when the door burst open, guns firing.

ECFTU

"AJ-!!"
Clementine only screams.
"Clem!No!!"
Before her eyes shut.
"You- you killed her!!!"
Darkness invading.
"You're a monster!!"
As she hears.
"N-No!...Clem.."
AJ's whimpers.
"C-Clem..."
Invading.
Her.
Skull.

ECFTU

Clementine knows she needs to wake up.She needs to stand up and figure out what the hell is going on ,and fast, but her eyes are heavy and opening them is a struggle.However, she succeeds...Kind of.

Her eyes shut immediately from the bright light, the whiteness just further increasing the slow throbbing in her head.She squints her amber orbs open a tiny bit to be greeted with...

Grey.
Grey flooring.
Carpet perhaps?
No,no.Too cold.Too hard.
Grey.
Concrete?

Clem fights for the strength to open her eyes fully when she hears two voices.
Her ears, much like her eyes, are trying to make out what's happening.But the voices are shallow and echoey.She can only make out every few words.
"....Need....."
"...Separate ....To...."
"And..."
"....The girl...."
"The little bo..."

Darkness.
Again.

ECFTU

'Throbbing'
That's the first word that enters her mind.
'Throbbing headache'
Those are the first two words.
And then.
"AJ..."
She whispers his name, her eyes fluttering open, far easier than before.The room is dim and small.There's space for a thin mattress, which she rests upon now, and a tiny square window higher above, no light being let in from the cover of night.The rest of the room is empty.The walls are a dull concrete and across from the mattress is a metal gate.Through the gate's bars, a flickering candle is the only light being allowed within the dark corridor.

Clementine listens carefully,
Silence.
'Where the fuck am I?'

Sitting up swiftly from the makeshift "bed", Clem's mind whirls as her vision blurs with black spots.Threatening to make her pass out again.
However, the sudden jingling of keys somehow brings her back as the noise reverberates painfully around the hollow room.
Then, green eyes meet her auric ones from the darkness.
"How're ya doin' toots?"

Hi guys!Its me, Natalia here, I just wanna thank y'all for checking out my first story.I'll try and update every Sunday and yeah!I have a lot of ideas for this story and trust me there is gonna be ☕️.
Please drop a vote and comment what you think might happen next, so bye for now 👋 ❤️