In Too Deep: A Walking Dead Clementine x Male Reader

Part 38: Unbearable Sight

It's been a week now, and things are starting to feel normal again.  That doesn't mean there haven't been problems.  Violet is back to helping around the school, but she still struggles to see sadly due to having her one eye patched up.  She plays it off that it doesn't bother her, but she clearly gets frustrated at points by everything that has happened.  Louis is smiling more and getting pretty good at writing quickly on his notepad and speaking physically, but I still notice he's hiding how he's really feeling.  Both Louis and Vi have been through a lot, so hopefully I can help them right now.

Ruby and Aasim have officially started dating now, so that was a morale booster for everyone .  The school really needs as much good news as we can get right now, so when we all found out it was a pleasant surprise.  Willy also raised our spirits when he lead a group of us out to find the supplies he sent floating down the river.  We've been eating good the past couple days thanks to those supplies, and Omar being the amazing chef that he is.

Aj has been a lot happier since Clem woke up, and has been spending a lot of time in her room.  He doesn't stay there all day, but when he isn't working it seems like he's with her.  I can't say that's any different with me though.  I've been walking and working to a certain extent, so I technically don't need to sleep there anymore.  Someone needs to be there if she needs help with something, and I ain't letting anyone else do it.

She's still stuck in bed getting her strength back, but Ruby thinks she'll be good to start using crutches soon.  We need find a wheelchair in the nurses office, so I have been taking her out when she isn't tired and up for it.  Clem's been pretty strong mentally this whole time which amazes me.  I know I'd be struggling if I was in her position, but maybe that's not true since I'd have her and everyone helping.

Today me, Aj, Rosie, and Ruby were gonna go do some fishing today at the shack.  Everyone else was staying back at the school and working on something.  Some are working on defenses and others are working on "morale boosters", whatever that means.

I've been fishing on my own most of the time, but I've been checking on Ruby and Aj throughout our time here.  Once I catch my six fish, I decide to check on the others and see if they have enough to call it a day.  Both Aj and Ruby have less, but still get more then enough for us to feed everyone.  We end the day with a total of 13 fish.

We start to head to the shack, when Aj drops his things and runs along the river.  "Clem's hat!"

I look and see it floating down the river.  I honestly thought we'd never see that thing again, so taking it back to Clem will cheer her up.  Aj gets to the bridge and waits to grab it, but he misses it!  Luckily, Rosie is at the other side and scoops up the hat.

We all walk to Rosie and give her the attention and praise she deserves.  Aj takes the hat, and walks with Ruby to the shack to put the spears away.  While they're walking back, I hear a russling in the brush.  I draw my knife and walk forward to see what it is.  Its....Tenn.

Tenn's body is rotten and damaged from all the walker bites.  Rosie starts to walk forward thinking Tenn's alive, but runs back to me once she realizes what he is.  She whimpers and and pushes her head against my leg, clearly upset.

"Don't worry girl, I'll take care of him.  Go to the others."

I point at the shack and Rosie runs over.  I take a deep breath, and walk toward Tenn.  He notices me now, and starts to walk forward.  I raise my knife, but struggle to find the energy to do what needs to be done.  He gets closer to me, but I shove him away.  I continue to do this multiple times, with tears flowing down my checks.

A rage begins to rise inside my chest, and I tackle Tenn to the ground.  He has no chance of biting me due to how small he is, so I hold him down and look at him.  I take multiple deep breaths, and bring my knife one more time. 

"I'm sorry Tenn.  You should be here, not me."

I drive the knife into the side of Tenn's head to hide the wound.  I hold his body until I hear the others approaching.  I quickly take off my jacket to cover Tenn's body and lift him up in my arms.  Both Ruby and Aj stop and look confuse, but soon realize who it is.  

"Is that..."

"Yeah, its Tenn.  I'm taking him home, so he can be buried."

"Can I see him?"

I look at Aj and shake my head.  "Trust me buddy, you don't want to remember Tenn like this.  You and Ruby take the Rosie and the fish ahead.  I don't want the others to see me walk in with him, so try to get the others somewhere they won't notice."

Ruby grabs the fish and Aj goes to give Rosie a hug.  "Y/N, what do you want us to tell them?"

I shrug my shoulders and look down at the jacket covering Tenn's head.  "I don't know.  Maybe just the truth so they can prepare themselves I guess.  I just don't want anyone to have to see him...like this."

I look at her as all emotion and life is sucked out of my body.  She can tell that I'm upset by what I've seen and done, but doesn't know what to do or say.  Aj starts to walk down the path, and looks at Ruby.

"Come on Ruby!  We got to let everyone know that Tenn's coming home.  He can finally have his funeral."

Ruby nods her head and walks with him down the path.  I wait a few minutes before I start to walk down the path as well.  I walk in silence thinking about what Aj said.  Tenn is finally at rest.  Safe from this world, and no longer hurting.  He's free, and he's coming home to be buried with his family.

I shake my head though and tears start to flow down my cheeks.  He should have came home a week ago when we beat those raiders.  Not as a corpse being buried.  This should have been no one.  I promised we'd all survive this, and I failed to do so.  I can't let this happen again.  I won't lose anymore of my family.

I'll keep them safe, and we'll live the best lives we can.  It all be in honor of you, Tenn.