TWD: Last (Clementine X Male Reader Book 3)

Project V-1

In the city, the night never really comes. There are so many lights that the darkness is completely drowned in a sea of advertisements, cars, street lamps, the list goes on and on. It's different from what I'm used to, even though it's been over a year. I'm used to looking up and seeing a sprawling Milky Way above my head. Now, it's just a few stars if I get lucky.

They gave me a property in the woods. It has two houses and miles of secluded land; I think it's because they want to keep me separated from society... But I can't go there yet. I'd be alone, and the thought kind of freaks me out. Everyone I know is still in the city. I was given an apartment for the time being so that I was close in case anything happened.

Every once in a while, someone will walk up to me. "Hey, remember me? We went to high school together." Or, "Hey, it's been so long. I'm insert family member here."... I didn't even go to high school... Well, I just don't remember it. I did at one point, I guess... I have to smile at them and try to play it cool. I've been trying my hardest to force memories back to the surface, but the doctors say it's useless. It's like my memories were deleted. And I'm stuck with memories that don't make sense anymore. Lessons I have to unlearn. Skills that are completely useless. What's even worse is that the only three people I know are still out of reach. I wonder if they'll ever come back to me or if I'll be alone forever.

I wander the streets every night and just think. I put earphones in and listen to music I've never heard. I walk past stores and restaurants I'm not allowed to go in; something could set me off... These people aren't used to someone shooting up with a steak knife clenched in their hand at the sound of a fork dropping. They don't understand the constant fear of dying, the fighting for your life, always looking over your shoulder...

I nearly killed a man one night, not realizing it was Halloween. Time is hard to keep track of when you aren't worried about it for years. He was dressed as a... Zombie, I think they call them... Still a Walker to me. He crawled at me, growling and reaching for me. I started beating his head into the ground. Stomping and stomping and stomping until I was pulled off him and arrested. The doctors had to come and get me. Explain to the officers what had happened. I was let off, but I got in a lot of trouble. I hadn't even done anything wrong, really.

I have a hard time connecting. The doctors are all that I really interact with. Everyone else is always staring at screens, texting and calling each other, engrossed in this world of technology that I just don't understand... I could never hope to wrap my head around how people would rather talk to others on the phone instead of in person. I had to fear that people would be taken from me at any moment, and I'd never actually see them again. There's no one in this world I can relate to.

I miss my friends... Really they're my family... I just wish that they would come back... I wish they would just die already...

My music stops, and my phone buzzes in my pocket. I reach down and raise it to my ear, taking my earphones out in the process.

Me: Hello?

Doc: Could you come quickly? I don't want to get your hopes up, but... If he wakes up without you here, I don't know what he'll do.

Me: You've seen him, right? The dude wouldn't even be able to lift a finger to tap you.

Doc: He could hurt himself.

Me: How is he going to do that?

Doc: Get over here, please. You know he would need you.

I hang up the phone. My social skills aren't the best, I'll admit... But despite my rude demeanor, I was going to go over as soon as they called anyway. If one of them needs me, I won't hesitate to drop what I'm doing and rush over. The three of them are everything left now. Nothing else in this world matters to me.

I veer off the course I was on and towards the compound... Project V, or if you want to sound smart: Project Verisimilitude. The word basically means something that looks, feels, and seems real... Honestly, it ruined my life... And it'll ruin theirs too.

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Hey, just so this isn't confusing... This is NOT the next section. It will appear sporadically across the rest of the story... You aren't meant to know what is happening, and I'm not going to tell you... Love you!