Written In the Stars

Clementine watches with a heavy heart as AJ takes care of himself without her help, killing the walkers. She knows he will be in good hands with the kids at the boarding school, and that Louis will be the one raising her little goofball. Now, one of the last lessons she needs to teach AJ is how to say goodbye, as Lee taught her many years ago. She knows AJ will not let her go and refuses to accept the reality of her dying and leaving him behind. Her time as his protector has come to an end. She never thought she would end up like Lee. Clementine coughs and winces at the pain she is feeling as she praises AJ for killing the walkers. “Kuhh--uff. Good job, AJ. You did it.”

“Now what?” AJ asks. He turns to look at her, seeking her guidance on what to do.

“You need to find a way out of here,” Clementine spoke in a stern voice. Hinting to the child that he has to leave her behind. Knowing she is dying.

AJ refuses to accept what Clementine is saying to him. He looks around the barn for a way out. He spots a high spot with an opening at the top of the barn as the moans of the hungry walkers made him a bit anxious. Uhhhhggghhh. “There! We can climb up there. The monsters can’t reach us up there.” Clementine glances in the direction where AJ is pointing. Her fading amber eyes give him a sad look as he tries to encourage her to hang on a little bit longer. “Let’s go. Easy Climb. C’mon.” When Clementine doesn’t move, AJ comes to her and pleads. “Please------try.”

Clementine heaves a sigh. She tries to get up as AJ requested. But she crashes back down into the haystack of James’ barn. Her leg, where Minerva slashed it open on the bridge. Then the walker fresh new walker bite. That is shown on that wounded leg. She was paralyzed in the barn. She leans up against it and turns to sadly look at AJ as she is giving up the fight. AJ read that expression clear as day.

“You can’t give up! You can’t give up!” AJ pleads to her. “I need you!” His voice was softer when he repeated his words. “I need you.”

Clementine looks up at him with sorrowful eyes as she feels her body succumbing to the walker bite. She took a deep breath and spoke to her little boy, whom she had protected from birth. “I’m so sorry, kiddo. This is just what happens sometimes.”

“But----but it wasn’t supposed to happen to you!" AJ shouted as he looked into her saddened eyes.

“uhmm---My little goofball.” Clementine heaves.

AJ looked away when she said her nickname for him, “It’s Alvin Junior.”

“You’ll always be goofball to me.” Clementine giggles a bit at the old nickname she has for the little guy. She shifted her gaze to look in the distance for a moment before settling her eyes back onto AJ. “Hey, look at me.” When AJ refused, she was a bit more stern but still gentle in her pleading, “AJ...please.”

AJ does what she commanded and walks over to where she is lying and kneels down beside the only mother he has ever known. Clementine stretches out her arm to graze his cheek, to look into his eyes, and hold onto this moment that seems to be her last. “You’re such a cutie, how did I get so lucky?” She holds it there for a moment longer. Then she boops his nose with her pointer finger. In a soft voice, she teases him with her humor. “Gotchya.”

AJ looks down, not sharing Clementine’s silly spirit right now. He knows she is trying to lighten the heaviness in the air and make light of the situation, but this wasn’t the time for it. “Please...don’t...don’t be silly right now. Not right now. Please.” AJ is avoiding Clem’s stare.

Clementine gazes at him sadden. With a heavy heart, she softly whispers to him. “I just wanted to see you smile. One last time.”

“Don’t say that. Please...Don’t say that.” AJ said, shaking his head. Refusing to accept his reality.

Clementine winces in pain again as the pain forces her to look away from him for a moment. She then spoke, trying to be strong for him and help AJ get back to the school where he can be safe. “I need to make sure you remember.”

“Remember what?” AJ asks, looking up at Clementine.

“The rules. What’s number one?” Clementine instructed as she eyed him. Trying to teach him one last time, before she awaits her death.

AJ glances at her. Then slowly casts his eyes to the ground, looking at her leg. In a low mumble, he answers her. “Never....never go alone.” Then his eyes slowly rose to meet hers. “So...so I can’t leave. Not without you!” Stubborn boy refuses to let go of his guardian. His protector.

“AJ...” Clementine shakes sadly. Trying to get him to understand, she can’t be his protector anymore.

“It’s your rule!” AJ reminded her.

“You won’t be alone. Not for long. Get back to the school.” Clementine softly said. Ordering AJ to get back to the safety of the school.

“I don’t know how,” AJ said doubtfully.

“Sure you do,” Clementine said, encouraging him. “One of the first things I ever taught you. You need to make sure they can’t smell you, so...” Clementine pauses briefly as her eyes fixate on the ax lying on the ground a foot away from her. “Grab that ax.” She watches as AJ looks at the object. He then slowly stands up, walks over to the ax, and picks it up with his tiny hands. As AJ picks up the ax from the ground, Clementine then speaks to him as she eyes the dead walker several feet in front of her. “Augh--There’s a fresh juicy walker, just waiting to be gutted. You can use that ax to open it up. Cover yourself in walker guts.”

AJ, with his back turned from Clementine, mumbles, “I know how to do it, Clem.”

“I know you do.” She spoke in a somber tone.

THWACK---SCHLICK. Clementine hears AJ opening up the walker as the sound of the flesh and bone being torn apart. Clementine turns away. SHHH-WOP. AJ is smearing the guts on himself. Clementine’s body starts to shake with the agony of the pain in her leg. She tries to play it off and be strong for AJ in their final moments together. She looks up at AJ, covered in walker guts, as she instructed the next rule. “Next rule. What do we do when the monsters come?”

“Clem...” AJ, still with his back turned, mumbles his reply to her.

“AJ...” Clementine demands that AJ answer her.

“Shoot them in the head,” AJ answers her, finally turning around to face her.

Clementine heaves a bit as she reaches for the gun. The chamber remains empty. She looks at AJ as she asks, “Got any more ammo?”

AJ turns his head away and looks at the wall. In a low voice, he answers her. “There isn’t anymore.”

Clementine let out a scoff of frustration. “Pfft. Okay then. Fuck.” Then comes the final rule. She makes eye contact with AJ as she asks him. “And...the last rule?”

AJ dreaded the question, trying to avoid answering her. He holds the ax close to his small body as he looks at her. “I want to stay. With you.” AJ takes a step closer to her, and another, and another. “I know what will happen. And... and I don’t care. I don’t want to go.” He stops before her as he casts away to look at her wounded leg to get ideas on what to do. He then makes eye contact with her. “I just want to sit next to you and... and stay. Like that monster couple, from the train station. No one will hurt us. Just....sitting. Forever. Please. Let me stay.” AJ looks at her with a desperate plea in his eyes.

Clementine heaves a heavy sigh to her adoptive son and tries to control her emotions, but her voice shakes at her final request, “Sorry, kid, but no.” She looked up into AJ’s sad brown eyes as she spoke with her heart about what she wanted from him. “I have a job for you. I need you to get back to your room, I need you to sleep in your bed, and have friends and grow tall. Taller than I ever was, I hope. I need you to live, AJ, for me. That’s your job now.”

AJ nods as he chokes on his words to say to her as the tears pour down his face. “Okay, Clem. That’s my job.” The two of them gaze at one another in a somber moment. Hrraagh! The walkers’ groans intensify the situation.

Clementine closes her eyes and heaves out the heavy words to her surrogate son. “Last rule.”

“No...” AJ cries in defiance as he clutches the ax closer to him.

“What do we do if I get bit?” Clementine asks as she glances up at AJ. She sees him sobbing as the tears fall from his little eyes. His body is trembling with his sobs. She finally speaks as she looks at the sobbing child. “Are you going to make me say it?” AJ still refuses to answer her, and Clementine closes her eyes and leans her back against the hay. “Fine.” When AJ still will not answer her, she pleads with him with her fading eyes and soft voice. “AJ....you have to kill me. Don’t let me become one of them. Be a good boy...” Clementine pauses as she exhales a final heavy sigh. “Kill me.”

There was a moment between them as they looked into each other’s eyes. Tears falling out of them. AJ shakes his head, posing the ax in his hands, “NO.”

Without the words being spoken. Clementine gives a silent nod to him, saying it’s okay. She knows AJ doesn’t want to do this, but she also doesn’t want to become a walker. AJ shakes his head violently, tears running down his chubby cheeks. He grits his teeth hard. As he slowly raises the ax above his head. He takes one last look at Clementine’s fading golden irises. Clementine dips her head, not wanting to see the blade to seal her fate. AJ sucks in his breath as he did what she asked of him.

SSSHHHT! AJ swung the ax as hard as he could at the target that he was aiming for. Instead of aiming for Clementine’s head and throat. AJ was eyeing the leg that had the walker bite on it.

“Aaaaaaagh!” Clementine howls from the sudden pain. She was not expecting AJ to do that, and the pain was too much for her to bear; she passed out from the shock.

SSSHK-THWACK. AJ only cut halfway through Clem’s leg as he raised the ax again above his little head. CRRK. AJ kept at it as he sliced through bone and tissue until it was off.

AJ had to act fast once the leg was amputated. So Clementine doesn’t bleed out from the wound. He reached for the knife he had stuffed in his back pocket. Ran as fast as he could to grab the rope from the bale of hay. He then placed the rope on her wound and applied pressure to make a tourniquet. Once the blood was cut off. He started a small fire by striking his knife against a rock. As he saw Clementine doing in the cave. Made a small flaming torch out of the walker’s clothes and used the walker’s femur as a stick. AJ soon turns his attention to Clementine. Squances up his face, of not wanting to do this next part.

AJ moves to a passed-out Clementine. He sighs as he kneels down beside her. Took several deep breaths, then placed the fire on Clementine’s open wound. SSSSSSSSSZT. Clementine taught him how to seal its wounds so it would heal. He wanted to close off the wound before he could safely get her in something to push her to the school and to get Ruby. He is thankful she is passed out because the burning of her flesh is making AJ feel like he is going to get the dookies. The closing of her open wound took forever, but it was safe enough to move her into something.

AJ looks around for something to carry Clementine back to the school. He spots the wheelbarrow he used to stand on to cut the rope that stopped him from closing the stall doors. He eyes Clementine and the wheelbarrow. Idea. He gets up, knowing Clementine is safe, and moves towards the old garden tool. He picks up the hands and wheels it over to near where an unconscious Clementine lies. AJ picks Clementine up by her elbows and starts to drag her to where the wheelbarrow is. Then he pauses. Something is missing. Uhhhhggghhh! sounds of the hungry swarp lurking behind the closed stalls. It dawned on AJ that Celmentine isn’t protected by the smell of walkers. AJ sets her down gently and moves over to where the walker is lying. He picks up the dead walker and brings it over to where Clementine is. It was a struggle to haul the dead walker over, but he did it.

Catching his breath, AJ dug some more guts out and smeared them over Clementine’s face and body, so she was fully covered. He doesn’t want to take any chances. Not again. Once Clementine is covered head to toe in walker guts, AJ musters up whatever strength he has left and tries to get her in the wheelbarrow. He picks her up and stumbles down. THUD. AJ gets up and tries again, but keeps falling down. THUD. THROP. THUD. Sweat pooled down his forehead, but he was determined to get her in. “Hrngh. C’mon Clem. We need to get you — Ungh — to Ruby. She--- will Aruhh------take care of you. Like she did. With---Hrngah..Me.” With all of his might, AJ manages to get her in the wheelbarrow.

“Whew!” AJ heaves as he catches his breath. He looks up with determination in his eyes as he challenges the smelly beasts before him. NOT on my watch. With AJ wheeling the wheelbarrow close to the exit, his eyes were eager to escape. AJ takes a deep breath with Clementine’s knife handy, he marches to the last stall door he closed a while ago, and goes to open up the door. If Clementine was right about covering themselves in walker guts, they should pass right through without being detected. But AJ wants the knife handy in case he needs to use it as a weapon. With a silent exhale of his breath, he opens up the stall door. Soon enough, walkers make their way to the door, pushing to get in.

AJ was in defensive mode, protecting Clementine and himself from the threat. To his bewilderment, the walkers looked right through AJ and Clementine as if they weren’t there. Instead moves past them and heads right in the direction of Clementine’s chopped-off leg. AJ sighs in relief as he wheels Clementine out of danger as fast as he can.

Once AJ was a few yards from the stall doors and out of somewhat danger, he sighed in relief. “Whew! We made it, Clem.” AJ looks at her, still unconscious. “Don’t worry, Clem. We will be home soon, and you can be in your bed, safe with me. We don’t have to become walkers.” He looks at her and then sighs as he knows there are some love feelings forming between her and Louis before they all got separated from the bridge. “and with Louis.”

Louis paces back and forth in the courtyard of the school. Anxiously waiting to see Clementine and AJ come up from the pathway leading to the gates. He stares out into the woods and hears the distant moans of the walkers from the bridge. In his head, he thought to himself. They should be back by now. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. Why didn’t I go back for her and AJ? I should have stayed and helped her over the fence, as a supportive boyfriend should have. I am such a cowardly fool. Clementine is wounded, and I should have protected her and gotten her up the fence first. Why didn’t I go back to make sure she is okay? I should’ve done more. I... I... love her and AJ. Wow, that is the first time I actually admit it to myself. Am I starting to fall in love with Clementine? Okay, Louis...shut up...Need to find a way to get to her.

Louis was too much into his own thoughts. He didn’t even hear Aasim come up behind him. When Aasim touches his shoulder, Louis flinches a bit as he stumbles backward a few feet. “Dude, sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Ruby and Tenn want to make sure you are okay.”

Louis took a moment to settle his racing heart. He then heaves out a worried sigh. “Truthfully, I am not okay. I am worried. Clementine and AJ should be back by now. It’s been hours.” His eyes swiftly gaze at the gates before turning to look at his friend.

Aasim looks at him as if he is actually serious for once. There was no joking or playfulness in Louis’s tone of voice. Aasim tries to be positive and reassures him to ease his anxiety. “I’m sure Clementine and AJ are fine. They will be here.”

“But what if they are not, Aasim? What if something has happened? Minnie severely injured Clem’s leg on the bridge. And there were a dozen walkers closing in on us, and what if they never made it?” Louis started to panic as his voice began to quiver. He begins pacing like an anxious animal.

“Clementine is a survivor and a smart girl. She will figure something out.” Aasim spoke softly. Trying to soothe Louis’s worries.

Louis is not convinced of that. Of course, she is smart and knows how to get out of a jam. But he has a gut feeling that something is not right. Or for once, he is thinking the way Violet is thinking. And being very pessimistic. He shakes his head as he speaks, being more assertive. “I don’t know. I feel it in my gut, something is wrong, Aasim. Like really wrong.”

Aasim noticed Louis’s changed behavior as he crossed his arms over his chest. He leans back on his heels as he gazes at him. “Since when did you start becoming the pessimistic type?”

“Since something has threatened to take away someone I actually care for!” Louis said the words without realizing it, and Aasim was shocked.

Aasim stood there, stunned at what he just heard Louis say out loud. He looks at Louis’s face now, as there was a genuine love expression being shown on his face. That is all Aasim needed to know the truth. He didn’t have to ask the question, as he saw the look in Louis’s eyes.

Louis casts his gaze into the distance, through the school gate. Then, without turning back or getting permission from anyone. He grabs hold of Charles and marches to the gates to find Clementine himself.

“Louis!” Aasim shouts as him as Louis made his way to the gates. “Louis, what are you doing?” Louis doesn’t answer as he is on a mission to find Clementine and AJ. When Aasim catches him, he has a firm grip on his arm to yank him back from the metal bar barrier. “Louis, are you trying to get yourself killed?! It is too dangerous to go out there looking for her, on your own.”

Louis’s face knits as he angrily shouts at the boy holding him back. “Let go of me, Aasim! I will find her and do it alone if I have to! She needs me. Let go, goddamn it!”

“No! It’s suicide, Lou, to try to do it yourself. I will not let you risk your life. We lost too many of us already.” Aasim firmly held onto Louis’s arm. Not releasing him. Louis struggles free, but Aasim will not let him go. When Aasim still refuses to let Louis go, he softly speaks to his hurt friend. “Louis, you are no good to Clementine if you are dead or eaten by walkers. I know she cares for you, too. I’ve seen the look she gave to you during truth or dare.”

Louis shook with anger as he whips around to face Aasim. “Then you know I have to, Aasim.”

“Why?” Aasim asks, gripping Louis harder.

“Because----” Louis looks out through the gates, then back at his friend, “Because I won’t be able to live with myself if she is dead.”

“What do you mean?” Aasim asks.

“I should have gone back to help her. I should have been the one to get her over the fence first. I should have protected her!” Louis shouted. “And I won’t be able to live with myself if I were the one who caused her death because I was.....I was a coward to leave her. I should have fought harder for her. Maybe if I did....she would be here with me. She and AJ.”

Aasim said nothing as he lightens up his grip on Louis’s arm. Aasim has never seen Louis look so miserable. Perhaps he really is in love with Clementine. He lets out a sigh as he eyes his friend, then agrees. “Okay.” Louis was shocked as he gazed at Aasim. He was about to spin on his heels when Aasim stopped him. “But I am not letting you do this suicide mission alone. I am coming with you. End of discussion. No debates. Got it.”

Louis nods at him as they share a bro kind of moment and understanding. “Before we go, I will let Willy and Tenn know, so we don’t worry, Ruby or Violet. I know she will not approve of this, but this is important to you. We will do this together.” Louis said nothing as Aasim left his side for a moment to tell Willy and Tenn the plan. A few minutes later, he approaches Louis and gestures with the bow he grabbed to head out.

Once they were in the woods on the pathway to the fishing shack, Aasim broke the silence and spoke to Louis. “Where do you think Clementine and AJ could have gone once you two got separated on the bridge?”

“I don’t know. It was all just a blur of how it happened. I trusted she found another way as I fended off the walkers for my own survival. And keeping Tenn alive, who is still in shock at his sister’s death, dying like that on the bridge.” Louis said in a sad tone. “Why?” He quickly glances in Aasim’s direction.

“Well, she might have gone to a place that was close and secure from where she is. If you know of a location where she might have gone with AJ to a safe, secure spot. We can start there to track their whereabouts.” Aasim said logically. “Did she mention any place to you?”

Louis shook his head silently, not answering. His eyes fixed forward as he thought of Aasim’s reasoning. Then he glances back at Aasim. Remembering something. “Back when we came up with a plan to rescue you, Omar, and Violet. She mentioned to her friend James how to lead walkers and guide the herd to the boat. That is how we snuck on board without the Raiders knowing. Anyway, Clementine did say he has a camp, out in these woods somewhere. But who knows where that is? Could be anywhere.”

“Well, a camp in the woods will not be a logical spot to hide from a herd of walkers. Especially a whole swarm of them. There has got to be a sturdy structure that is sturdy enough to withstand the horde and protect her and AJ.” Aasim pointed out.

“I don’t know where that can be,” Louis admitted as he had a sad tone.

“Well, we will keep looking. Retrace back where you last saw her if we have to.” Aasim answers him. He gave his friend an encouraging look. “We will find them, Louis.” Louis didn’t say anything more. His one and only mission is to find Clementine and AJ. He just prays nothing happens to her.

AJ’s strength was fading as he pushed the wheelbarrow far away from the barn. Far from the threat behind them. Sweat pooled down his forehead as he panted and heaved the load he was carrying. He takes breaks when he can and checks up on Clementine’s stump of a leg. Making sure no blood is oozing out and to see she is still breathing. He checks her pulse. There was a faint heartbeat. He looks at the fading sunlight as he strokes her hand to speak to her. “We made it, Clem. Out of the danger of the horde. Just got to get you to the school. But----I need help. I tried to get you there myself. But I don’t think I can push you anymore. You’re too heavy for me.” He said in a sad voice.

AJ collapsed a bit as his legs felt weak and weary. “No. I will not give in. You carried me to the school when I got shot. By that shitbird, shit head. Dungface, Raider. Now it is my turn to do the same. I know I am small, but----I’m brave. Like, Tenn’s firefighter.” AJ looks at Clementine’s pale face. “You give me the strength to keep moving forward. So that is what I am going to do, Clem.” He gets up as his body shakes and moves to the handlebars of the wheelbarrow.

AJ pushes a bit farther, a few more yards, until he freezes and hears the moans of the walkers. Krrrgghhh. Mmmrrghhh. Quickly and silently, he pushes the wheelbarrow behind some boulders. Shielding him and Clementine from the small cluster of walkers roaming about.

AJ swiftly takes out Clementine’s knife. He has it ready, in case the walkers get close. He quickly looks up at Clementine as she grows paler and paler, ghost-like. Losing color in her complexion. AJ knows he is running out of time to get her to Ruby. He closes his eyes to settle his racing heart. I have to get Clementine to Ruby. I’m sorry, James, about your philosophy. But everything I love is in that bucket thing. AJ opens his eyes and breathes out a sigh to calm his nerves as he stealthily approaches the walkers.

AJ raises the knife and stabs a walker in the leg, then in the skull. One down, five more to go. AJ carefully kills every walker and runs back to the boulder and wheels Clementine away.

Aasim and Louis walked for what felt like forever until they heard walkers in the distance. They glanced at each other momentarily as they both got into a battle stance to take out the dead heads that lurked ahead of them.

When they get closer, Louis raises Chairles near his head, getting ready to bash some walkers. But he soon pauses as the sound of the gargling from the walkers fades into an eerie silence. His heart races as he knows someone is out there killing walkers. Louis, without thinking, charges in the direction of the fading noise, and Aasim follows suit, not saying anything.

Over the hilltop, Louis spots AJ striking down walkers with Clementine’s knife. His heart burst when seeing the little man, alive. “AJ!” Louis calls out to the young kid.

AJ looks up from striking a walker in the skull with Clementine’s knife to the sound of his name being called. He sees Louis charging down from the hill. “Louis!” AJ runs to embrace him. So happy to see a familiar face.

Once the two reunite, Louis embraces AJ in a hug and breathes a sigh. AJ hugs him back. He looks down on the child and notices Clementine is missing. “Where’s Clementine?

AJ said nothing and brought Louis over to where he had placed the wheelbarrow behind a large boulder. Louis approached it, and his heart sank in his chest as he looked at Clementine’s fading body. She looks so pale, like someone sucked the life out of her. Aasim approached them and spoke to Louis. “We need to get her to Ruby, fast. She isn’t going to make it if she is out here too much longer.”

Louis nods and wastes no time. Not wasting another moment, he picks up Clementine as he drapes her limp arm around his shoulders, and holds onto her legs or what is left of one of them. A flashback moment came to him as he remembered pulling her out of the wrecked car and carrying her to Ericson the same way. Fate and destiny have brought them together. Louis notices the tourniquet on her left leg and the absence of her foot. He wanted to ask AJ what happened, but the priority was to get Clementine back to the school and to Ruby.

Aasim gave orders to AJ, “AJ keeps looking out for walkers. I will lead the way back to the school.” AJ nodded and didn’t argue. And they all left in a hurry to get Clementine back to Ruby. Hoping it is not too late.

Clementine faintly remembers leaving the barn. Her world fades in and out of the darkness as she struggles to find the light. She thought she had died, but her soul will continue to fight for survival. There was so much she still wanted to do. Be AJ’s mom and see him grow up. Confess to Louis that she loves him, even though she is scared to say those three words to him.

She faintly hears voices, but they are merely muffled. Where am I? Why can’t I speak or do anything? I feel like I am dead, but I am somehow still alive. What is happening?

“AJ. Louis?” Clementine tries to call out in the empty world. “Can anyone hear me?!” Nothing. Why can’t I talk? I’m yelling. But no one hears me.

The world faded again, and Clementine was back to being in a pitch-black world. With no light. She struggles in this dark landscape, clawing and fighting to return to the world she wants to be in. She sees a faint light, but it is so far from her reach. Clementine pushes forward and stumbles and falls, but still fights to get to the light. The light grows brighter and brighter with each step. The light is her guiding way back.

Once they reached the side gate and were inside, Louis walked at a brisk pace to get Clementine to Ruby’s care. She stands at the base of the admin building’s steps, looking pissed. But soon drops her sour look when she sees Clementine in Louis’s arms. Violet was standing nearby as she looked at a fallen Clementine, too. Despite her fury and anger at Clementine, she is fearful of Clementine’s declining health.

“Ruby, we need you! Clem is hurt badly.” Aasim yells.

“What the hell happened?” Ruby asks as Louis, Aasim, and AJ approach the school steps.

“No time for that, we will discuss it later, Clementine needs you, now!” Aasim ordered.

“Right. Of course, Louis brings her into the nurse’s office,” Ruby said as she leads Louis to the admin building. Violet gazes up at Aasim with a worried expression on her face. AJ wanted to follow, but Aasim held him back when Louis entered the building with Ruby.

Louis followed Ruby up the stairs past Marlon’s office and into the nurse’s station. “Put her on the bed right there.” Louis gently lowers his beloved down onto the mattress as Ruby comes over to her. She examines Clementine’s body as she assesses the situation. She notices there is a tourniquet around her left leg. And then frowns and heaves a sigh at Clementine’s missing leg. “Jesus....her leg is missing. What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know. I found her like this. When we ran into AJ.” Louis said honestly. He looks to his good friend. “Can you do anything, Ruby? Can you save her?”

Ruby inspects Clementine’s stumped leg. She is afraid to remove the tourniquet. That keeps her from losing so much blood. She sighs. “I am not going to sugarcoat this, Louis. It doesn’t look good. She lost a lot of blood. She....she might turn.”

Louis’s eyes squeeze shut as tears flow from the depths of his deep brown eyes. He shakes his head, not wanting to hear that. Then, with a shaky voice, he spoke to her, “No.. No. She hasn’t.”

“Louis.” Ruby tries to be very sympathetic here.

“Just-----try and heal her. If anyone is good at healing people, it is you, Ruby. Please.” Louis pleaded with her. “Please.”

“I will try... I can’t guarantee you anything but success, Lou.” Ruby softly said. She then eyes him, needing space to work without someone hovering over her patient. “And I can’t have you in here while I work to save her. Go wait outside.” Ruby orders. When Louis refuses to move and stares at Clementine’s ghost-like face, his world crashes down around him. Ruby puts a soft hand on his forearm as she softly whispers to him. “I promise I will get you if I feel there is no hope. For you to say your goodbyes. But I will try my damnedest to make sure she doesn’t join the dead. You have my word, Louis. Now, please. Go.”

Louis nods as he numbly leaves the sight of Clementine lying on the mattress in Ruby’s nurse’s station. He stumbled down the hall until he felt like he was going to faint. He puts his back against the wall and slowly slides his body down to the floor. Everything felt like a swirling of emotions. He doesn’t know whether to cry, sob, or be angry. He rests his head on his knees as he takes it all in.

AJ slowly climbs the grand central staircase. When he got to the top, he spotted Louis by the doors to Marlon’s old office. Head bowed, buried behind his bent legs. AJ stands over Louis. He still has his cheeks stained from his tears. Then, in a small voice, he spoke to Louis, “Is Clem going to make it?”

Louis pulls his head from his knees as he glances at the small child standing over him. He speaks the honest truth to the little boy. “We are not sure, little man. Ruby is trying.”

AJ sinks down on the floor next to Louis. Placing his back against something solid. As his body shakes with weariness. AJ casts his dull brown eyes in front of him as he heaves out a sigh, “I tried to get to you guys sooner.”

Louis looks at the little boy and places his hands on his shoulders.

“You did well, AJ. You got her here. That is all that matters.”

AJ looks down at his feet as Louis and Aasim never asked what happened or asked for an explanation. The main priority was to get Clementine to Ruby. He then heaves another guilty sigh as he tells Louis the truth about what happened. “Clementine got bit, Louis.”

Three words, AJ just said out loud. Felt like a sucker punch to Louis’s gut. He turns his gaze on the little child as AJ looks up to meet Louis’s gaze.

“She told me to kill her back in James’s barn after we fled the walkers from the bridge. Clementine got bitten shortly after we got separated. I enclosed us in a portion of the barn so we will be safe. She told me she wanted me to live for her, and that was my job. Then told me to kill her if she ever got bitten and not let her become a monster.” AJ explained the event that happened. He broke eye contact with Louis’s stare. As it was a well-planned work between Clementine and him, before they settled and made a home here at Ericson.

AJ continues. “I----I couldn’t do it. Kill her like she wanted me to. So I chopped off her leg. Thinking, I bought her time to still be saved.” He then stares out at the wall across from him. “I remember Clementine telling me that if you cut off a limb fast enough from a monster bite, you can survive it. Like what Abel has done. I did it to save her. And patch her up with the best I could and escape the barn with everything she taught me. And I want her to live and stay with me.” AJ looked up at Louis as he said his next words, “and with you. I see how she looks at you. She like-likes you. You make her smile a lot. Especially after you and she smush faces together on the beach after the boat blew up. She tries to hide it, but I saw it.”

Louis looks at AJ. Then, without thinking, he pulls AJ in his arms and holds him close. AJ thought he would be mad, but closed his eyes as he held Louis back. The two of them held onto each other for what felt like forever. Louis softly mumbles to the little boy how much this unpredictable ball of energy means to him. “I love you, AJ. I---Thank you. For everything.” AJ smiles and hugs Louis tighter.