Oookay! Time for a surprise!
So, as someone who's a big fan of both The Walking Dead games & Naruto, I've been wanting to do a project with them for a while. This is something that is more of a passion project, with no scheduled updates or chapters. I don't expect it to be my biggest story, but I do want to eventually make it stretch to the end of TWD's game series.
I get that the audience for this is likely niche, so no worries if this isn't your cup of tea. I mainly wanted to dip my toes into a plot-heavy story instead of my usual smutty goodness. I feel like a lot of it was on display in this chapter.
That being said, I also don't want to recreate a perfect one-to-one story of the games. I want to include new characters, new scenarios, and interesting things that I feel could be explored. Will certain main characters make an appearance? Yeah! But I also want to spice it up with new things.
The beginning is similar to the beginning of the story, but I also threw in different things that didn't occur. Such as Lee not meeting Hershell Greene or Shawn Greene. It's going to be a challenge to make it blend seamlessly, but it's a challenge I'm happy to take.
If this gets traction, I wouldn't mind trying to plan updates for it, but as now, it's something I'll sporadically update.
Don't worry about our regular stories; updates are coming out very soon for them! Thanks!
STORY START:
"What a shitty day, huh?"
"Huh? O-Oh, yeah."
Lee Everett mumbled out a response as he stared down at his cuffed hands, feeling like the world around him had fallen apart. He had been arrested for murder, for killing a man he caught sleeping with his wife. His anger had earned him a lifetime of regret, a split-second decision that he didn't think through.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a sturdy build. He had a square, defined face with strong cheekbones and a firm jawline. His dark brown eyes were a mix of acceptance, observant, and sadness. He had a short, trimmed beard and mustache that accompanied his tightly curled hair. He wore a light blue button-up shirt, dark slacks, and black shoes.
Now, as he sat in the back of a police cruiser heading down a highway, he could only think. Think of his family. Of the regrets he had. Of the decisions he made. It was surreal to think that he was teaching at a university hours ago, and now, he would likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. It was a jarring shake of his life.
"Listen...I know I don't know much about you. I was just called to pick you up and transport, but I can tell that you're a good guy," The man in the front, a uniformed officer, spoke calmly. He was an older man, balding with white hair on the sides of his head. His hands were on the wheel while he spoke, "Most of the assholes I pick up can't stop kicking the seat. I even had to tase one because he kept slamming his head on the metal barrier."
"Sounds horrible," Lee responded with a hollow chuckle, glancing out the window. It was crazy to think this would likely be the last time he would see the free world, the last time he could get a taste of what it was to be normal.
The officer glanced in his rear-view mirror, deciding to stop the conversation for now. It was clear Lee was in no mood to talk.
The vehicle continued to charge down the rural highway, cutting through the countryside of Georgia. A colorful mix of trees and leaves glistened as they rushed by. The afternoon sun filtered through the window, shining above houses and fences.
The cuffs felt tighter with every bump the car ran over. The smell of worn leather and stale coffee lingered in the air. The low hum of the engine filled the awkward silence between the two.
Lee's gaze slowly sharpened as he noticed something odd. Police sirens wailed off as they drove opposite their direction, heading back into the city. He could hear murmurs from the officer's radio, crackling with fragmented emergency chatter. It almost sounded like the dispatch was being overwhelmed with countless issues.
"Damn thing keeps going off," The officer sneered, shaking his head. "I'm tempted to turn it off."
"What do you think is going on?" Lee asked, watching as more police cruisers raced to the city. A few moments later, he saw numerous ambulances and firetrucks joining as well. Whatever was going on, it was big. Very big.
"Don't know, but I'm sure we'll see it all over the news," The officer sighed, almost as if he was annoyed. "Some shit just had to pop off as I'm about to retire. Can never catch a break in this world."
Just as the officer reached out, ready to turn off the radio, it came to life. A female's voice rang out, sharp and professional.
"Unit 143, Unit 143, respond."
The officer frowned, reaching for the radio. When dispatch called, he answered, "143, go ahead."
"143, we've got a report of a civilian down at mile marker 32 off County Road. Possible injury. EMS units are tied up at the moment. Can you divert and transport to the county hospital?"
"143 copies. I can't do that, I'm currently transporting a prisoner."
Lee watched with furrowed brows. He kept silent in the backseat.
It took a moment before dispatch crackled to life on the radio, "143, we understand, but the nearest other officer is too far for the request. We're being flooded with reports in the city, and you're the closest. I repeat, can you divert and transport?"
"Dammit...I guess I'll just bring them to the front. We're breaking every policy in the book doing this," The officer mumbled under his breath, shaking his head in frustration. It was only a few miles down the road from where he was. It was along his way to the prison regardless. "143 copies. One civilian pickup. Stand by."
"Copy that, 143. If secure, proceed. Hospital has been advised."
"...Alright, dispatch. 143 en route. ETA is 4 minutes."
"10-4, 143."
The radio clicked off, the static fading. Lee saw the officer narrow his eyes while pressing harder on the gas pedal.
"We're not supposed to do this normally, but emergencies are emergencies," The officer spoke to Lee, keeping his eyes on the road. "We're going to pick up a reported injured civilian. After we take them to the hospital, I'll reroute us back to the prison."
Lee nodded, finding the situation odd. Regardless, he had no control and decided to drop it.
As they sped down the highway, Lee began to notice more things. People on the road grew frantic, driving erratically. He could see through the windows of various homes they passed. In each one, it seemed like families were fighting. Over and over again, it looked like people were struggling with one another. Almost as if putting up a fight.
"What the hell is going on?" Lee pondered with a frown. His instincts were shouting at him, telling him something was wrong. This went beyond a riot in the city; even the rural landscape was being affected.
Before he could complete his thought, the police cruiser was brought to a jarring stop as they turned around a bend in the road. Lee glanced to the front, watching as the officer opened his door and ran to a group of people huddled in a circle. A few people were on their phones, likely being the ones who called in the incident.
That's when Lee's eyes widened. The officer came running back with a child in his arms, bloodied and battered. He was unconscious and looked frail. A small stream of blood leaked from the sides of his lips while his hands looked bruised, almost as if they had undergone a close-range explosion.
The officer wore a look of panic and desperation as he shouted for the crowd to disperse. He didn't waste time, years of experience allowing him to quickly leave him on the passenger seat.
"Shit, shit, shit! Fuck! I didn't think it was this bad!" The older man shouted, strapping in a young kid. Lee could tell the kid had been through some sort of ordeal. He was buckled up by the officer in an upright, sitting position. The wheels of the police cruiser squeeled on the asphalt as they quickly made their way back on the road.
Lee got a better look at the kid, finding his appearance to be interesting. He had sunny, bright blond hair. A set of three lines ran across his cheeks, almost like whiskers. He groaned lowly on the passenger seat, allowing Lee to catch a glimpse of his blue eyes. He was dressed in a dark black shirt with a swirling crimson symbol placed in the center. It was accompanied by blue pants and black sandals.
The strangest thing was a pair of goggles with a green headband wrapped around his forehead. It was scuffed with dark marks, once again making Lee assume the child suffered some kind of explosion. It was odd.
"Fuck, I didn't think it was a kid! A fucking kid!" The officer cried out, occasionally stealing a glance at the unconscious child. He felt guilty that he almost turned off his radio, which could've led to this child's death. "Just hold on, I'm driving as fast as I can-"
"Watch the road!" Lee shouted, sitting forward. The officer had spared a glance for too long, meaning he didn't see the person crossing the highway. In an attempt to avoid the collision, he overcorrected the wheel. The jerking motion only managed to hit the person and swerve them off the road, smashing through rail guards.
CRASH! SMASH!
Lee felt his body thrown against the seat as the world lurched out of control. The vehicle veered off the pavement and plowed into a grassy shoulder, bouncing on the uneven ground. The suspension of the car groaned loudly, barreling straight into a thick wall of trees.
Branches whipped across the windshield. Rocks and dirt were kicked up from the spinning tires. It was pure chaos as they stumbled deeper into the forest.
When the front of the cruiser finally crashed into a tree, Lee felt the world fade. The deafening clash of metal and glass was the last thing he remembered before the car flipped.
...
"W-What...what the hell..." Lee groaned softly, opening his eyes. It took him a moment to adjust, and another moment to remember what had happened. How the world had practically turned into a blur within seconds.
It took him a moment before Lee realized he was upside down, dazed, and blood dripping from a cut on his head. He could hear some shouting from outside the vehicle, and a few gunshots, but it went silent shortly afterward. Gazing at the clock by the dashboard, Lee nearly did a double-take.
"I was out for two days?!" It felt like it was a few hours at most, not days. His brain had to take a moment to process the information.
With a grunt, Lee pressed on his seatbelt buckle and lurched downward. He stumbled and winced from the fall, but otherwise felt alright. Looking to his side, he noticed the door slightly ajar. It must've opened during the crash.
Slowly, pushing the door with his cuffed hands, Lee Everett crawled out of the overtuned police cruiser. His face hit the floor, tasting dirt and leaves. Spitting in disgust, Lee slowly pushed himself on both legs.
Finally, he was able to get a good look at the vehicle. It was a smoking mess with flattened wheels, carving an indent into the forest. A trail of disturbed dirt and destroyed branches led from behind.
That's when Lee heard a low, otherworldly growling. Something that didn't sound human, nor like an animal. A noise that he had never heard before.
Turning around, Lee's eyes widened. There, walking toward him, seemed something that resembled a walking corpse. Its face was decayed, revealing tendons and teeth. Its hands were outstretched, swiping the air as it neared his position. It walked slowly, but its disgusting appearance was enough to stun him for a few seconds.
It was frail, but Lee didn't believe it was weak. Something in his bones was telling him this was bad news.
"R-Raah! Grauh!"
Yep, it's disgruntled voice only confirmed to Lee that this thing wasn't human. He was more than ready to book it.
Or at least he was, until he heard the soft groans from inside the overturned car. His stomach flipped, and his heart stopped. He had nearly forgotten about the other passenger.
"The kid!" Lee exclaimed in his mind, running to the passenger side. He could see the child's limp body dangling in the air, barely held by the seatbelt. If the officer hadn't buckled him in, Lee was sure the injuries would've been worse.
With the sounds of the otherworldly groans getting closer, Lee worked with haste. He didn't know who this kid was, but Lee knew he wasn't going to leave him behind. That wasn't right at all, especially not when these monsters were approaching.
"C'mon, c'mon!" Lee muttered to himself. He tried pulling on the cruiser's door with his cuffed hands, but the dented metal wasn't budging. It was far too deformed to work normally.
Realizing the footsteps were getting closer, Lee grew desperate. Noticing a rock on the forest floor, he grabbed it and slammed it against the passenger window. It shattered the glass easily, allowing him to reach inside.
Lee took caution to avoid the glass that remained on the window ledge; there was no need to cut his arms. He carefully unbuckled the child, grunting as he lifted him out of the car window. He was just small enough to fit through the gap.
"You weigh pretty light, which makes this easier," Lee chuckled, trying to make the most out of the situation. He held the unconscious kid bridal style, ready to leave the area. However, just as he turned, he caught a glimpse of something from the edge of his vision.
It was a set of handcuff keys and a pistol, resting on the seat. It must've been on the door's side or the center console before being rustled in the car crash.
Lee took a deep breath, setting the kid in the car. He quickly reached inside, finding the keys first. With shaky fingers and sweat rolling down his brow, he managed to uncuff his hands as the groans were only feet away.
Managing to grab the pistol, Lee shoved it inside his waistband. He had no time to check if it was loaded or not; he just knew he had to leave.
"Alright, time to go!" Lee told himself, finally free from his constraints. He was able to carry the child much more easily this time, quickly using his feet to run away from the smoking vehicle. He never turned back once, rushing past the treeline with every ounce of strength he had.
It was the start of his new life, and he didn't even know it yet.
...
"Okay, huff~, I think we're safe," Lee panted while resting in the backyard of a residential home. He had run for ten minutes straight, using breathing techniques to keep his body going. After gently setting the child over a wooden fence, then jumping it himself, Lee decided it was time for a break. He had earned it.
Glancing to his side, Lee watched the small child's chest rise up and down. It was a sign he was still alive, despite going through everything. It was comforting to know that he didn't leave him behind to suffer whatever those monsters would've done.
Just then, he saw the child groan lowly. He coughed violently, rolling over to his stomach. His palms pressed into the Earth, inhaling sharply as oxygen rushed into his lungs.
"Whoa, it's okay! Just breathe in slowly!" Lee comforted, patting the child's back a few times. He watched as their coughing fit died down, returning to a steady breathing pattern after a few seconds.
It was then that the kid turned to him, his eyes widening in shock.
"Koko wa doko? Anatahadare?" He spoke at a rapid pace, his blue eyes constantly glancing in every direction. Almost as if he were assessing any threat to his being.
Lee felt his heart ache. In that moment, the kid looked like a scared animal.
"You okay? It looks like you got that coughing fit under control," Lee consoled with a warm, low voice. He had regained his breath from the short rest. "Can you tell me where your parents are?" He might've saved the kid from the wreck, but Lee wanted him to get back to his parents. It was the right thing to do.
"Nani o itte iru no ka wakarimasen," Naruto spoke, his brows furrowed. He couldn't discern what this man was saying at all.
"Great, so you don't speak English..." Lee sighed, leaning his head back on the wooden fence. He had been in the academics long enough to know it was an Asian dialect, but the exact language was lost on him.
However, that didn't mean he was going to give up on the kid. Not when these monsters were around the corner.
"Stay here," Lee gestured with his hand, pointing at the ground. With a groan, he stood up, "I'm going to search the house for a phone. Maybe we can call the emergency services to pick you back up."
Walking forward, Naruto glanced at the back of his savior. He was truly lost on what was going on around him...yet he didn't leave. Deep down, his instincts told him he was fine. Instincts that had been formed to avoid certain civilians and negative people weren't going off. Naruto took that as a good enough sign to stay and figure things out.
Lee walked to the glass sliding door on the back porch, looking inside. He knocked a few times, hoping for a response.
When none was given, he opened it slowly, "Hey, not to freak you out or anything, but I need help! Is anyone home?" Instead of a response, Lee frowned as he scanned the sight inside. It looked like a warzone.
Furniture was overturned, with a couch blocking the staircase. Pencils, drawings, and toys were scattered along the floor. The television was buzzing with static, likely losing whatever station it was on.
However, the most concerning part was the blood. There was a lot of blood.
"Fuck...is the world really going to shit?" Lee asked himself, clenching his hands into fists. From the backed-up traffic to the monsters in the area, Lee didn't know what to think anymore.
It was smeared on the walls. It was smeared on the kitchen countertops. It was even smeared on some of the cabinets. Whoever had been in here had put up a fight.
Seeing a red flickering on an answering machine, Lee pressed it softly. It revealed three messages that had been left behind.
"Message 1: Sandra! It's Diana! Sorry to bother with such a late message, but Ed ran into a lunatic who bit him. We called the cops, and it got sorted out, but we're at the hospital to check it out! Apparently, human bites can be worse than animal bites! Who knew, right? Haha! Anyway, we'll get this cleared up and let you know when we're coming back! Thank you again for taking care of Clementine on such short notice. I'll pay you double when I get home!"
"A bite?" Lee repeated, committing that piece of information to memory.
"Message 2: Sandra...Sandra, oh, thank goodness this is going through! The cellphone towers are going down, and we can barely call anyone! We're still stuck at the hospital, and things are looking, sob*, b-bad! I'm trying to leave as soon as I can, but please, just protect Clementine! Take her with you if you need to, just keep her safe! I'll call again when I get the chance!"
Lee remained silent, analyzing a family photo by the answering machine. Taking a closer look, he could see a father, a mother, and a little girl. They wore happy smiles, enjoying the moment. It made his stomach turn knowing what this world was tearing apart.
"Message 3: We love you, baby! Oh, we love you! Clementine, darling, be my brave little girl! I, sob*, I'm gonna try to get us out of here! Just be safe until we can reach you! Please!"
Lee turned off the device, hearing enough. He collected himself, trying to push away the negative implication that came with the final message. It was heartbreaking.
Just as he turned around, he heard the crackle of a radio.
"H-Hello?"
Looking at the kitchen counter, Lee saw a walkie-talkie. Grabbing it, he clicked the side button and spoke lowly.
"Hello?" Lee repeated, waiting for a response.
The voice of a dejected little girl came from the other end, "Oh...for a second I thought you were my Dad."
"No...sorry," Lee spoke softly. "Who are you?"
"I'm Clementine. I'm 8 years old."
The pure, innocent way it sounded made Lee release a genuine chuckle. "Hello Clementine, I'm Lee. Is this your house?"
"Hmm-hmm," She confirmed with a hum, "I'm waiting for my parents to come back. They went to Savannah and left me with Sandra. She's my babysitter."
"I see..." Lee frowned, remembering the messages on the answering machine. Looking through the back glass door, he could see the blonde kid sitting against the fence. He looked like he was finally getting a sense of his surroundings.
"Yeah...I'm just waiting in my treehouse until they get back. I got scared when those monsters showed up two days ago, so I hid," Clementine whispered on the walkie-talkie.
"That's good, very smart," Lee praised. He heard a light giggle on the other end, making him smile. "So where's your babysitter?"
"I don't know. She ran out and said she would get help...but she never came back..." Clementine trailed off.
Lee glanced out the front window, narrowing his eyes. Down the road, he could see a swarm of those creatures on their knees. They seemed to be chewing and tearing apart chunks of flesh from a person's body. He could see female features and short hair.
He could put two and two together.
"Is that your son? The kid with the blonde hair?"
Lee chuckled, "No, he's someone I saved from a car crash. We barely got away with our lives."
"Oh, okay," Clementine said. A moment later, she spoke again, "I don't think you're a bad guy. I just EEP-!"
The sudden screech of fear stiffened Lee instantly. He turned toward the backyard and ran.
...
Naruto felt his blurry vision stabilizing as he took in the world around him. He didn't recognize the architecture around him, nor did he know the man who brought him here. Everything felt out of the ordinary and disorienting.
The last thing he remembered was exploring Hiruzen's office. Having a reputation as a prankster and stealthy child allowed him to enter without notice. He had snuck in during the night, when he knew the ANBU guards were gone. He had memorized their work schedules months prior.
Naruto had unfurled the Scroll of Seals, a prized artifact for the Hokages. He normally sat down and read the forbidden techniques in his past time, having no real friends of his age. With most of the villagers' disdain for him, Naruto took solace in silence. He had grown to be alone.
He had tried at first to make friends, but it mainly fell on deaf ears. His classmates at the Academy didn't like to mingle with him. Of course, Naruto didn't blame them. He knew his reputation as a local 'demon.'
Thus, Naruto treated the Scroll of Seals as his unofficial friend. He had first read it when Hiruzen, his grandfather figure, told him he couldn't go near it. So, of course, Naruto had to see what it was about just to prove his defiance.
However, he had been experimenting with a certain jutsu the previous night. It spoke about using Jikūkan Ninjutsu (Space-Time Ninjutsu) to teleport yourself. It was a mix of hypotheses and seals, contributed by the 2nd and 4th Hokage. Thinking it was interesting, Naruto tried his hand at it. He followed the instructions and even painted a crude drawing, his skills in Fuinjutsu being fresh.
When he finally activated the correct hand sign and channeled his chakra into the seal, everything went dark. He could only remember a bright flash before he fell unconscious.
Now, he was somewhere that didn't seem like home. He initially thought he had been kidnapped, so he scanned the area. Yet, no immediate threats made themselves known.
No Shinobi were walking around. The man who had walked into the home didn't wear a Shinobi headband. It was odd.
His thoughts were broken by the sound of a loud screech. Glancing upward, Naruto noticed a girl who seemed to be around his age. She stood on the edge of the treehouse's platform, pointing at something turning the corner.
Following her hand, Naruto narrowed his eyes. Something was slowly walking toward them, having entered the backyard from the other side. Whatever it was, it looked completely disgusting.
"Its eyes look rotten...the skin on its body is practically falling apart. What is this thing?" Naruto thought as he slowly stood up. He cursed himself for not having a Kunai on him, having left behind most of his supplies in his crappy apartment.
Watching it more closely, Naruto made a decision. He could tell there was no life behind that milky gaze, nor did it resemble anything human. This wasn't a person; this was something that only the Shinigami could create. It looked as if it came from the depths of Yami.
He didn't want this girl to be harmed if he could help. Glancing at a rock on the ground, Naruto snatched it quickly and threw it with perfect velocity.
It flew straight through the monster's left arm, snapping it clean off. Naruto felt a shiver of disgust at the exposed bone and tendons, but noticed something else.
It continued walking as if nothing had happened. Losing its limb didn't matter.
"R-Run! It's not safe!" Clementine pleaded from above, clutching her walkie-talkie with trembling fingers. She knew a child around her age didn't fare well against these creatures. In her mind, it was best left to the adults.
Lee made his appearance known by opening the glass door with a thud. He clutched a kitchen knife in his hand, having gathered it moments ago. Naruto watched as the older man quickly charged the creature, tackling it to the ground. He roared while repeatedly slamming the kitchen knife, over and over, straight into its skull.
When the creature stopped struggling, Lee finally stopped. He huffed and puffed, his shirt now stained with blood. He glanced at the weapon in his hand, realizing the tip had been chipped off.
"Guess it's useless now," Lee mumbled, tossing away the broken knife.
Naruto, however, realized a valuable lesson. If he wanted these things to stay down, he needed to go for the head.
Clementine slowly made her way down the treehouse. Her feet hit the grass below as she walked up to the blonde. Lee slowly got up, walking over to the pair of kids.
The small, young girl looked like the picture of innocence. She had dark brown hair that was thick and messy. Large brown eyes and soft features stared up with appreciation. She wore a white and blue baseball cap with a bold black "D" on the front. She wore a white dress and simple sneakers to complete her outfit.
"Y-You did it! You saved us!" Clementine praised with a bright grin. She held a hammer in one hand, clutching her walkie-talkie in the other, "H-Here! You can use this more than me."
Lee reached out, grabbing the hammer with a soft grin, "Thanks..."
Naruto stared back and forth, wondering what to say. He contemplated walking off, having no real connection to the duo. Or at least he would have, if he didn't notice one thing. One peculiar thing spoke to his soul.
Lee's warm, comforting gaze. He stared at him with the love of a paternal figure, something that even Hiruzen faltered in. Having grown up with adults who hated him, spat at him, or scolded him had made Naruto jaded with them. He had grown up in an environment that led him to believe he would always be hated, except for a few people.
Yet this man, who hadn't even known him for an hour, looked ready to protect him. To comfort him. It was childish, but Naruto couldn't help but want to stay. He didn't know what was going on either way; perhaps he could ask these people.
"I'll just stay with them until I can figure things out, then I'll leave," Naruto thought to himself. He didn't speak their language, nor did he understand what they were saying, but they seemed like good people. Unless he saw otherwise, they seemed trustworthy.
"Those things always get up unless you hit their heads," Clementine whispered, staring at the corpse behind Lee. She could vividly recall when the outbreak first happened, how so many police officers shot and riddled these monsters with bullets. "They're so scary."
"Yeah, they're something alright," Lee mentioned while placing the walkie-talkie and hammer on his belt line. He looked over at the blonde, his gaze softening, "I'm guessing you still don't know what I'm saying?"
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. The goggles on his forehead jolted slightly from the movement.
"What do you mean?" Clementine asked in a whisper, getting a good look at Naruto's face.
"He can't speak English," Lee pointed out, "It's some Asian language, but I can't tell for sure."
"Ooh, I can help!" Clementine perked up, feeling useful, "There's a library down the road! Mrs. Stephen used to check out books for us! Maybe we can find something in there to help him?"
"You know what, that's not a bad idea at all," Lee chuckled. He knew the world was turning to shit, but hopefully the library wasn't too run down. "You two should hide here while I take a look and see what I can find. It's safer here until I get back."
Clementine hesitantly nodded. She glanced at Naruto and Lee, working up the courage to ask a question. "Do you think my parents will come back?"
Lee winced, contemplating a response. The messages on the answering machine flashed through his mind. After a moment, he smiled, "It could be a while. But if you'd like, I can look after you until we find them. How does that sound?"
"O-Okay," Clementine answered, swinging her arms back and forth. She glanced at the confused blonde and gently grabbed his wrist. Pointing at the treehouse, she spoke slowly. "Treehouse. Go up."
Naruto took a moment before realization set in his eyes. He wanted to ask where the man was going, but Clemetine dragged him off with a soft hum. She didn't seem to notice his confusion.
It was certainly amusing for the older man.
...
Lee walked through a sea of abandoned vehicles and corpses as he made his way out of the suburbs. He frowned as countless banners were plastered over buildings. They seemed to convey similar messages of helplessness.
Grunting, Lee slid through the crack between two cars. He took careful movements, ensuring he wasn't grabbed by one of these monsters hiding under the cars.
"Two days...two days, that's all it took for this world to go to hell," Lee told himself with disbelief in his voice. It felt like only yesterday that society was normal. People walked among themselves, and there was no need to be put in 'survival' mode. Now, everything had changed for the worse.
The air was thick with uneasy silence. Cracked asphalt stretched down the street, littered with scattered papers and the occasional overturned trash can. His steps were cautious but steady.
His rolled-sleeve shirt clung with sweat, as tired eyes moved from house to house. Lee scanned windows and yards, ready to assess any movement. Every creak of a fence or rustle of wind made him pause for a moment before continuing.
As he trekked, Lee began to think about his new companions. Clementine and the mysterious boy he saved.
Although he only knew both of them for a short time, Lee knew they couldn't be left alone. It would certainly spell their demise. A world like this was unforgiving, uncaring about age or gender. In his heart, Lee made a silent promise to do what he could for them. It was only right.
A little farther down the street, something new caught his eye. Across from a row of brick houses sat a modest community library, its red brick walls standing solid despite the chaos around it. A faded wooden sign near the sidewalk read 'Public Library,' the paint peeling at the edges. Tall windows lined the front, smudged with dust and dried blood.
Through the glass, Lee noticed rows of dark bookshelves. The front doors, wide glass double doors framed in metal, were slightly ajar. A loose flyer fluttered against the entrance, whispering in the wind.
Slowing his pace, Lee studied the building. The stillness around him made his body tense, ready for anything that could come.
He stepped up onto the concrete walkway, glancing over his shoulder one final time. Then, he pushed the door open.
The hinge gave a low creak as the library opened up. The first thing Lee noticed was the various overturned bookshelves, along with torn pieces of paper. He could see a receptionist's desk in the center of the room, where the librarian worked. Walking forward, Lee frowned at the hand-shaped blood mark smeared across the wood.
Even this place had been tainted by the outside world.
Calming his nerves, Lee focused on the mission. He read the banners hanging in the air, sorting each section via genre or purpose. After a few seconds, he finally found the one.
"Language and Linguistics. It has to be that one," Lee assured himself, walking over. As he stepped through the dim interior, Lee could spot a few civilians who were torn apart. Their insides spilled by their bodies, claimed by the infected. The dried blood and lack of organs told him the monsters had feasted here, then moved on.
Shaking the thought from his head, Lee came to the front of a standing bookshelf. He followed the spines of the novels, narrowing down the options. After a few seconds, he reached what he needed.
"Not that one...not that one...here we go," He calmly spoke, pulling out a book, "Mandarin to English dictionary...but it could be a different one." Deciding to be on the safe side, Lee found two other books that could help. After retrieving a Korean to English and a Japanese to English dictionary, Lee nodded. He stacked the three thick books under his arm, securing them tightly.
As he prepared to leave, Lee took a glance at the receptionist's desk. His eyes narrowed, his ears picking up a familiar sound.
The sound of a low, haunting growl. Like a wounded animal trying to breathe through collapsed lungs. At one time, it was a woman in her forties. Now, it was nothing more than another husk. Their legs had been chewed clean off, only leaving the upper torso leaning against the inner desk. It growled out, swiping at the air as Lee approached.
That's when he saw the nametag pinned on her chest. In bolded letters: Mrs. Stephens.
"Fuck," He had to shake his head, grimacing at the realization. This poor woman had dealt with the cruelty of the world, leaving her as an upper torso. Just looking at her made his stomach churn. It was a gruesome sight.
Taking the hammer from his waistline, Lee prepared to put the woman out of her misery. It was the least he could do.
The sound of her skull cracking echoed within the library.
...
Naruto analyzed the girl in front of him as she spoke words he couldn't understand. She seemed friendly enough, radiating nothing but happiness and joy despite their current situation. She was very animated, speaking with her arms and fingers.
As her words bounced off his ears, he analyzed the inside of the treehouse. It was poorly made, but it was good enough for the time being.
He had initially wanted to leave with the man, but stayed behind. He didn't want to leave this defenseless girl by herself; besides, he had a gut feeling the man would be returning.
Just then, Naruto's ears picked up the sound of soft grunting and creaking wood. Something was climbing up the steps to the treehouse.
Preparing to fight, Naruto grabbed Clementine and placed her behind him. She squeaked in surprise, clinging to the back of his shirt on instinct. Before the pair could panic, however, they saw Lee's head poke out.
It was enough to calm Naruto and ease Clementine's trembling.
"Sorry for the wait, but I think I got what we needed," Lee grunted, adjusting his large frame into the confined space. He retrieved the three books, placing them on the floor. "I'm thinking one of these should do the trick."
Naruto raised a brow, wondering what these books were for. However, as his eyes glanced over the covers, they widened. For the first time, he recognized something. A Kanji lettering that translated to 'Dictionary.' It was small, but it flooded his heart with relief.
Grabbing the book right away, Naruto flipped through the pages. He was amazed to see his language written across the sheets of paper. His eyes couldn't stop bouncing around the words.
Lee chuckled, shuffling until his back hit the wooden wall. He pulled both of his knees, wrapping his arms around them, "Guess he's from Japan."
"Japan?" Clementine asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah, it's a country. He took to the Japanese dictionary. I'm guessing his parents were immigrants and never got the chance to teach him English," Lee theorized, a proud smile on his face. He was happy that he could help somewhat in this dark, horrible world.
As Naruto scoured the pages, he began to formulate a sentence. He wanted to communicate, to finally speak his mind.
It was broken, choppy English, but it was understandable. Both Lee and Clementine heard Naruto's voice speak English, albeit with a thick accent.
"Thaunk ou!" Naruto glanced up, staring into the eyes of Lee. A toothy grin spread across his face. Clementine clapped with a cheer, happy to see the newfound development.
"Oh my gosh! That's so awesome!" She squealed. Leaning in front of the blonde, she tilted her head, "You can speak English now! That's so exciting! Are you also in 1st grade? Ooh, ooh! I'm eight, how old are you?"
"Hold on, sweet pea," Lee casually mentioned, holding up a palm, "Don't overwhelm him all at once. He's just learning."
"O-Oh, sorry!" Clementine blushed. She nodded slowly, realizing Naruto scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He clearly didn't know what she was saying.
As Naruto scanned the pages, Clementine decided to glance at the man who saved them. "What should we do now?"
"Well..." Lee glanced at the setting sun in the distance, a frown on his face. "It'll be night soon. We'll stay here for now and leave tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find some food and water in the other homes."
"B-but what if it's not safe?!" Clementine blurted, her lower lip trembling, "I don't want you to get hurt..."
"I'll be fine," Lee waved off the concern. "While I'm out, I'll see if I can find a vehicle to drive us out of here. We'll shoot for Macon and go from there."
"Okay...but why Macon?" Clementine asked.
"Well, it sounds silly, but that's where my family is. I want to make sure they're alright," Lee admitted with a low rumble of his voice. It felt like years since the last time he'd seen them. "They own a pharmacy, so we could even take some medicine with us just in case."
"And then we can search for my parents after?" Clementine asked once again, looking at the floor.
"We will, I promise," Lee commented, lightly tipping the edge of her hat downward. "After Macon, we'll head for Savannah."
The little girl nodded, feeling reassured. Choosing to sit next to Naruto, the pair spent the next few hours working on his English. The sight of Naruto's broken English being corrected by someone younger than him made Lee chuckle.
While he wanted nothing more than to keep watching, he knew their survival depended on him. With a heavy heart and loud grunt, Lee crawled out of the treehouse. He had to scour the neighborhood and look for a working car.
There was no rest during the end of the world.
...
A day passed by in the blink of an eye. Night turned to day as the sun shone above. Morning crept slowly over the quiet neighborhood. The wooden boards of the treehouse creaked softly in the breeze.
Inside the cramped little structure, Lee stirred awake. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, watching as Clementine snoozed softly in the corner while Naruto kept his eyes glued to the dictionary. It made the man smile. Ever since he returned with it, he hadn't stopped studying it. It was like a lifeline for him.
His back ached from sleeping against the rough wooden wall, and his legs were stiff from being curled up in a space clearly built for kids, but Lee endured. For a moment, he basked in the tranquility.
The trio had eaten strawberries, grapes, carrots, and water bottles that Lee managed to scavenge. It wasn't much, but it was enough to sate their hunger. Thankfully, the power grid hadn't fallen yet, so the perishable food wasn't rotten. He had even found a brown backpack when looking through a home, allowing him to carry more items.
To pass the time, Clementine scribbled a few drawings with her pencils. She fiddled through the contents of her pink, flowered backpack. It held a variety of things to pass the time, along with a few close belongings.
Thankfully, there were no distant groans. No footsteps in the yard. Just the quiet rustle of wind and birds starting to return.
"Morning, champ," Lee spoke while glancing over at Naruto. Looking at the sleeping girl, he shook her awake with his foot, "Time to get up, sweet pea."
The girl blinked awake, feeling groggy. She pushed a strand of messy brown hair away from her face, looking toward the window. "Is it morning already?"
"Yep," Lee said, stretching his arms out. "Looks like we made it through the night."
Clementine sat up slowly, pulling her cap on and adjusting the brim the way she always did. For a second, she looked down toward the backyard below.
"N...Naruto..."
The pair glanced at the blonde, watching as he lowered the book from his face. He had a calm expression, warmth shining through his blue orbs, "M-My naeme is Na-ruto."
"Aha, someone's learning quickly. You're getting the pronunciation down," Lee laughed, "So now we have a name to the face. Nice to meet you, Naruto."
"N-Naruto? That's a funny name," Clementine giggled with no real malice in her voice. "When you know more English, I wanna ask about your whisker marks! They look like a cat!"
Naruto seemed to understand bits and pieces of that statement as he blushed. He hid his embarrassment by bringing the thick dictionary back to his face.
Reaching his hand out, Naruto raised a brow before handing the book to Lee. He watched as the older man studied a certain phrase, flipping back and forth between the pages. After a minute or so, he did his best attempt at speaking Japanese.
"Wa...Watashitachi to i-i-issho ni t...taizai shitaidesuuu kaaa?"
Naruto's eyes widened. He could pick out what the man was trying to say, even if it was horrible Japanese. He was asking if he wanted to stay. To stay with them.
It felt nice to be asked to stay instead of being scolded to scram. A contrast from his status in the Leaf Village.
Naruto responded by giving a short nod, an answer that made Lee smile.
"What did you say? I wanna know!" Clementine puffed up her cheeks.
"Let's just say he'll be sticking around for now," Lee commented while giving the book back to Naruto. Grabbing his brown backpack by his side, he began to slowly crawl out. "Follow me and stick close. No running off or wandering. There's a car I was looking at yesterday that I think should work."
He moved toward the opening of the treehouse, looking down the trunk. Scanning the yard once again, Lee realized there was no movement. Good, it would make things easier.
"Come on down."
Clementine was the first to follow, trailing behind the older man. Realizing they were on the move, Naruto shut the book and held it under his arm. Instead of climbing down the ladder, he decided to have a little fun.
"Whoa!" Clementine's eyes widened as Naruto jumped through the open window. Without breaking a sweat, Naruto landed his feet on the ground and giggled. He enjoyed seeing the gobsmacked look on Lee's face. His inner prankster had shone through.
"J-Jesus, kiddo! Nearly gave me a heart attack!" Lee sputtered as his feet landed on the ground. "Try not to do that again, please!"
Naruto shrugged.
As the atmosphere quieted down, the trio made their way down the street. Clementine nearly trembled as the open air hit her skin, reminding her that she had left the safety of her treehouse. She clung to the back of Lee's shirt, a fact that made the man's gaze soften.
The trio trekked down the sea of dead traffic, the smell of rot lingering in their nostrils. Clementine scrunched her face in disgust while Naruto grimaced. It wasn't a pleasant experience.
Once they passed a group of fallen officers, strewn over two police cruisers, Lee knew they were getting closer. He had looted them the previous day, finding a few rounds of ammunition for his pistol.
"Shouldn't be too much farther," Lee mentioned as they passed more boarded-up, empty homes. He led the trio, with Clementine falling closely behind.
As for Naruto, his eyes noticed something interesting. On their right was an abandoned sedan, the driver's door hanging open. Papers and receipts were scattered across the passenger seat. However, what caught his gaze was a metallic glint. Walking forward, Naruto peeked his head inside and saw a blade stabbed into the driver's seat. Someone had clearly missed whoever the intended target was.
Reaching forward, Naruto pulled it out with ease. Stuffing from the seat filled the air, but he paid it no mind. Glancing at the weapon in his palm, he realized it was a switchblade. It wasn't cheap or rusted like most of the junk people kept in their cars. This one had weight to it.
The handle was dark, polished wood, smooth from years of use. Steel bolsters at each end gleamed faintly under the sun. The steel edge was clean, narrow, and well-balanced. It was about five inches long, with a subtle curve that made it look precise. It was in excellent condition, barely scratched, still holding a fine edge.
Turning it over, Naruto inspected it carefully. Pressing a metal button embedded near the top of the handle, he watched as it snapped back into place.
Click
The blade disappeared into the handle, making the blonde smile. It was fully functioning with no issues.
It was no Kunai, but it would be enough. Naruto placed it in his pocket, quickly catching up to the walking pair. He finally had a weapon to defend himself in whatever place this was.
Minutes ticked by as they stepped toward the edge of town. The sea of cars and bodies slowly lessened the further they walked. It was only when they turned a corner that Lee smiled, eyeing a green sedan.
"Come on," He motioned, a smile on his face. Reaching into the side pocket of his brown backpack, the man retrieved a pair of keys. He had tested the vehicle the previous day and hoped it ran as it did before.
Clementine adjusted the handles of her pink backpack while Naruto fiddled with the blade in his pocket.
Opening the door and sliding into the front seat, Lee quickly turned the keys in the ignition. To his delight, the engine hummed to life perfectly. When the dashboard lit up, he didn't see any issues.
"Haha, yes!" Lee allowed himself a moment of excitement, gesturing for the two to enter the backseat. Everything was still just as it was yesterday. With no sea of cars blocking their path, they could finally drive out. "It's a little low on gas, but we should be able to make it to Macon."
Clementine smiled, placing her backpack on her lap. She closed the rear door, watching as Naruto slid into the seat next to her. Considering their circumstances, the vehicle was practically in perfect condition.
"Hey, Naruto," Clementine spoke as Lee shifted the gear into drive, throwing his backpack onto the passenger seat. "Wanna draw with me?"
Holding up a piece of paper and pencils, Naruto seemed to get the message. With a wide grin, he decided to indulge her. Using the cover of his dictionary as a stable surface, the two bonded while Lee drove.
The engine rumbled beneath the hood as the car rolled down the street. The tires crunched softly over scattered debris, main, broken branches, and forgotten toys.
Keeping both hands steady on the steering wheel, Lee focused his attention. His eyes constantly moved between the road ahead and the mirrors.
Outside, the neighborhood began to thin out as the car rolled toward the main road leading out of town. Abandoned vehicles lined the sides of the street, doors hanging open and luggage ripped open. The world they were driving into felt bigger and more unknown. But it was the only way forward.
Glancing once more in the rearview mirror, he watched as the pair behind him scribbled away. For the first time since meeting her, Lee noticed a genuine, heartfelt smile on Clementine's face. As if she felt like a child once again, forgetting what was happening around them.
The car picked up speed as they passed the last houses of the neighborhood. And for the first time since everything had fallen apart, Lee felt a newfound confidence.
He would give them hope, that was his promise.
He wouldn't fail.