I drove through the city, scanning the streets for a manhole cover. The sun was setting, and with each passing second, the clouded sky darkened. Snow began to fall, further obscuring the road ahead.
The sewer was our best option, but we all knew the truth. The moment we stopped the truck, the hundreds of undead pursuing us would overwhelm us. Every face was tense, disheartened, and terrified.
As if things weren't bad enough, at least sixteen helicopters appeared overhead, heading toward Savannah to bomb it. My heart pounded. We had to act quickly, or none of us would survive.
Up ahead, I spotted a manhole cover. Everyone saw it at the same time.
"What do we do now?" Clementine asked.
"We have to slow the undead first," I said. "Otherwise, we won't even make it off the truck."
I tossed my backpack to Lee and Clementine. "There's a pipe bomb in there. Use it. Maybe it can stall them long enough for us to hide."
"Okay," Clementine said, quickly pulling out the bomb. "Lee, do you have a lighter?"
Lee groaned in pain. "No—they took it. I don't have one," he said, panic creeping into his voice.
Clementine stared at the pipe bomb, her hands trembling.
"Here," Christa said, pulling a lighter from her pocket and handing it to her.
"Thank you," Clementine said, forcing a small smile. She tried to light the fuse, but the wind kept blowing the flame out.
"Let me help," Lee said. He shielded the flame with his hand, and the fuse finally sparked to life.
As Clementine prepared to throw it, Lee shouted, "Not yet! Wait for my signal. When I say throw it, do it—okay?"
She nodded nervously, clutching the bomb as the fuse burned shorter and shorter. Behind us, hundreds of undead rushed forward, growling hungrily as they chased the truck.
"Can I do it now?" Clementine asked.
"Not yet," Lee replied, his eyes locked on the fuse.
When it was seconds from detonating, Lee shouted, "Now!"
Clementine hurled the pipe bomb into the horde. It exploded on impact, taking out dozens of undead, but still, more kept coming.
We were close to the manhole now, but the undead were still right behind us. Above, the helicopters were entering Savannah. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
"This will buy you some time. Good luck," Christa said suddenly.
Before anyone could stop her, she jumped off the truck and straight into the horde. She was devoured instantly.
We froze in shock, especially Clementine, who could only stare as Christa was torn apart, screaming. Many of the undead barely slowed, continuing their pursuit of us.
I slowed the truck as we reached the manhole.
"Clementine," Lee shouted, snapping her back to reality. She looked at him, pure terror in her eyes.
"The moment the truck stops, run for the manhole," Lee said firmly. "Don't look back."
"Lee, please don't," Clementine cried, realizing what he was about to do. She hugged him tightly, sobbing.
"Just promise me you'll take care of yourself—and Max," Lee said softly.
Clementine nodded through her tears, refusing to let go.
"Lee, don't do anything stupid!" I shouted.
"Take care of Clementine," Lee said with a sad smile. He gently pushed her away, then leapt off the truck and hit the road as the undead swarmed toward him.
"Leeee!" Clementine screamed.
Grinding my teeth, I stopped the truck and jumped down.
"Clementine, let's go!" I shouted, wrenching open the manhole cover.
Lee's sacrifice bought us only a few seconds, but the undead were already closing in. Clementine still hadn't moved.
"Clementine!" I screamed.
Finally snapping out of it, she jumped from the truck and sprinted toward the manhole, the runners nearly close enough to grab her. I pulled out my gun and shot the ones about to reach her.
"Get inside!" I shouted.
Clementine slid down the hole. I followed immediately, sealing the manhole just before the undead reached it. They scratched and pounded on the lid above us.
Clementine lay on the floor, her knee bruised. I grabbed her and pulled her to her feet.
"Come on. We don't have much time. We need to go deeper before the bombing starts," I said, yanking her along.
She struggled to run, so I scooped her up and sprinted.
We needed to go deeper. The sewer could collapse under bombing, and the natural gas down here was highly flammable. Depth was our only chance.
The problem was, I didn't know which way led down.
"Fuck," I muttered, choosing a tunnel at random.
"I know the way—take the lift tunnel," Clementine said.
Without hesitation, I followed her direction. The tunnel sloped downward, and from her voice, she knew exactly where she was leading us.
Then the bombardment began.
The ground shook violently. Even from the underground, the explosions were unmistakable. The sewer trembled as the bombardment drew closer.
I ran faster, following Clementine's guidance as the blasts intensified.
She suddenly pointed to a wall with a poster in the center.
"There's a door behind that. Go inside."
I tore the poster down. There was a door. I rushed through it just as a massive explosion rocked the tunnel.
The sound was deafening. The pressure nearly blew the door open. Covering my ears, I collapsed to the floor, dropping Clementine. She clutched her ears as well.
The explosion lasted less than a second, but it felt endless. My ears rang so badly I couldn't hear anything, not even the blasts above. I could only feel the sewer shaking.
When I managed to stand, I looked around and instantly recognized the place.
This was the cancer survivors' hideout.
Clementine rose unsteadily, terror written across her face. When she saw me, she rushed forward and hugged me tightly, sobbing as if she might vanish into my chest. My ears still rang, but I held her, gently patting her back.
Around us were beds, water, and scattered food. Vernon and his group must have fled in a hurry, leaving open cabinets, discarded clothes, and supplies behind.
I let out a deep sigh of relief. At least we were alive.
Clementine didn't let go of me. I laid her on one of the beds. When I tried to step away to find a light, she grabbed me tightly.
"Please don't go," she whispered through tears. "Please."
I lay down beside her and wrapped my arms around her.
"I'm here," I said softly. "Take your time. Cry as much as you need. I won't leave you."
I rubbed her back as she cried louder, finally releasing everything she had been holding inside. I was heartbroken too, still reeling from the loss of Lee and Christa. Now, it was just the two of us.
Hours later, the bombing slowed, and Clementine's sobs softened into sleep in my embrace. I was exhausted, not physically, but emotionally. Holding her close, I lay down and eventually drifted off in the dark, cold room.
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Here is your bonus chapter for reaching 250 power stones, and Happy New Year.