Much of the sewer canal had collapsed, making it extremely difficult to find an exit. After searching for almost an hour, we finally found a way back to the surface.
The sky was empty, no birds, no signs of life, black and greasy, yet snow continued to fall. Cars were frozen in place, their paint burned away. Trees were reduced to charred silhouettes, their leaves long gone.
I looked around the city, completely burned as far as I could see. Hundreds of thousands of corpses lay scattered, reduced to bare skeletons. Buildings and houses stood hollow and skeletal, their concrete blistered and their steel frames twisted like snapped ribs.
The air reeked of burned fuel and scorched stone, a bitter, chemical stench that clung to the throat and refused to fade. The smell was unbearable, like burnt meat. Clementine and I walked through the city, devastated by napalm bombing. As we continued forward, we saw more and more burned bodies, reduced so thoroughly that even their bones had turned to ash.
Seeing so much destruction made me feel small and insignificant. It was hard to believe that humans were using weapons like this to kill one another long before the apocalypse. Even harder to accept was the fact that humanity had created weapons far deadlier than this.
Truly, humans were the most heartless animals alive. They were the real threat, not the undead.
I looked at Clementine beside me, walking nervously and holding my hand. I had lost everything, but I would not lose her, too. Even if I had to tear this world apart, even if I had to destroy anyone who tried to hurt her, I would fight until I had nothing left to give. I would guard her heart. Even if I had to become a monster, that was a promise.
But first, I had to become so strong that my name alone inspired fear. In the end, fear was the one language all humans obeyed. I had realized this a long time ago, kindness was a luxury this world punished.
"Max… why did you stop?" Clementine asked, watching me closely.
I shook my head, snapping out of it. "I'm sorry, I just got lost in thought."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Just… stuff," I said as we started walking again. "Like where we should go, where we should live."
She was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "It'd be kinda nice to live in a treehouse."
I looked at her. "Why a treehouse?"
She shrugged slightly, then smiled. "I had one back home. I used to play tea parties up there with my friends when I was little. I always thought… if I could live anywhere, that's where I'd want to be. A big treehouse." She looked away. "It's stupid, I know."
"If you want to live in a treehouse, then let's live in one. I think we can figure out how to make it. Plus, it'll be safer from the walkers."
She smiled happily, holding my hand tighter, but then her smile faded, and tears began to fall.
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.
She wiped her face with her sleeve. "I just thought about Lee. When I was scared and alone in my treehouse… he came to help me. And now he's gone." Her voice wavered. "I really miss him."
I could tell she was grieving over Lee and others, trying her best not to show it in front of me, so I wouldn't feel sad too. But I could tell she was really hurt, trying to hide it behind her smile.
"Come on," I said softly. "Let's get to the bike," gently pulls her.
But she didn't move.
Instead, she reached into her pocket. "Here's your walkie-talkie," she said, handing it to me.
I blinked. "You had it? Thanks… I thought I lost it."
I tried calling Molly and Amir, but there was nothing but static. I tried again, still nothing. Eventually, I put it away, and we kept going.
I hoped my bike was safe and sound. Even though it was outside the city border, there was no guarantee it hadn't been damaged. I just hoped it could still run.
After walking for almost an hour, I finally reached the place where I had hidden my bike.
"This is where I hid my bike," I said to Clementine.
"Is that the bike?" she asked, pointing at it, hidden in the bushes.
"Yep," I said, walking toward it.
Luckily, the bike was still there, though slightly burned, especially the seat. I tried to start the engine. After a few attempts, it finally roared to life.
"Yes, finally!" I said excitedly.
"Come on, what are you waiting for? Hop on."
She hesitated. "I've never been on a bike before. What if I fall?"
"Just hold tight, I won't let you fall," I said, trying to reassure her.
She nodded and climbed on, wrapping her arms around me.
"Okay," she said quietly.
"let go ," I said as I rode the bike away from Savannah.
Clementine sneakily looked back at Savannah, her face tight and sad as the city disappeared behind us. Snow began to fall heavily, but it didn't bother me much; my eyes were far better than those of any normal person.
We passed empty roads, broken bridges, and towns that felt like ghosts, until I stopped after seeing a familiar sign along the railway track.
SANCTUARY FOR ALL
COMMUNITY FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARRIVE SURVIVE
It was written in bold letters. Below it was a map showing the location: Terminus.
If I remembered correctly from the TV show, this place was originally meant to be a sanctuary for people who needed help. It was founded by Gareth, his brother Alex, and their mother Mary. They put up signs everywhere along the railway tracks and broadcast radio messages inviting people to their community.
Eventually, a group of bandits took advantage of their kindness, killing and raping their people, looting everything, and imprisoning them. Somehow, Gareth led an uprising, freeing everyone and imprisoning the bandits instead. But with no supplies or food, they were forced to cannibalize the bandits and later, anyone who came to Terminus after seeing the signs.
Only the strong survivors were welcome. Weak survivors or people who rejected their views were sent to the slaughterhouse to be eaten.
Seeing the sign, I almost laughed. They were stupid and naive. This world did not reward kindness; it exploited it. That belief of mine only grew stronger the more I understood this world.
I didn't know if they ended up the same way as in the show, but one thing I knew was that they would not meet a happy ending.
I looked over and saw Clementine staring closely at the sign. I grew worried. What if she asked to go to Terminus? How would I explain it?
I opened my mouth to say something, but she spoke first.
"Please, let's not go here," she said seriously.
I was surprised. "Why not?" I asked, trying to understand her reason.
"This place looks too good to be true," she said. "It's giving me the same feeling as that farm with Lee. The one that seemed safe… but wasn't."
Her face twisted in disgust, as if she remembered something awful. I knew what she was talking about, and I didn't want to remind her of those memories, so I nodded.
"You're right. This is too good to be true. Either they're lying, or they're brain-dead, and both options are bad for us."
Clementine smiled and nodded, relieved. I rode the bike forward, leaving the sign behind.