THE WALKING DEAD ALTERNATIVE

THE WALKING DEAD ALTERNATIVE SEASON 3: NEW WORLD ORDER

The night stretched on, silent except for the distant groans of the dead. Clementine and AJ moved through the ruins of the city, their steps light, their eyes sharp. The streets were littered with abandoned cars, their windows shattered, their owners long gone. Most were useless now—stripped for parts, batteries dead—but Clementine knew what to look for.

She spotted an old pickup truck with its doors slightly ajar. The keys were missing, but that didn't matter. Climbing into the driver's seat, she reached under the dashboard, fingers working quickly to pull out the right wires. AJ stood outside, gun drawn, scanning their surroundings. He had learned not to let his guard down—not even for a second.

A spark. Then another. The engine sputtered before roaring to life. Clementine gave a small nod of satisfaction.

"Get in," she said.

AJ climbed into the passenger seat and shut the door just as Clementine hit the gas, peeling away from the city and leaving the dead behind.

For the first time in a long while, they had some distance from danger.

But peace never lasted.

The truck rolled down an empty stretch of road, the world around them quiet. The gas gauge ticked lower and lower until, just before sunrise, the engine sputtered one final time and died.

Clementine gripped the wheel for a moment before exhaling. "That's it."

AJ nodded, already used to this kind of life. He grabbed his pack, slinging it over his shoulder as he stepped out onto the cracked pavement. Clementine followed, adjusting the knife on her belt before scanning the area.

A dense forest lined the road, dark and unwelcoming. Clementine hesitated before leading AJ toward the trees—but not too far in. The woods could be just as dangerous as the open road.

They walked for hours, their boots crunching against dry leaves, their ears tuned for any sign of movement. The forest stretched endlessly, the sun dipping lower, the air growing colder.

Then, just as the sky turned deep orange, they saw it.

An old school, half-hidden behind overgrown ivy.

A tall iron gate surrounded the property, rusted but sturdy. Beyond it, the silhouette of a building stood against the fading light, windows cracked but intact. Clementine slowed, studying the place.

Then movement. Shadows flickered beyond the gate.

People.

No—kids.

A voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Drop your weapons!"

Clementine's grip on her knife tightened, but she didn't draw it. Slowly, she lifted her hands. AJ followed her lead but kept his gun close.

On the wall above them, a girl stood with a bow in her hands, an arrow notched and aimed. She had short, dark hair and a hard stare, but there was hesitation in her eyes.

A boy with curly hair leaned close to her. "They've got a kid."

The girl's frown deepened, but after a moment, she sighed. "Fine. Let them in."

The iron gate creaked open.