THE WALKING DEAD ALTERNATIVE

THE WALKING DEAD ALTERNATIVE SEASON 3: NEW WORLD ORDER

Weeks had passed since Clementine and AJ arrived at Ericson's Boarding School for Troubled Youth. In that time, they had settled in as much as they could. The school wasn't perfect—it had its dangers, its rules, its fights—but it was safer than anywhere they'd been in a long time.

AJ adjusted quickly. He learned the routines, where food was stored, who to trust, and who to avoid. He stuck close to Clementine at first but soon formed bonds with some of the other kids, especially Tennessee—"Tenn"—a quiet boy who spent most of his time drawing.

Clementine, however, remained cautious. She kept her guard up, always scanning for threats, always waiting for something to go wrong. The school had food, water, and shelter, but supplies were running low. Hunting was getting harder, and scavenging only brought back so much.

One morning, Clementine joined a hunting party led by Aasim and Willy. They checked the traps, but most were empty. Aasim sighed, shaking his head.

"This keeps happening. If we don't figure something out, we're gonna be in trouble."

Clementine had heard those words before in different places, different groups. It was always the same struggle.

Back at the school, AJ was learning how to follow rules. He still had trouble understanding things—when it was okay to take food, why he couldn't threaten people with his gun—but he was trying.

That evening, as the sun dipped below the trees, Clementine sat near the fire with Louis and Violet. AJ was nearby, watching Tenn sketch in his notebook.

Louis leaned back with a smirk. "So, Clem, you staying? Or still thinking about running off in the middle of the night?"

Clementine hesitated before answering.

"I think we'll stay."

Louis grinned. "Good. We're fun people. You'll like us eventually."

Violet rolled her eyes, but there was the hint of a smile.

The fire crackled in the center of the courtyard, casting flickering shadows on the old brick walls. The kids sat around it, their faces illuminated by the warm glow. Laughter and quiet conversation filled the air as they shared stories—some funny, some bittersweet.

Louis leaned forward, grinning. "Alright, let's make this interesting. Everyone's gotta share something personal. A story about someone they cared about."

The group murmured in agreement.

Ruby spoke about her grandmother, who used to make the best cornbread. Aasim talked about a childhood friend he lost during the early days of the outbreak. Violet kept hers short, mentioning her old life before everything fell apart.

Then, all eyes turned to Clementine.

"What about you, Clem?" Louis asked. "Was there anyone… special?"

Clementine hesitated.

AJ, sitting beside her, looked up, waiting for her answer.

She exhaled, staring into the fire. "I had my mom and dad. They loved me a lot." Her voice was steady, but there was something distant in her expression. "They went on a trip when everything started and never came back."

No one spoke. They knew what that meant.

"How'd you make it this far?" Willy asked, his usual energetic tone softer than usual.

Clementine's grip tightened slightly on her knees. She looked up, her expression unreadable.

"Lee," she said.

The name felt heavy on her tongue, but she continued.

"He found me when I was alone. Took care of me. Taught me how to survive." Her voice was firm, but there was an underlying sadness that the others could hear.

Louis shifted, watching her carefully. "What happened to him?"

Clementine swallowed hard. She could still see it—the walker bite, the blood, the fading life in his eyes.

"He got bit," she said quietly. "And I had to… I had to put him down... but I couldn't so i just left him there."

No one spoke for a moment. The fire crackled, filling the silence.

AJ reached out, resting his small hand on her arm. She glanced at him and gave a slight nod.

Violet broke the silence. "Sounds like he meant a lot to you."

"He did," Clementine replied. "He was the reason I made it this far."

Louis exhaled and forced a small smile. "Well, I'd say he did a damn good job."

The conversation shifted after that, moving to lighter topics, but Clementine remained quiet, staring at the fire.

Lee was gone. But his lessons, his strength, his love—they stayed with her.

And they always would.