(Violet's POV)
We crouched in the tall grass, staring at the train station ahead—swarming with walkers.
"There," Clementine whispered. "That's where the food is. Lot more walkers than last time, though."
Louis groaned. "We're gonna die."
I elbowed him. "It's either die here or die from hunger. Take your pick." I turned to Clem. "Maybe you should scope things out. You know the place better."
Clem nodded. "Let me get a closer look. Can't be too careful."
She slipped away, leaving the rest of us waiting. Rhett shifted beside me, close enough that his shoulder brushed mine.
"So," he muttered, voice low. "You still up for tonight? Or you gonna chicken out?"
I stiffened, heat crawling up my neck. "Jesus, Rhett. Now?"
He smirked. "Just makin' sure."
Before I could retort, Clem returned, crouching back down with us.
Louis leaned in. "You look like you've got an idea."
"The noise from that bell could draw a lot of walkers," Clem said, nodding toward the train car. "If one of us climbs up there and starts ringing it..."
"Louis," I said immediately. "I vote Louis."
"Uh, hold on," Louis protested. "I'd like to make an alternate suggestion."
Rhett took a swig from his flask. "I vote Louis too."
I smirked. "Come on, Lou. You're loud, dramatic, a little annoying... You're basically a walking distraction."
Louis clutched his chest. "I think you mean charming and theatrical. Entertaining is another word that comes to mind. Charismatic."
"See what I mean?" I said to Clem.
She nodded. "I think she pretty much summed it up."
Louis sighed. "Ouch. Alright. I see how it is."
"I'll go with you," I offered. "Give you some cover."
Louis straightened, feigning bravery. "Fine, I'll do it. But if I die, I'm making sure walker Louis eats both of you first." He pointed at Clem. "I'll distract them until I see you guys reach safe cover. Then I'll try to redirect the smelly patrol to give you guys a chance to spring inside the building."
Clem nodded. "When we get into position, I'll signal you. Then you can do your thing."
Louis gave a dramatic salute. "Good luck."
He and I moved toward the train car, Louis climbing up with the bell in hand. The second he hit it, the metallic clang echoed through the station. Walkers turned, groaning.
"Hey, ugly!" Louis called, banging the bell again. "No, not you. Not you, either. Him! Fine. Make this confusing, why don't you?"
Clem took advantage of the distraction, slipping forward and taking down a few stragglers with her knife. She ducked behind some barrels, then signaled to us.
I drove my knife into a walker's skull as AJ and I sprinted over to her. Rhett followed, calm as ever.
"So far, not dead," I muttered.
"So far," Clem agreed. "I'll let Louis know we're ready."
She stood just enough to signal him. Louis gave a thumbs-up and started climbing down, but he wasn't fast enough.
"What is he waiting for?" I hissed. "C'mon, c'mon... Fucking Louis..."
Clem gripped my arm. "Just... give him a second."
"We may not have a second," I snapped.
Walkers were closing in. Then—finally—Louis rang the bell again, and the herd lurched toward the noise.
"I'll watch the door for walkers," I said, exhaling.
Clem nodded. "Okay. AJ, Rhett, and I will sneak in, grab the food, and get out."
"Sounds good," I said. "Let's make it quick."
The three of them slipped toward the station. I kept my eyes on the perimeter, knife ready—until a sudden gasp from Rhett made me turn.
A walker had risen from the grass, grabbing his shoulder.
His breath hitched, but in one fluid motion, he twisted, hurling it over his shoulder. Then he brought his boot down hard—crunch—and its skull caved in.
He wiped his hands on his pants, glaring at the corpse.
"Fuckin' amateur hour," he muttered.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smirk.
God, this guy.
(Clementine's POV)
We slipped into the back room of the station, the musty air thick with dust. My eyes landed on a pile of duffel bags in the corner.
"Yes, these will be perfect," I muttered, grabbing a couple.
AJ tugged at my sleeve, holding up an old lamp. "Clem, look!"
"Try it out. See if it works," I said.
He set it down and flicked the switch. To my surprise, it flickered to life, casting a dim glow across the room.
"Gonna need your help on this one, kiddo," I said, nodding toward the hatch in the floor. "You still got your gun?"
AJ patted his pocket. "Just in case."
"Just in case," I echoed.
He climbed down into the hatch, disappearing for a moment before reappearing with a jar of food.
"Good job, AJ!" I said, taking it. "Is there more?"
He nodded and dove back down. Rhett and I started packing the jars into the duffel bags, working quickly.
"Keep it coming," I urged AJ as he handed up more jars.
We were almost done when the door creaked open behind us.
A man stepped in, a sawed-off shotgun leveled at us.
"Stand. Slowly," he ordered.
Rhett and I exchanged a glance before rising, hands raised.
The man—gaunt, with a scruffy beard and tired eyes—exhaled a cloud of smoke from a cigarette rolled in what looked like a Bible page. "Don't yell. Don't try anything. I won't hurt you. If I don't have to."
Rhett, ever the calm one, spoke first. "We don't want no problem. Just came to get some food."
The man smirked. "Me too. I'm hungry as hell." He took another drag before crushing the cigarette under his boot. "You and your friends made a lot of noise out there. Wasn't hard to follow. You live close by? Knew about this place already. And organized some effort to get inside. So you probably also knew the stash was there."
Rhett didn't flinch. "Passed through a while back. Figured it was worth checking again."
The man studied him, then reached for the duffel bag.
"We worked hard to get this stuff," I said, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.
He ignored me, grabbing a jar—just as AJ popped up from the hatch.
"Well, hey there, squirt," the man said, amused. "Playing hide and seek, are we?"
AJ didn't hesitate. He raised his gun.
"Now, that's impolite," the man said, his tone hardening.
"DON'T steal from us," AJ growled.
"I'm not stealing. This isn't yours."
"I can kill you, you know," AJ said, finger tightening on the trigger.
Rhett's boot connected with my shin—hard. I glanced at him, startled. His eyes were blazing, furious. Control your kid.
The man sighed. "Come on, kid. I'm faster than you. Listen up, squirt—you're gonna quit pointing that gun at me and let me go my merry way, you understand? I'm just going to take a little bit, and then I'm leaving. Like it never happened. You wouldn't let a hungry man starve, now, would you?" He hesitated. "Kid... I don't want to do this."
My stomach twisted. "AJ... lower the gun."
"Clem, he's stealing our food!"
"Alvin Junior! Now!"
AJ hesitated, then reluctantly lowered the gun.
The man smirked. "Wise woman."
(Violet's POV)
I ducked into the room, breathless. "Clem, we're running out of time. We need to get out of he—"
The man whipped around, gun now pointed at me. "Don't panic. I was just leaving. Thanks for dinner."
My blood ran cold.
Then—movement.
Rhett's hand flashed to his belt, pulling his knife in one smooth motion. Before the man could react, Rhett grabbed his wrist, forcing the gun upward. The blast echoed through the room as the shot hit the ceiling.
Rhett didn't stop. He drove the knife into the man's neck.
The man choked, blood bubbling from his lips as he staggered back. He tried to raise the gun again, but Rhett struck again—same spot, deeper.
The man crumpled.
Dead.
Rhett didn't waste a second. He scooped up the duffel bag, slung it over his shoulder, and grabbed my hand.
"Run," he ordered.
And we did.