Amid The Ruins: Chapter 1

I ran through the herd, stumblimg and tripping over my own feet, even had to take down a few walkers. My heart was racing fast, all I could do was run after Sarah, she was running in a sort of zig-zag pattern which made it harder for me to keep up with her, although she was screaming so I could still follow her voice.

"SARAH!" I screeched. I ran straight into something, I got my knife at the ready, most likely getting ready to pierce a walker. But it was Luke, he grabbed my arm. I took a deep breath and called out to him, "Luke you need to help me!" I admitted, asking help from Luke was something I didn't think I'd ever hear myself say.

"Go get Sarah I'll be right behind you!" Luke yelled as he nudged me own forward.

Once again I quickly followed Sarah, she was still in my sight and I dodged walkers on the way towards her. Surprisingly enough we both made it out of the herd and into an opening path in the forest, although there were still some walkers following me I kept running. "Sarah! You need to stop!" I yelled once more, hoping to grab her attention, but to no avail she just kept screaming and running, screaming for her dad.

I saw Sarah heading straight for a trailer park, we could probably hide in one of the mobil homes once I calmed her down. There were a few walkers already in the park but Sarah just ran straight into one of the trailers. I was right behind her. I slammed th door shut and followed Sarah into the back room, she was sitting down against the wall, her knees tucked into her chest as she cried into her knees. She would barely let me touch her.

"Sarah please! You need to calm down!" I said. She seemed to be taking some kind of panic attack, I don't know how to help someone in this situation, no one has ever taught me this. I then heard banging on the door. "Leah?! Are ya in there? Open the door!" Luke yelled. I ran out of the room and opened the door, letting Luke inside as he shut the door, more walkers began to crowd the door from the outside. We got back to Sarah. "What do we do with her?" Luke asked me.

"I don't know." I said as I shook my head, "I don't know how to help her."

We spent hours trying to help Sarah. Luke just got stressed out as she screamed and pushed us away, he resorted to screaming back at her. This wasn't helping.

"Luke stop screaming at her!" I screamed back at him.

"I don't know what else you want me to do! I tried carrying her and she wont let me go near her Leah!" He replied.

"Well we can't leave her!" I snarled.

We then heard kicking at the door. "What the hell-" I said.

"Stay here." Luke said as he left the room. Soon after Luke came back with Clementine and Jane. "Oh Clementine! You're okay!" I whimpered and hugged her, "I'm so sorry I ran! I just- I had to go after Sarah-" I rambled.

"It's okay!" Clementine said as she broke the hug.

"Look, Sarah, Clementine's here, just like we told you, they're okay." Luke spoke to Sarah.

Sarah looked up at us and she whispered, "Hi."

"Is she okay?" Clementine asked.

"I don't know- after Carlos ahe just- she lost it. Started runnin' through the woods like a maniac, Leah was chasing her for god knows how long and then I got them here." Luke said.

"Clementine you gotta do something- she wont listen to me." I sighed.

The hinges on that door didn't seem like they were gonna hold for much longer, "Listen- I uh, they're gonna tear this place open pretty soon, we can't stay. We gotta get her up or we gotta..." Jane's words trailed off. I knew what she was implying, there's no way I'm leaving Sarah in here.

"Maybe it seems like you're all alone right now... but you're not." Clementine said as she knelt down in front of Sarah.

"Yes I am..." She mumbled.

"No you're not Sarah." I said as I knelt down too, "We're all here just for you! We're your family now." I said.

Just then the door swung open, Jane and Luke tried their best to keep it shut while Clem helped. I couldn't, I need to help Sarah.

"Sarah please.. please don't do this, come with me! Please Sarah I-." I muttered.

"I can't!" Sarah cried.

Luke and Clementine came back in pulling a desk along with them. Jane and Luke jumped up on the desk as Jane boosted Luke up first.

"Sarah we have yo go! Are you listening!?" Clementine yelled.

"If she doesn't wanna go then don't make her! Don't let her take you down too!" Jane said.

I clenched my fists. "Shut up Jane!" I yelled at her and then averted my attention back to Sarah, "Please Sarah! You're my sister!" I cried.

"I can't I can't I can't!! Daddy!" Sarah sobbed.

"Don't make me leave you!" Clementine said. "Dying like this is... stupid!"

With the door about to break open and our safety indanger, Clementine raised her hand and slapped Sarah right across the face. The door flung open as Clementine dragged Sarah up to her feet. I jumped up onto the desk and Jane boosted me up. Sarah came after me, I took her hands and lifted her up. Then Clementine and Jane. We jumped off of the trailer and started walking.

"We need to get back to Parkers Run." Clementine said.

"Back? You were already there? Is everyone okay?" I asked.

Clementine paused for a moment. I became scared. "Leah... some people.. didn't make it."

"Oh god... is Kenny alright?!" I squealed, covering my mouth.

"Yes but... Sarita is... dead." Clementine sighed.

"Oh my god...  Sarita..." I placed my hands on my head.

"And before we leave here I need to tell you that... Nick is dead. He's by the fence... I had to.. take 'care' of him." Clementine said.

"No..." I whispered, "No Nick is dead?!" I screamed.

"Hey-! Shut up they're gonna hear us!" Jane whispered loudly.

"No! Nick!" I yelled as I ran towards the gate. I saw him slouched against  the opening of the fence. We all walked through and i turned around and knelt down in front of him. "Oh Nick..." I cried, "I can't believe this..." I sobbed as I took in the sight of his bloodied, messed up head. I saw his hat laying on the floor. I picked it up and placed it back on his head. "We can't leave him like this... laying on this broken fence? That's not respectable at all.." I said.

"We need to go..." Jane said.

"No.. she's right, I can't leave him like this either." Luke said. "We'll only take a moment." Luke spoke.

I got back behind the fence and Luke pushed him back and he landed in my arms, he was heavy but Luke came through and he helped me lay him down on the ground. "Oh, one minute." I said. I turned around and walked across the ground and picked up a sheet that was laying on the ground. It was dirty but It was better than nothing. I covered Nick with the sheet. "I'm so sorry Nick." I spoke with a sob. Luke placed his hand on my shoulder, "Come on Leah." He frowned.