Broken Realities: What-if

Author note at the end. Enjoy.

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Back in the house, attention turned to the pile of supplies Alex had contributed. Cases of water bottles, emergency rations, and medical kits were stacked neatly in the corner of the living room.

"Where did all this come from?" Maggie asked, her eyes wide as she took in the abundance of supplies. Alex shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "I saw it coming," he said simply. "Started preparing weeks in advance and got out before things went bad."

Shane's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And you just happened to have all this on hand?" Alex sighed, "No, I bought them all," he replied, meeting Shane's gaze steadily. "I saw the videos, the signs, and went on a shopping frenzy."

Kenny stepped forward, giving the man a look of suspicion in turn. "However, it came about, we're grateful for the supplies. They'll go a long way in keeping us all safe and healthy."

As the group began to sort through the supplies, dividing them up and taking inventory, Rick pulled Hershel aside. "We need to talk about our situation," he said quietly. Hershel nodded, leading Rick to the porch for some privacy. Once outside, Rick took a deep breath. "I know we've imposed on your hospitality already, but I need to ask... Is there any chance we could stay here? At least until we figure out our next move?"

Herschel was quiet for a long moment, his eyes scanning the farm he'd called home for so many years. Finally, he spoke. "This place has been in my family for generations," he said softly. "It's always been… quiet, peaceful." He turned to Rick, looking him up and down. "Even now, with the world as it is, I want to keep it that way."

Rick's heart sank, but before he could speak, Hershel continued. "That being said, I can't in good conscience turn away people in need. You can stay, but there will be rules." Relief washed over Rick's face. "Of course. Whatever you say."

"Everyone pulls their weight," Hershel said firmly. "We all work together to keep this place running and safe. No exceptions." Rick nodded eagerly. "Absolutely. We'll do whatever it takes."

With the decision made, the group gathered once again to discuss the organization of the farm. Hershel took charge, outlining the various chores and responsibilities that needed to be handled while Rick finally sighed, a heavy load being taken off his shoulder.

"We've got crops to tend, animals to care for, fences to maintain, and area to sweep" he explained. "Everyone will have a role to play." As they discussed the division of labor, Alex spoke up again. "We should also think about long-term plans. Fortifications, supply runs, that sort of thing."

Shane nodded in agreement. "Kid's right." Alex nodded back and was gestured by Hershel as if the man knew he already had something in mind. "The main thing we need is food, water, and shelter. While this farm is safe for now with the enforced fences, it still not enough." He began with most of the group nodding.

"We can't build a wall around the farm if that's what you're suggesting." Glenn told him and Alex agreed. "We can't. But we can dig trenches around it."

The suggestion caught everyone's attention. Rick leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Trenches? How would that work?"

Alex explained, "We dig deep, wide trenches around the perimeter of the farm. Walkers would fall in and have trouble getting out. It won't stop them completely, but it'll slow them down, give us more time to react if a large group comes through. Most of them will fall in the trenches, even crush each other's head hopefully. Once we have a breathing room, we take out others with makeshift spears."

Hershel stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "It's not a bad idea and it wouldn't require as many materials as a wall." Shawn nodded, glancing at everyone in the room. "The only thing we'll need is manpower and time."

"Which you've got." Rick answered with a firm nod.

"Plus," Daryl added, "we could set up some noise makers or other distractions along the trenches. Draw the walkers away from the main areas of the farm." Alex nodded in surprise. "I didn't think of that."

"The next worry would be water." Alex continued, and Hershel appeared relaxed. "This neighbourhood has an independent water source than the cities. It won't get cut. Even if it does, we have an irrigation system, reserves that we can draw from."

The information greatly relieved Alex and the others, before they moved on from that point of discussion. Though when someone asked about the tranches idea, they returned to that point. With various members contributing thoughts on depth, width, and potential reinforcements. As they talked, it became clear that despite their current supplies, they were woefully understocked on medical items except for the first aid kits that Alex gave them.

"If something like Carl's situation happen again, we need real tools to treat you all." Alex suggested, with Rick and Shane grimacing at the reminder of Carl's situation with Lori staying in that room, by his side.

"Then we need to make a run," Shawn said, his mind already planning. "There's a school not far from here that was set up as a FEMA shelter before everything went down. Might be our best bet for medical supplies."

"I'll go," Lee volunteered immediately. Carley looked at him with concern, but didn't object in front of everyone. Lee noticing her worry, whispered something to her. While it didn't dissipate her concern, it made her determined. He did the same to Clementine, and the girl looked at Carley before nodding with the same expression.

"I'm in too," Shane added, a different plan in mind. "Could use some time away from the farm." Shawn and Glenn also volunteered, forming a four-man team for the supply run. With that, the discussion had ended and everyone dispersed. Shawn, Shane, and Glenn moved outside, as they began to plan the details of their mission, Lee pulled Carley aside.

Their moment was interrupted by Clementine, who came running up with tears in her eyes. "Lee! I don't want you to go!" she weakly whispered, throwing her arms around his waist. Lee knelt down, bringing himself to eye level with the little girl. "Hey, sweet pea," he said gently. "I know you're scared, but I have to do this. It's to help everyone, including you."

Clementine sniffled, her lower lip trembling. "But what if you don't come back?" Before Lee could respond, Alex approached, a kind smile on his face. "Hey Clem," he said, kneeling down beside them. "How about while Lee's gone, I teach you how to use my slingshot? I did promise you, after all. And that way, when he comes back, you can show him how good you've gotten."

"I… Okay." She relented and when Alex opened his arms for a hug, she jumped right in, with him rubbing her back in comfort. "I'll leave you two alone." Alex told them, with the two older couple smiling in return. 'When did that happen?' Alex thought to himself, as he tried to stand up with a groan.

"What's wrong." Clem asked, her head on his shoulder. "Either I'm gotten really weak, or you are very heavy." Alex replied her, with Clementine gasping in horror. "I'm not fat!" She shot back, wrapping her arms around his neck with a pout.

"But I'm not weak. I'm super strong." Alex told her, as they walked outside as well. With most of the Greene family, Lee, and Carley looking at the two with smiles.

"You are, you're super pale too."

"Are you accusing me of something, Clem?" Alex asked, breaking from her cuddle, with her shooting him a smile. "Nooo…" Instead, Alex laughed, "Oh, you are." He changed his tone, tickling her side, as she struggled in his carry, with laughter.

As Alex and Clementine's laughter filled the air, it brought a moment of lightness to the otherwise tense atmosphere. Their playful interaction drew smiles from those around them, a brief rest from the worries that was on everyone's minds.

"Alright, alright," Alex said, finally setting Clementine down. "Let's go find a good spot to practice with that slingshot, shall we?" Clementine nodded eagerly, her earlier tears forgotten. "Can we use cans as targets?" she asked excitedly.

"Sure thing," Alex replied with a grin. "Let's see if we can borrow some empty ones from Ms. Greene." Annette immediately joined the discussion with agreement and giving the two four cans. As they walked away, Carley watched them go, a soft smile on her face. "It's good to see her laughing," she said to Lee. "Alex seems to have a way with her."

Lee nodded, his expression a mix of gratitude and lingering concern. "Yeah, he does. I'm glad she'll have someone to keep her spirits up while I'm gone. And he as well."

Meanwhile, Kenny approached the group, his face set in determination. "Daryl, Carol, and I are heading out soon to search for Sophia," he announced. "We're going to cover the area where her last trails were tracked. See if we can continue from there."

Rick nodded, his expression grave. "Be careful out there. We don't know how many of them might be moving through the woods."

"You too, friend." Kenny agreed.

As the various groups prepared for their respective missions, the farm buzzed with activity. Hershel and his family worked on their daily chores, tending to the animals and crops. Shane and Glenn pored over maps, planning the best route to the FEMA shelter at the school.

Duck, seeing all the activity, approached his mother with excitement. "Mom, can I learn to use the slingshot too? Like Clementine?"

Katjaa's face immediately hardened. "Absolutely not," she said firmly. "I don't want you anywhere near those weapons, or Alex for that matter." Duck's face fell, confusion evident in his expression. "But why? Alex seems nice, and Clementine gets to learn..."

"I said no, Duck," Katjaa repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument. She cast a wary glance in the direction Alex and Clementine had gone, the memory of what he had done in Macon still fresh in her mind.

As the morning wore on, Lori found a moment to approach Alex, who was taking a break from teaching Clementine, since she was exhausted and was getting frustrated with not being able to hit anything.

Lori found him checking on the medical supplies, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Alex?" she said softly, causing him to look up in surprise. "I... I wanted to thank you. For what you did for Carl. For giving your blood. You saved my boy's life."

Alex's cheeks reddened slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "It was nothing," he mumbled, averting his gaze. "Anyone would have done the same." Lori shook her head, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "No, not anyone. What you did was brave and selfless. We owe you everything."

Alex's discomfort seemed to grow with each word of gratitude. He shifted awkwardly, his eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route. "I... I should go check on T-Dog," he said hastily, already backing away.

"But I just checked on him," Hershel called out, having overheard the conversation. "He's stable for now." Alex ignored him, practically fleeing from Lori's gratitude. As he disappeared into T-Dog's room, Hershel and Dale exchanged knowing looks.

"That boy's carrying something heavy." Dale observed, his voice low. Hershel nodded in agreement. "Seems praise is harder for him to bear than criticism. Makes you wonder what he's been through before all this."

As they discussed Alex's behavior, Beth slipped away from the group, making her way towards T-Dog's room. She hesitated at the door, gathering her courage before quietly pushing it open.

Inside, she found Alex sitting by T-Dog's bedside, checking his vitals, the injury, and checking his temperature. He looked up as she entered, surprise evident on his face. "Oh, uh, hi Beth," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual, remember his dream of her cleaning him up after the surgery. "Did you... need something?"

Beth shook her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. "No, I just... wanted to see how you were doing. If you needed help with anything." An awkward silence fell between them, neither quite sure what to say next. T-Dog, who was awake and lucid for the moment, couldn't help but chuckle at the silence.

"You two are adorable," he said weakly, causing both Alex and Beth to blush furiously.

As the day progressed, the various groups set out on their missions. Lee, Shane, Shawn, and Glenn departed for the FEMA shelter, their goodbyes a mixture of determination and barely hidden worry. Kenny, Daryl, and Carol headed into the woods, to continue Rick and Shane's search.

Back at the farm, those left behind settled into a rhythm of chores and vigilance. Alex continued to work with Clementine on her slingshot skills, the little girl's determination bringing a genuine smile to his face, while Dale went up his RV and looked around the surroundings to make sure there wouldn't be any surprise.

Rick watched it all from the porch, a mix of pride and worry in his heart for his own group, family, and son. They had found a temporary safe place here on the farm, but he knew things could go bad here as well. His mind pondered over to the group of young men taking care of the elderly people back in Atlanta and Morgan with his son.

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[Glen POV]

As Glenn prepared for the supply run, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and fear. He double-checked his backpack, making sure he had everything he might need – water, energy bars, a flashlight if needed, and extra batteries, just in case.

He remembered when Sarah and he reached their parent's house in Macon. It was chaos and they had panicked. And in their stupid panic, his sister, his dear caring and protective sister was bitten while saving him.

His mind ran with thoughts of what-ifs. What if she was here, what would she say? Would she be nagging him to stay and let others go for the supply run? Would she be proud of him? Would she… Glenn stopped himself, shutting that line of thoughts. 'Nothing will change.' He told himself, as if to snap him away from drowning in those thoughts.

Instead, he tried to remember her last moments. She was afraid, scared, but mostly worried. Not for herself, but for Glenn, her little brother, as he cursed with everything he knew in Korean and English.

He missed her laughs, her advice, her company, her banter, and support. And Glenn wanted to live up to her example, to be the kind of person she was and was going to be if she had lived. And the person that needed that type of friendship the most right now was his best friend.

Instinctively, his hand went to his cheek, a wary smile on his face. The slap that she gave him had knocked sense into him. And that was the best gift she had given him, ever. That slap had made it so they could spend their final moments in laughter and joy and remembrance of their past.

Their arguments, and their silly fights. The road trips they went to with their parents. The friends, what could have been their life. And embarrassingly enough, Alex, when they had nothing else to talk to.

He glanced at his friend talking with the little girl, Clementine, before turning back to his backpack. Sarah had said that he acted older than his age, more mature than him. But to Glenn, he had no idea what she was talking about.

The Alex he knew was him crying over a little quiz due to getting back grade, him begging for pizza boxes because he was too cheap and lazy to go buy himself a notebook.

He was weak to compliments and would be insufferable if someone who he looked up to praised him. Heck, Glenn remembered how the girl Alex had a huge crush on had invited him on a date under the guise of shopping at a party that student nurses had invited them to. The bastard had said no because he didn't like shopping.

Glenn still chuckled at that memory because Alex had beaten himself up when Glenn told him. But at the same time, he could understand what Sarah and possibly others saw in him.

He lost his parents at 15, making it so he would have to grow up fast. At that age, no one would adopt him and would be stuck in the system for three years. Instead, he had bribed himself a guardian to let him finish high school at the same place with the inheritance money he got. Then used that same money to apply to college and bribed doctors to get into surgery rooms to learn.

He still hates himself for not listening to Alex and getting out early. But it happened and he had moved on thanks to Sarah's slap. But he could see it impacting Alex ever since he told him.

He could see him getting lost in thoughts, eyes dazed, when he had nothing to do, probably daydreaming. And as if he was seeing it play in front of him, his best friend would shut his eyes as if to stop time.

As he zipped up his backpack, Glenn made a silent promise to Sarah. He would be brave, like she had been. He would do everything in his power to protect this group, to honor her memory by helping to build something good in this broken world. And he would watch over Alex, be the friend and support that his sister had always been for him.

With a deep breath, Glenn tossed his back in the back of the truck. "You ready for this?" Shane asked, approaching Glenn with a determined look on his face. Glenn nodded, trying to project confidence. "Yeah, I think so. It'll be good to get out there and do something proactive, you know?"

Shane clapped him on the shoulder, a little harder than necessary. "That's the spirit. We get in, get what we need, and get out. No heroics, alright?"

As they gathered by the vehicles, Glenn's eyes scanned the group. Lee was saying a final goodbye to Carley and Clementine, his face a mask of reassurance despite the worry in his eyes. Shawn was going over the route one last time with Hershel, the father and son sharing a moment of quiet understanding.

Glenn's gaze settled on Alex, who was standing a bit apart from the others, another thing that was happening more frequently with him, his expression unreadable. There was something about his friend that had changed since Macon, a hardness that hadn't been there before. Glenn made his way over to him.

"Hey," he said softly. "Hey." Alex replied. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, as if knowing what the other was thinking. "Take care of yourself out there." Alex muttered, his voice shuddering.

Glenn nodded, pulling him into a tight hug, trying to make his voice as unserious as possible. "Alright, well, we'll be back before you know it. Try not to have too much fun without me."

"HA!" Alex snorted, his gloomy mood lifted. "I don't know about that." With a pat on his back, Glenn broke and gave a simple nod.

As they climbed into the vehicles, Glenn couldn't shake the feeling of worry and tried to distract himself. The drive to the school was tense, each man lost in his own thoughts. Shane took point in the lead vehicle, his eyes constantly scanning the road for any signs of trouble. Glenn sat in the passenger seat, map spread across his lap, calling out directions when needed.

As they approached the outskirts of town, the true extent of the apocalypse became apparent. Abandoned cars littered the streets, some with doors left wide open in what must have been a panicked escape. Occasionally, they'd spot a lone walker shambling along the sidewalk, its dead eyes tracking their movement as they passed.

"Man, this place is a ghost town," Glenn muttered. Shane nodded grimly. "And who knows how many of these sons of bitches are still wandering around."

As they turned onto the street leading to the school, Shane slowed the vehicle to a crawl with Shawn and Lee in the other vehicle doing the same. The school grounds were eerily quiet, the once bustling campus now a silent monument to the world that was.

Slowly and quietly, the group exited their cars and walked up to the entrance. "Alright, let's do this smart," Shane said. "Glenn, you and Lee take the east wing. Shawn and I will cover the west. We meet back here in 30 minutes, no matter what. Clear?"

Everyone nodded, the tension of the situation settling over them like gravity. They slowly opened the door, weapons at the ready, while Shane checked every corner, before moving to the secretaria. He found two walkers that were immediately killed. Glenn, at the back, closed shut the door to make sure there wouldn't be a walker surprise on their flank.

At a crossroad, Shane signaled their way and they dispersed. The school's interior was a maze of darkened hallways and abandoned classrooms. Glenn and Lee moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence.

Every so often, they'd come across signs of the chaos that must have unfolded here – overturned desks, scattered papers, and the occasional dark stain that Glenn tried not to think too hard about.

"You think the FEMA supplies are still here?" Glenn whispered as they cleared another empty classroom, finding things not on their list, such as chalk and markers that Glenn still took.

Lee shrugged, his eyes never stopping their constant scan of their surroundings. "The main things we are looking might be either in the cafeteria or the gym. The last place would be the school yard filled with tents."

As they rounded a corner, they came face to face with their first real obstacle – a small group of walkers, maybe five or six, milling about in what looked like it had once been a cafeteria.

"Shit," Glenn hissed, quickly ducking back behind the corner. "What do we do?" Lee peered around the edge, assessing the situation. "We can't risk the noise of taking them all out. We need to find another way around."

They backtracked, looking for an alternative route. Glenn's mind raced, trying to remember the layout of the school from the maps they'd studied. "Wait," he said suddenly, "I think I know where we are. If this was the cafeteria, then the gym should be just past it, through those double doors."

Lee nodded, a grim smile on his face. "Good thinking. Now we just need to figure out how to get past our friends in there."

They spent the next few minutes formulating a plan. Using some debris from a nearby classroom, they created a distraction. Though they didn't like the result at all. Though it did draw walkers, what they did not expect was two of the group ran towards the noise with growls, drawing the rest away from the cafeteria doors.

"You've got to be shitting me." Lee muttered, barely audible, eyes wide alongside Glenn's. "Well, shit, I did."

Glenn and Lee exchanged a stunned look, their minds reeling from what they had just witnessed. The implications were staggering - some walkers could run, and they seemed to be able to draw others with them.

"We need to tell the others," Glenn whispered urgently. "This changes everything." Lee nodded grimly. "Let's get what we came for first. We can't leave empty-handed after seeing that."

With renewed caution, they made their way through the now-empty cafeteria towards the gym. The double doors loomed before them, and Glenn couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for them on the other side.

"On three," Lee mouthed, his hand on the door handle. Glenn readied his mele weapon, his heart pounding in his chest. "One... two... three!"

They slowly opened the door, while one looked behind them to make sure they wouldn't get flanked. Once halfway opened, they passed through the doors, weapons raised, only to find... emptiness.

The gym was a cavernous space, eerily silent save for their echoing footsteps. But what caught their attention immediately were the rows upon rows of cots lining the floor, each draped with a white sheet. Glenn breathed, regretting it immediately, but still taking in the scene. "This must have been where they kept the sick."

Lee moved cautiously between the rows, his eyes scanning for any sign of movement. "Let's check for supplies. But be careful - we don't know if any of these... turned."

They moved methodically through the gym, checking under sheets and rifling through any cabinets or boxes they came across. Most of the cots were empty, but occasionally they'd find one with a body beneath the sheet. Neither of them had the courage to check if these corpses would rise. So, they simply held their breath and slowly moved as to not make even a tiny noise.

As they neared the far end of the gym, Glenn spotted what they'd been looking for - a large metal cabinet with a red cross painted on its doors. "Lee! Over here!" They approached the cabinet cautiously, aware that any noise could attract unwanted attention.

The lock on the cabinet had already been broken, likely by previous scavengers, but as they opened the doors, they found it still surprisingly well-stocked.

"Jackpot," Lee grinned, already starting to fill his bag with antibiotics, painkillers, and various medical supplies.

Glenn was about to join him when a sound froze him in place - the unmistakable groan of a walker, coming from somewhere behind them. He turned slowly, his blood running cold at what he saw.

One of the sheet-covered bodies was moving, struggling to sit up on its cot. As the sheet fell away, Glenn found himself face to face with the milky eyes and rotting features of a walker.

"Lee," he hissed, backing away slowly. Lee turned, his eyes widening at the sight. But it wasn't just one - all around them, sheets were beginning to stir as more walkers awakened.

"Grab what you can and run!" Lee hissed, still trying to keep the pretense of stealth. They stuffed their bags as quickly as they could, the sounds of groaning and shuffling growing louder by the second. They sprinted for the exit, Glenn's mind was racing. They should have pierced through their brain one by one, instead of being afraid, but mostly how were they going to get out of here alive?

Before the walkers could free themselves, Lee and Glenn ran back towards the double door, bursting through them, and shutting it. Only to find the hallway now crawling with walkers - including the faster ones they'd seen earlier, who snapped towards them and gave chase. "SHIT!"

"This way!" Lee called, veering left towards a stairwell.

They took the stairs two at a time, the sounds of pursuit echoing behind them. Glenn's lungs burned, his legs ached, but fear and adrenaline kept him moving. They emerged onto the school's roof, barricading the school roof after them while momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight.

"Now what?" Glenn panted, looking around frantically for an escape route. Lee was already moving towards the edge of the roof, peering down at the parking lot below. "There!" he pointed. "The fire escape. If we can make it down, we can get to the trucks."

It was a risky plan, but with the sounds of walkers growing pounding on the roof's door, they had no choice. They made their way to the fire escape, the metal groaning ominously under their weight. Glenn tried not to look down as they descended, focusing instead on the promise of safety that their vehicles represented.

As they neared the bottom, Glenn's foot slipped on a rusted rung. He felt himself falling, a cry of surprise escaping his lips. In the corner of his eyes, he could see more walkers, in the dozens, snap at attention towards their direction. For a heart-stopping moment, he was sure this was the end - but then Lee's hand shot out, grabbing his arm in an iron grip.

"I've got you," Lee grunted, straining to pull Glenn back onto the ladder. "Don't let go."

With Lee's help, Glenn regained his footing. They shared a brief look of relief before continuing their descent, finally reaching the ground just as the first walkers began to spill out onto the roof above, while some of the runners had reached the fence, as they pounded on it.

"Fuck… me." Glen horrifyingly muttered as he watched one climb the fence. "GLENN!" Lee snapped, shaking his shoulders, before they both bolted out of there, the climber reaching the other side of the fence, as more undead pushed against the school fence.

They sprinted across the parking lot, walkers now emerging from various exits around the school. Glenn's lungs felt like they were on fire, his legs leaden, but he pushed on, Lee right beside him.

As they neared the vehicles, Glenn saw Shane and Shawn already there, looking alarmed and ready to leave. "Start the engines!" he yelled, waving his arms frantically.

They piled into the trucks just as the horde of walkers reached the parking lot. Shane floored it, tires screeching as they peeled out of the lot. In the rearview mirror, Shawn watched in horror the school disappear behind them, the mass of walkers growing smaller in the distance while the runners tried to chase them. After a corner, those disappeared as well.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Glenn slumped in his seat, his body trembling from the close call. He looked over at Shane and saw the same mix of relief and lingering fear in his eyes.

"We might need to find another term for the walkers." Glenn muttered, with Shane not saying anything, absorbing the new variants.

Shane knew exactly what he meant. The running geeks as they called them, the smart ones who, as soon as saw them, cried out, waking up the dormant ones near them- it was all too much to process.

As they sped back towards the relative safety of the farm, Shane couldn't shake the feeling that the world had just become an even more dangerous place than they'd realized and that his plan of leaving Rick's group due to his issue with Lori had to be abandoned.

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Author Note:

Like I promised, if we had reached 50 powerstone from 34, I would upload 3 chapters of at least 4k words. This chapter? It has 5k words and even a little over it. Expect another 2 long chapters for today with the same length. The next goal is double the previous amount. so, 80 power stones by tomorrow. Same deal.

I really liked @Dragaim comment about arguments and tensions and conflicts. Basically, he said that while conflicts regarding MC or about the group's situation arises, Alex's word or action doesn't make it all disappear. There will be remaining issues and left over emotions. And he liked that. 

Thank you for noticing them. I try to place myself in those character's situation and think from their point of vue. How would I feel and etc. Which is why the conflicts doesn't get disappeared all of the sudden. Example I can give, Katjaa. 

I can't really place myself in her situation since she's a mother and a woman, but in my fic, she's hopeful of things returning back to normal. She has a son that she has to protect at all cost in hope of that. So, she doesn't want her son to mingle with a killer and why she detaches herself from him, even if Kenny vouches for him.

My reason for different in game and in this is, in the game, she went through things that woke her up to reality of the situation, such as Duck almost dying in Macon, then starving in the motel, almost becoming a cannibal. She left those hope behind and simply cared for Kenny and Duck. In this fic, she didn't experience them, instead it is the opposite, she's feeling the illusion of normalcy with everyone working together. Hope you guys can understand that.

Another side effect of me placing myself in characters' place is, Alex takes a backseat. If he has nothing to do, I will change pov and show you guys something interesting. In this chapter, I went with Glenn, because I HAD to introduce the variants of walkers. I WANTED to introduce them way later, but I think this is better.

So, the list of variants seen so far:

Walkers, Runners, "Smart Ones" (Give me a name for these ones, these consist of opening doors, using tools, etc...), and even the ones that call others to their position (Suggest names for it as well. Maybe Callers?).

I saw most of them in the early season, so I'll keep them. The one inspired is the "shrieker?" since I wanted to make things more tense.

In this chapter, I also wanted to show Glenn's perspective from when things went back with him, with Sarah and his parents. While also giving a little dept to Alex's character alongside Glenn's.

I hope I've done a good job to entertain you so far. The rant is getting long, so I'll cut it short.

Tell me what you think so far, and also, thank you for the reviews. They're solid.

Anyway, author out. Stay safe.