THE WALKING DEAD: ALTERNATIVE – SEASON 3: NEW WORLD ORDER
The fire in the courtyard had burned low, glowing softly in the dark. Most of the kids had already gone to bed. The night was quiet, with only the wind blowing through the trees and the creaks of the old school.
Clementine sat on the balcony, leaning against the wall, eyes on the stars. Her mind lingered on Lee, the memories still fresh from the story she told earlier. She could still hear his voice, still see his smile when he taught her how to survive.
AJ was asleep inside, wrapped in a blanket. He looked peaceful. Peace was rare in this world, and Clementine had learned to fear it.
Then—
Bang.
Metal against metal. Loud. Sharp.
She was on her feet instantly.
Bang. Bang.
Another hit, closer now. Not walkers. Walkers didn't attack like that.
Her heart dropped.
"Everyone, wake up!" she shouted, sprinting down the stairs. "Get ready! We're under attack!"
Doors flew open. Sleepy, confused kids stumbled out.
Another loud crash made the front gate rattle violently.
Louis pulled on his boots in a rush. "What the hell is that?!"
"A raid," Clementine snapped. "Get everyone—Violet, Aasim, Ruby. Move!"
Chaos bloomed like fire. Violet ran to the sniper nest. Ruby guided the little ones into hiding. Weapons were grabbed. Fear set in.
Then came the worst sound of all—the front gate shattering open.
Metal screamed. Soldiers in armor and helmets stormed the courtyard, rifles raised.
And behind them walked her.
Lilly.
Older. Hardened. Her face was cold as stone.
Clementine's eyes narrowed. "Lilly…"
"Clementine," Lilly said, stopping just past the threshold. "Still playing the hero, I see."
Clementine didn't respond. Her grip on her knife tightened.
"You've done well," Lilly said with a smirk, looking around at the school. "For a kid. Shame you wasted all that survival training on this little clubhouse."
"Get out," Clementine growled. "Now."
Lilly's smirk widened as her eyes scanned the others—Louis, Aasim, Violet up on the roof. Then they landed on AJ beside Clementine.
"So this is the brat you're dragging around now," she muttered. "Wonder what Lee would say."
Clementine flinched. Her stomach turned.
Lilly's voice dropped into mockery. "Oh wait, that's right. Your babysitter got himself killed, didn't he?" She scoffed. "Figures. Soft man in a hard world."
Clementine's glare turned molten. She stepped forward.
"Don't talk about him."
Lilly raised an eyebrow. "Touchy subject?"
"I said—don't talk about him." Her voice cracked, the pain too raw to hide.
Lilly laughed once, humorless and sharp. "He kept you alive, sure. But in the end? He died like the rest of them. Weak. Bleeding out. Probably crying."
Clementine moved so fast, it startled even her own people. She shoved past Louis and pointed her knife straight at Lilly's throat.
"Say his name again, and I'll bury this blade in your neck."
The air turned still. Even the soldiers hesitated.
Lilly's smile vanished. "Touch a single hair on me, and I'll have your school burned to the ground."
Clementine stood her ground. "You won't get this place. Not without a war."
Lilly nodded slowly. "Then that's what you'll get."
And then—gunfire.
Violet fired from above. A soldier fell. Screams broke the silence. AJ pulled on Clementine's hand as chaos exploded all around them. Louis tackled a raider. Ruby ran with the kids. Aasim fought with fists and fury.
The courtyard turned into a battlefield.
And Clementine, with Lee's memory burning like fire in her chest, fought like hell.
She wouldn't let Lilly take this from her.
Not her home.
Not her people.
And definitely not Lee's legacy.