Chapter 3: Clementine
The stream of system notifications in Hanks' mind was instantly drowned out by Lee's terrified scream.
He didn't hesitate. He swung the shotgun behind his back to secure it, making sure it wouldn't hinder him climbing.
He took two steps back, sprinted forward, jumped, and gripped the top of the wooden fence—vaulting over in one smooth motion.
THUD!
Hanks landed hard, knees bending to absorb the impact, immediately shifting into a combat stance.
What he saw made his pupils contract.
Lee was sprawled on the ground, scrambling backward in terror, using both arms to desperately hold himself up.
A female walker in a nightgown was on top of him, jaws wide open, teeth inches from his throat!
A split second from death.
Hanks reacted at lightning speed—his right hand snapped to his waist and flung a magazine with pinpoint accuracy.
THUNK!
The heavy metal mag struck the walker right in the temple.
Not enough to kill, but enough to knock her head sideways and interrupt the bite. A crucial second—earned.
The moment the magazine left his fingers, he was already raising the M590 shotgun.
Almost in the same heartbeat the walker's head jerked aside—
BOOM!!!
The explosive blast shattered the stillness of the small backyard.
At point-blank range, the 12-gauge shell obliterated the walker's head and part of her neck.
Blood, bone fragments, and brain matter sprayed outward in a grisly arc—splattering all over Lee.
The headless body twitched, then slumped limply on top of him.
[Shotgun Level Up]
Shotgun Lv.9: 400/900
The deafening echo of the blast vibrated across the yard.
Hanks strode forward and kicked the corpse off Lee.
He swept the shotgun across the yard and toward the house's doors and windows—just in case.
"Cough—cough—ugh…"
Overwhelmed by the stench of blood and the shock of nearly dying, Lee gagged uncontrollably.
"Officer, shouldn't we go inside and hide?" He wiped a chunk of gore from his face. At this moment, he looked worse than a walker.
Hanks shook his head and glanced toward the treehouse.
"No. The house isn't safe."
"The gunshots will draw more walkers. We grab supplies and leave immediately."
As he spoke, a small head peeking from the treehouse window recoiled in panic.
Hanks instantly raised his hands, palms open in a harmless gesture. He softened his voice:
"Hey there, up in the treehouse! We're not here to hurt you. The walkers are gone now."
Silence… then a young, cautious voice replied:
"…Who are you? I saw your police car… and the handcuffs."
"I'm Officer Hanks, and this is Lee. We were in a car accident nearby." Hanks kept a respectful distance.
"It's dangerous out here. More walkers are heading this way. Come with us—please."
A moment of hesitation.
"…How do I know you're not bad people?"
Hanks' natural aura of law enforcement authority surged. He spoke with righteous conviction:
"Because Americans don't lie to Americans."
After a brief pause, the treehouse door creaked open.
A girl, about eight years old, cautiously climbed down the ladder. She wore a yellow hoodie, a baseball cap, and clutched a walkie-talkie tightly to her chest.
"My name is Clementine," she said, eyes flicking warily between Hanks and Lee. "My parents… went to Savannah on vacation. I'm supposed to wait here for them to come home."
A spark went off in Hanks' brain—this lined up perfectly.
He had recognized the name Lee earlier but couldn't place it—until now.
Clementine. Clem.
Old YouTube clips had not lied to him.
He remembered bits from the show, but he had never actually played the Telltale game—only watched fan videos on small websites.
He crouched to meet Clementine at eye level.
"Listen, Clementine… it's not safe here."
"We have to leave, and then we'll figure out a way to find your parents. Okay?"
Clementine bit her lip. Her eyes showed reluctance, but after everything she'd been through, she was far more mature than most eight-year-olds.
"H-How do I know I can trust you?" she whispered.
Hanks softened his expression, speaking gently:
"Clem… I don't know what's happened to the world. Maybe it's a test from God."
"But from this moment on, I'll be your big brother... I'll protect you—always. Will you trust me?"
Clementine stared into his eyes—the calm, steady blue filled with sincerity.
She hugged her walkie-talkie tightly. After a moment's hesitation, she gave a tiny nod.
"I… I trust you, Mister."
She took a small breath, voice trembling with hope:
"But… can you take me to Savannah to find my Mom and Dad?"
[Tier-5 Search Quest: The Journey to Find Her Parents]
This is a bond-forging journey. Escort Clementine to Savannah to find her parents.
Quest Reward: Hunter Profession Book
Accept quest?
[YES / NO]
Hanks' heart lurched.
A Hunter Profession Book?!
He already had five full police-class talents. Adding another profession would mean ten talents total—a straight-up power spike into the stratosphere.
"I promise you," Hanks said solemnly, giving Clementine a firm nod—while mentally selecting: YES.
[Quest Accepted: Journey to Find Her Parents]
A small smile finally appeared on Clementine's gloomy face. She opened her mouth, ready to say something—
"ROAR!!!"
From deep within the forest came a chorus of guttural howls, one after another.
The gunshots had done their job—more walkers were converging from all directions.
"Move! We're running out of time!" Hanks snapped into action. "We grab essentials inside—quick!"
The snarls at the forest edge grew closer, swelling like a tide of death battering against their nerves.
He scooped the magazine off the ground, lifted Clementine into his arms, and shot Lee a sharp look to follow.
Lee, trying not to gag at the smell and fighting the pain in his leg, limped after them.
The moment the trio stepped inside the house, THUD! THUD! SCRAAAAAPE!
Walkers slammed against the fence, their claws screeching against the wood.
"T-They… they can't get in, right?" Clementine's face had gone pale as chalk. She clung to Hanks' sleeve with white-knuckled fear.
"For now, we're safe. Stay here and keep watch at the door."
Hanks set her down gently, scanning the room.
"Lee—bathroom, rinse off the blood, look for a first-aid kit, wrap that leg."
Lee nodded quickly, limping into the bathroom. He washed off in record time and tied a bandage around the wound.
Hanks swapped in a fresh magazine for his pistol, keeping the weapon ready as he strode toward the kitchen.
"Clem, do you know where your family keeps canned food and drinking water?"
"The blue cupboard… and the storage door next to the fridge." Clementine pointed, her small head constantly snapping back toward the rattling fence.
Hanks swung open the cupboards, grabbing several bottles of water, cans of beans, corn, and beef, plus a walkie-talkie.
He also found an unused backpack and packed the supplies swiftly and neatly.
Then—
CRACK! … BOOM!!!
A sickening, splintering crash erupted from the backyard.
Wood shattered and collapsed with a deafening roar.
The once-sturdy fence, overwhelmed by the relentless pushing and weight of countless walkers, finally gave way—collapsing in massive chunks!
Like a breached dam, a flood of walkers spilled into the yard, roaring and clawing over each other, a writhing sea of undead flesh filling the entire view.