Maybe it was old age or injures to his head, but Kenny couldn't find the strength to open his eye.

He couldn't even get his body to move.  His body refused to listen to him, nothing was responding.

Even though he couldn't move his physical body, his mind was responsive. He couldn't really focus his hearings, however he could feel the soft, warm hand holding onto his.

From time to time the hand holding his would let go. When he couldn't feel the warmth of the hand he'd feel alone.

Everything was be dark, quite. A part of Kenny wondered if it was the end. Was this what katjaa, duck, Lee.... And the others saw.

He really thought he'd died and left Aj all alone, however he finally managed to move his fingers.

Then came his lids, finally fluttering open after being closed for so long. His throat was beyond parched, it was almost painful.

Everything was bright, he couldn't keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds. When his fingers twitched again he felt the small hand holding onto his twitch back.

What he assumed was a bed he was laying on creaked then dipped slightly. "Grandpa ken!" Aj shouted, as he hugged his upper body.

Kenny winced, his ears still sensitive. Even so he managed to place his hand on the small boys back. A small smile on his lips.

Aj sat back up, he smiled before he hopped off the bed, and ran out of eye sight. The room went quite, just like when he was out.

When Aj came back more feet were heard. His hand instinctively twitched, this brought back all too familiar memories of the ranch, and the cannibals he encountered.

"You're actually awake...." a boy gasped quietly

"We were so sure you wouldn't make it" a girl chimed in

Aj who already took the liberty to sit back next him gave them a pointed look "I told you he would. He's stronger than you"

Kenny chuckled dryly which led him to cough. The girl scurried over to the beside table where he heard water being poured into a cup.

She then lifted his head in order to help him drink it "thanks, and Aj mind your manors. Theses people helped us, apologies.

"B-but grandpa, they said you would die, they said they'd have to put you down"

Kenny groaned as he sat up, his eye sight going blurry. Blinking, he placed his hand on his head. "They were right to think that, look at me kiddo I'm in bad shape."

Aj only frowned "but you weren't...you're strong, like Clem."

"Even strong people die, you know that"

Fiddling with the hem of his shirt, Aj bit his lip. "Then how can you be so sure Clem is still alive, you say she is but we haven't found her! If you died then what happens to me!" He raised his voice, tears in the corner of his eyes.

"Lower your voice." He paused wiping his eyes with his thumbs "if I ever die... you'll survive, we're survivors. I taught you how to survive, and if you so choose then find Clem. Clem is a survivor, she knows how to survive beyond any walls."

Nodding slowly he nuzzled into his chest. "I'm sorry for how I've been acting" he said loud enough for the two to hear.

The two seemed surprised he actually listened however they smiled "it's all good"

Taking his attention off Aj, Kenny focused on the two people who saved them.

His eyes widened for a mere second. They were kids, kids saved their lives. He expected someone young from the pitch of their voices however not this young.

"Your kids" he furrowed his eyebrows

"And your ancient" the girl said smugly.

Aj turned to say something, but Kenny quickly covered his mouth.

"Point taken, so why'd you do it?"

The boy with the dead cat on his head crossed his arms "do what?"

Kenny glanced around then looked back at them "for all of this, out there no one would have helped."

"We almost didn't" the ginger shrugged "if we hadn't spotted the smoke then we wouldn't have saved you"

Nodding his head he sighed "the car was totaled wasn't it? How long have I've been asleep?"

"Yes. And two days"

Sighing again he closed his eye "thanks for the hospitality, but we have to go"

Aj shifted in his lap "do we have too" his voice was filled with sadness "I made a friend..."

Kenny heart grew heavy, they couldn't stay. They had to keep moving winter was coming, and groups mean more mouths to feed, and trying to keep everyone together.

Not only that but he didn't know them, plus they were all kids, kids that have been sheltered. "You know what happens if we stay in one place for too long, if we join a group."

Aj nodded slowly. The last group didn't end well, they all fought over the smallest things. They fought over everything even utensils, not to mention food.

"At least stay until your better, you're not well enough to travel."

Kenny looked up at the girl "I traveled after I had my eye beat out of me" The two teens shared an uneasy look. Sheltered. how they acted was a dead give away.  "But fine I'll stay for a few days, no longer.

"Y-you must be starving, Omar should be done with dinner. I'm Brody by the way" she offered him a small smiled

"And I'm Marlon" he smiled too

"I'm sure Aj probably talked your ear off but I'm Kenny" he smiled back.

After exchanging names Kenny took off the remainder of the tape cuff that he managed to break when he sat up and followed them outside.

Scouting his surroundings, he noticed they were inside a run down school. Outside the sun was already close to setting.

There were quite a lot of kids scattered around the field in little clusters. Some were alone, but mostly in pairs.

"Just in time Marlon, dinner is served" a boy with dreads grinned as he placed bowls on the table.

The boys eyes shifted from him then to his and Aj's locked hands "looks like we'll need another bowl chef Omar"

Who he assumed Omar was nodded then scurried off into the building. When he returned he walked over to the large pot.

By the time his steaming hot bowl of stew was placed in front of him, Aj had already wolfed done most of his.

"Manners" was the only word that kenny had to say for him to slow down.

Another girl who had ginger hair like Brody smiled, while Marlon snickered at Louises discontent face. "Louis and Aj here have been burping after eating in order to piss off ruby"

"You did it too, you ass" she shook her head

Aj shrunk into the bench, Kenny's curious gaze on him "Is that so?"

Shifting in his seat he spooned the last bit of the stew into his mouth "I'm all done"

Seeing that he wanted to change the conversation he hummed and replied with me too

Louis stood up and flipped his chair around "It's time for something very important"

Brody who just so happened to walk by groaned "Oh, god, good night" Aj lost interest at the topic and left the table

Ignoring her completely he looked at the table in front of them "Vi, it's time"

The blond haired girl looked up from the table. Almost like she was on auto pilot she slid out from the table and into the seat next to Marlon.

"What's the game tonight, Lou?" He questioned, collecting the bowls.

"War, the oldest game around" he replied

"Well then it looks likes like it's time for you all to lose" Kenny folded his arms

"Ohhhh, shit, grandpa is bringing game." Louis exclaimed

Kenny furrowed his brows. "bold talk" Marlon interjected

"Well if it's so old, this fossil will smack all of you down."

Vi who had been only observing shook her head, her hand pushing the bowls off to the side "it's easy, Everyone gets a stack of cards, everyone flips one over. Highest card wins."

"And the winner get to ask gran-"

"Call me grandpa one more time and you won't be able to speak"

Louis coughed "winner gets to ask Kenny a question"

"What if I win?"

"Then you get to ask us one, it's only fair"

Kenny looked to his side to find Aj gone, he felt a sharp rush of panic but when he spotted him at the table Vi came from with a boy around the same Aj he relaxed.

"Louis, If you would" Marlon motion to the small card decks in front of all of them.

Once Louis flipped his card everyone followed.

"Way to go me" vi smiled. "So about Aj, where are Aj's parents? You two don't really look related, so..." she trailed off.

A sigh left his mouth "they're dead."

All the teens face each other looks, before flipping another card. "Looks like I win"

"So what do you wanna know?"

Taking his yes off Louis, Kenny looked at Marlon "what's up with your hair?"
Since he woke up and saw Marlons hair he'd been wondering about it.

"Oh, boy..." Louis looked at Marlon too

Marlon looked offended "uh... W-what do you mean?"

"He means that it looks like a dead cat, probably smells like one too" vi answered for him

"Uh, I look cool" he answered making Vi snort

"Whatever you say"

"I say u look cool"

Moving on they flipped another card over. "Booyah" Louis turned his attention over to him. "So you married?"

"Oh, my god" vi hit her arm against the table.

"What? It happens perfectly valid question. You can ask me if I ever had a girlfriend. I haven't, by the way."

"I'm sure he's really surprised about that" vi mocked.

"Yes, I have"

Not wanting to bring up hurtful memories he flipped a card. "Ha, i win" Marlon who had been awfully quite spoke up.

"So, Kenny..." the way he started off made Kenny feel uncomfortable, his question would definitely be personal. "You couldn't have been raising Aj all alone this entire time. Who used to help you? Wife, girlfriend, friend?"

Kenny squeezed his eyes shut, the question was personal. "Clem, her name is clementine."

"Is she Aj's mother? Your lover" he pried

"She's none of those" he replied plainly

"Then what was she?"

"She's my best friends daughter, and the closet thing to mother Aj has" The moment the word daughter left his mouth Louise's attention was pecked.

"Does she have a boyfriend" this time both Marlon and Vi groaned

"The fuck she has!" He clenched his fist "next question!"

This time he won "Ask away" Louis chirped

"Worst injury you ever saw"

Vi immediately answered "I saw a walker get hit in the head so had both its eye balls flew out, pretty cool"

Louis was the next to answer "I saw someone gave all their intestines pulled all the way out, like, ALL the way. It's goes on for a while. We got a lot of guts"

"I saw this guy get his face beaten in with a crowbar. There wasn't any skin left" Kenny decided not to mention he was the one who did it.

"Ouch"

He shrugged "he got what was coming to him"

When the next card was flipped Vi ended up winning "victory Violet, here's something I like to ask when I'm in groups. Out of the four of us, who do you think is going to die first."

"That is fucked up" Louis chimed in

"Hm, I know" she smiled

"Marlon, simply because anyone who tires to keep a group together ends up dead. Leant from experience"

Everyone seemed to be surprised. "I am the greatest card player of all time" Louis smiled

"Just ask your damn question" vi rolled her eyes

"What ha- actually never mind"

Kenny narrowed his eyes "what? Ask it."

"It's not a fun question"

"Ask" he said sternly

"What happened to Clem"

"Louis" Marlon frowned

"He wanted me to ask" he defended

Kenny's face softened, his eyes went wide for a mere second "we got separated" he answered his eye locked onto the table. Everyone leaned in.

"Is she dead?" He pried yet again

"I said we got separated, she out there, she's out there surviving"

Everyone's eyes softened as well "Drop it Louis"

"I'm done for tonight, Aj let's go"

"Marlon spoke softly "yeah, it's probably for the best" his eyes turning to glare at his friend.

"You wanted me to ask" Louis motioned towards vi, Marlon then turned to her however she looked away. Her mouth shut.

Aj looked at him sadly, then said his goodbyes to the boy he was with who return his his good night.

On their way inside Marlon jogged up to him "I hope you know Louis didn't mean any harm there. He's just the worlds biggest dumbass. He's my best friend, so I can legally call him that Kenny smiled softly.

Marlon sped up his pace in order to open the door for them "you guys relax, get some sleep, feel human for the night. In the morning come find me. We can talk more about getting you guys to stay"

"We can stay?" A Ping of hope made its home in his heart

"We can talk about it"

Aj did a small dance, and rushed off to their room.

❤︎ E N D O F ❤︎
❤︎ C H A P T E R ❤︎
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❤︎ W O R D C O U N T ❤︎

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❤︎ N O T E ❤︎
I totally forgot I was supposed to be updating this story Hope you have a wonderful day or night

❤︎ ꪶꪮꪜꫀ ꪖsꫝ ❤︎
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