-AUTHOR's POV-

It was midnight still, few hours before morning, and enough time to sneak into the boat. Clem (YN) AJ and the rest walked through the groups and to arrive near bushes. And all the need is wait for James and the her office walkers get brings. (YN) drags one dead Walker with them...

Ruby: Oh gosh, I can't believe we're gonna do this.

(YN): It's the only way for us to blend with the walkers by covering themselves. Now we gotta wait for-

AJ: He's here.

Ruby: Good lord.!

They all notice James here with his mask on and seem to be very awkward and standing very stiff...

James: Um..Hi.

Clementine: Guys, this is James.

AJ: He's our friend.

Tenn: He's...

Violet: Um...

Louis: No hard feelings, but what's up with the mask? It looks-

Willy: So.Cool! How did you get the skin like that?

James: Oh. I-I Uh-

Willy: Can I try it on? Please, it's so cool-

Clementine: Willy come on, give him space.

(YN): Nows not the time.

Willy: Oh right. Sorry, I..didn't mean to be weird or anything.

James: It's okay.

Willy: And sorry about shooting you one time back at the gate, your mask looked so real.

Violet: Yeah, but Anyways...Hey there, James. I'm Violet. Sorry about Willy.

Louis: Nice to meet you, names Louis.

Ruby: Ruby.

Tenn: Tennessee, or "Tenn" in short.

James: Nice, to meet you all...Clem?(Yn)? Could I speak to the two of you for a moment?

Clementine: Sure.

(YN): Hold tight guys.

Violet: And, Tenn...there's something I want to tell you.

.
.
.
Clementine and (YN) talked with James...

James: Walkers, they will be here in a while. You can join them once they pass through trees. The noise will draw them towards the boat and water.

Clementine: That's good.

(YN): Give is the chance to sneak inside.

James: ...Your friends are different, open minded, accepting, like y'all. That's not how usually my first impressions go. Sorry if I'm rambling, it's just...being welcomed, it's strange.

(YN): ...Maybe it's cause of the mask-

Clem punches (YN).

(YN): Ow.

Clementine: Forgive (YN), he didn't mean that. But...they could be your friends too. I know you didn't wanted to come to the school before, but now that you get to know them and met them...

James: I've never lived with other people in a long time though....but it does sound nice...let me think about it. But...that's not what I wanted to talk about.

He takes off his mask, and to pull out picture and shows them. The picture in it, has James, and another boy he's with, smiling, and being close together, hugging.

James: This is...well, was my boyfriend, Charlie. We joined the whispered together.

(YN): Ooh, I see. Hey man, no need to worry, we understand, it's okay if you're ga-

Clementine again punches (YN)...

(YN): <Oh Que la chingada> What???

Clementine: Please, don't talk.

(YN): Hmph, fine.

James: ...It's alright, I know what you mean (YN), I appreciate it.

Clementine: So...what happen to him?

James: ...It changed him..in a way that it couldn't be undone. It changed both of us.

(YN): What do you mean?

James: The whisperers, we're my family from young age. In that time, I witness lots of deaths and suffering. Eventually, I became the cause of it. Weakness considered as a poison. And I believed in that, Fiercely. So much so, that when another boy expresses sympathy for our enemy before an attack......I slit his throat.

Clem/(YN): !!!

James: I didn't talk to him, didn't consider who he was, and felt...honestly I don't even remember his name...that's enough reason for me...

(YN): That's..so hard to believe you did that.

Clementine: Yea, it doesn't sound anything like you.

James: Not anymore, but it was, and had no doubt in my mind I was right. After he died, I kept hearing his words in my head "Those people are like us, just on a different path." I stopped killing after that, I've changed. No one else did...and when AJ told me he killed someone, it reminded me of them...of myself. He said it was wrong, but sounded like it was repeated of what he's been told. Taking life like that? A young age? It break something inside you. It broke inside Charlie...I just...I'm afraid if AJ kills again, he won't be the same boy he was...I've seen it happen to many times...

Clementine: We're not gonna let AJ become a killer.

(YN): No way in hell we let him become something like that.

James: I hope you two can keep that promise. Anyways, they're close. Soon there will be enough of them to provide cover. I'll lead y'all through the herd to reach the boat. That's as far as I go, after that..is up to you two.

Clementine: Thank you.

(YN): We appreciated.

James: And also...take care of AJ.

.
.
.
Once James leads the herd at the boat, Clementine and (YN) head back to the rest and talk the plan they had  already...

Clementine: Okay, he's ready to go. Walkers are getting in close.

(YN): Y'all know the deal: Ruby, you're in charge of the horses.

Clementine: Willy, Tenn, take care of the supplies.

Louis: Me and Vi got the bomb Willy made.

Willy: Find the boiler. Should be one, a door on the bottom with ash and stuff. Put it in there, will take some time, but it'll work, I promise.

With the plan set on, everyone looked at each other and can tell they're scared, but needs to get there mind set to go in, and save their friends and steal some supplies too.

(YN): Okay, see y'all on the other side.

They all scattered to do their task...but then, Tenn walks up to Clem and (YN), and notice him a bit down...

Tenn: Clem, (YN)....Violet told me..about Minnie. That..Sophie died, and Minnie is one of them now...if you both see her....tell her, I forgive her. Please, I want to tell her myself but...

Clementine: Yea sure. We'll tell her that when we see her.

(YN): We'll promise.

Tenn: *smiles* Thanks.

Tenn's heads over to Willy for his task...

Clementine: Okay, let's go. We gotta move.

(YN): Yeah...Just...give me a sec.

Clementine: (YN), you..okay?

(YN): Yea, Yea. Just......Clem, I really don't want any of us to get caught in there, really. I want all of us to make it out, all of us. But...now it's getting to me. What if...either you, or AJ, or both get caught? It's making me remember back then when....Carver, and the rest of his people captured you, Kenny...and the others. I came back...and you weren't there. I panic, I wasn't even myself when you were gone that day...it's like I legit lost you for good...I don't know what will I become if I loose you and AJ. I care for the both of you, but even you more, Clementine. If something bad happens to you, or AJ, or both...I...I can't. I just can't. I'm not saying I wanna back out, it's just-

Clementine walks up to (YN), and to land a kiss to his lips, and slowly backs away...it made (YN) feel better now.

Clementine: Better?

(YN): Heh, yeah. But...I'll make sure this time I don't loose you again, AJ as well.

Clementine: I know you will. So, are we good?

(YN): Yea, totally. Let's get our friends back.

Clementine: Yea.

AJ: Clem, (YN), It's ready.

Louis: We got another dead Walker.

Clem and (YN) approaches to them...

Clementine: Okay, this will sound disgusting, so-

Violet: Covering your smell...smart.

Louis: And gross, but smart.

(YN): Just take a deep breathe pretty boy.

Clem and (YN) cut open the two dead walkers as they AJ Violet and Louis started covering themselves with Walker blood in order to be like them, not really but you get the point.

AJ: So, we're gonna do it?

(YN): You bet kiddo. You ready?

AJ: Totally.

Clementine: Okay, they're here. Let's go.!

Jame's walkers were now heading towards the boat as Clem, (YN), AJ, Violet and Louis takes the chance and to walk through the herd and take cover. Every spotlight they shine at they have to take cover behind the walkers in order to get close to the boat.
.
.
It took some time, but they made it To the bridge, they notices the horses panicking as the hays were set on fire and they scattered, thanks to Ruby, which gives Clementine and the others time to take cover and hide and wait again. They then spot the supplies being overboard and driven away as Willy takes them and takes cover.

Clementine: Okay,  let's our chance. We can't risk leaving cover, we'll have to crawl along on the side of the dock.

They dove to the river and to walk on the side of the bridge and to get near to the boat. Once they did, they went under the bridge and to climb back up to the dock, make a run for, and noticing couple of walkers are in the way as Clem and (YN) takes them down with an ease as they and the others make a run for it inside the boat and shutting the door.

Louis: Phew. That was close.

Violet: Too close. I hope Tenn and the others make it out.

(YN): Don't worry, they will. We can trust them. Now, since we're here now. We gotta find the boiled to place the bomb, after that, we get our friends out.

Clementine: Minnie said they didn't hurt anyone. We'll have hope to see the truth. Look out for guards and stay quiet.

Violet: Right behind y'all.

(YN): Okay, I'll give out a sign when the coast is clear. Let's move.

(YN) leads the way to go looking for the boiler. As he does, he started taking down the guards one by one without anyone noticing. After that, they have found the boiler as (YN) opens it and Louis placing it inside.

Louis: Willy better be sure this works.

Violet: It will. He's been working on it so hard.

Louis: Don't fail is Willy.

(YN): But we won't have much time once this boat moves, we gotta go find them quickly.

AJ: How long?

Clementine: Not sure. An hour or thirty minutes.

Violet: Let's hurry up then.

.
.
.
Some minutes go by, They scouter around to look for their friends, and as they head upstairs, they quickly took cover as they spot Minerva with one of the female guards.

Dorian: Minerva, focus.

Minnie: Yes ma'am. But...I...I have a little brother, short, scarred face...he's not out there, is he?

Dorian: No, and we discuss this. Delta is your family now, and there isn't room for anyone else.

Minnie: ..Yess ma'am.

The female guard, Dorian, leaves as Minnie stays on the cells, which could mean their friends are in there.

Violet: Shit. Of course she has to be guarding the cells. We can't sneak up on her easily.

Louis: What now??

Clementine: We got this.

Clem and (YN) pulled their weapons out, and they startled Minnie with footsteps as she aims her crossbow at them, and AJ and then show themselves too...

Minnie: Get.out!

AJ: Not without our friends.

Minnie: I swear to god, if you all put Tenn up to this...I...just...tell me, if he's okay. Give me that...please.

Clementine: ...He told us to tell you he forgives you.

(YN): He misses you.

Minnie: ...Shit.

She lowers her weapon down, and so does Clem and (YN)...

Minnie: I'll help you get everyone out. Then you take them, and my brother, and run. Get him back to safety.

(YN): ...Sounds Good Enough, if that's how you feel.

Minnie: ....

Clementine: Okay then let's hurry.

They all rush to the cells, and surprise surprise, Omar, Mitch and Aasim are there, okay and well...

Mitch: Oh shit! You guys!

Aasim: Holy fuck!

Omar: You guys!

AJ: Hey. Omar, your leg. It's healed?

Omar: Yea, I'm fine. We're all right.

Mitch: We were hoping y'all come sooner.

Louis: And here we are my good friend.

Minnie: Clementine, help me out.

Clementine: Sure.

As Clem was gonna "Help" Minnie, she fell for it as she knocks her out and her dropping on the floor...

AJ: Clem!!

(YN): Hey!! What the fu-

Minnie: Don't move! Or I WILL shoot!

Violet: What the fuck Minnie?!

Louis: Stop pointing that thing on us damn it!

Minnie: In the cell! Now!!

(YN): You fucking Bitch!!

Minnie: Shut it! I will shoot, don't tease me.

Violet: Cut the shit Minnie!

Lilly: Hey!

They all stood quiet as Lilly, the leader, appears and spots (YN) and them...

Lilly: Well, good job Minerva. You caught them all...well, not all of them of course.

Minnie: Of course, ma'am.

Violet: Minnie-

Lilly: Shut it. Inside the cells, now.

They all wanted to fight back, but with Lilly and Minnie holding long range weapons, they can easily kill them...so for now, they need to listen to what they say, and come up with something to escape...as they all entered the cell, and Clementine in one, Lilly stops (YN)...

Lilly: (YN). Not you.

(YN): What??

Lilly: Minnie, bring him with me.

AJ: What?! No!! Don't-

(YN): AJ, relax...it'll be fine.

AJ: B-But-

(YN): Trust me bud...I'll be back soon. So as of right now, keep an eye on Clem on her cell, got it? Do that for me.

AJ: O-Okay.

(YN): Good.

With that said, Violet Louis and AJ are locked in one cell, and Clementine in another, and for (YN)...he was taken away by Lilly as she wanted him.
.
.
.
What will happen next??

-END OF CHAPTER 22-