4 Chapter 4

He immediately made the decision to pull over, sensing that this could be his opportunity to meet Lee and Clementine, if he had indeed been transported into that specific timeline. Stepping out of the car, he confidently walked towards the entrance gate, effortlessly opening it. As he closed the gate behind him, he took a moment to survey his surroundings, his mouth slightly agape in awe. Everything was exactly as he remembered from the game - the pool, the tea set, and even the iconic tree house that Clementine claimed to hate.

With cautious steps, he navigated the yard, an overwhelming desire to call out to Clementine and see if she was there. However, he didn't want to attract any walkers or unknowingly put her in danger. He approached the house, intending to open the backyard door, but abruptly changed his course upon hearing the groans of approaching walkers. Narrowing his eyes, he distanced himself from the sliding doors and made his way towards the fences behind the tree where the tree house stood.

Just as he was about to climb onto the fence to peer over, he felt it give way slightly beneath his weight. Jumping back instinctively, he reached for the steel pipe tucked in his belt loop, ready to defend himself if necessary. Waiting for a brief moment, his heart racing, he noticed a figure poking their head over the fence. Oblivious to his presence, the person clumsily climbed over and fell to the ground. Scrabbling backwards, they frantically distanced themselves from the fence, which had now become a target for the walkers.

This man wore a deep blue shirt, paired with jeans and boots. Middle-aged, African-American, with a sturdy build and rugged appearance, he exuded strength. His salt and pepper hair and trimmed beard and mustache added to his mature look, while his bleeding leg revealed the current state of his wellbeing. It was unmistakable – this was Lee Everett, undoubtedly the greatest character in Telltale's Walking Dead. The Greatest of All Time!

A gulp escaped his throat, far too audible in the tense silence, capturing Lee's attention. Lee turned his gaze, discovering the young man with light brown hair standing behind him, staring intently. Meeting the young man's eyes, Lee broke the silence, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Uh...sorry for the intrusion."

"No worries," the young man quickly replied. "I don't live here either. I just thought I'd...loot?" He offered, his words slightly hesitant.

Lee's expression briefly displayed confusion, yet he rose to his feet and extended his hand for a handshake, deciding to introduce himself. "I'm Lee," he stated, his voice resonating with sincerity.

Accepting the handshake with a warm smile, the young man reciprocated the introduction. "Poul. Poul Jameson."

"Nice to meet you, Paul," Lee responded.

"Poul. Not Paul, but it's fine," Poul corrected politely.

"Ah, my apologies. What kind of name is Poul? Swedish?" Lee inquired curiously.

"Danish, actually," Poul answered. "My father was Danish, and my mother was American."

After the conversation reached a temporary pause, Lee took a moment to scan their surroundings, his eyes darting from one decaying building to another. Sensing an opportunity to gather more information, he turned to Poul and inquired, "So you mentioned earlier that you're here to loot. Care to elaborate on that?"

Poul hesitated for a brief moment, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Then, with a sweeping gesture of his arms, he responded, "Well, as you can see, there has been an apocalypse. In such dire times, it becomes necessary to scavenge for supplies in order to survive."

Lee couldn't help but be taken aback by Poul's straightforward admission, although upon reflection, he remembered the grisly pursuit he had just escaped. The once-living corpses relentlessly chased him, while even a deceased police officer had risen from the dead in an attempt to devour him. With these haunting images fresh in his mind, he simply nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, Poul broke the silence. His voice carried a hint of uncertainty as he began to recount an unexpected encounter, "But then... I saw a girl running in the backyard. She climbed up into her tree house over there." He pointed towards a small structure nestled amidst the trees nearby.

Curiosity sparked within Lee as he turned his gaze to the tree house, his eyes lingering on its weathered appearance. He then shifted his attention back to Poul, his words a mixture of surprise and intrigue, "Really?"

"Yes, indeed. However, despite that discovery, I still intended to gather resources from her house."

Baffled by Poul's apparent disregard for the young girl's plight, Lee voiced his concern, "But wait, you mean to steal from a girl who is all alone, fighting to survive?"

Poul's defensive response was swift, "You don't understand. We can't assume she's alone! It's entirely possible that she has some sort of support system. Nonetheless, upon closer inspection, it became evident that she is indeed on her own. The house appeared deserted and devoid of any signs of life. But fear not, for I am not heartless enough to abandon a child in such dire circumstances. I know the anguish of starvation firsthand."

As they stood there, amidst the remnants of a shattered world, Lee couldn't help but wonder what awaited them, not only in the desolate house but also in the journey towards redemption and survival.

[Author note:

Sorry if this was sloppy. I didn't really know how to make the guys interact. And if you want to know, the MC's backstory will be revealed slowly throughout the story.]