Cherreads

Chapter 62 - Chapter Sixty: A Place to Call Home

The heavy door creaked open slowly.

Clementine turned her head. A small girl peeked inside. She had bright red eyes that stood out like tiny embers. The moment she saw Lee, her whole face lit up.

Millicent: Papa!

She rushed forward and jumped into Lee's arms.

Lee caught her with a warm laugh, lifting her easily. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck.

Lee: There's my brave girl.

Clementine watched quietly. Her chest ached in a good way — full of feelings she hadn't had in a long time.

Millicent pulled back from Lee and looked over at Clementine with curiosity.

Millicent: Hello. My name is Millicent. Nice to meet you.

Clementine gave a soft smile.

Clementine: Nice to meet you too, Millicent. I'm Clementine.

Millicent's red eyes sparkled.

Millicent: Clementine… that's a pretty name. Can I call you big sis?

Clementine blinked. Her smile grew.

Clementine: Sure… I'd like that.

Millicent: Yay!

She suddenly tugged on Clementine's hand.

Millicent: Wanna play tag? Just in here. Papa says I can't go too far.

Clementine looked around. The office was huge. The floor stretched wide, with soft rugs, polished wood, a long desk in the center, couches on the side, and shelves filled with books and maps. It felt less like an office, more like a wide hall or a throne room.

She smirked playfully.

Clementine: You're it.

Millicent: Huh—wait, no fair!

Clementine took off, weaving between the chairs.

Millicent let out a squeal and chased her, her small feet tapping the floor as she giggled.

Behind one of the couches, a quiet voice spoke up.

Rebekah: You two are noisy.

Clementine jumped and stopped mid-step. She turned and saw Rebekah just standing there.

Clementine: You were here this whole time?

Rebekah: Mm-hmm. I'm Lee's bodyguard I'm always right beside him. You didn't notice me.

Clementine stared for a moment, then laughed softly.

Lee: Rebekah's always been good at hiding in plain sight.

Millicent: Big sis, you stopped! That means I win!

Clementine: What? No way! I got distracted!

Millicent: Excuses, excuses.

Clementine playfully grabbed Millicent, spinning her around as the little girl laughed and squealed.

The moment ended when the main door opened again.

Dale stepped in and nodded.

Dale: Klaus is here. He brought the others.

Clementine's eyes lit up. She rushed forward before anyone else could react.

Klaus entered, calm as always, leading the way. Behind him came a group of familiar faces — Violet, Louis, AJ and the others.

Clementine: AJ!

AJ: Clem!

She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.

Clementine: Are you okay, goofball?

AJ: I'm okay now. I missed you so much.

Clementine: I missed you too.

She held him tight. He wasn't just a kid she was protecting — he was like a son. She had raised him, fought for him, cried over him. Nothing in the world mattered more.

Louis stepped forward, looking around the clean, lit-up room.

Louis: Okay… what is this place? It doesn't look like it's been hit by walkers at all.

Lee: It was. We cleared it.

Louis: And who are you?

Clementine stood up beside AJ.

Clementine: This is Lee.

AJ looked up, eyes wide.

AJ: Lee? The Lee? The one you always told me stories about?

Clementine nodded, her voice soft.

Clementine: Yes. That Lee.

AJ: But… I thought you said he turned into a walker?

Lee stepped forward.

Lee: I didn't. Almost… but I survived.

Louis blinked. The others didn't say much. They were clearly still trying to process everything.

Millicent stepped beside AJ and looked him up and down.

Millicent: who are you?

AJ: Um…I'm AJ...clem is like a mom to me.

Millicent: Then I'm your aunt! Since I'm her little sister now.

AJ tilted his head.

AJ: What? You're… really small though.

Millicent: And you're loud.

AJ: Am not!

Millicent: Are too!

Clementine chuckled and ruffled both their heads.

Clementine: You two better behave.

Millicent: Fine. But I'm still winning at tag.

AJ: I'm not playing.

Millicent: Then watch from the couch, nephew!

Millicent grabbed Clementine's hand again.

Millicent: Come on, big sis! Let's finish!

The two darted off again, laughing and weaving through the large room. Their footsteps echoed as they dodged couches and chairs.

Rebekah: They're going to knock something over.

Lee: Let them play. They need it.

After a few minutes, Clementine finally flopped onto the couch, breathless, Millicent dropping beside her.

Millicent: You're fast.

Clementine: You're faster than you look.

The door opened once more, and a woman entered.

She had tall white hair. Her long white lab coat flowed behind her, and her eyes had a strange glow — calm, but powerful.

Alice: Hello, everyone. My name is Alice. I help manage things here.

Louis: So… you're in charge?

Alice: No. He is.

She nodded toward Lee.

Alice: Lee is the emperor of this place.

The room went quiet.

Violet: Emperor?

Alice: Yes. He built this place. Protected it. Led people here. He gave us all a second chance. We follow him not because he told us to… but because he gave us hope.

The group looked at Lee in a new way.

Ruby: So… we're safe here?

Alice: As long as you want to be. You're not prisoners. You're guests. Family, if you wish.

Lee: You've all been through so much. You deserve peace.

Louis: And you're doing all this… because of Clem?

Lee looked at Clementine. His voice was firm but full of love.

Lee: I built this place so that Clementine — and all my friends — could have a home.

Clementine looked away quickly, blinking away tears.

She held AJ close, while Millicent leaned against her other side.

Clementine: Thank you, Lee.

More Chapters