Chapter 2: Diverging Paths

The rhythmic pounding of my footsteps filled the air as I sprinted toward the distant gunfire. My lungs burned, but I didn't slow down. Every fiber of my being told me this was where I needed to be. This was where it all began—where Lee and Clementine would first cross paths with Hershel Greene's farm.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I knew what was coming. Shawn Greene was going to die. The walkers would get him trapped beneath that tractor, and before anyone could react, he'd be gone. If I could reach them in time, maybe I could stop it.

A clearing opened ahead. The white farmhouse stood just beyond a wooden fence, its rustic charm stark against the chaos unraveling before it. Lee was there, pulling Clementine along. Shawn and a young boy—Duck—were scrambling to fend off a pair of walkers near the tractor.

I had seconds to act.

"Hey!" I shouted, gripping a heavy branch from the ground. The walkers closest to Shawn turned their rotting heads toward me, their lifeless eyes locking on fresh prey. Without hesitation, I swung. The impact sent one staggering back, but the second lunged before I could react.

A gunshot rang out. The walker's head snapped back, a spray of dark blood misting the air. I turned to see Lee lowering his gun, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Who the hell are you?"

No time to answer. The other walker was already clawing its way toward Shawn. I moved fast, driving my makeshift weapon down on its skull. It crumpled instantly.

Silence fell, save for the heavy panting of the survivors. Shawn pushed Duck behind him, glancing between me and Lee. "Thanks for the assist," he said, catching his breath. "What's your name?"

I hesitated. Ethan Carter wasn't a name they would recognize, but it was mine now. "Ethan," I said. "I—uh—was passing through when I heard the shots."

Lee studied me for a moment before nodding. "Appreciate the help, man."

A deep voice cut through our exchange. "What in the hell is going on out here?"

Hershel Greene stepped onto the porch, his sharp eyes sweeping the scene. His gaze lingered on the bodies before shifting to the rest of us. "Get inside. Now."

We followed him up the steps, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. I had changed something—Shawn was alive. But was that a good thing?

As I stepped into the farmhouse, I couldn't shake the feeling that the world had just shifted, and I had no idea what came next.