Prologue

I stared into Clem's eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks. I was filled with sadness that I'd never be able to see her smile again but, within that sadness I felt a glimmer of hope. Hope that she would be able to grow older and live happily with Christa and Omid as her guardians. I just wished that I would've been able to spend more time with her. I wish I could've just been able to just see her off safely.

It was funny to me. I went to such lengths to protect this little girl. I didn't even know her last name, but despite the circumstances she became my daughter. She fulfilled my wish of having a family… Even if my wife was out of the equation, I was still happy to have known the feeling of having a daughter; to pass on knowledge to her, to spend time with her… to cherish her.

I found my voice and said to her with my last breath, "I'll miss you." She stared at me with her large eyes and slowly replied, "Me too…" Clementine stood up holding the gun she grabbed from the dead police officer. I tried my best to smile at her as she raised the gun to my head, but the left half of my face felt paralyzed. Everything started to go black… My vision became blurry and then all I heard was a loud gunshot…

I somehow regained consciousness, what the hell? My mind was abnormally clear… Then again, I didn't know what was normal for being shot in the head. I surveyed my surroundings only to see nothing but complete darkness. I looked down expecting to see my body but instead all I saw was a faint glow where my limbs used to be. I then suddenly heard a voice come from behind me, "Hello."

I turned and yelled, "Who's there!?" I saw a man with chestnut slick back hair standing in a high class tuxedo, smiling at me. He held an empty red wine glass. He lifted the glass to his lips and sipped what appeared to be nothing. Who the hell is this guy? I thought to myself, alarmed at the prospect of him being some kind of angel of death.

"Hmm, I see you have managed to keep your self-awareness." The Smiling man said.

"What are you talking about!? I-is this the afterlife or… something!?" I yelled, still trying to make sense of my situation.

The Smiling man furrowed his eyebrows, "Oh dear, I wouldn't think too much if I were you. I'm afraid your poor little mind won't be able to handle such dear, dear stress."

"J-just who are you?"

"I'm afraid that if I told you that, dear boy, you wouldn't be able to handle it… But to clear your conscience, I am not an 'Angel of death' or 'God'."

I stared at him for a brief moment before asking him the question that had really been on my mind, "What's going on?"

The Smiling man perked up with excitement, "Well, dear boy, you are currently in the area between life and death. But please, don't go asking questions about the afterlife. They do get tiring after hearing them time and time again. And also mention anything about philosophy and I will have to send you straight down to hell!"

I raised an eyebrow, "There's a hell?"

The Smiling man then laughed, "I got you there didn't I! To tell you the truth I don't have any authority to really send you anywhere like that. Nor can I confirm that such a place even exists. I just thought I'd jest with you a little."

Was that supposed to be funny? I thought to myself glaring at him.

He straightened his back and said "You're a strong one."

"Strong?" I replied.

"Yes, you have been able to retain your self-awareness from your mortal life. Most people after death are like zombies… Or "Walkers" if you'd like, seeing as you've become so fond of that name… Seriously though, who thought of walkers?"

"They're dead men walking."

"Yeah… And if human pop-culture confirms anything it's the fact that 'zombies' is the popular title for the reanimated dead."

I tried to push him away from that subject, "Just tell me what's going on."

"You, mortal name 'Lee Everett', are very lucky. I am giving you a second chance." He said waving his finger.

"A… a second chance? At what?"

"Life… starting from Judgement day of course. Don't worry you'll have all the memories you've had from your first try; of you, Clementine, Kenny, Ben and so forth." The Smiling man clicked his fingers and a giant ring appeared around me.

I looked at the Smiling man in shock, "What are you doing!? What do you mean a second chance at life!?"

"Tampering with the natural order of life and death is my job, Mister Everett. I will ask you to prevent as many tragedies as you can. Only then can you truly protect her."

"What the fuck are you talking about!?"

The Smiling man's expression went from smiling happily to frowning in anger, "You really have no idea, do you? Well… You'll know soon enough."

A gust of wind came through the circle and I felt myself being dragged into it. As I was slowly being pulled into the ring he came up to me and leaned over, "Good luck." And with that my whole world went white.