Adventures in Babysitting

***Adventures in Babysitting*** is the second chapter of the alternate universe (AU) fanfic, Dawn of The Walking Dead. It introduces Travis, a character from the original Walking Dead series by Telltale games, and the next two days of the apocalypse.

## Cast Guide

Starring
Clementine
Rachel Paul
Sandra - †
Travis

## Summary

*Just hours after their close call, Clementine and Rachel hunker down in Clementine's backyard treehouse. With no grown-ups around and just a trusty walkie-talkie in hand, the girls start plotting their next moves.*

## Plot

Two hours after the terrifying attack, Clementine spent time comforting Rachel and devising a plan for help. Unable to reach her vacationing parents, she and Rachel decided to use Rachel's walkie-talkie, hoping her brother would answer. Despite numerous attempts to contact her parents, Clementine handed Rachel the walkie-talkie.

The perspective shifts to Travis, who's internally monologuing on the chaotic turn of events. Now, well past midnight, he pedals through the dark streets of Stone Mountain, still under the influence of marijuana, on a mission to locate his best friend's missing sister.

The narrative then transitions into a flashback.

Following an odd event in town, military presence in town had suddenly arrived, imposing a strict curfew that left residents in the dark. Travis observed his neighbors and local store owners seeking answers from the soldiers, only to receive vague replies. Rumors circulated, linking the military's arrival to an incident at the clinic two hours prior, involving an altercation between a man and an old resident.

National Guard soldiers arrived in Humvees, instructing everyone to return home and avoid the main part of town. They questioned residents about potential exposure, designating the entire neighborhood as a "Safe Zone" with an enforced curfew. Travis, feeling more restricted than ever, couldn't escape the sense of confinement imposed by both the military and his father's rules.

Travis struggled to find rest amidst the intrusive lights outside when a call from a familiar name, his friend, jarred him awake. Haley's choice of a jarring ringtone played, and Travis, recognizing the caller, answered anxiously. The voice on the other end expressed relief at Travis being alive and quickly revealed the dire situation.

Travis, still groggy, questioned his friend, who explained they were in Atlanta for the playoffs when things went awry. The caller's parents weren't answering, and his sister was missing. Panicking, Travis's friend conveyed that they were held up in the school's gym, surrounded by the unsettling presence of corpse-like creatures.

Travis, shocked and uninformed about the situation, learned that these creatures were everywhere, eating anyone they could grab. His friend urgently requested Travis to pick up his sister and bring her to safety. Travis, now fully awake, agreed with a sense of apprehension, realizing the gravity of the situation unfolding beyond his own home.

Travis peered through the blinds at the guarded street below. Military personnel and a vehicle formed a roadblock at the end of the street. As Travis tries to warn his friend about the quarentine, a sudden series of beeps interrupted his thoughts. Glancing at his phone, he discovered the call had abruptly ended, and all subsequent attempts to call back went straight to voicemail.

Frustrated, Travis cursed under his breath, realizing the challenges of leaving his current location. With the clock ticking, it was now twelve-fifteen in the morning, and he grappled with the daunting question of how to navigate through the barricaded streets and help his friend's sister.

Travis ventured beyond his neighborhood, discovering the gravity of the situation as he entered what felt like "enemy territory" on Main Street. The silhouette of shambling figures, emitting a putrid odor, dotted the scene among abandoned cars. Travis recognized the need to stay away from these seemingly human shapes that reeked like dead animals.

Navigating through East Mountain Street, he reached a cul-de-sac, where his friend's house stood eerily untouched. Surprisingly, there were no signs of the National Guard, even in the town. The unsettling quiet, with no lights in the vicinity, heightened Travis's concern as he approached his friend's house.

Parking his bike, Travis sprinted up the driveway, knocking on the door with urgency. No response. Fearing the worst, he desperately called out to his friend, trying to gain entry. With no luck, he searched the porch for a spare key, lifting the welcome mat and checking under cushions. In a moment of relief, he heard a shift of keys within a cushion, quickly uncovering a tiny key ring.

Travis grinned triumphantly as he found a house key, unlocking the door with a sense of accomplishment.

After a twenty-minute search of his friend's house yielded no sign of her, Travis sat on the bottom step of the stairs, anxiety gradually taking hold. He considered the possibility that "Ray" had ventured out on her own to seek help, a characteristic move for her. The looming fear of her falling victim to the dangers outside intensified.

As he grappled with the situation, the voice of someone calling out emerged, startling Travis. The voice seemed to originate from the second floor. Climbing the wooden steps cautiously, he called out to "Ray", only to receive a response that added to the growing confusion; A voice echoed, leaving Travis puzzled.

The mysterious voice persisted as Travis traced it to Ray's room. However, upon entering, he found the room empty, prompting confusion. The sound seemed to be emanating from a radio on the dresser near the window. Picking it up, Travis pressed the red button and heard a familiar voice on the other end, being his friend's little sister. She tells Travis she's okay but was stuck at her friend's house and that they were all alone. Travis tells them to stay put and that he was on his way.

Skipping ahead to 6 in the morning, the distant sounds of chaos—colliding cars, firing guns, and snarling monsters—created an unsettling ambiance around Clementine and Rachel in the treehouse. Their fitful sleep was interrupted as their eyes fluttered open every few minutes, a sense of vulnerability and fear looming over them. With their babysitter alone, injured, and possibly facing a monster, the night felt long and tense.

Exhaustion eventually overcame them, leading to a brief respite in their troubled sleep. However, a loud noise from the house jolted them awake. Holding their breath, Clementine and Rachel strained their ears, the ensuing silence almost unbearable until faint murmurs of voices reached their ears.

Rachel cautiously opened the treehouse door and scanned the yard for signs of danger, finding nothing amiss except for the TV mysteriously turned on. She excitedly pointed this out to Clementine, suggesting that Sandra might be okay. Intrigued yet cautious, Clementine looked out and confirmed the TV's activity. However, a sense of unease lingered—why hadn't Sandra come outside if she was well.

The TV abruptly went silent, prompting Rachel to express concern for Sandra and the need to check on her. Clementine, torn by uncertainty, eventually agreed and the two girls decided to investigate hoping to find answers about Sandra's well-being.

Despite being the one to suggest checking on Sandra, Rachel seemed hesitant to go back inside. Clementine devised a simple plan: locate Sandra, ensure the house's safety, secure the doors, and contact their parents. While she knew the whereabouts of her parents in Savannah, Rachel's were a mystery, and she hoped talking to her own parents would provide some comfort.

Rachel cautiously ascended the wooden steps, adopting a stealthy approach to avoid making noise. Upon reaching the glass door, she peered inside, revealing a scene of disarray. Furniture was toppled, the dining table displaced, and the end table near the couch had fallen over, scattering books and papers across the floor.

As they entered, an unpleasant odor enveloped them, a musty and tinny smell that made their noses crinkle in disgust. With limited illumination from the TV and streetlight, the girls navigated through the misarranged furniture. The disordered state of the house suggested a struggle, leaving them uneasy.

Approaching the open front door, Clementine surveyed the darkened yard. It remained empty, devoid of any immediate threats. However, the absence of Sandra heightened their concern, and realization that they were truly alone in the house.

Fighting their fear, Rachel bravely called out to Sandra, hoping for a familiar response. However, the only reply was a series of deliberate steps and the ominous creaking of a floorboard. Panic set in as the girls exchanged worried glances, realizing that someone else was in the house.

Bolting towards the kitchen, they sought refuge behind the sturdy island. The intruder, who clearly wasn't Sandra, had entered the house while they were outside. A tense silence hung in the air as the door to the room where the intruder hid creaked open slowly. Clementine tensed as the footsteps approached the bottom of the stairs.

A voice shattered the silence, filled with apprehension and caution. he words echoed through the abandoned house, freezing Rachel in her tracks. She recognized the voice. She called back, her heart racing as she rushed toward the stairs. Descending to meet her was Travis, wearing the unmistakable blue Stone Mountain jacket. Travis explains why it took so long to arrive, and apologizes for intruding into Clementine's house. He finally notices the chaos in the room and accuses Rachel, who then confirms it was a walker that broke in and attack their babysitter.

Travis reassured Rachel about her brother's safety, explaining that he and his friends were on lockdown in the school gym. Rachel then asked how Travis managed to get out, and he shared that he missed the bus and, after hearing Rachel on the radio, decided to come find her.

As they discussed their parents' whereabouts, Clementine mentioned that her parents would return from Savannah the next day. Rachel suggested going back to get her brother, but Clementine, with a mix of sadness and determination, explained that she couldn't leave because her parents would return, and they needed to find her. Travis, Clementine, and Rachel discuss the challenges of leaving and decide to stay put until the situation improves. Travis acknowledges the danger outside and emphasizes the need for safety. Rachel expresses her disappointment but understands Clementine's reluctance to leave her home. Travis offers snacks and suggests they wait until Clementine's parents return to figure out their next steps. As they prepare to head to the treehouse, a sudden noise upstairs alerts them to the presence of a monster. In a swift move, Travis barricades the stairs, and they make a hasty retreat to the safety of the backyard.

In the wake of the ongoing chaos, the trio faced the harsh reality of survival. The city was in turmoil, with military choppers and gunfire serving as constant reminders of the peril outside. Travis rationed meager snacks and scavenged for sustenance, managing with limited resources. The absence of water forced them to rely on a few bottles Travis had brought. The need for bathroom breaks added another layer of stress to their situation.

On the third day, a new threat emerged when a man outside the treehouse demanded entry, attracted by the glow of the TV inside. Travis, cautious not to draw attention, refrained from engaging with the stranger. The man's loudness lured monsters into the backyard. Travis, Rachel, and Clementine witnessed the consequences of the man's recklessness as the walkers chased him away.

As the day unfolded, the once lively neighborhood turned into an eerie, abandoned landscape. The absence of familiar faces and the silence weighed heavily on Clementine and Rachel. Their usual summer activities, filled with laughter and games with friends, were replaced by an unsettling stillness. Cars had vanished from driveways, and the sense of abandonment lingered in the air.

Observing the quiet street from their treehouse, the girls couldn't help but notice the absence of neighbors, friends, and even the familiar faces of other kids. The eerie quietness contrasted sharply with the vibrant summer days they were accustomed to.

Travis remained adamant about keeping them in the treehouse, emphasizing the danger outside. As the day wore on, the trio realized they had run out of food and water, adding to the monotony of their existence. Clementine's hopeful glances toward the driveway for her parents' return were met with disappointment as the hours passed without any sign of them.

The once familiar routine of summer had given way to an unsettling stillness, punctuated only by Travis's occasional watchfulness and Rachel's growing impatience. The sun's descent toward the west heightened their anxiety, and the day didn't unfold as they had hoped. The uncertainty of the situation left them, once again, frightened in their now unsanctified treehouse.

The silence of their makeshift refuge was shattered by an unexpected sound, a man's desperate cry for help that echoed through the stillness of the woods. Clementine and Rachel, caught by a mix of fear and curiosity, exchanged uncertain looks. The urgency in the man's voice prompted Rachel to spring into action. As Rachel moved to open the window and climb down, Clementine hesitated for a moment. Concern for Travis, still peacefully asleep, tugged at her. In a hushed whisper, she reassured him before joining Rachel outside. The girls descended the ladder, driven by an want to find the source of the call.

The girls climb the fence and travel into the words where they see a man on the ground, and what looks like a dead body in front of him. He spots them and calls out to them, but afraid, they retreat back to the yard. When they arrive they meet a panicked Travis. They explain what happen but before he could lecture them, the man from the woods enters the yard down below.

## Cast

* Clementine
* Rachel P.
* Travis
* Lee Everett
* Sandra - †