virago|c.g.|

xxvii

Bursting through the doors of the church that was settled near the walls, the two survivors entered immediately and closed the doors behind them. "Maybe when they searched this place they missed something. Depends if it was Aiden or Heath's group that went through it. Look in the Bibles, could've hollowed out the pages." Clary nodded, beginning to go through the aisles and picking up bibles, sifting quickly through them before going on to the next.

As the two of them looked, worried about the woman that they cared for within the walls, it was silent. "People holed up in here will find anywhere to hide guns, ammo. Maybe something to start a fire. It's getting dark out soon, maybe we can distract them. We need sheets, ropes, towels— anything Maggie can use to climb down to the other side." Clary went quick to work, still looking through the Bibles along the aisles to find something to help the woman, the image of her clutching onto the tower repeating in her mind. As she looked around, she remembered what Glenn had spoken about when she had been afraid. The wisdom he held had been blanketed in something else: emotion. "Who were they to you?" Glenn stopped, keeping his eyes on the task yet surprised by the question. "What?"

As Clary turned, she saw the man hadn't looked up, rather still searching for the weapon and ammo. "You talked about remembering the people you fight for, the ones that are gone. Who were they to you?" Clary looked towards Glenn, seeing him stop his rapid movements before he faced the girl. "My parents. A man named Dale. Maggie's father, Hershel. A woman named Andrea. A man named Tyreese." A beat. "Who are they to you?" Clary stopped for a moment, recognizing the names he listed as some Carl had mentioned. It made her wish that her life had been in Atlanta. Maybe then she would have been able to know the group she so desperately cared for longer. "My parents. My sister, Melanie. My mentor, Leon. My niece, Layla. Millie." Clary clenched her jaw, remembering those she had lost. "Then you hold onto them. You fight for them. You hold a piece of them with you, every step of the way. You keep fighting and they survive within you." Glenn paused for a moment, letting out a soft sigh. "But if you give up, if you lose who you are? They're gone." Clary nodded, Glenn coming closer before placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

The two stood in silence together, their eyes meeting in understanding. "I want you to stay put, " Glenn commanded, pulling away from the girl abruptly. Clary's eyes widened in shock. "What?" Clary questioned, watching as the man didn't turn to look towards her. "I'm not putting you in danger. You put too much on the line for me even coming to find me." As Glenn walked away, Clary followed him before grabbing his arm, forcing him to look at her. He saw the frustration in her eyes, the pain. "No, I am not staying put if you go out into danger. I'm going to help—" Glenn shook his head. "Clary—" Clary cut him off immediately. "Damnit Glenn, I can't let your name be added to my list! Or Maggie's. I— I can't lose anyone else I love." There it was, a word she had dreaded saying ever since Ashton had made it be followed with a slap. A word her mother had bathed in alcohol, the only admittance of love being when she was too drunk to care.

Glenn's eyes widened, surprised at the word but taking it in gratefully as she continued. "I'm going out there, and I am helping you. We have to get Maggie off of that platform, so you distract and I'll climb up the wall and help her get on the other side. But we do it together. Okay?" Glenn looked at her for a moment before nodding and repeating the word. She let a small smile paint her face, grateful he listened before she spoke. "You keep looking for bullets or a gun. I'll make something for her to climb down." Glenn nodded, watching as the girl went into action. He smiled softly, knowing that it took a lot for her to admit love. Glenn didn't want to hold anything back as he looked to her. "Clary?" The girl brought up her gaze to meet his, "Yeah?" she questioned, worried that he would tell her to stay put once more. "I love you, too." Clary looked back at the man, eyes wide at his own revelation before she smiled softly. "Cross your heart?" The man let out a soft chuckle. "Cross my heart." Making the motion of the x on his chest, she did the same to mark her own feelings as true before they continued searching for what they needed.