Already at the end of episode 4! 😭😭

Yall know whats coming up soon...

LEEEEEEEEE 😭😭

This chapter is a big boy-- holy crap °_°

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Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

...

..

.

Lee paces around the living room impatiently, orange and pink light coming off the setting sun and peeking through the windows of the house.

Vernon walks down the stairs after checking on Omid, walking into the living room and joining the others. Molly sighs quietly in boredom as she watches out the window, Christa sitting on one of the couches with tense shoulders as Vernon sits besides her.

Lee continues to pace around, his hand twitching at his side as he sighs and glances at Christa. "Christa, how are you holding up?"

She looks up at him, a tense smile gracing her features. "I'm okay. Vernon did what he could for Omid, but... He's got a real infection and he's running a hell of a fever. I'm worried if we don't get some real medicine in him soon..."

Molly exhales sharply as she rises, turning to Lee. "Will you quit pacing? You're making everyone nervous."

"Why are you even still here?" Christa demands with an arched brow.

"Hey, if you're friend really can get that boat working, you're taking me with you as payment for saving your asses," she firmly replies, gesturing to Lee. "Figure that's fair enough, don't you?"

The back door creaks open, Kenny walking briskly into the living room with Ben in tow.

"Well?" Lee anxiously questions.

Kenny adjusts his ballcap, sighing. "Well, you want the good news, or the bad news?"

Lee cringes, frowning as he glances around the disheartened group. "I think we could all use some good news."

"Good news is the boat's seaworthy enough. In pretty good shape. Mostly."

"Mostly?" Christa repeats.

"That's the bad news," Kenny replies, looking from her to Lee. "Gas tank's empty and her battery's dead. We need to fix both before she's taking us any place."

Christa's face becomes a hopeless irritation, "well, how are we supposed to get that stuff?"

The group was quiet, all exchanging looks before Lee speaks up.

"Sounds like Crawford's the one place that has everything we need. Maybe we should try there."

Vernon's face pales, "now hold on a minute--"

"Surely we have to try!" Christa agrees, rising out of her seat and joining Lee's side. "If there are people left in this city who are still alive, who still have supplies... What harm can it do to ask?"

(?) Christa supports Lee's plan

Vernon rises as well, rapidly shaking his head. "Trust me. You don't know these people, I do! You showing up with a wounded man? Might as well put a noose around his neck. They don't exactly welcome children with open arms, either."

Christa scowls at this, "what the hell kind of a place are we talking about here?!"

"The worst kind," Molly chimes in, sighing as she leans on the wall. "But I don't see what other choice we have."

"And just how exactly do you figure we do this?" Kenny questions Lee, unconvinced. "Because from what I've heard that place ain't exactly friendly to outsiders."

"That's putting it mildly," Molly says under her breath.

Lee thinks it over for a moment, "there's got to be some way we can sneak in there undetected."

(?) Lee suggested sneaking in

"... There might actually be a way," Vernon slowly speaks up. "I know the sewer system that runs beneath Crawford like the back of my hand. Y'all wouldn't happen to have a map, by any chance?"

Lee nods, reaching in his back pocket and taking out the folded, slightly torn map. "Yeah, actually..."

He unfolds it, laying it out on the table and smoothing it over as Vernon looks over it.

"I think I could lead us through so we could pass under the perimeter and right into the center, where they keep their supplies," Vernon explains as he trails a path down the map with his finger. "We come up right underneath them, take them by surprise, grab what we need, and get out before they even knew what hit them!"

"That's... Actually not the worst idea I've ever heard," Molly says with an appraising look. "I mean, it's close, but, I don't know... Maybe it could work."

"I've thought about it before," Vernon confesses, sighing. "Just never had the people to do it. But I think if we all work together, we could pull it off."

Kenny glances over Vernon with suspicion, "and what do you want in return for all this help you're giving us?"

Vernon's face hardens in determination. "Crawford doesn't just have what you need for your boat. They're also well stocked with medical supplies. Medicine that my people could use, just as yours could."

Christa nods eagerly, a smile on her face. "We can do this! We have to."

"So... It's decided, then? We're going to Crawford?" Kenny questions the room, though he was mostly only interested in Lee's thoughts.

Lee nods firmly, determination in his eyes, "we can do this. I know it."

Kenny grins, "hell yeah, we can!"

Ben looked unconvinced, looking between Lee and Kenny. "Are we seriously talking about this? I mean-- what about the risk?"

"I don't know about you kid, but I'd rather take a chance on doing something than just sitting around here waiting to die," Kenny replies, looking over his shoulder at the boy. "That boat (Y/N) found is an answered prayer. We just gotta push a little bit farther. Are you in or out?"

Ben doesn't reply, looking lost in thought with a fearful expression on his face.

"We should go tonight," Vernon says after a moment of silence. "Under the cover of dark. I'll go let my people know, give you all a chance to prepare. I'll be back before midnight."

"Be careful," Christa calls softly in concern as he starts towards the back door.

He pauses and turns to her, giving a reassuring smile. "That's how I'm still alive."

Vernon takes his leave, the others dispersing and preparing themselves for the infiltration. Lee sighs softly as he walks through the hall to the stairs, pausing at the bottom step.

"I told you to stay in your rooms," he chastises softly.

(Y/N) was sitting on the second floor with her leg dangling through the stair railing, Clement standing behind her and leaning on the railing on his forearms.

"How long you two been there?" Lee continues, walking up some of the steps before stopping.

"Not long... Um... Well... We kinda heard everything," (Y/N) sheepishly admits, making Lee sigh.

"Is it going to be dangerous? Crawford," Clement questions, concern lacing his words as he peers down at Lee.

(Y/N) looks up at Clement before looking back at Lee, frowning.

Lee runs a hand through his hair, nodding slowly. "I can't lie to you two. Yeah, it's gonna be dangerous. But it's the only way to get the things we need to make Omid better, and get the boat working. That's why we have to do this. Do you understand?"

(?) Lee was honest with (Y/N) and Clement

"I... I don't want more people to die," (Y/N) speaks in a whisper, closing her eyes tightly.

Lee recoils slightly, his face softening. "Neither do I, sweet pea. But sometimes we have to take that kind of risk."

(Y/N) tilts her head back to look at Clement, him angling his head down to look at her as the two nod in agreement.

"We should go get ready," Clement suggests, (Y/N) pulling her leg up and rising.

Lee double-takes, "uh, say what now?"

(Y/N) tilts her head at Lee, "didn't you say you needed all of us to do this?"

"Yeah!" Clement agrees. "And earlier, you said I was a big help! (Y/N) is, too!"

Lee blinks slowly, not knowing what to reply as Clement continues.

"Molly said Crawford is the only place left in Savannah that still has people! That means it must be where our parents are, right?"

(Y/N) softly gasps, turning to Lee with a somewhat hopeful, but still doubtful, expression.

Lee rubs the back of his neck with a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Where I'm going... It's just too dangerous. For children especially!"

Clement pouts, crossing his arms over his chest. "You said we're supposed to always stay close to you!"

Lee was quiet, Clement staring at him pleadingly and (Y/N) rocking awkwardly on her feet.

"Can we... Please come with you? We promise to be good and listen!" (Y/N) quietly speaks up, looking to Lee with a small pout.

Lee looks away from her, his brows furrowed in deep thought as his forehead crinkles. He looks back up at the two, slowly nodding.

"Okay," he sighs, "you can come. But you have to keep your promise to keep quiet, and do exactly what you're told the whole time we're there."

(?) Lee chose to take Clement and (Y/N) with him

(Y/N) lights up with a wide smile, nodding rapidly in agreement. "We will!"

"Promise!" Clement grins, him and (Y/N) sharing an excited smile. "We're gonna go get ready!"

The two race together down the hall with giggles, Lee smiling softly as he watches them before frowning in concern, hoping he made the right call.

...

Stars glimmered in the night sky, the moonlight dancing around them and casting a glow down on the group as they wait in the backyard for Vernon. Crickets chirped in the distance, and you could almost pretend everything was back to normal when you closed your eyes.

(Y/N) checks inside Clement's backpack as he stands still, holding his straps on his arms. She securely sets her doll inside, checking on the paper she had found for them to draw on and handful of crayons they could use.

She nods to herself, zipping it back up as Clement turns to her with a grin.

Lee walks out of the house, adjusting his gun tucked in his pants before walking over, patting (Y/N)'s head gently as he passes her and walking to Molly and Christa.

Christa was inspecting her gun, checking the clip and loading it in properly as Molly looked over the map of the area, knelt to the floor.

"Check out what I found in the garage," Kenny calls as he rises from a toolbox, walking over to the group. "Hatchet, hacksaw, some other tools! Might come in handy on this little break-in."

Ben walks over to the toolbox, eagerly digging through it.

"Nice!" Lee nods, smiling.

Kenny grins back before his face falls, his eyes looking around between the group before he approaches Lee. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

(Y/N) looks between the two and tilts her head at Kenny's tone, "what's wrong?"

"Aw, nothing, darlin'," Kenny softly replies with a reassuring smile. "Just gotta go over something with Lee here. Lee?"

She looks unconvinced, looking back at Clement with a worried expression as he shrugs with a frown in reply.

Lee and Kenny walk away from the group, "what's up?"

Kenny makes sure no one was listening, rubbing the back of his neck with a tired sigh. "I took another look at the boat. She's a 30-footer."

Lee raises his brow in question, "so...?"

"So we're gonna have a capacity problem," Kenny explains, pacing and moving his hands as he speaks. "Boat that size ain't gonna hold more than five people. Hell, we're gonna be pushing it with havin' two kids!"

"You, me, Clem, (Y/N), Christa, Omid, Ben, Molly..." Lee lists off, his eyes slowly widening with realization.

"Assuming everyone makes it back alive, that's still two too many, even if we cut Molly loose," Kenny sighs, adjusting his ball cap. "Before this is over, we're gonna have to make a decision."

"You're... Not serious," Lee breathes out in disbelief.

"Look, I'm just saying... If we want the best chance of--"

The gate squeaks open, making Kenny and Lee quickly look over before relaxing at the sight of Vernon. Brie walks in behind him, closing the gate behind her as they join the others.

"Who the hell is this?" Kenny demands.

"This is Brie. She can help us," Vernon replies sternly.

Lee nods, setting a hand on Kenny's shoulder. "Good. We're gonna need all the help we can get."

(?) Brie appreciates Lee's support

Brie smiles in appreciation at Lee, "I was a student at the school where Crawford keeps their supplies. I know the layout."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Molly impatiently questions, pulling her hood up. "Let's get moving."

The group listen, and start heading out. Lee steps in Clement and (Y/N)'s path, squatting down to their heights.

"Hold up just a sec," he calls to the group over his shoulder before facing them. "You two ready?"

(Y/N) smiles with a confident nod. "Yup!"

"Ready!" Clement eagerly replies.

Vernon's eyes widen as he shakes his head, "whoa! Hold on a minute! You're not taking them with us. Did you not hear anything I said about the kind of place Crawford is? If you take them in there and they find them..."

"These kids are not just excess baggage," Lee firmly speaks to Vernon, rising and turning to him with narrowed eyes. "They've gotten us out of tight spots more than once. They're coming. Deal with it."

Kenny nods in agreement, "you heard the man. Let's move out."

Ben holds out the hatchet to Lee with a wide grin, Lee staring at it for a moment before taking it with a nod. He walks to the front of the group with Clement and (Y/N), and they all head out.

...

..

.

"This should be it," Vernon's voice echoes quietly up the sewer manhole. "We're right under the center of Crawford. The old school should be directly above us."

"Okay, people," Lee turns to the others. "This is it. Remember the plan. We stay quiet. We stay hidden. And we stay together. We find what we need, and we get the hell out before anyone even knows we're there. Got it?"

The group all nod in agreement, Lee kneeling down to Clement and (Y/N).

"And that part about staying close? That goes triple for you two."

Clement nods as (Y/N) smiles and grabs Lee's hand, making his firm expression soften as he chuckles and rises. He approaches the manhole, releasing (Y/N)'s hand and slowly climbing up.

Lee lets out a soft grunt as he pushes it up and slides it to the side, carefully peering up and sighing in relief when he spots no one.

"Let's go," he whispers to the others.

He climbs out of the manhole, crouching down and walking over to the side of a building as the others swiftly and silently follow. They hide between bushes and the building, Vernon looking around with furrowed brows.

"... Where is everybody? There should be guards patrolling..."

"What?" Kenny snorts quietly. "You disappointed?"

Vernon rolls his eyes with a sigh, "it's just strange. That's all."

"I think I see one, over there by the door," Christa whispers urgently, the others noticing a man walking down the road.

Lee exhales quietly through his mouth with a nod, "okay. Me and Kenny'll sneak up, try to take him out quiet. The rest of you wait for our signal, then follow us over. Everybody got it?"

The group nod in unison.

"Okay, Kenny. Let's do this quiet, no shooting unless there's no other choice," Lee takes out his hatchet, Kenny nodding to Lee.

"Right behind you, pal," he replies, holding his rifle at the ready.

Lee approaches the man slowly and quietly, his boots crunching softly in the dirt and gravel on the sidewalk. He comes up right behind the man, and--

"What the fuck?!" Lee exclaims as the man turns to face him.

The man wasn't a man at all, but a walker. He snarls and gurgles as he reaches for Lee, his jaw torn open and dislocated and his eye hanging by his cheek. Lee yelps before swiftly recovering, using the hatchet to swiftly strike through the walker's head.

He kicks the walker off his hatchet, panting softly and turning to Kenny with wide eyes.

The group join the two, and take a good look around. No one was in sight. That they saw.

"What the fuck is a walker doing inside here?" Lee questions to Molly as she walks over, looking equally as confused as him.

The group look back at the all too familiar sound of walkers approaching, a large herd coming down the street and heading directly for them.

"Get inside, fast!" Lee orders firmly, the group quickly taking off towards the school.

Lee remains with (Y/N) and Clement as they run, keeping his arms hovering near them and ready to protect them.

Kenny waits at the school doors for them to get inside, and swiftly slam the doors shut behind them.

...

They run up the winding wooden stairs to safety, Lee slamming open the door to the second floor of the school and everyone piling in the hallway with panting breaths.

Brie and Vernon swiftly shut the doors behind them, pressing on them firmly and waiting to see if the walkers got in.

"Fuck, fuck! Do you think they saw us?!" Kenny whispers sharply.

(Y/N) was holding her ears with her eyes tightly shut as she breathes quickly with wheezing breaths, Clement gently patting her back and rubbing it comfortingly.

Molly looks around the area, Ben panicking as he paces around swiftly and Brie and Vernon still holding the doors.

Lee pants softly as he looks to the doors, watching for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think so. I think we're good, for now at least."

(?) Lee's answer reassured (Y/N)

(Y/N) slowly opens her eyes as her breathing calms, Clement smiling at her with concern evident in his eyes. She manages a shakey smile and nods to him, taking another deep breath and relaxing.

"What the hell happened here?" Christa shakes her head with wide eyes. "I thought this place was supposed to be secure!"

"What always happens, I guess," Molly scoffs, lowering her hood. "In the end, the dead always win."

Ben's hands come up and rest behind his head as he continues pacing, muttering in fear. "Oh, man, we are so screwed!"

"No," Vernon interrupts his rambling. "This is good."

Lee looks at him, baffled, before realizing what he meant. "Vernon's right. We can deal with walkers easier than armed guards."

"I agree," Kenny nods, "so long as we don't let 'em box us in. We can still do this. The plan hasn't changed."

"The plan hasn't changed?!" Ben repeats in disbelief. "Every time walkers show up, the plan changes! Do you even have any idea how many of them are out there?!"

"No. You wanna do a headcount?" Christa snaps, "or do you want to get what we need and get the hell out of here?"

Ben doesn't reply, cowering away from her harsh gaze as Brie clears her throat.

"Come on. I think I know which way to head."

The others follow after her, Ben looking around with fearful eyes as he whimpers quietly.

"I got a bad feeling about this..."

...

As the group walked down the halls, they could hear walkers snarling and thumping around in boarded up rooms with X's painted over them in blood.

Lee notices, backing up a step as (Y/N) peers out from behind him, gripping at his sleeve as she stares at the door with wide eyes.

"Just... Keep moving," Molly encourages.

"Here," Brie calls, standing in front of a classroom door.

Lee briskly walks over with (Y/N) still holding onto his hand, Clement taking quick steps to keep up with them. He slowly opens the door and peers inside, spotting no one.

"Looks okay. Everybody in."

He walks in first with (Y/N) and Clement, the others following into the classroom and Brie shutting the door behind her.

The classroom was decorated with colorful pictures and a number foam carpet on the floor, indicating it once was used for elementary school kids. The large chalkboard on the wall had strategies drawn on, some areas of Crawford scribbled out and labeled. Lee and the others looked around the room, noticing a door with a label that read Armory.

Lee tries to open the door, the knob rattling and the door not budging as he sighs. "Figures."

Kenny steps forward and takes a look around the room, noticing the chalkboard. "Looks like they were using this as some kind of command center."

"Okay... So now what? Where do we start looking?" Molly questions the others.

"Here," Brie walks over to a smaller map of the school the people of Crawford had made, the areas labeled. "Just give me a sec..."

Lee walks over to the map of Crawford, humming lowly in thought. "Any idea where we could find a battery?"

"Maybe at the auto shop," Vernon replies, pointing to the Motor Pool. "There used to be one in the alley outside the fire escape."

"Yup, it's called Herman's," Brie agrees. "You can't miss it."

Lee nods, "and where can we find some fuel for the boat?"

Brie rubs her chin as she scans the map, clicking her tongue. "There used to be a maintenance shed across from the playground here," she points it out for the group. "If they were storing fuel, that's probably where it'll be."

"What about the medicine?" Christa anxiously questions, eager to leave.

"Right here. Nurse's station. They were using it as a medical facility," Molly repies, without missing a beat.

Christa slowly turns to Molly, her eyes squinted. "How do you know that?"

Molly's calm smile falls, her eyes widening as she clears her throat. "Just... Makes sense, doesn't it?"

"Okay," Kenny gains their attention, clapping his hands together once and rubbing them. "I'll make a run to the maintenance shed for the fuel."

"It'll be faster if I go with you, I can take you right to it," Brie volunteers.

"I'll-- I'll come too!"

Kenny firmly shakes his head. "No. Two people's enough. You stay here, see if you can use any of these tools we brought to get that armory door open. We might need to shoot our way out of here."

"I'll go for the mediicne," Christa calmly speaks.

"And I'll come with you. I know what to take," Vernon nods to her.

"Okay, guess that leaves me to go find us a battery," Lee rolls his shoulder, wincing and sighing as it cracks.

"I'll go with you and watch your back."

Lee smiles and nods to Molly, "okay. We've got a plan. Everyone be careful, and stay close to one another. We'll all meet back here. Good luck."

He takes out his hatchet and hands it off to Kenny, the two nodding firmly to one another before going their seperate ways.

"I'll wait for you out here. Hurry up, though," Molly calls as the door shuts behind her.

Lee lets out a heavy sigh to try to relieve some tension in his shoulders, cracking his neck to the side.

"What about us?" Clement questions, startling Lee. "What can we do?"

He had almost forgotten they came with him, they were so quiet and well behaved.

(Y/N)'s eyes were shining with excitement as she looked up at Lee, Clement and her ready to help.

Lee chuckles and squats down to their heights, "I need you two to stay here with Ben and watch over our command center. I'm putting you both in charge of it, okay?"

(Y/N)'s face falls as she reluctantly nods, Clement's nose scrunching up as he glances over at Ben.

"You're leaving us with Ben?" he grumbles in disdain.

Lee's eyes flicker with amusement. "I'm not leaving you here with Ben. I'm leaving Ben here with you. Understand?"

Clement tilts his head with confusion before lighting up, "oh! Okay."

(Y/N) giggles and nods, Lee smiling as he rises.

"I'll be back before you know it," he softly tells them.

He watches as the two go over to the lone desk in the room, (Y/N) sitting down on the chair and Clement hopping up and sitting side ways on the desk itself.

Lee's eyes shift to Ben, making his smile fall as he walks over to the teenager. "Hey. Need any help?"

"Thanks but... I got it," Ben looks over his shoulder, smiling at Lee. "Just once I'd like to do something useful, you know?"

Lee frowns at Ben's self deprecating smile, "you're plenty useful."

Ben lets out a bitter laugh, "yeah, right. Seems like all I ever do is get us into trouble."

Lee tries to come up with a scenario where Ben helped... But couldn't. He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, "well... I'll let you get on with it."

Ben watches as Lee turns to leave before swiftly rising. "No, wait! There... Is something you can help me with. Something that's been on my mind. I could use your opinion."

"What is it?"

"It's... Kenny. Since I've been helping him work on the boat, I've gotten to know him a little better. He's a good guy, you know?" Ben crosses his arms over his chest. "And it's eating me up knowing what I know. I've been thinking about telling him the truth."

Lee's eyes widen as he starts shaking his head. "Ben, come on. This again?"

"It's my fault Duck and Katjaa got killed! If I hadn't screwed up back at the Motor Inn, they'd still be alive. How am I supposed to just carry something like that around?! I have to tell him!"

Lee opens and closes his mouth a few times, swallowing thickly before sighing as he slowly nods. "I agree. I think you should tell him. Just not now."

"You don't get it, Lee!" Ben starts pacing, running aggravated hands through his hair. "What am I supposed to do whenever he talks about Katjaa and Duck? Just nod and pretend like it wasn't my fault? I can't do it anymore!"

"Ben, listen," Lee firmly speaks, making the boy stop. "Kenny seems like he's got his shit back together, because right now he's got a purpose. But he is still in a real bad place. You tell him now, he's going to lose it. And then we're all screwed. There'll come a time when he's ready to hear it. But it's not now. Not yet."

Ben didn't seem to like his words, but he slowly nodded. "I hear you. I'm gonna get back to this."

Lee lets out a heavy sigh as Ben walks back to the door, and he turns away. His eyes land on Clement and (Y/N), making a quiet laugh escape him at the sight.

(Y/N) was focusing closely on her drawing, her tongue sticking out in concentration. Clement was squatting down to the side of the desk, his chin resting on it with his hands on either side of his chin as he watches her draw.

He walks over, looking between the two fondly. "You two doing all right?"

Clement's eyes move up to look at Lee as he shrugs, "yeah."

(Y/N)'s hand comes to a stop as she sets down the crayon, sighing quietly. "This desk is like the ones we had in our school."

She frowns, grabbing another color and continuing. "I miss it. Being in school with you," she admits.

Clement looks to her in surprise, raising his head up from the desk. He frowns with furrowed brows, glancing to Lee and back at (Y/N).

"Well... At-- At least I'm still here with you," he says after a moment, making her look up from her drawing. "Maybe not in school, but... Yeah. I'm still here, and so are you."

Lee lets out a chuckle, sighing blissfully as he recalls his teaching days. "I miss school, too."

"But you haven't been in forever!" Clement exclaims.

(Y/N) lets out a snicker, covering her mouth as Lee feigns shock.

"Hey! I'm not that old!" Lee protests with a laugh, shaking his head. "And I used to be a teacher, remember? American history."

(Y/N) quickly nods, recalling he had indeed told them that before. She looks down at the desk for a moment before looking back up at Lee.

"Lee?"

"Yes, sweet pea?"

"Do you think things will... Ever get back to the way they were?"

Lee smiles softly, "yeah. It may take a while, but yeah. I do. Don't you?"

She matches his smile, "yeah. I hope it's soon."

"Me too," Clement agrees, a sad smile on his face.

"So do I," Lee agrees as well. "You two hold on to that hope. It's the one thing none of this can take away."

Lee nods to the two before heading out of the classroom, frowning when he looks up and down the hallways and doesn't see Molly.

He rounds a corner, and spots her standing at the other end and waving to him.

"The auto shop's down here. You comin' or not?" was all she said before disappearing around the corner.

Lee follows down the hallway, the sound of wind whistling through a large gap in the roof where a tree had fallen through. He hears banging to the left, followed by Vernon yelping in pain.

Lee starts to approach the sounds, noticing locker with bloody handsprings all over it. He tries to open it, humming when he was unable to.  He peers around the corner and spots the two, Vernon rubbing his shoulder as Christa kneels down in front of the lock and fiddles with it.

"You guys need any help?" he calls in concern.

"Thanks, but I think she's almost in," Vernon replies with a smile, Christa not looking up as she continues to try to unlock the door.

"We're taking care of it, Lee. Don't worry," she gently says, appreciating him checking in on them.

Lee smiles to the two before turning and heading the way Molly had left, spotting the back door leading to the alley.

"This must be it. But... Where the hell is Molly?"

He heads out onto the fire escape, noticing a handful of walkers in the street. Luckily they hadn't noticed him, so he quickly walks down the metal steps and looks around.

"Molly? You out here?" he sharply whispers, receiving no reply.

Lee makes his way down the dark alley, the moon lighting his path as he approaches a fencing, not noticing someone run quietly behind him.

The gate was blocked with boards, and the top had wiring along it, making Lee sigh in annoyance.

He turns to the shed and walks inside, noticing a hole in the roof he could fit through. He climbs up the shelves along the wall, the wood creaking under his weight as he pulls himself up and leaps over the fencing.

Lee lands with a soft grunt, rising to his full height and nodding to himself as he approaches the garage door.

He attempts to lift it open, wincing and slowly lowering it back down. "Damn. It's jammed tight."

Lee walks around the small area, coming across a flimsy looking gating with walkers on the other side. He quickly ducks back, relieved none saw him.

"Not going that way," he murmurs to himself.

Lee takes a look around before sighing in defeat, ready to leave when--

He gasps sharply as a walker falls off the roof, landing in front of him. He blinks rapidly as he slowly approaches the corpse.

"Leave him!" Molly barks, leaping down from the roof and landing on her feet. "He's mine."

She takes out her ice pick, her eyes enraged as she approaches them.

Lee's brows furrow in confusion as she shoves past him, "what are you doing?"

Molly ignores him, yelling angrily as she starts kicking the walker's corpse roughly, over and over. She drops down to her knees, crying out as she swings her ice pick down on the man's body multiple times, blood splattering over the walls and floor.

"Molly?"

She ignores Lee once again, using both hands to drag the ice pick along the man's chest and split him open.

"Molly!"

"What?!" she snarls.

Lee blinks owlishly. "I... Think you got him."

Molly pants heavily, shaking her head. "One more."

She stabs him once more like she said, slowly rising from the floor as Lee cautiously walks over.

"He's wearing medical scrubs... Some kind of scientist or doctor, maybe?" Lee questions, mostly to himself.

"Yeah, well... He ain't shit now," Molly growls, kicking the man's head. She breathes heavily, calming herself down and lowering her mask before facing Lee. "Did you find us a way in?"

Lee nods slowly, "yeah. But the garage door's jammed... Can't raise it."

He attempts to raise the door, straining before setting it down as Molly shrugs off her backpack.

"Not a problem. Look what I found," she unzips her bag, taking out a old school floor jack.

"That'll work!"

Lee reaches out for the tool, freezing. He slowly turns to his left, his eyes widening at the sight of walkers roaring and gurgling as they press against the gate. The noise Molly had made must have got their attention.

Molly and Lee watch the walkers press against the fence, making it topple over more and more.

"Shit!" Lee hisses, snatching the tool from Molly and racing to the garage door.

Molly snaps out of her fearful daze and rushes to help, lifting up the garage door for Lee. He shoves the floor jack between the garage door and floor, the fence clattering as it starts to cave under the walkers' weight.

"Come on!" Molly urgently shouts, grabbing her ice pick and facing the walkers.

The fence falls, and the walkers start to swiftly limp over to the two. Lee hastily turns the lever, prying open the garage door as high as it would go. Molly and Lee both crawl under, not noticing the doctor walker was still undead.

The two keep quiet as they enter the garage, steadying their breathing and watching the walkers' legs outside the small gap. They didn't seem to notice where Molly and Lee had gone, making Lee sigh in relief.

He rises with Molly, the two looking around the space. There was a large semi truck, and a red car raised up high with the hood popped open.

"Take a look around," Molly rolls her shoulder, her ice pick ready in her hand. "I'll make sure no stragglers get under this door."

Lee stares at her with disbelief, making her look back with a raised brow.

"Somethin' you need?"

"What was all that about back there?" he demands, crossing his arms over his chest.

Molly scowls lightly, shrugging. "He came at me on that rooftop. Tried to take a bite out of me, so I took care of business. What, you got a problem with me killing geeks?"

Lee shakes his head, "nah, it just seemed like you went to town on him a little more than you needed to."

"Hey, you never really know when those things are all the way dead. I was just making sure," she replies defensively, scoffing. "Look, you want to get this battery or not? Time's wasting."

Lee raises his hands in surrender as she turns back to the garage door, Lee sighing as he approaches the semi. He pops open the hood, holding it open before grumbling under his breath when he sees there is no battery.

He looks up at the red car, knowing there was no way he could reach the hood at the height it was at. There was blinking red light inside the car as well, indicating there was a working battery powering it.

Lee follows the hose attached to the hydraulics to the lift panel, pressing the button to lower the car. Nothing happens, Lee pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"Of course. No power. Maybe I can cut the hose..."

He trails off, recalling he gave Kenny his hatchet. He looks over at Molly's ice pick in her hand, and walks over.

"Hey, Molly?" he calls, making her glance over her shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Think I can borrow that, uh... Hook thing of yours?"

Molly turns to him, frowning. "I... Don't know. Hilda and I have been through a lot together."

"... Hilda?"

"That's what I call her! Don't judge!" Molly chuckles.

Lee sighs out a quiet laugh, "please can I borrow Hilda? I'll take good care of her. She won't get a scratch."

Molly hums in thought for a moment before slowly handing Hilda over to Lee. "I got your promise, now! Not a scratch."

Lee grins and nods, walking back over to the hose. He slices it open, causing the gasoline inside to start spilling out and power off the hydraulic lift.

"That did it," he nods to himself, smiling as the car starts lowering.

Unfortunately, the gasoline leaking out caused it to shut off completely.

"Whoa, whoa whoa!!" Lee yelps as the car was dropped down roughly, and the alarm starts blaring and echoing in the small space.

Molly notices the walkers taking notice of the noise, wincing. "That's probably not good!"

"No shit!" Lee yells over the blaring horn.

Molly runs over to Lee, grabbing Hilda from him as walkers begin to crawl under the garage door. "I'll try to hold them off, hurry!"

She bolts back over to the walkers, grunting as she starts killing them off.

"There's the battery! Finally something goes right!" Lee cheers, getting to work.

He unscrews the positive and negative terminals, wiggling them out of place and detaching them from the battery. The car alarm stops as Lee picks up the battery, making it power down.

The battery was heavy in Lee's arms as Molly attempts to kick the floor jack out from the garage door, too many walkers starting to get in.

"Got it!"

"Yeah, but we still got a problem here!" He runs over, Molly gesturing to her backpack. "Put it in here, I'll carry it!"

Lee nods, swiftly unzipping her bag and shoving the battery inside before closing it.

"Okay, follow me!" Molly runs to the semi, climbing on top and beckoning Lee to follow. "Move your ass!"

Lee doesn't need to be told twice as the walkers get in, him climbing up the truck and standing with Molly on the top.

The small herd of walkers start shaking the truck violently, nearly knocking the two out as they look for an escape.

"Great. Now what?!"

"The skylight!" Molly shouts over the walker roars.

Lee takes out his pistol, shooting out the glass and quickly blocking his head as it shatters around the two. Molly uses Hilda to pull herself up and out, turning to Lee and holding out her hand.

He takes it, Molly easily pulling him out through the skylight and to safety.

The two pant lightly as they lay down on the roof, their adrenaline running out now that they were out of danger.

"Okay... So... Now we're on a roof," Lee sighs, sitting up.

Molly rolls her eyes as she rises, approaching the roof edge. "Do you ever stop complaining? Come on."

She takes out Hilda once more and starts running, leaping off the roof and using Hilda to pull her up onto the next building.

Lee blinks rapidly at her with wide eyes, making her laugh.

"Come on! What, are you chicken? Just jump."

Lee huffs, "what did you call me?"

He looks down, gulping at the drop.

"Well, now that you mention it..."

Lee drags a hand down the side of his face and exhales sharply, readying himself. He starts running, grunting as he leaps off the building.

Molly snatches his hand, pulling him up to safety once more.

...

Lee drops down into the school using the hole the tree had created, turning to Molly.

"Come on," he calls, waving her down.

Molly frowns in thought, shaking her head. "Later. There's something I gotta do first."

"... What?"

"Catch you later."

"Wait! The battery!"

She turns back to Lee, "yeah, I think I'll hold onto it. Make sure you don't leave without me. See you back in class!"

Molly salutes, turning and disappearing from Lee's sight.

"Molly!"

Lee shouts, grumbling under his breath when she doesn't answer. He sighs softly, shaking his head.

"God damn it, what the hell is she doing?" he mumbles to himself.

He shakes his head once more, deciding to go back and check on Clement and (Y/N).

The doors were suddenly slammed open, Lee jumping with a startled gasp as Kenny and Brie drop their items to hold the doors shut behind them.

"Little help, here?!"

Lee was at their side in an instant, holding the doors shut with them as dozens of walkers press against them with snarls and gurgled roars.

The doors were nearly slammed open, Lee pressing firmly on them as a walker's head gets wedged between them. He rams the doors against the walker a few times, to no avail.

"Fuck! The doors won't close all the way!"

"Lee! Do something!"

Lee takes out his pistol, shooting the walker through the mouth. The walker's body falls back, allowing them to shut the doors.

"Nice! We got it!" Kenny praises, straining.

"Brace the doors with something!"

Lee looks around frantically, his eyes landing on the hatchet on the floor. He swiftly drops down and grabs it, wedging the handle between the door handles.

The three pant lightly, Lee shaking out his sore hands.

"Think that'll hold?"

"It damn well better," Kenny replies, the three watching as the walkers bang on the glass with blood soaked hands.

"There's... So many of them," Brie breathes out in a whisper, her eyes wide and face pale.

Kenny bends down, picking up the two of the four cans of fuel they had retrieved as Lee smiles.

"You got the fuel!"

Kenny chuckles breathlessly, "let's not start high-fiving each other just yet. Let's get the hell back to the classroom. Give us a hand with these fuel cans. They weigh a God damn ton."

Lee takes the other two, Brie watching the walkers warily as she quickly follows Lee and Kenny to the classroom.

As they enter, Clement and (Y/N) rush over with relieved smiles.

"You're back!" (Y/N) greets happily.

"Yeah, and we made out pretty good too!" Kenny chuckles as he sets the cans down, ruffling her hair.

"Great work, Kenny!" Ben praises, sheepishly smiling as he continues trying to open the lock.

Kenny glances over, "how're you doin' with that door?"

Ben frowns, sighing as he rises. "Not so good."

Kenny lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "Here. Let me give you a hand." He pauses and looks over at Lee, "you get that battery yet?"

"Yeah. Molly has it. She should be back here soon," Lee replies, nodding.

Kenny clicks his tongue, "she better be."

(Y/N) slowly walks over to Ben and Kenny, peering over the lock as Kenny works. "Can I help?"

Kenny pauses, looking back at (Y/N) and slowly nodding. "Sure, darlin'. You and Clement see if you can find anything sharp I can use to turn the lock, okay?"

She lights up, nodding rapidly. "Okay!"

Clement grins, the two starting to search through the room as Lee watches with a soft smile.

He approaches Brie as she looks over the map, deciding to check on her before he checks in on Vernon and Christa.

"Hey, Brie."

Brie looks to Lee, smiling. "Hey, Lee. Thanks for all your help back there. I don't think we would have made it without you."

"No problem," Lee shrugs, mirroring her smile. "We're all on the same team."

There was a comfortable silence between the two as Lee sighs, "anyway, I'd better be going. I'm gonna check on Vernon and Christa."

Brie nods, "all right."

She turns back to the map, Lee heading out into the hallway and looking around to make sure it was clear.

Lee slows as he passes the doors to the playground, the glass caked in bloody handprints as the walkers continue to bang against the doors. He shudders, shaking his head and continuing on.

He rounds the corner and pauses mid-step, his eyes wide at the sight of a handful of walkers outside the nurse's station, and no sign of Christa and Vernon.

Lee ducks behind cover quickly, peering over at the walkers. "They must be trapped in there..."

He takes out his pistol, rising and taking aim and firing. The bullet kills one of the walkers, making the others notice Lee.

They snarl and begin approaching, making Lee ready himself. He takes aim, firing multiple bullets and not wasting a single one as they all pierce through the skulls of each walker, killing them.

When they were dealt with he rushes to the door to the nurse's station, and opens the door.

He was greeted with a pistol to the face, Christa softly gasping and lowering her gun away from Lee.

"What the hell happened?" Lee questions, Vernon coming out from his hiding spot behind the curtain.

"They wandered into the hallway after we got inside. I think they must have heard us rooting around in here," Christa shakily replies. "This whole place is infested! They're everywhere."

"Calm down," Lee softly urges, trying to ease her fear. "I took care of them. What about the meds? Did we find what we need?"

Vernon sighs, "yeah. That's our other problem. Take a look."

Lee's brow raises as he follows Vernon to a safe, a lock keeping it sealed shut.

"Looks like they were keeping all the prescription meds in that safe... Locked up tight."

Lee refrained from groaning in annoyance, nodding. "Well... Is there no way we can bust it open?"

"Maybe with enough time... But I don't know how much of that we have. Be a hell of a lot quicker if we just knew the four digit combination."

Christa lets out an irritated sigh, "well I doubt they just wrote it down and left it here for us to find. We should just try busting it open. We don't have any other choice."

Lee thinks it over for a moment, "okay. Why don't you get started on that, and I'll look around to see if I can't find anything useful."

He approaches Vernon, wanting to check in on him. "How are things going?"

"Slow. Too slow. I'm worried by the time we get that safe open... It'll be too late," Vernon replies with concern.

Lee frowns, nodding in understanding. "Hey, doc, I just wanted to thank you for coming with us. And for all your help. I really appreciate it."

Vernon smiles at this, "don't worry about it. It's times like these we've got to help each other the most, right? Or we're no better than those Crawford sons-of-bitches."

Lee lets out a hearty laugh, "I hear that! Anyway, I should keep checking around."

Vernon nods, Lee inspecting the nearby desk. There was a lone file resting on it, making Lee curious as he opens it up and reveals a tape, along with a page of info on a woman.

"Anna Correa?" Lee reads aloud to himself. "I guess she must've been a patient here. And this tape...?"

Lee picks up the tape, looking around the room and spotting a camera set up near Christa. He inserts the tape, Christa and Vernon noticing and walking over as it begins to play.

...

A woman appears on the screen, sitting on the medical bed as a familiar man in scrubs walks into view.

"This is day eighty-two since the outbreak... Fifteen forty-seven. Doctor Logan in consultation with pateint Anna Correa."

Anna looks up at Doctor looking, "why are you recording this?"

"Regulations. Oberson has ordered me to keep records of all medical examinations and consultations." Doctor Logan replies calmly, his kind smile falling. "I need you to brace yourself, Anna. The sonogram confirms that you're pregnant."

Anna's eyes widen in horror, her face paling. "Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God!"

"As you know... The rules are very clear. The termination is mandatory."

She looks up with fear. "You don't have to tell them! Tell them it was just nausea! That-- that you gave me something for it and it went away! This is my problem, not yours."

Doctor Logan shakes his head firmly, "if Oberson finds out that I concealed evidence of a pregnancy... I'm sorry. But these are the rules. I'm going to give you a sedative. It'll make the procedure easier on you."

He walks over to the medicine cabinet, Anna hyperventilating as she shakes her head wildly.

"I don't want the procedure! I want my baby! I can't do this!" she wails, burying her face in her hands.

Doctor Logan stops, his finger hovering over the keypad before he turns back to her.

"Anna... You don't have a choice. Now, if you like, you can take some time with this. But I need you to come back no later than tomorrow. Or I'll have no choice but to inform Oberson myself. I'm sorry."

Anna ignores him, rising and racing out while sobbing loudly in pain and fear.

Doctor Logan sighs, shaking his head as he walks over to the camera, and the video stops.

...

Lee pops out the tape, feeling a great sadness for the mother as he holds the tape in his palm.

"Damn it, we almost had it," Vernon sighs, shaking his head with a scowl.

"What the hell kind of place was this?!" Christa manages out, her eyes wide.

"Like Molly said... The worst kind."

Vernon closes his eyes, letting out another sigh as he turns to Lee. "Lee, maybe there's another tape. We've got to keep looking."

"I think I recognize that doctor," Lee confesses, looking between the two. "He was one of the walkers out in the alley by the auto shop."

"Maybe you should search it. See what he's got on him," Vernon suggests.

Lee sets the tape on the desk as he heads out, closing the door behind him as he enters the hallway. As he passes the lockers he notices the bloodied one was labeled Logan, indicating it was the Doctor's locker.

"Hmm... Maybe the combination for the cabinet's in there. If I find this lock's combo..." Lee murmurs to himself, continuing to the alley.

He could still hear the snarls of the walkers trying to get in, the hatchet still holding strong against them luckily.

Lee heads to the alley door, walking outside and moving down the metal stairs. He heads to the shed, ready to climb up when a walker comes out behind him.

He swiftly turns around, holding the walker back with a startled yelp. He throws the walker down, making him snarl as he goes to lunge at Lee once more.

A T.V slides off the shelf and bashes on the walker's head, killing him instantly with a sickening squish.

Lee shakes his head and blinks rapidly as he climbs up the shelves, leaping to the other side when he spots no walkers. He could hear them in the garage, so he made sure to be quiet.

The walker doctor was crawling away not to far from Lee, his legs not working anymore. Lee briskly catches up, the walker snarling as he looks up at Lee with his milky white eyes.

Lee swiftly stomps the walker's head in, killing him. He kneels down and checks the front shirt pocket of the walker, finding a tape. Along with a paper holding a combination on it to Logan's locker.

He smiles triumphantly, rising swiftly and heading back in.

...

Lee shuts the door to the alley behind him, walking down the hall and making a bee-line for Logan's locker. He unlocks the lock, finding another tape inside

"Safe combination has to be on one of these..."

He murmurs to himself, heading back to the nurse's office. He walks inside, holding the tapes in his hands.

"I found two more tapes. One of them is dated October Tenth," Lee calls as he enters.

Vernon looks up from the desk, "that's the day after the first one we watched."

"Put it in," Christa clicks the camera open, Lee walking over and inserting the tape.

...

Anna was sitting on the medical bed, sobbing quietly into her hands.

"Have you made a decision?" Doctor Logan questions, approaching the safe.

Anna looks up with cold eyes, dark bags under them. "I thought you said I didn't have a choice."

Doctor Logan pauses and turns to her, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, technically you do. You can terminate the pregnancy, or leave Crawford. Of course, that would be a death sentence for both you and your unborn child."

"... Maybe that's best. I stayed up all last night thinking about this. Why are we even trying to survive? To keep on living... If this is what it takes? If this is what it's turned us into..."

Doctor Logan sighs softly, "I don't make the rules, Anna."

Anna's eyes fill with tears as she lets out a choked cry, "doctor, I'm begging you... Please help me."

He shakes his head, his expression stern. "Maybe one day, when things are different, you can try again. But for now, today, we have to do this."

...

The three watch closely as Doctor Logan presses in the keypad, memorizing the code.

...

Anna suddenly darts up from her seat, grabbing a pair of scissors near her and jamming them into Doctor Logan's side with a yell.

He screams in pain as blood sprays out of his wound, meaning she pierced an important organ.

Anna takes his gun as she breathes rapid panting breaths, turning and racing out of the nurse's station.

"N-- No... No... No..." Doctor Logan whimpers on repeat, holding his side as blood soaks through.

He staggers to the camera, reaching for it before collapsing to the floor with a final breath.

...

Lee takes the tape out, his expression both sympathetic for the mother, and enlightened at the revelation.

"I think we know what happened to Crawford."

Vernon nods before turning to the safe. "More importantly, we've got the combination."

Christa lets out a shuddering breath, holding her hand up to her eyes as she cries softly. She turns away from the two men and walks over to the window, her arm wrapped around her stomach.

Vernon and Lee exchange a confused, concerned look, Lee slowly walking over to her.

"Christa? Are you all right? What's wrong?"

Christa wipes away at her tears, turning to Lee. "It's-- it's nothing. That was just... Hard to watch. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

She forces a smile to Lee, making his brows furrow even further in concern before he reluctantly nods.

"All right... Let's get those meds and get the hell out of here."

Vernon walks over to the safe and presses the correct numbers, the safe popping open as he smiles widely.

"We're in business! Antibiotics... Morphine... We'll take as much as this as we can carry."

Christa breathes out deeply in relief, Lee smiling as something finally goes right, other than them getting the battery.

"Okay," Vernon turns to Lee, his pockets stuffed with meds. "I think we're good. This is more than enough for your people and mine. Let's go!"

Lee goes to nod before pausing, "you know, I found a third tape in a locker outside. Maybe there's something else on there?"

"We got the meds for Omid. That's all I care about."

Christa replies, starting to head out as Vernon follows.

"We'll head back to the classroom. Don't take too long, Lee."

Lee watches the two leave, setting the tape down by the last one they watched. He inserts the tape he found outside in the locker, and it plays.

...

Doctor Logan zips up his pants directly in front of the camera before moving away, revealing Molly zipping up her hoodie while sitting on the medical bed.

"Listen. As fun as this was, I have to put a stop to this little arrangement," he speaks to Molly, inserting the safe code. "This is the last I can give you."

Molly's eyes widen, her lip curling into a snarl as she rises. "Why?!"

"Oberson had someone down here yesterday taking inventory. He's really cracking down. I just can't risk it."

He offers the medicine to Molly, making her slap his hand to the side.

"We had a deal!"

"Yes. We had a deal. We don't anymore."

He offers it once more, making her scoft as she snatches it from his hand.

"My sister needs this medicine! Without it, she'll die! Or she'll start showing symptoms and they'll take her away! I can't let that happen!"

Doctor Logan sighs, turning away from her as he walks to the camera. "I'm sorry, Molly. I've done all I can. But I have to look out for myself here."

Molly rolls her eyes, shoving past him roughly. "Yeah. That's the Crawford way, isn't it?"

...

Lee blinks owlishly as the video stops, the dots connecting about Molly and how she knew so much about Crawford.

"Well. Shit."

He rubs the back of his neck, setting the tape with the others before heading out.

Lee walks down the hall, jumping as someone jumps down from the hole in the roof behind him.

"Jesus Christ!" Lee gasps out, holding a hand to his heart as he turns around to Molly. "You scared the shit out of me! Where the fuck have you been?"

Molly snickers in amusement, "sight seeing."

Lee raises a brow to her, crossing his arms. "I'll take that battery now."

"Oh! Yeah... About that..."

Lee felt his heart sink at her tone, Molly peering up at him before bursting into a chortle.

"I'm just kidding!"

She shrugs off her backpack, it landing with a heavy thud as she unzips it. She takes out the battery, handing it over to Lee.

"Here you go."

Lee takes it, tucking it under his arm securely before noticing she was holding something at her side. "What's that?"

Molly quickly hides it behind her. "Nothing."

Lee frowns as she tucks the item away, "you can quit with the act, Molly. I know you're from Crawford."

Her eyes widen as her head snaps up to look at him. "What?! Who told you that?"

(?) Lee confronted Molly about her lie

"I saw you on a security tape. Why'd you lie to me?"

Molly scowls, "I said there were stories about Crawford. I never said that's how I knew about it. I never lied to you. And even if I did, so what? I don't owe you anything!"

Lee scoffs, his brows furrowed. "You save my life twice, but you can't tell me the truth?"

She looks away to the side, shifting awkwardly on her feet. "Are we really going to do this now?"

"I guess that's up to you."

Molly takes a deep breath, mentally debating for a moment before nodding. "I used to live here with my sister. She was fourteen years old. When the dead started walking and Crawford shut itself in, it seemed like a pretty good deal at first. We were safe, we had everything we needed to survive."

She closes her eyes tightly. "Then... The rules started coming down. No one who couldn't justify their place, earn their keep. No one who required special care. My sister was diabetic, and by Crawford's rules that made her a liability. I kept it a secret... Kept her safe for as long as I could. But in the end, I couldn't protect her. That's when I got out."

Molly lets out a bitter laugh. "Crawford. They always talked about how their system worked, how anything was better than becoming one of them. But I saw what they'd already become. I just wish I could have seen it before it was too late... Before they came and took my sister away."

She wipes away at her tears, sniffling softly as Lee watches with sadness and sympathy.

"This... This is all I have left of her," she takes out what she was holding before, a picture of her sister. "I didn't have time to take it before I got out of Crawford. I just... Wanted it, okay?"

Lee nods, setting a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Molly. I understand. She's pretty."

(?) Molly appreciates Lee's sympathy

Church bells ring out nearby, Molly's eyes widening as she looks up. "What the hell?"

"... I think that's our cue to get the hell out of here."

Molly nods with a small smile, her and Lee walking down the hall together towards the classroom.

Lee rounds the corner, flinching back with his arm raised as someone leaps out, holding a hatchet.

"Jesus!"

"Shit!"

Molly and Lee exclaim.

"Ben!" Lee scolds, scowling as he sets a hand on his heart.

"Sorry, sorry!" Ben wheezes out in a panic, lowering the hatchet. "I just got spooked by those bells. And then I heard someone coming... Kenny and I still can't get the door open to the armory. He sent me out to look for something we could use to bust it open. I found this."

Lee looks down at the hatchet in Ben's hand, his heart sinking in his chest and his eyes widening as he gasps quietly.

"... Ben... Where'd you get that?"

Ben grins, "I just found it. It was stuck in the door handle at the end of the hallway back there."

"Oh, no..."

Molly gives Lee a questioning look before the hall doors were rammed open, dozens of walkers pouring through with snarls.

"Shit!"

Molly was quick to react, taking out Hilda and darting to the closest walker. She slices her ice pick and pierces through his temple sideways, turning and swinging it up and stabbing another walker's jaw. Lee takes careful aim, ready to help in a moment's notice as Ben panics behind him with wide eyes.

She kicks a walker back, swinging Hilda horizontally and piercing through his forehead. She turns to yet another, striking it down before crying out as another walker jumps at her.

"Lee! Shoot this fucker!"

Lee fires a few shots, missing due to not wanting to hit Molly. Another bullet sounds off, the walker falling to the ground.

Molly pants heavily as she runs over, smiling. "Thanks!"

"That wasn't me!" Lee replies, looking down at his gun.

He looks to his side with Molly, Clement holding up a pistol with steady hands and a determined look as (Y/N) held a pocket knife at the ready.

"Good going, kid! Nice shot!" Molly praises Clement, rushing to the classroom.

"Thanks..." Clement breathes out, his adrenaline fading as he gulps with a shakey smile.

(Y/N) offers her hand with a laugh, the two high-fiving.

Lee grins proudly to Clement before turning to the walkers coming down the hall, scowling. He leads the two back to the classroom, the walkers following closely.

Brie holds the door open with a panicked look, shutting it behind them and holding it closed.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Kenny demands.

"They're coming!" Lee urgently replies, rushing over.

Kenny's face falls. "Oh, shit."

"That oughta hold 'em," Vernon looks over the door Brie was holding shut, nodding.

"Sure," she replies shakily. "But now how do we get out?!"

"Through the armory!" Kenny shouts, grunting as he rams against the door. "If we can just get this damn door open!"

Lee glares at Ben, snatching away the hatchet from him and shaking his head. Ben flinches, guiltily looking away and rubbing his arm. 

"Come on, damn you!" Kenny rams against the door again, wincing and rubbing his shoulder.

"W-- What about the windows?" (Y/N) suggests, looking up at Lee.

He sighs shortly, shaking his head. "Won't work, we're up too high to climb out of them."

"This is my fault... All my fault!" Ben whimpers out.

Christa scowls in confusion at this. "The hell is he babbling about?"

"Ben, we talked about this," Lee firmly speaks up, shaking his head.

"No! Wait, I want to know what he meant," Christa cuts in. "What do you mean, this is all your fault?"

"Kenny, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, man" Ben was crying out, his breathing coming out uneven.

"Kid, this ain't the best time! Whatever you did, save it for later!" Kenny curtly yells back.

"I let them.. I let them in..." Ben whispers.

"Ben," Lee tries again, shaking his head firmly. "We don't have time for this now!"

Ben looks up at Lee with tearful eyes. "I'm sorry, Lee. I can't do this anymore. He's got a right to know!"

(?) Lee tried to stop Ben

"Know what?" Christa snaps.

"It's been me all along! Putting all of us in danger! Katjaa and Duck... It was all me! It was all me!"

Kenny kicks the door to the armory, down, pausing with furrowed brows and turning to Ben. "Wait a minute... What are you saying?"

"It was me who made the deal with the bandits at the motor inn, slipping them supplies!" Ben explains frantically. "I thought maybe I could keep them off our backs! When it got discovered, that's when they attacked. That's when Duck..."

Kenny's eyes were wide as his breathing picked up, his face becoming enraged as he lunges at Ben.

Vernon and Lee swiftly move in and hold him back, Ben cowering away in fear.

"Kenny! Lay off, man! Ben didn't mean any of this to happen, it was just a mistake!" Lee manages out, straining to hold him back.

(?) Lee defended Ben

"I don't give a fuck!" Kenny screams, his glare deadly. "You little pissant! You are fucking dead, you hear me?! Dead! My wife and child... You got them both fucking killed!"

Kenny goes limp, panting heavily as his strength gives out from lack of food and sleep.

"... Nice group you got here," Molly mutters under her breath with a casual smile.

"Not the time, Molly," Lee firmly warns.

Kenny scoffs as he rises to his feet, his face scrunched up in anger. "If this asshole thinks he's getting on our boat after what he did, he's out of his mother fucking mind!"

He shoves Ben roughly, who doesn't say anything to retaliate.

"You hear me, shitbird?! You can stay behind and fucking rot!"

"Kenny, we'll sort this out later, after we get out of here, okay?" Lee tries to calm Kenny down.

"Ain't nothing to sort out! I just told you the way it's gonna be!" Kenny shakes his head with a scowl. "The boat's not big enough for all of us! Two are gonna have to be left behind! Might as well have one of them be this piece of shit right here!"

"... Well, I vote we leave him," Christa speaks up. "I'm sorry, Ben. I know you mean well, but all I want to do is get back to Omid. And you put that at risk."

"Wait a minute," (Y/N) loudly says, making the group look back at her and Clement. "Don't we get a vote?"

Lee opens and closes his mouth a few times, slowly nodding. "Of course you do."

(Y/N) nods back before moving in front of Ben. "Ben made a mistake! He's our friend, so we should forgive him!"

"Yeah!" Clement agrees. "And we don't leave friends behind! That's our vote!" 

Christa looks down at the two, her expression softening as she rubs the back of her neck. "... On second thought, I think I'm gonna abstain. Lee?"

Lee's face hardens as he looks around at the group. "I've seen enough of Crawford to know that becoming like them is the beginning of the end. I vote Ben stays with us."

(?) Lee voted for Ben to stay

Ben looks up at Lee with wide, tearful eyes, clearly surprised at his words. Clement and (Y/N) smile widely, looking up at Lee with admiration.

"What about the rest of us?" Brie questions. "Don't we get a say in--"

She screams as the glass on the door was shattered as an arm bursts through, grabbing her face and yanking her to a walker's awaiting mouth.

The walkers start shoving the door open, Brie screaming in agony as some start to tear her apart and bite her neck out. One bites through her stomach as she falls, ripping out her intestine as her eyes become lifeless.

"Brie!" Vernon shouts, his eyes wide with horror.

"Now can we go?!" Molly demands, backing away towards the armory door with the others.

"Damn right! Vernon, come on!"

Lee snaps Vernon out of his shock, the group rushing out of the classroom and into the stairway. Lee tries to close the door behind them to no avail, Kenny having broken off the hinges.

He curses under his breath, looking around the nearly empty room. "So much for the armory."

"What's left of it," Kenny sighs in response.

"A few rounds, that's it!" Christa calls with panic in her tone, loading her pistol.

Lee presses against the broken door when he hears the walkers approaching, Kenny's eyes widening.

"You didn't close that door behind us?!"

"I couldn't. The lock was busted!" Lee replies, giving Kenny and accusing look.

"Great. Just fucking great." Kenny heavily sighs, shaking his head. "Come on, there's gotta be a way out down here."

They start heading down the stairs, and come to another door. Lee opens it, his eyes widening at the sight of the first floor full of walkers.

"Fuck!" Kenny screams, Lee slamming the door shut and pressing against it.

"That's not gonna hold!" Lee warns, feeling their weight against it. "Back upstairs!"

The group listen, (Y/N) hesitating before yelping as Clement grabs her hand and runs up the stairs with her. Kenny goes to follow before pausing when he sees a corpse with a rifle under his body, and he rushes over and takes it.

"Lee, look!"

Lee looks over as Kenny tosses the shotgun, catching it with a grateful nod as Kenny rushes after the others.

Lee backs away from the door, slowly heading up the stairs just as it bursts open with walkers. Lee prepares the rifle, firing it and killing the first walker through. He starts walking carefully up the stairs, firing at any walker that gets too close to him.

He gets rid of a handful with ease, but gasps as his foot goes through the rotting wood of the stairs.

Lee winces in pain and tries to wiggle his leg out before shooting a walker, repeating this process again as he feels his leg coming loose. He grunts as he pulls his leg free, rapidly shooting three more walkers and killing them.

He looks ahead when he hears more walkers approaching, no doubt coming from the door they had escaped out of.

The walker in front of him was shot down, making him look up in thanks at Christa.

She nods back, rushing with the others to keep climbing as more walkers come after them.

Lee takes out his hatchet, yelling as he rams it against a walker and knocks him down the stairs. He approaches another, striking him down before lifting him up and over the railing down below. He kicks another gladiator-style past a broken part of the railing, and swings his hatchet at another walker, cutting her head in half and knocking her out of his way.

He stabs the hatchet through another walker, gasping when it gets stuck on his head. The walker turns and grabs at Lee, making him yelp and use the rifle to hold him back. Lee manages to throw him over, the walker holding onto rifle.

Lee fires the gun, splattering the walker's brains. He pants lightly as he runs up the stairs after the group, noticing they had taken care of the rest.

"Come on!" Kenny calls to Lee, waving him over to a ladder leading out of the bell tower.

(Y/N) runs over to Lee with relief in her eyes, Lee kneeling down and opening his arms to her.

The two share a hug as Clement runs over, Lee opening his arm and pulling him in too while laughing softly.

"It's all right, you two. I'm fine. Any way out of here?"

He rises, smiling down at them as Vernon insects the ladder.

"This leads to the roof," Christa replies. "We might be able to find a way down from there."

"... You didn't come into town from the railroad, did you?"

"Yeah. Why?" Kenny questions Vernon.

Vernon blinks slowly, shaking his head. "Never mind. I can see the sewer where we came from here! I think we can do this."

"Well, what are we waitin' for?! Go, go!"

Vernon was the first out, Lee urging Clement and (Y/N) next. Clement makes (Y/N) go first before he follows, Christa climbing out after them and Molly after her.

Lee looks back anxiously at the walkers snarling getting closer, Kenny climbing out of the window.

"Ben, come on!" Lee urges. "Let's go!"

Ben nods and goes to move before wincing, the bell sounding off and roaring loudly in their ears. They block the sound out with their hands, neither noticing a walker hanging from the bell and swinging closer to Ben.

Ben yells and flails around as the walker grabs his neck, making him nearly lose his balance and fall backwards as he fights against him.

Lee quickly grabs his rifle, and shoots the walker dead. Ben screams as he falls backwards, Lee just barely managing to grab his wrist as he drops down to his stomach.

"Hold on, Ben! I got you!"

Walkers were still climbing the stairs, getting closer and closer to Lee and some reaching for Ben's dangling feet.

"Ben, climb up! Come on! You can do it!" Lee strains, his fingers digging into Ben's arm.

Ben looks down with wide eyes, shaking his head. "There's no time! You have to go, now!"

"Quit fucking around, Ben! Come on!"

Ben's face hardens. "Let go, damn it! Get Clement and (Y/N) and the others out of here!"

"Lee."

Lee looks over his shoulder, Kenny peering in through the window from the ladder. He looks at Lee expectantly before looking to the walkers, silently urging with his eyes for Lee to hurry before he climbs down.

"Lee, we both know." Ben softly speaks, and gives up.

Lee uses more of his strength to hold Ben up as he goes limp, making him hiss as he begins to slip from his grasp.

"Let me go."

Lee looks over to the walkers approaching from the stairs, and back to Ben with determination. He grunts out with effort as he starts raising Ben up with newfound strength, his adrenaline pumping in his ears as he pulls the boy up to safety.

(?) Lee saved Ben's life

Ben looks around with gasping breaths and wide eyes. "Why...?"

"Go, go, go!" Lee orders firmly, forcing Ben to his feet.

Ben heads out the window first, swiftly climbing down the ladder as Lee follows closely, leaving the walkers and Crawford behind.

...

..

.

Christa was the first to enter the house, anxious to check on Omid. The group head up the stairs, Christa looking to Omid with wide eyes.

"... Christa?" Lee calls in concern, slowly entering the room. "Everything okay?"

"Omid!" she cries out, racing to his side.

Lee looks over, Omid's face pale and his limbs sprawled over the bed as a coat of sweat covered his face. Christa drops to her knees and takes his hand, her other hand cupping his cheek gently.

"Christa, don't! Stay back!"

"I never should have left you," she sniffles, letting her tears fall. "I'm so sorry!"

"Christa, get away from him!" Vernon agrees with Lee firmly.

Omid suddenly gasps, jerking awake as Lee rushes over, pulling Christa away from him.

He blinks slowly, his brows furrowed as he loopily smiles at Christa. "Hey! Back already?"

Christa lets out a sob of relief, holding a hand to her mouth as she smiles widely and takes his hand. "We got you medicine."

"Good," Omid groans, laying his head back down. "Feel like I could use some."

Vernon moves to his other side, getting some pills and holding them to Omid's mouth for him to take. The others walk over with relieved smiles, Omid grinning before his face drops at the sight of Ben.

"You okay, kid? You look worse than I do."

Kenny scoffs, scowling at Ben. "We almost didn't make it out of there because of this asshole. Should've left him behind when we had the chance."

Lee ignores the accusing look Kenny gives him, focusing on Omid.

"Guys... What the hell happened out there?" Omid slowly questions.

Kenny rolls his eyes. "Let someone else tell you. I got work to do."

"Okay," Vernon looks up, done inspecting his leg. "With a little luck, you should start feeling better pretty soon. I'll stay here for a few more hours to check on him. Let me know if you need anything."

Omid sighs in relief, nodding as he leans back on the pillow while holding Christa's hand. "Thanks, doc."

"Yes!" Christa looks up at Vernon with a thankful smile. "Thank you so much!"

Vernon nods, turning to Lee as his expression becomes serious. "Maybe now's a good time for you and me to have a little talk. In private."

Lee tilts his head and follows Vernon out of the room, closing the door behind them. "Listen, man... About what happened to Brie..."

Vernon sighs, a sad smile on his face. "Don't beat yourself up over it. There was nothing you could have done. You want to know the worst part?"

Lee raises his brows silently for him to continue.

"I don't feel much," he confesses, looking down at his steady hand. "I mean... I don't feel enough. Shouldn't I be broken up over what happened to her? That's how I was when I lost my daughter. When I lost my friends in those first few weeks... But now? It's like... I just take something like this in stride. Like this is what our world is now, and we'd better just get used to it."

Lee frowns at this, looking away as the two were silent for a moment. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Vernon breathes out deeply. "I know you care about Clement and (Y/N). Anyone can see that. And I know you want what's best for them. But this plan of yours? Putting everyone on a boat with no destination? Do you really think that's their best chance of finding somewhere where they can be safe? Because I don't. So... I want to make you an offer."

Lee was silent for a moment, processing Vernon's words. "What kind of offer?"

"I'll take them off your hands. Take them back with me, to my people. We're well supplied, well hidden, and a lot of us have had kids of our own. And now Crawford's fallen, so we've got nothing left to fear from them."

Lee's eyes were wide, a frown on his face as he looks down.

"They'll be safe with us. Safer than they'll ever be if they stay with you, I promise you," Vernon softly continues, no malice behind his words. "That's what you want for them, right? To be safe?"

Lee rubs the back of his neck, "you're coming at me with a lot here, Vernon... I need to think it over."

(?) Lee chose not to give Vernon an answer

"Of course!" Vernon nods, his tone understanding. "Take your time. But I want you to think about some things. You're a good man, Lee. You've been protecting these people as best you can so far, and they look up to you. Rightly so. But it's different with children. You might have brought them this far... But sooner or later, they might ask you for more than you can give them. I'm sorry if that's hard to hear, but it's the truth."

Lee lets out a heavy sigh, slowly nodding. "I appreciate it, Vernon. Let me think about it, okay?"

Vernon nods, patting Lee's shoulder as he passes him. "You do that."

Lee looks around the second floor as Vernon heads down the stairs, spotting Clement and (Y/N) sitting by the window in the room.

He starts approaching, pausing as Molly exits one of the rooms with her belongings.

"Hey," he calls to her, making her freeze at the top of the stairs. "Going somewhere?"

Molly rubs the back of her neck, slowly turning to him. "Yeah... I'm... About to head out. I-- I just wanted to say thanks. For everything. It's been fun."

She smiles softly, Lee frowning.

"What are you talking about? Kenny's on the boat right now. I thought you were coming with us. God knows you've earned it."

Her smile falls as she shrugs, looking away. "Yeah, ah, I've been thinking it over. It's... Not for me. Sounds like it'd be pretty crowded, and I never did like the water."

Lee walks over to her, his forehead creased with concern. "You sure about this?"

"I'm sure," she reassuringly smiles. "I've always done better on my own anyhow."

He slowly nods, looking to the side as Molly sighs.

"Listen. I'm not much for goodbyes. Tell the others for me?"

"Sure," Lee nods. "You take care of yourself, Molly."

Molly surprises him by stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him. "You too, Lee."

Lee hugs her back gently, the two pulling away with small smiles. She nods and walks to the stairs, giving him one last look.

"You be sure to take care of those kids. You know they think the world of you!" she chuckles, waving.

Lee processes her words, nodding firmly. "Good luck."

"Ain't nothing to do with luck," she winks playfully, and with that, she leaves.

Lee's smile slowly falls as he hears the backdoor open and close, and he turns to Clement and (Y/N).

He quietly enters their room, the two sitting at the window. (Y/N) was looking outside as Clement sat criss cross next to her, holding her hand open on his knee and tracing lines down her palm.

"Hey, bud. Hey, sweet pea," Lee softly greets.

"Kenny's working on the boat," (Y/N) quietly informs, watching the man work.

"... I know."

"What are we going to do?" Clement questions Lee, looking up at the man. "After he fixes it? Where will we go?"

Lee squats down to the two, shaking his head as he sighs. "I don't know. We'll figure it out. We always do."

"Is Ben going to be okay? He doesn't seem the same since he got back..."  Clement trails off.

"Well... He's been through a lot, Clem. He's just gotten a little overwhelmed, that's all," Lee replies reassuringly. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

Clement nods at this before asking his next question. "Before we leave tomorrow, will we have time to look for our parents?"

Lee doesn't know what to say, looking away from the two.

(?) Lee avoided Clement's question

(Y/N)'s lower lip trembles lightly as she tries not to cry, quickly pulling her hand away from Clement and hugging her knees to her chest. Clement stared at Lee with wide eyes, knowing what his silence met as his eyes gloss with tears.

"I-- I knew it," (Y/N) hiccups out, shaking her head as she suddenly begins to loudly cry, unable to stop it. "I knew they were dead... I knew it!"

Lee reaches out for the two, his heart aching. Clement pulls away, turning away from Lee as soft cries leave him. (Y/N) grabs her doll, hugging it close as she sobs.

She leans her head on the window with her legs to the side, Clement turning his body around and laying his head down on the sides of her thigh as the two continue crying together.

Lee looks at the two with pain as he rises, sighing softly and shaking his head at himself as he walks over to the couch. He sets down the walkie-talkie besides him and sits down with another sigh, his eyes slowly slipping shut from lack of sleep.

...

He jolts awake a few hours later, blinking away the blurriness from his eyes as he looks around the now empty room.

"Clement? (Y/N)?"

Her doll was where the two once were, Lee rising from his seat and walking over to it with furrowed brows.

She always took it everywhere.

"(Y/N)? Clement?"

Lee holds the doll in his hand and turns to the couch, his heart sinking when he sees the radio gone.

He practically trips over himself down the stairs, still dazed from just waking up. "Kids! Now's not the time for games!"

He receives no response.

Lee swiftly makes his way outside, hoping they were just out there playing together.

"(Y/N)! Clement!" he shouts, his voice echoing in the area.

His eyes widen at the sight of Clement's hat on the ground by the fence. "Oh, God..."

Lee swiftly rushes over, picking up the hat and looking between it and the doll.

He hears radio static outside the fence, and climbs over it to check it out.

He spots Clement's radio resting on the ground by a pile of garbage, his heart racing in fear.

"No..."

Lee runs over to the radio, bending down to pick it up...

He screams as a walker lunges out from behind the trash, him throwing him off of him with a snarl. Lee raises his boot, slamming it down multiple times on the walker's head and panting heavily.

Lee bends back down to grab Clement's hat, his eyes widening when he sees blood on it.

His blood.

"Oh, no... No... No!"

He picks up the radio and puts it on his belt, tucking (Y/N)'s doll securely in his pant pocket before looking over his wrist.

He was bit.

"Fuck!"

"Lee? Lee, you out here?" Christa's voice calls from the yard. "Lee?"

Lee notices the others walking around the side to find him, Lee panting softly as he looks down at his arm.

"Are you crazy?! What are you doing out here? It ain't safe!" Kenny fusses.

"Lee?" Omid calls, his brows furrowed. "Where are the kids? They're not in their rooms."

"Vernon ain't in the house either. What the hell is going on?"

Lee wasn't listening to them, his eyes focused on the bite staring back at him on his arm.

"Lee... Who's blood is that?" Christa slowly questions, noticing Clement's hat.

Lee turns to face them, holding his arm with a face of panic and anger.

"It's his! Look at his arm-- he's been bitten. He's bitten!" Omid gasps, his eyes wide.

Christa's hand flies up to her mouth. "Oh, my God..."

"No way," Kenny lowly speaks in denial, his face hardening. "No. No fucking way!"

"There's no time to worry about me," Lee shakes his head. "Clement and (Y/N) are gone."

"Holy shit. And Vernon ain't here anymore! Did he take them?!"

"I don't know," Lee tries to calm his breathing, exhaling sharply. "But I have to find them."

"Okay," Christa gently speaks up, nodding. "What do you need from us?"

Lee closes his eyes tightly, remaining silent as a million thoughts run through his head. But only three mattered.

Where are you two?

Who took you?

... Are you two hurt?

"You're... not thinking of going after them alone, are you?" Omid questions, his brows furrowed.

"We're all responsible for them," Christa smiles to Lee. "And in your condition, you may not make it to them in time. They need our help. All of our help."

"Damn right!" Omid grins with a firm nod. "We can't let you do this alone."

"So, that's settled, then. We'll look for them together."

"Hell yeah! What are we waiting for?"

Lee looks between the two with grateful eyes. "Thanks, you guys. I appreciate it. Really."

Lee looks to Kenny, Kenny staring down at the bite on Lee's arm with disbelief and anger.

"You've always been there for me, Lee," Kenny softly speaks, contrasting the anger on his face. "Always had my back when it mattered. What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't there for you now? Bitten or not... I'm with you to the end. You can count on me."

Lee chuckles softly with a nod, the two sharing a bro-hug and patting each other's backs.

They pull away, Lee turning to Ben. "What about you, Ben?"

"Now, hold on a minute," Kenny intervenes. "You're not really thinking about him with us, are you?"

"Kenny," Lee sighs, some exasperation to his tone. "Deal with it. The way I see it, Ben still has a chance to make things right. If he wants it. How about it, Ben?"

Ben sheepishly looks around, shrugging. "I-- I don't know. Whatever you think is best."

Lee's eyes narrow. "Those kids are two of the few good things still left in this world. They stood up for you in Crawford when Kenny wanted you gone. Don't you think you owe it to them to stand up for them now?"

Ben's face hardens as he meets Lee's eye. "You're right. I owe them. I want to do this for them... But I want to do it for Kenny too. I gotta make it right with him. Somehow I gotta make it right..."

(?) Lee gave Ben a chance to prove himself

"Okay, guys." Lee sighs looking down the road. "We should go find Vernon. See if he took them. Let's head out."

Kenny goes to follow the others, pausing. "What about the boat? We're just gonna leave it unguarded?"

Christa sighs in exasperation. "If someone was going to take it, they'd have done it already. Besides, what choice do we have?"

Lee looks between the group with gratefulness, turning and leading them down the street with determination.

...

..

.

Lee grunts as he moves the sign from the wall, stepping through and beckoning the others to follow. He looks around in confusion, noticing all the food and supplies were gone.

He approaches the door, turning to the others as Kenny nods encouragingly. He takes out his pistol, and swiftly opens the door.

Inside was completely empty, not a sign of Vernon or (Y/N) or Clement anywhere.

Lee lowers his gun. "Where the hell are they?"

The group follow him inside, looking around the empty morgue.

"Looks like they got out of here in a hurry," Kenny points out, noticing some items in disarray.

"Vernon! Get out here!" Lee shouts, his voice echoing. "There doesn't have to any trouble here! I just want my kids! Give them back, and nobody needs to get hurt!"

No response.

"Damn it!"

Lee curses, leaning his forearms on the counter and pressing his forehead to his palm with a frightened expression. The others watch him with sadness, not knowing what to say.

A faint sound starts coming through the empty room, making Lee slowly look up at the small windows.

The sunlight was blocked momentarily by a walker walking by. Then another. Then another. Then... By thousands. Their snarls and gurgled cries filled the area, almost deafening as the group watched with wide eyes.

The group turn to the tunnel, hearing the faint sound of many, many walkers beginning to approach them through the sewers.

"Lee!" (Y/N)'s voice whispers sharply in fear through the walkie-talkie.

Lee swiftly grabs it, "(Y/N)! Are you and Clement all right?! Where are you!"

No response from her.

"Vernon, you son of a bitch!" he snarls into the radio.

"Hello, Lee."

Christa and Omid share a wide-eyed look, Kenny scowling and Ben still watching the walkers with disbelief.

"Vernon, put Clement and (Y/N) on! I want to talk to them!"

The voice scoffs. "This isn't Vernon. And you should really watch your tone. Clement and (Y/N) are fine. But if I were you... I'd choose my next words very carefully."

Lee looks around with wide eyes filled with rage, holding the walkie-talkie to his mouth, and...

...

..

.

It tolls for Lee...

...

CHOICES I MADE...

Me and 73% of players killed the boy in the attic

Me and 57% of players were rational and honest with Vernon

Me and 47% of players brought Clement and (Y/N) Crawford

Me and 45% of players pulled Ben up

Me and 80% of players showed the bite

...

WHO CAME WITH YOU?

Omid, Christa, Ben, Kenny came with Lee to help him

...

..

.

Howdy lovelies!! :D

Im sorry this took so long

But this is deadass

15,530 words.

Took two days to write ouo

Now, onto episode 5 )): the final episode of this game! I am doing 400 days, though! So stay tuned for that as well! ❤❤

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