Boom! Surprise! That's right, you all get two BACK-to-BACK updates in one night! I know, it's great!
I'm going to be honest, I was shocked to see how supportive our community was of the last chapter of this story. It was commented on/liked more than I expected, and honestly, it brought a smile to my face.
This has been a project that leans away from the smut I'm known for, diving into a plot-heavy story. My goal with this story is to create something that's story-driven, keeps you hooked, and wanting for more.
Since this is a passion project, I was ready for the negativity. Instead, you all showed me support, and I'm eternally grateful for that. Honestly. It means the world to me.
That being said, riding off the momentum of the last chapter, here we are with the 2nd! I hope this chapter blends with the last one. As I said before, I'm going to be taking creative liberties and not being completely 1 to 1 with the main story, so be on your toes! We're gonna be in uncharted waters soon!
Also, random question, but should I post this story to Hentai Foundry once the month is up? I don't know if the site allows plot stories that don't revolve around smut, if that makes sense. Just honestly wondering so I don't break some hidden TOS policy. This will for sure be going up on my A03 account.
For anyone curious, my next story will be another smut-heavy chapter! Should be out very soon, so watch out for it!
Thanks and enjoy!
STORY START:
The road into Macon was quieter than Lee expected. The engine of their sedan hummed as the city skyline slowly grew larger through the dusty windshield. Street signs leaned crookedly, some half-knocked down. Storefronts passed by with shattered windows and doors left hanging open.
It felt...wrong. A city like Macon should've been alive, traffic lights blinking, people walking, but there was only silence. Eerie silence.
Lee tightened his hands around the steering wheel. They had made the drive quicker than expected, and somewhere deep down, he hoped his hometown would have had some semblance of normalcy. Instead, he was greeted like everywhere else in the world. Just rotting, overwhelming chaos.
In the backseat, Clementine and Naruto watched the empty streets pass by. They had finished coloring long ago and passed the time by trying to teach Naruto English. However, their conversation died down as reality set back in.
A certain survival instinct flowed through their veins. An instinct that you needed to have if you wanted to survive in this world.
"Your parents lived here?" Clementine softly asked, looking at Lee through the rear-view mirror.
"Yeah, they did," Lee answered gently, his sharp eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. He was finding the drive to become more difficult, having to maneuver around corpses, barriers, and abandoned vehicles.
Naruto stayed silent, a firm frown on his face. He might not have known where he was, but he knew one thing. This wasn't Konoha. It couldn't be anywhere near what he once called home.
The trio hadn't seen a single person since they crossed the city limits. No cars were driving. No voices. Just the occasional smear of dried blood across the asphalt.
As the tires curnched lightly over scattered debris, everything changed. Up ahead, near the corner of a pharmacy, stood a young Asian man. He burst out of a narrow alleyway, sprinting into the street. He looked to be in his early twenties, wearing a pizza delivery jacket and clutching a fire axe in both hands.
Behind him were three of those...monsters. Slamming the brakes, Lee shouted at the passengers in the backseat, "Hold on!"
The creatures staggered after the Asian man with jerky, unnatural movements. Their skin was gray and slack, their clothes soaked with blood. One of them was missing half its jaw, yet it still lunged forward with grasping hands.
"LEE!" Clementine shouted from the back, clutching her backpack. The sound of their car coming to a screeching halt alerted the man to their presence.
Before the older man could help, he heard the back door opening. With wide eyes and a churning stomach, Lee saw Naruto immediately shift into action. His face was set in a stern, angered expression. As if he had had enough of these creatures plaguing the world.
"Naruto, wait!" Lee shouted, turning the car off and stuffing the keys into the pocket of his backpack. He glanced at the back, his hand already opening the driver's side door. "Clementine, let's go!"
Clementine hesitantly nodded, ready to follow. As she opened the door, she spotted Naruto's dictionary. Knowing how much it meant to him, she spent a few extra seconds stuffing it inside her backpack.
Naruto moved with a certain swiftness that Olympic athletes would be hard-pressed to match. Lee watched as his sandals pounded against the concrete. His hand retrieved a switchblade that Lee didn't know he had. The blonde extended the blade, his blue eyes narrowing.
The stranger managed to swing his axe once, barely pushing one down before another grabbed his jacket. He yelled, struggling to keep the rotting face from taking a chunk out of his neck. It slowly gained the upper hand, leaning closer and closer with disgusting breath.
Thankfully, before it could get any closer, Naruto struck.
CRUNCH! SNAP!
The monster collapsed instantly, a switchblade dug into the side of its skull. The Asian man stared with wide eyes, unsure of what had just happened.
Before the third creature could attack, Naruto was on it. He swiftly yanked the switchblade out by pure force, lodging it through the final creature's left eye. He pulled it back with a loud squelch, an impressive display of strength for someone his age. Even grown men would have issues pulling a weapon out of bone, yet Naruto treated it like a simple task.
The young man panted, breathing hard. He looked at the blonde kid who was wiping his bloodied knife, as well as the other two arriving. He could see a little girl peering nervously from the back of an older man.
"...Man, I don't know what you're feeding this kid, but he's a beast. Cool whisker marks by the way," He said, still catching his breath. "I am REALLY glad you guys showed up. Thanks for the help. Name's Glenn Rhee."
Naruto glanced back at him, giving an appreciative nod. He could pick out bits and pieces, such as the phrase 'thank you.' He could understand English better than he could speak it at the moment, although it was still at a beginner's level.
Lee stared at the rotting corpses, waiting to see if they'd get up. When they didn't even twitch, he allowed a small sigh of relief, "Happy we were in the right place at the right time. I'm Lee, this is Clementine, and that's Naruto...but he only speaks Japanese. We're working on his English."
Glenn committed the names to memory, picking up his fire axe from the floor. He cracked a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood, "Naruto? How did I just get out-Asianed in the apocalypse?"
Lee chuckled. He looked past Glenn's shoulder, finding the streets of Macon to be empty. Thankfully, their little intervention didn't attract any unnecessary attention. "Sorry to cut it short, Glenn, but we've got to get going. We're on our way to a pharmacy."
"A pharmacy? You mean the Everett Pharmacy?" Glenn asked, raising a dark brow. Seeing Lee's short nod, Glenn smiled, "No shit! I'm holed up there right now with a few people. I don't mind showing you the way, seeing that you're decent people and all."
"T-That would be great!" Lee couldn't believe his luck. While he knew how to get to his family's store, having an escort wouldn't hurt. It only improved his odds of keeping the children safe. His hand reached back, rubbing the side of Clementine's arm in a comforting way.
The former professor glanced back at the sedan they arrived in, wondering if he should move it. Noticing his gaze, Glenn decided to put that train of thought to rest.
"Listen, I don't know how much you know already, but I wouldn't start up that car. Not unless you're ready to book it out of town," Glenn mentioned, poking one of the creatures with the end of his fire axe. "They're attracted to sound; any noise will get them moving. We should walk on foot for now."
"Yeah, I was starting to realize that," Lee nodded, confirming one of his theories.
Glenn noticed Clementine opening her backpack, retrieving a thick book. She handed it to Naruto, whose entire face lit up in joy. He put away his switchblade, grabbing the book with both hands. He bowed in gratitude, muttering in Japanese. Clementine giggled in response, waving off the praise.
It was a cute sight in his opinion.
"Alright, kiddos, don't fall behind. Walkers could be around any damn corner in this town," Glenn mentioned, adjusting his grip on the axe.
"Walkers?" Lee asked.
"It's what we call them," Glenn shrugged, "But if you ask me, I think I like the term Geek. Fits them better."
With a hardened resolve, Glenn began leading the group to the pharmacy. They stayed close, looking at every dark alleyway they passed.
Clementine felt her body shiver as the cold air ran past her skin. She didn't like the environment, nor the occasional low growl they heard in the distance. For her, it felt like she could be grabbed at any moment. At any second.
"What if I'm a burden? What if I get in the way?" Clementine thought, her feet trailing behind Lee's. She didn't want to voice her thoughts aloud, but secretly bottled them up. So far, she had felt her contribution to the group wasn't much.
Lee was their clear leader, their mentor. He was capable of scavenging, gathering supplies, and making the right calls. Despite being with him for a short time, Clementine noticed he was capable.
Naruto even showed his potential, unafraid of these walkers. He was around her age, but did things that she couldn't explain. His ability to stand proud and strike was something she envied.
What if she were grabbed in a split second? Could she fend off the monsters? She hadn't even killed one of them yet!
As these thoughts ate her up, Clementine felt something unexpected.
She felt a calm, comforting hand. And it wasn't Lee's.
"No worry," Naruto smiled, walking alongside her. He cracked a small, comfortable smile that made her feel strong. "I protect."
Clementine felt touched, appreciating the gesture. It was enough to send her tidal wave of thoughts away, leaving her with a feeling of confidence and reassurance.
As the two bonded, the other two adults scanned the area while keeping the lead. Glenn tapped his fingers against the axe's handle while Lee kept one hand on his hammer. The two needed to ensure they wouldn't be caught off guard or walk into a trap. "You originally from Macon?"
Caught off guard by the question, Lee contemplated lying. While he didn't think Glenn was a bad person, one could never be too sure. However, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, he answered honestly. "Yes."
"Figured," Glenn nodded, "It's the only reason someone would come here after everything's gone to shit. I was pretty surprised to see you taking care of two kids though, you their dad?"
Lee shook his head, "No, I'm not their dad. I'm helping Clementine until we find her parents. They were in Savannah before everything fell apart."
"Savannah? Quite a way away," Glenn noted, turning a corner with the group. They spotted a few walkers stumbling in a group down the road. They briefly paused before realizing they were no threat, continuing their trek, "And what about the other kid? Naruto?"
"He's...with me. I'm hoping he can learn English fast enough so I can help with whatever he needs," Lee answered, taking a moment. He didn't know if disclosing his status as a former prisoner was a good idea, considering that's how he had found the blonde.
"If I actually spoke Japanese, I could've helped. Too bad I only know Korean, and only the basic stuff," Glenn joked. He spotted the pharmacy down the road, meaning their short trip would soon come to an end. "But I hope you find what that kid needs. Being by yourself in this hellhole isn't ideal..."
Lee agreed. He could only imagine how traumatizing this must have been for Naruto. Not only was he away from his parents, but he had to try to navigate while knowing nearly no English.
As the man went down memory lane, he blanked.
"Wait...wasn't Naruto hurt when we first found him? I remember he was bleeding from the side of his mouth," Lee put together in his head. Everything had been so hectic the past few days, he hadn't put much thought into it. Yet as he pondered it now, it looked strange. Glancing over his shoulder at the talking children, Lee grew more puzzled.
Naruto seemed fine. His injuries, bruises, and signs of bleeding had vanished. For all intents and purposes, he looked like a healthy child.
"Then he jumped out of the treehouse just fine without hurting himself...and he handled these walkers pretty easily," Lee thought, chewing the inside of his cheek. He watched as something Naruto said made Clementine laugh, causing him to face the front again. For now, he would focus on checking on his family, but this wasn't over.
Nearby retail stores, boarded up and closed, filled up the street. Everything from hardware to vacant markets brought a sense of nostalgia to Lee. He could remember the thousands of times he ran up and down this road, having fun with his brother in their youth.
Shaking his head, Lee cleared his mind. Now wasn't the time to zone out or he risked his life. This life was now cutthroat.
"Here we are, home sweet home...for now," Glenn mentioned, stepping aside. Lee glanced up, taking one second longer to stare at his family name. Everett Pharmacy. It brought a certain weight to his chest.
The trio stepped through a metal barrier. Glenn shut it behind them, locking it with a padlock he had a key to. After tugging it to ensure it was shut tight, he nodded his head. "Let's go inside."
Lee was the first one to enter, hearing a soft jingle that sounded like music to his ears. A small grin spread its way across his face as he took in the environment. Everything from the stale air, the newspaper decorations, and the family portraits on the wall was comforting. He could also see some product still in stock on the various shelves, although it looked to be dangerously low.
That was until he heard the sound of a gun being cocked. A second later, he felt cold steel to the side of his skull.
"Don't fucking move. What did you do to Glenn?"
Looking to the side, Lee slowly raised his hands in the air. He didn't want issues, especially not when he had children who depended on him. He realized the person holding him at gunpoint was a woman in her 30s. She had dark brown hair in a low ponytail and piercing brown eyes. A blue zip-up windbreaker, dark cargo pants, and brown boots completed her outfit.
Her voice was stern. It certainly sounded like someone who would take his life if needed.
A Caucasian man with a soft, round face stood in the background, a nervous expression on his face. He had a stocky, pudgy build. He had messy dark brown hair and brown eyes. A blue t-shirt, white sneakers, and olive cargo pants completed his outfit.
Another woman stood next to him. She had an oval face with soft features, brown eyes, and a conflicted expression on her face. She chewed on her lower lip, fiddling with something around her waistband. She had a slender, yet athletic build. Her outfit consisted of a white button-up shirt, dark pencil skirt, and black closed-toed sandals.
Finally, Lee spotted an older man in the group with a hulking build. He stood behind the woman holding the gun to his head, a sneer on his face. His arms were crossed arrogantly. He had a rugged jawline, perpetual scowl, visible wrinkles, and a weathered complexion. Grey, short, thinning grey hair sat atop his head. He wore a gray short-sleeved button-up shirt, green slacks, a black belt, and brown shoes.
The gun's barrel pressed into his head a little harder, the woman's sharp voice ringing out, "Where's Glenn? I won't ask again."
"I-"
Before Lee could answer, he heard the door behind him jingle open. He felt his heart drop, worrying that Naruto or Clementine would be in danger.
Clementine and Glenn were laughing at a joke the Korean man made. Naruto was shaking his head in amusement, adjusting his goggles as he walked in. He didn't understand it completely, but he fed off the positive energy the two gave off.
That was until he noticed Lee a few feet in front of him, being held at gunpoint. At that moment, Naruto felt his body move off instinct.
SLAP! WHAP!
"F-Fuck!" The woman screamed, holding her wrist and stumbling backward. In a split second, faster than she could register, the blonde kid had disarmed her. He moved with scary precision, slapping the gun out of her hand and twisting her wrist. She hissed from the sharp pain, a snarl on her face. "They don't teach you how to deal with little cunts in the military!"
The firearm slid against the dirty floor, getting lost under the darkness of the shelves.
Before Naruto could advance, he heard Glenn's voice ring out. He didn't take kindly to other people threatening the man who had only been kind to him.
"Whoa, whoa! Everyone, calm down!" Glenn tried to mediate, stepping in front of Lee. He set his fire axe by the front door, raising both hands in a show of peace, "They're cool! I brought them with me!"
"What the fuck, Glenn?!" The older man shouted at, gnashing his teeth in anger, "Why the FUCK did you bring others here? We're running low on supplies as is! You were supposed to be out there to find food, NOT more people!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Larry," Glenn huffed out, "But they saved my life, and good people are a rarity to come across! Besides, they were coming here anyway. I thought I could do them a favor for saving my ass."
Lee stepped back, contemplating reaching for his hidden pistol. Naruto frowned as he stepped next to him while Clementine grabbed the back of his shirt, a habit he was noticing she only did when nervous.
Deciding to keep the peace, Lee decided not to reach for his weapon. He didn't want to escalate the situation. He only hoped Glenn could calm things down.
Larry held the woman who had been disarmed, shaking his head, "You don't know that they're good people! For all we know, they could be hiding what they really want!"
"Jesus Christ, Larry, look at them! This guy's with kids! He can't be all bad!" The chubby man tried to defend, glancing around the group, "I mean, they don't look like bad people!"
"Yeah, let's forget that little shit just snapped into action and hit my daughter! They're probably hiding their true intentions! Could be fucking bandits for all I know!" Larry fired back, staring intently at Naruto.
"Don't call him that!" Clementine defended, her face set into a frown. "That's a swear!"
Glenn nodded, agreeing with the child, "Larry, just calm down. If they wanted me dead, they would've done it on the way."
"Glenn and Doug have a point," The other woman spoke, stepping forward. She moved her hands away from her waistline, crossing them over her chest. "We can't lose our morals and humanity just because the world's gone to shit. If he's taking care of kids, we should help."
"Like hell we have to! Don't tell me you forgot what those walkers can do, Carley!" Larry spat, "Any time we open up those doors, it's another chance they get to overrun this place!"
The woman finally recovered from the shock, narrowing her eyes at the newcomers. "...I don't like this. Not one bit."
"Lilly, come on! Don't-" Doug tried to reason, only to be cut off by Lee.
"I don't know why you're throwing a hissy fit. I was the one who had a gun to my head," Lee interjected, sharpening his gaze. "I didn't even get to say a single word before you threatened my life."
"Yeah, because it's the fucking end of the world! You can't trust random people! Liabilities like that get you killed!" Lilly responded, scanning the ground for where her gun could have gone.
Naruto noticed this, tensing his body as well. If Lilly made a move, he wouldn't hesitate to act. He wasn't going to let her hurt anybody he cared about. Clementine seemed to recognize his distress, trying to soothe him by tugging the back of his shirt as well.
It managed to cool his temper temporarily.
"Did you even check if they were bitten? Did you?" Larry stepped up, pressing a finger into Glenn's chest.
"Bitten?" Clementine repeated softly.
"Yeah, bitten. We've seen it before, if someone gets bitten, they turn into those fucking walkers!" Larry snarled, looking past Glenn. Naruto stepped in front of Clementine, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he stared up, "Oh, what are you gonna do, boy? Wanna fight me?"
"Stop trying to provoke everyone you meet! For fuck's sake, it's exhausting!" Carley huffed, separating Larry from Glenn. "I don't think Glenn would be stupid enough to bring people here who were infected! Have some fucking trust for once, Larry!"
"For the record, they're not bitten," Glenn scoffed, "And secondly, Carley's right. Have some faith that I'm not an idiot."
In that moment, Lee remembered the messages from the answering machine. He vividly recalled how Clementine's dad was bitten by a random person, thus leading to a hospital visit. He hoped to be wrong, he wanted to be wrong, but Lee had a sinking feeling he was right. If her dad had been bitten, it was likely her parents were gone.
It was a conversation he didn't think he had the stomach for.
Lilly finally seemed to settle down, entering the personal space of her father, "Alright, Dad, that's enough. Let's just...calm down."
"Calm down? That kid with those fucking marks on his cheeks attacked you!" Larry pointed out.
"Yeah, because he was protecting someone else," Carley pointed out with a huff, "He saw you holding a gun to someone's head! I'd probably do the same thing if I were him!"
As the group continued to argue back and forth, none of them heard a certain tapping. A tapping that only seemed to increase in tempo as the noise within the pharmacy grew louder.
Naruto was the first one to spot it, his ears picking up the faint sound. He looked around the store, narrowing down the source to a door at the opposite end. He couldn't read the sign posted above it, but it had a symbol of a person.
Whatever was in that room was starting to wake up.
Doug chose this moment to speak up, although it was rather hesitantly, "T-They look capable! I-I mean, they have backpacks for storage! And they have good instincts! They could help us defend against the walkers!"
"See! Even Dough is admitting they're useful!" Glenn shouted with outstretched arms, staring Larry straight in the eye, "So get off my fucking back!"
Larry walked forward, pressing his forehead against Glenn's. Despite Lilly's protest, he whispered in a deadly tone. Even then, Glenn didn't blink, only staring back with a frown. "If this comes back to bite us in the ass, it's you who I'm going to blame!"
"Well, I frankly don't give a fuck what you have to say! You're not the leader of this group!" Glenn responded, narrowing his eyes. He wasn't afraid of Larry's hulking frame or his words. He had seen worse.
Before the argument could continue, Naruto's fears were confirmed. The tapping noise intensified for a moment. A second later, the door shuddered off its hinges as it collapsed. The group turned at once, widening their eyes.
A walker had been stored inside the bathroom, and they hadn't noticed. A consequence of not clearing each room.
Naruto reached into his pocket, ready to send his blade straight into the infected's skull. Just as he brought the weapon out, he paused. A single gunshot rang out.
BANG!
Blinking his eyes, Naruto looked up to see Lee holding his pistol. He had fired off one round, shooting the walker between the eyes. It dropped like a sack of potatoes, its milky gaze darkening until all signs of life were gone. It seemed he hadn't been the only one to notice something going on in that room.
Glancing downward, Lee winked. "What? You didn't think I was useless, did you?"
Naruto smiled, relaxing his form. He should've known better than to assume he would have to handle everything.
It only took a few seconds before the calm entered the atmosphere once again. Glenn turned to Larry, pointing at Lee, "And that's why I brought them. Now you can thank them for saving your ungrateful ass!"
Grumbling, Larry walked off. He bumped into Lee's shoulder, something that annoyed the man. Lilly walked after him, whispering something under her breath. The two walked into a corner of the pharmacy, discussing something nobody could hear.
Lilly also seemed to scan the floor, looking for her lost firearm.
Doug seemed to realize the tension had died down, indicated by a sigh of relief. The man took the moment to relax, deciding to check on their defenses. It would be bad if their boarded windows fell because a nail was loose.
Carley and Glenn encircled Lee's group, small smiles on their face. Clementine and Naruto stood next to one another, happy to see the shouting was over.
"Sorry about Larry, he's a jerk to everyone," Carley brushed off. She seemed to stare at Lee's face for a moment, almost as if remembering something. The glint in her eye was gone just as quickly as it came. "Anyway, I appreciate you helping us...and for not shooting any of us when you had the chance. It would've been easy while we were all distracted."
"Damn, morbid much? Not everyone is a serial killer," Glenn chuckled, walking over to grab his fire axe. "Being cooped up in here has made us so jumpy and weary of strangers."
"Well, for what it's worth, I don't blame Lilly," Lee said, shocking the other two adults. Even Naruto and Clementine seemed to be confused. "Don't get me wrong, I don't appreciate having a gun to my head. But if I thought some strangers were going to endanger these kiddos, I would've done the same. She was just looking out for her group."
In the heat of the moment, Lee was angry. Anybody would've. But he also understood the caution. It was understandable when there seemed to be endless dangers around every corner.
Carley seemed to make up her mind on an internal debate, "Lee, would you be able to speak with me for a minute?"
The former professor glanced at Clementine and Naruto. The two seemed to be in good spirits despite the heated conversation earlier. He responded with a warm tone, "Yeah, sure. You two make sure to be within eyesight, alright?"
"If you'd like, I can give them a little tour of this place," Glenn said while rolling his neck with a sickening crunch.
"Sure," Clementine nodded, "What do you think, Naruto? Wanna take a tour?"
Naruto blinked before nodding. With their decisions made, Glenn proceeded to show what each part of the pharmacy had. He had nothing better to do, so it didn't hurt to get the kids familiar with the place.
Carley waited until the pair walked away. When they were out of earshot, she slightly sharpened her gaze, "You're Lee Everett, aren't you? The same Everett family that owns this place."
"...Yeah, I am," Lee honestly responded, unsure of where this was going.
"At least you don't hide it," Carley said calmly. "I'll just cut to the chase, I know who you are and how you made headlines for killing the senator. I was a reporter for a local news station, and we were all over it before this madness."
Lee took a deep breath. He didn't think he would have to confront old demons so soon, but it seemed life was cruel like that. "What's your point?"
Carley studied his face, her gaze searching for anything to deceive, "I'll be honest, I don't really care that you killed that man. I know he was having an affair with your ex-wife, I get it. But those kids you're taking care of deserve to know what you've done, especially if you're their caretaker. It's only right."
In a world that was collapsing, where ethics and morals were put to the test daily, Carley wanted to believe there were still good people out there. If Lee Everett was a man to be trusted, she needed to know where he stood.
To her surprise, he resigned himself with a nod. His eyes were closed, almost as if he was afraid this would come up, "...you're right."
Carley's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her judgment of Lee as a man drastically shot up at that moment.
"...but I need some time to explain it. Naruto's still learning English, I want him to fully understand what I'm going to say," Lee clarified. "As for Clementine, I want to find a moment where it's just us. I don't want to drop this on her while we're on the move. She already has enough things to worry about."
It took a moment, but Carley nodded, "You know what, I can live with that. Just make sure you come to peace with your past, and nobody can use it against you."
Lee thanked the woman, feeling a weight on his shoulders go away. It was weird to have someone know his past so intimately, especially when it was the worst moment in his life, but it happened. He couldn't change that; he could only change how he went about it.
As Carley walked away, she whispered something that made the man smile.
"...and for what it's worth, I think if you're honest with them, they'll still stay with you."
Lee hoped she was right. It would certainly alleviate a lot of fear.
Time would only tell.
...
Lee sat in his parents' office, holding a cracked picture frame in his hand. A mixture of happiness and dread settled in the pit of his stomach. His brown leather backpack sat on an overturned crate next to him.
While the rest of the group looted what remained, he took a moment for himself. A moment to digest everything going on in his head.
He had found his parents' deceased corpses snuggled up with one another. He didn't know if they died together, or if they were...killed together, but they had remained in each other's arms. Lee didn't need to be a professional to know his brother likely didn't make it either. It had been a sad, horrific realization.
As a final act of goodwill for them, he had wrapped them in a blanket within the storage closet. He placed them in a corner, setting his father's cane atop their bodies. He hoped they were at peace.
A part of him wondered if this had been a mistake. If coming to Macon, to his hometown, was stupid. All it had done was hurt him internally.
However, another part of him knew he needed this. He just needed this closure, to see what had happened to his family. Now that he had the confirmation needed, it would be another closed chapter of his life.
"I know I wasn't the best son...but you both did everything for me," Lee pondered, a bittersweet smile on his face. In a way, it was better that he didn't see their final moments. He would only remember their grins and laughs, expressions he would cherish forever. "Now I have kids relying on me, I just hope I can give them half of what you both gave me."
As Lee stared into his parents' smiling reflection, he heard the office door creak open. He tore his gaze away from the picture, wondering who it was.
"Knock, knock!" The familiar sound of Clementine's voice broke through, her pink backpack rattling alongside her, "Hey Lee, we heard you were in here!"
The little girl was followed by Naruto and Glenn, both wearing smiles on their faces. At least someone was enjoying their time here.
"Sorry to bother you man, but Clementine was telling me Naruto can do super things," Glenn joked with air quotes, causing the girl to huff in response. "And since this door has been locked since we've been here, I wanted to see if he could break the lock. Lilly's been wanting to get the medicine back there for a while anyway. Says it'll help her father's heart problem."
Lee's eyes widened for a moment, "Wait, if you do that, give me a moment to enter the alarm code. Otherwise, we'll have every walker in downtown Macon after us."
"I didn't even think about that...wait, how do you know the alarm code?" Glenn asked with a raised brow.
Lee sighed, turning the picture in his hand around. The trio got a good look at it, watching as Lee's face grew somber. "My family owned this place; it's why I wanted to come here. I practically grew up here."
"Holy shit man...so those...?" Glenn pointed at the body-shaped outline in the corner of the room. He knew the elderly couple from when they first cleared this place, but he didn't put much thought into it. "Jesus, I'm so sorry."
Clementine looked at the floor, her joy momentarily forgotten. Naruto tried to comfort her while glancing at Lee. A sad frown spread across his whiskered face. He didn't blame Lee for feeling sad, having personal trauma relating to his own parents. He truly felt for the man.
"Hey, hey..." Lee comforted, placing the picture frame into his leather backpack, "...don't get so sad. I know they're in a better place now."
Glenn nodded, a half smile on his face. Clementine didn't meet his gaze while Naruto stared off in the distance, thinking about something.
"Well, do you still want to show off your muscles?" Glenn tried to change the topic, playfully bumping into Naruto's shoulder. He pointed at the locked door, jutting a thumb in that direction.
Naruto produced a small smile, nodding his head. He gave Clementine a final pat on her shoulder, walking over to the locked door. Lee stood up, ready to input the alarm code at a moment's notice.
Glenn expected a million things at that moment. Naruto failing. The kid giving up and laughing. He even expected him to hype himself up only to make a fool of himself. It's what most kids did.
Instead, the man was shocked to see Naruto shoulder-check the door with a nonchalant expression on his face. He didn't grunt or seem to struggle, tearing the lock as if it were made of paper. It was very surprising.
"What the fuck?!"
"See! Told you he was strong!" Clementine praised, clapping her hands. Naruto bashfully basked in the praise, scratching the back of his head. An old habit he hadn't kicked yet.
"That's not normal! I don't even think Larry could do that, and he's double my size!" Glenn blinked, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. It was like he was in a dream.
Instead of sharing Glenn's skepticism, Lee quickly rushed to the alarm by the side of the door. He input the correct code, sighing in relief as the alarm systems were disabled.
However, Lee made a mental note of the moment. It was something else he had to speak with Naruto about.
"I'll tell Lilly the good news! Looks like we have her medicine!" Glenn cheered, happy that things went their way for once.
It was time they started thinking of a plan.
...
A few hours passed in the blink of an eye. Time felt like a fast stream when there were no clocks around.
The group of survivors stood in a circle, with different expressions on their faces. They had finished looting everything within the pharmacy, down to its most useful item. Medicine, snacks, water, canteens, and other supplies were carried by each person.
Clementine often winced at the increased weight of her backpack, finding it uncomfortable. However, Lee promised her she would only have to carry it for a little longer. Then she could drop it all and keep the most important things, her coloring tools.
Noticing her expression, Naruto offered to carry her backpack. While she appreciated it, Clementine decided to hold onto it for now. It was the first piece of responsibility Lee had given her, and she didn't want to mess it up. Not when she could prove her worth!
"So what's the next step?" Lilly asked, leaning on an empty shelf.
"I don't get why we can't stay here a little longer," Doug interjected, chewing away on a protein bar found in the back office, "I mean, our defenses aren't too bad. We even found more supplies that could keep us going for a week!"
"First off, chew with your fucking mouth shut!" Lilly snapped, scoffing at the chubby man's manners, "Secondly, we need to think past a week! Sure, these can keep us going for now, but then what? Do we sit here and hope packages can fall from the sky?"
"Rude..." Doug muttered, doing his best to lower the sounds of his chewing.
"Lilly's right," Lee nodded, standing in front of Clementine and Naruto. "We need a better point of operations. This place will only last for so long."
"We're pretty much surrounded by walkers too," Carley mentioned, readjusting her purse. "We're at a disadvantage by being in such a concentrated area. It's too risky staying downtown."
"So what? We just walk out of town like a couple of idiots?" Larry gruffed.
Naruto felt like punching the man in the face. He had helped get him the medicine he needed, and he still acted like a jerk. It took great restraint on his part.
Lee shook off the words, closing his eyes to think. He contemplated the best course of action, keeping in mind the children under his care. Unknown to him, Carley glanced over in his direction. Almost looking to see what he would say.
Finally, the former professor glanced around the group, "Lilly, you said you were in the military, right?" Seeing her hesitant nod, Lee continued, "Isn't there a military outpost near here? The uhh..." Lee snapped his fingers in realization, "Robbins Air Force Base. Are you familiar with it?"
"Familiar with it? I worked there," Lilly scoffed.
"Have you been there recently?" Lee asked, his plan revolving around her answer.
"No, I was on vacation when everything broke out. Most people were," Lilly answered honestly.
Larry seemed to lose his patience, "What's the point of this? Do you want to go around and ask everyone what they did for work?"
Clementine frowned; she didn't like Larry. The man always had something to say against Lee. He rarely seemed to agree with him for whatever reason. It was exhausting.
"I'm thinking if Lilly wasn't there, then she doesn't know if it was looted," Lee spoke up, familiar with the layout of the surrounding area. A perk of being raised in Macon, "Now that I know most soldiers were on vacation, it's even more likely most of it is untouched. If we're lucky, we could swoop in and take whatever supplies they have."
"If we're super lucky, maybe the military is still alive! We could get rescued!" Carley mentioned. Seeing the flat looks she got, she brushed a strand of hair out of her face, "What? I was just saying..."
"That's stupid! We'll die if we go there! Do you know how many walkers have likely already flooded the place?" Larry grumbled, shaking his head.
"We won't know unless we go," Doug said, throwing away the wrapper from his empty protein bar. "Lee has a point. It wouldn't hurt to check it out. Best-case scenario, we get out with a lot of supplies. Worst-case scenario, we check it out and leave. We have enough supplies to go for a week; we could come up with another solution in the meantime."
Carley nodded, "I agree. It's worth the risk in my opinion."
"How would we even get there?" Larry asked. For the first time since he spoke, his tone sounded genuine. As if he were slowly being bought in.
"It's a far walk, but we don't have to worry about walking," Lee clarified. Reaching into the side pocket of his backpack, he retrieved a pair of car keys. "We came in a car, we can leave in it too. If we squeeze inside, it should fit all of us."
"A car? Oh-ho, yes! You don't understand how bad I wanna be in one of those again!" Doug smiled. It was the small things he missed.
"Whoa, hold up! Since when did Lee start calling the shots?" Lilly asked with a raised brow.
"Don't start this 'whose's the leader' bullshit right now," Carley frowned, "We just need good plans, and right now, Lee's plan isn't too bad."
"Enough arguing," Lee's stern voice echoed out, snuffing out the flames before they could catch. He could tell that, for some reason, both females had a disdain for each other. "Let's just put it to a vote."
A moment passed as everyone came to their own decision. Now was the moment.
"All those in favor of the plan, raise your hand," Lee spoke, raising his own hand as well. Doug, Carley, Clementine, and Naruto raised their hands. Without even needing to hold the other side, Lee announced the decision. "Alright, we-"
Glenn finally spoke up, resting the fire axe on his shoulder. He had kept himself out of the conversation on purpose. "Lee...I need to be honest. I have some friends down in Atlanta. I need to know if they're okay. I...I'm going to head down there and find them."
"Are you sure?" Lee asked, raising a brow. Out of everyone here, he had grown most comfortable with Glenn. The man just had an air around him that made things feel like they were going to be okay.
"Yeah, the others know about it. I've been talking about it for a while," Glenn pointed out, proven by the few short nods of the others. "My car is parked a few streets down. I should be able to make it out."
Lee glanced at the Asian man, a small smile coming to his face. He could understand wanting to ensure your loved ones were safe. He had nothing against Glenn for wanting to visit his friends. "Alright then, just don't forget us. If we're lucky, we'll meet again."
"I have a feeling we will," Glenn smiled, patting Lee on the shoulder. He glanced around the group, taking a second to stare at the children. He snapped back Naruto's goggles and tipped Clementine's hat, an action that earned him groans of disapproval from both. "Take care, kiddos, and listen to Lee. He's a good man."
With a final farewell, the two groups went on their way. Glenn, although being with the group a short time, felt a wave of sadness wash over him. It was always hard leaving good people, a rarity in today's world. Naruto waved goodbye, happy to see Glenn reciprocate the action. When he turned a corner, Glenn was finally out of eyesight.
The trek back to their car wasn't difficult at all. Besides Larry's constant grumbling, Naruto would've found it to be effortless.
Their backpacks were stuffed into the trunk of the car. Each survivor had at least one weapon on their body, except Clementine. A fact that made her feel sour, feeling left out. She definitely wanted to get her own.
Lee opened the driver's side door, sliding into the seat. As the man contemplated the seat placement, Naruto spoke up. Anything to make it less stressful.
"I take back."
"Hey, good job! You're getting better already!" Clementine clapped, a bright smile on her face. It earned her a bashful look on the blonde's face.
Lee wanted to ask if he was sure, only to see Naruto make his way to the rear passenger side. It seemed he was serious.
"Carley, take the passenger seat. Sweet pea, would you be fine with sitting on her lap?"
"Hmm-hmm," Clementine nodded, "I used to do this with my Mom, so it's fine. It's actually kinda fun."
"Here, sweetheart," Carley adjusted her legs, moving her purse out of the way, "Just to make it a little easier."
"Larry, Doug, and Lilly, you can all take the backseat with Naruto."
As everyone shuffled in, Lee prepared for a short drive. He turned the keys, watching the engine hum to life. Just as he shifted into drive and prepared to leave, Lee froze. He had forgotten one crucial thing.
They were low on gas. Very low.
"Shit!" Lee whispered, slamming his hands on the steering wheel.
"What's wrong?" Lilly asked from the back, raising a skeptical brow.
Carley frowned from the passenger seat, a concerned look on her face. Clementine glanced over, trying to find the issue.
"We're dangerously low on gas, probably twenty miles until empty," Lee mentioned in a low tone. "I know a few gas stations on the way out, but it'll be a gamble."
"Fuck it, let's go," Larry waved off, staring out the rear window, "We'll have to take our chances. Now drive, it's uncomfortable being squeezed back here."
"I swear, you complain more than the kid," Doug mumbled under his breath.
"...Alright, we'll have to take our chances," Lee conceded, making a mental reroute detour. If they had the tools to syphon gas, he would've done it, but they would have to make do with this option instead. An option that only increased the likelihood of encountering walkers.
Pressing his foot to the pedal, Lee began driving the car. The crunch of broken glass, scattered debris, and rotting bones snapped under the tires.
He had a long day ahead.
...
Lee slowed the sedan as an old, abandoned gas station came into view on the right side of the road. The faded sign above the pumps leaned slightly to one side, its red lettering sun-bleached and cracked. The windows of the small convenience store were coated in a layer of dust, grime, and dried blood.
No lights. No people. Just stillness.
Lee eased the car into the lot, parking beside one of the pumps. The engine idled for a moment before he shut it off, the sudden quiet making the place feel even more haunting. He leaned forward, glancing at the gas gauge.
Nearly empty. Nearly out of gas.
"...Damn," He muttered, chewing his lower lip. He hated watching the small, red needle lower with every mile they passed. It was only a reminder that his choices were a matter of life and death for the group.
He couldn't falter when they were following his plan. He just couldn't.
Lee stepped out of the car, the door creaking lightly behind him. The Georgia air hung heavy, carrying a smell of gasoline and rotten flesh. A scent he was unfortunately learning to live with.
Walking up to the pump, Lee lifted the nozzle. He squeezed the handle once, then twice. Hoping for the best.
Nothing came out. Not even a drop.
"Of course," Lee nearly growled, trying to keep his composure. Losing his cool wouldn't help anybody. Glancing around the empty lot, he could tell it would be more of the same. The screen was black and lifeless. That meant there was no power, which only ruined their chances to get gas.
Lee knew the next closest gas station would be too far for their car to get to. They had to make something out of this opportunity, or they were on foot. But without electricity, the pumps were just useless hunks of metal.
The former professor opened the driver's door, sticking his head inside. "Okay everyone, change of plans. Look for any usable vehicle we can drive out of here. I don't think we're going to get any gas here."
"I could've told you that," Larry grunted, exiting the vehicle. Lilly and Doug followed behind him, setting foot on the ground. Naruto exited from the other side, standing next to Carley and Clementine.
"Good thing we have a variety to pick from," Doug tried to cheer up the mood, glancing at the dozens of vehicles left behind. Cars, trucks, and even overturned motorcycles were on the lot. There had to be a chance that something was usable.
"Larry and Lilly, search all the vehicles by the pumps," Lee directed, closing the driver's door. "Doug and Carley, you two take the right half of the parking lot. Naruto-"
"I take back," Naruto pointed out, pointing a finger over his shoulder. "I look." He clearly wanted to search the back half of the gas station, the half that would force him out of eyesight from the group.
"No way, you're too small to look by yourself," Carley shook her head, "I'll go with you in a bit, but come with us for now."
Lee laughed at Naruto's sourpuss expression; his reluctant acceptance was amusing. "You and I, sweet pea, are going to take the left half of the parking lot. Sounds good?"
"Yep!" Clementine chirped, adjusting her hat with a bright grin. She liked helping.
With everyone's role decided, they quickly got to work. One by one, each mini-group worked hard to get what they needed. They didn't want to spend any time here longer than they needed.
"No luck yet!" Lilly mentioned as they examined a set of vehicles by the pumps, continuing their search.
"O-Oh, we found one!" Doug exclaimed from his end. Just as everyone prepared to walk over with hope, they heard him speak again, "...wait, never mind, the back tires are missing. Dammit, this one was unlocked too!"
As for Lee and Clementine, they scoured car by car. Three vehicles had already let them down: a red truck, a blue sedan, and a white convertible. It came down to the basic issues.
It was either locked, had no keys, or was out of gas. They couldn't seem to find the sweet spot needed for a perfect vehicle.
Some of the cars were picked clean, doors hanging open from when people rushed out during the first day. A few glove compartments were dumped onto the asphalt.
But one vehicle caught Lee's eye.
A black, full-sized, extended SUV sat near the edge of the lot. It was parked between the white lines on the asphalt. Dust covered the windshield, but it looked to be in working condition.
"Hmm...tires are good," Lee inspected, kicking each wheel as he walked around the car. The doors were shut tight, and it didn't look looted. There was no shattered glass and no obvious signs of forced entry.
Clementine followed behind, examining everything Lee did.
Reaching for the driver's door, the former professor was dismayed to find it locked. He moved to the back passenger door, tugging again. Once more, it was locked. "Figures," He muttered.
The vehicle looked like it probably belonged to someone who thought they could pack up and outrun whatever had happened. The dark tint on the windows made it hard to see inside.
Pressing his face to the class, Lee tried to look past the glare. He thought he saw a few bags in the back, but it was hard to tell. Stepping back, he tried the rear hatch only to feel it stay firm. Locked again.
"Lee...isn't stealing wrong?" Clementine asked, her question pure and innocent.
He paused for a moment, wondering what to say. Looking back at her face, Lee answered from the heart, "It's a little complicated. In the old world, it was simple. You take something that isn't yours; it's stealing. Period."
Clementine nodded, understanding that basic concept.
"But it's different now," Lee clarified, "Most people won't come back for this stuff. For example, food. If we don't take it, someone else will, or it'll go bad."
"I...I see..." Clementine slowly nodded, trying to wrap her head around the words.
"But...!" Lee raised a finger in the air, "It's not just about stealing, it's also about who you are after you take it."
"Well, is it wrong if...if I don't feel like a bad person? I just want us to be safe," Clementine asked, placing both hands in front of her. Having a vehicle to travel in made sense to her.
"No, it's not wrong, because you're doing it for the betterment of your friends," Lee spoke in a calm, warm tone. His low voice and softened expression made Clementine feel reassured. "But we have to be careful. When you start justifying taking things because 'nobody is using them,' it gets easier and easier to take things from people who are using them. That's a bell you can't un-ring."
"But what about the stuff we're gonna take from the military place? Is that wrong?"
"That's a little different, sweet pea," Lee hugged her, pulling her in, "We don't just take things because we can; we take because we have to. We never forget that it belonged to someone who had a life just like ours."
"Is it weird if I wanna say thank you? Even if no one can hear it?" Clementine asked, glancing up.
"Saying thank you is a good start, sweet pea," Lee chuckled, "Now let's try to get this open, okay? We can talk more about this later if you want."
"Okay," She nodded, happy with Lee's answer. It certainly gave her a lot to think about.
Gesturing for Clementine to stand back, Lee reached for the hammer on his waistband. He slid the handle into the crack near the rear hatch, leaning his weight against it. This car had the most potential out of everything he'd seen so far, and he didn't want to give up on it so easily. With a huff, Lee felt the metal groan but didn't give.
"Hold on," Lee grunted, repositioning himself. He shoved harder, putting more weight on the hammer. To his surprise, it worked.
CLUNK!
The latch finally snapped loose, the back jerking open.
And something moved from within. Lee barely had time to react before a rotting face lunged forward out of the darkness.
It was a walker, gray skin stretched tight over bone. Cloudy eyes snapped open as if woken from a nightmare. At one point, it looked like a male teenager. A dark bomber jacket, socks, and jeans showed a small glimpse of who they once were.
It burst from the back seat, growling in unnatural intervals.
It slammed into Lee with surprising force. Enough to make him stumble backward.
"GHK!" Lee felt the hammer slip from his grasp, the walker's skull smashing into his face. The world tilted sideways as he crashed onto the pavement.
Stars exploded across his vision.
The walker fell atop him, snapping its teeth inches from his throat. Foul breath invaded his nostrils, making the man want to gag. He tried to shove it away, but his head rang from the impact. His arms felt heavy, slow.
The walker's jaws opened wide. For a split second, Lee felt like his life was going to end. That he would truly die here, being caught off guard.
THUD!
"Eep!"
The walker jerked violently, a hammer slamming into the side of its skull. It temporarily disabled its movements, giving Lee the opening he needed to shove it off. Blinking through the haze, Lee gnashed his teeth while reaching for the hammer in its skull.
He pulled it out with force, bringing bone fragments and pieces of brain on the edge. With a roar, Lee slammed down on the walker with strength and precision. He slammed over and over, ensuring that the head was a scrambled mess.
After splattering brain matter for the fifth time, Lee took a deep breath. He dropped the hammer on the ground, breathing heavily. For a moment, it felt like everything was quiet except for his ragged breathing.
Then, he heard that small voice.
"L-Lee?"
Looking up, he saw Clementine standing there. She trembled slightly, her eyes full of fear. She was scared, looking like a pale sheet.
But she was also...determined.
"Lee, are you okay?" She asked.
Smiling, he answered, "Yeah, sweet pea. Yeah, I'm okay."
She rushed forward, embracing him in a hug. Lee used his knees to stabilize himself, preventing him from falling over.
"I'm sorry I couldn't kill it! I tried my best, but I froze! I-I'm sorry!" Clementine began with a sniffle, hiding her face in the crevice of his neck.
"It's okay, you did amazing. Hitting that walker gave me enough time to get back on my feet," Lee soothed, rubbing her back. "You saved my life, sweet pea. Don't doubt what you can do."
As the two shared a warm embrace, the rest of the group began to walk over. They had heard a small commotion and came to check it out. Once Clementine dried her tears and Lee caught his breath, they examined the SUV.
"Clem good? Lee good?" Naruto asked, concern in his blue eyes. After the two ensured they were fine, he finally dropped the subject. He had come as fast as he could, only to see a bloody hammer and a dead walker. He had put the rest together.
To their luck, the vehicle's keys were stored away in the center console. After turning the ignition, Lee watched the dashboard come to life. The engine released a low hum under the black hood.
The tank was nearly full. Whoever had parked here had likely filled up before the outbreak and ditched the vehicle for whatever reason. Thankfully, there were no other walkers inside the car.
Grabbing their bags from the green sedan, the group made a transfer of vehicles. A major upgrade, if they were honest, as shown by the smiles on Larry and Lilly. The two most bitter people in the group.
The extra space was amazing. Lee sat in the driver's seat, Carley took the passenger seat with Clementine, Larry and Lilly sat behind them, while Naruto and Doug took the very back. The space back there was enough for a comfortable trip.
"Gotta admit, not too shabby!" Larry smiled, enjoying the cool AC and thumbing the armrests. The nice leather made for a comfortable interior. Lilly hid her grin by turning her head, staring out the tinted window.
With a fresh burst of good luck, the group was back on the road. All the while, Lee's family photo jiggled within the leather backpack. A freeze frame of a happier time.
As they rolled out, chatter slowly filled the SUV. Conversations flowed and people bonded. However, they all had the same goal in mind.
Next stop, Robins Air Force Base.