PREVIOUSLY ON THE LAST DEAD
Clementine: "I'm Clementine. This is my house."
Lee: "Hi, Clementine. I'm Lee."
Marlene: "Ellie! Ellie, relax, agh, it's okay. This is Joel, he's a friend."
Ellie: "Oh… hi."
Joel: "Hi."
Clementine: "What if my parents come home and I'm not there?"
Lee: "They'll, uh, track us down. Don't worry."
Clementine: "Yeah, okay. We should keep a lookout. I've got my walkie-talkie in case they try that way."
Lee: "We're still in agreement with our plan though, right? We find Clementine's parents, find a boat, and we figure out who and what the Fireflies are."
Vernon: "You folks didn't come here using the railroads, did you?"
Carley: "We did. Why?"
Lee: "Molly!"
Molly: "Just go! Get them far away from this hellhole!"
Joel: "After all we've seen in this city, you know just as much as I do that we ain't gonna be able to find em. The longer we stay here, the sooner the Hunters will figure out where we are. We need to leave while we still can."
Stranger: "Easy now. I'm not a Hunter. Everything is going to be okay now. I'm here to rescue you both."
Lee: "Shit. Oh shit. Joel, you- you don't think-?"
Joel: "No. No, they weren't bitten. They obviously fought back against that thing."
Lee: "So then, where could they be?"
Joel: "I think we both know the answer to that."
Lee: "Somebody took em. Wherever they are, Joel and I have to find them."
Carley: "Okay. What can we do?"
Lee: "Okay, people, we should go look for Vernon and the cancer patients, see if he took em."
Joel: "Let's get a move on then."
Chuck: "Lead the way."
A/N The story progresses based on the choices that I have made in the game and how I think Joel and Ellie would fit into the story of The Walking Dead Game. After a minor, but tense conversation with the Stranger, the survivors must find a way out of the hospital and return to the manor. Be sure to let me know what you think of this crossover. I do not own The Walking Dead or The Last of Us.
Lee: "Vernon, get out here! There doesn't have to be any trouble here! All we want are the girls! Give them back and nobody needs to get hurt!"
Joel: "They ain't here. We missed them."
o0oWoLfwrIT3ro0o presents
Clementine: "Lee?"
Lee: "Clementine! A-are you and Ellie okay? Where are you two?… Vernon, you son of a bitch!"
Stranger: "Hello, Lee."
A crossover event
Joel: "Who the hell are you?!"
Stranger: "I'm not Vernon if that's what you're thinking, Joel. And you should all really watch your tone."
Joel: "Where's Ellie? What have you done with her and Clementine?"
Stranger: "Oh, don't worry, the girls are just fine. But if I were you, I'd choose my next words very carefully."
THE LAST DEAD
EPISODE FIVE: NO TIME LEFT
Chapter 1: The Hospital
Joel: "What do you want from us? Whatever it is, you don't need to be dragging them both into this. They've got nothing to do with it, so just let em go."
Stranger: "I'm afraid I can't do that, and this has everything to do with them. All I want from you two is to never hurt anybody again. This isn't a kidnapping."
Joel: "I could give two shits on what the fuck you think that this is. We're coming to get our girls back, and after we do, we are gonna hurt you, ya son of a bitch."
Stranger: "No you're not! There is an ocean of dead just swarming out there in these streets between you, me and them, and if I can thank God for anything- Aaggh!"
Clementine: "Ellie!"
Ellie: "Motherfucker!"
Joel: "Ellie? What's happening?"
The line had been cut off abruptly after that. It sounded like Ellie had fought back against this stranger. If she did, there's no telling how he will retaliate.
Joel: "Hello?! Hey!… Goddammit."
He had shoved the radio back to Lee and moved away from him with his fists clenched so tightly, his knuckles turned white. Only noises they could be heard at the moment were the gunfire and yelling from the windows near the ceiling and the moaning from the sewers behind them.
Lee: "Try to keep a clear head, Joel. We'll get them back."
He place the radio back onto the side of his waistband. Joel knew he was right. Being mad as hell isn't gonna help get the little girls back or make this situation any better. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he takes a deep breath in order to calm himself down. He then turns to see the rest of the people in the room. Carley, Kenny, Chuck, Omid and Christa were all here with them to lend their support.
Chuck: "Feeling better now?"
Joel: "I'll feel a lot better once Ellie and Clementine are safe and I get my hands on the bastard who took em."
Chuck: "Hmph, didn't think so."
Carley: "Guys, we should move. The walkers are getting closer."
They all turn to the door leading out into the sewers and the walkers were crawling through the hole leading to the morgue. They didn't have time to stay in there for much longer. Omid rushed over to the door and slams it shut.
Christa: "That won't hold them for long. We need to get out of here before they break in."
Kenny: "We'll make sure none of them get through. Lee, you think you and Joel and can find us a way out of this room?"
Lee: "Yeah, we're on it."
Soon, everyone had taken out their firearms to defend the door. Expect for Chuck who only had his shovel and swung it over his shoulder. Joel and Lee start heading towards the other side of the room to find another exit. Going up a ramp, they find an elevator and another door. Lee proceeds toward the door, grabs the handle to turn it, but it wouldn't budge.
Lee: "It's locked. Guess the elevator is the only other way out."
Joel: "It'll do. We can go up through the shaft and find another exit. Gimme a hand with this."
The two men each take one side and attempt to pull it open with their bare hands. This wasn't working, so they had to stop.
Lee: "Can't get our fingers in between the doors."
Joel: "Shit. Maybe they left something behind in here we can use to pry it open. Let's give it a quick look over."
Heading back down the ramp, they turn towards the cabinets and draws. As Lee went ahead to search them, Joel noticed a few items left on the counter; an autopsy saw, some bandage rolls, small scissors and a tourniquet rubber tube. These were only a few supplies one would need to perform a surgery. Vernon and the cancer patients really did leave this place in a hurry if they'd left all this behind. They won't get the elevator open, but they could come in handy later. Momentarily taking off his pack, Joel stores the items inside it just in case. Except for the saw. He has his machete. After he finished with that, Lee came back with something in his hand.
Joel: "You got something?"
Lee: "I, uh, think so."
He holds it out for Joel to take and he accepts it.
Joel: "Huh. It's a rib spreader."
Lee: "You've seen one of those before?"
Joel: "Back when I was working the black market, I actually seen a guy I knew use one of these before. On a fella he thought was holding out on him. I'll spare you the details, but it weren't pretty."
Lee: "Jesus. Just looking at that thing grosses me out."
Joel: "Hmm, you know what? This could actually work in getting that elevator open."
They return to the elevator and put the rib spreader to use; Lee pulls on one side to make enough room for Joel place the device in between the doors, then cranks on the lever to pry them open. After about four cranks, they both open the elevator all the way and Lee calls out to their people.
Lee: "Over here! We can get out this way."
They heard his call and retract their weapons as they join them through the elevator. It was much darker in here than in the morgue, so they switch on their flashlights and look up at the ladder in front of them. The hospital itself was a tall building and they were in the basement level. They were in for a long climb.
Lee: "Alright, up we go."
Joel: "Let's try to keep quiet and see if there's an empty floor. If not, then we make our way to the roof."
Kenny: "Sounds like a plan."
One by one, the group began to climb up the ladder. Since Chuck was first to ascend, he would be the first to see through the open doors in the shaft. After reaching the first and then second floors, all that could be seen was the dead occupying each one.
Chuck: "This ain't good. So far, each floor is swarming with the creepy-crawlies."
Omid: "Guess that means visiting hours won't be open, then."
Christa: "Not now, Omid."
Lord knows what went down inside this hospital when the outbreak started. The Hunters and Crawford most likely scavenged all they could take before it became overfilled with walkers. Maybe even took the doctors with them while leaving their patients for dead. They also pass an elevator that was full of snarling from the inside and heard something banging on it's walls. With no power, that thing wasn't going anywhere. As they were about reach the third floor, a loner wandering to the edge of the open door spots the old survivor and he leaned to the side to avoid being grabbed as it falls over and he yells,
Chuck: "Heads up!"
Everyone glanced up before leaning in close to the ladder and duck their heads to avoid the falling rotten body.
Omid: "Whoa!"
The walker flew right past them and they could hear a sickening squish when it landed at the bottom.
Joel: "Jesus Christ."
Lee: "Everything okay up there?"
Carley: "Yeah, everything's fine. Just watch out for raining walkers."
Thankfully, that was the only walker to fall through the shaft and the rest of the climb went smoothly.
The door leading to the rooftop had been open, thanks to the shiv Joel used to unlock it, but it also broke in the process. Lee was the first to step out with the group in tow. Stepping close to the edge, they could see most of Savannah, as well as how the Hunters down below that were struggling to survive against the overwhelming amount of walkers in the city that used to be under their control. From up here, it looked like they were fighting a losing battle.
Kenny: "Remember when Hunters were the only ones roaming around Savannah?"
Christa: "I guess they and Crawford got one thing right."
Carley: "The whole city looks like a war zone now."
One Hunter was struggling against a lurker that lunged at him and used his shotgun to keep its chompers away. He accidentally fired a buckshot in the air, causing the survivors up top to take a few steps back. Last thing they need is to get caught in the crossfire again like last night.
Omid: "They didn't follow us here, did they?"
Chuck: "I reckon this is the same herd from that station we passed the other day. Only it's gotten much bigger than we last saw em."
Christa: "That's crazy; they don't track, they just roam."
Kenny: "Is it? That fucking train wasn't exactly discreet."
Joel: "I knew we shouldn't have rode in here on that damn thing to begin with."
Lee: "Clementine and Ellie are still out there somewhere. Gobbled up in all of that."
Kenny: "We'll get to em, pal. We'll do whatever it takes."
Carley: "Damn straight."
Omid: "Okay, so what's our next move from here? I mean, obviously we should figure a way off this roof, but then what?"
Taking a moment to think it over, Lee turns around to take another look around the city before he came up with an idea on where they can go from here.
Lee: "We should retrace our steps back to the mansion. From there, we can try to head towards the hotel Clementine's parents were staying in. At the Marsh House."
Omid: "You think that's where we'll find them? Clem and Ellie, I mean."
Lee: "She had to have told that guy they were staying there, so I'd bet that's where they'll be."
Joel: "We need to get our bearings. Everyone have a look around, see if there's a way down from here and something we use to clear us a path."
Everyone follows his suggestion and split off into pairs; Kenny and Chuck had gone to the left side, Omid and Christa took only a few steps away to get better view of where the manor is and Lee and Carley go to the right side, leaving Joel by himself as he starts thinking and examining his surroundings. First thing he notices was a sign painted on the roof that stood out like an eyesore. Someone was trying to paint "NO HELP" on the roof, with the letter P left incomplete. There was dry paint spilled out from a bucket, an extension ladder knocked over and a blood trail leading over the edge. Most likely belonging to the same person who painted that sign before he got wounded and fell over. There was also a rotten dead body by the edge, a few feet away from Christa and Omid. Either the poor bastard that died before finishing his sign, or the walker that did him in. Heading over to Kenny and Chuck, he spots two dirty lawn chairs with some cardboard placed underneath them and a cooler that was currently being inspected by the hobo.
Joel: "Find anything?"
Kenny: "There's a fire escape over here. Could be our only way down, but we'll need a way to thin out the streets a little if we're gonna make it back through that shit down there."
Chuck: "That's not all. Judging by the setup here, it looks like a couple folks were holding out up here. One of em even had the similar idea of yours, but didn't get the chance to use it."
Inside the cooler was a Molotov cocktail that had been crafted a long while ago. Chuck had taken it out and given it to Joel. These things have been a real lifesaver since they arrived in this damned city. As the man stores it inside his backpack, he remembered the items he picked up while roaming through the halls of Crawford and takes out the roll of scotch tape and half of scissors to craft another shiv to replace. After he finished crafting and puts his backpack back on, he notices Kenny staring off in the distance. From here, he could swear they were able to see Crawford and the smoke coming out from the school's roof. Moving to stand beside him, he could see the frown on Kenny's face.
Joel: "You see something?"
Kenny: "Nah, I was... I was taking a minute actually. Sorry, I know I shouldn't."
Joel: "You holding up okay?"
Kenny: "Yeah. Yeah, it's just... everything. Fuck, man. You know, I really can't thank Lee enough for what he did for Duck. And I never got to say thanks to you before for what happened in that attic with that boy. I know I was hellbent on getting us all to the coast before, but after everything, well, I just can't picture Kat and Duck being caught up in all this mess."
Joel: "Try not to dwell on it."
Kenny: "No, you're right. I'm sorry. We're in a fucking hurry to get off this roof. I'll keep a lookout from here."
He steps away to leave him to it, and that's when he noticed a bell tower on the other side of the roof. A plan was starting to come together in his mind. Meanwhile, Omid and Christa were having a conversation of their own.
Christa: "How's your leg holding up, sweetie?"
Omid: "It's doing a lot better. Thanks for going into Crawford for me, babe. Even though it wasn't all entirely for me. I hope get to tell Clem and Ellie the same. They're tough as hell."
Christa: "They are, aren't they? When Lee and Joel brought them with us, I was thinking they were out of their minds to bring them to a place that was so dangerous. Then again, Henry was also bringing his little brother Sam with him, so I couldn't really object to that."
Omid: "Huh, Henry and Sam. Didn't you mention that they were part of the scavenger group you guys met out here?"
Christa: "They were, along with this girl, Molly."
Omid: "What happened with them?"
Christa: "I asked about them on our way back from Crawford and Joel told me that Sam got taken by Hunters just as we got out. Henry and Molly stayed behind to get him back."
Omid: "Damn. Hope they made it out okay."
There was a silence between them as they resume watching the scenery in front of them with her arms crossed over her chest and his hands on his hips. Looking down below, they managed to catch sight of a Hunter shooting a few lurkers before his weapon ran out of ammo, leaving him vulnerable of getting overwhelmed and devoured. Omid winced at the sight of that and continues their chat.
Omid: "You know, if three months ago, I told you that our road trip would include killer corpses and homicidal maniacs, you'd tell me-"
Christa: "That you are full of shit."
Omid: "Ha ha, yeah, that's what I'd tell me, too. So, uh, got any ideas yet?"
Christa: "I'm working on it. Honestly, though, my vision isn't all that good right now. I think it's allergies or all that shit those walkers are kicking up in that dust."
Omid: "Heh, allergies. Remember when that used to be one of our biggest worries?
Christa: "Seems so small now compared to all that we've been through."
Omid: "I know, right? Now, are you sure it's allergies and not because of-"
Christa: "Omid, please. Now's not a good time to get into that."
Omid: "Okay. Okay..."
Over on the right, Carley and Lee had looked down from the edge to see more of the dead lurking down the alley. It was long way down from here. Lee took a step back and tried not to think about how high they were. He looked to see Carley was in deep thought over something and asks her about it.
Lee: "What are you thinking?"
Carley: "I had woke up this morning thinking about how we were all gonna divide up on who's gonna be sailing away on the boat and who's staying behind. And now, all I can think about is finding two scared little girls and pray they'll be okay when we do."
Lee: "We will. Whoever this guy is, I don't think he'd actually do anything to hurt them."
Carley: "I hope you're right. And that's not all that I was thinking about. I mean, just look at where we are now; lived in a motel for three months, survived against cannibals, bandits, traveled half across Georgia, and just last night, we took on a whole school of walkers. Ha, this would be one hell of a story to tell if I was still working in WABE."
Lee: "Yeah. We've all come very far since that day in the drugstore."
Carley: "We all managed to come this far thanks to you. Joel too. Ever since we left Lilly behind and Kenny lost his family, everyone's been looking up to both of you to lead. Hell, when you and I met, I knew who you were and what you did, and was wondering if I could even feel safe to be in the same room with you. And now, you're someone that I trust with my life more than anyone else."
The man smiled in response to her statement. He remembered how she mentioned that she would be happier if he took charge more often. Back then, Kenny and Lilly were often butting heads over making the hard calls and he never liked being caught in the middle of that. And now, both him and Joel have been working together in keeping their people safe and keep moving forward all the while taking care of two little girls who weren't even their actual daughters.
Lee: "Thanks, Carley. I, uh, really appreciate hearing that."
She reached her hand out to hold his with a kind her smile of her own. They spent a moment looking into their eyes until Lee turns to face the bell tower in front of them. And then, she notices how his smile faltered when it looked like he put his thinking cap on.
Carley: "What is it?"
Lee: "With the bell tower on this side of the hospital, and the mansion over there... hmm, that may be our only chance off this rooftop. Just need to find a way to reach it."
They can't reach the bell tower right now. The ledge to it was higher than the one they're standing on. If Molly were here, she could probably make the jump to the ledge with that ice climbing picked she named Hilda. Sadly, there's no telling what became of her, Henry and Sam after they escaped Crawford. He lets go of her hand and walks away from the former reporter to look for something they can use to reach that tower. He thought he had seen a ladder nearby and soon finds Joel heading towards and lifts it up. When the two men looked at each other, it seemed like both of them had the same idea.
Lee: "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Joel: "Depends. Does it involve using that bell tower?"
Lee: "Yeah."
Joel: "Then, I guess I am."
He carries the ladder with him all the way towards the bell tower to put their idea into action. When they reach the edge, Joel places on top of it and extends it to its peak while Lee helps keep it steady. They then carefully set it down for it to reach the edge of the bell tower. Step one was now in place. Step two was for someone climb it. Their group approaches them when they noticed them at work.
Omid: "You guys got a plan?"
Lee: "Yeah. This bell tower might be our best chance of clearing us a path."
Joel: "We draw as many of the walkers and Hunters to this side and then we can haul ass down that fire escape over there back to the mansion."
Kenny: "You think one of you two should have to go?"
Carley: "I can do it."
Omid: "My leg's fine. Let me do it."
Chuck: "If we have to decide on who oughta take a risk like this, it should be the one who's got the least to lose. You've all still got that something; something to fight for. Something worth living for. Me? I already lost all I had to lose a long time ago."
Lee: "Chuck-"
Chuck: "Nope. No point in arguing. One way or another, them little girls are countin' on the two of you to save them, and I'm gonna see to it that y'all get to them in one piece."
No one objected to his statement and allowed him to step up to the ladder.
Carley: "Be careful."
Lee: "Yeah, what she said."
As carefully as he could, Chuck climbs his way up to the bell tower. The creaking noise it was making with each step was making them feel more anxious for him. Didn't help the thing was looking a little rickety to begin with. But then, the lock that held the ladder in place snaps off, causing it to slowly retract from the ledge.
Chuck: "Oh, criminy!"
Joel: "Chuck, move!"
Not wasting a second, the hobo quickly climbed the rest of the steps on his feet and reached the ledge just as the ladder slipped right out from his feet. One unfortunate walker down below caught the ladder with its head and got slammed into the pavement.
Chuck: "Well, that happened."
Omid: "Damn, that was a close one."
Kenny: "Are you okay?"
Chuck: "Yup, just dandy."
Looking over his shoulder, he could see there was a hatch that leads to the bottom of the bell tower. Where all the walkers and Hunters will be once he rings this bell. He lets a deep sigh, knowing there was only one option now.
Chuck: "Guess that's the way it's gonna be then..."
Christa: "What are you waiting for?"
Chuck: "Nothing. And neither are any of you."
Kenny: "What does that mean?"
Chuck: "It means there ain't no point in waiting on me now. Y'all go wait by the fire escape and get ready to move when I start ringing this bell."
Omid: "What the fuck?"
Lee: "You want us to leave you, again?"
Chuck: "There ain't no other way."
Lee: "Hell no, man! Just ring the bell and jump for it. It's not too far."
Chuck: "Very funny, son. I ain't as young as I used to be. I can't make that jump."
Lee: "Damn it, Chuck! We're not gonna leave you behind again!"
Chuck: "You will if you still want any chance of getting them girls back! I ain't your priority. They are."
Joel: "Lee, there's nothing we can do for him."
Kenny: "Come on, pal. They need us more than he does."
Even Carley agreed with them as she placed her hand on Lee's shoulder. He really didn't like it, but the old man was right; they can't stay here to wait on him and he can't make the jump back. Leaving him now was the only choice they have.
Chuck: "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now get a move on already!"
Everyone hurried to the other side of the rooftop near the fire escape. Except for Lee. The last time they had separated from Chuck, he got lucky in surviving alone that night with nothing but his shovel and finding them in the morgue in one piece. But the way things are now in the streets, the chances of him surviving on his own again have gotten slimmer. He may need extra protection. With this in mind, he withdrew the pistol from his shoulder holster and checks the clip to find eight bullets remaining.
Lee: "Shit."
This was a risky move, but it just might save him in the long run. Lee turns back around to call out for the hobo as he tosses his gun at him. Chuck managed to catch it by the barrel just before it landed near his feet. He felt this was unnecessary, but still appreciated the gesture.
Lee: "Just to give you a better fighting chance out there."
Chuck: "Much obliged. Go on now! Scoot!"
He nods his head and runs over to join the others. And so, after placing the gun in his coat pocket, he turns around to face the bell and its rope.
Chuck: "Ask not for whom the bell tolls."
He grabs hold of the rope in his hands and squeezes it.
Chuck: "It tolls for thee."
With one good tug, the bell starts ringing. Every walker within its range was attracted to its noise. The Hunters took advantage of this and lets them gather around the tower so they can pick them off more easily this way. Chuck continues tugging on the rope as his comrades make a break for it down the fire escape. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Joel peeked out from the side to make sure no one was looking their way before they all make a beeline through the streets. Running past the walkers was no problem, but they did spot two Hunters heading in their direction to join their buddies before turning their attention on them. One armed with a rifle was about take aim at them, but Carley was faster with her handgun and shot him in the eye, instantly putting him down. Kenny uses his own rifle to shoot the other Hunter with a bat in his hand right in the neck, causing blood to spill out. Joel shoved right past him, knocking him down and he watches them leave as he was left for the lurkers to have at him.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N Book 5 has officially begun. I'm very sorry to all of you readers that this took longer than it should've, but it has begun. Been going through writer's block and more personal issues. I also want to say how happy I am that The Final Season of The Walking Dead Game ended the way it did and that it got the closure it deserves. It's been nearly seven years since the game was first published. Seeing it all come to an end has been quite the experience. Now, with the choice Lee made at the end of this chapter, would you have given Chuck the gun or held on to it?
