The girl looked with some concern and fear at the two people in front of her. A man and a woman.
Her mother and her father.
Her father was panting, with blood splattered on some parts of his body, and a bag in his hands.
Her mother, a little further back, made sure to close the door, and then walked toward the man with a worried look on her face.
- Are you all right, honey?
She heard her mother ask, and her father walked to the kitchen ahead, placing the bag on a table.
- Yes, I'm fine. I bumped into some of them on the way. Jesus... I lost my hammer.
He said, sitting down in a chair while drinking a glass of water that had been sitting on the counter for some time.
- Are you all right, Clementine?
The girl looked at her mother, who was beside her, looking in the same worried way as she had looked at her father.
The girl just shook her head, not feeling like talking.
The whole situation, everything that was happening out there, scared her, and seeing that blood on her father, only made her a little more hesitant, even though she didn't want to be.
She didn't know much about what was going on, but she knew enough to realize that people were turning into monsters, and that her father was fighting them to protect both her and her mother.
- Shit... that woman you were talking to... Marta? She turned into one of those things.
Her father said, getting up from his chair and putting his glass back in the sink.
- Oh, God... Ed... this... this is getting worse and worse.
Her mother said ruefully, crossing her arms and sitting down on a chair in front of the table.
- Don't start, Diana!
Ed said in a serious tone, causing the woman to shut up, answering only with a sigh.
That was what Clementine was afraid of, since it had started, he occasionally treated them harshly.
It wasn't stress, she had seen him stressed before, it was something different.
He treated them with genuine anger, and the girl could not understand why.
And that temper only got worse when those monsters started wandering around.
He used to be so nice to her, and she watched him grow more and more distant as the days went by.
- How much food do we have left?
he asked, and Diana stood up, taking the bag he had brought her.
- With that, just a few more days, a little over a week.
- Great, by then the government should have resolved this situation.
Ed said, walking into the living room and sitting down on the sofa, letting out a tired sigh and leaning his head back.
Clementine got up and walked to the corner of the room, sitting down in front of some of her toys.
She wasn't really in the mood to play right now.
In fact, she hadn't been in the mood to play since she had seen her father smash Sandra's head in. She knew that her babysitter had turned into a monster, but still.
It wasn't as if she had ever imagined that she would see her babysitter's skull bashed in.
The girl picked up her hat and stared at it for a while, remembering when her father had given it to her when he and Diana had decided to go to Savannah, before the trips had been cancelled because of the recent events.
So far he hadn't asked for it back, which was good, she was getting used to wearing that hat. And a little attached to the object.
A loud noise not far from there caught the family's attention and they got a little startled.
- What was that?
Diana asked, looking through the glass door to the backyard, a bit hesitant to stay there, imagining that at any moment one of those creatures could appear there.
- A gunshot.
Ed said, getting up and walking to the back door, opening it, and walking across the yard.
The gates were locked at the moment, so it was very unlikely that any of those monsters had gotten in there.
Another gunshot echoed, this time closer than before.
They looked at a specific point on the fence ahead, in the direction that the shot had echoed.
Ed went back into the house and got a knife from the kitchen. He had no more ammo, it had run out when he and Diana were caught in the middle of the chaos when they were at the supermarket a few days ago.
After a while, they heard another shot, now right in front of the fence.
Diana stood in front of Clementine and moved a few steps away from the door as she saw a man with a shotgun jump over the fence, falling into her yard.
The man was panting, he looked frightened, and his leg was wounded, with blood dripping from his wound.
They stared at him for a while, watching him crawl backwards across the yard, until he crashed into the small wooden fence that was in front of the glass door.
The man stood up, and looked at the shotgun for a few moments.
They could hear his heavy breathing, and the small groans of pain he gave from his leg.
As soon as he turned around, he was slightly startled to see them there, especially to see a man raising a knife in his direction.
The man's eyes ran through all three of them, from Ed to Diana, and from Diana to Clementine.
He and the girl stared at each other for a while, until he looked away again.
- I... I don't want to hurt you... I mean, I'm not going to hurt you, any of you, I... I just need a little help.
The man said, holding up one of his hands, amidst tired, or perhaps shocked, frightened sighs.
He didn't look scared, just... confused? maybe...
He had dark skin, thick lips, short black hair with brown eyes, a short beard all around his square jaw.
His leg was bleeding profusely, and his clothes were stained with blood.
This made him look rather intimidating, frightening.
- Who are you?
his father asked, still staring at the man.
- I'm Lee, like I said, I... I don't want to hurt anyone.
He said, lowering his hand slowly as he held the shotgun down.
Clementine stared at his gun for a few moments, remembering a scene from a movie she had seen. She didn't know much about guns, but she knew that a shotgun was more dangerous than a knife.
- Is that a bite?
Ed asked, and the man looked at him confused.
- A bite?
- Yes, that's how you turn into one of those things. They bite you, you get sick, and after a while you come back as one of them. I'll ask you again, is that a bite?
His explained, in an even colder tone than before, squeezing the knife firmly in his mother's hand.
The man shook his head, a little frantic, still in shock at everything that was happening.
- No... I was injured in a car accident... I got this shotgun from a body...
The man and replied, and the girl could see her father relax his body a little more, though still attentive.
- Look, I just want some water, and something to cover this wound, and then I'll be on my way, okay?
The man said, looking at Ed sympathetically, as if to say with just a look that he wouldn't do anything serious.
Ed looked thoughtful for a moment, until a sigh escaped his lips, and he turned back slightly, looking at Diana.
- I can handle this, we have plenty.
She said, and he sighed again.
- Okay... the shotgun stays with me.
He said, and the man nodded in agreement.
He limped slightly toward the small wooden deck and pushed the shotgun forward, which slid into the glass door.
- You can come in.
Ed said, reaching down and picking up the gun, staring at it for a moment.
He had never used a shotgun in his life, nor did he know how it worked.
He had only bought a pistol because he had been robbed once before, and even then, he knew only the basics.
It's not like he was a good shot or a gun enthusiast.
The man walked toward them with his hands up.
Clementine stepped aside as soon as he entered, and stared at him curiously, seeing at a glance, her mother walk to the kitchen and get a medkit.
She was a doctor, she had medkits all over the house.
- Have a seat, please.
She said, and Lee sat down on the chair in front of the table, with some difficulty, placing his hands on his thigh afterwards.
The wound was bleeding heavily, and looked quite wide.
After all she had seen, the girl didn't bother much to observe the blood, or the cut on the man's leg.
Lee looked around, and once again her eyes met Clementine's.
He didn't know why, but the girl looked at him curiously, and even a little frightened.
Well, it was understandable, it wasn't often that a bloodstained stranger carrying a shotgun jumped into her yard asking for help.
Seeing the look in the girl's eyes, he gave a small smile, in an attempt to comfort her.
The girl turned her head a little to the side, and calmed down a little more, but still looked at him with a little fear.
The blood on his clothes didn't exactly make him look very friendly.
- I am Diana, this is my husband, Ed, and this is my daughter, Clementine.
She introduced herself, placing the medkit on the table next to him, and looking at him kindly.
- It's ... nice to meet you ... and thank you for your help.
- You said you suffered this injury in a car accident, right? Where were you going?
Ed asked, leaning his back on the counter and looking at Lee, holding the shotgun still in his hands.
- Out of Atlanta.
He answered, groaning softly as he felt Diana cleaning his wound.
- Out? The news said to stay.
Ed said.
- Yeah, it was a mistake. My family lives in Macon. Well ... at least I think I still have a family.
Lee said, a somewhat sad tone, but one that soon escaped his lips, and disappeared from his expression.
- I'm sorry to hear that... an abnormal number of people have died these past few days.
Ed said, looking at him a little more sympathetically, but still keeping that seriousness in his face.
- Oh, I think I lost mine way before all this happened... I wasn't around most of the time... using my job as an excuse.
Lee said, grimacing slightly in pain as he felt the needle pierce his flesh, just as Diana began to stitch him up.
- Well, now I'm really sorry. Were you alone?
Ed asked, and Lee seemed a little hesitant to answer, until a defeated sigh escaped his lips.
- No... I'll be honest with you, since you're helping me and all... I was on my way to prison.
He said, and Diana momentarily stopped stitching him up, looking at him with wide eyes.
Ed stared at him for a few more moments, and his expression became more rigid, his muscles tensed, and the seriousness in his gaze became even clearer.
Clementine just continued standing in the same place, far enough away from him as it was, although her fear of him had increased.
-... Okay... for what?
Ed asked, staring at him with a certain intensity.
- I killed a guy in a fight. He and my wife... well... I guess you can already tell.
Lee said, glancing quickly at Clementine, choosing the best words to say.
Diana continued to stare at him for a while longer, until she returned to stitching him up, with slightly more hurried movements, wanting to get away from him quickly.
Ed looked thoughtful for a few moments, and a sigh escaped his lips.
-... Well, that sucks. At least you were honest. I'm not going to shoot you, if that's what you're thinking, I don't even know how this thing works. I won't do anything if you don't do anything.
Ed said, and Lee seemed a little relieved to hear this.
Ed walked to the kitchen and filled a glass with water, handing it to Lee shortly after.
- Thank you.
He thanked him as he finished his drink, and ran his hand through his hair, a little apprehensive.
- Where are you heading?
Ed asked, leaning his back against the counter again.
- Macon, I think. See if... if I still have a family... and if they're still alive.
- How many people have you killed?
- What?! Man, I'm not a serial killer or anything. Just one.
Lee said, and looked at the bandages that now covered his wound.
- Thank you.
He thanked her, and Diana just nodded, somewhat hesitant to say anything to a murderer.
At least, that's the reason Lee thought.
- Macon, huh? How is the situation in the other parts of the city?
Ed asked, and Lee looked at him as he stood up.
- Until before I left in that car, things hadn't gotten completely out of hand.
He answered, looking at the interior of the house.
- Huh, we were stuck here for two days, the news kept repeating that.
Ed said, and their little conversation was interrupted by some muffled voices coming from the front of the house.
Ed walked toward the front window, looking at Lee often, as a form of assurance that he wouldn't do anything.
As he pulled back the front curtain, he looked at two men ahead of him, who were talking loudly, standing in front of one of the cars blocking the street.
- Two men, they don't seem to be in trouble. We don't need to get involved.
Ed said, closing the curtain again and going back into the kitchen.
- Well, I'll be on my way then. I... thanks again for your help... I'm sorry about anything... not everyone would have helped me if they knew I was a convicted killer.
Lee said, raising his hand to Ed, who shook it after a while.
-... Don't mention it. The gate is low enough for you to jump over.
He said, walking out of the kitchen and sliding the shotgun forward.
Lee looked at them for a few more moments, focusing his eyes on Clementine again, before leaving the house and picking up the gun further on.
After a while, Ed walked to the window again, seeing Lee talking to the two men ahead.
- Did we make the right choice in leaving him with that gun?
Diana asked, a little afraid.
Afraid that he would come back and rob them, maybe?
Maybe kill them?
- I don't know... but he didn't shoot us when he had the chance... that's worth something. Besides, I don't want to get involved with a murderer, we can't call the police anyway. It's better to let him go his own way.
Ed said, and just as he finished saying that, shots were heard down the street.
He was slightly startled and opened the curtain a little wider, looking at some people ahead who were shooting at zombies.
Ed's eyes widened, there weren't just a few, there were many. Too many to count.
Like a herd.
He widened his eyes when he saw a zombie running towards one of the people and knocking it to the ground.
- Ed, what's going on?!
Diana asked in fright, and Clementine stood next to her.
The girl stared at her father's back, not saying a word.
What would she say? That she was afraid? He would just ignore her, as he had done before.
Ed looked again at the approaching herd, until he heard a noise coming from his yard.
Looking back, he sees a zombie throwing himself against the glass door, the sound of its body crashing into the glass was followed by a small scream coming from Clementine, who was slowly moving away from the door.
It wasn't one of the slow ones he had seen, this one was running, and hitting the glass harder with each attempt, until Ed saw the door begin to shatter.
He soon stood in front of Diana and Clementine, looking around for something he could use.
A chair, perhaps?
He had his knife, he could throw the chair and stab the thing afterwards.
Decided, he tried to grab one of the chairs in front of the table, but the glass door shattered and that thing entered the house, running towards him quickly.
Out of reflex Ed put his arms in front of his body and felt himself being thrown backwards, falling with that thing right on top of him.
- Ed!
Diana screamed, looking for something she could use to help her husband, but at the same time very afraid that the creature would turn and run towards Clementine.
He held the zombie tightly, preventing it from biting him, but the more time he spent in that situation, the more his strength was depleted.
Or it was the zombie that got stronger.
Amidst the moans, or screams, that the creature that looked like a man made, he heard hurried footsteps.
Glancing over, he saw some feet standing beside him, and soon, a shot was heard, and the man's head exploded, staining his face and the ground with blood.
- Are you okay, man?!
He heard Lee's voice ask, and looked up at him, who held out a hand in his direction.
Ed sighed and accepted the help, getting up quickly, and looking at the body on the floor.
-Yes... I'm fine... Thank you.
He thanked him, looking at Lee with a mixture of gratitude, and distrust.
- You helped me, we're even now... and I only came because I heard the girl's scream, and the banging on the door.
Lee said, looking at Clementine for a moment, before turning back to Ed.
The pounding on the front door was heard, and they left the room, walking slowly backwards.
- We have to get out of here, more of those things are coming. Those guys out there, they're on a farm, we can go with them!
Lee said, reloading his shotgun and pointing it at the door.
Ed looked to where he had left, and the knocking on the door increased.
- We're going!
He exclaimed, pulling Diana and Clementine slightly behind him, who soon ran toward the back door.
The front door was knocked down, and Lee shot the incoming zombie, one of the running ones. Clementine, even from a distance, watched the head of what resembled a woman explode in blood, and pieces of brain being thrown everywhere.
Suddenly, she felt an urge to vomit, the same way she felt when she saw brains splatter from Sandra's skull.
Lee and Ed ran to the back door and through the yard, jumping the front gate soon after.
Lee looked at the horde of zombies approaching from the street, most of them being zombies that were walking slowly toward the pickup truck parked up ahead, where there were some of the runners banging on the windows around them.
Lee took the lead and shot at these zombies.
- Holy shit, Lee! I thought they got you!
A young man shouted from the driver's gang, just after he rolled down the window.
He had short dark hair, white skin, and brown eyes; he looked to be a little over twenty.
- Are you two all right?!
Lee asked, jumping into the back of the truck as soon as he had eliminated the zombies.
- Yeah... Man, that was close, I thought they were going to break the windows. You three, in the front.
Another man, with rather long blond hair, a bit chubby, said, climbing into the truck, right next to Lee.
They jumped into the truck, and the boy sped away from the herd.
Clementine stood on the seat and looked back, seeing the car being chased by two other zombies, who were running towards the vehicle.
Her eyes then focused on Lee, who was kneeling on the truck, with one hand on the car, and the other using the shotgun as a support.
Ed glanced back, seeing his house moving farther and farther away, and the herd running over everything.