From the forest, Lee arched an eyebrow as he saw the situation ahead. Luke and the rest allowed themselves to be surrounded by six people, one of those people being an unarmed boy.

He couldn't help but sigh wearily. He had told one of them to stand guard. They didn't have guns and ammo for nothing.

If they wouldn't use it, Lee would get the bag of ammo for him.

Looking at the situation a little more, he noticed that the boy and Luke were doing some talking, although it was noticeable that he was distressed, and nervous to be in the sights of all those guns.

Especially when those people kept pointing their guns at them even after they heard the baby's cry. In fact, the situation seemed to get a little more tense.

- What do you think?

Clementine's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he glanced at the girl.

- We can't get close without being seen. You sneak behind the building, I'll go through the forest. There are five men, and one woman... just shoot. Talking doesn't seem to be an option.

Lee said, and the girl nodded to him, starting to walk towards the building ahead.

Lee looked at the situation once more, and slipped through the trees into the forest, picking up his pistol and keeping his eyes fixed on the bald man with his back to him.

When he got into a good position, Lee pointed the pistol at the man's head and looked at Clementine, who was slowly walking to her position.

As soon as the girl got into position and aimed her pistol at the man's head, Lee fired.

Clementine fired shortly thereafter, and the bodies of two men fell to the ground one after the other.

Bonnie crouched on the ground and covered the baby with her body. Mike and Luke reacted and shot at the men.

Lee looked at Clementine, and came out of the woods when he saw that the girl had taken cover.

As he moved forward, he saw Luke shoot one of the men in the head. A large, big, bald man who shot at him with a shotgun.

Soon after, Lee took his axe and stuck it into the other man's shoulder, using his body as cover against the shots from the woman, who was hit twice more in the chest.

When the shooting ceased, Lee pushed the man's body forward and looked at the surrounding bodies.

The silence lasted for some time, leaving a little more audible the cries of the boy, who tried uselessly to revive the woman.

- Is everyone all right?

Mike asked, standing up and casting his eyes around.

- I think so.

Luke said, looking at his own body for injuries, and sighed with relief that he was all right.

- Are you all right, Clem?

Lee asked, looking at the girl, who nodded in his direction and began to check the fallen bodies.

- Sarah?

Bonnie asked, looking at the girl, who was staring at the bodies sprawled on the floor without a glint in her eyes.

- It's a miracle everyone's okay...I've seen quite a few of those lately.

Jane said, putting a hand on her waist and running her eyes between them.

Lee sighed slightly, and looked at the crying boy on the woman's body.

- Hey, kid.

He called out, approaching the boy and pulling him back slightly.

- No! Natasha!

the boy shouted, pulling away from Lee's grip with some force.

Lee shook his head and sighed again, grabbing the boy harder and throwing him backwards.

- Whoa, take it easy man!

Mike said, stepping closer to Lee and looking at him reproachfully.

- I'm taking it easy. Giving him a chance to get out of here.

Lee said, looking at the boy with indifference.

- Come on, go away. You've already lost too much.

He said, pointing to the path beside him. But the boy didn't even seem to hear him, his eyes were still focused on the woman's body.

Lee arched an eyebrow. It seemed that either they had been together for a long time, or maybe he was a relative.

Well, whatever, that's what happens when you try to steal from others. People die.

A noise made behind him. Turning around, Lee holds his axe with both hands as he sees the woman's body begin to rise.

But Clementine, who was about to check the body, stuck her knife in the woman's eye before she could get up.

The boy screamed in desperation and tried to run towards the woman, but Lee stopped him, putting his hand on his chest and pushing him back to the ground.

- Come on, kid. Stop this and leave.

Lee said wearily, looking at the boy with an expression of disinterest.

However, he narrowed his eyes at the look he sent Clementine.

Sighing, Lee grabbed him by the shirt and began to pull him back violently.

- Hey, hey, damn it, Lee!

Luke exclaimed, walking quickly towards him.

- What is it, goddammit?! I'm just going to force him to go away, that's all! Fucking hell, you guys are a pain in the ass!

Lee said, almost shouted, irritated. He was no longer in the mood to listen to them complain about everything he does. He didn't have to put up with that bullshit.

As he got far enough away, he pushed the boy forward, who fell right next to the statue.

- Come on, leave. If you come back, I'll kill you.

He said, looking at the boy with disinterest, and tiredness. Especially when he heard the footsteps of the others approaching just behind him.

Did they come to make sure that he wouldn't kill the boy? Oh, for God's sake.

- He's scared, man.

Mike said, and Lee rolled his eyes.

- I can't do anything if I have an intimidating face, can I? And I'm not hurting the boy, am I?

Lee said, grumbling softly afterwards.

He arched an eyebrow when he saw that the boy kept staring at a specific point. Turning around, Lee's eyes narrowed again when he saw that the boy was staring at Clementine.

- Come on, kid. Just go away. You've already lost a lot, don't you think?

Lee insisted, taking a few steps to the side, moving closer to Clementine and making it harder for the boy to look at her.

The boy then looked at him, and slowly stood up.

- There is a house, food... please.

- You don't have to start lying to try to save your own skin, boy. I won't kill you, just go away.

Lee said, and the boy bowed his head a little. Lee realized that the boy was up to something, he could see it in his eyes.

Probably whatever he says is a lie, part of a plan to buy him more time, so that he could increase the chances that an opportunity will arise for him to hurt someone there.

- Food? A little more supplies might be good, no?

Bonnie asked.

- We have enough. And even if that were true, he would be left with nothing. I'm giving him double the kindness here. Get out alive, and still keep the food.

Lee said, without taking his eyes off the boy.

- Do you really think he can survive out there on his own?

Mike asked, and Lee narrowed his eyes.

- Mike, you're not suggesting what I think you are.

- He can stay with us.

Mike said, and Lee put his hand on his head in disbelief.

- Jesus... I don't believe what I heard.

Lee said, more like a grumble, but one that they heard.

- Do you really think he would agree to stay with the people who killed his group? Even though it's their fault, I don't think it will be very nice for him nor for us.

Clementine said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow when she saw the boy staring at her.

- Still, he's just a kid...what if it were Clementine in his place?

Mike asked, and Lee laughed in derision.

- Mike, I could spend all day telling you why that would be impossible. But that's beside the point. You want to let a kid who tried to rob us stay with us after we killed his whole group? come on, I dare you to sleep with him by your side.

Lee said, putting his hand on his waist, still not taking his eyes off the boy, but with each word he heard, the more he felt like turning around and punching Mike in the face.

- We can tie him up.

- Oh, for God's sake, the more you talk, the more bullshit comes out of your mouth. Tie him up Mike? Really?

- Better than abandoning him to his death.

Lee turned to Mike, but, he quickly corrected himself and looked back at the boy.

Lee's eyes widened as he saw the boy running toward Clementine with a knife.

He grabbed his pistol and aimed it at the boy, but he didn't have to shoot, Clementine was quick enough to step back and shoot him.

A shot to the shoulder, fired by pure reflex.

The girl had her eyes wide open and the gun still pointed towards the boy. She was breathing heavily, but calmed down as the adrenaline left her body.

- Clem, are you all right?!

Lee asked, walking briskly towards her and holding her gently by the shoulders.

- Yes... yes, I'm fine.

She said, and Lee sighed with relief.

But his eyes turned cold as he faced the boy on the floor, one hand on his wound, and shy tears streaming down his face.

Not caring what he had said before, he walks with hard, angry steps toward the boy and points his gun toward his head, ignoring the protests of the people behind him.

- Wait! Nooo-

The boy's scream was cut off by a gunshot, and Lee watched as his body fell to the ground with a hole in his head.

- What the hell, Lee!

Luke shouted, and pushed him to the side.

Lee grumbled and put the pistol back in his waistband, and for the first time, he looked really angry at Luke.

- What is it, Luke?! Huh? Say it! Look me in the eye and tell me what you mean!

He said, his voice deeper and more intimidating due to anger, large, heavy steps toward Luke, and angry eyes staring deep into those of the young man.

- You didn't have to-

- Shut the fuck up! Say one more word, Mike, and you'll lose your teeth in seconds!

Lee shouted, interrupting Mike and pointing a finger at him, but not taking his eyes off Luke.

- Come on, say it! Defend that piece of shit even after he tried to attack Clementine! Come on! Say he was just a kid! That he wasn't a fucking threat!

Lee said, pushing Luke backwards with each sentence, until he pushed him hard enough to knock him to the ground.

- Hey, back off!

Lee looked at Bonnie, who was pointing the rifle in his direction. Grumbling, he grabbed the barrel of the gun and pulled it hard toward him, causing the woman to practically be thrown at him.

- All you do is judge me and call me crazy! But guess what, this nutcase here has saved your fucking lives, more than once, I risked my life for you, a bunch of strangers, and yet... you can only say I'm wrong, point to my actions and flaunt your dead morality!

Lee said, tossing his rifle aside.

- You think you can survive out here like this?! All right then, go ahead! I didn't need another person to deal with the bandits, didn't need it to get out of Carver's camp, and definitely didn't need it when he showed up again, I could just let you die! It's not gonna be now that I will need it!

He said, pushing Mike aside and walking briskly towards the building ahead.

They were surprised, and frightened, by Lee's sudden outburst. Except Clementine, who shook her head, and sighed.

- Happy now? Jesus Christ, all you do is complain.

She said, putting her pistol back in her waistband and running after Lee, ignoring the stares that followed her.

As she climbed the stairs, the girl looked at Lee, who was sorting some supplies into a bag.

He looked back over his shoulder as she approached, and a tired sigh escaped his lips.

- I'm sorry, Clem. I know you told me to be nicer to them, and all that, but... I just can't stand those looks and all that nonsense anymore.

He said, stopping what he was doing and resting his arm on his bent knee, shaking his head slightly.

Clementine squeezed her own arm in front of her body, and sighed.

She liked Luke, Mike, Jane... and honestly, she didn't really want to get away from them, but... she knew that the basis for a united group is trust.

And trust was something that this group definitely didn't have.

- Maybe part of this is my fault... but I don't think so. Maybe the right thing would be for me to apologize, but I'm not going to.

He said, closing his bag and standing up.

A wry laugh escaped his lips.

- Jesus... the more people I meet, the more I find the runners and zombies easier to deal with.

He said, putting his hands on his waist.

Clementine thought about saying something, but a noise like the engine of a vehicle was heard coming from the road.

They both looked at each other, and walked to the deck, looking at the vehicle that had just parked in the road ahead.

- A truck? When was the last time I saw a truck?

Lee asked, more to himself than to Clementine.

- We have to go there...maybe these people aren't so nice.

The girl said, looking at Lee, who arched an eyebrow.

- If they're bandits, they better watch out. I'm not going to help them anymore. We can go through the forest, take a look, but if it's dangerous, we won't do anything.

Lee said, and the girl stared at him for a moment, until she sighed in defeat and turned away.

As she walked away, Lee stared harder at the symbol that was marked on the side of the truck... strange.