Gritting his teeth, Lee groans slightly as he is pushed forward. That blindfold over his eye was as uncomfortable as his bound hands.
Well, his hand tied to his wrist, actually.
Beside him, he hears Clementine's groan, and the girl bumped lightly into his body, probably after being pushed too. In addition to the sound of footsteps and the mutterings of the guards, Lee could hear grunts, muffled moans coming from far away.
And he was accustomed enough to know that those were not the moans of people.
Suddenly the blindfold over his eye was removed, as was the rope that bound his arms.
Looking around, he closes his eyes when he sees that he is in an open area, with a grandstand up high in front.
Not only this, but a little further away he saw a container, this being the source of the muffled grunts.
The place itself was surrounded by a tall barricade, but the container had its doors inside that fence.
- Oh, I'm so glad we're all together, finally.
Ed's annoying voice caught his attention, and Lee looked with anger and confusion at the man standing at the top of the grandstand, with Kenny and Carley at his side, both with their arms tied behind their bodies, and guards pointing guns at them at all times.
- I confess it would be a great reunion if you were without your guards. Just us, in memory of the old days.
Lee said with mockery and irony, and Ed just laughed in amusement.
- Come on, Lee. Do you think I'm an idiot? If I came alone, it's likely that you would have killed me by now. Although I don't like to admit it, I don't stand a chance against you, even if you are mutilated.
Ed said, and Lee's eyes narrowed as he saw some guards standing beside the container in front of him, with a rope attached to the container doors in the hands of two guards, one on each side.
- You know, Clementine, honey. You told me that you wanted to be like Lee, and that hurt me deeply, but it's all right, I forgive you. But, as I said, you need to be punished.
Ed said, leaning on the metal railing and speaking dramatically.
- So, since you want to be like Lee, you will go through the same punishment as him, until you realize how bad an idea that is. If you had said you wanted to be like me, you wouldn't be there now.
- Oh shut the fuck up! Let go of me and let's settle this man-to-man, you fucking bitch!
Kenny shouted angrily, and Ed looked over his shoulder at him.
Rolling his eyes, the man turns and walks over to him, punching him in the face.
- Please. Kenny. Don't interrupt us. This is supposed to be a friendly show.
Ed said, and in response Kenny kicked him in the stomach and threw his back against the guard.
Before he could do anything, however, another guard appeared and hit him in the face with the stock of his rifle, sending him to the ground.
- Son of a bitch! Okay, take him to the benches and tie him there!
Ed said, slightly irritated, and the guards grabbed Kenny, forcing him to stand up.
- Let me go you sons of bitches! Untie these ropes and let's see who's tougher here you fuckin' cowards!
Kenny shouted, receiving another punch in the face in response, and being forced to sit down on one of the bleacher seats.
- How rude. Well, where were we?
Ed said, leaning back on the railing.
- Well, since you two have spent years surviving on the road, I guess you can handle the dangers, right? I hope so. Because this is the show. We are all looking forward to seeing your skills.
Ed said, and one of the guards slammed hard against the side of the container, and now the groans became low cries and frantic thuds were heard from inside the container. There must have been quite a few runners in there.
- Don't worry, we won't release all of them at once... just a few. Lee, you may die, but Clem, I'm sure, will live. My daughter is not a weakling!
Ed shouted, almost in pride, and threw two machetes into the middle of the area.
- That's just so you won't say I didn't give you a chance. Consider it a small gesture of kindness.
He said with a cynical smile, watching them both pick up the blades from the ground.
Lee stared at the machete in his hand, a light weapon, totally different from his axe, and it bothered him. He wouldn't be without his axe, not even if he had to tie it in place of his hand.
With this thought in mind, Lee arched an eyebrow.
Putting the machete around his waist, he takes off his shirt, leaving his torso exposed.
- Whoaaaaa... easy there is a fight, not a strip show... Damn, you've got quite an arsenal of scars over time. And you are quite strong for someone who has been on the road for years. I'm so scared!
Ed shouted, and his smile died slightly as he saw Lee use his shirt as rope, and tie the machete to his wrist.
Looking down at his arm, Lee grumbles softly. It wasn't an axe, so it wasn't very comfortable. However, it would make up a little for the lack of his hand.
Besides that it gave him a good idea. But that was for later.
- You know, Clementine, my darling princess. Did you change your mind about that father thing?
Ed asked, and the girl gave him an irritated look, giving him the middle finger in response.
- That's cute. But seriously, I think you're lying.
he said, and the girl arched an eyebrow.
- Do you know why I think you're lying? It's because you kept the hat, that means something.
He said, now with a slightly more serious face, staring at the girl.
At first she just stared at him, but soon after, a slight mocking laugh escaped her lips.
- The hat is a symbol, you idiot. A reminder not to become like you.
she said, and Ed sighed.
- Come on, if that's what you want to think, be my guest. Well, we've talked too much already. Let the show begin!
he shouted, and the guards pulled the ropes at the same time, opening the container doors.
- Are you ready?
Lee asked, standing beside the girl, watching the runners rush toward them.
- Ready enough. But the eye really bothers me.
The girl said, gripping the machete more firmly.
- Just... just be careful, and attack in the openings I create.
Lee said, taking a step forward. The girl stared at him for a moment, then rolled her eyes and stood beside him again.
- Will you stop always taking the lead? We're in the same situation. In fact, you're worse than I am. We'll do it together.
She said, and Lee stared at her for a moment with a raised eyebrow, but did not protest.
Soon the first runner approached. Grabbing the creature's arm, Lee plunged the machete into its skull.
Clementine, standing next to him, tripped the next one and stabbed the machete into the back of the runner's head.
Punching the next one, Lee pushes him aside and cuts off the head of another runner who was approaching. Turning around, he kicks the head of the one he had knocked out and punches the other approaching runner, causing him to fall just in front of Clementine, who kills him quickly.
Rushing forward, the girl kicks the next one in the leg, and cuts off the arm of the one that was approaching from behind. Mumbling softly, she is forced to step back, since one of the runners was approaching from her blind spot.
Quickly, Lee steps to the girl's side and kills the one running towards her. But before he could act again, another one launched itself at him, and in a somewhat delayed reflex, he put his arms in front of his body, being pushed backwards slightly.
Raising his bound arm with the machete, the next runner throws himself on the blade, having his neck pierced, but something that was not enough to make him stop completely.
Suddenly, Clementine appeared beside him and killed the runner who was pushing him back. Seizing the opportunity, Lee grabs the head of the one that was attached to the blade, and kills him.
Screaming in rage, he crouches slightly and lifts the runner's body, throwing him over those who were approaching soon after. His mind replaced the deformed faces of the creatures with Ed's, a good way to vent his anger, though not exactly what he wanted.
Turning around, Lee runs as he sees Clementine struggling against a runner, but oblivious to the other one approaching through her blind spot. Pushing the creature she was fighting, he kills the next one and kicks the one approaching from in front of him.
- Bravo! I knew you wouldn't let me down!
Ed shouted as he saw Clementine kill another runner, while Lee used the machete to split the mouth of another runner further ahead.
- That seems a bit... easy. How about making it a little more difficult?
Ed said, and all the "guests" there widened their eyes as they saw some men covered in blood and guts walking calmly in the middle of the runners who were advancing towards the two of them.
- What the-
Lee cut off his own speech as he was forced to dodge a cutting blow from a man with a machete. Jumping backwards, he looks at his attacker, gritting his teeth as he watches him calmly walk away as two runners ran towards him.
Running to the side, Lee brings one runner in front of the other, and quickly moves towards the creatures while shouting in anger.
Stabbing his machete into the stomach of the first runner, he runs over the second, knocking one over the other, and stabs his machete into their heads, through both their skulls.
Turning around, he groans in pain as his face is cut by a machete, and quickly throws himself backwards.
- Lee!
Clementine shouts at him, and he turns around. In reflex, he deflects another man's machete attack with his own. Hearing footsteps behind him, he headbutts the man in the nose and turns quickly, kicking the approaching man in the side.
Turning again, Lee kicks the head of the man he had knocked down, and runs toward Clementine. She was a strong girl, no doubt about that, but when it came to physical strength, she wasn't superior to a grown man.
However, he had to admit that she knew how to handle this kind of situation very well, for before he could reach her, the girl head-butted the man in the nose, followed by a kick to the groin, and finally stuck the machete in his stomach.
Lee stopped running and stared at the girl for a moment. He had seen her deal with people before, but almost never in a hand to hand situation, this was usually his job.
However, he didn't have time to think about it. Turning, he jumped to the side when he saw the men advancing towards him.
The first one went straight through, and the second turned towards him.
Lee tried to attack him, but he was forced to turn around when he heard footsteps approaching from his side. Just in time, he punches the advancing runner in the face, and quickly stabs him in the head with his machete.
Before Lee could turn around, however, the man advanced toward him and punched him in the face, followed by a kick to the side of his torso.
Lee groans in pain, and dodges the next attack, however, the man counterattacks with his machete, making a cut across Lee's chest.
Groaning in pain once again, Lee staggers backward, and the man knocks him down. On the ground, Lee holds his arms as he tries to drive the machete into his head, and a small power struggle has begun there.
Gritting his teeth, Lee tries to attack with his machete while holding his hand, but the man is quicker and holds his arm, with the blade only inches from his face.
They both stared at each other as they stood in that fight, but it was obvious the difference in strength. Brandishing a heavy axe all day, up and down, side to side, killing dozens of runners and zombies hand to hand over all those years, kind of made Lee a little strong in terms of physical strength.
Throwing the man's arm to the side, Lee lifts his torso and pulls him off his feet, getting up shortly after.
Attempting a diagonal cut, the man advances a few steps toward Lee, who prevents the blow with his machete and punches the man in the mouth, making him stagger back a few steps.
Hearing footsteps approaching from beside him, Lee quickly trips the man, and turns around immediately afterwards. Ducking slightly, he throws himself against the runner and grabs his leg, lifting him up and then throwing him over the man.
Soon, his screams echoed throughout the area as he began to be devoured.
Looking at Clementine again, Lee sighs in relief as he sees the girl stick the machete into the side of the man's head as she wipes away the blood dripping from the cuts on her body.
Looking down at his own body, only now does Lee realize the cuts he has received. His shirt was cut, showing the cut on his abdomen and chest. His forearm had a diagonal cut.
Adrenaline always inhibited the pain of the injuries he received, and he never knew how bad they were until the fight was over.
Walking a few steps forward, he stabs the machete into the head of the devouring runner, and looks at Clementine, who was approaching him breathlessly.
- Are you... are you all right?
she asked, and Lee put his hand on her shoulder.
- I'm the one who should be asking this... yes, I'm fine.
Lee said, and for a few moments he even smiled his smile died when he saw Kenny and Carley just at the top of the bleachers, with Ed between them, pointing a pistol at each of them.
- What a magnificent show! Holy shit, I think that in a fight to the death, I would lose to my own daughter, and nothing makes me prouder! Now we come to the final act!
Ed shouted, looking with an amused smile at both people beside him.
- Lee, you're going to have to make a choice.
- You're crazy, you son of a bitch! Let them go!
Lee shouted angrily, and Ed made a pleased expression as he heard the anger in his voice.
- Why would I do that? They are important for the final act!
He said, laughing lightly.
- The situation is pretty obvious, but I'll say it as a matter of courtesy. You will choose who will die here, Lee. Aren't you the one who always makes the hardest decisions? Here's one more. Show me why people trust you! Show me if you can make the really hard choices!
Ed said, and Lee became even more angry.
- You crazy son of a bitch!
Kenny shouted beside him.
- You're only making it worse for yourself, Ed!
Carley said, breathing heavily in fear of being in that situation.
- Come on, Lee! Choose!
- I'm not going to be a part of your crazy games, you asshole! How about you come down here and try to kill ME, huh?!
Lee shouted back, clenching his fist tightly.
- Lee, for God's sake, that would be stupid. I said I don't stand a chance against you. If you don't choose, I'll choose for you.
Ed said, now looking much more serious.
- Let them go, Ed! This has nothing to do with them!
Clementine shouted, and he raised an eyebrow.
- Of course it does, Clem... but, I might rethink the case, if you do something for me.
Ed said, and the girl gritted her teeth in anger as she looked at him angrily.
- It's something simple. I promise.
He insisted, and she sighed.
- What is it?
- Call me Daddy. The way you used to when I got home from work. The same way my sweet Clementine used to.
he said, and the girl grunted in disgust. The thought of saying those words to a man like that made her want to throw up.
- Come on, don't make that face. It's something simple.
He insisted, and the girl sighed, already regretting doing that.
- Okay... let them go, daddy.
She said in disgust, and Ed stared at her for a moment, until a cynical smile broke out on his lips.
- No, that's no good. You have to be more animated, more willing. "Please let them go, Daddy."
He said, and the girl clenched her fists tightly, almost crying with rage at that humiliation.
- Pl-please let them go, daddy.
She said, and Ed laughed lightly, amused by the whole thing.
- Oh, Clem, you're the best. Well, since you asked nicely, I'll rethink the case.
He said, and after only a few seconds, he turned to Carley, and pulled the trigger. Everyone there watched in slow motion as the woman's body fell to the ground with a hole right in the middle of her forehead.
- Carley! You son of a bitch!
Kenny shouted angrily, trying to run towards Ed, but being stopped by the guards.
- You lying piece of shit!
Clementine shouted, equally angry, and Ed made a fake expression of confusion.
- What? Liar? But I said I would rethink the case, and I did... the point is, my opinion hasn't changed. I told you, Lee, I said that if you didn't choose, I would choose for you.
Ed said, alternating his superior, mocking, victorious gaze between Kenny, and Lee, reveling in the expressions and states of both.
- I didn't want to have to kill Carley. She was a cutie.
He said, bowing his head and placing the guns at his waist.
- Okay, the show is over. Let's go back, we have to tell Clint about our unfortunate losses.
He said, faking a sad expression, until he smiled again.