Holy crap! 3,386 views! Thanks SO much guys! I really appreciate it, and all of your reviews!
This story is moving so slow. I'm sorry about that guys. I have huge plans for the train and everything after that, so hopefully I can get some interesting stuff started soon! I was going to end this chapter a lot later, but then it would've been super long and take me forever to update this. I edit the game where I want to in this story, so obviously it's not the same. I try to keep some dialogue and most events, though. Anyways, enjoy! (Oh, and by the way, I found my cat! :D)
I don't own The Walking Dead game. :C
Lee attempted to fish his wrench out of his pocket in a panic. His hands were clammy and he could've sworn he felt the immanent death hanging over him. His fumbling hands finally grasped the spanner as he yanked it out of his pocket. He whirled around to face the sound, holding his weapon high over his head.
He expected to see a rotten, bloody walker about ready to chew his face off, it's dead fingers reaching out like spindly spider legs.
Instead, there was a man who appeared to be in his sixties, laughing so hard he was doubled over. He was covered in smears of dirt and his dingy gray hair was tangled.
Lee paused a moment, lowering his weapon to his side and eyeing the stranger with mistrust.
"Who the hell are you?" Lee demanded sharply.
The old man looked up, "Name's Chuck. Charles, if you're fancy," he introduced himself in a heavy southern accent.
Lee scowled, "And would you mind telling me why you tried to scare me like that?"
Chuck scratched his matted beard between his fingers, "When I talked to your group out there, one of 'em told me that it'd be funny if I scared ya'," he said, "She wasn't wrong," he added with another snicker.
Lee cradled his forehead in his palm, but couldn't help the smile that forced itself onto his face.
"Goddammit, Carley," he chuckled to himself.
Realizing Chuck was still there, Lee looked back up at the man, "So, I take it you've met the group?"
Chuck nodded, "Already met everyone outside; they all warmed to me right quick in direct sunlight."
As if to make a point, Chuck hopped out of the train car and started towards the group. Lee followed after a few moments.
Clementine instantly sprang out of her seat on the log with a joyful smile, "You met Chuck!"
Lee glanced at Carley, who had been sitting on the log next to Clem. She smirked triumphantly.
Lee looked back down at Clementine, "Yeah...I did."
Katjaa looked up from where she was sitting on a tree stump, cradling Duck in her arms.
"It's so nice to meet someone that's normal for a change," she complimented.
Clementine's smile grew as she looked up at Lee, "He gave us candy! Ben too!"
Ben awkwardly looked up from his spot on the ground, where he was eating his candy. His face was flush with embarrassment. Lee found it confusing how the teenager who betrayed the group by giving bandits supplies behind everybody's back could still act so much like a young child.
Lee lifted his eyes from Ben and back to Chuck.
What is he trying to do here? I don't know if I trust him...
"What's your game, man?" Lee asked, turning to the old man.
"Keepin' alive," Chuck answered simply.
Lee could understand that. Anybody who was left in this world was trying to stay alive...most with very little success.
"That's not bad," Lee approved.
Chuck grinned, "I like it."
Lee suddenly realized that Kenny might not be so keen about Chuck, "You met Kenny?"
"Sure did," Chuck replied, sitting down on a log, "Man shares my love of the road."
Lee almost laughed at how ironic that was, "That's for certain."
Duck coughed feebly, gaining everybody's attention.
Chuck's smile was replaced by a concerned frown, "I'm awfully sorry your son's not feeling good," he directed his apology at Katjaa.
Katjaa managed a slight smile, "I appreciate your concern."
"Well, with a little TLC I'm sure he'll be fit as a fiddle in no time," Chuck reassured her, "And I can offer y'all whatever I got, although it ain't much."
Katjaa looked at him gratefully, "Thank you...we'd like to do the same."
Kenny had retreated from the train cab and was now standing with the rest of the group.
"Why don't we hold off on..." Kenny started, but was interrupted by his wife.
"Stay with us. We'd like the company," Katjaa offered Chuck, giving Kenny a challenging glance.
Kenny stayed silent for a few moments, then turned around and went back into the train. Chuck pulled out a guitar that Lee didn't notice he had and started strumming. Clementine seemed to enjoy the music as she listened, smiling.
Lee didn't want to ruin the moment, but he had to tell her that Duck was bitten. This might be the last time he'd be able to before they get on the train and head for Savannah.
"Hey, Clementine...can I talk to you for a minute?" Lee asked softly, trying not to sound solemn but failing miserably.
Clementine got to her feet, her smile indicating that she was unfazed by Lee's tone, "Sure! What do you want to talk to me about?"
Lee looked from Clementine to Carley.
The woman gave him an encouraging nod, her mouth drawn into a line.
Lee led Clementine a little ways away from the group so they were still in sight but out of clear earshot.
Lee squatted so he could be eye-level with Clementine.
"Clem," he started, "there's something you should know. Duck was..." Lee's sentence faltered, "Duck was bitten."
Clementine's expression faded into a deep frown and her eyes darkened.
"I..I don't feel good," she whimpered, her eyes glistening, "Does that mean Duck is going to...to..."
Lee placed a hand gently on Clem's shoulder, "I'm really sorry, sweet pea," he soothed, pulling her into a hug. She reached her arms around him and hugged back.
Clementine sniffed, letting go, "So, is that all you want to talk about?" she asked, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"Yeah, honey," Lee answered, "Let's get back to the group."
Clementine and Lee walked together back to the clearing. Clementine sat down on the log where she was before. Unlike earlier, she was quiet and her eyes were downcast.
Guilt gnawed at Lee's stomach. He never wanted to make Clem feel bad, but she needed to know what happened. He took his own seat beside Carley.
Carley leaned over and whispered in his ear as to not interrupt Chuck's music, "You told her?"
Lee nodded subtly, "Yeah. She needed to know before..."
...before Duck dies. Both of them knew what the rest of the sentence would've been.
The pair stayed silent for a while.
Lee realized that he hadn't seen Lilly since earlier that day, "Where's Lilly?" he asked Carley quietly.
"I bound her hands with zip-ties instead of cloth this time, then put her back in the RV," she answered, "And don't worry, the keys are still in my pocket. She won't get anywhere."
"Where'd you get the zip-ties?" Lee asked in a whisper. Zip-ties could be used for a lot of things, and he could probably use them to make a utility belt with the rest of the wrenches he saw.
He noticed Carley's cheeks redden slightly and her eyes go wide, "I...found them...in the motel..." she muttered just loud enough for Lee to hear.
It took a moment for Lee's brain to register that she had been staying in the honeymoon suite. He couldn't help but chuckle a little bit.
Carley elbowed him lightly, containing her own laughter, "Hey, I thought they might be useful for something, don't think like that," she mock-scolded quietly.
Lee glanced towards the RV, his smile wiped from his face, "Have you talked to her?" he whispered curiously to Carley, referring to the woman inside the RV.
"I have," Carley responded, "and of course she still thinks I was the one to give the bandits supplies. You were probably right; it could've been someone sneaking into camp."
Lee risked a quick glance at Ben, who was still sitting on the ground. Their whispers couldn't be heard by the rest of the group, so Ben had no idea what they were talking about.
Ben put Carley's life at risk; Lee had to tell her.
"Listen, Carley," Lee started in a very serious whisper, "I..I know who was the one giving the bandits supplies."
Carley's skin paled and her eyes widened in shock, "Who...?"
"Ben," Lee sighed, "He told me earlier on the train."
Carley's gaze floated to Ben, "He's just a kid. I can't believe he'd do something like this," she breathed.
She paused for a moment, turning and looking at Lee thoughtfully, "We can't tell anybody yet. If Kenny or Lilly knew..."
"...they would probably kill him," Lee finished her sentence. Lilly had tried to shoot Carley out of just suspicion. If she knew it was Ben-
Lee wasn't able to finish his thought as Kenny exited the train and called out to the rest of the group, "Alright everybody! Let's get this son of a bitch movin'!"
Carley and zip-ties, huh. ;D Sorry for any mistakes, I was too tired to re-re-ead and re-edit. :P