SEASON 1

Prologue

Three months have passed since that cursed night, it seems like a very long time, but for a group of traumatized survivors who have seen hell on earth, who relive it every night in nightmares, while sleeping in the rooms of that dilapidated motel, those three months are nothing to them. First they suffered the arrival of the walkers and then the cannibals. What else could have happened worse? How much longer could they defend the Motel? But above all, how much longer could they stock up on supplies in Macon? Between doubts, fears and hunger, the survivors found themselves facing a new day, in the hope that tomorrow everything would change for the better.

Chapter 1: An evening at the motel

the only thing separating the group from the outside world is a makeshift fence, made with metal rods and light wooden planks recovered during short trips to Macon in search of supplies. The icing on the cake are the two dumpsters used as a gate. Lee during his evening guard shift, posted as usual on the camper, sitting on that battered chair, observes that fence with concern, his gaze however focuses in particular on the arrows that are stuck in the wooden planks. The bandits in the last few weeks have targeted the Motel, in an attempt to rob it, but the group has managed to defend themselves and repel the danger, several times. Now everything is calmer, strangely calm and this troubles Lee's mind even more as he wonders *why don't they attack anymore? Have they perhaps died in some way? Or are they perhaps organizing an even more severe attack against us?* these doubts have tormented him for a few days now, especially considering that under his protective wing there is Clementine, an 8-year-old girl. He can't risk something happening to her, he would never forgive himself.

Immediately the whirlwind of thoughts was interrupted by Kenny's voice, who in the meantime climbs into the camper "Kat and I are thinking of leaving this dump"

"are you serious?" Lee said bitterly

"Lee, I've never been so serious in my entire life"

after a few seconds of silence Kenny continued "how much longer will all this last? The bandits are becoming a pain in the ass and Lilly is a fucking capricious child who keeps everyone in check."

Lee immediately asked annoyed "and you're leaving like this? Abandoning the group? Leaving us in the shit?"

"you and Clementine can come with us. I fixed this wreck a few weeks ago, we just need to find some gas and we'll be on horseback"

"Kenny, I... I can't, I can't abandon the others, I..."

Kenny immediately interrupted Lee firmly "fuck the others, it's about surviving, keeping the people we love safe, you can't save everyone. Listen, I don't want to force you, but I want you to think about it, Kat and I will leave in a few days at dawn, if you change your mind... well, you know where to find me"

after this sentence Kenny gets out of the camper and heads towards his room, which is next to Lilly's. he opens the door and just before entering he turns to Lee and stares at him for half a second. In his eyes you can perceive the worry, the fear towards an uncertain future, especially for his family. After 4 hours Lilly reaches the camper to replace Lee, the death of her father Larry has made her even harder with the group, she argues every day with Kenny, is always sour towards Carley and is very strict with the two teenagers Ben and Alice, in short the only person for whom she reserves a smile is Lee, he had helped her in the vain attempt to save Larry.

"lee go get some rest, i'll take care of guarding the motel here"

the former college professor gets up from the battered chair without saying a word, his mind is focused on that chair *damn if it's uncomfortable, my back is crying out for mercy*. After getting out of the camper lilly grabs his arm

"wait a second"

"do you need something?" lee replied curiously

"i need you and kenny to get back to macon tomorrow, we need to stock up on supplies, we can't afford to run out"

"sure, we will. Have you told Kenny yet?"

"not yet"

"Then I'll talk to him," Lee said

lilly with a hint of a smile concludes "good"

immediately lee, while heading towards kenny's room, notices carley's figure leaning on the railing of the second floor of the motel. she stares at the man with furrowed eyebrows, but she doesn't seem angry, in fact she seems worried. the man stops and although he tries to remain serious, while looking at her he can't help but smile. She smiles back and they remain still, staring at each other for a few seconds. There are no more problems or responsibilities, just the two of them sharing a look. In these months they have formed an intimate friendship, they have shared the past, food and moments of leisure. Both have offered the other help and support in the most delicate moments. The smiling journalist looks away, interrupting that intimate moment, and heads towards her room, which is behind her.

Lee decides to postpone the meeting with Kenny to head towards Carley's room, he wants to talk, know what's going on in her mind and maybe spend a few carefree minutes with his friend. He climbs the stairs and approaches the door, his chest warms and he becomes more anxious. He is afraid of saying something wrong or of appearing awkward in front of her. He feels that their relationship is going beyond friendship and this scares him, he is afraid of how much he will suffer the day he loses her, but at the same time he can't stay away from her, not to look at her, but above all he can't stop listening to her voice, it is hypnotizing like a siren's song.

He takes a long sigh and knocks on the door, the anxiety grows, grows and grows, but then she opens the door. As soon as Lee sees Carley's face, all the thoughts that were previously spinning in his head disappear, in his mind there is only peace and in his stomach he feels butterflies. She with a slight smile begins the siren's song

"Lee Everett, what an honor. What brings you here professor?"

The smiling man "well, I was a little bored, so I decided to bother you"

"ahh, is that it? Stupid me who thought I was the immature one" she says jokingly

"I have flaws too, my dear"

"what do you say? do you want to come into my humble abode, sir?" she finally exclaims smiling

the two enter and the room is similar to the others, a classic studio apartment, with a bed on the side, a cabinet with an old television on it right in front of the bed, a small kitchen at the end of the room accompanied by a small table with two chairs and next to the latter there is a room with a toilet in it. The furniture shows the obvious signs of this apocalypse, chipped doors, bed with ruined sheets and the television has broken glass. Finally there is the carpet full of Scratches and blood splashes. Lee who has seen that room many times, with a carefree attitude says

"it seems more welcoming than usual"

Carley almost laughing "but please, it looks like a hurricane passed through here"

then continues "come on, let's sit down big guy"
the two sit at the table occupying the only available chairs and start talking. After an exchange of hilarious jokes, they move on to something more serious.

"you know… I noticed your look before, something is worrying you, right?" Lee says with a more serious tone, distant from the hilarity that occupied the previous minutes.

She immediately frowns "I've been thinking about you a lot lately, I've been thinking a lot about your murder conviction"

"oh Jesus, that happened a lifetime ago" he replies annoyed

"Lee, how long do you think you can keep the secret? What do you think will happen when they find out on their own? Other people can't trust you if you're not completely honest with them and whether you like it or not will affect your survival"

"You're probably right" he says with more understanding

She smiles "Of course I'm right, in fact I'm always right"
The two laugh at the statement and shortly after she, with a serious look, continues "So you'll do it, then?"

"Of course, you're right. There's no point in keeping the secret anymore" the former professor says confidently

At that moment she smiles again and exclaims "Well, I think it's for the best"

The two spend a few seconds in silence smiling at each other, then Carley approaches Lee, hugs him softly and gives him a light kiss on the cheek. The man at that moment feels his chest burning and his mind wanders filling with questions. *What does this mean? Does she like me? Or is it just a gesture between friends?*

After this moment of intimacy, the two continue to exchange jokes, talk about Bourbon, Malbec, scented bathtubs, massages, etc... they manage to converse for half an hour without ever getting bored. At a certain point Lee looks at the wristwatch that his father had given him for his thirtieth birthday, notices the late hour and decides to say hello to Carley.

Once he leaves the room he is in seventh heaven, his heart is beating wildly and he feels a sense of satisfaction inside him that he hasn't felt in a long time. Once he has sobered up from his love hangover, the former professor goes to talk to Kenny and tells him about the expedition that awaits them the next day. At first the fisherman, with his usual sulk that distinguishes him, seems reluctant, but in the end he decides to accept and therefore to help his friend get supplies. Once out of Kenny's room, the man heads towards his room, which is right next to Carley's. Just before entering what is now his house, he stares for a second at the door of the journalist's room, smiling.

Once inside the house he finds Clementine drawing on the table with paper and colored pencils. He decides, curious, to see what she draws.
"Hey Clem, what are you drawing?"

"It's a goat" she exclaims satisfied

"Wow, it's very beautiful, it seems made by Picasso" he says, exaggerating

Clem with a curious look "who is Picasso?"

with a hint of a smile he answers "he was a person who loved to draw, just like you"

she smiles and he continues changing the subject "how about we eat something?"

Clem accepts the proposal without thinking twice and the two share one of the last remaining energy bars. As soon as they finish eating they head towards the two beds, a little battered. Lee tucks the little girl in and then heads towards his bed and lies down. He is so tired that he collapses, he falls asleep immediately.

Maybe it's for the best, a new day awaits him, he must be strong for what awaits him. He must return to Macon to look for supplies, tell his secret to the members of the group and make sure that the bandits do not return with the intention of feasting on their corpses.