Lee

"The next order of business is getting those pills out of the pharmacy," Lee states. He then turns to Elijah, offering a nod. Elijah nods back and he makes his way over to Sandra and Clementine.

I can't imagine what that kid is going through now, no one should have to do what he did. But...someone had to. I should've stepped up.

Lee decides to check on Doug, axe still in his hand. "Hey, Doug. Heard or seen anything"

He shakes his head. "Nothing, luckily. Wanna step outside, have a look around?"

"Ha, I'm not suicidal yet."

"No, the gate outside is closed," Doug reassured. "We can hang out in front of the store and be fine."

"Oh, huh..." Lee thinks about it for a second and answers Doug. "Sure, let's go have a look around."

"Cool, and we'll keep it down. Don't need to bring them back with any unnecessary noises."

Lee nods. "Agreed." He and Doug carefully and quietly open the door and step outside. "...Jesus."

Countless walkers roam the streets of downtown Macon. Some just wander as they lightly growl while others are feasting on the remains of other survivors. Doug covers his mouth with his hand and begins to gag.

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

"They just..."

"Eat," Doug finishes Lee's sentence. "As far as I can tell, that's all they care about."

"And if one gets you..."

"They eat you," Doug finishes for Lee again. "and whatever is left comes back as one of them."

"How the fuck...?"

"I think it might be more than a couple days before all this gets sorted out."

"Yeah, I think so too," Lee agrees, crouching to the ground. "We better keep it down out here."

Lee takes a minute to search his surroundings. There are so many walkers for him to even count, but one of them stood out more than the rest. There's a walker pinned underneath a fallen telephone pole, wearing scrubs. Lee notices the identification card saying...'B. Everett.'

...Bud... "He could be a drugstore employee."

Doug looks to where Lee is, seeing the same walker that he does. "So you're saying he might have the pharmacy keys?"

He nods. "I'm saying he might have the pharmacy keys."

"I don't know. Could be anybody, you know? They start rotting and get all chewed up and-"

"Shut up, Doug," Lee says with a frown. "That one has the keys."

"How can be sure?"

Lee pulls out the photo he found in his parent's office and shows it to Doug. "That boy in the photo worked here. The keys being on him is as good as we can make."

Doug sees the picture and nods. "Yeah, I agree. We just need to figure out how to get out there and get them. You wouldn't need long, right?"

"Nah, just a few seconds."

"Maybe there's a way to distract them and buy you some time."

"Hmm..." Lee thinks for a moment until he sees a TV store across the street with many television sets sitting in the front window. I did find a TV remote in the office... Lee pulled it from his pocket and pointed it towards the TVs, pressing the power button. The TVs don't turn on so he turns to Doug with the remote still in his hand. "Think you can do anything with this?"

"You know what I could do..."

"What's that?"

Lee hands Doug the remote. He stands and starts fiddling with the buttons. "It's universal. I could program it to work with those TVs across the street. Let's just hope the power is still on."

"You can just do that?"

"I memorized all the codes when I was in AV. Let's try." Doug points the remote at the TV store and presses a few buttons. The TVs across the street turn on.

"Well fucking done, Doug. All that dork nonsense might save a life."

"Who's to say it already hasn't?" Doug crouches back down as a few walkers turn to the noise of the static. "That got a few of them to notice."

But the walkers turn and begin to wander around again. "But not enough." Lee looks down, seeing a brick on the sidewalk, just out of his reach outside the gate. He looks up at the combination lock, having another idea come to his mind. "I'm gonna break the lock so I can reach that brick and throw it at the store window, Walkers should be distracted by the noise so I can go snag the keys."

Axe now in hand, Lee swings it over his shoulder, and the lock breaks off the metal gate. "Awesome! Now to distract those things...carefully."

"Right," Lee stands and opens the metal gate just enough so he can grab the brick. Once it's in his hands, he throws it straight into the store window and shatters the glass. The TV's static is now louder than before, drawing in each and every walker to the front of the store. "Now's the time."

"Be careful."

"Keep an eye out, will ya?" Doug nods and Lee runs across the street. He towers over his now-dead brother as the walker looks up and notices him. Lee kneels in front of him, the walker growls and tries to claw at him but Lee's out of its reach. "Hey, Bud... I don't know what happened to Mom and Dad. But I know if you were there, you would've dies for them, so...uh...yeah. I'm going to assume that's what happened."

"Did you find them yet?!" Doug shouts in a whisper.

"Give me a second!" Lee looks angrily back at Doug but frowns as he closes his eyes. "I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry I wasn't here," Lee looks back at his brother. "But knowing you were...to take care of them, through all of it. That helped."

Lee looks distressed and raises his axe sadly. With one swift motion, Lee brings down the axe on his brother's head, killing him instantly. "Ugh...God." He leans down and grabs the pharmacy keys from the shirt's pocket. He looks back to Doug and waves the keys above his head.

"Holy crap!" Doug looks to the walkers, they're no longer distracted by the TVs. "Run!"

Lee ran as fast as he could back across the street to the drugstore. He and Dough run back inside, but not before Dough shuts the metal gate. They know that won't hold for long, but they got what they needed.

"Man, that was close."

"But we did it, that's all that matters," Lee heads straight over to where Lilly and her father are and shows Lilly the keys. "I've got the keys."

Lilly smiles and stands. "Great! God, you're amazing! Let's get in there."

Lee and Lilly enter the office, he unlocks and opens the door to the pharmacy. Things finally seem to be looking up.

RING! RING! RING! RING!

At least...that's what they thought. As soon as Lee and Lilly stepped through the door, the alarm goes off.

"Oh, no..."

"Ah, shit."

"We gotta hurry!"

They both run down the aisles, searching for the nitroglycerin pills that Lilly's father needs. Outside of the drugstore, each and every walker within a block radius hears the sound of the alarm. For them, it was a dinner bell.


Elijah

Shit, shit, shit! I throw my backpack over my shoulders and have my gun secure in my pocket. Sandy and Clementine prepare to leave along with the others.

"Duck," I hear Katjaa say. "Come on, baby, time to go."

"I'm gonna get the truck pulled up 'round back!" Kenny shouts from the middle of the store.

"Do it fast!" Lilly gets Larry to his feet. "I've gotta get my dad out of here!"

"I don't plan on dilly-dallying!" Lilly and Larry run off to the office as Kenny looks to the rest of us, ready to tell us what we should do. "Honey, take Duck into the office and barricade the living hell outta the door behind me! Glenn, when you hear me honking in the alley, start getting people outta here!"

He nods. "You got it!"

"Doug, Carley, Elijah, and Lee, you guys make sure our defenses stay up 'til then! And, Lee, I better take that axe of yours in case I run into any of 'em on the way to my truck!"

"Here you go!" Lee tosses Kenny his axe.

I hear the metal gate outside break, along with teh sound of growling getting closer. "Fuck..."

"Guys, that door's not locked anymore!" Doug shouts.

"Shit! You four," Kenny shouts back. "get on it! I'll get back as soon as I can!"

Kenny runs off and Doug, Carley, and Glenn try to hold the doors closed. I turn to Sandy and Clementine. "You two, stay away from the windows!"

Sandy nods at me. "We will."

"And stay away from the windows," Lee adds and then looks to me. We share a nod and run over to the door. "Glenn, go! We got this!"

Glenn runs off to help the others in the office and Lee and I take our place to keep the door shut at all costs. Lee and Doug are holding the left door while Carley and I hold the right.

"Lee, Elijah," Doug looks at us as the walkers keep pounding on the door outside. "if we don't make it through this, you should know that...I think you're great guys."

"Gee, thanks, Doug!" I say sarcastically.

"We will make it through this!" Lee states.

"Doug," Carley looks at the guy. "if we don't make it through this, you should know-"

The walkers pound on the door even harder, causing it to partially open, knocking Lee and me forward a bit. "Shit!" We rush back and push the door closed again.

"I should know what?" Doug asked Carley.

"Huh?!"

"You said I should know-"

The walkers manage to push back a shelf blocking the window next to Doug and Lee and start clawing their way in. "Shit!" The walkers start climbing through the window. "On it." Carley steps away and draws her gun.

"Are you sure?" Lee asks. Carley responds by shooting her gun and killing the walkers coming through the window. "Wha.. Oh, shit!"

Carley runs off to shoot more of them, leaving me, Doug, and Lee to keep the door shut. "Okay then..."

"Clementine! Sandra!" Lee calls to the girls, they run over to us. "Can you two look for something to stick in between the handles? Something real strong, okay?!"

"Okay!" They say back to us and run off to search. The walkers break open the door again and we push it closed.

"Clementine, Sandy! Did you guys find anything?!" I shout, feeling my feet slipping against the tile floor.

"Nothing!" Sandra shouts.

"Oh, wait!" Clementine runs off to the office and Sandra follows after her.

I hear glass breaking behind me and Doug's eyes widen. "That window is screwed!"

"Go!"

"We got this!"

Doug runs off, and Lee and I struggle to hold the door and keep it shut. Soon, Clementine and Sandy run back to us. The little one holds... Is that Lee's father's cane? It should be able to hold.

"I found something!"

Lee takes the cane, I move slightly so he can shove it through the handles of the front door. The walkers pound on the door but it stays closed...for now.

"That won't hold for long," I say. "Let's

"AAAHHH! Get off, get off!"

Doug shouts from the window, I turn to see him being grabbed by multiple walkers through the boards. Oh, shi-

"Shit, I'm out! I'm out!" Carley shouts from by the soda fountain, where a walker has grabbed onto her leg. "Lee, help! My ammo! It's in my purse!"

"Guys, help! Get them off! Get them off me!"

Time seems to slow down as I look back and forth between Carley and Doug. Sandy and Clementine could only stand there in shock at the sight. My ears start ringing and my heart pounds in my chest.

...No. Not this again... There are two people we need to save... No...I won't let what happened to Shawn happen here!

"Lee!" I call to him. "Go help Carley! I got Doug!"

He nods. "On it!"

I run over to Doug and pull him out of the Walker's grasp. The boards of the window start breaking but it still holds. "Elijah...thanks, man."

I nod then I look over to Lee. He tosses Carley an extra magazine and she reloads her pistol and shoots an approaching walker and the one holding onto her leg. The office door slams open and Kenny runs out holding Lee's axe.

"Let's go!"

"You heard him, go!" I say to the others. We make our way through the store. We're almost out of here...

"AAHH!" I hear Clementine's scream, immediately making me turn around just in time to see her be grabbed by a crawling Walker.

"Clementine!"

I run over to her, Lee does the same. I try and pull her away from the walker and Lee continuously stomps on its head. Eventually, the walker loses its grip on Clementine and I pick her up in my arms like a princess.

"Come on!"

I turn around and run with Clementine in my arms, Sandy runs ahead of me and Lee follows behind. Larry holds the office door open so we can run through.

"You're not coming with us, you son of a bitch!" I hear Larry yell from behind me along with a thud.

"No!" Clementine screamed out, making my ears ring.

I turn around as Larry walks past me...seeing Lee on the ground in a daze. Motherfucker... I set Clementine down back on her feet. "Sandy, take Clem and go!"

"But-"

"Kenny!" I shout and he comes back in an instant. "Help me!" I point to Lee.

"Shit!"

We run back into the drugstore...where it's already being overrun by Walkers. Kenny swings the axe over his shoulder and kills the walker that was crawling next to Lee and I take out my gun and start shooting, I kill at least three walkers. Thank you, Carley. Kenny holds out his hand down to Lee.

"I'm not letting somebody else get eaten today," I reach out my left hand as I keep my gun aimed at the walkers. Lee takes our hands and we help him stand up. "Especially a good friend."

"Go, go, go!" I make sure Lee and Kenny get inside the office as I backup, more walkers swarm the store and I slam the door shut.


Lee

Everyone made it. The group decided that it'd be best to hold themselves up in the Motor Inn where Glenn managed to get gas for his car and Kenny's pick-up. Lilly and Elijah pile all the walkers near the entrance for them to burn. Lilly insisted that Irene's body should be burned as well but Elijah wanted to give her a proper burial. They had a heated argument but Lilly eventually abided. Katjaa and Kenny unpack a few boxes in their truck while their son talks Clementine and Sandra's ears off. Glenn stands near his car with the driver's side open as he listens to his radio.

"Meanwhile, inland, Atlanta has been downgraded temporarily to an eight, with attacks and rioting being reported in all precincts. Citizens are currently advised to stay in their homes or move towards the cities of Charlotte, Atlanta, and Orlando. If citizens choose to stay in their homes, they are urged to be near their radios and await further instructions. Moving in the cities of Charlotte, Atlanta, or Orlando may become necessary in order to ensure the safety of all citizens."

While the radio went on, Lee just looked at his family photo, frowning sadly knowing that they were truly gone. Now...he has three kids to take care of until they either find Clementine's parents...or... No, there was no time to think like that. Lee will keep those three safe.

In the distance, Lee can hear the sounds of gunfire along with screams. He turns around, wanting to distract himself from the noise by talking with the others. "Hey, Glenn."

Glenn holds out his hand for Lee to be quiet, he listens closely to the radio. "With uncountable severe emergencies in all counties, Georgia cities and their current level of disaster are as follows: Atlanta, stage nine catastrophe..."

"I think I need to go..."

"To Atlanta?" Lee asked.

"Yeah...I got friends there, and I just can't stay here knowing that they could be trapped in the city."

"It sounds like nobody knows what's happening there. When we left a few days ago it could've gone either way.

"I gotta take my chances."

Lilly starts approaching but Lee looks at her and shakes his head, she walks away frowning. "Find your friends," Lee tells Glenn. "and be safe."

Glenn smiles back. "Thanks, Lee, that means a lot. I don't mean to abandon you all, but this seems like an okay setup, and I'm sure things will be back to normal around here in no time."

"Let's hope."

"You guys be safe."

Lee nods. "We'll try."

"And, Lee..." Glenn looks up to the second floor of the Motor Inn, remembering what...Elijah had to do. "you know, if this doesn't get better, people are going to give up...like the girl from upstairs. Are we just gonna...let them? I mean, that kid killed her...or put her out of her misery."

"Yeah..."

"Maybe he was right, I don't know how to handle something like that. Anyway, see ya around." Glenn gets into his car and drives off.

Once Glenn's car disappears into the dark of night, Lee turns to Kenny and Katjaa. "Hey, Ken."

Kenny turns around and smiles. "Close call back there."

"Thanks for picking me up."

"Thank that boy over there," Kenny looks over to Elijah who's standing by Sandra, he glances in Larry's direction every now and then. "if hadn't hollered... Either way, it's no problem." The two shake hands. "We have to take care of each other."

"Yeah, we do."

"Hey, about those kids you got."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I think you know what you're doing."

"Shit, man, do any of us?"

"With them, I mean," Kenny corrects himself. "Earlier, you said you were clueless. I just want you to know that I look at you, and I see the type of guy who figures things out. Those girls and that boy are gonna be just fine."

Lee smiles and nods. "Thanks, Kenny."

He gives Lee a thumbs-up and goes back to his wife. "I got your back, Pal."

With that conversation out of the way, Lee heads over to where Carley and Doug are. Both of them are searching through boxes the group managed to find at the Motor Inn. "Hey, guys. How are you holding up?"

"We're alright. You know, considering."

"I do, yeah." Lee nods at Carley.

"I just keep playing that entire thing in my head, man," Doug plants his palm on his forehead. "If Elijah hadn't been there... I'd be... Oh, God... I really owe that kid big time."

"Don't think about it too much, Doug. He'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Carley nods, agreeing with Lee. "That kid's got more guts than I first thought. How does he do it?"

Lee shrugs. "No idea, but I think he'll be fine."

"You think so? Even after..." Carley looks over to the second floor of the Motor Inn, frowning at the memory that occurred roughly hours ago. "...I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but... Just keep a good eye on him, Lee, alright."

Lee nods. "I will," He leaves Doug and Carley and walks over to Clementine who's sitting on the bumper of the RV, and Duck is nearby, talking to her. Elijah and Sandra stand nearby, the boy still glancing over at Larry every now and then. As Lee approaches the four, Larry watches him, glaring and crossing his arms.

"it's all, like, pow, pow, pow! I thought Super Dinosaur was toast! But you know what? He wasn't. Oh, and then..."

"Hey, Duck, you wanna cool it for a minute?" Lee asks the boy nicely.

"Okay, sorry," Duck complies and goes over to his parents. Lee kneels down in front of Clementine.

"I'm sorry there's, uh...not a lot of kids here."

"No, it's not that. It's...I got grabbed again."

"Me and Elijah were there, though."

"I fell, and my walkie-talkie broke. Glenn had the other one."

"Aww. I'm sorry."

"Thanks. I know I need to be tough, I'm just sad," Clementine begins to tear up and her voice breaks. "I know it doesn't make any sense, but it's how I used to talk to my Mom and Dad. And now they're gone. It's gone."

Sandra leans down and hugs the crying girl. "It's okay, Clem. It's okay..."

"Maybe we can find you another one."

Clementine nods as she pulls away from Sandra's hug. "I'll just keep this one, I guess."

Lee stands up straight, looking at Elijah who's been silent this whole time. "You okay there?"

"...Son of a bitch," He mutters under his breath, looking back at Lee. "Old man has the audacity to try and get you killed after we practically saved his life."

"Yeah..."

"I swear, if he ever pulls something like that again, I'll give him a reason to have those damned heart attacks. Old man doesn't scare me."

"Calm down, Elijah," Lee rests a hand on his shoulder. "We made it out, what's done is done. Now we gotta work together to survive. We don't need to be at each other's throats."

"...Fine. But one step out of line, and I'm kicking that man down to size."

"Lee," Speak of the devil... "come here for a second."

"...I'll go deal with this," Lee tells Elijah before approaching Larry. "What do you want?"

"You like my daughter?"

"Sure, she's alright." He answers, not knowing where Larry's going with this.

"Well, stay the fuck away from her."

Lee crosses his arms. "Or what?"

"Or, uh, everyone will know that you, Lee Everett, are a killer. And you were before it was something you had to do to stay alive," Larry takes a step forward and gets in Lee's face, he just glares back up at Larry in response. "I know who you are. And I don't give a shit about what happens to you or that greaser and worthless boy you got with you. But if anything happens to my daughter or that little girl you've got with you, heh, you watched your ass."

Lee only walks away in response, he doesn't really care if people know what he did, but now that the worst possible person knows...it has him a little worried.

"Hey, Lee," Lilly comes over to Lee and speaks to him. "do you have a second?" Lee turns around to see Larry glaring at him, but he turns back to Lilly. "My dad would be dead if it weren't for you."

"Yet he still tried to kill me."

"Still, we're lucky to have you."

Gunfire is heard off in the distance, lots of it. Kenny smiles to the sky. "I hope that's the sound of us winning this thing!"

"Me too," Lilly agrees.

"This Motor Inn's pretty damn defendable. We block off the entrances with some cars and keep someone on watch, we could stay here until the military rolls through."

"I actually agree with that plan."

"Me too," Lee adds.

"We've got beds, we've got water, and most importantly, we got light. There are worse places to call home."

"Yeah. You're right. You know guys, I think it's going to be okay."

Lilly seemed to speak a little too soon. One by one, the street lights start turning off. Eventually, so do all the lights at the Motor Inn, leaving the group in complete darkness. Scared, Clementine holds onto Sandra and Elijah holds onto them both. The group doesn't even know it yet...

...But this was only the beginning.