Three Months Later...Elijah...

"Shh..."

I hold my pointer finger up to my lips as I look back to Kenny, he nods at me and has his rifle at the ready. I look back to my target as I pull out my knife, A Walker that's currently on all fours eating something. I hold my knife firmly and upright, remembering how I was taught. In one swift motion, I thrust my weapon into the Walker's skull, killing it instantly. Its body falls to the ground next to the dead animal it was eating.

Kenny walks up beside me, eyeing the Walker's meal. "Damn, what'd he get?"

"Looks like a raccoon."

"Well," He sighed. "there goes supper."

I nod and we leave the dead animal and walker as we walk through the forest. I holster my knife and pull my pistol back out. It's been a long three months for all of us, plus it's getting colder. I honestly don't mind it but not everyone shares that feeling. At least Mom's beanie is keeping my head warm. Still looking out for me, right? I just hope Lee and that guy Mark are having better luck out here than me and Kenny.

"Still can't believe all that food we got from the Air Force base is almost gone," Kenny says as we walk. "I figured it woulda' last longer."

"Yeah, I'm surprised Mark even opened the door."

"Well, if he hadn't, he'd be food."

"No kidding..." Still, I'm glad I was able to find a holster for my pistol. Not to mention all the batteries, now my camera can keep going as long as I have film.

"Did you hear Doug namin' all kinds of pie in his sleep last night? It was drivin' me nuts."

"You think that's bad? I saw Carley nearly take Mark's hand off when he accidentally grabbed her rations."

"Damn."

"I think we're all just on edge, we're all hungry, after all."

"You got any idea how much food we even got?"

I shake my head. "You'd have to ask...Lilly." I regret saying that as soon as I said it.

"That woman is mishandling those rations if you ask me," Kenny rolls his eyes. "Always making sure her bastard of a dad gets fed before the damn kids."

"I get it, Kenny, I do. Lee worries about Clem too. Hell, even I make sure those two and Sandy get fed before I do."

"You think Lee and Mark are havin' better luck out here?"

"I hope so..." I say looking behind me, I then look ahead, thinking how I should say this. "Between the lack of food and you and Lilly biting each other's head off, things are getting tense back at the Motor Inn. I know you've been talking about getting that RV running and taking off with your family."

"That ain't no secret, son. I got my family to look after."

"I know, Kenny. But I know you won't abandon us. You're a good man." I look over to him. "I don't blame you, though. I heard that old man tear your head off last night, what the hell was all that about? Sandy could barely even sleep with that fucker's loud mouth."

Kenny shrugs. "Eh, just something about 'my daughter knows what she's doing' or 'don't you fucking dare question her choices', some bullshit like that. Still don't know what the hell his deal is, 'specially after we saved his life. Seems like he's gotta problem with Lee in particular."

"..."

I remember during the first week at the Motor Inn, Lee pulled me aside and warned me that Larry knew of what he did before all this started. I told Sandy about it but I asked Lee if I could, she's someone I trusted who could keep a secret like that. Lee was hesitant about it, of course, but he trusted me. I try to come up with a better excuse for the old man's poor attitude, a good one comes to mind when I remember what I hear him call Sandy every now and then.

"He's just an old racist asshole, that's his deal. You've heard what he's called Sandy."

Kenny scoffs. "Well, he needs to get over that bullshit and start pulling his weight. Heart condition or not, we all need to be out here finding food. And Lilly is full of it if she really thinks he's getting weaker. All that old man does is sit around and complain, still don't know how you can practically tower over him when you stand up to him. He knocked Lee flat back at the drugstore, I'd imagine he'd probably do the same to you."

"I'd like to see him try. He doesn't scare me. And you know the old saying, 'The bigger they are, the harder they fall'."

Kenny smirks at me. "You got guts, son. More than most of us."

"Thanks, Kenny."

"AAAHHH!"

The sound of someone screaming in the distance halts us, we look to the direction of that pained yell. "Shit, was that Mark?! Or Lee?!"

"I don't know, come on!"

Kenny and I run in the direction of that scream for a while, but we stop for a second to catch our breath, and we can't find where it came from.

"AAAHHH!"

We hear the scream again, this time it's much closer than before. Kenny and I run to it as fast as possible. We eventually see Mark and Lee in the distance, Lee has his trusty axe and Mark has his rifle. They're standing before two boys and a man who's sitting on the ground.

"Oh, shit!" I hear one of the boys say when we approach. "No, no, please don't hurt us! We just want to help our teacher! We'll leave, I swear!"

"Lee!" Kenny shouts. "You guys okay?"

"What the fuck was that..." I look down at the man on the ground. His left leg is caught in...a bear trap. "Holy shit..."

"Get it off! Get it off, goddamn it! Get it off me!"

"Travis!" One of the boys looks to his friend, a taller boy with short light brown hair and a pencil stache. Judging by their hoodies, they must've been high school kids when this started. "Maybe they can help!"

"These might be the same guys that raided our camp and we barely got away from that!"

"What guys?" Mark asks.

"Why the fuck is there a bear trap out here?!" Kenny asked the more important question.

"I don't know, man!"

"We're not gonna hurt you," Lee tries to calm things down.

"We can help," I add.

"Don't listen to them, Ben!" The shorter boy says to him before looking at us. "Please, just let us go! We're not a threat to you!"

"Kid, chill out!" Kenny is tired of this kid's babbling, and so am I. "We'll try to help you, but you gotta shut the fuck up!"

"Lee, this is fucked up," Mark says looking at him. "We've gotta help 'em."

"Please!"

"Ben, shut up! My dad was special forces, I know what I'm doing!"

"Clearly you don't," I retort.

"Just see if you can get him out!" The tall kid shouts, ignoring his friend and my words. "After that, you can leave us or whatever! I don't care, please!"

"We gotta get him out of there!"

The trapped man looks up to us. "Oh, God, thank you!"

"Fine, but you gotta hurry!"

"Wait!" I shout. "Has he been bitten?"

"Bitten? No! I swear!"

"Good," I say as Mark bends down to look at the bear trap.

"Hurry, please, hurry!"

"Guys..." Mark looks up to us in worry. "this trap's been altered. There's no release latch."

"Shit, then how were we-"

"Oh, no..." I look to where the short boy has, seeing Walkers come from the woods at the sound of the man's pained screams. I count at least five already.

"Shit, Walkers!" Kenny readies his rifle and I ready my pistol. "It's now or never, Lee!"

"Please, get me out of this!"

"Mark, get the boys back!" Lee bends down to the trap, he looks up at me and Kenny. "You two keep those walkers off of me!"

I nod. "On it!"

Kenny and I aim our guns at the Walkers as they get closer. Both of us fire many shots, killing some while also missing a few times as well. I hear the man groan in pain, making me look back. Lee's trying to pry open the bear trap with his axe, but it doesn't even budge.

"Fuck!" Lee says in frustration.

"Lee, we can't hold them back forever!" Kenny states.

I fire a few more shots at the Walkers, killing one or two more. I look back at Lee, seeing what progress...he's...made... "Oh, fuck..."

Lee towers over the man, axe in his hand and a somber expression on his face. "...I'm gonna have to cut you out."

"No, no, no!" The man shook his head in fear. "Try the trap again! Anything, please!" Lee backs up a bit, raises his axe over his head...and brings it down, cutting into the man's leg. "AAAAHHHH!"

"Jesus..." I say.

Lee swings a few more times, eventually cutting the man's leg completely off and freeing him from the trap. His screams ring throughout the woods. The man looks at his severed leg and faints at the sight.

"Oh, god!" The shorter boy throws up at the sight of his friend.

"Shit. Is he...?"

"He passed out," Lee answers Mark.

"If he's alive, grab him, and let's go!" Kenny orders.

More Walkers close in as Mark picks up the man over his shoulders and carries him with Kenny running alongside him too. The tall boy goes with them too but turns when Lee shouts, "Behind you!"

"Travis!"

I look to the short boy as he wipes his mouth from puking, and two Walkers are closing in on him. Lee holds the taller boy back when he tries to go help him. "Come on, come on! We gotta move!"

"Run, kid!" I say as I try to aim at the Walkers but with him in the way I can't get a clear shot. The kid falls on his ass and crawls back into a tree stump. He screams out in fear but the Walkers simply ignore this and dig their teeth into the boy's head, legs, and torso.

"NO!"

"Run!"

Lee, the tall boy, and I run after Kenny and Mark. When I take one final glance at the other unfortunate boy who's being eaten alive, I see...his intestines being pulled out from his stomach.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph...

The Motor Inn...

The rest of the group is tending to their duties or needs. Larry is fortifying the fence, Clementine and Sandra are playing soccer with each other, kicking the ball to each other and against some nearby barrels, Lilly sits in a lawn chair on top of the RV, keeping watch, Duck is lying down and drawing on a board on the ground, Carley keeps an eye on him and Katjaa is kneeling next to him. Doug is working with a few bells that are hanging on the wall.

From her position, Lilly hears rustling from the woods so she stands, picks up her gun, and points it to the forest. Sandra and Clementine kick their soccer ball a few more times, it lets out a loud bang when the soccer ball hits the barrel once again. Lilly whistles, telling everyone to stop what they're doing and to get down. Liily glares at the woods, ready for whatever comes.

What she didn't expect was Lee running out with Kenny, Elijah, Mark, and two strangers with them. One of them was being carried over Mark's shoulders. "Get the gates open! We've got wounded!"

Lilly lowers her gun, growing in anger. "Shit, what the hell are they doing?"

The rest of the group comes out of their hiding places and Lilly climbs down from the RV. "Come on, come on!" Kenny shouts.

"Oh, my God!" Lee and Elijah push open one of the dumpsters used as a gate and the hunting group enters. Everyone begins talking at the same time, speaking over each other. "What happened?!"

"Where should I put him?"

"Who the hell are these people?!"

"Who's that?"

"What's going on?"

"I don't have time to explain," Lee interrupts them all.

"Lee, are you okay?"

"Elijah, are you alright?"

"Get him into the truck," Katjaa says. "I'll see what I can do."

Mark and the new kid set down the one-legged man into the truck bed. "Kat, can you fix him?"

"Lee!"

"Jesus, Ken! I...I don't know-"

"LEE!" Lilly finally gets his attention, and she looks really pissed off. "What the hell?! You can't just be bringing new people here! What are you thinking?!"

"Hey, you wanna calm down for a fucking minute?!" Kenny retorts.

"Hey, watch your mouth!"

"Why don't you watch yours, old man!" Elijah yells back at Larry.

"No, I don't! I want to know why you thought bringing more mouths to feed was a good idea!"

"He would've died if we left him!" Lee scowled.

"So what?!"

"We are not responsible for every struggling survivor we come across! We have to focus on our group! Right here. Right now."

"Well, hang on!" Carley speaks up. "We haven't even talked to these people yet! Maybe they can be helpful!"

"Come on, Lilly, these are people!" Mark argues. "People trying to survive, just like us! We've gotta stick together to survive!"

Lilly turns to the man in glasses. "The only reason you're here is because you had food! Enough for all of us! But that food is almost gone, we've got maybe a week's worth left!" She turns to the new kid. "And I don't suppose you guys are carrying any groceries, are you?"

"Um...no..."

"Fine. you guys fight it out, then," Mark turns to Ben before walking off. "Welcome to the family, kid."

Clementine walks over to the new kid and tugs on his sleeve. She knows what's about to go on between the grown-ups. "Come over here and see what I drew."

"What? No, I..."

"Just come on, Okay?" Clementine insisted. Sandra follows them.

"Trust her, it's best that way." Sandra looks back to Elijah and winks, the boy nods and mouths the words, 'thank you' to her.

Kenny steps forward and looks to Lilly. "You know, you like to think you're the leader of this little group, but we can make our own goddamn decisions! This isn't your own...personal dictatorship!"

"Oh, come on! You're being dramatic!" Carley shouts. "Everything always turns into a power struggle between you two! I'm not going to be a part of that!" Carley walks away.

"Hey, I didn't ask to lead this group!"

"That's right, no one didn't." Elijah pointed out.

"Hey! Watch your mouth, boy!"

"Since when should I listen to you, old man?!"

"That's enough!" Lilly stops their rising argument. "Everyone was happy to have me distributing the food when there was enough to go around, but now that it's running out, suddenly I'm a goddamn Nazi!"

"Kenny's right!" Lee sides with Kenny and everyone takes note of this. "Yeah, you're in charge of the food and the schedules, but you're not in charge of people's lives!"

"Oh, really?"

"You weren't there! Lee made a choice! End of story!" Kenny takes his son and walks away, leaving Lee, Elijah, Doug, Larry, and Lilly to keep going with this argument.

"Look," Elijah begins. "Katjaa can patch that guy up and send him and that boy on their way, let them rest for a day, I don't care! But just like us, they deserve at least a fighting chance against the Walkers out there. But you dont' get to decide who lives and who dies, no one here does!"

"Ha! As if you had any room to talk! I don't see you or any of you stepping up to make the hard decisions! My girl's got more balls than all of you combined!"

"Dad, please. Why don't you go help Mark with the wall?" Larry leaves angrily and bumps into Doug with his shoulder as he walks away. "You know what?" Lilly turns her attention to Lee and Elijah. "If you two think I'm doing such a shitty job, then you do it!" Lilly goes over to a backpack next to the RV and takes out an apple, a piece of beef jerky, and two packages of cheese and crackers. She holds them out to Lee and Elijah. "That's all the food we have for today!" She said with a smug grin. "You decide who gets to eat!"

"Lilly..."

Elijah scoffed and crossed his arms. "Yeah, I'm not doing that."

"No, I'm serious! Pick up this food and start handing it out! You really want to know what it's like to be a leader, kid? By all means! You see how it feels to not have enough food for everyone!"

Lilly shoves the food in their hands and walks away. Elijah now has one package of crackers and cheese and the apple while Lee has the other package and the piece of jerky. Everyone in the group looks at them, knowing now that whether they get to eat today is up to them now.

But they only had four food items for twelve hungry people...

Both of them sigh, knowing that not everyone is gonna be happy with their choices. Lee and Elijah walk a few steps forward, stepping in front of the RV. Clementine and Duck are drawing together, Carley and Sandra sit on nearby chairs, and the new kid, Ben, sits beside Clementine with a somber look on his face. Clementine sees two of her caretakers approach so she stands and goes to see them.

"How ya doing, Clementine?" Lee asked.

"Okay..."

"Where's your hat?" Elijah asked, everyone is so used to her signature hat that it looks almost unnatural without it.

"I don't know. Can you guys help me find it?"

They both nod and smile. "Sure."

"Of course. When did you lose it?"

"I had it a couple days ago."

"I promise, If I find it, I'll let you know."

"Me too, Clem."

She smiles up at them. "Thank you."

"How about this," Elijah takes off his beanie, his hair being a bit messy. He then puts in on Clementine's head, smiling as he takes a step back. "There. I know it's not the same, but it'll keep you warm until we find your hat."

"Are you sure?" Clementine glances up at her headwear. "This was your Mom's favorite..."

"In that case," Elijah kneels down in front of her, holding out his pinkie. "Do you promise to keep it safe?"

The little one smiles and holds out her pinky and curls it around Elijah's. "I promise. Thank you, Elijah."

"No problem."

"Okay, Clem," Lee says as Elijah stands back up straight. "Elijah and I got to take care of some things. Why don't you go back to playing with Duck for a while?"

"Okay." Clementine goes back to her coloring. Elijah lets out a long sigh.

"Why are we the ones stuck with this?"

Lee shrugs. "Beats me. How do you think we should go about this?"

"Well, the kids obviously need to be fed. After them...I don't know. We could give Kenny and Katjaa some food, though I think they'd want the kids fed over them, too."

"Yeah, you're right about that."

"Speaking of... When I get the chance, I'll go see if Katjaa needs some help with our...new guest."

Lee nods. "Good call. As for the food situation..."

"Yeah, let's just get this over with. Let's take care of the kids first." Lee nods and they both head over to where Duck and Clementine are drawing. "Hey, guys. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," Duck says looking up from his drawing. "Me and Clementine are coloring."

Clementine holds up her drawing to the new kid. "Guess what it is."

"I don't know...a dog?"

Clem shakes her head. "Nope."

"Oh, I know! It's a goat, right?"

"No!" Clementine appears to be frustrated by their inability to appreciate her artistic talent.

"I'm gonna guess, I tiger?" Elijah says.

"Close!"

"It's a little gatito gato!" Sandra exclaimed with a smile.

"Yep! That's right!"

"What's a...gatito...gato?"

"That means 'kitty cat', Duck," Elijah answers before he looks to Clementine. "How are you holding up, Clem?"

"I'm okay," She glances over to the truck where Katjaa is tending to the man's leg. "Is that man going to be okay?"

Lee and Elijah glance at each other, deciding whether or not to give the girl an honest answer or not. "...We're not so sure, Clementine."

"Katjaa will try her best."

"Oh... Okay..." Clementine's stomach grumbles, making Elijah Chuckle a little.

"Here, Clem, eat up," The boy hands her the apple, and she takes it with glee.

"I love apples. Thank you. Are there more."

Elijah shakes his head. "Sorry, Clem. That's the last one."

"Oh, um..."

"Enjoy it, kiddo," Elijah reassures her." You deserve it."

"Hey, Duck, how about a little food?" Lee asks him, the boy was bouncing with joy as Lee handed him the piece of beef jerky.

"Yeah! Oh, man, I'm so hungry!"

Elijah

Well, that's two pieces of food, and the kids are taken care of... I sigh as I turn to Lee. "I'm gonna go check on Katjaa now." He nods and I head over to our 'nurse station'. Katjaa's hands and lower torso are covered in blood. "Hey, Katjaa. Do you need a hand?"

"Yes," She says without looking back at me. "That would be a great help, thank you."

"What do you need?"

"Just apply some pressure here while I try to close this part up," I nod and apply a firm pressure to where Katjaa wanted me to, a little bit of blood gets on my hands but it doesn't bother me. "You know, I thought I was starting to get used to this...sewing up people's injuries. But, I mean, cuts and bruises are one thing, but, Elijah... This man has no leg!"

"Lee did what he thought was best, it was either this or leave him to be eaten alive by those walkers. He did the right thing."

"Yeah, I know. The right thing is just...scary sometimes," Katjaa finishes a last stitch for a part fo the man's severed leg injury and turns her head at me. "Well, I think you've done all you can here, Elijah. Thank you. Go ahead and check in on everyone else, I need a little space here anyway."

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's 'Katjaa', to you, young man."

I chuckle. "Sorry, still a force of habit, I guess."

I leave Katjaa to keep helping the injured man. I see Lee head over to where Mark and Larry are working on reinforcing the wall. Good luck, Lee. I guess I should at least check on Carley and Sandy while he deals with them. I take a seat beside Sandy, looking at her and Carley.

"Hey, you two. How are you holding up?"

"We're alright," Carley says looking off to the side. "Well, considering..."

"Yeah..."

"You guys sleeping any better?"

Sandy shakes her head. "Not really."

"No. I know we should be grateful for beds, but, no. I'm not either."

"...Drugstore?"

Carley nods. "Yeah. If you and Lee hadn't been there..."

"Hey," I cut her off. "What's done is done, right? No need to dwell on it."

"Yeah, I know. Still, I can't stop thinking about how different things could've gone."

Sandy nods and rubs Carley's back. "But you're here and alive with us now, Carley."

Carley smiles at her gesture. "Thanks."

Sandy nods before she looks back at me. I can see the worry in her eyes already. "How are you holding up?"

I sigh at that question. "I don't really know... Lilly's got me and Lee handing out rations for some dumbass reason."

Carley groans. "That can't be an easy job."

"Eh, I already fed the kids, so that easy part is done. What about you guys?"

"Me?" Carley asks. "What about you? You look like crap, Elijah. When was the last time you had food?"

I shrug. "I think a day or so, I'm alright. My priority is to make sure you guys are taken care of first." Speaking of... "Here, Sandy," I pull the cheese and crackers out from my jacket pocket. "You should have something."

She shakes her head at me. "No, you should have it. You've gone longer than me without food."

"Come on," I insist. "At least just hold onto it? Just in case you or Clem start feeling a bit weak?"

"Elijah..."

"Please?" I hold onto her hand, intertwining her fingers with my own. "For me?"

"...Okay," Sandy takes the food from my hands and gives my hand holding hers a gentle squeeze. After I let go and stood up, Sandy looked up to me, brushing a lock of her copper-red hair behind her ear. "Thank you."

I smile at her, feeling heat rise to my cheeks for some reason. "Of course."

I look over to the wall, seeing Doug work on...something. That's what I like about the guy, he always finds ways to make use of old junk. I walk over to go check on him, and to ask about what he's working on this time. Unfortunately, I'm stopped by the sound of Lilly's voice.

"How's it going down there, Elijah? From up here it looks like you're playing favorites."

I didn't even need to look up at her to see her smug bitchy face. So feeding the kids is playing favorites and you feeding your dad isn't? I flip her off without even looking back at her and continue walking over to where Doug was working.

"Hey, Doug."

"Huh? Ow!" Doug looks up from what he's working on and hits his head on one of the bells. Wait, bells? What exactly is he making? "Ahh..." He stands up straight and rubs his head. "What's up, Elijah?"

"What are you working on there?"

"I set up triplines at four locations, and each one triggers one of these four bells. So-"

"So we'll know where they are and exactly how long we have," I finish what I think he's about to say. "Damn, that's fucking cool!" Doug nods, happy to see his work being appreciated. "Does it work yet?"

"It should. We'll have to wait and see."

I nod. "You think Katjaa can save that guy we brought in?"

"Maybe," He shrugged. "I mean, I know about computers but that doesn't mean I can fix a calculator."

"...But you can fix a calculator."

"...Well, yeah... Good point."

He and I share a laugh, but I stop when I remember that I don't have any rations left to give. "...Sorry, Doug. I don't have any food to give you."

"That's okay, Elijah. You don't need to be saving my life all the time."

I roll my eyes. "Seriously, dude? How man times are you gonna play that card? I already told you it was nothing."

"And I keep telling you that I'll repay you someday. You saved my life man, and I got your back."

I nod. "I'll...keep that in mind, Doug." I look to my right and see Lee signaling me to come over.

Lee...before meeting up with Elijah again...

Elijah goes to help Katjaa with the injured man, Lee decides to go check up on Kenny. When he finds him, he sits on a couch that's beside the RV, holding a car part in his hands. Lee crosses his arms and speaks up.

"Word's gettin' out that you wanna leave the Motor Inn."

"That ain't no secret, Lee. It's probably for the best." Kenny stands with a grateful look in his eyes. "Look, you've been good to me and my family, you and that boy. You saved Duck from those...monsters, and you and Elijah stood up to Larry at the drugstore. I won't forget that. You, that boy, and those girls are welcome to come with us."

"Well, the coast isn't so bad of an idea. Maybe it's the best thing."

"I know that it is," Kenny sits back down. "I'm taking my family."

Seeing he has no need to converse more with Kenny, and that Lee believes he'll be alright for now, he leaves him alone and decides to go check on Mark and...unfortunately, Larry who is working on reinforcing the wall. Approaching the working men, he can hear the elder complaining already, making Lee internally sigh.

"Will you hold the damn boards steady?!"

"I'm trying. I didn't realize I was getting this weak already."

What do you want? A handout? Look, I got sixty cents in my pocket if you'll shut up and stop being such a pansy."

Lee just ignores Larry insulting Mark and approaches the two. "Hey, Mark."

He looks back. "Hey. You holding up okay, Lee? That was pretty fucked up back there. Having to cut that guy's leg off."

"Yeah. I just hope Katjaa can save him." Mark nods. "You need any help with the wall?"

Larry looks back and glares. "Nope."

"Actually, we could use your axe," Mark says. "You mind of we take it?"

"Yeah, give us that thing for a minute."

Lee gives Mark his axe. "Here, Mark. This should help with the wall."

Mark takes it from Lee. "Thanks."

"Hey, I'm the one doing all the work over here. You didn't think to give me the axe?"

"Come on, Larry, give it a rest," Mark tries to calm things down before they start. "I'm sure Lee is just getting sick of you thinking he's a danger to the group."

Larry glares at Lee. "Is that what you told him?"

Lee crosses his arms. "Yeah, that's right."

"And what are you going to do about it?" Larry takes a step closer to Lee, his hateful eyes never leaving his. Mark speaks up again to stop the incoming fight or argument.

"Look, I don't care what it is, but you two have to start trying to get along!"

"The only thing I 'have' to do is protect my daughter! And right now," Larry turns his back to Lee and faces the makeshift wall. "that means getting this damn wall fixed. So I would appreciate it if you two would shut up and let me get back to work!"

Lee and Mark exchange glances and the former shakes his head, disappointed that Mark told Larry what they talked about during their time in the woods. Mark opens his mouth to speak but decides not to, sighing and closing his eyes as Lee walks away. Lee looks over to Elijah currently talking with Doug. Once he's done, they share a glance and Lee nods at him, asking him to come over.

"What's up?" Elijah asked as he arrived.

"Did you hand out your second piece?" Elijah nods. Lee takes out his last piece, staring at it in his hands.

"Why don't you have it, Lee?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, some of these people have gone longer than me without food, they're the ones who need it. Why don't you take it?"

Elijah makes the same gesture to the same offer. "I'm alright Lee," The boy looks back to where the kids are still drawing, specifically, the new kid hugging his knees. "What about him? He said his camp was raided, so he probably hasn't had a bite in a while."

"...Let's talk to him first, see what his story is."

Elijah nods and he and Lee approach the kid. Upon arrival, he looks up at the arriving pair and speaks. "Hey, is my friend gonna make it?"

"I don't know," Lee answered honestly. "but Katjaa will do her best, I promise."

"I can't believe you chopped off his leg!"

"There was no other way."

"It was either that or leave you to be Walker breakfast," Elijah added. "So, who are you guys exactly? Our people are gonna want to know?"

"I'm Ben. Ben Paul. The man you saved is Mr. Parker, the band director at my school. We all came from Stone Mountain for the playoffs, when...when everything happened."

"Damn, and...that other boy you were with?"

"That was...Travis," Ben looks down at his knees in sadness. "he...he was my best friend."

"...I'm sorry." Elijah offered some sympathy but Ben shook his head.

"It's... You did what you could."

"Here," Lee holds out the last piece of food to the boy, he looks up to Lee in confusion. "If your camp got raided, probably means you haven't eaten in a while."

Ben is hesitant but he slowly takes it from Lee. "I...am really hungry. Thanks."

Lee and Elijah share a nod, knowing that they're done with Lilly's ridiculous request. They walk over to the RV and look up to her. "Well, that's it," Lee says.

"Not such an easy job, is it?"

Elijah rolls his eyes in response, he honestly found the job easy. Lee...he knew it wasn't exactly easy for him, but he still wanted to feed people that he cared about. He looks over to Carley, she offers him a reassuring smile.

"It's okay. I know you're still watching out for me."

Lee smiles back before looking back up to Lilly with a neutral expression. "I don't envy you. I don't know how you have the strength to do this every day."

"I don't have a choice."

"Lee, Elijah..." Kenny approaches them both from behind the RV.

"Kenny, I know we ran out of food before-"

"Hey, it was a tough choice," Kenny cuts Lee off. "but you guys took care of the kids. That's what real men do. I'm serious about that offer to come with us," Kenny looks at Elijah and smiles. "That means you too, son. You and that Amiga of yours." Elijah raises an eyebrow at Kenny's comment but decides to ignore it. "You four have more than earned a ride in the RV with me and my family." Kenny places his hands on his hips. "Still, I guess some people aren't gonna be happy will y'all's choices."

"You're out?!" Larry shouted as he stormed angrily to Lee and Elijah. "What happened to my food?!"

"There's none left," Lee answers calmly.

"You keep treating people like this and your days in this group are numbered!"

"You're one to talk, old man!" Kenny sides with the two.

"Yeah, well, I don't see you working on that wall!" Larry walks away, but Elijah has one last thing to say.

"It's a miracle seeing you do anything around here!" This comment makes Larry stop for a moment but he only gripped his fists in anger as her growled lowly and walked away.

"Ken! Lee! Elijah! Come here, please."

The three that were called by Katjaa walked over to the truck, the man's body now seemed lifeless as a puddle of blood dripped from his severed leg. "He didn't make it, did he?" Kenny asked.

"He lost too much blood..."

"Gaddamn it! I'm getting sick of this shit!" Kenny storms off, kicks a nearby can, and it hits the RV.

"Ken, come back, there's nothing..."

"Let him go, Katjaa."

"But..."

"He just needs time. It's been a rough morning."

"Yeah," Elijah looks back to where Ben sits, knowing what he should do. "Better go give the kid the bad news."

Lee nods and Elijah walks off. "That man you brought..." Katjaa started. "I tried, but he was never going to survive."

"Well, at least he's not our problem anymore."

"What about the other kid?"

"...Maybe he can-"

"AAAHH!"

Lee doesn't have time to finish as the now-reanimated man grabs Katjaa by her face and shoulder from behind. "Shit, Katjaa!" It tries to lean up and bite her but Lee is able to push it away from her. He then turns to speak to the others. "The axe! Hurry! AUGH!"

The walker grabs Lee and pulls him into the truck bed, he manages to smash its head against the sides. Mark runs over to the truck and raises the axe preparing to strike. "Move, move!" Lee shoves the walker away, and its head hits the back window shield; it slumps down just as Mark swings, missing and completely shattering the window. "Shit, it's stuck!"

Mark tries to pull the axe to free it. The Walker crawls toward Lee and he places his foot on its chest. Doug appears next to him, holding a wooden board. "I got him!" Doug smashes the board on the Walker's head. Lee kicks it away and he starts crawling backward, falling over the edge of the truck bed and onto the ground. The Walker falls onto him and Lee gouges its eyes. Carley appears above him, loading her pistol.

"Shoot it!"

BANG!

Carley shoots the Walker in the head, killing it and Lee pushes the Walker's corpse off of him. Carley crouches down next to him. "You okay?"

"Yeah, thanks." Lee gets up and brushes himself off, only to be met with Larry storming over to him.

"Why'd you bring him here in the first place, asshole?!"

"Dad, calm down."

"You're gonna get us all kill-"

Larry's complaint is cut short. The one who stopped him now towers over the old man after he stumbled back into some nearby barrels and fell onto the ground. The entire group is in shock and awe over what has just happened. Some have expected this, but none had ever thought it would eventually happen.

"I am getting sick and tired of your constant complaining, old man..."

"Augh...you little..." Larry holds his jaw, still stinging with the presence of a young man's fist.

"Why don't you do us all a favor and shut the fuck up!"

Elijah's voice rang out through the Motor Inn, not a single word is said until Kenny decides to. He approaches Ben with anger in his eyes. "You said he wasn't bitten!"

"What?!"

"We asked you, point blank, 'Was he bitten?' and you said 'no'!"

"He wasn't!"

"Well, your 'not-bitten' friend here came back to life and tried to kill my wife!"

"What?!" Ben looks to everyone, seeing their mixed expressions. "Wait, y'all don't know?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"..." Everyone moves closer to Ben to hear what he has to say, including the children. Lilly attends to her father on the side but they are able to hear him. "It's not the bite that does it! You come back no matter how you die. If you don't destroy the brain that's just what happens... It's gonna happen to all of us."

"...We're all infected? Everyone?" Lee asks in shock at this revelation.

"I...I guess so. I don't know. All I know is that I've seen people turn who I know were never bitten."

"No way...

"God help us..."

"Dios mio..."

"It can't be..."

"...Maybe he's right," Katjaa says. "I didn't see any bites. It would explain why there's so many of them."

"Jesus Christ," Kenny can barely wrap his head around this. "If you just die and that's all it takes, then...shit. One fatal car wreck and a family of five turns into a family of walkers."

"Car accidents...Suicides..." Elijah felt Sandra's hand slip into his as he went on. "Everything was just making more of them..."

"When I first saw it happen," Ben went on. "we were all hiding out in a gym and everybody thought we were finally safe. But one of the girls, Jenny Pitcher, I think, I guess she couldn't take it. She took some pills, a lot of them," Ben crosses his arms, looks off to the side, and widens his eyes. "Someone went in the girls' room the next morning and... God..."

DING! DING! DING!

One of the bells on Doug's alarm system begins ringing. Everyone looks over the wall to see two men down the Motor Inn's street. They all crouch down behind the wall and whisper.

"Doug it works!"

"Of course, it works!" He told Mark. "I told you!"

"Shit, where'd this string come from?" Both men speak from the street, and both of them have a deep southern drawl.

"Watch where you're walking man."

"Who are these guys?" Elijah whispered to Ben.

"I...I don't know!"

"Either way," Calrey pulls out her gun, and Elijah soon follows her lead. "we need to make a stand."

"No," Lilly says. "We have a routine. We don't confront them if["

"Back off!"

Carley stands, pointing her gun at the two men. They both raise their hands up, one of them holds a gas can. "Woah, lady, relax!" The one in the black shirt with thin white stripes speaks first. "Me and my brother, we...we just wanna know if y'all can help us out."

Elijah stands beside Carley, his pistol raised as well. "I think my friend here said, 'Back off'. Please don't make her repeat herself!"

"Carley...Elijah..." Lilly warns them but they ignore her. The others stand and look at the two men. Lee is the next to speak.

"Are you armed?"

"Yeah," The blue polo-shirted man answers. "F-For protection. Dead could be anywhere."

"But, uh, I think you have the upper hand here."

"...Why do you need gas?" Carley asked them both.

"Our place is protected by an electric fence. Generators provide the electricity."

Carley, Kenny, and Elijah stared at the brothers with suspicion as the taller one spoke. "Our generators run on gas. Look, we own a dairy farm a few miles up the road. If y'all be willing to lower your guns, we can talk about some kinda trade."

"How y'all doin' on food? We got plenty at the dairy."

"...Lee," Lilly looks to him. "Why don't you and Mark check the place out? See if it's legit."

"I'm going with you," Carley puts her gun away. "I got your back if anything seems fishy."

"Me too," Elijah also puts his pistol in his holster.

"I'll go too," Doug looks to them. "improve the numbers, in case we run into any of the dead."

"So, what do y'all think?" The blue shirt brother asks.

"...You'ev got a deal," Lee stated. "We'll bring some gas to your dairy. In exchange, you give us some food to bring back. We'll see how things go from there."

"Sounds fair," the first brother smiled. "A couple of gallons should power our generators for a while."

Elijah turns to Sandra and Clementine. "We'll try to be back as soon as we can. You two take care of each other, yeah?"

Clementine nods but Sandra just looks upset. "You just got back... You haven't even gotten to play a song for us, yet."

Elijah chuckles to himself. He remembers how happy he was when he found a guitar in one of the Motor Inn rooms, how his mother taught him to play at a young age, and how much everyone, minus a bickering old man, would like to hear the boy play on nights to lift their spirits in these grim times. He may be a photographer at heart, but the boy has pipes of gold.

"Come on," Lee calls to the boy. "Let's go."

Elijah takes Sandra's hand. "I promise, when I get back, I'll play one of your favorites." The boy turns to catch up with the others, but...something happens first. Sandra pulls away from his cheek, whispering in his ear while her face was as red as her hair.

"See you soon."

Sandra takes Clementine back to her drawing board. Elijah only stands there for a few seconds as his fingers unconsciously graze over his cheek, the warmth of someone's lips still there.

"...Sandy..."