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Ben slowly opened the backdoor of the mansion, cringing as the old joints squeaked loudly. He had heard what sounded like crying coming from the back yard and, wanting to be helpful to the group, had gone to investigate. Looking around the quiet yard, he finally spotted Clementine sitting with her knees to her chest by the dog house. Her walkie-talkie was gripped in her hands and he could hear her speaking to it as he slowly approached.
“Hey, Clem, what are you up to?” Ben asked, startling the girl. “Are you okay?”
“Lee says we c-can’t go find my parents…” Clem rubbed her eyes. She held up her walkie-talkie for Ben to see. “But my friend says he knows where they are.”
“Can I talk to your friend?” Ben asked, crouching down in front of her. He took the device when it was past over. He took a deep breath before pressing the button. “Hello?”
“Hello. Ben, right?” A deep voice crackled from the other end. “Clementine’s told me all about you.”
“Y-yeah.” He stammered, glancing over at Clem. He turns his back to her then, as if that would keep her from hearing the conversation; “What have you b-been telling her?”
He tried to sound tough like Lee and Kenny, but couldn’t keep his voice from wavering. Right now he was with Clem so that made him responsible for her, right? He could handle this.
“Her parents are at the Marsh house, on East Broughton street if you can read the old street signs.” The stranger hums.
He vaguely recalls seeing a sign for the hotel when he had chased after Clem when she snuck off to Crowford. He hesitates, it had been months since he had seen his own parents. He hoped his moms and sister were okay, wherever they are.
He feels a tug to his jacket sleeve and looks down at Clem. His heart instantly tugs when he sees her doe eyes. Damnit, at this rate he was going to end up saying yes.
“We can get them and bring them back here.” She pleads. “Please, Ben? I want them to meet Lee…”
“Clem…” He trails off and sighs as the ‘no’ dies in his mouth. “Okay… But we should tell-”
Clem was already running off to grab her backpack from inside. He sighs again and drops his head. What was he doing? He follows her through the back door and goes to the living room where he had seen Kenny. He peaks through the door frame and sure enough, there was Kenny with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. How did he keep finding bottles? Whoever owned this place before must’ve really liked their wine.
“Um… Kenny..?” He nervously calls out.
“The fuck do you want? Fuck off, Shitbird.” Kenny groans and clumsily waves a hand at Ben to shoo him off.
“Clem and I are going for her parents..” He says, expecting Kenny to yell at him for being stupid. Hopefully talk him out of it.
Instead Kenny stared off into space for a second before rolling his eyes and taking a swig; “Whatever, do whatever you want. Walk in a horde for all I fucking care.”
“Did you even hear what I- nevermind, fucking off.” He walks away from the door as Clem comes down the stairs.
She grabs his hand and pulls him to the door; “Come on, it’s getting dark.”
He stumbles after her and pretty much lets her drag him out of the house. She takes a flashlight from her bag and flicks it on with a small flicker. He stops her at the gates and kneels down to her height.
“Okay, if we’re going to do this, I need you to stay with me.” He explains, trying to be stirn. “No running off. If you see something, tell me and we can check it out together.”
She nods quickly with a smile; “We’ll watch each other’s back.”
He nods and stands, giving her hand a small squeeze before pushing the gate open. Clem pulls out and passes him the hatchet she had taken from Crowford. He takes him and holds it in his free hand. He didn’t like the idea of having to get so close to a Walker, but it was quieter and more reliable than a firearm.
They keep the sidewalks as they walk, keeping a healthy distance from the stray Walkers stumbling through the streets. Just as asked, Clem stuck to Ben’s side like glue. She lit the way for them, shining the light to wherever they heard a sound.
Ben did his best not to get them lost as they navigated the streets. He stops them and ducks into an empty alleyway, take’s Clem’s walkie-talkie from his pocket.
“Hello?” He whispers into it, releasing the call button after.
“Ben?” The voice crackled over the line.
“Yeah, we’re on…” He peaks out, directing Clem to aim the light at the street sign. “East main.”
“Turn to your left and take the first right.” The stranger directs. “Once you reach the end turn left again and it’s on your left.”
“Got it.” Ben says and tucks the device back in his packet.
He looked left, then right and once the coast was clear, he took Clem’s hand and led her out. They jog in the right direction. The Walker’s were starting to grow in number the further they went.
“We might have to turn back…” Ben voices as he watches the Walkers.
“No!” Clem shakes her head furiously, tugging his hand. “We’re so close, we can’t turn back now.”
She looks up at Ben, giving him the biggest puppy eyes she could muster.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He complains but feels himself relenting.
“Okay, but if it gets too dangerous, we’re turning around.” He states but continues ahead.
Ben gripped the hatchet tight, keeping an eagle eye on the undead roaming.
They soon make it to the Harsh House and Ben shoves the door open. Once inside, he shuts the door behind them, pushing an armchair in front. It was oddly quiet inside the lobby. Clem let go of Ben’s hand and slowly walked further into the room.
“Hey, don’t wander too far-” Ben was cut off as pain exploded through the back of his head.
He doesn’t remember hitting the ground, nor could he tell if it was water from whatever shattered over his head or blood from the impact cracking his skull dipping down.
All he knew was his head was killing him when he came to again. He tries to move but finds himself stuck in place. His vision slowly focuses and he finds himself tied to a chair. His brain was still foggy, still waking off. He probably had a concussion. His eyes drooped shut again without his permission, starting to slip again.
He was harshly snapped back to consciousness by a hard slap to his cheek.
“Ow- The fuck was that for!” Ben snaps his head up, only to freeze when he sees Lee glaring down at him. “L-Lee?”
“You’re lucky if I don’t leave you here.” Lee says, already untying the teen and helping him stand. “Do you have any idea what’s been going on?”
“N-no. I-I’m sorry, Clem was begging me and she makes it so hard to say no.” Ben stammers as Lee pulls him back.
“Well we all thought Vernon had taken you and Clem, and we’ve been running around looking for you all night! Kenny’s gone and I have no idea where Christa and Omid are. What were you thinking!?” Lee had Ben by his shirt as he scolded him.
Ben pauses in his rapid excuses when he hears the news; “W-what do you mean Kenny’s gone?”
“He climbed down to help Christa who had fallen and we couldn’t pull him up in time before the Walker’s swarmed him. The swarm separated me from Christa and Omid too.” Lee’s grip tightened before loosening, clearly tired.
“Oh god…” He didn’t think things would just fall apart like this.
Lee lets go of Ben’s shirt and holds his shoulder instead; “Right now we need to focus on finding Clem.”
It was only now that Ben noticed he was in one of the bedrooms. He must’ve been dragged up here after he passed out. Lee had to help him stand as they walked down the hotel hall. Ben evenly stops and pulls away from Lee.
“I’m just slowing you down, go find Clem. I'll be back up.” He suggests, trying to look confident.
Lee looked like he wanted to make a comment but stopped himself; “Warn me if you see anyone coming. I need you to be brave, Ben. I need someone there for Clem after this.”
Ben’s brows furrowed together in confusion. The wording was odd, why would Lee need someone to watch Clem. Sure he watched her when Lee needed him too, but the wording implied… he didn’t want to think about that. They were going to fix this and find Christa and Omid.
“I’m not going to do this again, I’ll be smarter.” Ben says and means it. He was going to get better, be better.”
Lee smiles and turns back to the hallway. Ben follows a foot behind him, watching for any signs of people, living or reanimated. Lee creaks open a door and pauses in the doorway. Ben stays by the wall and out of view, in case someone was there.
“Come have a seat, we’ve been expecting you.” Ben recognized the voice from the walkie-talkie.
“Where is she?” Lee demands and a gun’s safely being clicked off could be heard.
“She’s fine.” The man says. “Go over there.”
Lee glances at Ben before stepping inside and to the unseen spot he was directed too. Ben sneaks closer to the door, using the half opened door to hide him.
Clem could be heard yelling but her voice was muffled like she was behind a door.
“Quiet please, Sweetie.” The Stranger calls out in a softer tone. “Now, put your things over there.”
Ben scanned the hall for anything he could use as a weapon. He finds a broken chair and pulls the half broken leg off the rest of the way with a good yank. It wasn’t much but it had weight to it. Could at least give the bastard the throbbing headache in return for his own.
He sides back to the door in time to see Lee sitting down across from the other man. He could finally get a good look at who’s been watching them.
“Do you know who I am?” The man asks.
“No, I don’t know anything about you.” Lee dismisses.
“You wouldn’t. People like you don’t. Probably wondering who would have it out for you.” Ben was certainly wondering that. He didn’t look like a bandit and everyone from the cannibal farm was dead. Who else was there? The man continued before he could wonder more; “A few weeks back, there might have been a station wagon in the forest?”
Lee and Ben shared the same facial expression of horrible realization.
“I’m not some cannibal or some killer out in the woods. I’m just a…dad. I coach Little League.”
Ben had been so hungry and tired back then, he didn’t even give it a second thought of who had owned the station wagon. Now it made his stomach twist painfully.
“The sweatshirt she’s wearing was my boy’s!” The man snapped.
“We were starving, it was cold.” Lee weakly defends, feeling the guild.
“So my family starved in the cold!”
“What do you want me to say?” Lee finally snaps.
“I don’t want you to say anything. I want you to know what happened.” The man's voice softened.
Ben carefully pushes the door wider for a better view.
“Have you ever hurt anyone you cared about?” The man asks.
“Not on purpose.” Lee admits with a tired sigh.
Ben had hurt people he cared about, he never meant to but he had. He still remembered Travis reaching for him before he turned, from across the Motel lot. He hurt him to reach him in time. He just hoped he knew he still loved him. Loved his family.
“I bet you don’t even know how old Clem is.” Ben focuses back on the conversion, mentally kicking himself for not paying attention.
“She’s eight.”
“Wrong, she’s nine. Her birthday was six days ago.” He said it like he had gotten one over on Lee.
“I know how to be a dad, you know. She won’t be exposed to what she has been with you.”
“You’ll have to kill me.” Lee growls.
Ben takes that as he cue to start coming into the room, just as Clem is sneaking out of the bathroom. The two make eye contact and Clem lights up. Ben gestures with his eyes to the bottle sitting on the side table. She creeps over and grabs the bottle as Ben crawls his way over behind the man.
Lee notices them but keeps his eyes on the man he starts talking to whatever is in the bag in front of him.
Clem brings the bottle down hard on the man’s head, giving Ben an opening to grab and tackle the man to the ground, using his height and weight to pin him. The man struggles and manages to knee Ben in the gut and shove him to the ground. Lee grabs him before he can fire at Ben.
The two wrestle and the gun goes flying across the room. Ben scrambles for it, diving and grabbing it. The man rushes him and before he fully processes it, Ben pulls the trigger.
Red blossoms from the man’s chest as he looks down. A second later he falls in a heap as blood floods his throat, bubbling out of his mouth.
Ben drops the gun with a clatter; “I-I did- I-”
“ Breath Ben.” Lee stresses as he catches his own breath.
There’s the sound of glass shattering and a moment later Ben has his arms full as Clem tackles him.
“I thought he killed you!” She whimpers into his shoulder.
Ben awkwardly pats and rubs her back; “I’m fine.”
She soon pulled away and turned to hug Lee who knelt down to scoop her up.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen.” She apologizes.
“It’s okay.” He shushes her and kisses her hat. “What’s important is that you and Ben are safe. We need to get somewhere safe and then we can talk about some things.”
Ben cringes, figuring it will be a lecture about being more careful. Maybe just finally tossing him out, he hoped not but it would make sense with how many mistakes he’s made. He climbs to his feet with a groan, great now both his head and stomach hurt.
Lee headed for the door, cautiously opening it. A Walker stumbled in from the other side. It looked at Lee for a moment before stumbling pass like he wasn’t even there. It went for Clem and Ben, reaching out with mangled fingers. Lee grabbed and slammed the monster down, taking his gun and shooting it in the head.
“It-it didn’t bite you.” Clem looked Lee up and down in confusion.
“No, it didn’t… must’ve-”
“You’re covered in all that gross stuff.” Clem cuts him off, gesturing to his blood covered clothes.
“I had to get through a bunch of them to get here.” “That’s how we’ll get out of Savannah.”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that…” Ben groaned. His stomach was already twisting at the thought of being covered in that stuff.
Clem's face went from confusion to twisting up in disgust as Ben passed the hatchet over to Lee’s waiting hand. Ben took Clem’s shoulders and turned her away as Lee gutted the Walker like a fish. She didn’t need to see that.
The smell was awful, growing as Lee pulled out innards and blood pooled on the floor. Ben had to fight the urge to vomit, just about losing when Lee’s hand slapped wetly on his back.
“I’m gonna be sick…” He groans.
“Better you get it out now than when we’re stuck around Walkers.” Lee says, kicking the waste basket next to Ben’s feet.
While Ben emptied his stomach into the trash, Lee turned to Clem to get her covered. She squeezes her eyes shut as he smears blood on her face and over her neck. Once she was covered, he turns back to Ben as he straightens up.Ben weakly glares but lets Lee smear him.
“This jacket’s dry clean only.” Ben grumbles, getting a chuckle from Lee.
Ben got his revenge though when it was Lee’s turn. In a fucked up way, it reminded him of when his sister would smear frosting on his face on his birthday.
“Now, both of you, stay right next to me.” Lee instructs them. “Walk very slowly, don’t look around and don’t panic.” He looked at Ben when he said the last part.
The two nod and follow Lee out of the room. They carefully make their way down to the lobby again, Ben watching their back the whole way. The groans of Walkers could already be heard as they reached the lobby and looking out the front doors, the street was flooded.
“Don’t panic.” Ben repeats to himself as they near the doors.
Lee wraps an arm around Clem as he pushes open the door, her small hand slipping into Ben’s. Slowly and carefully they step into the horde, mimicking the Walkers. One came close, turning its head to Ben. He holds his breath, trying not to breathe in the stench of decay making his eyes water. It soon lost interest and continues stumbling to who knows where.
Walking through a horde is like driving bumper carts; someone’s always slamming into you while you try not to get knocked into a wall.
Clem suddenly pauses, stopping Ben in his tracks with the grip she had on his hand. She squeezes tighter as she stares off to the other side of the street. Ben and Lee follow her line of sight to two Walkers.
Her parents.
“Clem don’t…” Lee trails off as the color washes from his face.
Before Clem or Ben could react, Lee falls hard.
“Shit shit shit-” Ben crouches down, checking Lee’s neck for a pulse.
He was alive at least. Ben frantically looks around for anywhere they can hide, spotting a store from with a hanging shutter.
“Clem, help me drag him over there.” He points to the store.
She nervously nods and grabs one of Lee’s arms as Ben takes the other. Walker’s were starting to notice and turn towards them as they heaved Lee towards the store. They were drawing too much attention but Lee was too heavy.
Ben grabs the hatchet and swings at a Walker that gets too close, shoving it hard into another one and knocking it down. He grabs Lee again, pulling with all his strength into the store. Dropping Lee unceremoniously on the broken tial, Ben and Clem rush to close the shutter.
The rusted gears whine loudly and it slams down with a loud crash. Walkers slam at the other side, trying to break through but unable to do more than dent the metal.
“Lee! Lee, wake up!” Clem cries as she shakes him. “Please don’t be dead!
“C-Clem, maybe you should step back…” Ben gently suggests.
Lee starts to groan and Ben grabs Clem to pull her back as she struggles. Ben tightens his hold on the hatchet as Lee sits up, not that he thought he had it in him to do anything.
“Are you two okay?” Lee’s voice comes out raspy.
“Yeah, we’re locked in here. Walker can't get in.” Ben relaxed, letting Clem run over to Lee.
“Get that door open.” They had never seen Lee look so scared. “Now!”
Ben and Clem both scrambled at the shout, rushing back to the shutter. Lee stumbled over and grabbed the handle, the three heaving together. The gears whined and shook but didn’t budge. No matter how hard they pulled, the stutters remained closed.
They finally give up, falling back to sit on the ground and catch their breath. They weren’t getting out that way.
“We need to get you two out of here.” Lee sighs, turning to kneel in front of them. He pulls up his sleeve showing them an angry red bite on his wrist. “I’ve been bitten…”
“Oh fuck…” Ben steps away from him.
“No, no no, that’s not true.” Clem whimpers, shaking her head.
“Yes, it is. I’m so sorry, Sweetpea.” He stands, keeping a small distance from the two. “Now, we need to focus on a way out. I might be a little slow…”
Ben hesitates before sighing and coming over, offering Lee his shoulder for support; “If you bite me, I’m eating you when I turn.”
“Deal.” Lee chuckles.
Clem glared at both of them, clearly not finding it as funny. The two men give her an apologetic smile and start walking towards the back office. Through the glass. Lee used one of the glass cases to help take some of his weight off of Ben who was struggling to hold him up.
“We thought we were helping taking you in here…” Clem apologies, coming to try and help as well.
“You couldn’t have known, I should’ve told you…” Lee slumps over the case. He just needed to rest for a minute.
After a minute, he starts walking again. His energy was draining fast and it was getting harder to stand as the corners of his vision darkened. It was a weird feeling, feeling his heart slowing down.
He makes it to the end of the cases before collapsing against the wall. Clem reached for Lee but Ben stopped her in her tracks. It was too dangerous now to let her close.
“I can’t keep going…” Lee sighs, slumping against the wall. “You don’t have much time… you gotta get out of here.”
“We can’t leave you.” Tears dropped down Clem’s cheeks.
“You have to. Stay with Ben,... he’s in charge….” He instructs. It was getting harder to breathe. “Ben, I need you t-to take care of Clementine...Get-get her out o-of the city...Find Omid and Christa.”
“I will. I promise I-I’ll keep her safe.” He quickly agrees. “I’m not going to run away again.”
Lee smiles, happy with his answer; “You’re been… pretty brave today… I’m proud… of both of you…”
Lee’s head falls to his chest as he falls silent. They didn’t have much time before he’s turn, but neither of them moved. How could they? This wasn’t some random Walker on the side of the road. This was Lee . But at the same time, they couldn’t leave him like this.
Lee’s gun had one last bullet in it when Ben popped the magazine. It’d be a clean shot, right through the brain and he’d rest in peace forever.
Ben shakingly lifted the gun, aiming at the top of Lee’s head; “Look away, Clem.”
He continued to stand there, shaking fingers refusing to pull the trigger. He mentally yelled at himself to just do it. Lee of all people didn’t deserve to turn.
Small fingers threaded between Ben’s, breaking him from his thoughts. Clem stood next to him, hand laced with his on the gun, both having a finger on the trigger.
“Clem, no.” Ben shakes his head, pulling back.
“We’ll do it together.” She holds tight. “On three. One…. t-two….”
“...Three…” Ben finished.
They both squeezed and it was like an explosion went off. The gun clattered to the floor, forgotten and Ben scooped Clem into his arms, holding the back of her head as she sobbed into his neck.
He lets himself fall back against the wall behind him, sliding down to the floor. He couldn’t hold back his own sobs, clinging to Clem just as tight as she was clinging to him.
As two scared children, alone in a dying world.