TWD Fanfic: Lee's Second Chance - Ch 3 Part 1

Chapter 3 – A new player

Part 1

I looked over to Clementine in the back of Kenny's pickup. She was sitting there silently, looking out the window as we drove into Macon. We left Hershel's farm soon after Clem told me that she remembered everything. It still kind of shocked me that she remembered, but I was happy that she did. I knew that Clem had become stronger during all that time we spent together, maybe not physically but mentally. Clem noticed me looking at her and smiled at me.

Kenny raised an eyebrow at me and Clem, "You two seem to be awfully close considering you have no relation to one another."

I looked at Kenny, surprised by his question. When we first drove to Macon we were all sitting in silence, probably to mourn Shawn's death… Or to deal with the guilt of not being able to save him. But things were different now. Shawn was alive and well back at Hershel's. He and his dad saw us off happily. It felt weird, though. I'd seen him die a gruesome death before, but I was able to stop it. If I can stop Shawn's death then maybe I can save everyone else too. But I still have to be careful. For now I'll just play along as much as I can.

"We've been through a lot." I said in reply to Kenny.

"How long you two known each other?"

"…A while… Why are you asking?"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not trying to imply anything… if that's what you think I'm doing. I was just curious is all. You… just seem to be good with her." Kenny said, smiling.

Kenny never said that to me before. I remember him asking me if I would be able to handle taking care of Clementine alone, the first time.

"Lee's like my daddy." Clem said to Kenny.

Kenny looked at Clem, surprised by what she said. He then took a look at me and then smiled and shook his head, "Well, you seem like a good guy Lee. She's lucky to have you."

I too was surprised by what Clementine said, but I guess I'm the closest thing she has to a dad now. Seeing as she'd remembered everything from before, she must've also known that her parents were dead. "Thanks, Kenny." I said, nodding at him.

The pickup began slowing to a halt as the fuel gauge went down, "Well, this is far as we're goin'." Kenny sighed.

"Then it's far enough." I said, opening the door.

We all got out the vehicle and stood next to it, getting ourselves together. Kenny and his family started walking down the road and then stopped to wait for me and Clementine. I looked down at her as she stared at the drugstore down the street, "You ready, Sweat Pea?" I asked, putting my hand out.

She grabbed my hand and nodded, "Uh huh."

We all slowly walked down the street surveying our surroundings. I could tell that Clementine felt uneasy walking down here. I don't blame her. This is where it all started. Lilly, Larry, the Drugstore, everything. Clementine looked up at me, "Lee?"

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Should we err…"

"Should we what?"

Clementine, with her right hand, mimed a snipping motion around her hair. Is she talking about another haircut? I raised an eyebrow at her and she slowly nodded.

"What? Not liking your old haircut?" I said, grinning slightly.

Clementine shook her head, "No," she smiled up at me, "I was getting used to my new one."

"Well, Sweat Pea, we'll see when we get ti--" I cut myself off as I saw Duck stand next to the drugstore's doors.

"Look!" Duck said, pointing towards a kneeling figure down the road.

Kenny walked over to Duck and waved over to the figure, "Hey ther--"

"Ken." I said sternly. He glanced over to me and I shook my head.

Kenny looked back at the figure and leaned slightly to his left. He saw that the figure was eating something that looked like a flimsy tube. He knew what it was straight away. "Oh shit…" He said under his breath.

I said, in a hushed voice, "We should slowly back away; we don't want to make any noise."

"Okay… Where do we go?" Kenny replied, also whispering.

Suddenly I heard a loud gargling noise.

"Fuck!" Kenny yelled as he jumped back.

I looked over to a fallen lamppost and saw my brother with his legs trapped underneath. He yelled and growled whilst reaching for us. It affected me slightly seeing him in that state again but I had no time to be upset. The figure that was eating in the distance turned his head towards us and let out a low pitched groan. All around us Walkers came out from every alleyway and every road. It was dead quiet when we got here, it seems that even the smallest amount of noise would've attracted their attention.

Clementine grabbed hold of my shirt as I shielded her with my arm. Katjaa was slowly backing away with Kenny. I looked over to Duck who had a Walker closing in on him, "Kenny, Duck!" I yelled, looking at Kenny.

"Duck!?" Kenny yelled back staring at me.

"Duck!" I nodded towards his son.

Kenny turned his head to his son's location and glared at the Walker that was closing in, "You son of a bitch!" He yelled running towards it. Kenny made a fist and punched the Walker in the face. The Walker then bounced back and grabbed his arm, trying to bite it. Suddenly the top of its head burst as a loud gunshot was fired. Its blood sprayed all over Kenny's face and chest.  He then ran over to Duck and grabbed him. Katjaa went up to see if Kenny and Duck were alright when suddenly a woman wearing a white shirt and black skirt ran up to them with a gun, Carley. She turned to face the Walkers and fired blindly.

"Run!" A voice from behind us called out. I turned to see a young man wearing a cap and jacket standing next to the gate to my parent's drugstore. He gestured towards the door. We all ran in with Carley. The young man shut the gate, put a padlock on it and then followed us inside.

Carley slammed the door closed as a man wearing a green t-shirt, Doug, was looking outside the window next to it. Me, Clem, Kenny and his family all stood together, Duck isn't covered in blood like before. Maybe Larry won't make any accusations. A woman in a black tank top, Lilly, glared at us and then turned her attention to Carley, "We can't take risks like this."

"And we can't let people die, either" Carley said to Lilly.

"When I say 'that door stays shut no matter what' I fucking mean it." Lilly glanced over to us, "We don't know who these people are; they could be dangerous!"

I frowned and crossed my arms, not this shit again. I almost forgot how belligerent she was.

"Worse, they could've led them right to us!" An older man said, looking at Lilly. He was her dad, Larry.

Carley turned to Larry, "Where the hell is your humanity!? They would've died out there!"

Larry looked at me, "Then we let 'em!"

Larry. I almost forgot how much of a pain in the ass he was. I'm not going to sit through this shit again… Wait, wait I need to keep my cool…

The young man in the cap, Glenn, pleaded with Lilly, "They've got kids, Lilly"

Lilly narrowed her eyes at Glenn, "Those things outside don't care."

Kenny scowled at her, "Maybe you should join 'em, then. You'll have something in common!"

Larry yelled her, "Goddamn it, Lilly! You have to control these people."

Lilly looked at her dad, "Carley and Glenn just ran out there!"

I glared at both of them and opened my mouth, without thinking, "Calm down, would you? I know you're the leader and you're trying to protect your people but you're overreacting."

"If you were in my shoes you'd be th--"

Larry stared at Kenny and widened his eyes, "Holy shit." He then turned to the rest of the group, "Son of a bitch, one of them is bitten!"

"What?" I said staring at him is disbelief; Duck doesn't have any blood on him. Why would he think he was…

Larry walked up to Kenny, "We have to end this, now."

I took a good look at Kenny, he was covered in blood from when Carley saved him from the Walker. Holy shit! Larry thinks that Kenny is bitten!?