Neo Soul King Yhwach

[ Previously On The Interview with Zaegar ]

Author: So Zaegar what are your thoughts on Leadership?

Zaegar: (Image)

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Author Note: I've been forced to make this.

The Reason: (Image)

The only sad part is that Zaegar isn't Number 1.

If you want to add any quotes or similar things you can tell me through a comment or Via my discord

User: misunderstoodking

Side Note: I Might Start a Discord server in the foreseeable future. Let me know if you're interested in that.

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[Third Person Pov]

Lee rubbed his temples as he thought through the options. It was one of the hardest decisions he'd had to make since arriving at the motor inn, but he knew what the right call was. The risk of staying was too high. Lee stood in the middle of the group, taking in everything before finally speaking, "I think... we should just pack up what we can and get out of here at first light."

The camp reacted immediately, their emotions spilling out across the room. Lilly looked visibly hurt, her eyes widening as if Lee had betrayed her by siding with Kenny. Larry scowled, but it was hard to tell if he was angrier than usual or just being himself. Kenny, meanwhile, looked surprised—like he hadn't expected Lee to actually agree with him. Everyone else remained fairly neutral, not really showing strong feelings one way or another.

Yhwach gave a nod of approval, though Lee caught a faint glint of disappointment in his eyes. It was subtle, but enough for Lee to understand that Yhwach wasn't entirely thrilled. Still, the Quincy King seemed to support the choice. Lee took that as a good sign—Yhwach rarely approved of anything unless it aligned with his own thinking.

Lilly broke the silence, her voice laced with frustration. "Lee, are you serious? Are you really going with Kenny's boat plan over defending what we've already built? We put so much into this place, and you just want to give up on it?"

Lee sighed, locking eyes with her. "This isn't about giving up, Lilly. It's about quitting while we're ahead. I'm not going to put any of you in danger for a grudge match. Maybe the boat plan isn't perfect, but it's a better option than staying here. We've cleared out most of Macon. What's left? Walkers and bandits. We need to leave with our supplies while we still can."

Larry jumped in. "Lee, you're just letting the bandits scare us away!"

Before Lee could respond, Kenny cut in with a smug grin. "He made his decision. Quit crying about it."

Lee shot Kenny a sharp look, wanting to avoid the escalating argument, but Yhwach intervened. "Don't be naive. We are outnumbered. Thirty to forty bandits against the seven of us. Even if we're more skilled, their numbers will overwhelm us eventually."His disappointment lingered in the air, though Yhwach seemed to accept the situation. He had invested time and effort in this group, and going rogue might jeopardize his long-term plans.

Lee noticed Lilly's eyes narrowing. "Jugram," she said, "don't you understand what I just said? We've put so much into this place, and—"

Yhwach cut her off, his height towering over her as he looked down with an almost disdainful gaze. "You're being stubborn, much like Ben's contribution to this group—useless." 

His words were harsh, but they carried an undeniable truth. "These bandits are worse than animals. They would rather starve or kill themselves than retreat. You're putting everyone here, including the children, at risk by thinking we can somehow outlast them."

Lilly fumed but couldn't find the words to argue back, knowing deep down that Yhwach was right. "Fine," she muttered bitterly, "I see that I'm outnumbered, so I'll play along with this for now. But if this shit backfires, don't come crawling to me saying I was right."

Kenny ignored her, turning to the group with renewed energy. "Alright, everyone. Start packing your shit in the RV. We don't have tons of space, so only bring what you need."

Lee immediately went to his room. The only things that he had to bring were his fire axe, rifle, and some extra ammo boxes that he had kept in his room. Once he was done bringing his personal items, he would see if Lilly or whoever was bringing the supplies from Room 2C needed help.

As he walked into the room, He quickly grabbed the fire axe and made sure that his rifle was still strapped to his back. he quickly opened the door and shut it behind him. Everyone else was busy gathering whatever personal belongings they had, so Lee decided to store the axe inside the vehicle.

He opened the door and walked in. Kenny was busy setting up the front while Katjaa was folding some mattresses and blankets. Lee presumed that the family had used them to sleep in a space near the back of the RV. There was not a dedicated bedroom in the space, which had pissed Kenny off a little bit, but the family made do with the cramped space. It was certainly better than staying in one of the blood-stained rooms.

The sides of the vehicle had one sofa on each end along with a table and sitting area in the back of the RV. There was also a sink on the left side that was used to get water whenever the group went to fill up their buckets. Once the buckets were filled, Kenny always made sure that the water tank was completely full, so the group would have enough to drink. Lee nodded at Katjaa before putting the axe down and making his leave just as quickly as he entered.

No one else argued as everyone started to make their way to the RV. Lee wanted to smooth things over with Lilly and Larry, but his "betrayal" was no doubt still fresh in their minds. Once he got the opportunity to have a private conversation with them, he would.

Lee sat on one end of the couch with Clementine and Yhwach while Carley and Doug sat on the other end. Lilly and Larry chose to stand on the other side near the sink while Mark and Ben piled into the back. Kenny, Katjaa, and Duck were all in the front. Between the amount of people in the vehicle and the supplies, there was barely enough space for the different groups to have private conversations, but they made it work.

Lee looked out the blinds at the motor inn one last time. It had been their home for the majority of the apocalypse, but it would become another memory that Lee and the other members of their group would keep for as long as they lived.

It was a good home while it lasted. But it ran its course and now we have to follow a different path for survival.

"Everyone good?" asked Kenny.

"Yeah, we're all good here," replied Lee.

"Alright. Next stop: The Coast." Kenny declared.

The RV started and Lee only watched as the motel slowly faded from view until the only thing he could see was the road and trees behind him.

As the RV rumbled down the road, Yhwach, seated near the window, watched the fading image of the motor inn disappear behind them. His face remained stoic, but his mind was anything but still. The silence around him was a welcome reprieve from the noise of the group, allowing him time to reflect.

Jolene's memories had left a bitter taste in his mouth. Her desperate tales about the bandits had confirmed what he already suspected—scum. Not just criminals, but men who had lost any shard of humanity, driven by impulses that disgusted him on a fundamental level. Rapists. The very word twisted like poison in his mind, stirring memories he'd long since buried. It was not simply contempt; a rare flicker of anger within him.

He'd seen their kind before, centuries ago, during his time in the World of the Living. His empire, Lichtreich, had once spread across the European continents. It was a time when humanity's darkest traits—slavery, kidnapping, child abuse, and mutilation—were rampant. Yhwach had encountered them all, in their ugliest forms. At that time, the weak had been used and discarded, and even his own kind had become victims of such depravity.

Back then and to this day, he had to absorb souls out of necessity. He needed the fragments of others' souls to sustain himself, to avoid the senseless, immobile state he was once bound to. But those who became part of him... they weren't all righteous. Some of the people who contributed to his existence were criminals, tyrants, and worse. The fragments they left behind were tainted, and Yhwach had been forced to endure their corruption within him, even as he had to maintain his iron will over the empire. He had no choice.

His conquest was a means to an end. He had once believed in protecting his people—his Quincy—against the Soul Society and the Shinigamis. He had been ruthless, yes, purging rebels who wouldn't submit to his rule, but there was always a reason behind his actions. There had even been moments of mercy—he remembered sparing children like Bazz and Jugram, his younger self showing compassion, even if it was rare. But time and necessity had twisted him. After his "supposed" death and resurrection, and after absorbing the Soul King's power, his motivations had shifted. He no longer cared for the Quincy as he once had. The pain, the madness he endured after the first war with the Shinigamis—it had turned him into something else.

His bloodthirst had grown. His compassion had faded, leaving only ambition and the messianic complex that now fueled him. He had become more than just a leader of the Quincy—he had become their god. But the price of that power was his humanity, the remnants of which had long since been eroded.

His eyes scanned the group seated around him in the cramped RV. Each one was dealing with their own struggles. Lee sat with Clementine, quiet but thoughtful, his decision still weighing on him. Lee... He was different. Yhwach couldn't help but recognize the strength in the man. Lee was a leader, but not through force. He led with empathy, something Yhwach had long since abandoned.

Perhaps that was why Lee's presence intrigued him. Yhwach could see the way the others gravitated toward him, even when they disagreed. It was a power that Yhwach had once wielded, back when his people saw him as their savior rather than a tyrant. But Lee, unlike Yhwach, had no such ambitions for control. He was simply trying to survive, trying to protect those he cared about.

There was value in that, Yhwach mused. Perhaps, in some way, Lee reminded him of what he had once been—a protector. Before the madness, before everything else.

"Foolish," Yhwach muttered under his breath, though it wasn't clear whether he was referring to himself or the situation at hand. His gaze settled on Lee again, There was potential in him, yes. But how long could a man like Lee hold onto his humanity in a world so intent on stripping it away?

The answer?

He cannot.

Humanity was a weakness—a frailty that men like Lee foolishly carried like a burden, hoping it would save them. But in truth, it was the very thing that would destroy him. In a world like this, where survival demanded ruthlessness, sentiment, and compassion would be his undoing. Yhwach had seen it before, time and time again. He would watch Lee's struggle, knowing full well that the outcome was already determined. It was only a matter of time before Lee would be forced to choose: cling to his humanity or sacrifice it for the sake of survival.

And when that moment came, Yhwach would be there, ready to push him in the direction that served his own purpose.

[Scene Break, Location: Otherside Of RV]

To say Lilly was pissed off would be an understatement. She couldn't outright show it, but she was seething internally. Lee had decided to go against her. She wished that he had taken the fight to the bandits and fought for the motel more. Sure, they would have to leave the place eventually, but it could have been a good spot for the winter.

We had shelter, food, medicine, ammo, and a crew of people willing to defend it. Out here, we have nothing but hopeless dreams.

Now, Lilly had risked her reputation for no reward at all. Maybe that was what pissed her off the most. Since Lee had become the leader, she had tried to compromise more with him and the other members of the group, especially after the St John's incident. However, she had decided to go back to her old ways, because she thought it would help her get what she wanted. Sometimes, people needed a kick in the ass to make hard decisions.

Hushed conversations were happening across the RV. No one was really paying attention to her, so she figured now would be a good time to relax and gather her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Doug had decided to catch some sleep in the corner of the RV, oblivious to the quiet conversations happening around him. The atmosphere was tense, but not everyone was embroiled in arguments. Carley and Mark were sitting together, their conversation was awkward at best. until Mark, still feeling guilty about their earlier confrontation about Jolene, finally spoke up.

"Hey, I'm sorry I lashed out at you earlier... about the Jolene incident," he said, glancing over at her with a sheepish expression. "It was just... a lot, you know?"

Carley looked at him and offered a small smile. "Yeah, no worries. It was a rough day for everyone," she replied. She could tell Mark was genuinely sorry, and there was no need to drag out the tension any longer. Still, despite the apology, both of them could feel the awkwardness in the air.

Mark shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep the conversation going. "So, uh, I heard you were a reporter before... right?"

"Yeah, I ended up being a good reporter, but that wasn't always the case."

Carley let out a deep sigh as if she was remembering past trauma. Mark didn't say anything to deter her from speaking her mind. It was better for her to just let it out both to pass the time and help her deal with any hidden feelings.

"When I started out as an intern at WABC, I was the coffee girl. Basically, my role was that I just got coffee for the more experienced journalists and edited their papers to make sure there were no spelling or grammatical errors. I didn't really get the opportunity to do something on my own and I was always made to feel like I wasn't good enough to even breathe the same air as the other reporters."

"One day, I...was in the break room getting made fun of for being a glorified secretary when I got news about a famous athlete who had made some derogatory comments about his opponents. He was a very well-respected man, but the stuff he said was just vile. I figured that it would be a huge story and I would get more recognition if I broke the news first, so I didn't waste any time in coming up with an article."

"We had a new website that we had just started to operate since more news companies were shifting away from paper copies and looking towards online media. I decided to publish my piece there. I spent all day trying to perfect the writing to really make the readers engaged and I finally published it a couple hours later. I remember being so happy."

"So...what's the catch?" asked Mark.

"The catch was that my "source" that had told me these things had gotten the news herself from a random tabloid article that was known for providing false information in order to discredit people. In my haste, I didn't even bother to fact-check the words that were said. Thankfully, there weren't too many people who saw my article before it was taken down. I think WABC might have issued a private apology to him, but they chewed my ass out. I thought I was going to lose my job."

"But you didn't?"

"No, they gave me another chance. I worked my ass off to redeem myself and, eventually, I became a pretty good reporter. Some of it did involve going to dangerous areas that other reporters didn't want to be a part of. They weren't even concerned about their safety, but they were more worried that their fancy outfits would get all dirty. Anyway, I ended up shifting into reporting on the War in Afghanistan and Iraq and made a name for myself."

"Sounds like you did good. Damn, I can't even begin to imagine how the troops over in those countries must be feeling. A foreign place with no one who really likes them besides each other combined with the fact they don't know anything about the situation back home?" wondered Mark.

"Wow, I never really thought about them. It's hard enough for us as citizens of our own country, but what about the ones who are foreigners? I got the impression that the locals didn't like the fact that they had brought war to the region and I doubt the U.S. military was very concerned about the lives of locals. It's probably a shitty situation over there even if they were able to contain the dead." remarked Carley.

Mark thanked his lucky stars that he wasn't deployed to another country. At least most of the people he had met were nice to him and had his back. Somehow, he doubted that was the case in Afghanistan or Iraq. The fact that he could potentially never go back home would also have fucked with him a lot.

"What do you think of Kenny's boat plan?" asked Carley.

"I mean, it seems smart. Last time I checked, walkers can't swim and Kenny was a fisherman, so he knows what he's doing out on the water. I don't see why there is a 100% chance that we won't find a boat. Maybe we just need to have faith." Mark replied.

"There're so many things that could go wrong. Namely, the fact that our group is too big. I'm not an expert on boat sizes, but, unless we find a cruise ship, I don't think everyone is going to be allowed to board." retorted Carley.

"I didn't think of that. Either way, Kenny's hell-bent on getting to the coast whether we like it or not. If we have any concerns, we can bring it up to him once we get out of this RV." replied Mark.

"Yeah, Nice pep talk, Mark. I'm ready to run through a wall now." chuckled Carley.

The RV had been moving at a steady pace and Mark found that he was getting a bit sleepy. Since he wasn't going to do much else, why not get a little shut-eye?

"I think I'm going to take a nap. Thanks for the conversation," said Mark.

"Sweet dreams," Carley replied.

As Mark settled into a comfortable sleeping position, he hoped that everything would turn out alright.

Meanwhile, Lee hoped that they would reach their destination soon. He was used to being mobile at the motel, so the cramped RV space did nothing to alleviate his restlessness. Nobody was really talking and the RV was almost dead silent save for the hushed conversations between Kenny and Katjaa. Clementine was sleeping next to him and Yhwach while everyone else was just staring off into space.

All Lee could do was think about all the uncertainty that surrounded the group's future destination. There were so many questions that he had, but he didn't even know where to begin getting answers from.

Where exactly on the coast are we going to look for a boat? What will be our backup plan if we can't find one? Is this group going to split apart or stay together?

Selfishly, Lee didn't want the group to split apart. If they did find a boat that wasn't big enough, Lee wanted everyone to stick together, because that would increase everyone's chances of survival. However, Kenny was getting on that boat whether he could fit everyone or not. His family was getting on that boat.

He has no obligation to stick around especially after I pushed back against his decision to go to the coast. One agreement does not make us friends.

Even when he had the opportunity to ask Kenny about his doubts, would he even listen? No, he would probably just delay until they either found a boat or KNEW they wouldn't find one. By then, they wouldn't be prepared at all.

That's even assuming I'll be there. I know that I WANT to live and I'll always tell people that I'll be around for a while, but I can't guarantee that. If I die, who will take control of the group?

It would most likely devolve back into the status quo, which would be Lilly and Kenny constantly fighting for power. The unity that Lee had worked to build and maintain would crumble as people would start taking sides. Eventually, the group would split up into two factions and ultimately get nothing done unless they had a common goal. Unless there was a person who was clearly designated to take over the group in the event of Lee's death, that is what would happen.

That's what I need. A right hand who I can discuss major group decisions with and trust to protect the group if I'm not around. There needs to be some kind of succession plan.

Right now, he just needed someone who could lead the group by example and provide stability to Lee's leadership. He looked around for any potential candidates.

Kenny doesn't like me and there's a good chance that he'll leave with his family if we find a boat, Katjaa doesn't have the mentality needed, Larry is too boorish, and just well Larry and I'm not picking Ben unless I wanted to see how quickly he could destroy this group.

Lee looked over at Mark who was dozed off. The man had been a good friend to Lee and most people liked him for his easy-going nature and sharpshooting skills. However, he had the same problem as Katjaa, which was that he was too much of a nice guy. Lee was kind at heart, but he had the ability to make the hard decisions when he needed to.

I just don't know if Mark's at that level yet. He might have let the St. Johns go or done something... Doug is the same as Mark in that regard their too forgiving. I need someone who has the respect of their peers, can lead in my absence, and also has the balls to make the hard decisions that involve killing those who deserve it.

There were two obvious candidates left: Lilly and Carley. Either one of them would be a good choice that ticked all the boxes.

I have gone against Lilly in the past and making her my second-in-command would probably be a huge step towards reconciliation. She's not as well-liked as Carley, but everyone has to respect the job she has done even if they won't admit it. All our gun training and ration schedules were suggested by her. She favors getting shit done over looking good and I have to respect that on a certain level.

The one problem I have with her is that she has shown that she'll challenge my leadership if she doesn't like what I'm doing. Obviously, I want my second-in-command to challenge me, but not at the expense of looking weak. Lilly has always been more pragmatic than me and doesn't really think about things emotionally. It could be a problem if we keep getting into arguments on how to proceed.

Then, there's Carley. IF Jugram were to die, I would say that she's my closest friend in the entire group. She knows how to shoot and she knows how to show empathy towards others, which is an underrated skill. I have to remember that I'm dealing with human beings and not machines, some of them being overemotional teenagers.

When it comes to conflict, we're usually on the same page. She has always trusted me and agreed with me when I brought up any issues with her. That could be a double-edged sword. I don't think Carley is the submissive type, but I don't want her agreeing with me on issues solely because she believes that I know what's best. A good right-hand woman should be able to challenge my viewpoints and come up with alternative solutions if they feel that I'm wrong. Being a female version of me might limit her in that regard. However, she did push me to reveal my secret, so it's not like she can't think for herself.

Lee's thoughts drifted back to the man sitting next to him—Yhwach. The Quincy King had proven himself invaluable to the group, not just in combat but in every aspect of their survival. Even when they didn't fully understand his methods or his past, everyone respected him. Yhwach had taken charge multiple times, stepping in when Lee couldn't. He was methodical, ruthless when necessary, but also calm under pressure, which was exactly what Lee needed in a right-hand man.

Lee leaned back, his gaze falling on the darkened road ahead, then turned slightly toward Yhwach. He knew what he had to say, but the words didn't come easily. Trust was a fragile thing, especially in times like these, and while Lee knew Yhwach was loyal, there was always the lingering fear of what might happen if Yhwach ever turned against them. But that was the risk he was willing to take.

"Jugram," Lee said quietly, not wanting to wake Clementine or disturb the others. "I've been thinking... about what happens if I don't make it."

Yhwach didn't look at him immediately, his gaze still fixed outside, but after a brief pause, he turned his eyes to meet Lee's. "A reasonable concern, given our circumstances," he replied, his voice low and composed. "What do you propose?"

"I need someone I can trust to take over if something happens to me," Lee said, his tone direct. "Someone who can keep this group together. You've already filled that role more times than I can count... but I need to make sure we have a plan. In case you're not around."

Yhwach's eyes narrowed slightly as if he were weighing Lee's words. "You've given this much thought," he said, his tone neutral but thoughtful. "It's prudent of you to prepare for such outcomes, but I assume you've considered the risks. Leadership, by nature, is a burden few can carry, and even fewer can handle without succumbing to weakness."

Lee nodded. "I know. That's why I'm asking you—again. You've proven you can lead, and you're the only one who understands the bigger picture. But if something happens to you... who do you think could step up?"

Yhwach's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—calculation, perhaps, or amusement. "If I were to fall," he said, "your options are... limited. Lilly, while decisive, is too self-serving. Kenny is too emotional, and the others lack the strength required to guide this group."

Lee sighed, knowing Yhwach was right. "I thought about Mark, but..."

Yhwach gave a slight shake of his head. "Mark is a soldier, not a leader. His skills are best suited to the battlefield, not to commanding a group."

"So then," Lee said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "we're back to square one."

Yhwach considered this for a moment before speaking again. "There is no perfect candidate, but you must choose someone who can be molded, someone who can grow into the role. That is, after all, what leadership often entails."

Lee let the silence linger for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling in. He looked around at the group again. Everyone had their strengths, but none seemed quite right for the role he needed to fill. But Yhwach was right—he couldn't wait for perfection. He had to prepare for the better or worse that whoever he chose could rise to the occasion.

"I'll figure something out," Lee finally said, though his voice lacked the confidence he wanted it to have. "For now, I'm counting on you, Jugram."

Yhwach's eyes met his, and for a moment, there was an understanding between them. "You'll make the right decision," Yhwach said.

Lee didn't respond to Yhwach as he closed his eyes. It was still early in the morning and he had just made another hard decision. Unfortunately, he still had the rest of the day to go. Who knew what surprises would come next?

Lee didn't have the answers to those questions mainly because he fell asleep almost instantly.

[Scene Break Location: Lee's Nightmare]

Lee walked inside his house and groaned. The pounding headache that was slowly consuming him was becoming more unbearable by the minute. He needed to go lie down, or something. Slowly walking up to his room, he stopped when he saw two pairs of shoes by the door. One of them was his wife's shoes and another was a smaller pair of shoes.

Motherfucker.

Lee instantly broke the door down to see his wife going at it with a younger man. "Who the fuck is this?" yelled Lee.

"Lee! You're back from work already?!" exclaimed his wife. Meanwhile, the covers opened up to reveal a man who looked like a...teenager. He looked at Lee with a smug expression.

"Oh, shit. Is this your husband? You told me he was still working."

"What are you doing with my wife?!" demanded Lee.

"The name's Danny, bro. Your wife is with me because she isn't satisfied with you anymore. What can I say? I know what I'm doing!" explained Danny.

"You piece of shit! If I didn't have a headache, I would rip you apart limb from limb!" yelled Lee.

"Sounds like your head and wife both have something in common. They're getting pounded." joked Danny.

As the rage consumed Lee, he grabbed Danny by his throat and threw him against the wall. His head landed on the desk and his neck bent at an unnatural angle before he fell over dead. Lee just looked at what he had done. He was in complete shock.

"You killed him?! WHAT DID YOU DO?" screamed his wife.

The door to the bathroom opened and Lee noticed another teenager walking out. Although, he recognized this one. "Ben, is that you?" asked Lee.

Ben jumped in slight surprise. "Oh hey, Mr. Everett. Fancy seeing you here...even though this is your house and all. I heard my big brother was taking your class this semester. He's pretty smart, right?"

"Wha-What are you doing here?" wondered Lee.

"Oh, right. Danny asked me to film something for our...senior project. I just had to use the bathroom really quick...to pee." Ben seemed to notice that Danny wasn't talking, so he looked towards the other end of the bed.

"Oh shit, is he dead?!" asked Ben. Upon confirming his suspicions, he snapped a photo of Danny's dead body.

"What?" asked Lee. His wife just stared in horror at the scene around her. She had no more words to say.

"The Internet is such a cool place. Did you know, Mr. Everett, that if I publish these pictures on the Dark Web I could get a lot of money for it? It's so easy to be an entrepreneur. That's where our...senior project was going. You know, so we can get double the exposure on both webs."

Ben just put on his shoes, before looking back at Lee one more time. "I actually am applying to UGA this year. There's no way that I'll get rejected. I can't wait to be in your class next year. That's going to be fun!"

Ben looked at Lee's wife. "So...are we still going to the Cheesecake Factory this weekend? My parents let me borrow the car."

"What?" asked Lee's wife.

"You know what, never mind. I'll call you tomorrow. Hey Mr. Everett, don't be a stranger." finished Ben as he walked away out of sight. Lee just had one idea dominating his thoughts.

The kid who filmed my wife getting fucked is going to be in my class next year?

Ben poked his head one last time. "Don't worry, Lee. It's not like I'm going to start a family with her. You wouldn't know how to take care of one, anyway!"

As Lee's head started to spin, Ben's maniacal laughter was all he heard, before he passed out.

[End of Lee's Nightmare]

Lee awoke with a gasp and looked around. He was back in the RV where everyone seemed to be awake by this point. The only exception was Clementine who had shifted in her sleep and was now laying on Lee's right thigh. He quickly looked over to the back and saw Ben was wide awake and talking to Doug, who recently woke up.

What the actual fuck was that dream?

Was that some weird way of Lee's brain hoping that keeping Ben wouldn't fuck him over? But Danny his former student was the one who fucked his wife, so how did that make sense? Maybe it was to not repeat past mistakes considering he killed Danny in a fit of rage? Why did Ben taunt him about not being able to take care of his family?

Lee just shook his head in confusion. It was better to just...forget that dream ever happened.

Yhwach turned toward Lee as he stirred, "You're awake," he stated.

"How long was I asleep for?" Lee asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"A few hours passed. Nothing happened, so you shouldn't worry," Yhwach replied, flipping a page in the book he had picked up before leaving the Motor Inn.

Lee let out a quiet sigh, relief washing over him. "Yeah, this trip is good for getting some rest, but not much else." He took a moment to collect his thoughts. "Let me see how close we are to the coast before I do anything," said Lee. He gently laid Clementine down on the sofa before heading over to the front.

Katjaa and Duck were both awake and staring out the window while Kenny was focused on the road. All Lee could see were trees alongside the road. There were even a couple of abandoned cars, but Kenny expertly navigated past them. Lee got the impression that he was used to long road trips.

"Hey, everyone." greeted Lee.

"Hello, Lee. Is there something you need?" asked Katjaa.

"Just wanted a quick time check on how long it's going to take to get to the coast. I know everyone's starting to get restless in the back. Even a quick break to stretch our legs would do wonders." Lee explained.

"Shouldn't be more than a couple hours. Since it's daytime, there are some shortcuts that I was able to take that might have been hard to see in the dark. I don't have a map on me, but I know that if we keep going in this direction, we should be able to find water sooner or later. This highway does lead to the coast and I'm sure of that." Kenny replied.

"Shortcuts?" questioned Lee.

"Uh, like small trails in the forest. They're more dirt and gravel trails than concrete roads, but it's the same thing." Kenny said.

"Kenny, isn't that dangerous? What if we broke down in the middle of the woods?" said Lee.

"Well, we're still driving, so I don't see what the fuss is about." retorted Kenny.

This plan has a lot more holes than I thought. We don't even know the exact direction we're going. There are a few coastal cities and towns in Georgia like...Savannah, but I couldn't tell Kenny exactly how to get there without a map.

"I just don't want to get into any unnecessary incidents," said Lee.

"We're making headway. I expect that we'll reach the coast sometime in the afternoon. Georgia can't be that big." Kenny stated.

Lee didn't reply to Kenny as he walked back to the sofa.

The day was still young, but Kenny felt like he had been driving all day. Of course, it was his own stubbornness that made him refuse the notion of taking a break. For once, Lee actually let him have his way and the entire group was now heading to the coast. His boat was the end goal.

There is a boat. There just has to be one.

Kenny wouldn't accept anything else. In his mind, he would find a boat no matter what anyone said. If they didn't like it, they didn't have to come with him. He had fulfilled his promise to his wife by letting everyone come with them and now he was completely off the hook.

Yet, Kenny just couldn't find it in himself to be happy. The RV was running and his family was still alive, so shouldn't he be ecstatic? He wasn't and he won't be until they find a boat.

Whatever. The main thing is getting my family on the water. Lee can do whatever the hell he wants. If I get my way, I won't be in his way for much longer.

If things worked out to Kenny's liking, Lee's ass would stay on shore. It was an unkind thought, but he had been having a lot of unkind thoughts about Lee ever since...the incident. Lee didn't seem like he was a big fan of his boat proposal, so he probably wouldn't care. Most of the group would follow Lee since he was undoubtedly more popular than Kenny.

To hell with them. I don't need them once I'm out on the water. I got enough knowledge to keep my family safe. The less people that come with us, the better.

Katjaa would disagree, but Kenny would just have to convince her. He had compromised with her about taking everyone with them and now she would have to adhere to his demands. That's how marriage worked. Both sides had to be willing to give up now so that they could have their turn later.

"Dad, how long until we stop?" asked Duck.

"Should be a couple more hours," said Kenny. He knew exactly what his son was about to say. Normally, he would be amused, but he was not in a very jolly mood.

"But it's been hours already! My legs are starting to hurt!" complained Duck.

"Stretch them out in the back then. Go see if Clementine wants to talk. I'm sure she's missing you." said Kenny.

"Yeah, I'll go talk to Clem!" agreed Duck. He hopped off his mom's lap and jogged over to the back while Katjaa shook her head affectionately.

"I can't believe our boy hasn't lost his spirit. Even after everything, he just manages to keep on going."

"It can get tiring, though. Sometimes you just want to rest or be able to think and he just keeps hollering on. I'll let the others deal with him for a little bit. I need to have a private talk with you, anyway. We need to discuss what happens once we find a boat." declared Kenny.

"What's there to discuss? Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?" confronted Katjaa.

"Don't give me that look. You know half of 'em ain't crazy about the boat plan. They would rather follow whatever the fuck Lee wants 'em to do and I say we let them!" Kenny whispered.

"Kenny, haven't I told you that we need as many people as we can get? Why are you so determined to drive them away?" whispered Katjaa.

"They're driving themselves away. Just because they agreed with us this one time doesn't mean that our family is in their best interests. Kat, I've come too far to lose you, because I was stupid. I won't let them drag us down just because they want to go do something else." explained Kenny.

"Lee has preached unity, Ken, and he won't do something that will divide the group. Even if he didn't believe in your plan, he still convinced everyone to come with us. He's not just going to turn on us after all that." retorted Katjaa.

"Lee ain't our friend. He's more concerned with Clem and Jugram than he is with the rest of us. Hell, he probably cares more about Lilly than us. That's fine by me. I'm more concerned with you and Duck making it than I am with the others." Kenny replied.

Finally, you admitted it.

Katjaa just looked at Kenny with a knowing expression. When his wife gave him that look, Kenny knew that nothing good was going to come out of it. It was a look like that which reminded him how much he was scared of her as any smart husband should be.

"I know what you did. At the dairy," she spoke in a tone no more than a hushed whisper.

Katjaa didn't even have to confirm that it was at the dairy. Those first five words were enough confirmation for Kenny to know exactly what she was talking about. He also knew that there was only one person who could have given Katjaa that information.

Does she still think that guy is MY friend?

"I did what I thought I had to do. If he turned, then all of us would have been dead. You and Duck would have died too." defended Kenny.

"That's what he said. You know, he defended you even after all the grief you've probably given him. You don't even have a problem with him, because you think he's dangerous. You have a problem with him, because he made you look like an evil man." confirmed Katjaa.

"He could be dangerous. Did he tell you that he killed a guy and was going to prison?" questioned Kenny.

"Yes, he did," replied Katjaa.

Of course, he did. Lee just can't resist the opportunity to act all high and mighty.

That was how Kenny felt about the incident at his core. He hated that Lee was put on this pedestal as if he could do no wrong while he was treated like something you wouldn't scrape off the bottom of your shoe.

Redneck trash. That's what everyone said you are and that's what you always will be. Trying to provide for your family doesn't make you any different than those people who grew up in the trailer parks near your house. All they did was smoke dope and beat their wives.

Kenny felt inferior, plain and simple. Anytime Lee did something positive, he was immediately congratulated by half the group. However, Kenny fixed up the RV and didn't even get so much as a 'Thank You'. Why the hell were his contributions to the group not acknowledged?

It's not like I'm Ben. Fucking eating the food and not giving anything in return.

At the end of the day, Kenny couldn't even be mad at the situation. Lee was right and he was wrong. Every time he would suggest something that went against Lee, that's how it would be. Lee was the smart one and Kenny was the dumb one.

I don't get any fucking respect. Why should I stick around here? On a boat, I'm actually useful. I doubt any of these people have as much nautical knowledge as me.

"What's that?" asked Katjaa. Kenny locked his eyes back on the road and saw a huge obstacle blocking their path. As he got closer, he could see the outline of railroad tracks and he immediately knew what he had just found.

A fucking train. You have got to be kidding me.

It would be one thing if someone was still operating the train, but it looked like the locomotive had been abandoned since the start of the turn. He slowly hit the brakes on the RV and saw that there was fallen debris near the tracks. There was no way for the RV to navigate around the vehicle.

"Is something wrong?" asked Lee as he appeared out of nowhere.

"See for yourself," replied Kenny. Lee looked forward and his eyes widened as he took in the scene.

"That seems like a...problem," said Lee.

"Oh, you think?" muttered Kenny.

"Everyone! The road's been blocked off and we can't navigate the RV around the barrier which is why we're stopping," announced Lee.

"Are we all getting off then?" Lilly called out.

"Doesn't seem like there's any walkers. This is the best opportunity for everyone to stretch their legs. As long as we stay smart and vigilant, we'll be safe while we figure out a way to proceed." said Lee.

This might be for the best. The RV might not last us much longer.

Kenny felt like he was a solid mechanic, but he wasn't a magician. The RV's radiator was close to giving out and he didn't have the tools to replace it. It should be good enough to get to the coast, but it probably wouldn't get them much further than that.

This is why we have to get to the coast. We just have to.

Once the RV came to a full stop, everyone gathered their things and made their way towards the exit. All Kenny had was his pistol, his trucker cap, and his family. There were a few tools in the back, but he didn't feel like bringing them outside until they found a way to get past the train.

Once he walked outside, he quickly made his way over to the train with Lee, Yhwach, and Lilly right behind him. The squad of four inspected the structure in front of them. The tracks were completely blocked by two train cars with a little opening in between for the coupling that was holding them together. As far as he could see, there was no opening for the RV to move through.

"So, is there any way to get around this?" asked Lee.

"Doesn't look like it. On foot, maybe. Can't really afford to do that now." replied Kenny.

"There's a lot of brush in this area. We shouldn't get snuck up on by any walkers or people if we're careful," said Lilly. Kenny noticed that there were a bunch of logs near the woods that some members of the group were already sitting on.

"This is a good resting point if anything. I think people were starting to feel a bit cooped up in the back. Being around that many people in that cramped of a space is not going to do good for anyone." noted Lee.

"Well, I can't drive any fucking faster." retorted Kenny. Lee seemed a bit surprised at his outburst.

"I didn't mean it as an insult, Kenny. I'm just saying that it's nice to take a break. You've been driving for a while, so you deserve one. Let Jugram, Lilly, and I handle this." said Lee.

"Sure, I'll let you and your best friends handle IT." spat Kenny.

He walked to the rest of the group while Lee just looked at Yhwach in confusion. Lilly rolled her eyes and mouthed something that Kenny didn't see or hear. Lee followed Kenny and started to address the rest of the group.

"Since it's about time we had a break, all of you can rest here. Lilly and I will check the train out to see if there's any way we can remove it, so we can be on our way," announced Lee.

"I'm going to come with you." declared Ben. Kenny wasn't surprised. That kid was a moron, but he had heart. He always wanted to do something that most people wouldn't allow him to do.

"The more, the merrier." smiled Lee.

No one had any objections. As much as he hated to admit it, Kenny could use a rest. He had been driving for what seemed like a few hours by this point and they still were nowhere near the coast. Who would have thought that it would be harder to drive in a world with fewer human beings in it?

Fucking pricks abandoned their cars on the road. It's like I have to watch out for landmines. This old thing isn't built to last going off-road then on-road then off-road again.

The four of them were about to leave but Mark stopped them. 

"Be careful in there," said Mark.

"What, you think there might be something dangerous in an abandoned locomotive?" joked Lee.

"Uh, yeah," replied Carley.

"That is...very smart to think about. We will be careful," reassured Lee. He said no more as the four group members made their way over to the train.

"Mom, is there any water?" asked Duck.

"Yes. I have a water bottle. Don't drink too much. We don't know when we'll be able to fill it up again." reminded Katjaa.

It was times like this that reminded Kenny how lucky he was that Lee had seen the light for once. If they had to make a hasty escape from that death trap, they might be a lot worse off. Instead, they had plenty of medicine, enough food to last a few days, and drinking water. They had also most of their weapons and enough ammo for everyone to at least have one full clip.

We need to scavenge more. Most of us carry and we don't have enough for people to keep popping rounds every time a bush rustles. That's why we should have moved on sooner once we got most of the medicine out of that pharmacy.

"Can I have some too?" asked Clementine.

"Sure. Here you go, Clementine," said Katjaa as Duck finished drinking. The boy had a longing to look like he wanted more, but Kenny knew that, at least for now, sacrifices would have to be made.

Getting fresh water on a boat will be annoying. We may have to stay near the shore unless we can gather enough jugs or bottles to refuel with. Unless we get one of those fancy ships that have water filters inside them.

To be honest, there were a lot more holes in Kenny's boat plan than he would like to admit, but this wasn't the time for second-guessing himself. This was the time to get shit done and Kenny hoped that they would be able to get through this latest obstacle, so he could be on the water with his family by tomorrow at the very latest.

"Ken, are you feeling okay? I know I haven't checked your wound since we left the Motor Inn," whispered Katjaa.

"I'm fine, Kat," muttered Kenny. After the first couple of days, all that was left was a lasting soreness from where the bullet had entered his ribcage. Doing heavy manual labor was still off the table for him for the foreseeable future, but he had no trouble shooting a gun. That's all he really needed.

"I don't even need bandages anymore," stated Kenny.

"Are you sure? If you need anything, let me know," demanded Katjaa.

"I'm positive," muttered Kenny.

"So, Kenny, what happens if we don't find a boat?" asked Carley.

"We're finding a boat," replied Kenny.

"Okay, but you can't guarantee that. How do you know that we're going to find a boat?" pressed Carley.

"There has to be at least one boat out there. This ain't the time to be getting worried over what's going to happen or not. Once we get to the coast, we'll figure it out then." dismissed Kenny.

"So you have no fucking clue what you're doing, do you?" chuckled Larry.

"Nobody asked for your opinion, old man." retorted Kenny.

"It's a valid opinion and I don't even like Larry that much. Do we even have a backup plan if we don't find a boat and we're stranded in the middle of nowhere? Where are we even going to find a boat besides just the shoreline?" asked Doug.

"We'll go to a town on the coast. Even if there isn't anything there, we can always hunker down until we figure something out." Kenny replied.

"What if the town is infested with walkers, Kenny? What if we run out of supplies or run into more people? What if we can't stay in that town?" asked Mark.

"Then we'll FUCKING leave. Why the hell are you all pestering me about this now? None of this matters, because we're going to find a boat and those who want to come with me can do so! If you don't believe in it, then you can stay on land!" he growled.

"Kenny, your son is here." chastised Katjaa.

"This guy doesn't have a clue what he's talking about! We're all going to die because of this idiot and his plans. I can't believe my daughter and Lee are actually humoring you by going this far." said Larry.

"Tell your little friendship gang that I don't care what you think. I got the RV working, so I'm going where I want to go. If you don't think my plan is a good idea, then you can stay here and starve while I leave. Wouldn't that be something?" asked Kenny.

Larry immediately marched over to Kenny while Kenny stood up and met him face to face. Carley and Mark also stood up to try and defuse the situation.

"What the hell are you saying?" confronted Larry.

"I'm saying that if it was up to me, your ass wouldn't even be alive right now," replied Kenny.

"Is that so? What the fuck are you going to do, tough guy? You gonna kill me?" asked Larry. Kenny could see the rage starting to form in Larry's eyeballs. He didn't care, because he could get just as angry.

"You're out of your prime, old man. This isn't the 60s anymore. Picking a fight with someone younger than you is just bad for your health. We wouldn't want that, would we?"

"I was SFG in Vietnam. I've killed more people than your tiny brain can even begin to comprehend. Why don't you go back to assaulting cars with your wrench instead of trying to assault a veteran? You might actually win considering the car can't fight back." quipped Larry.

Did he just make a joke?

"Alright, enough of this pissing contest. Everyone just needs to calm down and cool off. It's been a long morning. We lost our home and we're currently stuck in the middle of nowhere. I know tensions are high, but we need to keep ourselves in check. This isn't what Lee wants to happen." said Carley.

"Yeah, I agree. We need to support each other, not antagonize each other." agreed Mark.

The fucking leader of this group has been antagonizing me since I met him. There's only camaraderie and friendship when you're part of Lee's select group, which is made up of people who suck up to him. 

"Who are you folks?" asked a voice. The group immediately turned in the direction of the woods and saw a grizzled old man with a brown jacket lazily looking at them. His face seemed to be dirty like he lived in the woods, but Kenny wasn't about to judge. Not everyone had the privilege of running water.

"We could ask you the same," said Carley.

"The name's Chuck. Charles, if you're fancy. I live on this train with a couple of my buddies." he explained. On cue, two other men decided to walk out next to him. One of them was a slender Caucasian male while the other was a big African-American man. The Caucasian man had a red polo shirt along with khakis and a pair of office shoes while the African-American man was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with jeans and a pair of sneakers.

What the fuck have we gotten into now?

[ Scene Break - A Few Moments Earlier]

Chuck walked through the brush that characterized the woods that he had come to know and love. Usually, he would lounge about on the train while his friends would go hunt, but he had decided to come with them this time. He had met both of them about a month and a half ago when they had happened to find his train. Instead of moving on, they decided to stay with him.

Good company is in short supply these days.

"Why was I the one that got the shovel?" complained one man.

His name was Justin and he was a Caucasian man who was wearing clothes like he was about to go into office. Chuck hadn't ever worked in an office, but he could tell that's where Justin felt most comfortable. He had Chuck's shovel, which the man had handed to him in exchange for Justin's gun.

The other gun was in the possession of his other friend, Marcus. He was an African-American gentleman who was wearing more casual clothing, but he didn't need fancy clothing to be intimidating. The muscles on his arms and legs combined with his abs did enough to deter anyone from attacking him.

"You lost the bet. If you didn't want the shovel, you could have just stayed behind." Marcus replied.

"Well, I didn't realize the old man would catch me. I had a plan all worked out and I would have come out victorious!" complained Justin.

"Whose fault is that, son? Cheaters never prosper." preached Chuck.

"Yeah, they do. I made off with hundreds of millions of dollars by cheating the system. It's not my fault the rich assholes that I scammed got offended and put me behind bars." Justin retorted.

"Your ass didn't get away with shit. I hardly call it prospering when they still caught you. Let me guess, did you bring an undercover cop into the scheme?" asked Marcus.

"Fuck you," said Justin.

"Oh, did you fall for a hot broad and spilled your secrets to her while she was giving it to you? I bet that's it, huh? Your ass got pussy whipped for a girl." added Marcus.

"No, it was not. I just...got greedy and became impatient. That impatience cost me in the end when I fired a dude because he wasn't selling enough subscriptions to my online site where I set up bogus retail merchandise to make people believe that they would make their money back if they got more people to buy my clothes. I made them pay for the online subscriptions. Anyway, he complained to his brother who started looking into my business. He was a DA and he got the state government to investigate...and yeah." finished Justin.

"Haha, your ass got found out, because of a personal family conversation?" laughed Marcus.

"Unlucky," added Chuck.

"How was I supposed to know he had friends in high places? It's not like I cared about them on a personal level. They were just people I could exploit to get what I wanted." Justin declared.

"Maybe you should have cared more about your relationships with others. That's why I caught you trying to cut through the couplings when you and Marcus both agreed that you would race around the entire train. If you lost fair and square, I think Marcus would have more respect for you." Chuck mused.

"Damn straight." agreed Marcus.

"Work smarter, not harder. The only bad thing about my plan was that I got caught doing it or else Marcus would have had to give his pistol away and I would be home free," stated Justin.

"Yeah. If I didn't get caught, I would still be on the streets of Atlanta shooting up other gangsters and selling dope, but here we are." Marcus replied.

Surprisingly, the two men had revealed their pasts to Chuck pretty quickly. Or, to be more accurate, Marcus told him a few days after they met while Justin was mad that he would tell such a big part of their lives to Chuck.

I get the feeling knowledge is power to Justin. That man likes to be in control of everything.

Apparently, Marcus was convinced by Chuck's gentle, non-judgmental attitude to at least tell the man that he was shacking up with two criminals. Justin was on his way to prison for fraud and embezzlement due to conning people through a pyramid scheme while Marcus had revealed that he was going to prison for drug possession and murder among other things. To a lesser man, his crimes would probably have caused them him to demand that Marcus leave the train immediately and never show his face again, but Chuck had a suspicion that Marcus didn't just kill out of enjoyment.

Most of the people he talks about killing were for his gang. As dark as it may seem, murder was a way for him to fit in his environment.

Chuck couldn't judge someone for wanting to fit in. He wished he was as rough and tough as some of the boys in his school, but he was just an old man. An old man who had hopes for the future when he was a young man, but, instead, his hopes stayed as hopes and not things that materialized into reality.

You know what it's like to be in prison. Don't judge these men even if their crimes were greater than yours.

"I didn't expect the old man to be so observant," muttered Justin.

"Do you ever quit complaining? I swear to god, I wonder why I decided to join you sometimes," said Marcus.

"You didn't like being part of a group and you hated Vince for saving Jerry even if he convinced you to not kill him. That's why." Justin dryly replied.

Chuck had heard bits and pieces about the group they had been a part of before they met up with him. Supposedly, they had escaped from a prison bus with 3 other prisoners whose names were Vince, Danny, and Jerry. Justin and Vince disagreed about how the group should be run, so Justin eventually decided to split off with Marcus tagging along.

"That whiny motherfucker deserved it. If he spent as much time being productive as he does when he's complaining, he might actually have earned my respect." retorted Marcus.

"He didn't complain THAT much. You're just being petty," said Justin.

"Who are you to call me petty? You still have Chuck's shovel in case we run into the dead and you're complaining?" confronted Marcus.

"Both of you have guns AND melee weapons," replied Justin.

"I don't know if you need two melee weapons to fight the dead off, Justin. I'll have you know that shovel has saved my life on countless occasions." Chuck stated proudly.

"We're not going gardening. We're going hunting," said Justin.

"If our guns run out of bullets, what the hell are we gonna defend ourselves with? Our dicks?" Marcus retorted.

"Yours probably wouldn't even register to a biter let alone crack its skull," Justin replied.

"Enough! You two are more troublesome than the children I used to work with at my former job. Let's get to hunting and stop treading on each other's toes." chastised Chuck.

"What was your former job?" inquired Justin.

"Elementary school janitor," answered Chuck.

"So...you like kids, huh?" joked Justin.

"Not in that way, you weirdo," Chuck said. Everyone always assumed that he was a pedophile, but he was just a friendly old man who liked the company of children. They made him feel like the world wasn't completely hopeless as long as the next generation was being trained to be respectable people.

The only kids you've seen in this world are the dead ones.

"Shut up. I hear something," said Marcus. Chuck heard a bird calling out and he instantly crouched down along with Marcus and Justin. The three of them sneaked through the bushes until they got to the edge of the shrubbery. In front of them was a large tree that had tall branches that snaked up to the heavens. Sitting on one of the trunks was a small crow. It was a pitiful meal, but they didn't have much of a choice. Their canned goods were getting low and they would need to find other ways to sustain themselves.

"Dude, that thing is not going to feed anyone," complained Justin.

"It's better than nothing. Marcus, do you want to attempt the shot?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah, I got it," said Marcus. It was a bit hard to hunt a bird with a pistol. Chuck wished that they had found a bigger animal like a deer, but there probably wasn't going to be any this late into fall.

Marcus concentrated and slowly put his finger on the trigger as the bird kept making noise. His eyes were completely trained on his target and Chuck got the feeling that he was used to doing something like this.

He was hunting a different kind of prey.

Marcus fired, but the bullet missed the bird and caused it to fly away.

"Shit!" yelled Marcus.

"I told you a pistol isn't going to hunt for shit," remarked Justin.

"And what the hell are you doing, Justin?! Tell me!" barked Marcus.

"Nothing, because I have a shovel," Justin muttered. Marcus just rose and started marching back towards the direction they came from. Chuck and Justin quickly followed him.

"We're already givin' up?" Chuck asked.

"There's no point. We need hunting rifles, not pistols. These are good for putting down large targets like deer, bears, or humans. We ain't going to do shit with little creatures like squirrels or birds, which is pretty much what we're going to find right now. The biters might have been attracted to the noise as well, so let's go in a different direction from the train." said Marcus.

"Makes sense." praised Chuck.

"I guess. What's the chance we're going to find a deer at this point?" Justin wondered.

"What's the chance we're going to find anything in this area?" complained Marcus.

Chuck often found himself wondering the same thing. The train had been his home since the first month and there was nothing better for keeping the dead out than the boxcar he currently lived in. However, he was out in a very remote place, which meant that the number of supplies that they had were being used more than they were being replaced.

I'm no stranger to moving from place to place. I haven't really had a permanent place to stay in almost 15 years.

Chuck was what people would consider "homeless", but he preferred to be labeled as a drifter. A man who got by with nothing more than the clothes on his back and the tunes in his head. Maybe he would play his guitar once they got back. Before he could think much more, he heard something.

"Hey, do you guys hear that?" Chuck asked. Justin and Marcus stopped talking and tried to listen to what Chuck was hearing. The old man thought he must have been going crazy because it sounded like people talking. A lot of people. Some voices were louder than the rest, but he could discern both male and female voices.

Is there another group near here?

"Are those other people? Are they trying to steal our train?" asked Marcus.

"Calm down. They might not know that someone lives there." soothed Chuck.

"Yeah, we didn't exactly upkeep the place. It looks like a dump." Justin replied.

"Oh, I must have forgotten to call the cleaning service," replied Marcus.

"Let me make contact with these folks. I don't want them getting scared and trying to do something rash, because they think we're out to get them," stated Chuck. He crept through the bushes while Marcus and Justin followed him from a distance. Once he was able to see the train through the thick leaves, he peeked out at the direction that the voices were coming from.

He saw two men that seemed to be arguing. One seemed to be about his age while the other was probably around Marcus's age. A woman and another man were near them while the rest of their group looked on. There were a few kids and another woman, but the group as a whole seemed pretty non-threatening.

"They seem fine. Let me talk to them," whispered Chuck. He slowly came out of the woods so that the other members could see him before calling out, "Who are you folks?".

His voice must have carried over, because everyone's heads snapped to his direction. Chuck almost found the situation funny as some of them looked like deer in headlights.

"We could you ask the same." replied a woman.

"The name's Chuck. Charles, if you're fancy. I live on this train with a couple of my buddies." Chuck explained. Both Justin and Marcus took this as an opportunity to make their presence known. Most of the group members either looked shocked or a bit fearful, but Chuck couldn't blame them. They didn't exactly look like the friendliest types.

"This is my friend, Justin, and my other friend is called Marcus," stated Chuck.

"We're not looking for any trouble." a man with glasses called out.

"Of course. We just want to know what y'all are doing here. Usually, a group like yours doesn't come this far out. Marcus and Justin are the only people I've met in a few months." said Chuck.

"We just got stopped by the train. We're...trying to get to the coast and the road is blocked. Once we have the train out of the way, we'll get out of your hair." said another man. He was wearing a trucker cap and had on a black or dark green long-sleeved shirt on with dirty white sleeves and a pair of jeans.

"What are your names?" asked Justin.

"I'm Kenny. This is my wife and son, Katjaa and Duck. The other girl is called Clementine and that's Doug right next to her. The man with the glasses is Mark, the old bastard is Larry." introduced Kenny.

Chuck made sure to memorize names to faces. There were a lot of people in this group, but they all had something distinct about them. Clementine and Duck both seemed to be very young which surprised Chuck since most kids seemed to have died in the early stages.

Could it be that these kids have survival skills?

They didn't have that hardened look in their eye like some of the adults did, but that didn't mean they weren't capable of protecting themselves. In a way, it was good that these children didn't allow the events of the world to destroy their childhood like they had destroyed many people's livelihoods.

"You been traveling, huh? I've traveled a bit myself." Chuck replied.

"Yeah, I used to travel a lot before. I was a commercial fisherman by trade and I loved...being on the water. Haven't been able to do as much, since I settled down, but the one positive thing about this is traveling, I guess." replied Kenny.

"I loved going to different cities and just being a wanderer. There's always so much you can learn about people just by seeing them in different places. Glad to see someone here likes to travel as much as I." said Chuck.

"Are you the leader?" asked Justin.

"No, I'm not the leader," stated Kenny. There seemed to be a bit of irritation in his voice, but Chuck didn't think too much of it.

"Who is?" added Justin.

Carley looked at Kenny and Mark also looked at the pair. It seemed that the three were debating whether or not to tell them.

"We're not here to hurt anyone. There's no reason we can't all be friends for the time that you're here. I understand you have kids you want to protect, but we ain't bad men." soothed Chuck.

"Our leader is inside the train with a few others. He's currently inspecting it." Carley finally stated.

"Inspecting it? Is he going to steal our shit?" Marcus asked.

"Considering the state of you, I doubt there's anything we want to steal." Larry retorted. Marcus glared at Larry, but Chuck immediately grabbed his arm to stop him from doing something stupid. They didn't need an argument after the initial peace offering Chuck gave them.

"Do you really want to start another argument, Larry?" chastised Carley.

"It's not an argument. I'm just stating the truth. He's the one getting all pissy about our people going to search the train. We didn't even know anyone lived here." said Larry.

On cue, the bottom of the train started to emit steam. Chuck was shocked to see that the train had...actually worked. He looked over at Marcus and Justin who were equally surprised.

"Holy fuck! Did that thing just...turn on?" asked Mark.

"Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that we had a functional train the entire time and nobody bothered to check for that?!" growled Marcus.

"It's not like any of us would even know how to operate one. Do you think Chuck was a train conductor in his past life?" Justin asked.

"To be honest, I was just using the train for shelter. I didn't even go up to the front of it or anything. It wasn't a concern to me." replied Chuck.

Shows how lazy you've become in your old age.

"How hard can it be to operate a train? I gotta see this!" exclaimed Kenny as he ran over to the locomotive.

"I want to meet the new guys, so...I guess I'm following." declared Justin. He sprinted after Kenny while Chuck and Marcus just looked around awkwardly. Everyone else seemed to be excited at the thought of a moving train. Chuck figured that now would be the time to start mingling with the crowd.

"Does anyone want any candy?" he asked.

"You have candy?" asked Clementine.

"Yes, I do." smiled Chuck.

[ Scene Break, Location: Inside of The Train]

Yhwach opened the boxcar and made his way inside along with Lilly, Lee, and Ben. The latter was a surprise addition, but a welcome one, nevertheless. Ben needed to feel useful to get out of whatever funk he was feeling and Lee wasn't going to complain if he took the initiative to help himself.

As Yhwach took a look around, he realized something that made his spidey senses flare up. There was an old bottle of whiskey that Lee quickly took. There were also old food cans littered around the boxcar as well as a few sleeping bags. On the far left, there were a couple of chairs in the corner of the boxcar accompanied by some old crates. The door on the other side of the boxcar was wide open. The place looked like someone had been living in it recently.

"We're not the first ones to have found this train," Yhwach remarked.

Lilly nodded. "We'll have to keep a lookout for any stragglers."

Just then, Ben, who had been rummaging through the debris, called out, "Hey, look at this." He held up a clipboard with a map attached and handed it over to Lee.

Lee examined it closely before speaking, "This must be a map of where the train was heading. Route 27...Savannah. That's a city on the coast. These tracks might lead us right there. Kenny's gonna be happy to hear this."

Ben, with a hopeful tone, asked, "Do you think we can get this train running?"

Lee let out a sigh, still focused on the map. "It's a long shot, but we gotta try. I'll head over to the cab with Lilly and see what we can scrounge up. You stay here and keep an eye out for anyone who might come back."

Ben nodded shyly and began searching the boxes again. The trio moved to the front of the boxcar, stepping out onto the small path that led toward the locomotive. From there, Lee could see the rest of the group resting near the tracks, some deep in conversation.

How many of these people will be dead by next month?

"Lee," Yhwach's voice cut through his thoughts. "Snap out of it."

Startled, Lee realized he had been standing on the railing, lost in thought for nearly a minute. Lilly shot him a concerned look, while Yhwach's expression remained stoic but visibly irritated. Lee cleared his throat. "I'm fine," he muttered before they continued toward the train cab.

Peering through the window, Lee noticed a slumped figure in the front seat. "We got one. Walker, sitting in the chair. We got 'im," Lee announced quietly.

Lilly nodded, her pistol at the ready, while Yhwach withdrew his own firearm. Lee carefully opened the door, approaching the walker with his fire axe raised. But the figure remained motionless, completely unaware of their presence. Without hesitation, Lee swung his axe, striking the walker in the head. The body slumped forward, and as Lee stepped back, Yhwach spoke up.

"Seems like they were already dead," Yhwach remarked coolly, pulling the body out of the chair and letting it fall to the floor. Half of the man's face was missing, the other half splattered against the window along with broken glass.

Lilly crouched next to the body, frowning. "I don't think this guy came back."

"Seems like it," Lee agreed, shaking his head slightly. "Let's see what we can find in here."

They all began searching through the cab. Lee paused when he came across a photo of the dead man with his wife and two children. A wave of guilt hit him—he hadn't even thought about the man's life before all this. Just another casualty of this nightmare.

Everyone's just a casualty now. It's easier to cope with their loss if you look at it like that. I'll get Ben to discard the corpse. so he can feel useful.

On the driver's desk was a lunchbox that had a foul odor coming from it as well as a bin that had a bunch of papers inside it. Lilly looked at the console where there were tons of controls, but there didn't seem to be any kind of directions for them. 

"I don't even know how we're going to get this thing started without instructions," complained Lilly.

Lee walked over to Lilly to see if there was any way that he could make sense of these controls. The machinery seemed so daunting to him that he wished he knew anything about trains.

"Look at this," said Lilly. She picked up a notepad. Most of the front page was torn off, but the words 'Engine Startup' at the top gave Lee a ray of hope.

"This is it. Instructions on starting the engine. The page is gone, but I can kinda see the indentations from the writing." Lee replied.

"Well, we'll need to scribble over the next page with something. Maybe we have a pencil in the RV? That would be a good place to look if it's not on here." said Lilly. The door opened With Ben barging in.

"Are you done already?" asked Lee.

"Yeah, I didn't manage to find much besides a bottle of water, which I uhh Drank....Do you need any help?" asked Ben.

"Yeah, actually. Ben, could you toss that body outside? I don't want it to be mucking up the room." said Lee.

"Sure," replied Ben. He grabbed the walker by its arms and started dragging him outside.

Yhwach, seemingly disinterested in their conversation, moved toward the console and noticed a flashing orange button. Without hesitation, he pressed it.

"Hey—!" Lee began, but the sound of the engine whirring to life cut him off. Steam hissed from the locomotive, and Yhwach's face broke into a rare smirk.

"We're in luck," Yhwach said, sounding more satisfied with himself than anything else.

Lilly, however, wasn't as amused. "You idiot! What if that caused something bad to happen?" she snapped, her frustration boiling over.

Yhwach's smirk faded, replaced by a cold frown as he turned his piercing gaze on her. "Watch your tone," he said. "Nothing bad happened. Perhaps next time, you'll be more grateful." suddenly the door opened and Kenny came barging in.

"This fucker works?"

"Seems like it," replied Lee.

"I'll be damned. How do we get it movin'?" he asked as he sat down in the driver's seat.

"I don't know, ask Mister Amtrak over here." joked Lee as he pointed to Yhwach.

Suddenly another man walked in, but he was unfamiliar to Lee. Lilly and Yhwach immediately went on their guard, but Kenny didn't seem to mind the presence of the mystery man.

"Is this the rest of your group? We already met the kid dragging the body outside." said the man.

Yhwach moved with a speed that took everyone by surprise, he had the unfamiliar man—disarmed and pinned to the ground with a firm grip on his arm. "Who are you?" Yhwach demanded.

Justin raised his free hand in surrender, his eyes wide with panic. "Whoa, whoa! The name's Justin. We were living on this train until you guys showed up and decided to operate it. We're not looking for any trouble, man."

Before Yhwach could respond, Kenny quickly intervened, stepping forward. "Stand down, Jugram. The guy's alright," Kenny said, Yhwach shot him a sharp glance, but after a brief moment, he released Justin, letting him scramble to his feet while wincing from the pain in his wrist.

Justin rubbed his sore wrist, still catching his breath. "Jeez, you've got a strong grip. No need to go all commando on me." He winced as he rolled his wrist, trying to shake off the pain.

 Lilly pulled her hand away from her holster, but Justin was more concerned about an item in Lee's back pocket.

"Hey, is that my spanner?" he yelled.

"Uh....no? I found it in the back," he said.

"Yeah, that's mine. Marcus has his monkey wrench and Chuck has his spike remover. Therefore, I would request you hand back King Justin's magical spanner to him!" ordered Justin.

"....What?" asked a confused Lee.

"Just give me the fucking spanner."

Lee handed Justin his spanner while Lilly and Yhwach just looked at the situation with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Kenny was still busy trying to figure out the controls.

"By the way, Kenny, I found a map of where the train goes. If this means what I think it means, then that made our ride a whole lot easier," said Lee. He handed over the map to Kenny who grinned in delight. Lee hadn't seen him this happy in a long time.

"This Train will take us right to Savannah. A hundred tons of steel. Put a thousand walkers between us and the ocean and we don't have to give a shit! I can't believe it..."

"So, I guess we're coming with you, then," remarked Justin.

"Who said anything about that?" questioned Lilly.

"Well, you're taking our home. That's a bit inconvenient for us." retorted Justin.

"There's no problem with that. You are welcome to join us," said Lee.

"In that case, I would like to get to know you guys a bit better," Lilly replied. Lee, Lilly, and Justin decided to go outside to see the rest. In the distance, he could see another old man who had come out of the boxcar with a guitar while an African-American man was standing off to the side of the group with his arms folded.

He doesn't look very sociable.

"Chuck. Marcus. This is uh...what are your names?" asked Justin.

"I'm Lee, the leader of the group. This is Lilly, Larry's daughter." introduced Lee.

"Right. What he said."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Chuck, but you can call me Charles if you're fancy." Chuck replied.

"Chuck gave us candy," explained Clementine. Lee saw that Clementine, Duck, Ben, and Carley were all eating Hershey's Chocolate bars.

Chuck sat down next to Clementine and Duck before he started to play his guitar. Lee found that his music was very soothing and relaxing. Nobody seemed to complain about it, even Larry and Lilly. Clementine looked up at Chuck who smiled back at her.

He seems to be good with kids.

"You said your name was Lee? What's your last name?" asked Marcus. Lee turned to African Hulk who seemed to be staring at him suspiciously.

Does he know?

"Everett. Lee Everett."

"Hmph, I knew you were familiar. You're the guy who killed the state senator, right? Chuck, this is the guy from the newspaper that we were reading a few weeks ago." explained Marcus.

"So it seems." mused Chuck. He seemed almost indifferent to the information. Lee didn't know if he was just super chilled out or he just didn't care. It had been 3 months and some change, but Lee figured that the old world was still fresh enough such that the crimes he committed would actually affect other people's perception of him.

It's a good thing I told everyone, huh?

"You don't really seem like you care too much, Chuck," noted Lee.

"I can't judge considering the origin story of my two friends over here," Chuck replied.

Lee was confused and looked at both Marcus and Justin for an explanation. Justin seemed a bit peeved while Marcus just had a look of resignation on his face.

"Justin and I are both prisoners as well. Former prisoners, actually. When this started, we were being transported to the prison, but we got caught up on the highway. The security guard onboard decided to let us out, but he died to one of the biters quickly afterward. Eventually, Justin and I met Chuck who had been living on this train for a while and we decided to bunk up with him." explained Marcus.

Lee shook his head in disbelief. What were the odds he would find other escaped convicts like himself? It was almost too good to be true.

"What were your crimes?" interrogated Lilly.

"I ran a pyramid scheme and defrauded a lot of people. They got me on every charge that was related to something like that including fraud and embezzlement," said Justin.

"I'm like Lee. I killed a man. Multiple men, in fact. I was deep in the gang lifestyle. Also dealt drugs, robbed people, you name it, I probably did it." Marcus muttered.

Clementine, Duck, Ben, and Katjaa all looked a bit terrified at that information while the rest of them just looked at him in shock. This guy made Lee look like a Disney princess from the sounds of things. The fact that he was going to jail for multiple murders might have shown a lack of remorse. Marcus didn't seem proud of his crimes, however.

"You killed anyone since the turn?" asked Lee.

"Unless you count the biters as people, then no. I've gotten real fucking close," he growled.

Lee looked into Marcus's eyes. He was trying to gauge if this man was too dangerous to come with them. It might have been hypocritical of Lee, but he needed to protect the group above all else. After Jolene's death, he couldn't just let anyone on board.

If I don't accept him, it won't fly well with Chuck and Justin. Do I really want to be making enemies right off the bat? Maybe some acceptance is all he needs.

"Alright, you're all welcome to come with us," announced Lee. Marcus stiffly nodded while Lilly looked at Lee with a hint of disapproval. He was probably going to have to hear it from her later.

He noticed Clementine was making more leaf rubbings with Duck, so he headed over there to see what she was doing.

"If you guys want to help out, we have a lot of supplies that we need to load into the boxcar," announced Lilly.

"What kind of supplies? We have been running low on stuff," said Justin.

"Food, water, medicine, ammo, guns, melee weapons. We have a lot that we stockpiled. By being in our group, you're entitled to our resources, but you better not abuse that privilege. I've already had to deal with supplies going missing once and I'm not about to deal with it again." declared Lilly.

While everyone wasn't looking Ben flinched at Lilly's harsh tone, but he sat down on a log next to Doug. They started talking while Carley, Mark, Larry, and Marcus joined Justin and Lilly.

"Lee, did you want to do a leaf rubbing?" asked Clementine.

"No. Can I borrow that pencil for a minute, Clementine? I need to read something so that we can start the train." said Lee.

Clementine handed the pencil over and Lee quickly scribbled on the notepad. Now, he could see what the instructions were saying. He handed the pencil back over to Clementine.

"Are you excited to head on the train?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've never been on a train before," said Clementine.

"I bet it will be so cool! We're going to be going as fast as Batman!" Duck yelled as he whooshed around for emphasis. Looks like Chuck's candy had given someone a sugar boost.

"Glad to see your boy is still happy and healthy after everything that's happened," observed Chuck.

"Oh, he's still as enthusiastic as he was the day he was born. It's nice to know that some things have stayed the same." Katjaa replied.

Lee didn't pay any more attention to the conversation and started to head back to the train. There was an entrance to hop on the railing from the side, so Lee took it and headed back to the cab. Kenny was still looking at the controls.

"Did you find anything?" he asked.

"Yeah, Clementine had a pencil. Let's see if I can follow this," answered Lee.

The first step involved him looking at the seven switches in panel 6 which he did. Following the directions, he pushed the 3rd and 4th switch up along with the 5th and 7th switches. The train made a noise in response as the entire dashboard lit up.

"Son of a bitch! Whatever you did lit the dash up!" praised Kenny.

"So far so good." agreed Lee. He moved over to panel 5 and turned the leftmost switch sideways. The light on the panel turned green, so Lee assumed that meant he had done a good job.

Imagine if green was bad and red was good. What kind of sick game would that be?

"Now we're talkin'!" exclaimed Kenny. The last switch that Lee needed to turn was on panel 9, but that didn't seem to be anywhere in sight. Lee made sure that he wasn't missing anything, but there was no Panel 9.

"I can't seem to find this last panel. Is it not on the dashboard?" mused Lee.

"If it's not here, it might be outside. It has to be on the same train car as the cab." Kenny replied. Lee agreed with that assessment, so he walked outside and slowly looked at the car in front of him. There were two handles on the side of the car, so Lee decided to pull on them. He managed to open up a small door that housed the inner engine and found Panel 9 on the bottom left. He turned the switch to the left and then to the right, which caused the engine to start humming. Lee found himself smiling. Something had actually gone their way for the first time in a while.

"Holy shit! We're golden!" Kenny yelled as he joined Lee.

"Yeah, we are. Golden. Man, feels good." agreed Lee.

"Come on. I'll see if she can move," said Kenny. The two men walked back to the cab where Kenny sat down and moved the throttle. Lee quivered in anticipation as the train started moving forward...and then suddenly got yanked back. Lee stumbled slightly as the sudden momentum shift of the train caused his body to fall backward.

"Shit!" yelled Lee.

"Of course. We're still attached. Can you find out where we're stuck and get us unstuck?" Kenny demanded.

Lee nodded his head and quickly walked out back. Yhwach was near the train and he walked over to them.

"Is the train still attached?" asked Yhwach.

"You bet. I'm going to go see what the problem with it is. Tell everyone else to gather their personal items and start heading into the boxcar." ordered Lee.

Yhwach said nothing as he walked away. Lee made his way to the boxcar and opened the door. The group had brought their supplies in record time and were now busy organizing them. Marcus was busy throwing away the trash that his group had already accumulated while Mark was stacking ammo boxes on top of each other in the back corner near the crates. Doug and Carley were putting the extra rifles in the back along with the fire axe.

Katjaa was putting anything medicine-related into a corner as well. Some were in bottles, some were in boxes, but everything was being treated the same. Lilly and Larry were busy putting the food and water into a separate section as well. Since the train had a lot more space than the boxcar, the group was piling most of their items in the back near the chairs.

"Where's Justin?" asked Lee.

"When you guys tried moving the train, we felt the train stopping, so he volunteered to go get rid of the coupling that we're attached to," said Lilly.

"Awful nice of him," remarked Lee.

"He's just trying to do what he can to help. The new guys have to pull their weight somehow," said Mark.

"You could have warned us you were moving the train! I nearly fell on my ass," complained Larry.

"Sorry. We got so caught up that I forgot there were other people boarding." apologized Lee. Justin reappeared from the other direction of the boxcar with a triumphant look on his face.

"The train is now ready to go!" he exclaimed. Lee nodded and saw the rest of the group start to get in. Clementine went to go sit with Yhwach while Chuck opted to continue standing. Katjaa and Duck went to the opposite corner. Ben sat near Clementine while Carley, Mark, Lilly, and Larry all sat down on the same side as Katjaa and Duck. Justin sat down in the 4th corner while Marcus decided to stand and look out the door facing the RV.

"Everyone good? Last chance to get something from the RV if you need it," said Lee.

"We made sure that we got everything of value," Lilly replied.

"I'll go tell Kenny to start the engine, then," said Lee. He walked back over to the engine cab and found Kenny who seemed to be getting a bit impatient.

"Justin cut us loose. You're good," said Lee.

"Finally. Let's get our asses to the coast," said Kenny. Lee didn't exactly know if he would be part of Kenny's grand design for a boat crew, but he would humor the man for now. Where else was he going to go?

Kenny pushed the throttle and the train finally started moving. The two men looked at each other and smiled. Even though they weren't friends, they had moved past their differences to accomplish a common task. That's what being part of a group was all about.

Sometime later Lee was back in the boxcar. Katjaa and Duck had decided to join Kenny in the cab and Lee didn't want to pry on their private family time. Lilly and Larry had moved to the spots that had formerly been occupied by the mother and son.

Lee was standing behind Chuck who was staring out at the trees that were zooming by the boxcar.

"Got to be hard on ya. Taking care of a group this large? It's a wonder you found as many supplies as you did." said Chuck.

"We've managed," Lee said evenly.

"Who helps you get these? Does everyone in the group make a contribution towards this?" asked Chuck.

"For supply runs, it's usually just been, Mark, Kenny, me, and Jugram," revealed Lee.

"What about the kids? Do they know exactly how the world has changed in the past few months?" asked Chuck.

"Clementine's pretty smart, but Duck can be a bit oblivious to it all. I'm sure you've noticed. Thankfully, we're making sure that kids can be kids." said Lee.

"I have noticed how the kids are being treated," Chuck replied. Lee was about to inquire what he meant, but he headed to the door of the boxcar.

"I'll be at the front of the train if anyone wants to join me. It's a very nice experience having the wind blow in your face," said Chuck. He walked out and Lee looked around. Since he had some downtime, he should probably talk to some of the people in his group.

He could try and make friends with the other prisoners since they might feel a bit more relaxed if Lee quelled any bad blood between them. Chuck also seemed a bit disapproving of Lee during their conversation together. He didn't exactly know what he had done, but it might be good to follow up with him.

Then, there were tensions among the people in his group. Maybe he should take the time to go bury the hatchet with Kenny. He still hadn't gotten over what Lee had done to him in the meat locker and Lee was tired of the animosity. There might not be a better opportunity to gain support from one of his biggest detractors than right now.

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Who does [M] (Lee Everett) Talk To?

A) Marcus and Justin

B) Kenny

C) Chuck

D) Lilly and Larry

E) Doug and Carley

F) Yhwach and Ben

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Relationships (Lee):

Kenny: 6/15

He is surprised that you actually agreed with him for once. Maybe you were on drugs?

Lilly: 14/15

She doesn't understand what the fuck is wrong with you and your decision to keep the prisoners with them.

Larry: 8/15

He's starting to wonder if you need to have your head examined. Where the hell is the Lee who killed the St. Johns?

Ben: 10/15

He's been thinking about a lot of things lately and wanted to help out. He did seem grateful.

Chuck: 5/15

He seems nice, but you just met him. He didn't seem like he agreed with something you said.

Justin: 5/15

You just met him, but he seems helpful.

Marcus: 5/15

You just met him, but he seems intimidating.

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