Neo Soul King Yhwach

[Third Person Pov]

Lee glanced up at the bridge and then back at Lilly. "We're going to check out the bridge first. It's closer than the train station, and there could be something up there that'll help us clear the tanker out of the way—or, at the very least, give us some extra supplies."

Lilly nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me. Who's checking out the train station?"

Justin immediately stepped forward, a hint of eagerness in his voice. "I will. Uh, Marcus and I will."

They just want to fit in.

Lee raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by his enthusiasm. But then he remembered Carley's earlier comments. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Gotta earn our keep somehow, right, Marcus?" Justin said, glancing over at him.

Marcus shrugged. "Yeah. Something like that."

He doesn't seem too keen on the idea.

Yhwach looked between them, then gave a curt nod. "I'll go with them," he said in his usual detached tone, making it clear he intended to keep an eye on things.

Carley, stretching a bit, chimed in, "I'll go too. I need to stretch my legs a bit, anyway."

Lee and Lilly looked momentarily taken aback that Yhwach and Carley would join the two new guys but simply nodded. 

It could be nothing. Maybe he just wants to do something different. You're not a psychologist, Lee.

Lilly turned to the rest of the group. "Alright. We'll need someone on watch."

"I'll do it," Ben and Mark said in unison, glancing at each other with surprise. Then Mark shrugged. "We'll do it."

Lilly nodded. "Sounds like a plan. The rest of you can take a break for now; we've got all bases covered."

Doug raised a hand from where he was organizing some supplies. "Mind if I join the watch?"

"Sure," Mark replied, giving him a nod.

Kenny made his way back toward the cab, muttering irritably under his breath, with Katjaa and Duck trailing behind him. Clementine sat on the edge of the boxcar, her small feet dangling as she stared at the ground with a hint of sadness, while Chuck settled down at the other end, strumming his guitar quietly. Off to the side, Larry stood around, looking slightly out of place—a sight that made Lee nearly laugh.

Yhwach looked back at their small group, a touch of impatience flashing in his eyes. "Let's get moving," he said in a calm but urging tone. He led the way, with Justin, Marcus, and Carley following close behind as they made their way toward the train station.

As they neared the building, Yhwach scanned the area, finding no signs of movement. If there were any walkers, he would've heard them by now—or smelled them. He felt the weight of his pistol in his pocket and the knife tucked in his belt, reassured by their presence. He discreetly checked his back, where he'd stashed Jolene's crossbow after taking it from the St. John's, unnoticed by the others.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Justin glancing at him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he seemed to notice Yhwach's subtle movements. Justin's gaze lingered for a moment, his brow slightly furrowed, but he said nothing as they stopped just a few steps from the train station door.

As they stopped a few steps away from the train station door, Yhwach felt a slight tension in the air. Justin and Carley had been chatting on the way, but he'd kept his distance, uninterested in small talk. He walked directly to the door and tried the handle—it was locked. Shaking his head, he turned to the others.

"It's closed," he said, his tone low.

"Great," muttered Justin, his tone dripping with frustration.

"Any ideas on how we're getting inside?" Carley asked, glancing around at each of them.

Marcus suggested, "We could try forcing it open."

But Justin quickly shook his head. "Banging it down might be too loud. It'll take forever, and walkers might hear us."

"Can I help?" Just then, a voice piped up from behind them. The group spun around, only to find Duck standing there, grinning up at them.

"Jesus, kid! Where the hell did you come from?" Justin exclaimed, startled.

"Duck?" Carley asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Duck looked up at them innocently. "Dad started doing...whatever. I thought maybe I could come help!"

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Do your parents even know you're here?"

"Yup!" Duck nodded earnestly. "I asked Dad if I could come along. He said I could, as long as I watched out for myself."

Yhwach knelt down to Duck's eye level, giving him a steady, intense look. "Very well, you can help us," he said in a measured tone. "But on one condition: you do exactly as we tell you. If I say run, you run. If I say get help, you get help. I don't need your father's anger on my hands. Understood?"

Duck didn't seem fazed. Instead, his eyes lit up with excitement. "Aye, aye, Captain!" he said, giving an enthusiastic salute. Yhwach's mouth almost twitched into a smile, but he restrained himself.

"Let's find a way to get inside," Yhwach said.

He looked around the station. There was a deck to the left of them, so he decided to check there to see if there was an alternate entrance. On the way, he saw a sign on the window that read, No Entry: Trespassers will be prosecuted. The corner of his mouth curved slightly.

Don't think we'll have to worry much about prosecution anymore.

There were a couple of abandoned paint cans, but the paint looked like it had been dry for months. Besides that, there were a couple more doors that were sealed shut. They looked more impassable than the first one. 

He noticed a narrow gap above it and pointed. "Look up. There's a gap above the door. Kenny's boy could fit through if he stood on my shoulders"

Justin nodded approvingly. "That's a neat idea, Jugram."

Carley looked at Duck. "You up for this, Duck?"

"Yeah!" Duck beamed.

Without further ado, Yhwach hoisted Duck onto his shoulders, guiding him up toward the gap. Once Duck got a look inside, he called down, "There's a lot of crates and stuff in here!"

"Maybe there's a key or something we could use to unlock it," Justin mused, glancing around. "Anyone here knows how to pick a lock?"

Marcus shook his head. "Nope."

Before Yhwach could answer, there was a quiet click from the door. Duck called down, "I think I unlocked it!"

"Wait, for real?" asked Justin.

"I think so," Duck stated.

"I guess all we needed was a 10-year-old boy as our secret weapon. Good Job, Duck." praised Carley.

Yhwach set Duck back on the ground and pulled open the door, readying his pistol as he stepped inside. He scanned the dim station interior, every sense on high alert, checking for any sign of movement or lurking walkers. The place was dark and filled with the heavy, stale smell of dust and decay, but he could see rows of shelves with crates, containers, and a few scattered supplies. So far, it looked like they were alone.

Yhwach gave a slight nod to the others to follow him in, his expression unchanging as he prepared to inspect the area more closely.

Once everyone was inside, they realized just how dark the room was because there was only a window so small you could barely see anything. The fact the sun was slowly starting to set didn't help them either.

Justin shook his head, "Shit. I can barely see anything in this darkness."

"That's what I'm thinking right now." Marcus agreed, "Someone or something will have to hold the door open." He thought about what to do for a second before pulling out his monkey wrench and laying it in front of the door, so it wouldn't close.

"So what are we looking for anyway?" Duck asked as he walked into the train station, joining Yhwach, Carley and Justin, Marcus inside.

"Something to deal with that tank," Carley replied.

"Looks like it's time for more investigating, then!" Duck declared.

The group of five split up around the building and started to search it with the hopes of finding something that would help them get rid of the problem of the road blockade. As they continued to search the building, Yhwach, Marcus, Carley, and Duck couldn't find any supplies their group could make some use of, but Justin was more fortunate than them.

He walked over to the cage in the middle of the building and looked through it, spotting a blowtorch and some police tape, "Guys. I think I found something."

"What is it?" Marcus asked as Yhwach walked over to him with Carley and Duck. Justin pointed at the blowtorch on the other side of the gate. A grin grew on his face as soon as everyone else saw it, "Good find, Justin."

"This is exactly what we need." Carley agreed as she opened the cage door, but it wouldn't budge, "Dammit. Just when things started going our way."

Yhwach looked up at the cage and saw a small gap above them. He shifted his gaze to Duck shortly after, "Boy. Do you think you will fit through the gap above us?"

Duck looked in the direction Yhwach was looking at right now and nodded, "Yeah. I think so. Can you hoist me again?"

Yhwach nodded at him and helped him up to his shoulders. Duck slowly and carefully climbed inside, finding himself on the other side of the gate.

"There are keys back there, grab them." Justin said as Duck froze in his tracks, having noticed something the others didn't, "Kid?"

"Behind you!" Duck shouted.

As Justin turned around, the walker lunged at him, its decaying teeth sinking into his neck before he could fully react. He shoved the walker back, blood already staining his shirt as he staggered. Carley's reaction was instant; she aimed her pistol at the walker to help, but another undead figure lurched from the shadows and forced her to defend herself. Carley fired, her shot echoing through the dim station as she took down the walker in front of her.

Yhwach noticed another walker sneaking up behind Justin and acted swiftly, raising his pistol and firing a precise shot that felled the creature before it could reach him. Marcus cursed under his breath, unable to mask his horror.

"Shit, shit, shit," Marcus stammered, his face pale as he tried to process what he was seeing.

"What?" Carley demanded, glancing at him. Then she followed his gaze to Justin's neck, and her stomach sank. Duck's voice came out in a small, frightened whisper as he pointed, "Look..."

Justin's hand slowly moved from his neck, revealing the deep, unmistakable bite mark. His eyes, wild with fear, stared down at it in horrified disbelief.

"No...no, no, no," Justin stammered, a bitter laugh escaping him as he shook his head. "This isn't... this isn't how I go. Not like this..."

Duck, watching from the other side of the gate, pointed in alarm at the blood seeping from Justin's neck. "Justin... you're... you're bit." His voice was small, a hint of dread creeping in.

Justin let out a mirthless laugh, almost choking on it as he looked at his bloody hand. "Well... guess karma finally caught up to me, huh?" He forced a grin, trying to hide the fear in his eyes, but his bravado faltered. He glanced around, and for a moment, he looked just like he did back at the prison bus—a man struggling to accept the consequences.

Marcus's face contorted with shock and anger. "Damn it" He gritted his teeth, torn between pity and frustration.

Carley reached out. "Justin... there's still time. We'll get you back to the group, and try to figure something out. Maybe... maybe it'll be different."

Justin scoffed, but there was a hint of vulnerability. "Yeah... sure, Carley. Maybe the walkers just... give me a pass." He shook his head, his voice dropping. "Don't kid yourself. You and I both know what happens next."

Yhwach remained silent, watching Justin carefully, almost like he was assessing the situation. Finally, he broke the silence. "You're out of time, Justin. The infection spreads fast." 

Justin looked up at him, his expression caught between anger and fear. "You don't need to remind me about that, Jugram." He frowned.

Justin's bravado melted away as he looked at his own bloodied hand. He choked back a sob, his voice trembling, "Those damn Wall Street bastards...they wrecked everything. Sent me to rot in that prison bus...for what?" He wiped a tear, the reality settling into his eyes. The fear, the injustice—he'd never wanted this to end. Never like this. He glanced over at Duck, forcing a faint smile through his dread. "Hey, kid. This...this wasn't your fault, okay? Don't...don't carry that with you."

Duck, visibly shaken, gave a small nod. His gaze flickered to Yhwach, who had already reached a hand through the gate. "Boy," Yhwach's voice was steady, almost unfeeling as he extended his hand. "The keys. Now." Duck, swallowing hard, fumbled to pass them over, and Yhwach took them without missing a beat, quickly unlocking the gate.

As Yhwach opened the gate, a fresh growl sounded from the darkness. Another walker emerged on Duck's side, its eyes locked on the boy. Yhwach quickly pulled Duck out of harm's way as he raised his pistol and fired, the shot echoing through the station as the walker collapsed, lifeless.

Carley hurried over, concern etched across her face. "Duck, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Duck replied, breathless but unharmed. "Jugram pulled me out before it got close."

Marcus looked around uneasily. "Can you see any more?"

Yhwach shook his head. "No. I believe that's all. For now."

"Let's just grab the blowtorch and get out," Marcus said, glancing at Justin. Sadness clouded his face, and he hesitated before adding, "You...you didn't deserve this, man. You did a lot of things, but this...this ain't right."

Justin chuckled bitterly. "Guess life doesn't care what any of us deserve." He managed one last, strained smile as Marcus looked away, clearly pained.

Yhwach's cold gaze rested on Justin, the subtle twitch of impatience returning to his eyes. He turned to the others and gestured toward the door.

"Leave," he ordered calmly. "I'll handle this."

Marcus hesitated, glancing at Justin with a mix of sympathy and discomfort. He looked to Yhwach, clearly unsettled, but Yhwach merely held his hand out, offering Marcus the pistol.

"Would you like to do the honors instead?" Yhwach asked, his tone unnervingly calm even after what had just happened.

Marcus's jaw clenched, but he reached out, gripping the pistol. He glanced at Justin, who managed a bitter smile through his fear and anger.

Yhwach stepped back, studying Justin's face as it shifted through layers of raw emotion—fear, regret, resentment. Even if Justin hadn't been part of their group for long, it was hard to look away from a man staring death in the face. He knew Justin only as much as was needed—hours, maybe, but even the short-lived served their purpose, and Justin had shown his. 

Yhwach's gaze held a trace of irritation; Justin had proven skilled at manipulation, twisting the vulnerabilities of Ben, Lilly, and even Larry. Those traits, if left unchecked, would only endanger the group further, something Yhwach had no interest in enduring. No, better for this to end here, with Marcus taking accountability.

Justin's eyes flickered over to him, as though sizing him up one last time, almost as if he could snitch or destroy Yhwach's carefully made image. Yet Justin shook his head with a chuckle, his smirk hardening. He didn't have the energy to be petty—not now.

He let out a strained laugh as he looked at Marcus, who stood a few feet away, pistol aimed. "Guess this is it, huh?" he muttered, his voice cracking. "I... I didn't think it'd go down like this. Figured I'd get a second shot at life, y'know?" He looked at Marcus with a hint of desperation, as if seeking some sort of comfort.

Marcus shifted uncomfortably, his gaze steady but filled with regret. "You know," he murmured, "you may have been a pain in the ass, but you didn't deserve this, man. None of us do."

"Guess the world just doesn't fucking care," Justin replied, forcing a strained smile. and for a moment, the fear shone through.

Yhwach's expression remained impassive, watching the exchange with an uncaring look. Marcus hesitated but finally raised the pistol, his hand trembling slightly.

Justin gave one last look, his expression haunted but resigned. "Well... it was one helluva life, I guess."

The shot rang out, echoing through the train station as Justin slumped to the ground, lifeless. Marcus lowered the gun, his hand still trembling, and turned away, a shadow crossing his face.

Yhwach gave a curt nod. "Let's go," he said firmly, guiding the group out of the station.

[ Scene Break, Location: Train ]

Looking around, Chuck saw Katjaa say something to the young girl, Clementine, before getting up and walking towards the front of the train. Nearby, Larry was leaning against the boxcar door.

"You don't have anything to do?" Chuck called out. Larry turned around with an almost insulted look on his face.

"I have plenty to do. Like not wasting time talking with you."

"Really? It seems like you're just standing around. Did you want a turn on the guitar? I don't mind someone else playing some tunes." Chuck cheekily replied.

"I'm not a musician. I'm a soldier just like my daughter is." retorted Larry.

"Your daughter seems tough. Combined with Lee, those two shouldn't have any trouble clearing out that bridge. You seem a bit...worried, though." observed Chuck.

"Worried? Hah. My daughter's United States Air Force. I don't have anything to be worried about when it comes to her. She can take care of herself without any need for help." boasted Larry.

"Hey, it doesn't make you less of a man to admit you're worried about her. I would be too if she was my daughter." Chuck said.

"I told you I'm not worried! So keep a lid on it! We've been here long enough and I'm about ready to move the hell on to Savannah...or whatever other deathtrap Kenny has us going to!"

"Deathtrap? So, you think the boat plan is flimsy too?" asked Chuck.

"Everyone does besides that moron and his family. The only people supporting it are the ones who think they'll wake up and the world will just be back to normal. Bunch of hopeful hippies. We know what kind of shitstorm we're in. Let's not pretend like there's a path forward where everyone decides to work together under some new government! We have to look out for ourselves here!" Larry replied.

"What would you suggest we do, then?" questioned Chuck.

"We should have stayed at that motel and taken the fight to the bandits. Once they were dealt with, we could have free reign of that entire area and do as we please," answered Larry.

"Bandits?" questioned Chuck.

"A bunch of junkies in the woods. Little more than a nuisance, but Lee ordered us to leave instead. He didn't want to risk anything. I like Lee. I think he's a good leader and he certainly has a good sense of judgement, but some things are worth fighting for. My daughter put so much work into making that place livable and it was all for nothing." complained Larry.

"From what I hear, Lee made the smart choice. You can't fight for something if you're dead. A man like that values everyone's life, so he ain't goin' to risk anyone. Hard not to see why he became leader." mused Chuck.

"I've faced death in the eye thousands of times. Bandits aren't shit compared to other adversaries I've faced." declared Larry.

"Thousands of times? Were you actually a soldier or was that just a figure of speech?" questioned Chuck.

"I was Special Forces. The best of the best. Served in the Vietnam War and made sure our enemies weren't going to hurt us or change our lifestyle. Those Commie fucks got what they deserved!" spat Larry.

He was a soldier in Vietnam?

Chuck remembered the Vietnam War. He remembered it well, but this wasn't the time to sift through his old memories. The past was the past and there was nothing he could do to change it. All he could do was find a better way forward.

"Well, I'm sure you gave them everything you had. The army, I mean. What you need to understand is that the rules of engagement are different now. There should be a common enemy that we all fight, but that's not the case. Humans have to not only fight the dead but each other. The less of us there are, the more ground the dead gain." explained Chuck.

"That's not my problem. People are always going to be shitty no matter what. You can't make them see the light. If it's us versus them, I'm taking us every single time." declared Larry.

"I don't disagree with you on that. Some people can't be saved...or changed or whatever. I've lived a long time and I've experienced a lot of people come and go in my life. That doesn't mean that everyone is hopeless. Change can happen for the better. All we need is the right person to jumpstart it." said Chuck.

"You really believe that?" Larry asked. He sounded like he didn't believe anything Chuck was saying at all.

"I do. I have to put my faith in something," replied Chuck.

"Is that the reason you're homeless? You put your faith in the wrong people?" chuckled Larry.

"No, I'm homeless for...reasons. No one to blame. Just...life got in the way and I've been on my own for the past 14 years now. Or somewhere around there." said Chuck. Larry stopped laughing and immediately transitioned to a look of....regret.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I...uh...know how much life can kick you in the fucking ass. That's why you gotta get up and fight even harder. Make sure Death knows that he is going to have to fight to take you away. That's how I get through this shit. I'm not going down without a fight." stated Larry.

Chuck nodded. Even though Larry had somewhat insulted him and was generally quite opinionated, Chuck had a newfound respect for the man. He wasn't going to just lie down and let the younger generation handle things because of his age. He was going to do his part too. Chuck was too laid-back for that. He would do what he needed to do and then relax when he wasn't needed.

"God, I could use a drink," grunted Larry.

"The whiskey ain't enough for you?"

"That cheap-ass whiskey was weak as shit. Give me some scotch or even some bourbon. Something a real man can find pleasure in."

"I liked that whiskey better than some fucking bourbon. What the hell do you have to be all classy for?" joked Chuck.

"Classy? It's called sense. I think you've lost your marbles. I'm not going to blame you. If I woke up on dirt every morning, I'd probably lose them too." said Larry.

"Oh, now you want to crack jokes? I'll tell you what. When we get to Savannah, we'll go bar diving if we have the chance. Your taste in alcohol clearly needs to be refined." Chuck replied.

Larry looked at Chuck, but there was no animosity. There were no hard feelings. There was only a slight smile that he could barely see coming from the man's mouth.

"Deal."

[ Scene Break, Location: Outside Of The Train ]

"We must be pretty lucky. No walkers on either side. You'd figure with the train being so loud, we would attract everything in the state of Georgia." said Doug. 

Ben gave a quick, distracted shrug, his gaze locked on the tracks behind them. He, Mark, and Doug had split the watch duties on opposite sides of the train, and, honestly, he was relieved there'd been nothing to report. Fewer walkers meant fewer chances for him to mess things up. He wanted—needed—to prove that Yhwach hadn't made a mistake in trusting him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he might not measure up.

I want to show Jugram that he made the right decision by believing in me. I just...I want to, but I don't know if this is enough.

That was the part that scared Ben. Taking watch was easy if nothing happened, but that wouldn't always be the case. He would be put in a situation where he would have to do something. He couldn't just...hide behind someone else. And when that happened, what would he do? Would he just...freeze up like normal? Would he run away? Would he actually have the balls to shoot a gun or protect the people around him? 

If I took a shot, I'd probably miss anyway, he thought, half-wincing at his own lack of confidence.

Meanwhile, Mark, growing bored, tried to break the silence. "So, what do you guys think of the new additions? You know, Chuck and his friends."

"Chuck and Justin seem alright," Doug replied. "But Marcus… he's got this hardened vibe. Feels like he's been through some rough stuff and locked his feelings up to survive."

Mark nodded thoughtfully. "Could be, yeah. Saw a few like him back in the military—guys who came back scarred from combat, trying to shut out the weight of what they'd been through. Not everyone opens up, but some do, given time and trust."

Doug seemed to mull it over. "Maybe if he sees we're willing to have his back, he'll start to open up. It's a stretch, but you never know."

Mark glanced over at Ben, noticing he hadn't spoken up. "Hey, Ben, you good? You've been real quiet."

Ben snapped back to reality, processing the question before replying with a nervous chuckle "Huh... oh! Yeah, I am alright, I still feel a bit windy after being on the train, I wasn't used to that kind of traveling you know." 

Doug laughed, nodding. "Same here, honestly. I felt cramped in the RV, but this wasn't much better. Carley was a lifesaver; she kept me from puking half the time." He chuckled, a slight smile playing on his face.

Before they could continue their conversation, they suddenly heard someone climbing onto the top of the train. Ben quickly turned his head and was surprised like Mark and Doug to see it was Katjaa instead of Kenny. 

"You boys, alright there? Kenny told me to check up on you guys" Katjaa asked in a slightly loud voice so they could hear it. 

"Yeah, we're fine," Mark replied, but he glanced at Ben with a knowing look. "Though Ben might be feeling a bit queasy from the train ride. Got any ideas?"

Katjaa looked at Ben with concern before she suggested "Hmm, Ben, come with me, I have some pills that will help with that." 

Ben feeling touched yet embarrassed quickly replied "It's alright, I- I can still manage." 

Mark raised an eyebrow, giving him a friendly nudge. "Come on, don't push it. You'll feel worse if you keep ignoring it."

Ben was now in a dilemma after his lie accidentally caused him to be more of a burden than he already was. Feeling guilty he quickly shook his head knowing Yhwach would have his head if he wasted the pills "No, really, it's not that bad. If I still feel off after a rest, then maybe... but for now, I'm fine."

Katjaa gave him a careful look before nodding. "Alright, Ben, but if you start to feel worse, you come to me right away, understand?"

Ben nodded, feeling an odd mix of relief and guilt.

[ Scene Break, Location: The Bridge, Earlier ]

Lee climbed up to the top of the overpass and looked around. Immediately, he could picture the panic that had taken place in the early days.

First, there was the obvious tanker issue. The truck that the tanker was connected to seemed like it had tried backing up, but the driver clearly didn't realize how close to the edge he was. The railing was broken and pieces of small granite dust were scattered everywhere around the crash site. To Lee's left and right, the road was blocked by a bunch of abandoned vehicles.

Seems like they didn't have a traffic man to help them.

There was a small sign that read Federal Quarantine Service: Restricted Access, but it didn't seem like that stopped the incoming flow of traffic.

"Jesus." breathed Lilly as she took in the scene in front of her.

"Yeah, it's bad. We better find a way to cut down that tanker, because I don't think there's any other way we're getting to Savannah," noted Lee.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's get a move-on," grunted Lilly. Lee walked over to the tanker and inspected it. It was being held by a coupling so common sense dictated that getting rid of the coupling would cause the tanker to fall down. Lee didn't really know how to accomplish that task.

Nearby, Lilly opened up the doors to the back of a truck. From his view, Lee saw that it belonged to the Federal Rescue Service.

"Find anything good in there?" Lee called out.

"Nothing, besides traffic cones and stop signs. where's the medical shit? Isn't this a rescue service?" complained Lilly.

"There was a lot of looting going on in the first few days. More than I thought was possible. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the supplies were already taken by whoever was stuck up here." Lee voiced out his thoughts.

Lilly kept digging through the truck, eventually pulling out a small roll of tape. "Here. Not exactly life-saving, but we might need it."

"Keep it. You never know what we might need it for," stated Lee. Lee looked around. There was nothing else besides the tanker, the truck, and a small generator. He walked over to it and saw that it was off.

Figures. Nothing around here's got any juice left.

"Did we find anything that'll actually help us get this tanker down?" Lilly asked, crossing her arms impatiently.

"Not yet. We'll have to wait and see if Jugram and the others come back with something useful from the train station." Lee trailed off, not thrilled by the idea of camping out on the overpass.

"I am not trying to spend the night out here. Are you sure the thing isn't full of milk?" asked Lilly.

"I think Kenny knows what he's talking about," replied Lee.

Lilly continued looking around, scanning for anything useful. Lee leaned back, momentarily letting himself relax—until he heard footsteps behind him. His hand flew to his gun, but he quickly relaxed, recognizing the small figure. Clem?

"Clem, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be with the Duck and Katjaa?" questioned Lee. There was a bit of a growl in it, but could you blame him? The girl was just walking around in the open without a single care in the world.

"Katjaa went to go talk to Kenny and I got bored just sitting around. Can I help you?" asked Clementine.

"You want to help us?" Lilly asked in an astonished tone.

"Clementine, this is dangerous. We don't know what could be in this bridge and I don't want you to bite off more than you can chew. You know how to shoot a gun, but there's a lot more to this world than that." Lee said.

"I want to do something. I just don't want to think about...y'know," whispered Clementine.

Lee immediately felt sorrow for the girl. He was a bit of a workaholic himself, so he understood that Clementine didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts. At the same time, she might not be in the right frame of mind and they were going to need everyone here to be sharp. He got down on one knee in front of her.

"You do everything we tell you to do. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to get help, you go get help. Do you understand?" asked Lee.

Clementine looked at him directly in the eyes and Lee was slightly surprised to see no signs of grief or sadness or anything a young child should be experiencing after she was told her parents were dead. He saw determination and a fire behind her pupils.

"I understand," Clementine responded curtly. Lee nodded and stood back up.

Lilly started tapping her foot in impatience wondering when Jugram and the others would come back. It felt like it had been 30 minutes, but it had probably only been about 5. Then, everyone heard popping sounds coming from the direction of the train station.

"Did you hear that?" asked Lilly as she got up and looked towards the building.

"Yeah. Was that coming from there?" asked Lee.

Lilly scanned the area, her brow creased with worry. "Don't know. Fuck, are they in trouble?" She looked back at Lee, tension radiating from her stance. "Lee, we should get down there."

But Lee shook his head firmly. "No, they're fine. Jugram... that man won't die that easily. I know it."

Lilly shot him a bewildered look, exasperation clear in her tone. "Are you serious? They could've been ambushed! Or worse—for Christ's sake!"

Lee opened his mouth to respond but stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of Yhwach, Marcus, Duck, and Carley emerging from the train station. A relieved smile crept onto his face, though he couldn't hide his surprise at seeing Duck with them. But his relief quickly mixed with confusion as he noticed Justin was nowhere in sight.

Lee glanced down at the road below, and just as he did, he heard voices echoing up. He leaned over, noticing Yhwach talking with Carley, Larry, Mark, and Marcus. However, it was less of a conversation and more of Larry trying to give Yhwach a piece of his mind. Carley was deep in conversation with Mark and Marcus, but none of that mattered when Lee noticed the blowtorch in Yhwach's hands.

Bingo. Lee thought. That'll get us past the tanker.

Larry pointed up toward the overpass, signaling Yhwach, who locked eyes with Lee. But to Lee's surprise, Jugram made no move toward the ladder.

Lee squinted, his mind racing. Don't tell me... He leaned in closer, only to hear Larry's voice shouting up at Yhwach from below. "Hey! Hey! You're not planning on throwing a motherfuckin' blowtorch up there, are you?! You'll set off the tanker and take us all with it!"

But Yhwach ignored him, his sharp gaze focused on Lee. With a simple nod, he called up to him.

"Catch it, Lee," Yhwach shouted.

Lee braced himself as Yhwach swung his arm and launched the blowtorch up. Lee barely caught it, the metal still warm in his hands, and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "That crazy bastard... he actually did it."

Lilly, her mouth slightly agape, stared at him. "Did he just throw a fucking blowtorch from down there?"

Lee nodded, unable to hide a smirk. "Yeah, he just did."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go," Lilly said.

Lee nodded and followed her to the tanker. Setting the blowtorch down beside it, Lilly turned to him, ready to get to work, but he stepped forward first. "I got this," he said, grabbing the hose and turning it on. Instantly, a loud whooshing noise filled the air, and he winced.

"Shit. Does the hose have a leak?" Lilly muttered, quickly shutting off the blowtorch.

"Hang on," Lee said, looking down the hose. "Give me the tape you found. I think I see where it's leaking."

Lilly handed him the tape without a word, and he wrapped it around the tear. Turning the hose back on, he was relieved to see it hold. Smiling with satisfaction, Lilly resumed her work, bringing the flame to the coupling. Gradually, the metal started to heat and separate.

"Just about got it," Lilly muttered, focused on her task. But she hadn't anticipated just how loud the tanker would be. The groaning, creaking sound of metal shifting grew louder—and it wasn't just the coupling. The entire tanker started to move.

"Move!" Lee shouted, reaching out and yanking her back just as the tanker shifted backward. Lilly stumbled, heart pounding. If she'd stayed there even a second longer…

Fuck, I almost died. She looked at Lee, wide-eyed. "Thanks."

Lee nodded, breathing heavily. They both glanced at the tanker. Most of the coupling was severed, but the last section was now completely out of reach. Lilly cursed, frustrated. "I can't cut the coupling anymore."

Lee took a quick look around and then leaned over the edge, an idea forming. "I have an idea," he said, glancing back at her, his face showing just a hint of a grin.

Before she knew it, Lee was lowering her over the edge of the bridge, his hands locked on her arms and shoulder, holding her above the drop. Lilly's stomach lurched as she realized what he was doing. "God, you're a real asshole, aren't you?" she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Shut up and start cutting," he shot back, a smirk crossing his face.

Down near the train, Larry looked up, his face a mixture of horror and anger as he watched his daughter dangle precariously over the edge.

Everyone had been watching the precarious sight of Lee dangling Lilly over the edge when Ben's panicked voice broke through the moment.

"Guys, there's something coming!" he yelled, his face paling as he pointed behind them.

Lilly, halfway through the coupling, glanced back, noticing a mass moving toward them out of the corner of her eye. "What?" she snapped, her voice wavering.

Lee caught a glimpse and immediately realized the gravity of the situation. Not just a few walkers—hundreds. His heart sank. "Fuck, that's a lot."

Lilly whipped her head around, irritated. "How much is a lot?"

Lee didn't mince words. "A lot! Just keep cutting!"

From below, Mark yelled, "Everyone, we gotta go! Now!"

One by one, everyone jumped down into the train car, their faces taut with fear. Lilly could feel the coupling hanging on by a thread—she just needed a few more seconds. Gritting her teeth, she focused on the cut.

"It's going. Pull me up!" she called out, urgency crackling in her voice.

At that moment, the coupling snapped, the tanker tipping precariously as Lee pulled Lilly back to safety. But as the tanker crashed sideways, it took the ladder down with it, leaving them stranded on the bridge.

Lilly cursed under her breath. "Fuck! What do we do now?"

Lee didn't waste a second, yelling down to Kenny, "Kenny, go!"

From below, Kenny heard the crash and Lee's voice calling out. Without hesitation, he fired up the train's engine. Lee caught sight of the others making it inside and quickly did a headcount—then panic seized him as he realized he couldn't see Clementine.

"Clementine?!" he called, fearing the worst.

Carley leaned out of the boxcar, reassuring him, "She's here! Don't worry!"

Relief washed over him, but there was no time to linger. Lilly sprinted toward the other side of the overpass, motioning for him to follow. "We're gonna have to jump!"

The train was gaining speed, and Lee knew the choice was simple: risk the jump or be left behind. With barely a thought, Lilly jumped off and landed perfectly almost like she was James Bond. 

Lee braced himself, then launched himself off the bridge, reaching for the caboose. He caught onto the ladder, his hands gripping tight as he hauled himself up, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

They'd made it.

Sometime later Lee found himself looking out the cab window. In the distance, he could see their destination. Savannah. The evening colors spread a bright hue on the city along with the surrounding coastline. It was simply beautiful.

I wish I had taken the train to Savannah before, so I could experience this. Now, every experience I have is just...tainted with the knowledge of what's out there.

"Next stop: The Atlantic." Kenny declared. He was sitting in the driver's seat while Katjaa was standing near him. Duck was out cold in the adjacent seat which wasn't dissimilar to Clementine who had also decided to take a nap in the boxcar.

"It's been a long day for the kids. It's been a long day for everyone." Lee replied.

"It sure has. But this is going to make everything worth it. This boat will be our savior." Kenny stated. Lee didn't know if he fully agreed with that, but he wasn't about to start an argument now.

"I'm thinking that we rest in the train station for tonight and go into Savannah tomorrow. The day's almost done and I don't want to look for a boat at night in an unfamiliar city," stated Lee.

"Sure. We'll get up bright and early tomorrow." agreed Kenny.

The two of them continued to stare at Savannah, hoping things would get easier for their group after they entered the city tomorrow morning with their group. Lee said his goodbyes to Kenny and walked out of the cab shortly after. Lee made his way into the boxcar, wanting to get some rest for tomorrow morning.

Yhwach stood at the front of the train, his figure tall and resolute, eyes fixated on the dim outline of Savannah in the distance. The city sat beneath a blanket of orange and purple twilight, serene and unaware of the waves of trouble closing in. As he looked at it, his gaze grew darker, shadows pooling in his eyes, recalling a scene from not so long ago—a fleeting vision of Justin's final, panicked moments in the train station. Yhwach's soul fragment had returned to him, and with it, a bitter yet inevitable awareness: Justin had always been a liability, one that he had intended to address. Death had merely quickened the matter.

He let out a slow breath, his thoughts turning inward. While Justin had been a loose thread, he couldn't ignore the irony. This world allowed him to claim lives without needing to justify them—no Quincy, no Soul Society. Still, Yhwach felt the encroaching pressure of time. It was all too clear: Sooner or later, he would have to reveal himself to these people, to drop the mask. When that time came, he would be prepared.

An undercurrent of satisfaction coursed through him, but he knew better than to trust the sentiment too fully. Memories of his death—his true death—at the hands of Ichigo Kurosaki flickered It served as a reminder, painful as it was, that even someone as careful and calculating as he had once misjudged his opponent. A single, crucial mistake had undone him, and the bitterness of that defeat was not lost to time or circumstance. He'd tasted the fatal flaw of underestimation, and it had left its mark.

For now, he would bide his time. They'd never understand—none of them would. But it didn't matter. Yhwach would outlive them all.

[ Scene Break, Location: Savannah ]

A man looked out at the community he had built. Yes, He had built it. Only someone like him could be genius enough to engineer a full-functioning community. The rest of these poor savages couldn't pick their ass unless someone told them how to do it.

And we pick only the strongest. Because the strong will survive and the weak…will just get strong people killed. They don't deserve an ounce of attention.

This was how the world worked. That was what God was testing them for. Would others be willing to make the hard decisions, so that the community could survive? So that humanity could survive? No, they couldn't lead as well as he could.

They said that Savannah had been taken over by the dead, but that wasn't true. Savannah was owned by the living and that was thanks to the knowledge he had bestowed upon the citizens of Crawford.

"Oberson, all the supply teams have come back." announced a man. The two were in Crawford's personal house. Normally, he wouldn't conduct meetings here, but the other man had special privileges, so his presence was tolerated.

"Good work, Andrew. Make sure that we send out supply teams to the other areas tomorrow morning as we discussed. Once we've finished stockpiling, we can live like kings and queens inside Crawford." said the man. He didn't turn away from the sight of his community through the window.

"Understood," said Andrew who walked away. The man allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. Every decision he'd made, every hard choice, had led to this point. Chief among them had been cutting ties with unnecessary burdens—like that woman and her unborn child. Kids were a burden and a nuisance. They had no place in his life. They had no place in his community.

Sure, some people might disagree with his methods, but they would learn to agree or be punished. Oberson Crawford wasn't a man who should be taken lightly. If he was, then his enemies would soon find out EXACTLY who they were messing with.

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Episode 3 Completed.

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Previous choices and consequences:

Choice 1: How does Yhwach deal with Jolene?

A) Good Cop (CHOSEN): Yhwach tries to play nice with Jolene and ends up getting information on where the bandit camp is located. A new option to attack the bandits is unlocked in Choice 2.

B) Bad Cop: Yhwach antagonizes Jolene and starts brutally beating her until Lee steps in. Depending on Yhwach's relationship it would either make Yhwach back off or Fight Lee. You also don't get the option to attack the bandits later on.

C) Kill Her (Extracting Information Via Soul Fragment): Yhwach walks into the room and immediately kills her which creates a mixed reaction between everyone A few options would get unlocked. 

D) Leave: Pretty self-explanatory.

Choice 2: What does Lee do about the bandits?

A) Attack the bandits immediately: Lee, Carley, Lilly, Larry, Mark, Yhwach, and Doug all go to attack the bandit camp. Jake, Linda, Gary, and Drew all die along with Larry, Mark, Carley, and Doug. The group leaves the motor inn the next day. Crawford is still up and running in Savannah and the group doesn't meet Omid and Christa.

B) Just leave (CHOSEN): Everyone packs up the RV and leaves the next day. The fates of Jake and the rest of the bandits are unknown. Crawford is still up and running in Savannah and the group doesn't meet Omid and Christa.

C) Stay at the motel, but stop giving the bandits supplies: 2 weeks pass, and the group is eventually attacked by Jake and the bandits similar to Canon. Jake, Gary, Linda, and Drew are all killed. Clementine and Duck get bitten during the attack and die later on leaving Lee, Kenny, and Katjaa depressed. The group gets forced to escape immediately with fewer supplies. Crawford has fallen and Savannah will be like canon. The group also meets Omid and Christa at the bridge. ( Katjaa also commits suicide like in canon )

Choice 3: Who does Lee talk to on the train?

A) Marcus and Justin: Lee learns more about their old group and why they left along with a few more details about their crimes. Both Justin and Marcus gain 1 point with Lee for trying to integrate them into your group.

B) Chuck: Lee talks to Chuck who mentions that the kids should learn how to shoot. Talking to him means Clementine doesn't get scared later on. Chuck also gains 2 points with Lee.

C) Kenny (CHOSEN): Lee tries to bury the hatchet with Kenny which brings Kenny's relationship up by 2 points. He feels a little better that he was able to get his feelings off his chest to Lee.

D) Lilly and Larry: Lee talks to the pair about the boat plan and the two of them express skepticism about the 2 criminals. Lilly gains 1 point if she isn't at 14 and Larry also gains 1 point.

E) Doug and Carley: Lee talks to the both of them about their relationship and talks with Carley about Marcus and Justin, Both Carley and Doug gain 2 points with Lee.

F) Yhwach and Ben: Lee would find Yhwach threatening Ben outside of the boxcar, Depending on Lee's Relationship with the both of them, 4 options were to get unlocked, to either Keep Ben, Kill Ben, Tell ( Select of People ) on Ben, Let Yhwach handle it.

Choice 4: What does Lee do about Duck?

A) Insist that Duck learns how to shoot (CHOSEN): Lee manages to convince Kenny to let him teach Duck and Katjaa begrudgingly accepts as well, although you lose 2 points with her. Duck will now be more confident about handling a gun.

B) Don't insist that Duck learns how to shoot: Duck won't know how to shoot for the rest of Season 1. Katjaa will be much happier and Lee'll gain 1 point with both her and Kenny. Chuck will lose 1 point with Lee.

Choice 5: Where should Lee and Lilly go?

A) The train station: Lee and Lilly head to the station with Clementine eventually joining them. They manage to get the blowtorch without any casualties and Lee gains 1 point with Clementine if Lee weren't maxed out already. Marcus and Justin end up cutting down the tanker and land on the train when the walkers show up.

B) The bridge (CHOSEN): Lee and Lilly go to the bridge with Clementine eventually joining them. while Justin, Marcus, and Carley go to the train station. They get attacked by walkers and Justin gets bit on the shoulder causing Marcus to put him down. They get the blowtorch and Lee and Lilly are the ones who cut down the tanker and land on the train. 

(Bonus): By choosing to have Yhwach accompany Justin, Marcus, and Carley, you've successfully prevented the death of either Carley or Duck.

Always make sure to be specific about what Yhwach should do. Since it would affect decisions.

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Character Fates:

Yhwach: Alive

Lee: Alive (Determinant)

Clementine: Alive (Determinant)

Kenny: Alive

Katjaa: Alive (Determinant)

Duck: Alive (Determinant)

Lilly: Alive

Larry: Alive (Determinant)

Carley: Alive (Determinant)

Doug: Alive (Determinant)

Mark: Alive (Determinant)

Ben: Alive (Determinant)

Justin: Dead

Marcus: Alive (Determinant)

Chuck: Alive (Determinant)

Omid: Unknown (Determinant)

Christa: Unknown (Determinant)

Jolene: Dead

Jake: Unknown (Determinant)

Gary: Unknown (Determinant)

Drew: Unknown (Determinant)

Linda: Unknown (Determinant)

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Author: What are your thoughts on episode 3?

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A Reminder that the story will end if Yhwach dies.