Neo Soul King Yhwach

[Scene Break Location: Lee's group, Crawford's Council Room]

Lee barged out of the door to the gymnasium and looked around. Nobody was there, but Mark had thought the same thing and now his lifeless body had to be left behind. There could be people just hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush them.

Yhwach didn't seem to share Lee's misgivings and rushed straight for the street. Between the moonlight and the dim light coming from the street lamps, Lee could at least see better on this street than the one on the other end of the school, but it was a double-edged sword and he knew it.

They could see his group better as well.

"Come on. There's another manhole on this street that can get us into the sewers. Once we're down there, I can lead us back." whispered Vernon.

The group ran past the parking lot to the street and followed Vernon over to the manhole in question. Kenny and Larry were near the front as they were carrying the fuel cans, Carley was right behind them with the bag of medicine, and Isaac followed her with the battery. Everyone else had their weapons out, focused on protecting those who couldn't carry them.

Vernon got to the manhole and set to work opening it while the rest of the group looked around to see if anyone was watching. There were some roadblocks on the street near the manhole, so Lee and a few others crouched down beside them while Kenny assisted Vernon with dragging the manhole to the side.

"Does someone have a flashlight?" Vernon asked. Yhwach nodded, reached into his coat, and handed Vernon a flashlight. He took it, flicked on the light, and peered down into the abyss.

"Looks like it's clear. Come on."

Vernon didn't waste any time climbing down the manhole. Lee was about to get out of cover, but Lilly's shouting made him, and most of the group, pause.

"We got company!" shouted Lilly.

Lee turned around and immediately saw a group of people rushing out to cover their own getting ready to shoot.

"Everyone who has supplies, get into the sewers now! The rest of you, we'll hold them off," ordered Lee. Some like Isaac wasted no time in following Lee's orders while the others were a bit hesitant.

"Lee, we can't just leave you behind! We're all in this together." retorted Carley.

"She's right. We're not some helpless brats who don't know what we're doing. We can fight. We've already fought. You don't need to be a hero and get yourself killed!" admonished Larry.

"Look, if we don't get these supplies back to our group, this was all for nothing!" reminded Lee. Carley opened her mouth once again, but the sounds of their enemies mobilizing and shouting something made Yhwach speak up instead.

"Move! I have smoke grenades to cover your escape! If we all die here, this was for nothing—just as Lee said! Stop being stubborn and go." His cold tone left no room for argument, snapping the group back to focus.

The enemy's shouts and advancing footsteps grew louder, punctuated by sporadic gunfire. Lee, Carley, Yhwach, Lilly, Boyd, Chuck, and Marcus ducked behind what little cover they could find as bullets cracked against the street and walls around them.

Without hesitation, Yhwach pulled out a couple of smoke grenades, their metallic sheen glinting faintly in the dim light. He twisted the pins loose with practiced efficiency and hurled the grenades into the enemy's path.

"They got grenades! Move!" one of Crawford's men shouted in alarm.

Thick plumes of gray smoke erupted, quickly swallowing the street and throwing the enemy into confusion. Bullets continued to fire blindly through the haze, one zipping dangerously close to Yhwach's arm before he ducked low again, unfazed.

"Now," Yhwach barked, glancing back at Isaac, who clutched the battery tightly to his chest. "Take the opening. Into the sewers. Go!"

Isaac didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled to the manhole and disappeared into the darkness below, taking the vital battery with him.

Carley cursed under her breath as more bullets ricocheted nearby. "Hell no, I hate this plan!" she muttered as she threw the bag of medicine hitting Isaac's head who was diving into the manhole. Kenny picked up the fuel can and turned back to Lee, a rare sympathetic look on his face.

"You better be right behind us."

Lee nodded as Kenny climbed down the hatch. Unsurprisingly, Larry was still trying to resist leaving his daughter behind.

"Come on, Lilly. You've been sitting here, in this fucked up community, all day. Let me stay back and defend you and you take the fuel down to the sewers."

"No, Dad. I'm still strong enough to fight. A few cuts and bruises aren't going to deter me from helping Lee and everyone else fight back. I...we're all working towards the same goal. We're all fighting Crawford together, so I can't just back out of my obligations now and let someone else do the heavy lifting. I need to fight!" pleaded Lilly.

"Lilly..." Larry whispered. For the first time in a while, he was at a loss for words.

"Smoke's not going to be up much longer!" Marcus pointed out. A few wayward shots had penetrated the smoke, but they didn't land anywhere near the group to be threatening enough.

"Dad, go. I'll be right behind you," stated Lilly.

"I...fuck. You better not dilly-dally. Any of you, that's an order!" pressed Larry. He took the remaining fuel can and jogged over to the manhole, but not before throwing his rifle to Lilly who caught it with a questioning gaze.

"It's better for long-range than the pistol," explained Larry. He went down and not a moment too soon as the smoke finally dissipated. To Lee's horror, there were a lot more people than before they had thrown the smoke bombs.

Seems all that stalling and indecision caused them to regroup.

"We have to shoot. Now! We don't have a choice." encouraged Yhwach.

"Alright, light them up!" agreed Lee.

Everyone followed his orders and started shooting at anyone they could. Lee managed to get one person with his pistol, a woman, which caused someone to scream. A small pang of guilt tore through his heart at the anguished screams, but he quickly pushed them down. This wasn't the time to get sentimental for these people.

How many innocent people did they kill or steal from? They have no right to feel surprised that this kind of thing happened. With the trouble they caused, it was bound to happen eventually.

Everyone else besides him was shooting as well, but Lee wasn't paying attention to who they were hitting. Based on the screams of pain coming from the opposite direction, he guessed that they must be hitting their targets as well. However, there were still so many of them compared to the seven that were defending themselves.

Of everyone, Yhwach was doing the most damage. He expertly picked his shots, hitting a few of Crawford's men in the head, causing them to slump over dead. If these were walkers, Lee would be singing him praises, but there wasn't any time for patting anyone on the back. Their very lives were at stake.

A splatter of gunfire made Carley duck her head down and Lee peeked out to see a muscular man, somewhat bruised and bloodied, wildly shooting in her direction.

"You motherfuckers killed my father! You're fucking dead. Do you hear me? DEAD! I'm going to cut you into pieces and feed you to the walkers!" yelled the man with a demented look in his eye.

"Looks like someone's lost it," whispered Yhwach disapprovingly.

"We're sitting ducks here. We need to find a way to get out or we're all going to die." reminded Carley.

"Fuck! I don't have much ammo left. Carley's right. We gotta do something!" agreed Boyd.

Yhwach's hand moved with eerie calmness to his pocket, and as he retrieved its contents, a slow, monstrous grin spread across his face. It wasn't the grin of a desperate man or one seeking vengeance—it was a blood-thirsty expression that sent a chill down Lee's spine. Despite knowing Yhwach was on their side, Lee couldn't shake the unease creeping over him. He'd seen a similar glint in Andy St. John's eye just before his fate was sealed, but this...this was something else entirely.

"I still have grenades," Yhwach stated, "Not the smoke variety, however."

Lee's stomach sank. He already knew what Yhwach was implying, but he had to confirm it anyway. "You're suggesting we throw grenades at them to create a distraction?"

"It will serve dual purposes," Yhwach replied without missing a beat. His piercing gaze met Lee's as he spoke, "Not only will they scatter to avoid the blast, but we will also eliminate several of them in the process. Fewer adversaries mean an easier escape."

Lee swallowed hard. He didn't like it, but the logic was sound. "Alright, but we'll need covering fire to give you the chance to throw them."

Lilly nodded, clutching the rifle her father had passed to her. "On my signal, everyone gets ready to shoot! Keep their heads down while Jugram does his thing."

The group tensed, weapons at the ready. They waited as the barrage of bullets flying toward them began to slow, Crawford's men reloading or conserving their ammunition. Lilly took a deep breath as she shouted.

"NOW!"

Everyone bar Yhwach got up and started shooting at anyone and everyone they saw. Most of the people in Crawford ducked behind cover, but Lee managed to hit the big guy from earlier in the side causing him to stagger.

Yhwach chucked as many grenades as he could at their assailants. Panicked screaming and warnings permeated Lee's ears, but he couldn't make out anything specific. He just focused on doing his job while everyone else did theirs.

BOOM!

The explosion almost knocked Lee to the ground. Turns out setting off several grenades next to each other created an even bigger explosion than Lee had thought was possible. He peeked out of cover and looked at the carnage. Now, he could hear moans of pain, screaming, and hysterical yells. He could also hear shouts of rage and curses most likely levied at the group. He even heard calls for order amidst the carnage, but he doubted it would change much.

Lee started to feel a little bad for what he had been part of. The goodness in his heart ached at the death and destruction that he was creating even if he had justified it to himself moments before. Most of these people had no idea this would occur. Lee didn't know why, but he felt that in his heart to be the case.

No matter what, killing another should never be something to be proud of. That's what makes me human.

The stench of copper was unmistakable from all the blood that littered the ground. While Lee was having a moment, Marcus and Chuck both made a break for it to the manhole.

"Come on!" Marcus urged as Chuck went down the manhole.

Boyd jumped out of cover and ran for the exit before Lee heard a gun go off. It sounded like something fired from a sniper. Boyd's body crumpled to the ground as the bullet penetrated his skull moments later. Marcus jumped and quickly hopped down the hatch while Lilly, Carley, Yhwach, and Lee got back into cover.

"Shit, they killed Boyd! There's a sniper out there somewhere," exclaimed Lilly.

"Can we find out where it is?" asked Carley.

"Maybe if we can draw its fire, but we still have to deal with the others who are still alive," said Lilly. The others, who had been shaken by the grenades, were now regaining their wits and were prepared to fire back. Lee checked his ammo.

I don't have much left. I have to make every bullet count.

Suddenly, he heard shouts coming from the people of Crawford. Lee peered his head above the cover and saw, to his complete shock and horror, that walkers had made their way inside the community and were now attacking them from their flank. Some of them were instantly killed, but more kept flooding in...almost like a massive horde was sitting right outside their gates.

"We might have just lucked out. Their attention is divided now," said Carley.

Lilly didn't say anything. She was too busy aiming down her scope.

"If they're distracted, we should get out of here now while we still can," Carley replied. She stood up to run, but the sniper fired again and Yhwach pulled Carley back down at the last second as a bullet whizzed right past where her head had been moments earlier.

"Thanks," Carley said, as she tried to steady her breathing.

Lilly fired a shot of her own and smirked when she saw her target fall.

"I got the sniper." she proudly proclaimed.

"You did?" questioned Lee.

"Yep, saw their rifle peek out from a window on the 2nd story of a building. Carley moving gave me the perfect opportunity to kill them after they were drawn out and decided to fire. My shot landed and I can tell, because the gun fell and so did her hand." Lilly explained.

"But she could still be alive? What if she just fell down?" wondered Carley.

"It's still good for us. Now, we're free to leave as long as the rest are distracted by the walkers. Come on, the others are waiting for us." pressured Lilly.

"Let's get a few more of them first. The grenades didn't kill everyone." disagreed Yhwach.

"What? No, we should get out. We've done enough damage. They're not coming back from this." argued Lilly.

"Then let's make sure. If they're able to get rid of the walkers, then they'll come after us. The best thing we can do is kill a few more, let the walkers handle the rest, and then slip out. These people fucking deserve it after everything they've done and I'm not going to rest until Doug is avenged!" shouted Carley.

She stood up and started firing at anyone she could see. Some of the walkers turned at the sound of the gunshots, so Lee, Lilly, and Yhwach focused fire on them to make sure they would get off of their backs.

"Carley, you're just drawing walkers. Stop doing this and let's go," ordered Lilly.

"Carley, you're being ridiculous. Stop this crusade and let's go while we still can." reprimanded Lee.

"Lee, come on! We can't stay here." pleaded Lilly.

Lilly took one last look at Carley and then followed the rest of the group to the manhole. She reached it and started to head inside. Lee patiently waited for Carley until he heard movement to his right. Since both Yhwach and Carley were near him, he knew it couldn't be them.

"Lee, watch out!" yelled Carley.

He turned and saw a man pointing a gun at him with a crazed grin. Unlike the rest of his community, he had decided to come from the parking lot near the school. although that was the least of his concerns.

"You think you can come in here and destroy everything we built?!" the man snarled.

The man shot his gun in succession and Lee could only watch as a few bullets quickly advanced towards him. It was too late for him to run. He wouldn't be able to dodge them in time. The only thing he could do was accept his fate.

This is it. I'm going to die.

Suddenly, a mass appeared in front of him and Lee could only watch in horror as Carley shielded Lee with her own body right as the bullets were about to reach him. She fell backward, taking the full brunt of the man's attack, and fell into Lee's chest.

Lee let out a gasp of shock and managed to catch her so that she didn't fall to the ground. As he turned her around and looked at her, he noticed that her shirt was starting to become soaked with blood. A little dribble of blood even exited her mouth as she tried speaking. Her eyes started to become a little glossy and Lee thought he could even see tears forming at the corners of her eyelids. Tears started to form in his own eyes clouding his vision.

"No, it can't be...you can't die here," whispered Lee.

"Stupid bitch! No matter, your friend won't have to cry, because he'll be joining you very soon." Andrew stated.

He aimed his gun back at Lee, who was so emotionally distraught he couldn't do anything but watch.

BANG!

Lee waited for the pain of each bullet ripping through him to present itself, but it never came. Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked back at the man. He had dropped his gun and was clutching his heart. A small pool of blood started engulfing his clothing and he fell backwards into the ground.

Lee looked to see who had fired the shot. He was expecting it to be Lilly, but it wasn't her.

It was Yhwach.

Yhwach lowered his weapon, his gaze locked on Lee. His face betrayed nothing—no satisfaction, no pity, not even a flicker of triumph. Just that cold, unnerving neutrality that seemed to see through everything and care for nothing.

So much noise over a single piece removed from the board. Yhwach thought. Yet even he could not fully ignore the faint ripple of respect for Carley's final act—a moment of selfless resolve. It reminded him of the kind of loyalty he had once demanded.

Yhwach stepped forward, his boots crunching against the bloodied ground. He tilted his head slightly.

"Do not concern yourself with him," Yhwach said, motioning toward the fallen attacker. "I will handle it. Your attention should remain where it is needed." 

Lee didn't say anything. He just shakily tried to hold Carley up, but she grabbed his arm and shook her head slowly.

"Lee, it's okay. There's...nothing you can do. He hit my vital points."

"Vital points? Do you even know what that is?" chuckled Lee. His vision was starting to blur with the onset of tears once again.

Carley laughed as well, but it came out as more of a wheeze.

"Of course I do. I was in a warzone, remember? I'm a reporter with a very...extravagant vocabulary. Sometimes, I wish I didn't know these...things. If...I was as clueless...with this...as my phone, you could have lied to me...and I would be so ignorant...that I would believe anything you would say."

"I never did teach...you how to change the batteries, did I?" smiled Lee. He rubbed away some of the tears, but more just kept showing up.

"No, you didn't. I think...it's a bit too late now." Carley replied, the corners of her mouth turning up. Her brown eyes were starting to glaze over which caused Lee to shake his head in denial.

"No, don't go! I can't do this without you there. I've lost too many people already." pleaded Lee.

You were supposed to fill the void my wife left behind.

Carley's eyes snapped back into focus and she let out a long breath of air before placing a hand on Lee's cheek.

"Lee, I'm just another name on...a long list...of people that...you're going to inspire. I'm just glad...that I got to meet you. If it wasn't for you, I would have never...been with Doug...or survived this long. Everyone back there is alive...because of you, so you have to...live for them."

Live for them? How could he live for them if it meant putting them in situations where more of them would be killed?

"It's not fair. IT JUST ISN'T FAIR! Why does someone like me get to live while people like you have to give up their lives? It should be me giving my life to protect you." shouted Lee.

He didn't even care if walkers had heard him. All the anguish that this day had provided was slowly starting to beat him down.

"Lee...we don't get to choose who...lives and who...dies. The most important thing is...to make the most of what you have with the time you've got. You have taken your...second chance and given...a girl a new life, a teenager a new life...and countless others new lives...like me. Just because...my story ends here...doesn't mean your job is done. You have to...continue to live...and fight...to make your dream come true." Carley said.

She coughed and a bit of blood came out of her mouth and dotted her pale skin.

"My only regret...is that I...won't be there to see your dream come true."

My dream? My dream is for a safe place where we can all live again. I don't know how many more losses I'll suffer before I can even hope to accomplish that.

"There's just one more...request I have. From friend to friend. I...don't want to become…one of those things." Carley explained.

Lee's eyes widened. He knew what she was asking. He nodded and pulled out his gun.

Carley closed her eyes, a soft smile on her face.

Is she content with how her life went? Does she not have any regrets even at the finish line? Is she relieved that she gets to go someplace better?

"Thank you, best friend. I know you'll miss my dark humor among other things." she softly replied.

"I...I'll miss you, Carley." cried Lee.

"I know...you will. I'll miss you too." Carley stated.

There was nothing left to say. Carley's breathing got shallower and shallower. Lee almost thought that he should just let her take her last breaths before he killed her, but there was no time for that. There was no time for her death to have meaning. She was just another casualty that Lee would have to find the strength to get over.

He aimed the gun at her head, fingers shaking, and squeezed the trigger. Her face didn't change at all. She still looked like she had earlier, except the paleness wasn't as jarring. The corners of her mouth were turned up like she had been trying to smile but didn't quite get all the way there.

A heavy hand fell on his shoulder. Lee looked up to see Yhwach standing over him, his expression as unreadable as ever, though there was a faint shadow in his gaze—something almost like acknowledgment.

"We must go," Yhwach said firmly. "Walkers are closing in."

Lee hesitated, glancing back at Carley's body. "What about—"

"I've already handled it," Yhwach interrupted. "The dead belong to this place now. You do not."

Lee wanted to argue, to demand more time, but there wasn't any. He rose to his feet, his legs shaky, and followed Yhwach toward the manhole. Behind them lay the broken bodies of Carley, Mark, and Boyd—yet another set of names to haunt Lee's memory.

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Relationships [M] (Lee Everett):

Jugram: ??/15 

You can't fathom what he must be thinking but you can see a look of approval due to success 

Kenny: 9/15

You helped him escape with parts for the boat.

Lilly: 15/15

She's glad you came and rescued her.

Chuck: 10/15 

Although he is still slightly disappointed by your decision to leave the kids behind. but after closer observation, he approves your choices so far. 

Marcus: 10/15 

Same as before.

Vernon: 9/15

You helped take Crawford down, so he's quite pleased with that.

Isaac: 9/15

He already feels like part of your group.

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Next Chapter: The Aftermath & Discussion 

Zaegar: "What a chapter, huh? Death, sacrifice, emotional speeches—classic tragic hero material. Here, have some popcorn. We've got a lot to unpack next time."