TWD: The Burden We Bear

A/N: Well, it seems I ain't going go to work.

Everyone walks cautiously through the empty streets of Savannah, the eerie silence amplifying each footstep. Lee, Carley, Lilly, Christa, Omid, and Kenny have their pistols drawn, ready for any threat that might emerge from the shadows, while Chuck carries an old, sturdy shovel slung over his shoulder. Eddie limps alongside them, his injured leg now bandaged but still painful, and he carries a half-full rifle, the weight of it a reminder of his vulnerability. Clementine walks close to Lee, her curious gaze fixed on the walkie-talkie clipped to his hip.

"Can't I just hold it? Just for a little while? We're getting really close to where my mom and dad are. Maybe I can—" Clementine begins, her voice filled with hope, but Lee cuts her off sharply.

"I already told you no. Don't ask me again, okay?" he responds, his tone firm and unyielding.

"What's the harm in letting her have it? It doesn't even work!" Christa interjects, stepping into Lee's personal space.

"You take care of yours; I'll take care of mine," Lee replies, his irritation evident.

"Sorry I spoke," Christa says, her frown deepening.

"It's their business, hon," Omid reminds her gently, trying to diffuse the tension.

"How are you holding up, son?" Kenny asks Eddie, concern etched on his face.

"I'll be fine once we get to those damn boats..." Eddie hisses, grimacing from the pain.

"It's not far now, just hold on," Kenny assures him, his voice steady.

"Come here," Chuck says, moving closer to Eddie and lifting his arm to drape it over his shoulder for support.

"Thanks, old man..." Eddie sighs, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude.

"Kenny, how much farther to the riverfront?" Lee asks, glancing ahead.

"Should be just a few more blocks up ahead," Kenny replies, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"And there will be boats there?" Christa presses, a hint of desperation in her voice.

"There sure as hell better be," Lee responds, his determination unwavering.

"There'll be boats. There has to be," Kenny insists, his voice more hopeful.

Suddenly, the distant sound of a bell tower begins to ring out, echoing ominously through the streets.

"What the hell?" Eddie looks around, confusion etched on his face.

"Maybe this city's not as dead as we thought..." Christa speculates, her eyes darting around.

"Keep moving. No one's ringing that bell; it's automatic, set on a timer," Kenny replies, a frown forming on his lips.

"At this hour?" Lilly asks, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Yeah... It's twenty past the hour," Lee says, glancing at his watch. As he does, he notices a shadowy figure climbing onto the rooftop of the bell tower. "Someone's up there."

"Where?" Carley raises her weapon, training it on the bell tower. "I don't see anyone."

Lilly squints, aiming her weapon in the same direction. "Didn't you just imagine that, Lee?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just a little punchy, you know? I'm—" Lee starts to say when the radio crackles unexpectedly to life.

"If I were you, I'd get out of the street. Now," a man's voice warns through the static.

"I thought you said that thing didn't work!" Christa exclaims, her eyes wide with surprise.

Lee presses the button on the radio. "Who is this? Are you the one up in the bell tower?"

"What the hell was that? Is someone trying to mess with us?" Omid asks, anxiety creeping into his voice.

"Why are we just standing around, anyway?" Eddie interjects, but his question goes unanswered.

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls..." Chuck says cryptically, his gaze fixed down the road.

"What are you yammering on about?" Kenny snaps, clearly annoyed.

"It tolls for thee..." Chuck replies, his expression somber as he watches the approaching danger.

Suddenly, a horde of walkers appears in the distance, their moans echoing through the streets as the bell stops tolling abruptly.

"Everybody, run!" Lee shouts, adrenaline surging through him.

The group fires at the walkers, dispatching several as they sprint down the street. A walker trapped beneath a car manages to grab onto Kenny's ankle, causing him to stumble and drop his gun. Panicking, he reaches for a nearby pole to pull himself toward his weapon. Carley quickly shoots the walker before it can do any more harm.

"Little too close, don't you think?" Kenny gasps, his eyes wide with shock.

"Lilly!" Lee shouts, glancing back just in time to see the chaos unfolding.

Lilly and Clementine are cornered against a brick wall, surrounded by walkers. Lilly fires her weapon, desperately pushing the walkers away while Clementine hides behind her, trembling with fear.

Eddie aims his rifle and takes out a few of the walkers, trying to create a path for them. Seizing the moment, Lilly shoves Clementine away to safety.

"We've got to help her!" Lee cries, firing at the advancing walkers.

"Get out of here!" Lilly yells, her voice strained as she runs out of bullets and resorts to hitting walkers with the butt of her gun.

"Move your asses! River Street's just up ahead!" Kenny urges, seemingly unfazed by Lilly's plight.

"More of those bastards are coming!" Carley exclaims, shooting at a walker that gets too close.

"Oh, give me a damn break!" Kenny shouts in frustration.

"Lilly is still back there!" Eddie protests, glancing back at the unfolding chaos.

"Shit, she's in trouble! We've got to help her!" Omid insists, panic rising in his voice.

"There's no time! We've got to go, now!" Kenny replies, his eyes darting to the approaching walkers.

Lilly catches their gaze, but she doesn't say anything. Eddie can see a pleading look in her eyes as she struggles to hold back the walkers.

"We've got to save her!" Eddie insists, desperation creeping into his voice.

"We... we have to go!" Lee says, uncertainty clouding his judgment as he pulls Eddie along with him.

They leave Lilly behind. Eddie may not have always seen eye to eye with her, but she was still part of their group from the very beginning of the outbreak.