Everyone walks cautiously through the empty streets of Savannah, the eerie silence only broken by the distant echoes of their footsteps. Lee, Micah, Christa, and Omid have drawn their pistols, the tension palpable in the air. Chuck lags behind, carrying a shovel slung over his shoulder like a silent reminder of the grim reality they face. Clementine, walking beside Lee, glances longingly at the walkie-talkie attached to his hip, her small face scrunched in frustration.
"Can't I just hold it? Just for a little while? We're getting real close to where my mom and dad are; maybe I can—" she pleads, her voice tinged with hope.
"Not now, Clementine. Maybe later, okay?" Lee responds gently but firmly, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.
"Okay," she replies, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looks down at her feet.
As they continue down the desolate street, Micah's gaze suddenly locks onto something in an alleyway. He breaks off from the group, a morbid curiosity pulling him closer to the shadowy figure sprawled on the ground. Clementine, feeling a surge of defiance because of the walkie-talkie situation, decides to follow him, her irritation pushing her to act out.
When they reach the alley, Micah recognizes the corpse—it's a woman, her lifeless body lying in a pool of dried blood.
"Oh, shit…" Lee's voice is barely above a whisper, a wave of sadness washing over him as he processes the sight.
"Oh no…" Clementine fidgets with her fingers, her gaze downcast as she grapples with the horror before her.
Micah approaches the body and kicks the corpse's leg lightly, inspecting it without a hint of remorse. He notices a bullet hole in her temple, likely self-inflicted, but the absence of a gun raises questions. "Looks like Carley didn't make it, huh?" he says, his tone devoid of real pity, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Lee sighs, the weight of loss heavy on his heart. He kneels beside the body and notices that part of her sleeve is missing. As he examines it closely, he discovers a bite mark on her arm. "Seems like she took herself out before she could turn," he murmurs, shaking his head in dismay.
Micah can't help but smirk a little more. "I told ya! She didn't stick with me, and now she's gone and dead," he says, his arrogance shining through. "Come on, let's keep movin'." He starts walking down the road again, the others hesitantly following.
"Sorry for your loss, man," Omid says softly to Lee, sensing the melancholy that has settled over him. Christa nods in agreement, her expression sympathetic.
"My condolences," Chuck adds, his voice gruff but sincere.
"Thanks," Lee responds, grateful for their support, though the sadness lingers.
Suddenly, the belltower begins to toll, echoing through the streets and making everyone stop dead in their tracks. "Well, shit," Micah mutters, his eyes widening as he realizes the sound will attract walkers.
"Maybe this city's not so dead after all…" Christa murmurs, scanning the horizon.
Lee squints, noticing a figure climbing onto the rooftop of the belltower. "Someone's up there!" he exclaims.
"Where?" Micah looks in the direction Lee is pointing, his curiosity piqued.
"I know what I saw. I'm telling you, there's someone alive up in that belltower!" Lee insists, urgency creeping into his voice.
The walkie-talkie crackles to life, startling everyone.
"If I were you, I'd get out of the street. Now," a stranger's voice warns, sending chills down their spines.
"I thought you said that thing didn't work!" Christa exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Lee presses the button on the radio, desperation in his voice. "Hello? Hello? Are you there?!"
Micah shoots Lee a glare, frustrated that he hadn't mentioned the walkie-talkie was actually functional. "We'll deal with that crap later," he snaps. "We gotta get the hell outta here."
Dozens of walkers begin to shuffle toward the group, their moans rising ominously as the bell finally stops tolling. Panic sets in, and the group starts to run. Micah remains calm, his aim steady as he effortlessly shoots walkers one after another, each bullet finding its mark in a headshot, blood splattering on the pavement.
Clementine, still feeling emboldened by her earlier defiance, leaves Lee's side in pursuit of Micah, determined to keep pace with him. However, she quickly realizes she is no match for his speed. Unbeknownst to Lee, she gets cornered by a small cluster of walkers, her heart racing in fear.
"Clementine!" Lee shouts, panic gripping him as he starts to dash towards her, but Micah is closer.
"Damn it, kid…" Micah curses under his breath, frustration boiling within him.
With a calculated calm, Micah trots over to the girl, his gun raised. Without missing a single shot, he dispatches the walkers threatening Clementine's life. "Get a damn move on, Clementine!" he growls, shoving her forward.
Startled, she stumbles but quickly regains her footing, running alongside the group once more. Lee glances at Micah, gratitude etched on his face. He gives him an appreciative nod, thankful that, despite his brashness, the man had saved Clementine in the nick of time.