Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 5

The motor inn was quiet, as any walker staying at it had been dispatched. Lilly and Puffer worked together to move the corpses out, including that of a woman that had taken her life not that long ago. After Katjaa had dealt with his head wound, Puffer was already feeling much better. His ankle was still bothering him, but not too badly for the time being. Of course, that was to be expected, what with a walker having scratched him. Who knows what the hell the walker got into before said scratch.

In the distance, Puffer could hear gunfire, as well as some screaming. He shuddered at this, thankful to be out of Macon. He caught sight of Lee and Glenn talking before Glenn drove off in his pizza delivery car. Well that was odd, but Puffer could guess Glenn went to help friends of family of his. The thought brought Puffer back to his parents, as he had left his dog Ellie in their care until he got back. Were his parents okay? Was Ellie okay? Would he ever see them again?

Puffer was beginning to regret not taking her with him. Then again, she probably wouldn't have survived the crash. Still, there was a tiny voice in Puffer's head saying she would have survived the crash and stayed with him. Puffer looked up from the box he was sitting beside and saw Doug and Carley chatting, and Puffer felt a pang of jealousy. Then again, both were alive, and that was a relief to him.

"You fought back pretty well," Lee said as he approached Puffer, who looked over at him, "You found my dad's cane?"

"I saw in on the floor, and it was the only weapon in sight," Puffer replied, "If it's your dad's then you can have it back."

"No, keep it," Lee said, "It could come in handy."

"We're lucky to have you," Lilly said as she walked over, and Puffer hid his contempt for her, "Both of you. We can make it through this."

The sound of gunshots could be heard in the distance, and it wasn't long before what sounded like a helicopter's blade could be heard. The army! Took them long enough. Then again, it was most likely a sweep. "I hope that's the sound of us winning this thing!" Kenny said as he walked over, with Puffer standing up, "This motor inn's pretty damn defendable. We block off the entrances with some cars and keep someone on watch and we could stay here until the military tolls through."

"I actually agree with that plan," Lily said, and Puffer could as well.

"We've got beds, we've got water, and most importantly, we've got light," Kenny stated, "There are worse places to call home." Not long after he said this, the lights began to turn off, meaning the power plants had shut down.

"So much for lights..." Puffer grumbled as the Motel sign's light turned off. The first night was spent hiding in the motel rooms. Thankfully, no walkers every showed up. The next few days were spent making a rough wall, using the cars and other scrap nearby. At first, Puffer had been able to pitch in with carrying things around and doing some of the building.

That was, until his ankle, while recovered, was beginning to give out on him. He had tripped a couple of times, much to the group's confusion, and had dealt with a painful ankle joint when he walked around a lot. By the end of the week, Puffer was still doing what he could to help get the wall set up, but it was clear Lilly was done with his ankle being ignored.

"Alright, enough," Lilly said as she walked over, causing Puffer to pause hammering a nail into a board, "Go back to your room and let Katjaa look at your ankle."

"It's fine," Puffer huffed, only to prove her point by nearly stumbling.

"No it isn't, something is wrong with you and we need to know what," Lilly argued, her arms crossed, "You can't be a burden on the group. Go, now."

Puffer glared at her, but sighed and waved Lilly off, heading back to the motel room he had picked out. It was a bottom floor room, close to the makeshift wall. Heading inside, Puffer sat on his bed. A few seconds later, Katjaa walked in, with Kenny and Lilly watching from outside the door. "Did something happen to your ankle before we got here?" Katjaa asked as she walked over.

"Pretty sure a walker scratched it," Puffer said as Katjaa rolled his pant leg up, "It doesn't hurt right now, but-" Puffer stopped when Katjaa gasped, causing Kenny and Lilly to perk up, "What?"

"When did this...'scratch' happen?" Katjaa asked.

"The day we left Hershel's farm," Puffer replied, a bit confused, "Why? How bad is it?"

"I..." Katjaa gulped, then looked to Kenny and Lilly.

That caused Lilly to walk in and look for herself. "Holy shit, you were bit!" Lilly exclaimed.

Puffer immediately moved his ankle so he could see, and sure enough there was a bite. But something was odd about the bite. It wasn't an open wound. It was scarred over, with no open injuries. How had he not noticed. "Are you sure you were feeling fine?" Katjaa asked.

"I was until my ankle started tripping me," Puffer frowned, "The hell does this mean? Why did I survive?"

"You could be immune to whatever the hell is causing all of this," Kenny suggested, causing the three to look at him, "It's bound to happen. Surely there are people out there immune to this shit."

"Any reason why it would jack my ankle up?" Puffer asked.

Kenny shrugged, "Bad luck?"

"Or maybe your immunity is damaging the body fighting it," Katjaa said, looking at the scarred bite again, "There are ways that can happen, but it usually happens with a particular nasty bug. And I would count this disease as just that."

"I need to let everyone know about this," Lilly said as she began to walk out, "Find a way to keep your ankle straight."