Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 17

The sun slowly began to set, and by now Puffer was out like a light. Mental fatigue had hit him hard, and he had moved to the mattress prior with Chuck's permission. As the train began approaching Savannah, Lee headed back into the boxcar. Travis and Ben were wide awake, the two chatting, while Christa was finishing with Omid's leg. "Didn't know your friend was bit," Christa said when she spotted Lee.

"He's been bit for months now," Lee explained, "He's immune."

"Lucky him, has he thought about heading to dc?" Omid asked.

"I wouldn't count on the capital," Chuck butted in, "With how populated it is, I have no doubt that it's been over run by now." A snore from Puffer caught Travis off guard.

"Too bad, maybe he could have a cure," Christa sighed.

"He kind of does," Ben piped up, "Duck got bit too...he got injected with some of Puffer's immunity, and he stopped turning and got better. But, we only have two syringes left."

"We're saving them in case someone else gets bit," Lee added.

"Hopefully we can find more soon then," Omid frowned, "The kids should be immunized first."

"Mhm," Puffer mumbled, making Omid do a double take as Puffer slowly sat up, "We nearly there?"

"We're only a few minutes away," Lee said, and Puffer nodded, "I need a word with you before we arrive." Puffer immediately knew something was up.

"Sure man," Puffer said as he got up, both heading out of the boxcar and to the railing.

"You won't be happy with this," Lee said.

"Please tell me nothing bad happened," Puffer begged, as he was close to losing his mind if anything else happened.

Lee pulled out Clemetine's walkie talkie, "Someone has been talking to Clementine, saying that they have her parents."

"You said they were dead," Puffer pointed out.

"That answering machine sure made it seem that way, we need to keep an eye on her," Lee said, "And one more thing. If your ankle doesn't go down when we find somewhere safe to set up for a bit, I've been thinking of making you a homemade brace."

Well that couldn't go wrong. Puffer looked annoyed by the idea, but sighed, "I'm the one that tightens it, alright? I don't need my foot to accidentally die from lack of blood flow."

"That's alright," Lee agreed. As the train pulled into Savannah, to Puffer's relief, it stopped near the river. The station was enough of a ways away from the end of the line that the train could gain enough speed to plummet into the river. His plan could work.

As everyone got off, Puffer made sure to mentally map out the way back to the train. As they walked down the street, Omid yelped when his bad leg tripped over a car's tire, nearly making him stumble. Elizabeth stayed by Christa while Duck was following Puffer like a shadow. Lee had Clementine's walkie, and she was already begging for it.

"Can't I hold it?" Clementine asked Lee, "Just for a little while? We're getting real close to where my mom and dad are, maybe I can-"

"Not now," Lee replied calmly, "I need you to focus. Keep your attention on the street."

"Okay," Clementine frowned, but she understood why.

"Omid needs to rest as soon as we find somewhere to hide out at," Christa insisted.

"I'm fine," Omid tried to argue.

"Kenny, how much further until the river front?" Lee asked.

"Should be just a few more blocks up ahead," Kenny answered.

"And there'll be boats there?" Christa questioned.

"There fucking better be, we need several," Puffer replied, "Besides, worst case scenario, we take a giant cargo ship."

"It's going to be okay, Kenny knows what he's doing," Ben reassured Christa.

"Isn't he your leader?" Christa asked, nodding her head to Puffer.

"I have no clue on how to drive a boat," Puffer said, "But Kenny does." Everyone froze when a bell suddenly rang, and they began to look around. Puffer could see a church in the distance with a bell tower connected.

But it was the bell tower closest to them that had rung. "Maybe this city's not so dead after all," Christa mumbled.

"Keep moving, no one's ringing that bell," Kenny said, "It's automatic, on a timer."

"It's still making a shit load of noise," Puffer argued, "Walkers will be popping out any moment now, we need to look for somewhere to shelter."

"Someone's up there!" Lee suddenly said, looking to the roof nearby.

"Where? You sure?" Travis asked.

"I know what I saw," Lee replied, "I'm telling you, there's someone up in that bell tower, someone alive!"

Puffer could hear some growling and turned, seeing a walker stumbling about, then another, "We're out of time! Go!" Puffer called out.

As more walkers began to show themselves, everyone ran for it. Several walkers moved in their way, but there were quickly put down. One walker knocked Kenny over, leaving Lee to help him. Hearing Clementine cry out in fear, Puffer stopped running and turned to see Ben and Travis surrounded by walkers, with Clementine hiding between the two. Travis shoved some back, but he wasn't armed. Ben froze up before running away. "Ben if I survive this I'm going to punch you!" Travis snapped before turning his focus back to the walkers.

Only to watch as one was put down by Puffer's cane, while another was killed by Chuck's shovel. "Get her back to the group!" Puffer ordered.

"But-" Travis started.

"GO!" Puffer shouted, and Travis grabbed Clementine and ran while walkers began to surround Puffer and Chuck.

Lee started shooting at some of the walkers, but there were just too many. "Go on!" Chuck called out to Lee, "We'll catch up with ya!" Lee looked at Puffer, who only gave a nod. Lee seemed to have a pained look in his eyes before he turn and ran back to the group.

"Puffer!" Puffer could hear Duck shouting, but it was clear he and Chuck were fucked if they stayed.

"Fuck this! Come on!" Puffer said, with both he and Chuck running for their lives.

"There!" Chuck shouted, pointing to a sewer grate up ahead. The two ran over, with Puffer pulling the lid away. Chuck went first, while Puffer climbed down and pulled the lid over, sealing themselves inside.