Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 21

Night was considered dangerous as walkers didn't hunt by sight, but humans did. The sewers, however, negated the walker threat. Lee moved to the ladder, carefully pushing it up and out of the way. Puffer went first due to his ankle, quietly hopping his good leg up. With more practice, it wouldn't take too long, but around thirty seconds wasn't too bad. As soon as he made it up, looking around. It was silent, no one in sight. He waved the others up and everyone began to climb out.

Puffer spotted another ice pickaxe and snatched it up before joining everyone in the bushes. "Where is everybody?" Vernon questioned, "There should be guards patrolling."

"What, you disappointed?" Kenny sneered, a bit relieved by no resistance so far.

"It's just strange is all..."

"I think I see one, over there," Christa whispered, nodding her head to a stranger nearby.

Puffer saw the way it moved and his eyes widened, "That's a walker...!" Puffer hissed quietly, "Look at its skin, rotten."

"Must have slipped through," Brie frowned.

"Me and Kenny'll sneak up on it, try to take it out quietly," Lee said, preparing the hatchet he had taken with him, "The rest of you wait for the signal."

Lee slowly approached, hatchet at the ready. The person was about to turn around, but Lee managed to land a hit to the skull. The body fell, and familiar milky white eyes could be seen. Puffer had been right. The hair on the back of his neck rose as he heard some growling. Lee gave the signal, and everyone careful made it into the school. A few walkers milled about in the distance, but none seemed to notice them as they closed the school doors. "Walkers in Crawford? Are these people insane?!" Christa snapped once it was safe to talk louder.

"Walkers are usually killed on sight," Vernon said, thinking, "No one has come to greet us either...I think Crawford has fallen."

"Good riddance," Brie huffed, and Puffer could agree to that, "We need to get upstairs, come on."

Everyone headed up, heading through the glass doors. Just in case some walkers got in, Lee used the hatched to seal the doors closed by the handles. "More for us," Travis said, "And walkers can't use weapons."

As the group moved, Ben looked scared, "I got a bad feeling about this..."

As they moved, they passed a door that had walkers growling on the other side. What a fun surprise waiting to be opened. Like hell Puffer would do that. "Here," Brie said, moving to the door at the end of the hall.

Heading inside, the room had several desks inside, and Duck looked a bit excited and shocked. Lee moved to a door labeled "Armory" and tried to open the door, only to find it locked. "Figured," Lee grumbled.

Puffer noticed the chalk board filled with different notes and maps. "This feels more like a military camp than a classroom," Puffer mumbled, as the whole room felt surreal with the state it was in.

"Okay, so now what, where do we start looking?" Molly questioned.

"Here," Brie said, looking to a small map. Some crowded around to get a better view. "Just give me a sec..."

"Where would be the best place to look for medicine?" Lee asked.

"Here, the nurse's station," Molly said, "They were using it as a medical facility."

"How do you know that?" Christa asked.

"Just makes sense, doesn't it?" Molly replied.

"And fuel?" Kenny asked.

"There's a maintenance shed across from the playground, here," Brie said as she pointed to a spot on the map, "if they were storing fuel that's probably where it would be."

"All we need know is the location for the battery," Puffer said, looking at the map, "There's a 'Motor Pool' on the map, that sounds like an auto shop."

"It's called Herman's, you can't miss it," Brie added.

"Alright, I'll make the run for the maintenance shed," Kenny started.

"It will be faster if I go with you, I can take you right to it," Brie said.

"Travis, Ben, I need you here with me," Puffer said, "One of you focus on the door, try and pick the lock."

"I'll go for the medicine," Christa spoke up.

"I'll come with you, I'll know what to take," Vernon said.

"Lee, Molly, that leaves you two with the battery," Puffer instructed, "Stay with your partner, and make sure to stay out of biting range of walkers. We'll all meet back here, and then we're getting the hell out of here."

As they began to leave, Clementine and Duck walked over, "What about us?" Duck asked.

"You two are on lookout," Puffer said, "Stay near the windows. We're on the second story so walkers won't grab you, but you can tell us how many start herding."

"I'll watch the door then," Travis volunteered.

"Be careful!" Clementine called to Lee, who Puffer heard laugh a bit at this.

"He's supposed to tell you that," Puffer snorted as the two kids moved to the window. Ben found a small paperclip and bent it, using his saw handle as a hammer and his shoe as an anvil to try and flatten the tip he would pick the lock with. Puffer moved nearby and looked on a desk.

Nothing interesting could be seen other than, so he went to leave. "Wait..." Ben said, getting Puffer's attention, "I need you to be honest with me on something."

"Alright?" Puffer moved to a desk and sat on the desk part.

"It's about Kenny," Ben started, "Since I've been helping him work on the boat, I've gotten to know him a little better. He's a good guy, you know?"

"Ben I know what you want to do, but for the love of god, keep your mouth shut," Puffer frowned, glaring a bit, "He is not in a good headspace right now. You tell him, he will kill you."

"I can't keep holding onto this!" Ben argued, "I don't know how much longer I can keep looking him in the eye, knowing what I know."

"Maybe in the future when he is more stable," Puffer said, "You can even ask Duck."

"It's true," Duck said, looking over, "Dad's been acting weird after mom died."

"I can't just pretend it never happened," Ben snapped a bit, pausing for a moment at his tone.

"You don't have to, just keep your mouth shut until we're out of Savannah at least," Puffer huffed, a bit annoyed now, "But if you want Kenny to kick your ass, go ahead. But for your safety? Keep silent."

Ben looked upset, but he lowered his head a bit, "Fine, I'm gonna get back to this." While Ben went back to attempting to pick the lock, Puffer moved to the middle of the room. This would be a long night.