Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 22

Puffer decided the moment he got a chance, his ankle was coming off. He noticed how raw the part of his ankle he was dragging was starting to get, and it was only a matter of time before blood would start leaking. As much as he didn't want to admit it, it was becoming a detriment. He could only hope that Vernon knew how to do it.

Puffer felt dread as he left the room, leaving Travis in charge while he was gone. At least it wouldn't be painful, it was the bleeding out that was the issue. So as he headed to where Christa and Vernon were trying to open the door, he saw the two turn his way. "I thought you were staying back?" Christa questioned.

"I was until this," Puffer said as he showed the raw part of his ankle.

"Ah...I feared that would happen, we should have something to wrap your ankle in so it can be dragged safely-" Vernon started.

"We're taking it off," Puffer said.

"What?!" Christa gasped.

"I don't like it either, but this thing is nothing more than meat clinging to me now," Puffer explained, "If it stays on me, it will get me killed one way or another. Besides, I can't feel anything there anymore, so there won't be any pain. Not to mention we're breaking into a room full of medical supplies."

"It's a brutal thing to do, but it's necessary," Vernon agreed, "I can help with that, can you see about the door."

Puffer moved closer, looking at the door knob. Then, before either could object, Puffer slammed the handle of the cane into the knob, causing the door knob to break off and the cane's handle to chip slightly. The door opened slightly, and Christa didn't look amused. As the three entered, Vernon moved a medical bed in the way so the door would close.

There was a safe in the back, and Vernon headed over. The door was open a bit, and when opened, all the supplies were intact, "Someone didn't have a chance to close the safe," Vernon notes, gathering the items needed.

Puffer got onto one of the medical beds, pulling his pant leg up so it was easier for Vernon to find the joint. The bite itself was on the joint, so half of it would taken away as well. Half a bite would be a very odd sight. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Christa asked.

"I am..." Puffer gulped, watching Vernon grab a saw. Puffer looked away when Vernon walked over, as he did NOT want to watch what happened next. Christa also looked away, and the only thing Puffer could notice was the slight weight change. What felt like hours went by before Vernon tapped his arm and Puffer looked over. Where his foot and ankle once were was now a stump wrapped up, his foot wrapped in a few bags.

"Found this as well," Vernon said, showing what looked like a peg leg of sorts, "It's not a one to one copy of a foot, but it should fit."

"Thank god..." Puffer mumbled as Vernon strapped the peg leg on, moving his leg so he could measure it. The peg itself was a few inches too long, but it was a quick fix thanks to the saw. Puffer carefully stood up, cane at the ready. It definitely felt odd, as the balancing would take some getting used to. "We got what we need?" Puffer asked.

"Sure do, let's head back," Vernon replied, moving the bed away from the door. When they got back, Kenny and Brie were already back with the fuel.

"Why did he leave you kids alone?!" Kenny snapped, "Walkers could have attacked, you-" Puffer cleared his throat, causing Kenny to turn around, "What were you-?!" Kenny froze when he looked down and saw that Puffer's foot was missing, "Wh...huh?"

"Still think I'm not capable?" Puffer spat back, moving to the middle of the room, "We have our medicine and fuel, now we are just waiting on Lee and Molly." As if on cue, Lee and Molly entered.

"I got the battery- whoa," Molly paused when seeing Puffer's leg, "We got a pirate now?"

"Ha ha," Puffer groaned with sarcasm.

"We got the battery," Lee said.

A bell sounded off nearby, making everyone grow nervous. "The hell?" Molly mumbled.

"We've overstayed out welcome," Puffer said.

"Ben, go out and look for something we could use to break open the door," Kenny said, and Ben hurried out. When he did come back, Puffer did a double take when he saw a familiar hatchet it Ben's hands.

"Ben, where did you get that?" Puffer asked.

"I just found it," Ben replied, "It was stuck in the door handle at the end of the hallway back there." Puffer was going to blow a gasket.

"Ben that was to hold the glass door closed!!" Puffer snapped, "Now the walkers can get upstairs!" Ben's eyes widened in horror at this and Puffer moved to the armory door, snatching the hatchet. This door knob wasn't as damaged as the nurse's office one, so a single swing didn't do much.

"How do we get out?" Brie asked.

"Through the armory!" Kenny said as Puffer switched tactics to chopping away at the wood around the door knob.

"This is my fault...all my fault!" Ben gulped.

"What the hell is he babbling about?!" Christa questioned.

"The damn glass doors!" Puffer answered, managing to get some of the way through.

"Kenny...I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry man," Ben started.

"Shut up!!" Travis said as he almost went to grab Ben.

"I can't do this anymore!" Ben nearly shouted back, "Kenny, it's been me all along, putting us in danger. Katjaa...it was all me."

Kenny froze up, "Wait a minute, what are you saying?"

"It was me who made the deal with the bandits at the motor inn, slipping them supplies," Ben explained, "I thought maybe I could keep them off our backs! When it got discovered, that's when they attacked. That's when Duck..."

Kenny's eyes filled with a fury and he was ready to lunge at Ben. As he did, Puffer used his body weight to slam into Kenny, sending him to the ground. "WHAT THE FU-" Kenny stopped when he looked up.

Lee noticed too, as Puffer's face was eerily calm, but even he could see just how much bottled up rage was inside him. It was the same way Puffer had acted when Lilly had shot Carley and Doug. "No one is killing anyone," Puffer spoke, a familiar icy tone present in his voice.

"Is this normal...?" Vernon asked Lee.

"No...it's only happened one other time," Lee replied quietly.

"We are not focusing on what Ben did. We are focusing on getting out of here," Puffer continued, "And I don't give a fuck about how much you hate him right now. Keep acting the way you are, and people will die because of you. So sit back, shut up, and let me get the door opened up."

Kenny slowly got up. When he made no move to attack Ben again, Puffer turned back to the door, which was partially broken. Puffer charged into the door, which slammed open. "I am going to sleep for hours after this..." Puffer grumbled, his tone back to normal, although it was clear mental fatigue was starting to set in.