Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 27

As the group started to climb in, Puffer froze when he saw the couple on the bed. Their bodies decayed while their hands remained intertwined. A double suicide to escape the apocalypse. Elizabeth gasped as she saw it, running to Christa. Puffer looked away, not wanting to see or smell the sight. "Smart, think of all the people we've seen go," Lee said, "They got to do it their own way, together."

"Don't you say that," Kenny started, "You stick it out as long as you can. You do whatever you have to."

"Not everyone has the strength like we do..." Puffer mumbled, his mind going to Katjaa. He knew she wouldn't have made it this far even if she never took her own life.

"I could have done better... Could have been a better husband, a better father...a better friend," Kenny mumbled, "So let's figure a way out of here, and get that little girl." Now THAT was the Kenny Puffer knew. About damn time he returned.

"Welcome back man," Puffer said as he patted Kenny on the back, "Don't leave us again."

"Let's clear the room before we move on," Christa suggested as Kenny grabbed the pistol the couple had used.

Puffer noticed a door that had sunlight peaking through and walked over, pulling the door open. The door lead to a small balcony, right beside a slightly taller building than from where the balcony was. "Here's our path, but it's a jump," Puffer called out to the rest of the group, who made it over to where he was.

"We'll have to have the kids hold on to us," Christa said.

"Duck, get on Puffer's back, he can make the jump," Kenny said, surprising Puffer a bit. Lee made the leap first while Puffer helped Duck up. Puffer went next, making the jump without any tools needed. He pulled himself up, and Duck climbed on. The same repeated with Christa and Elizabeth. Omid and Kenny made the jump, as did Travis, leaving just Ben.

"You got this," Puffer told Ben, "Climb on the railing, it's easier to grab the roof with the extra height."

"It's easy," Kenny added as Ben climbed up, only for the balcony to groan as it started to come loose.

"No!" Puffer shouted, trying to reach for him with his cane, but the balcony collapsed, sending it and Ben down before Puffer could extend the cane far enough.

"Me and my big mouth..." Kenny mumbled.

"Ben?! Say something!" Travis called, looking around, "I-I can't see him!"

Kenny ran for the ladder down, and Lee quickly followed. "W-Where's Ben?" Elizabeth asked.

"Down somewhere, they'll find him," Christa reassured her.

Puffer started pacing, waiting for either to come down. Some walkers could be heard on the street, but he paid them no mind. Puffer was too focused on seeing the three get back up, although he knew Ben would most likely have to be carried. There was no way in hell Ben's legs survived the fall unscathed. The sound of a single gunshot spooked everyone, and Puffer froze.

Slowly, Puffer turned back towards the ladder, waiting. The moment Lee came back up alone, Puffer's heart dropped, "No...Lee, Lee where are they?!"

"There was too many of them..." Lee replied with a shaky breath, "Ben was really messed up...I don't know, there's nothing else..."

"No, he can't be dead!" Travis shouted, running to look over the edge, "BEN!" Puffer grabbed the teen and pulled him away, as he didn't want there to be even a slight chance that Ben and Kenny's bodies could be seen.

"Where's dad...?" Duck asked, and Puffer looked down.

"Duck...he's gone..." Puffer mumbled. Duck looked ready to burst into tears, and he ran over and hugged Puffer, who let him. He picked Duck up and looked at Lee, "We have to keep moving...we'll mourn outside the city..."

"Puffer's right...we should go," Christa said, looking over at Travis, who was wiping tears away.

"Did he suffer...?" Travis asked Lee.

"Kenny made sure he didn't..." Lee replied.

The walk was silent, and Duck didn't speak, even after his sobs died down. A wooden bridge was ahead, but everyone made it across safely. A hole in the roof caught Puffer's attention, as it did Lee's, "Be careful through here," Lee said.

"Yeah, we don't need anymore accidents," Omid said.

"Why would you say that, you trying to jinx us?" Puffer grumbled, walking ahead. The group slowly made their way over building after building, with the Marsh house  now in view. The only way across was a metal walkway holding a sign. "One at a time," Puffer said, letting Duck down.

"I'll go first," Lee said, "If something happens and only one of us can cross, it should be me."

Puffer couldn't argue with that logic, and he watched as Lee began the slow cross over. Right as he made it towards the end, however, the metal walkway snapped, the sign falling and crushing several walkers. This left Lee stranded on the other side, "LEE!" Puffer called out, "ARE YOU OKAY?!"

"I'm fine!" Lee answered back, "but I'm kind of fucked here."

"What do we do? That was our only way across!" Travis gulped.

"What can we do from here?!" Puffer exclaimed before looking back at Lee, "What's your plan?!"

"Fuck it, I'm going for it!" Lee said.

Puffer knew instantly what he meant, "Lee what?! You're already getting weaker from blood loss!"

"I'm already bitten, I just have to push my way through!" Lee shouted, "I can't risk losing more time on a long shot!"

Puffer shook his head, "Fuck...FUCK! Meet us outside the city, by the hills that way!" Puffer pointed to some hills he could see in the distance, "Can you do this?!"

"There's no other way!" Lee said, "I know they will be fine with you, Puffer! Bring them to safety!" With that, Lee began his slow climb down, leaving Puffer to stare as he disappeared into the crowd of walkers.

"Let's go..." Puffer said, "We got maybe an hour at most before Lee shows up with Clementine if he survives."

"If?" Travis questioned.

Puffer paused, "Not if...be ready for just Clementine..." It was better to accept Lee's death now. He was too weak and pale, there was no way Lee would have the strength to return. It was up to Puffer now.