The trio continued along the dirt road, the crunch of gravel beneath their boots. Micah led the way, his demeanor relaxed as if nothing could disrupt his self-assured stride. Lee and Mark exchanged uneasy glances.
As they rounded a bend, the landscape opened up, revealing the St. John's Dairy Farm. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows.
"Look at this place," Lee murmured, taken aback.
Micah's eyes sparkled with mischief, his grin widening. "Perfect spot for a little scavenging, don't ya think?"
Before Lee could respond, a figure emerged from the barn—a woman, her expression wary. "Hey! Who are you?" she called out, apprehension lacing her voice.
Micah wasted no time. Without a word, he drew his revolver, aimed, and fired. The shot rang out, echoing in the stillness. The woman collapsed to the ground, a crimson stain blooming across her shirt.
Lee and Mark's jaws dropped, their eyes wide with shock. "What the hell, Micah!?" Lee shouted, anger surging through him like wildfire. "She wasn't a threat!"
Micah shrugged, a casual air about him as he holstered his weapon. "She was connected to those two men we dealt with at the motel."
"How do you know that? You just shot her!" Mark's voice trembled with outrage, disbelief washing over him.
"Trust me, I know the type," Micah replied, an unsettling confidence in his tone. "Now quit whining and follow me. There might be more to find in that house."
Reluctantly, Lee and Mark followed Micah into the farmhouse. Inside the house, Micah gestured towards a framed photograph hanging on the wall. "Take a look at that."
Lee and Mark moved closer, peering at the picture. Their breaths caught in their throats as they recognized the woman—smiling beside the two men they had killed at the motel. "No… it can't be," Lee stammered, disbelief etched on his face.
Micah's smirk widened, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. "Told ya."
Mark shook his head, still grappling with the implications. "You didn't have to kill her. We could have just talked to her."
Micah rolled his eyes. "And what good would that do? You think she'd spill her guts to you? No way. It's better to remove the threat altogether."
Lee felt his stomach churn, the weight of Micah's ruthless logic pressing down on him. They searched the house, rifling through drawers and cabinets, looting whatever supplies they could find.
As they stepped outside, Micah led the way to the barn, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see what else we can dig up."
Inside, the barn was dimly lit, filled with the smell of hay. At the back, they stumbled upon a small room, the door slightly ajar.
Lee pushed the door open, and his heart sank. The walls were splattered with dark red stains, and the floor was slick with something dark and sticky. "This… this is probably where they skinned and butchered animals," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Micah stepped closer, a dismissive sound escaping his lips. "Naaah," he said slowly, pointing at a jar resting on a shelf.
Lee's eyes widened as he approached the jar. Inside, floating in murky liquid, was a human brain. His stomach lurched, and he stumbled back. Another jar caught his eye, this one containing a human kidney.
Mark felt bile rise in his throat. "What the hell is this place?" he gasped, taking a step back, his face pale.
Micah surveyed the shelves, noting the dozens of jars, each labeled with a name on a sticker. "Looks like they were cannibals or somethin'," he said casually, as if discussing the weather.
Lee felt sick, his mind racing with horror at the implications of what they had found. "This… this is beyond anything I've seen," he murmured, feeling the weight of despair settle over him.
Micah shrugged, unfazed by the gruesome discovery. "You think this is something? You should see what the Murfree Brood does. Those guys are savages. They're known for torturing and dismembering their victims, keeping them alive for days. They make this look like child's play."
Mark swallowed hard, the images Micah conjured seeping into his mind, twisting his stomach into knots. "Why would you even bring that up? It doesn't make this any better."
Micah chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with a twisted sense of pride. "Because it's a reminder that things can always get worse. We're survivors, and we have to do what it takes to stay alive. You two can either wake up and start thinking like that, or you can keep holding onto your pathetic morals and see where it gets you."
———
As they emerged from the thick foliage, the familiar sight of the motel came into view. The RV, now loomed with an air of finality. Lee's heart sank as they approached, knowing what awaited them inside. Micah walked ahead, his demeanor relaxed, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.
When they entered the parking lot, the scene that greeted them was one of urgency and preparation. Kenny, Katjaa, Duck, and Carley were already packed up, their bags piled next to the RV.
Micah surveyed the scene, a smug satisfaction creeping across his face. "Looks like you all are ready to take off," he remarked casually, leaning against the RV as if he owned it. "Bye, bye. Rest in peace in advance," he added dismissively, a smirk dancing on his lips as he flicked open a cigarette and lit it.
Lee felt a knot tighten in his stomach. This was it—the moment he had both dreaded and anticipated. He watched as Micah settled onto the couch behind the RV.
Kenny turned to Lee, his brow furrowed, the frustration evident on his face. "You ready to leave, Lee?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience.
Lee swallowed hard, shaking his head slowly. "No, Kenny... I'm not leaving. I'm staying with Micah." His voice was steady, but inside, his heart raced with uncertainty.
Kenny's expression shifted, anger flashing across his features. "What? Lee, are you serious? You can't trust him!" he exclaimed, disbelief lacing his words. Kenny's jaw tightened, but instead of shouting, he simply shook his head in disappointment. "Fine. Do what you want," he said, his tone clipped as he turned away, climbing into the RV with a huff.
Carley shot Lee a disappointed look, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and frustration. "Lee, you can't be serious," she said quietly before she turned and climbed into the RV, her expression hardening as she prepared to leave.
Clementine stood nearby, and waved sadly. As the RV's engine roared to life, Lee felt a pang of regret twist in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling of abandonment, even as he chose to stay with Micah.
Micah, meanwhile, leaned back on the couch, his cigarette dangling between his fingers as he watched the RV pull away, the smoke swirled around him. He exhaled slowly, a satisfied smile creeping across his face. "Look at that," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Just us now."
———
The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, revealing Micah seated at a table. A bottle of whiskey sat nearby, and he was methodically cleaning his revolver.
Micah looked up, a smirk dancing on his lips as he poured a generous splash of whiskey into a glass. "You gonna join me, or are you just here to stare?" he asked, his tone laced with casual bravado.
Lee hesitated for a moment before taking a seat across from him. "What's the plan, Micah?" he asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty.
"Survive," Micah replied, lifting the glass to his lips and taking a long, slow sip. He watched Lee intently, as if gauging his reaction.
"Is that it?" Lee pressed, trying to keep the frustration from seeping into his voice.
"Yep," Micah replied, the nonchalance in his tone almost infuriating. "What else is there? This world isn't about grand plans or noble causes anymore. It's about making it through the night."
Before Lee could argue, a shout echoed from outside, slicing through the tension in the room.
"What the hell?" Micah muttered, irritation flashing across his features as he moved to the window, peering through the grimy glass.
"You think you can shoot my people?!" a man shouted from outside, his voice dripping with menace.
"Who the fuck is that?! They've got Clem, Ben, and Mark!" Lee exclaimed, panic rising in his chest.
Micah's face twisted into a knowing smirk. "It's the same fella I warned out in the woods, remember? That son of a bitch didn't listen to me."
"You all better get your asses out here! We ain't fucking around!" the man shouted again, his voice echoing ominously.
Lee's heart raced as he realized the danger. Through the window, he could see the bandits had infiltrated the motel, lining Clem and Mark up on their knees with their hands behind their heads.
"What do we do, Micah?" Lee asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Micah cocked back the hammer on his revolver, his expression shifting to one of grim determination. "Kill 'em."
"What?" Lee blinked, taken aback by the coldness of Micah's response.
"Here," Micah said, shoving a rifle into Lee's hands. "Hey, climb out that window, make your way up to the balcony, and keep your eyes peeled for me. I'll take care of the ones already inside. Just make sure you're ready!"
Lee nodded, adrenaline surging through him as he scrambled out the bathroom window, heart pounding. He clambered up to the balcony, breathless as he steadied himself, rifle in hand.
"You made the biggest mistake of your lives! Enough of this bullshit! Drew, start putting your boot to these doors!" the man outside shouted.
The other man nodded, grinning maniacally. "Yeah!"
Micah walked out into the open, his demeanor calm, as if he were stepping onto a stage. "Hold it, asshole!" the man growled, recognizing Micah.
"Well, well, look who it is! We just saw each other yesterday, and you were all scared, weren't ya? But now here you are, pointing a gun at me, all surrounded by your little friends. Feeling powerful, huh? Must be nice to have that kind of backup," Micah taunted, his confidence unwavering.
Micah just scoffed, rubbing his chin, then glanced discreetly behind him, where Lee was already aiming his rifle. He looked back at the bandit, shaking his head. "I don't think I'm gonna do that, partner." With a swift motion, he drew his revolver and shot the man square in the forehead.
Without missing a beat, he fired again, taking down another man before turning to shoot a third. The chaos erupted in a whirlwind of gunfire, Mark picked up a gun and Clem, and rushed behind a couch. Meanwhile Ben, when he tried to follow Micah, got shot in the back. Lee watched in awe as Micah effortlessly dispatched bandits, each bullet finding its mark with precision.
Mesmerized, Lee took aim and fired, taking down three bandits in quick succession. The air was thick with tension as Mark emerged from behind cover, his face determined as he squeezed the trigger again and again, managing to shoot four bandits before falling victim to a sudden, brutal shot that blew his brains out.
"Micah! Mark's dead! Save Clem!" Lee shouted, horror flooding his voice.
Micah grumbled, frustration clear on his face as he lost one of his guns and now had to save the little girl. "Damn it," he muttered, squeezing off two more shots to take down advancing bandits before running across the motel parking lot. He slid behind the couch next to the frightened Clementine, who was trembling but wide-eyed.
In quick succession, Micah shot another bandit who got too close, then turned to Lee. They worked in tandem, their shots ringing out, Lee following Micah's lead. Together, they took down several more bandits, the tide of battle shifting in their favor.
Finally, the remaining bandits, feeling the weight of defeat, began to flee.
"That's it! Run, you damn cowards! Can't even take down just the two of us!" Micah shouted after them, contempt dripping from his voice.
Clementine and Lee exchanged a glance, sadness washing over them as they looked at Mark's lifeless body. Micah, however, merely shrugged, his expression indifferent.
"Alright, pack up. We're leaving," he ordered, the nonchalance in his voice a stark contrast to the gravity of the moment. "What about Mark?" he asked.
Micah rolled his eyes. "You can bury him if you want, but we ain't got time. Those walkers are gonna be here any minute because of the gunfire."
As soon as Micah finished his sentence, they heard the unmistakable moans of walkers approaching. "Shit!" Micah cursed, quickly firing three shots into the heads of the nearest walkers. "Lee! You and Clem grab whatever ammo and food you can find while I keep the walkers at bay!"
With a nod, Lee and Clementine sprang into action, hastily packing what they could into their bags. They moved quickly, fear driving them as they worked together to gather supplies, knowing that time was running out. Eventually unharmed.