"Forgive my manners. Name's Oberson Crawford. Pleasure making your acquaintance."
Lee's stomach dropped. The confirmation of what he'd desperately hoped wasn't true hit him like a punch to the gut—Crawford hadn't collapsed yet. With the place full of living instead of walkers, his plan to grab Molly and slip in to steal the battery was nearly impossible now. At best, the odds of success had plummeted, leaving failure looming like a shadow.
"My hand's getting pretty tired here..." Oberson's voice carried an edge beneath the pleasant tone.
Lee snapped back to the present. He took the offered hand in a firm, brief grip. "Lee," he said, his jaw tight. "Likewise."
Kenny hesitated just long enough to make his distrust clear before grabbing Crawford's hand. "Kenny." The single word dripped with barely-veiled hostility.
"Well, look at that—seems we're acquainted now." Oberson began circling them, his gaze lingering on the boat Kenny had been fiddling with. "Is this what you two came looking for?" He smirked. "I'd say you're a bit late on that front. Unfortunately."
Kenny gritted his teeth. "We know. We just need a battery." He planted his hands on his hips. "And since you've scavenged everything here, I'm guessing you're the man who's got one."
Oberson studied him with a blank stare before breaking into a smile. "Indeed I do. Multiple, in fact—and even a few boats myself." His expression shifted, a practiced look of sympathy flashing across his face. "Though I'm afraid I can't spare any. You know how valuable they are."
"If you've got a boat, why don't you just get out of here?" Lee asked.
"Oh, well, that's simple." Oberson turned to the two armed men behind him, clasping one on the shoulder. "I've got people who depend on me—a whole community that needs my guidance. Can't just up and abandon them, now can I?" His grin didn't reach his eyes.
"Well, if you ain't using 'em, they're not much use sittin' around, are they?" Kenny's eyes narrowed. "Surely you can spare a battery at least."
The two guards exchanged an amused glance, as if they already knew Oberson's answer. But their brows lifted in surprise at his next words.
"I could," Oberson said slowly. "You see, a recent… incident has left us short on food and water. I might be open to… let's call it a deal."
One of the guards stepped forward. "Oberson, couldn't we just—"
"I won't tell you again." Oberson's voice dripped venom, his glare sharp enough to cut. The man shrank back instantly. "Don't. Ruin. This."
Lee and Kenny shared a glance. Dangerous guy, Lee thought. And worse—he was playing games.
A thought struck Lee. "You said you had an incident recently—one that left you short on supplies. What happened?"
Oberson's fists clenched slightly before he forced a tight smile. "A few… ungrateful souls in our community decided they didn't much like Crawford. Even after I put a roof over their heads and walls between them and the walkers." His voice sharpened, frustration bleeding through. "So they left. Fine. But they took half our supplies on their way out. Left the rest of us in the shit." He spat the last word like it was poison.
Lee's mind raced. Vernon's group. They had to be the ones who did it—holed up in the sewers somewhere. That information could be leverage. A bargaining chip.
But it would mean handing them over to Oberson. And something told Lee this man wasn't the forgiving type.
Still… if it got them the battery, got his people to safety, got Clem to safety—
He turned to Kenny, voice low. "That boat in the shed. Will it fit all of us?"
Kenny's jaw tightened. "Meant to talk to you about that," he muttered. "She can only take five, maybe six. I was thinking… me, you, Kat, Carley, and the kids."
Lee stayed silent for a moment, his mind reeling. The idea of leaving anyone behind sat like a stone in his gut. But time was running out. He'd have to push his luck—take the gamble.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lee said carefully, locking eyes with Oberson. "We could trade some of our supplies for the battery… or I've got another deal you might like better."
Oberson's eyebrows lifted, scrutiny sharpening. "I'm listening."
"What if I lead you to the people you're after?" Lee gestured to the stunned guards, their disbelief palpable. "But we'll need a working boat—on top of the battery."
One of the guards snarled, stepping forward. "You greedy son of a—"
CRACK.
Oberson's right hook snapped the man's head sideways, sending him crumpling to the floor. The guard blinked up, dazed, as Oberson loomed over him, voice dripping menace. "How many times do I have to tell you? Shut. The. Fuck. Up."
"S-sorry," the guard mumbled, fingers twitching near his holstered gun—yet he looked like the one balancing on a knife's edge.
Lee's frown deepened. A man keeping his dogs in line. The other guard didn't even flinch. Routine, then.
Oberson massaged his knuckles, sighing. "Apologies for the unsightliness. Some people have no manners." His gaze slid back to Lee, sharp as a razor. "Now, you were saying you know where that group is? Not calling you a liar, but there's no wa—"
"Vernon."
The name cut through the air like a gunshot. Kenny stiffened beside him, nudging Lee's arm in a clear display of confusion.
"That's his name," Lee pressed, voice steady. "And the others… cancer survivors, right? Mostly elderly?"
Silence.
Then Oberson's lips split into a wide, hungry smile like a shark scenting blood. "Well, well. That's the son of a bitch, alright." His chuckle sent ice down Lee's spine. "I like you, Lee. Deal's done. A boat and a battery for those rats."
Lee exhaled, the relief tasting like copper in his mouth.
"However..." Oberson's single word snapped Lee's attention back like a tripwire. The man's smile never faltered. "I'm gonna need you to lead us there personally. Just to ensure you're not giving us the runaround." He gestured casually toward Kenny. "Your friend here can take the battery back to your people while you... fulfill your end of the bargain. Once we have our thieves, you get your boat. Sound fair?"
"Like hell!" Kenny shouldered forward, his face flushing red. "You think I'm leaving Lee alone with you people after that little display?" He jerked his chin toward the guard still rubbing his jaw.
Lee grabbed Kenny's arm and yanked him aside. The man's muscles tensed like coiled springs beneath his grip. "Lee, you can't be serious!" Kenny hissed. "You can't trust this guy. This bastard just knocked out his own man for talking out of turn. What's he gonna do to you when he realizes—"
"I don't trust him," Lee cut in, keeping his voice low. Over Kenny's shoulder, Oberson gave them a mock-friendly wave, his smile all teeth and no warmth. "But we're out of options. He's got exactly what we need and I'm betting there's not a single battery left in Savannah he hasn't already claimed."
Kenny's jaw worked. "And what happens when he finds out you're leading him on a wild fucking chase? You don't actually know where Vernon's people are holed up!" His voice dropped to a gravelly whisper. "You'll be alone and he'll put a bullet in your skull before you can blink. I'm not gonna let you get yourself killed."
The raw emotion in Kenny's eyes gave Lee pause. For all his bluster, the man wasn't just angry - he was concerned.
Lee exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on Kenny's shoulder. "Listen, Kenny." His voice dropped to a whisper only they could hear. "I need you to trust me on this. This way, we don't have to leave anyone behind. We can all get out."
Kenny studied Lee's face, searching for something in his friend's expression. After a long moment, he released a frustrated groan, shaking his head. "Alright, Lee. Alright." He glanced back at Oberson's men, lowering his voice further. "I'll get the battery back, then I'm coming after you with Mark. Where exactly are you taking these assholes?"
Lee closed his eyes, visualizing the dream. The morgue. The elevator. The hospital looming over... "The Savannah Hospital," he said, pulling a crumpled map from his pack.
"Which one?" Kenny's eyebrow arched.
Lee traced the paper, remembering the proximity to Crawford. He looked to Oberson. "Where exactly is your community?"
Oberson's eyes narrowed suspiciously before answering. "Crawford Square. We call it... Crawford."
"And his name is fucking Crawford? Fuck me." Kenny muttered, jabbing a finger at the map. "That's here."
Lee followed Kenny's finger, finding the nearest hospital. "This one," he confirmed, tapping the location. "There's a morgue on the bottom floor—that's where I'm going. There should be an elevator down inside. Be careful, though; I don't know how many walkers are in there."
Kenny exhaled sharply through his nose. "I'll figure it out. Just... keep your head on straight around this bastard."
The two exchanged a silent nod.
"Finished your little session?" Oberson's smirk didn't reach his cold eyes. He checked his watch with deliberate nonchalance. "I send my man back, he should be back with your battery shortly."
The tense silence stretched as Oberson made what appeared to be casual conversation - though Lee recognized the careful probing beneath each question. How many are in your group? Where are you holed up? Their tight-lipped responses only made Crawford chuckle. "Fair enough," he conceded, spreading his hands. "A man protects what's his."
Tires crunched on gravel as the man returned, hefting a marine battery. "As promised," Oberson said, passing it to Kenny with mock ceremony. The fisherman's eyes lit up as he tested its weight, running practiced hands over the terminals.
"Pleasure doing business," Oberson continued smoothly. "Why don't we give you a ride back?"
"I'll walk." Kenny shouldered past, not bothering to hide his distrust. A glance back at Lee confirmed the unspoken plan - get the battery to safety first.
Oberson tutted as Kenny retreated. "Not the trusting type, is he?" Oberson mused, watching Kenny disappeardown the street before turning to Lee with a beaming smile. "Now then... which way to our rats?"
Lee unfolded the map, pressing his finger against the hospital's location. "We'll need to go through the sewers to get in."
"The sewers?" Oberson's face twisted like he'd smelled something rotten. He tugged at his collar. "Those tunnels are crawling with walkers..." A pause, then his expression shifted to something calculating. "Though... the Federal Rescue Services did quarantine the hospital early on. Moved all infected patients inside when the outbreak started." His mustache twitched. "Might actually be safer than the going through the front door."
"Exactly." Lee kept his expression carefully blank, though Oberson's words meant nothing to him. The details didn't matter - only the outcome.
"The sewers, then..." Oberson's lips curled into a slow smile. "Well, if you're leading the charge, I suppose I can live with that."
Lee let out a dry chuckle, recognizing the implication immediately. Human shield. "Then we shouldn't shouldn't sit around," he countered, meeting Oberson's gaze without flinching.
The truck's cab became a pressure cooker of silence as they rumbled forward. Lee positioned himself in back, acutely aware of the guards' sideways glances. Oberson's tuneless humming - some forgotten pop song from before the world ended - set Lee's nerves on edge. Each off-key note felt like a calculated provocation.
The truck lurched to a halt after five tense minutes. Doors slammed like gunshots in the quiet street as they spilled out onto the pavement. Lee's breath caught when he saw the hospital - exactly as it appeared in his dreams. His hands betrayed him first, trembling slightly as the weight of his decision settled in his chest. These were vulnerable survivors... and he was leading Crawford's wolves to their door.
"Get that open. Now." Oberson's command sent two guards scrambling to pry up the manhole cover. The iron screeched against concrete, revealing a rusted ladder descending into blackness. "Whenever you're ready, Lee."
Lee clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms. The pain steadied him. The memory of Carley's lips on his surged back—warm and soft. Clementine's face flashed in his mind - her trusting eyes, the way she'd said "We're a team." He'd burn in hell a thousand times to keep them safe.
The first moan drifted up from the darkness - wet and hungry. Lee's throat tightened as he approached the opening. Oberson's hand landed on his shoulder, the grip just shy of painful. "Don't worry," the man purred, breath hot against Lee's ear. "We've got your back."
Lee shrugged him off hard enough to make the guards tense. The ladder's cold metal burned his palms as he gripped the first rung. "Let's get this over with," he growled, and disappeared into the belly of the beast.