The two Humvees came to a stop beneath the shade of a cluster of old oak trees, hidden from the main road by an overgrown embankment.
Their engines idled quietly as the reconnaissance team climbed out.
Andrew spread a folded map across the hood of the lead Humvee, weighing the corners down with a pair of loaded magazines before the afternoon breeze could carry it away.
Sergeant Collins stepped forward.
"This is where we are."
He tapped a point on the map with a gloved finger before tracing the main highway leading toward Macon.
"This would've been the fastest route before the outbreak."
He shook his head.
"Not anymore."
His finger moved farther south.
"Our patrol checked it about a week ago.
The highway's completely clogged."
He glanced toward Andrew.
"Cars, tractor-trailers, buses... you name it. Even if we spent the entire day clearing it, we'd barely make a dent."
Andrew nodded.
"What about the secondary roads?"
Collins traced another route.
"This one's clear enough for the Humvees.
But..."
He circled a neighborhood with his finger.
"We've consistently seen large walker concentrations moving through here."
He looked around at the group.
"Several hundred."
"Most are trapped between abandoned vehicles, but every now and then they spill onto the road."
Andrew studied the map for several moments.
"What about another route?"
Collins traced a winding line farther west.
"This is the one I'd recommend."
He looked around the group.
"It bypasses the largest hot zones and should bring us in from the opposite side of Macon."
He hesitated.
"But..."
"It hasn't been fully scouted. We've driven parts of it during previous patrols. Far enough to know it isn't blocked."
He tapped the section farther ahead.
"Beyond this point..."
He shrugged.
"We're heading into territory we haven't properly explored."
Andrew studied the map carefully.
"Reason?"
Collins answered immediately.
"Our priority has been keeping the railway open and identifying walker concentrations. There hasn't been any reason to push farther west."
His finger followed the road once more.
"It'll probably add another thirty minutes to the drive."
"But if nothing's changed..."
"It should keep us away from the worst of the herds."
Andrew followed the route with his eyes as it wound through county roads and patches of woodland before turning back toward Macon.
"Anything of note along the route?"
Collins nodded.
"A few farms. Nothing we've found occupied."
He then added.
"There are signs people passed through at some point, campfires, empty cans. A couple of makeshift barricades. But nobody stayed."
Andrew remained silent for another moment before folding the map shut.
"We'll take Collins' route."
His gaze swept across the reconnaissance team.
"Our objective hasn't changed."
He pointed toward the northeast.
"We're going to locate Stone Mountain High School. We gather intelligence. We avoid contact unless we have no other choice."
Several soldiers nodded.
Andrew looked toward the drivers.
"Mount up."
Within moments everyone was back inside the Humvees.
The engines rumbled louder as, one after the other, the vehicles pulled back onto the road.
······
The two Humvees rolled steadily along the rural road, their engines humming as they passed beneath the thick canopy of trees.
Inside the lead Humvee, the atmosphere remained calm but alert.
Andrew sat in the front passenger seat, occasionally comparing the road ahead with the folded map resting on his lap.
Sergeant Collins occupied the rear seat, keeping an eye on the surroundings while periodically checking landmarks.
"No movement so far," Novak muttered, scanning the tree line through the open window.
"Let's hope it stays that way," Tucker replied.
Nobody argued.
The mission was going almost too smoothly.
Several minutes passed before the road began curving gently to the left.
Ahead, another narrow road branched off at a sharp angle, disappearing between dense trees before climbing over a low ridge.
As the lead Humvee approached the intersection—
"There!"
Collins suddenly leaned forward.
A weathered pickup truck flashed across the opening.
For barely two seconds it was visible.
Then it disappeared behind the wall of trees on the opposite road.
The driver instinctively eased off the accelerator.
"You saw that?" Tucker asked.
"I did," Novak answered immediately.
Andrew had already lowered the map.
"Stop."
The driver nodded.
Both Humvees rolled another twenty meters before pulling beneath the cover of the trees, their engines idling.
The second vehicle stopped behind them.
Doors opened as several soldiers stepped out, their weapons slung but ready.
Andrew climbed down first, his eyes fixed on the road where the pickup had vanished.
"It came from the direction we're heading,"
Collins observed as he joined him.
Andrew nodded.
"You're sure?"
Collins answered without hesitation.
"I am."
Novak stepped forward.
"It looked like an old four-door pickup."
She frowned slightly.
"But I couldn't identify the occupants. The trees blocked most of the view."
Shane stepped up beside Andrew, resting his shotgun against one shoulder.
"You think it's them?"
Andrew didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the empty stretch of road.
Finally, he spoke.
"I don't know."
Hale looked toward the intersection.
"Could just be survivors."
"Could be," Tucker agreed.
"Or it could be the bandits."
Collins folded his arms.
"If they're heading toward Macon, they could be anyone. A scavenging party or another survivor group."
Shane's eyes narrowed.
"Let's not forget what Jolene told us."
He looked toward the intersection.
"Those bastards extort supplies from other survivor groups. Could be they're heading to do just that."
Silence settled over the group.
Andrew looked down at the map once more before tracing the road the pickup had taken with one finger.
The route disappeared into territory that hasn't yet been explored.
He slowly glanced toward the empty intersection.
"If that truck has anything to do with the bandits, capturing them could provide us with much-needed information about the inside of the school."
He looked around at the group.
"We'll tail them and find out who they are."
Nobody spoke.
One by one, the soldiers gave quiet nods.
Within moments, everyone was back inside the Humvees.
The doors slammed shut one after another.
Andrew settled back into the front passenger seat.
"Let's move."
The lead Humvee pulled back onto the narrow road, the second falling in behind it.
Neither vehicle pushed its speed.
If the pickup belonged to the bandits, charging after it would only risk being spotted.
For several minutes, they followed the winding road in silence.
The trees on either side grew denser, limiting visibility to little more than the stretch of road directly ahead.
Tucker leaned forward from the back seat.
"Boss..."
Andrew glanced over his shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"That pickup had a pretty good head start."
He shrugged.
"We might've already lost it."
"Maybe," Andrew answered calmly.
"But there's only one road. As long as they don't leave it, we've still got a chance."
The Humvees continued deeper into the countryside.
A few minutes later, the road curved sharply to the right.
The driver instinctively eased off the accelerator.
The moment the lead Humvee came around the bend—
"There!"
Tucker pointed through the windshield.
Several hundred yards ahead, the weathered pickup truck sat parked near the entrance of an old roadside motel.
Four armed men stood beside it.
None of them appeared to be in any hurry.
Instead, they were facing the motel, talking with someone hidden behind a line of makeshift barricades erected across the entrance.
Andrew couldn't make out the conversation from this distance.
Only the occasional gesture from one of the armed men.
The driver reacted immediately.
Without waiting for an order, he steered the Humvee off the road and into the cover of thick brush lining the shoulder.
The second vehicle followed, disappearing behind the first.
Both engines dropped to a quiet idle.
From the road, the foliage concealed them almost completely, while the curve they had just rounded ensured the bandits had no direct line of sight toward their position.
Andrew reached for the binoculars resting beside his seat.
His eyes remained fixed on the motel.
That's the motel where Lee's group should be. And this situation is similar to the one from the game.
Lowering the binoculars Andrew spoke.
"Looks like we found where they were headed."
"And looks like Shane might have been right about our four friends here." Said Cole.
Every pair of eyes was now focused on the scene unfolding several hundred yards away.
The men by the pickup were armed.
And from the way they carried themselves, it was true that they weren't simply passing through.
He looked back toward the two Humvees hidden beneath the trees.
"Hale."
The sergeant stepped beside him.
"I'm here."
Andrew pointed toward the motel.
"I'm taking a team in on foot."
Hale nodded.
"I figured."
Andrew turned toward the rest of the reconnaissance team.
"Tucker, Novak, Collins, Ramirez, Patel, Shane, you're with me."
His gaze shifted to the remaining soldiers.
"The rest of you stay with the vehicles. If anything comes down this road, I want to know immediately."
Hale nodded.
"We'll keep the engines running."
Andrew gave a small nod.
"If you hear sustained gunfire, move to support us. But don't drive into the motel unless you have no other choice."
"Understood."
With the orders given, Andrew slung his MP5 into a more comfortable position.
He looked toward the tree line.
"Let's move."
Without another word, the group slipped into the woods.
The thick undergrowth muffled their footsteps as they advanced parallel to the road, using the trees to conceal their movement.
Nobody spoke.
Only the occasional hand signal passed between Andrew and the others as they carefully worked their way closer.
Ahead, muffled voices drifted through the trees.
The reconnaissance team slowed.
Andrew raised a clenched fist.
Everyone immediately stopped.
He crouched behind a large oak and carefully looked ahead.
The motel's perimeter came into view.
A makeshift barricade of abandoned cars, fencing and wooden pallets blocked the entrance.
Andrew could just make out several frightened faces peering over it.
Before anyone could react—
One of the bandits vaulted over the barricade.
The other three followed immediately behind.
"What the—"
The startled voices from inside the motel were quickly drowned out by shouting.
"On your knees!"
"Move!"
"Hands where I can see 'em!"
Andrew's jaw tightened.
The survivors offered little resistance.
Within moments, most of them had been forced into the center of the courtyard.
Nearly all of them were on their knees.
One of the bandits paced back and forth, rifle raised as he barked orders.
Another began searching through backpacks and supply crates.
A third walked from person to person, clearly looking for anything worth taking.
Andrew exchanged a quick glance with his team.
"They're extorting them," Shane whispered.
"Just like Jolene said."
Andrew gave a slow nod.
He motioned the team forward.
Keeping low, they continued moving through the trees until the motel's outer wall was only a few yards away.
One by one, they slipped into position behind the weathered concrete wall and sections of the barricade, careful to remain out of sight.
Andrew slowly leaned forward just enough to see into the courtyard.
The entire scene unfolded before him.
Four bandits.
All armed.
All focused on the terrified survivors.
Not one of them was watching the tree line behind them.
Andrew slowly lowered himself back into cover.
His gaze swept across the team.
In a barely audible whisper, he spoke.
"Looks like we've found our opportunity."
Without anymore speaking, Andrew began issuing hand signals.
Collins acknowledged immediately.
Within seconds, the squad quietly dispersed.
Novak and Tucker slipped farther down the barricade to the right.
Ramirez and Patel moved to the left, using abandoned vehicles and overgrown hedges as cover.
Shane and Collins remained beside Andrew, as they moved to the center of the baricade.
Every movement was slow, deliberate and silent.
Less than a minute later, Andrew caught the signal from everyone.
Ready.
He glanced around one final time.
Every member of the squad was in position.
The bandits had no idea.
Just then, the door to one of the motel rooms opened.
A man stepped into the courtyard with both hands raised.
Andrew studied him for a moment.
Andrew recognized him immediately.
Lee
Just as he remembered from the game.
Lee walked forward cautiously, stopping several yards from the bandits.
"Easy," he called.
"We don't want any trouble."
One of the bandits laughed.
"You don't want trouble?"
He stepped closer, rifle hanging loosely in his hands.
"Then quit wasting our time. We already told your people."
He pointed toward the growing pile of supplies.
"You pay. We leave. It's that simple."
Lee kept his voice calm.
"We've already given you medicine. We don't have much left."
"Then that's your problem."
The bandit sneered.
"You've got five seconds to find something worth taking."
Andrew's jaw tightened.
Enough.
He looked toward the others.
Receiving nods in return.
Andrew drew a slow breath.
Then, in one fluid motion, he rose above the barricade.
His MP5 came to his shoulder.
"Don't move!"
Almost instantly, soldiers appeared all around the courtyard.
Weapons came up from behind the barricade.
From behind abandoned cars.
Every rifle was trained on the four bandits.
The sudden chorus of bolts snapping into battery echoed through the courtyard.
The entire motel froze.
Lee's eyes widened.
The survivors stared in stunned disbelief.
The four bandits spun around instinctively, rifles coming halfway up.
Their expressions changed the instant they saw how many weapons were aimed at them.
They were surrounded.
Andrew's voice remained calm, but left no room for argument.
"Drop your weapons."
The bandits glanced at one another.
No one moved.
Andrew took a single step forward.
"I won't ask again."
A long, tense moment passed.
Then one rifle clattered onto the pavement.
Another followed.
Within seconds, all four weapons lay on the ground.
One by one, the bandits slowly raised their hands.
For several long seconds, nobody moved.
The courtyard remained frozen.
Andrew kept his MP5 trained on the four men.
"Kick the weapons away."
The bandits hesitated only briefly before complying.
One after another, the rifles slid across the cracked asphalt.
"On your knees."
This time, there was no hesitation.
The four slowly lowered themselves to the ground, hands raised.
Andrew didn't take his eyes off them.
"Collins."
The sergeant stepped forward immediately.
"You and Ramirez secure them."
"Petel, search them."
"Shane, keep an eye on the courtyard."
"Copy."
The squad moved with practiced efficiency.
Plastic restraints were pulled tight around wrists.
Rifles, pistols, knives and spare magazines were collected into a growing pile several feet away.
A minute later, Collins looked up.
"Four prisoners secured."
Andrew gave a single nod.
Only then did he lower his weapon.
Just enough to show the immediate danger had passed.
He turned toward the survivors gathered in the courtyard.
Many still remained on their knees.
Several adults instinctively shielded the children behind them.
Fear had not yet left their faces.
Andrew's voice was calm.
"Is anyone hurt?"
The question seemed to catch them off guard.
They looked at one another before finally shaking their heads.
Lee stepped forward.
"No."
He glanced toward the restrained bandits.
"...Thanks to you."
Andrew inclined his head.
"Good."
He closed the distance by a few steps before extending a hand.
"Lieutenant Andrew Mercer."
The man looked at it for a brief moment before accepting it.
"Lee Everett."
A faint smile crossed Andrew's face.
"Good to meet you, Lee."
The handshake lasted only a moment before both men released it.
Andrew looked around the courtyard.
"I'm guessing these aren't the first men to come here demanding supplies."
Lee let out a tired breath.
"No. They've been coming around for a while."
His expression darkened.
"And they weren't planning on leaving empty-handed today."
Andrew nodded slowly.
"You're safe now."
He glanced toward the captured bandits before looking back at the group.
"We've established a secure settlement at not very far from here. There are soldiers, medical personnel, food and clean water."
"If you're willing, you could be escorted there."
Silence followed.
No one answered immediately.
Instead, Lee looked back toward the others.
Almost instinctively, the group gathered together a short distance away, speaking in hushed voices.
Andrew made no attempt to interrupt them.
He simply waited.
Kenny was the first to break the silence.
"Military..."
He scratched at his beard before glancing toward the Humvees.
"I honestly figured there wasn't any left."
Larry folded his arms across his chest.
"Or maybe they finally decided to show up after the world's already gone to hell."
"Dad..." Lilly warned.
"What?" he shot back.
"I'm just saying. We've been fighting to stay alive for months. Now they suddenly appear?"
Carley looked toward the restrained bandits.
"They didn't have to stop. They could've driven right past this place."
She nodded toward Andrew's squad.
"But they didn't."
Doug adjusted his glasses before looking at the Humvees.
"They're equipped. Uniforms match. Their weapons are maintained."
His eyes drifted toward the soldiers watching every direction around the motel.
"They're pulling security even while we're talking."
He looked back at the others.
"That's not something you fake."
Katjaa gently rested a hand on Duck's shoulder.
"If what they're saying is true..."
She looked around the worn-down motel one last time.
"...food, doctors..."
Her eyes settled on the children.
"...and walls."
Duck looked up hopefully.
"They've got soldiers."
Katjaa smiled faintly.
"Yes. They do."
Standing quietly beside Lee, Clementine peeked around him toward the soldiers.
Her gaze wandered from the Humvees to the Rangers standing watch over the captured bandits.
She gently tugged on Lee's sleeve.
"Lee..."
He looked down.
"Yeah, Clem?"
She pointed discreetly toward Andrew and his squad.
"Are they really soldiers?"
Lee followed her gaze for a moment before nodding.
"They sure look like it."
Clementine watched Andrew quietly speaking with one of his sergeants before her eyes returned to the soldiers guarding the prisoners.
"They helped us."
Lee smiled faintly.
"Yeah. They did."
Ben shifted uneasily where he stood.
"You... you think they'll actually let us stay?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Carley looked at him.
"If they were planning to turn us away, I don't think they'd have risked their lives for us."
Ben slowly nodded, though the uncertainty remained on his face.
Lilly still hadn't spoken.
Her attention remained fixed on the soldiers.
She watched them securing the prisoners, checking every corner of the courtyard and covering one another without needing to be told.
Her gaze eventually settled on Shane.
Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing a military uniform.
Instead it was visibility on of a police officer, he carried his shotgun over one shoulder and stood comfortably among the soldiers as though he'd worked beside them for years.
She frowned thoughtfully.
"He isn't Army."
Larry glanced over.
"So?"
"He isn't moving like the others," Lilly replied quietly.
"But they're treating him like one of their own."
Lee followed her gaze for a moment before looking back toward Andrew.
"They seem organized."
Kenny sighed.
"I don't like putting our lives in somebody else's hands."
He looked around the battered motel.
"But..."
His eyes drifted toward Duck, Katjaa... and Clementine.
"...I don't like our chances staying here much either."
Clementine looked up at the adults.
"They saved us."
The simple statement hung in the air.
No one answered immediately.
Even Larry remained silent.
A few feet away, Hale stepped beside Andrew.
"Lieutenant?"
Andrew kept his voice low.
"Give them a minute."
Hale nodded.
"They've earned that much."
Another half minute passed before Lee looked around at everyone.
No one objected.
Some looked uncertain.
Others looked relieved.
But nobody wanted to stay at the motel any longer.
Lee drew a slow breath before turning back toward Andrew.
The rest of the group followed a few steps behind him.
Lee stopped a few feet in front of Andrew.
For a brief moment, neither man spoke.
Lee glanced back at the people standing behind him before returning his attention to the young lieutenant.
"We talked it over."
He gave a small nod.
"We'll come with you."
A faint smile crossed Andrew's face.
"I'm glad to hear it."
He looked past Lee toward the rest of the group.
"I know that wasn't an easy decision."
His expression became professional once more.
"But we need to move immediately."
He briefly glanced toward the restrained bandits sitting under guard.
"There are still other objectives we have to complete before the day is over."
Lee nodded in understanding.
"What do you need us to do?"
"Pack only what's essential," Andrew replied. "Food, medicine, ammunition, clothing—anything you can't easily replace."
He looked around the motel one last time.
"We'll help load your supplies, but we can't afford to stay here any longer than necessary."
Andrew turned toward his squad.
"Hale."
The sergeant immediately stepped forward.
"Get Thuker and Wiatt to help them load up."
"Ramirez, keep the prisoners under guard."
"Everyone else, maintain security until we roll out."
A chorus of acknowledgments followed.
The quiet courtyard sprang into motion.
Soldiers spread out to cover the perimeter while others helped carry boxes of supplies from the motel rooms.
Kenny and Doug secured what little remained of the group's food.
Carley gathered medical supplies alongside Katjaa.
Ben hurried back and forth with bags slung over both shoulders, eager to make himself useful.
Larry grumbled under his breath as he hefted a heavy crate into the RV, though even he seemed relieved to finally be leaving.
Lilly organized the loading with practiced efficiency, making sure nothing important was left behind.
Nearby, Clementine watched the soldiers work with quiet fascination before climbing into the RV after Lee.
Outside the gate, the two Humvees remained in position, engines idling.
Two captured bandits were escorted into the rear of the second vehicle, their restraints checked one last time before the doors were shut.
With the other two were escorted into the lead humvee.
Satisfied that everyone was aboard, Andrew climbed into the RV along Shane, Collins, Lee and his group.
He picked up his radio.
"Convoy, this is Alpha One."
A brief pause.
"All vehicles report ready."
One after another, confirmations came back over the net.
"Lead ready."
"Second ready."
Andrew looked through the windshield toward the open road ahead.
"Move out."
The lead Humvee eased forward, rolling out through the motel entrance.
Lee's RV fell in behind it.
The second Humvee brought up the rear, its soldiers remaining alert as the convoy disappeared down the quiet country road.
Within minutes, the abandoned motel had vanished behind the trees, leaving only silence in its wake.