He stood with the group and looked at the gathered Dead Walkers, glancing over at the senior Errand Runner he figured that they can be alone. He moved forward and started off to the side, he wanted to get them away from the Errand Runners. He tried to think of a good song to dance to and once again could only think of nursery rhymes. He hopes that someone would find a working music player, it would be so much easier than trying to think of any songs.

He got into position and waited for the bell to sound.

It was loud in the quiet little town and the Dead Walkers started towards it, following along to keep away from them he looked for his escape routes in case they decide to turn on him. When the bell stops he waits a few moments before attempting his second nerve wracking performance.

‘~Mary had a little lamb~’

It worked they focused on him now to move away and lead them somewhere.

Where would he lead them?

Get moving first, figure it out later.

He started towards the park then steered towards the church. He tried to look for places that would work and figured that the forest would be the best place to lead them. He could climb a tree, ‘No. That won’t work. I need something that won’t trap me.’

He started leading them through town and found a place where he could lead them in a circle for a bit. Once most of them were there surrounding him he started to pick up his pace, heading towards a parking lot. He went up the ramps to the top and looked for places where he could jump to. He seen a building close enough and chanced it. He jumped, landed and rolled. The bells were uncomfortable when he rolled over them and decided that this place needs bridges. He walked along the roof of the building trying to figure out where a bridge would fit.

He seen the hardwood store and wondered if all the boards were taken, he looked for a way down and made sure that the way was clear. Jumping down he went to the store and looked around. He’ll have to tell Dustin about his next plan, and it seems that this will be enough for his lookout point.

He returned to the Runners and waited for them outside, he took off his bells and carefully folded it so it wouldn’t make noise. He wrote up a quick list of what he would need and often glanced around to make sure the way out was clear.

The Errand Runners come back, or one of them. It was Sean, he walked out with a large bag.

“Oh, Clicks! Uh, did you see where Nick went?” He didn’t like the looks of this and remembered where a group of Dead Walkers was and nodded to the direction. “Thanks man, keep this between us will ya?”

“I’ll try,” Clicks whispered as Sean walked away laughing. “Watch your step.”

Two minutes pass and the rest of the Runners come out he counted them and Sabrina asked where Sean went. Clicks shrugged and made an attempt to look around. The others followed suit but not for long as it was starting to get dark. They returned hoping that Sean was there.

He was not, Sabrina reported everything that had happened and when Sean left. Clicks thought for a moment as if he was trying to think if he saw Sean or not. He shook his head no stating that he hadn’t seen him exit the building.

“We can’t go back now, it will have to wait until morning,” Dustin said and looked at Clicks. “You look like you have a new list. What did you find?”

They walked up to his office and Clicks gave his report of what had happened and the events before the ‘Disappearance’ of Sean.

“Another one? You sure he said Nick?”

“Yup, he straight up asked me if I saw Nick, I hadn’t so pointed him in a direction that I thought he was. He told me to keep quiet about it and laughed as he went. Haven’t heard from him since and we couldn’t find him.”

“Haa, dealing with all these people is tiring. So what do we do about Sean and Nick?”

“Keep a watch on Nick and I’ll keep a lookout for Sean. If he ran with rations then that should be treated as criminal activity.”

“I don’t know, Sean and Nick helped us greatly during our journey here. Wouldn’t sit right with me if we just kicked them out for no reason that the group wouldn’t understand.”

“I can kick all of you out. I don’t need to keep any of you here,” Clicks said and seen Dustin freeze then square his shoulders as if he was about to tell him what to do. “Or I can just leave, who says I have to stay? Fair warning, people will follow me and question you for kicking me out without reason. I’ve been nothing but helpful during your stay here.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried about my people.”

“Hm, soon as you lot walked through my doors you became My people. Either do what I say or I’ll leave you to fend for yourselves as you’ve always done. I’ve noticed that you keep looking at me when you talk to ‘Your’ people. I can only guess that you were trying to isolate me,” he went on. “You should feel lucky that you don’t have to step outside of these walls that I’ve built up.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Let me handle these decisions until I can trust you with them again. Don’t lock me out of the office, any important decision comes to us. If I make a call stick to it,” he said and stood and stretched. “One more thing, ‘Your’ people talk behind your back. You wouldn’t believe what they say about you.”

“They wouldn’t-”

“They do, even went as far as to warn me to stay away from you alone. Have a good night,” Clicks walked out of the office and down the stairs and practically skipped to the rations. He looked at the haul that was brought in and choose the smallest amount for himself and went to the corner and ate in quick hungry bites. He tossed his garbage away and went to his rounds of locking up the building. Some people were lighting their little candles and chatted quietly to themselves.

He checked their shelters and fixed it so a draft wouldn’t get in and searched for rips in their blankets. He then left them alone and went to his own room to rest, as the days went on he repeated his new routine. He made sure to check on everyone as they walked in and then Dr. Murphy started to check on them. He listened to the reports when they returned, after he knew that they can take care of themselves.

He sat bored on the stairs looking at the group of people not making any attempt to talk to the Murphy’s or him. They tried to talk to him but they just shut them out, this group was strange. He wondered who influences them to be weary of them, he watched them for many days and can only figure that they are whispering among themselves.

Not even the kind old woman isn’t talking when he’s around anymore, she grew distant of him and told him no more stories. He figured that he should just leave and let them have it, tear each other up from the inside and rot it to its core. He stood and everyone watched him walk back to his room. He gathered his things in his bag and was glad that the Murphy’s were not around to ask him what he was doing or where he was going.

He packed everything and was surprised at how much of a change it was, he had forgotten that the bed was even there. He has not even used it once, since he always slept under the low bed. It was then that the Murphy’s walked in all smiles.

“Clicks? Where are you going, Son?” Dr. Murphy asked.

“Are they kicking you out?” Jeb asked, Clicks shook his head that they weren’t.

“I know things are difficult now, but if you leave then you’ll never have gained their trust.” He looked at them seeing them as family, they were worried about him. Yet they never really checked on him when they were out in the clearing. They’ve also kept their distance from him, was it really worth staying here if all he ever receives for his generosity is cold stares.

“Nn,” he managed and went for the door, he walked up to the office. “It looks like you have things handled here, there’s no use for me to stay.”

“What are you talking about? We still have things to set up.”

“I’m exhausted, I’ve been pulling more than my weight and so have the Murphy’s. If you plan on working us to death then why bother staying? I’m out.”

“Wait, Clicks!” he walked out of the office and down the stairs, “Clicks you can’t leave us! We need you!”

“Good riddance!” he heard someone yell and Dustin stopped chasing after him. “We don’t need freeloaders here! We need hard working men!”

“He is a hard working man!” Dustin yelled, “He makes sure that we are safe at night, he wakes up early to lead the Dead Walkers away, he only eats once a day! What have you done Jarred?”

“I for one haven’t seen any of them get up and do any work,” Dr. Murphy said and him and his family caught up to Clicks holding their own bags. “If things don’t change around here then we are leaving.”

“Good, we don’t need you! For all I know you lot killed Sean!”