[TWD x Resident Evil] — Chapter 290 - Emergency Training — Face to Face

The prison's rear yard had been temporarily converted into a training center that stank to high heaven.

Leon dragged over a chair, crossed his legs like a slave-driving overseer, and planted himself in the middle of the drill ground.

Behind him, Andrea and Amy massaged his back. Life was good.

The dozen or so unlucky souls chosen before him, however, were not nearly so fortunate.

They, along with Roberta's trio, were gathered around a Walker chained to a post, their faces uniformly constipated.

That Walker was a fresh catch Daryl had just "fished" back from outside.

A few rotted leaves still clung to its body, and it emitted rasping "huh-huh" sounds from its mouth, reaching out futilely, trying to grab the nearest prisoner.

"Watch closely." Leon pointed at the Walker with the crowbar in his hand.

"From this moment on, it is your teacher."

"You will study its every movement, every turn, every convulsion."

"Anyone who fails to imitate it convincingly goes without dinner tonight."

"I'm not abusing you. I'm making sure you learn properly, so you don't die regretting you didn't take this seriously."

A burly prisoner nicknamed "Sledge" was the first to crack, bursting out laughing.

"Boss, you serious? Learning to walk like this thing?"

Leon said nothing, only shot a glance at Daryl beside him.

Daryl caught the hint, drew a headless crossbow bolt from his quiver, and jabbed it straight into Sledge's calf.

"Argh!"

Sledge howled, hopping up and clutching his leg.

The pose, goddamn it, actually did look a bit like the Walker next to him.

"Still find it funny now?" Leon asked flatly.

Sledge scratched his head awkwardly, then shook his head vigorously.

"Good." Leon stood up and walked before the group.

"Remember, you are not acting. You are learning a language of survival."

"The Walkers' movements are their language."

"You need to blend in with them like a native, not like some idiot tourist in a Hawaiian shirt, shouting hello and then getting treated like a plate of fresh snacks."

"Now, begin!"

On the drill ground, a bizarre scene unfolded.

A gang of strong, grown men started imitating that Walker, tilting their necks, slumping their shoulders, dragging one leg, wandering aimlessly across the field.

The spectacle looked exactly like a group of severe-case patients who'd just escaped en masse from a mental institution, out for their yard time.

Doc watched from the side, thoroughly amused, his pipe trembling in his hand like he had Parkinson's.

"My God, Roberta, look at that."

He lowered his voice, pointing at a prisoner who was earnestly trying to imitate the Walker's convulsions.

"That kid, if he doesn't go to Hollywood and win an Oscar, it'd be a waste of talent."

Roberta did not laugh.

She was meticulously imitating every detail of the Walker with rigid precision.

Her gait, her gaze, even the low growl emerging from her throat carried the strictness and persistence of a soldier.

10K, on the other hand, learned extremely fast, nearly perfectly mimicking the Walker's distinctive stiffness after watching just once.

Only Murphy.

He stood rooted to the spot, his whole body rigid, that blue face of his looking worse than crying.

He didn't need to learn.

Damn it, he was born with it.

If he wanted to, he could be more like a Walker than any actual Walker here.

But he didn't dare.

He feared that if he performed too well, he'd reveal even more of his secrets to that devil Leon.

"Commander Murphy." Leon's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Murphy jolted, nearly pissing himself on the spot.

"Why aren't you moving?" Leon walked up in front of him, looking down at him.

"I... I... I'm scared..." Murphy stammered.

"Scared?" Leon smiled.

"You are this squad's commander. Your team members are all watching you."

"And now you're telling me you're scared?"

"I..."

"Look at me." Leon's tone brooked no dissent.

Murphy was forced to lift his head.

"Now, imitate it." Leon pointed at the chained Walker.

"Imitate it. Now."

Under the gaze of Leon's eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, Murphy felt all his pretenses stripped bare.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his entire demeanor had transformed.

His body began to sway slightly at an extremely eerie frequency, his neck tilted to one side at an unnatural angle, his eyes turning vacant and turbid.

"Huh... huh-huh..."

In that instant, every prisoner around him who had been "learning" stopped moving and stared at him in horror.

Even the chained Walker itself seemed to freeze for a moment, then aimed a more urgent series of low growls in Murphy's direction, as if greeting a long-lost blood brother.

"Holy shit..."

The pipe in Doc's mouth dropped to the ground with a clatter.

Roberta was speechless too.

She had always thought Murphy was merely a lucky guy whom Walkers ignored.

But now it seemed... what the hell did she mean, ignored?

This was outright recognition!

Leon nodded with satisfaction.

Good.

Looks like the kid had finally come around.

He patted Murphy on the shoulder.

"Very good, Commander. You've given your soldiers a perfect demonstration."

"Now, you will continue learning. I have other matters to attend to."

➤ Next: Days Like This Are Really Too Damn Good