The group runs into the backyard of a house, and Lee quickly closes the gate behind them.
Micah leans over, hands on his knees, catching his breath. All his life, he's been an outlaw—always on the run. But now, almost 50 years old, he can feel age catching up to him. His smoking habit certainly doesn't help either.
He takes one last deep, raspy breath, steadies himself, and straightens up. "Okay. You," he points sharply at Omid. "Get the door open." He gestures over his shoulder with his thumb.
"Alright." Omid nods and hurries toward the door.
Micah turns to Chuck. "You check the window." Chuck nods in response and moves to do so.
Then Micah walks over to Clementine and slaps her across the face, causing her to fall to the ground with a cry of pain. She yelps, clutching her face in shock as she falls onto her backside. Tears start welling up in her eyes.
"Hey!" Lee's eyebrows furrow, and he takes big, determined steps toward Micah. When he reaches the older man, he pushes him away furiously. "Don't fuckin' touch her, you asshole!" His fists tighten, ready for a fight.
"You watch your tone, boy," Micah chuckles darkly. "She needs to be disciplined—seems like her parents didn't bother, nor you."
"You got no fuckin' right or reason to lay a hand on her!" Lee growls, voice rising.
Christa arrives with a furious look on her face and kneels down beside Clementine.
"In fact, I do," Micah says calmly. "Did ya forget what she did on the street? She made a dumb decision, but maybe this will teach her a lesson." He turns to Clementine, who is still sobbing and holding her now-red cheek. "Did you learn your lesson, Clem?" he asks slowly, with a hint of sarcasm.
"...Yes..." she sobs softly.
Lee remains silent for a moment, glaring at Micah. "Touch her again like that, and—"
"I get it, I get it," Micah interrupts, rolling his eyes. "You'll kill me."
Omid calls out to everyone. "There's only one way to get in!"
Micah trots over, followed by the others. "And what's that?"
Omid points to a small door at the lower end of the main door. "Doggie door."
"Ah." Micah turns to Clementine, who is still sobbing. "Then she can go inside and unlock the door from the inside."
"We're not doing that," Christa protests.
"And we can't anyway," Omid explains. "It won't open. The dog needs to be here to open it."
Lee remembers the collar with the chip that activates the doggie door when the dog is nearby. "Oh!" he exclaims. He then looks toward the doghouse in the corner of the yard, where a small grave lies next to it.
Everyone else notices his gaze. "Well, shit," Lee mutters, shrugging.
Micah turns to Chuck, who has a shovel. "Could you—" he asks sarcastically, "dig up the dog?"
Chuck rolls his eyes. "Fine." He walks over to the grave and begins digging.
"Hey, be careful," Omid warns. "Digging up dead things isn't what it used to be, you know what I mean?"
"Got it, partner," Chuck replies.
In the grave lies the body of a dog, still wearing its collar. Chuck finishes digging and sets his shovel aside.
"Jeez, this stinks horrible," Omid says, covering his nose with his palm.
Micah snorts dismissively at Omid's complaints.
Chuck carefully picks up the collar. "How should—" he begins to ask, but before he can finish, the dog's head falls off its body, and the collar comes free. "Damn!"
"Shit," Lee curses under his breath.
Clementine, who had been kept behind Lee, didn't see the head fall. Christa begins vomiting, visibly shaken. "Are you okay?" Clem asks, worried.
"I'm fine, honey. It's just the smell," Christa says, hands on her knees, taking deep breaths.
Omid, noticing the situation, asks, "Are you sure you're—"
"Just shut up," Christa interrupts firmly. "I said I'm fine."
Chuck holds up the collar and places it near the pet door. Instantly, the door unlocks.
"Finally!" Micah claps his hands. "Hurry up, Clem!"
Clementine nods, her head low with determination. She crawls through the pet door. A few moments later, it opens from the inside. She steps out, smiling slightly, proud of herself.
"Let's go," Micah says, stepping past her.
"Good work, Clem," Lee says warmly, and she smiles back.
Everyone quickly moves inside.