Joel jerked up from his deep sleep, another nightmare from the events 20 years ago, the night he almost lost his daughter.
The knocking in the door became louder, as the now grey haired, but still capable man rose to his feet.
"I'm Coming" He yelled out in his signature Texas accent as the knocking intensified.
Joel opened the door, seeing Tess, his partner in the Smuggling business, sporting a black eye.
"How was your morning?" She uttered sarcastically as she let herself in and poured herself a glass of whiskey.
"Want One?" She asked, handing the bottle towards Joel.
"No" He exclaimed harshly.
"I don't want one"
"Well I have some interesting new for you" Tess continued
"Where were you Tess" Joel snapped
"West End District" She explained after a brief hesitation
"Hey, we had a drop to make"
"We" Joel barked
"We had a drop to make"
"Yeah, well, you wanted to be left alone, remember" Tess explained.
"So I'll take one guess" Joel began
"The whole deal went south and the client made off with all our pills. Is that about right"?
"Deal went off without a hitch" Tess countered
"Enough Ration Cards to last us a couple months, easy" She continued as she threw a stack of ration cards on the table.
"You want to explain this then?" Joel asked, pointing towards his eye.
"I was on my way back here when I got jumped by these two assholes alright? Yeah they got a few good hits in" She explained as she poured a bit of whiskey into a rag
"Look I managed" She half yelled as she noticed Joel roll his eyes
"Gimme that" Joel retorted as he snatched the alcohol soaked rag before gently dabbing it onto the swelling directly underneath Tess' right eye.
"Are these assholes still with us?" Joel asked
"Now that's funny" Tess responded with a smile
"Did you at least find out who they were?" He continued
"Yeah, look" Tess began and she swatted Joel's arm away from here
"They were a couple of nobodies, they don't matter. What matters is that Robert fucking sent them"
"Our Robert"? Joel Questioned rhetorically
"He knows were after him. He figures he's gonna get us first"
"That son of a bitch he's smart" Joel exclaimed as he threw the rag on the counter in frustration.
"No" The softer, yet still Texan accent said from the doorway on the other side of the room
"He's not smart enough" Sarah continued
"I know where he's hiding"
"Like hell you do" Tess said with a smile on her face
"Old warehouse in Area 5, can't say for how long though"
"Well I'm ready now, yeah?" Tess said as she barged back out the door
"Oh, I can do now" Joel muttered as he and Sarah followed Tess out the door.
The Trio entered the street, filled with litter and the smell of garbage, watching as soldiers walked across the roof of the apartment building.
"The Checkpoints still open" Sarah stated
"Only a few hours left until curfew" Joel added
"We better hurry up then" Tess blankly said.
"Maybe you should stay here Sarah, just to be safe" Joel said.
"Well what if he sends guys after me while I'm alone" Sarah countered.
"Tess managed to get rid of them" Joel retorted
"Yeah, Tess and her bionic arm barely got threw it, I'm not gonna do it alone"
"She's got a point Joel" Tess interrupted
"Fine" Joel said, accepting defeat.
Tess unlocked the gate in front of them and they walked a quick stretch of alley before reaching a long abandoned street, which was now a large walkway.
"Attention" A women on a loudspeaker began.
"Citizens are required to carry a current ID at all times. Compliance with all city personnel is mandatory"
"Look at that. Ration Line hasn't opened yet. Must be running low again" Tess stated as the argument between a women and a soldier at the Ration line across the street ensued.
The three stopped and watched Military members in HAZMAT suits forcefully check the occupants of a condemned building for the infection.
The trio moved on when a middle aged women tested positive for the infection, and was struggling against her restraints to get free of her imminent execution.
"Seems like more people are getting infected" Sarah stated as they moved on
"That just means more people are sneakin' out" Tess explained as they reached the checkpoint to Area 5 of the Boston Quarantine Zone.
"I got us all new papers" Tess explained as she handed her, Joel and Sarah's ID's to him.
"They shouldn't give us any static up there. Just play it cool".
"Let me see your ID's" The guard demanded.
"There you go" Joel said as he handed the Guard the ID's.
"What's your business here?" He demanded a second time as he inspected the ID's.
"Got the day off. Visiting a friend" Joel stated ironically, causing an almost undetectable smirk from Sarah.
"Alright" The guard said as he handed back there ID's.
"Move on through"
"Thanks" Joel uttered as they took a few steps.
An explosion suddenly ripped through the area, sending shrapnel into Joel's arms.
"Get outta here, Go" The guard yelled as he yanked Sarah to her feet and closed the gate.
The three ran back towards an apartment complex, hearing the nothing but bullets and Military screaming about Fireflies.
"Attention" The Loudspeaker began again.
"Checkpoint 5 is now closed until further notice. All civilians must clear the surrounding area immediately.
"Fuck" Tess exclaimed as they reached the apartment.
"Shit, are you okay?" Sarah said as they noticed the cut in her father's forearm.
"I'm fine" Joel remarked gruffly
"So much for the easy route. Patch yourself up, alright?" Tess said as she chucked Joel a bandage that he used immediately on his gashed arm.
"They're gonna close all the checkpoints. We're gonna have to go around the outside" She explained.
"Outside the Wall?" Sarah asked
"Or we could just jet Robert go" Tess said sarcastically
"Cute" Sarah retorted.
"Hey Tess, you see that shit" A fellow smuggler, a familiar face to Joel and Sarah, but did not have the slightest clue of his name, asked Tess as they walked up the corridor.
"I was there, hey, how's the East Tunnel looking?" Tess asked
"It's clear. I just used it. No Patrols. Where you off to?"
"Gonna pay Robert a visit"
"You too?"
"Who else is looking for him?"
"Uh, Marlene. She's been asking around, trying to find him"
"Marlene? What do the Fireflies want with Robert?"
"You think she'd tell me?"
"Well, what did you tell her?"
"The truth. I got no idea where he's hiding"
"Good man. Hey, you stay out of trouble, alright? Military's gonna be out in force soon"
"Yeah, see you around".
"Marlene lookin' for Robert?" Tess asked as she turned to face Joel, arriving at the apartment.
"What do you make of that?"
"I don't like it. We better find him before the Fireflies do" Joel explained as they were greeted by Apartment owner.
"Hey Guys, how's it going?" he asked the group.
"Shit's stirring up out there. How we lookin' over here?" Tess asked
"Ah, it's been quiet. No signs of Military or Infected." He explained
"That's what I like to hear" Tess exclaimed as she moved over to a nearly empty bookshelf.
"Joel give me a hand with this" She says as the two begin to move the Bookshelf out of the way, revealing a hole in the wall, with a huge drop into a tunnel.
"Y'all take it easy out there" the apartment owner says as Tess, followed Joel, followed by Sarah, jump into the darkness.