I was running as fast as my legs would weave me through the gunshots and vulgar shouting. As I ran, my sore legs and burning lungs cursed me. I shouldn't have let my guard down so close to town, and I definitely shouldn't have been playing music for God's sake. Fuck.

We'd been in an old music store named 'Tuney Lunes' which Joel snickered at.

"What's so funny?" I'd asked.

"It's ahh... nothin'. TV Show from a long time ago."

I nodded like I knew what he was talking about. What's a show…? I wondered.

Joel found some cover behind an old car and waved me over. Just as I crouched down next to him I heard a clank and a BOOM when a bomb exploded somewhere to my right.

"Whoa, look at all these!" I'd said, pointing at the tall black boxes in the store window. "What do they do?"

"Those're called speakers. They'd play music real loud at a… party or somthin' so everyone could hear."

"So they're like huge Walkmans? Can we take one Joel?" She lifted one of the shelf with a grunt and hauled it over.

"I don't-"

"Pleeeeease?"

"Fine. But you're carrying."

He pushed me back against the rusty broken down car with his forearm to keep any shrapnel from hitting me. Sharp metal pieces whizzed past my face.

The heavy speaker dropped like a rock, making every instrument in the store echo.

"Nevermind."

Joel laughed. "I thought you might change your mind."

I sighed. "Sure wish I coulda listened to one though. Sounds like a hell of a good time."

Joel just smiled. Is she startin' to sound like me? He asked himself. Probably not. Must be somnthin' she picked up in Boston.

Once the smoke cleared, he signaled for me to go around and surprise attack the hunters while he waited there. At the beginning I was really bad at deciphering what he was trying to say. But now that I speak Joel a little better now, I can tell what he means. I nodded and tiptoed down the street, trying not to be seen and using old cars as cover while Joel distracted them. When I decided I was close enough, I pulled my hunting rifle from my backpack, slung it over my shoulder and aimed it at the crowd of hunters.

"Now, who said you wouldn't get to listen?" he asked.

My face lit up. "Ohmygosh Joel this is gonna be so awesome!"

I dashed over to the shelves looking for cassette tapes but only found weird silver discs. My face crumbled. "Guess we won't get to listen after all... Oh well." I was trying desperately to keep the disappointment from showing in my voice but failing miserably. But suddenly I heard a sound. Had Joel found some tapes?

Sometimes I hate every single stupid word you say

Sometimes I wanna slap you in your whole face

There's no one quite like you

You push all my buttons down

I know life would suck without you...

I had a hunter in my sights, but before I could pull the trigger a pair of arms wrapped around me and pulled me back. I kicked and tried to bite him but one arm was around my neck pushing my chin up. I struggled, starting to lose consciousness before I remembered an old trick Joel had taught me - I rammed the butt of my rifle into his kneecap.

He screamed and dropped me and I fell against a car door, coughing and gasping for breath. When we recovered, we both realized at the same time that I had dropped my rifle between us.

I lunged for the gun, but he was too quick and kicked me in the stomach. He scooped up the rifle and pointed it at me, but froze when he saw my face.

"Anna…?" he asked hesitantly.

I looked up in shock, but before I could react, a fist came out of nowhere and knocked the gun out of his hands. Joel punched him again and the hunter was on the ground, holding a hand to his bloody nose. Joel picked up the rifle and aimed it at the man's face.