Part 5: Rescue

Johnny, Ellie, Steven along with Tommy, Joel and Maria rushed to a large building where the weapons were kept. They ran into the living area where a table was set up along with a radio. Rachel was holding the speaker, "Don't worry he just got here," she said letting Johnny take the seat.

"Conner can you hear me?" He asked.

"Yeah, Johnny according to the person who made it back they were taken a few hours ago," Conner said.

"Did they know where they were taken," Ellie said.

"Yeah an old town on the other side of the mountain, I'm pretty sure it's the bandits you ran into last month," said Conner.

"Wait a minute hang on," said Tommy stepping next to the radio. "Does the man who made it back remember what they looked like, even their weaponry would be fine," he said.

"They were mostly men and most of their weaponry involved bows and arrows," said Conner. "Though there was a bald guy leading them and he was carrying a hunting rifle," he said.

"Its them," said Rachel getting everyones attention. They looked to see she had a surprised look on her face.

"What do you mean?" Ellie asked looking confused.

"You remember when we were camping outside near Conners town a few months back?" She asked.

Johnny remembered. They were doing a supply run in the area and camped out nearby. Then Rachel who had gone to make sure the area was secure came running back saying there were bandits coming after her. They took down most of them but according to Rachel two others had already left.

"I remember seeing a bald man with them, I only caught a bit of their conversation but it sounded like they were planning an attack on the town," said Rachel.

"Sounds like as long as their out there they could be a threat," Conner said sounding serious.

Johnny looked at the table and then let out a sigh. "Conner can you spare a few people to come with me and my team," he said.

"Already on it, ill be joining you," he said. "Oh and Johnny," he said getting his attention.

"Thanks and see you soon," he said before the radio went silent.

"I'm going too," Joel said making Johnny and Ellie look surprised. "What you werent thinking I was going to let you go out there alone," he said smiling.

"Thanks Joel," Ellie said.

"Ill see if I can spare a few too," Maria said before walking out of the room. Johnnny noticed she looked calm but remembered that her first conversation with Conner didn't go so well.

Flashback:

"Your not gonna let me go right," Ellie said sounding nervous as they flew above the town. Johnny holding both of them up.

"Don't worry I got this, besides this is practice just in case if I have to make a quick get away," said Johnny.

"Yeah well hopefully you don't have to lift all of us," Ellie said looking at him. "Last time I saw you fly and lift things you passed out," she said.

"And that is why I practice," said Johnny. They then heard the sound of someone arguing and they looked towards the gate where Maria was talking to a group of people.

"We better find out what's going on," Ellie said calmly and Johnny nodded. As he flew closer he noticed one of the people from the group was a tall man.

"Wait is that Conner," he thought recognizing the leader of Daves last group.

"Did he not tell you I was the leader of this group," Maria said.

"He did but your not the one I want to talk too," Conner said looking annoyed when Johnny and Ellie landed on the ground.

"Whats going on here," Johnny said looking between them.

"Just a disagreement between two leaders," Maria said crossing her arms.

"I wanted to discuss trading supplies but I only wanted to discuss them with you," Conner said looking serious.

"Well to be honest you should only be talking with Maria about this," Johnny said.

"See," Maria said.

"Well I would feel better if Johnny was there, after all he and his team were the ones who saved my people," Conner said looking at Johnny. "Like us they take time to go out there and help people," he said.

"Conner," Johnny said getting his attention. "I wouldn't have my team if Maria didn't help me arrange it," he said.

"So trust me when I say you can have this discussion with her," he said.

"Thanks Johnny," said Maria and he looked to see she was smiling. "But if I ever have a problem with him ill come to you first," he said.

"Got it," Johnny said sighing as the two group leaders walked away.

"How did everything go," said Tommy walking over.

"I just got more work to do," Johnny said while Ellie laughed.

Flashback end

Conners trucks pulled in as Johnny finished loading ammo into his backpack. "Here," Ellie said handing a few arrows for his bow.

"Thanks," said Johnny putting them into his backpack when she kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm going to make sure everyone else is okay," she said before walking over to Steve and Rachel.

"She really does care about you," Dave said walking over to him.

"Dave, your not coming on this trip too are you?" Johnny asked looking confused.

"No I'm just putting the cure somewhere safe," he said holding out a small box.

Johnny grabbed it and sure enough the syringe was inside. "Shouldn't this be in a safe," he said before shutting the box.

"No that's where were keeping the instructions on how to make the cure," Dave said before looking serious. "But we both agreed that this is safe in your hands," he said.

"Is it safe to use, you know just in case," said Johnny.

Dave nodded and Johnny sighed before putting the box in his backpack. Johnny then got into the back of the truck along with Ellie, Joel and the team. Tommy also joined them along with a few other people from Jackson. They drove out and reached the forest outside the bandits town.

Johnny was with Joel, Tommy and Conner near a hill. There was a large wall surrounding the town and there were towers that were clearly built. "They have all sides being watched," Tommy said.

"Doesn't seem to be any weakness in the wall," Joel said holding up the binoculars. "Looks like they made some cells on the far side of the town," he said.

"Which means there's probably only one entrance to the entire place," Johnny said when Conner tapped his shoulder.

"Big house, middle of town," he said handing him his own binoculars.

Johnny looked towards the biggest house in the town and noticed a bald man at the front door. "Fits the guy who made it back subscription perfectly," he said.

"We take him out the entire group could fall apart," Tommy said.

"There's still a lot of men between him and us," Joel said as they walked back to the others.

"So whats the plan," said Ellie.

"We create a distraction and split into two teams," Johnny said. "One of us goes after their leader and the other goes after the prisoners," he said.

"You go after the leader," Tommy said. "You have the best chance of reaching him," he said.

"Ill back him up," Joel said.

"Guess that leaves us to free the prisoners," said Conner. "We brought some extra weapons with us, so if we free them will have them outnumbered," he said.

"Sounds like a plan, Johnny can I join that team," Steven said.

"Go ahead," Johnny said.

"Ill join them," Tommy said taking out his weapon. "The rest from Jackson go with Johnnys team," he said.

"Great, now how are we getting in," Rachel said while Johnny looked towards two abandoned cars.

Over in one of the towns watch towers. The man looked forward noticing something. "What is that," he said before the car crashed into the watchtower. The bandits inside looked surprised, but before they could react another one smashed into the gate.

"Were under," a bandit said before he was shot in the head. Johnny landed in front the destroyed gate holding his pistol.

"GOOO," he yelled as the rest of his team rushed into the town. Ellie took out someone wielding a rifle.

Johnny, Joel and Ellie rushed with the rest of their team towards the housing area. A large man ran at Johnny but Joel shot him with his shotgun. "Get going," Joel said as they ran to the big house.

"Shit," said Ellie. Johnny looked to see her holding her arm and an arrow on the ground. He looked to see a woman on the rooftop holding a bow and arrow. Before he could fire Ellie already shot her in the chest with her pistol.

"Are you okay?" Johnny asked her noticing her arm was bleeding.

"Yeah it just grazed me," said Ellie before looking surprised at something. "Get down," she said pushing her boyfriend to the ground as a pistol fired.

"Get out of my town," a man said angrily. Johnny noticed the big house was in front of them and the man who had fired was the bald man.

"Ellie arrow," Johnny said turning them over as she pulled out an arrow out of his backpack.

Johnny took out his bow as Ellie handed him the arrow and he fired. The arrow hit the man in the arm and he looked angry before running into the house.

Johnny and Ellie got back up, "Go end this," she said making Johnny look confused.

"But," he said.

"You trust me right," she said looking serious.

After a few seconds Johnny nodded before running to the house. "Go kick his ass," Ellie said as Johnny ran into the living room.

"Where are you," said Johnny before the man rushed at him with a machete.

"You picked the wrong place to run into," he said slashing the machete at him. Johnny jumped back but his shirt had been cut open. The man swung at him again but Johnny grabbed his arm and threw him into the wall.

"Why you," he said as Johnny took out his switch blade. He went to stab the mans hand so he couldn't use the machete. But the man kicked his leg making him almost fall over. Johnny held himself up and flew up just before he could be majorly hit. He got a small cut on his cheek and he looked surprised noticing he dropped his switchblade.

The man went to grab it but Johnny yelled, "GET AWAY FROM IT,". He flew at the man who went to swing his machete at him. But before it hit him, he looked at Machete angrily and it flew out of the mans hand.

Johnny punched the man across the face and heard the sound of bones breaking. The two of them fought on the ground and Johnny easily blocked all of his punches. The man tried to kick him but Johnny took the opportunity and pushed the mans chest. Sending him flying into the wall and he landed on his stomach.

Johnny ran at him as he tried to punch him but he grabbed his arm. Turning with all his strength the man screamed in pain as his arm was broken. Johnny took deep breaths as he held his hand out. His switchblade flew into his hand as he kicked the man onto his back.

He held the blade against his throat. "This ends now," he said bringing the knife back when a weak female voice speak up.

"No, please," she said. Johnny looked up surprised to see a woman holding her right arm with a bite mark on it. She was sweating so she could have been bitten for already a day.

"Honey get out of here," the man said looking worried.

"Your suppose to be with me for," she said before falling to the ground.

"No," the man said crawling over to her and holding her up with his one good arm. Johnny looked shocked by the scene. "You've only been bitten for a day," he said as he held her close.

Johnny could hear the man crying before looking surprised. Without even thinking about it he took the cure out his backpack and rushed over to them.

"Back up now," he said pushing the man away as he held the woman up.

"Please don't hurt her," said the man looked worried. But he then looked surprised as Johnny injected the syringe into her arm.

He injected the serum into her and then threw the syringe away. He let out a sigh of relief as the woman then looked relaxed.

"What," the man said looking surprised as he stood back up holding his broken arm. Johnny ran outside and flew into the air.

He then took a deep breath before yelling as loud as he could. "EVERYONE STOP,".

The gun firing then stopped as Joel and Ellie reached the house. "Johnny what happened," Joel said as he landed back on the ground.

"This fight is over," said Johnny when someone spoke from a megaphone.

"Everyone stand down," he said. They looked to see it was the bald man holding up the megaphone with his one good arm. "This is how I make announcements throughout the town," he said looking at Johnny.

"You," said Joel taking out his pistol.

"I said stop," Johnny said looking serious.

"Johnny," Ellie said looking confused as he walked back into the house. The two of them followed him as he helped pick up the woman. "Lead me to your room," he said looking at the bald man.

"Yes, my names Philip," he said.

"Johnny," he said when Joel helped him pick the woman up.

"Let me give you a hand," he said. The two of them nodded at each other before heading up the stairs.

A few hours had passed since the battle ended. Johnny and Ellie were sitting with Philip in his and his wife's room. She was still unconscious and to everyones surprise her bite wound had started to vanish. Leaving behind clean skin.

"Why did you help me?" Philip asked calmly.

"I know what it means to lose someone you care about," Johnny said looking down. "I just didn't want anyone else to go through that," he said as Ellie held his hand.

"How long have you two been married," Ellie said.

"Five years," Philip said before taking a breath. "We didn't always use to work like this, ive only been in charge for two years," he said.

"Our last leader died when we didn't have enough medical supplies to treat him," he said looking annoyed. "People were looking up to me to lead them and I didn't think there was any other choice," he said putting his face in his hands.

"Philip," his wife said getting his attention. He looked to see her smiling at him.

"Your okay," said Philip hugging her and she hugged him back. Ellie and Johnny stood up noticing the bite wound was now completely gone.

"What's going to happen to us?" She asked looking at Johnny.

"From what Conner told me all of his people are okay, a little injured but they'll be fine," he said.

"Please I'll repay you whoever I can," Philip said.

"Then join us," said Johnny making him look surprised.

"What?" He asked as Johnny held out his hand.

"You didn't have any other options back then, I'm giving you one now," Johnny said. "We could really use helping spreading word out about the cure," he said.

Philip looked shocked before putting a hand over his eyes. "Thank you," he said as Johnny patted his shoulder.

A few minutes later Johnny and Ellie headed outside where everyone was getting onto the trucks. "So whats the deal," Tommy said walking over with Joel.

"They work for me now," Johnny said looking serious.

"Are you sure?" Joel asked.

"They didn't have a lot of options a long time ago, I just gave them a better one," he said.

"Well done Johnny," Tommy said patting him on the shoulder.

He and Joel got on the truck. Ellie then held Johnny's hand, "Lets go home," she said.

"Sounds great," Johnny said sounding completely exhausted. The two of them got on the truck. Not long after leaving Johnny fell asleep with his head on Ellies shoulder.

"Not surprising he fell asleep that quick," Tommy said.

"You think hes going to be okay looking after them?" Joel asked.

"Of course he will," Ellie said brushing her hand through Johnnys hair. "I'll be there for him," she said.

"I tell you Ellie, in the next few years your names gonna be Ellie Grayson," Tommy said sitting back smiling.

"That actually sounds quiet nice," Ellie said smiling while Tommy looked surprised. She and Joel laughed at his reaction before she focused her attention on her sleeping boyfriend.

"Sleep well, you earned it," she thought before kissing his forehead.