Chapter 4.
The Outskirts. Part 2.
(Scott POV)
I Climbed up and spots a far patrol moving away. "Hold up. There's a patrol ahead," I said then they moved away. "Alright. We're good. Come on up. Come on, Kid, Watch your step,"
Then Chloe, Ellie and Tess get up and I covered the passageway.
"This rain ain't gonna do us any good," Chloe said.
"Holy shit, I'm actually outside," Ellie said.
"Up this way," I said heading up a truck.
Then we start coming out where I got hit by a bitch soldier.
"Don't do anything stupid," She said.
"Move," A male one said.
"Turn around on your knees, You scan them, I'll call it in," She said.
"Alright, Put your hands on your head," He said.
"This is Ramirez at Sector 12. Requesting pickup for 4 stragglers. Understood," She said.
"Look the other way, we can make this worth your while," Tess said.
"Shut up. I'm getting tired of this shit," He said. Scanning both Tess and Chloe. Then Moved on to me.
"Mm-hmm," She said.
"What's the ETA?" He said.
"Couple a minutes," She said as he moved onto Ellie.
"Oh, Man, Oh, man," Ellie said the Pulls out her blade and stabs the male guard then the Female points her gun and Ellie and I don't know why but I moved fast and got her out of the road as she shot then Chloe killed the Female on. As I killed the male one off.
"Oh, oh Fuck. I thought we were just gonna hold them up or something," Ellie said as Tess picked up the scanner.
"Oh Shit. Look," Tess said throwing it to me.
It was flashing Positive. "Jesus Christ. Marlene set us up. Why the hell are we smuggling an infected girl," I said.
"I'm not infected," Ellie said.
"No. So was this lying?" I said. Throwing the scanner at her.
"I can explain," Ellie said.
"You better explain fast," Tess said.
Then Ellie rolls up her sleeve. There's a bite mark on it.
"I don't care how you got infected," I said.
"It's 3 weeks old," Ellie said.
"No. Everyone turns within 2 days," Tess said.
"So you stop bullshitting," Chloe said.
"It's 3 weeks. I swear. Why would she set you up?" Ellie said.
"I ain't buying it," I said. Then I saw the Patrol coming.
"Oh shit," Ellie said.
"Tess, Chloe. Run. Run!" I said.
"Go, Go, Move!" Tess said taking Ellie and we jumped down away from them.
We managed to get away from them and evade the flashlights and got through the trenches. Then we make it through to an old building.
Then we started moving the 2 more was there.
"Shh,shh, shh, I hear them up ahead," I said.
"Ops said they took out a couple of our boys," One of them said.
"It's gotta be those fucking Fireflies retaliating," The other one said.
"We'll be done with them soon enough," The first one said.
"Go go," Tess said.
"Fuck it let the Clickers the them," The first guard said again.
"We get through here, Down through here," I said.
Then we passed through a garage into a military filled Ruin.
Then we got passed all the soldiers and into a drainage area.
"That was too damn close. Tess. You better be worth it kid. Tess you got any idea which way?" I said.
"It looks so different," Tess said.
"Hang on. Let's see where this leads," Chloe said.
"Yeah, This looks right stay close," Tess said.
"Well, at least we're out of the rain," I said.
"How's it look?" Tess said.
"We can squeeze through here," Chloe said and we passed through another trench and found more soldier who called off the search then got into their cars and drove off.
"Alright?" I said.
"Are we safe?" Ellie said.
"No, They're still around. Look take a moment to catch your breath," Tess said.
"Chloe, Let's have a look round see if we can find anything we can use," I said.
"On it, Dad," Chloe said then we searched the area and grabbed everything that we could use then we found a pipe.
"Up through here, Through this pipe, I think we can make it through here," I said.
"Stay very close, Ellie," Tess said.
"Okay," Ellie said and I went first then Chloe, Tess and Ellie. Then we see a military vehicle on the grate above us.
"Whoa, Whoa, whoa. Hang on," I said.
"Gather up they're calling us back, We're returning to the wall." Soldier 1 said.
"You heard the man, Load them up. Let's go," Soldier 2 said.
Then we make it out of the trenches. we all stop to rest.
"Alright they're gone," I said after we got out and closed the drainage door behind us.
"Look. What was the plan? Let's say that we believe you to the Fireflies, What then," Tess said.
"Marlene, said that they have their own little QZ with doctors there still trying to find a cure," Ellie said.
"Yeah, We've heard that before," Chloe said.
"And that whatever happened to me is the key to finding a vaccine," Ellie said.
"Oh Jesus," I said.
"It's what she said," Ellie said.
"Oh, I'm sure," I said.
"She did," Chloe said.
"Hey, Fuck you I didn't ask for this," Ellie said.
"Us neither, Tess what the hell are we doing here?" I said.
"What if it's true," Tess said.
"I can't believe," I said.
"What if, Scott, I mean we've come this far, let's just finish it," Tess said.
"Do I need to remind you what is out there, I'm not risking her," I said.
"I get it," Tess said.
"No you fucking don't. Tess. Don't try that shit with me," I said
"This way, if we cut through downtown we can hit the capitol building by sunrise," Tess said just moving away.
"We hope," Chloe said coming next to me grabbed my hand. "Come on," She said to me pulling me along.
Then we finally got up and got a good look at the skyscrapers in the distance.
"Holy moley, I guess this is what these buildings look like up close. They're so damn tall so what happened there?" Ellie said.
"They bombed the hell out of the surrounding areas to the QZ's hoping to kill as much as the infected as possible," Chloe said.
Then we heard a weird cry.
"What the hell was that?" Ellie said.
"Tess, Chloe, you hear that," I said.
"Yeah, sounded pretty far away though," Tess said.
"Shit," I said.
"Are we safe?" Ellie said.
"For now. Come on," Tess said.
Then we got to the end of the road and found a giant bomb crater.
"Damn that's quite a drop," Ellie said.
"Well, there's the capitol building," Chloe said.
"Yeah, we need to get around this mess," Tess said.
"This is the downtown area?" Ellie said.
"It was. Now it's just a giant wasteland," Tess said.
Then I found a way around.
"Over here," Chloe said no doubt following me.
Then we found a ruined skyscraper nearby.
"You find anything over there," I said as Chloe and I searched nearby it.
"No," Tess said.
"Keep looking," Chloe said.
"Should I do anything," Ellie said.
"You just stay close to her for now," I said.
"Roger dodger," Ellie said.
"Hey, Tess," I said after we found a way in and opened a door to find a mangled cop.
"He's been ripped apart," Chloe said.
"Yeah, Body's pretty fresh," I said.
"Is that bad?" Ellie said.
"Yeah, might be. let's not stick around," Tess said.
Then we find another corpse in the stairwell heading up.
"Another one, Shit," Tess said.
"Looks like these guys died waiting for backup," I said then we continue on and went through to another room and found a Clicker corpse.
"Goddammit Clicker," I said.
"Geez what's wrong with it's face?" Ellie said.
"That's what years of infection'll do to you," Tess said.
So what are they blind?" Ellie said.
"Sort of," Tess said.
"They see using sound," Chloe said.
"Like bats," Ellie said.
"Like, Bats, If you hear on clicking you gotta hide. That's how they spot you," Chloe said.
Then the building we were in groaned.
"Shit," Ellie said.
"Whole building feels like it's about to fall apart," I said.
Then the building shakes again and some of the furniture shifted.
"Totally cool. Everything is totally cool," Ellie said.
"Gimme a hand with this," I said and Tess helped me brake the door open which also brought a clicker to be aware if our Presence,
"Scott," Tess said as a Clicker showed up and knock me down.
"Dad," Chloe said grabbing her knife and killing it knocking it off me. "Dad, you okay,"
"Great, thanks," I said.
"You alright?" Ellie said.
"It's nothing," I said.
"Let's search for supplies," Tess said.
"Shit, That was so intense," Ellie said.
"You said it, Here patch yourself up," Tess said giving me a bit of cloth and Chloe found some Alcohol. Which I made into a medic kit and patched my self up.
"Come on. Let's get the hell outta here," I said.
"Up there, look," Tess said as we finished searching the rooms and found a ledge.
"Yeesh," Ellie said.
"Just see if there's a way through," I said boasting Tess up then Passed Chloe up.
"Okay, It's clear. Come on, Ellie," Tess said. Who helped Ellie up as Chloe got me up. They we hear a particular noise.
"Clickers," Ellie said.
"Oh shit, go,go,go," Tess said as we hide in a cafeteria. Which was also a close call since it brought it's head over and near heard us then turned around. Then Tess grabbed a bottle and threw it drawing the clicker away as Chloe and I grabbed a brick ready in case we had to throw another. But lucky we didn't and we got over the scaffolding easy and the Clicker was at the other side of the room.
"I think that's it, Ellie you okay," Tess said.
"Other than shitting my pants, I'm fine," Ellie said.
"Let's go," Tess said.
"Gimme a second," I said as Chloe and I cleared the stairway. "There you go ladies,"
"All right, Come on," Tess said.
"The stairwell's blocked. Should we go back up?" Ellie said.
Then Tess climbs out the window onto a rusted window washing rig. "Ahh, this is crazy just don't look down," She said.
"What? Are you serious?" Ellie said.
"Come on, Ellie," Tess said.
"Yeah don't look down, Don't look down," Ellie said.
"Your next," I said and Chloe went and then I climbed out. "Oh Boy," I said and saw Chloe, Tess and Ellie at the other side and Then I jumped down to the other one and got off the rig.
Then we passed back into a corner window and found more infected below.
"Runners," Tess said.
"Chloe and I'll go check it out, Stay with the girl," I said. "Ready,"
"Ready," Chloe said then we jumped and Used our wolf side to kills all the enemies below silently Then wiped the blood of our claws and put them away.
"Alright, come on down," I said.
"I'm impressed you 2," Tess said,
"Pssh. Let's just get outta here," Chloe said.
Then we fine an exit door. But there was a metal chest of drawers blocking it. Then I pulled it then Chloe grabbed it to kept it there.
"Alright, Tess, Go," I said.
"Alright, Hold on, Here. This'll work gimme a hand Ellie," Tess said.
"Yeah," Ellie said then they prop the door open with an old printer.
"Okay, Alright that should do it," Ellie said.
"There, See? We're doing alright," Tess said.
"Mm hmm," Both Chloe and I went.
Then we find a part of the building where the floors have caved in.
"Whoa," Ellie said.
"Down we go," Tess said.
"Let's get to it. We can get through here, Watch your back," I said then we head down.
"You know I was thinking after we get back we can take it easy for a little while," Tess said.
"You want to take it easy?" I said.
"Hey, you 2 are the ones whos always going on about laying low," Tess said.
"And you always brush us off," I said.
"I won't this time," Tess said.
"We'll believe it when we see it, Through here,"
Then we got through that area and into a subway and found some more things and a cocktail weapon. As well as a corpse nearby.
"Look at his sleeve Firefly," Tess said.
"These guys aren't doing too well in or out of the city. Let's hope there's someone alive to meet us at the Drop off," I said.
Then I find a map.
"They're from the QZ," I said.
"See they're not our guys," Tess said.
Then we find more clickers ahead which Chloe and I go and take them out and 2 runners as well as.
Then while Tess brought Ellie, Chloe got the ladder down and I went up and then Tess and Ellie.
Then we exit the subway back into the downtown proper.
"Holy shit we actually made it," Ellie said.
"Everyone okay?" I said.
"Yes, Let's move," Tess said.
"You guys are pretty good at this stuff," Ellie said.
"It's called luck and it is going to run out," Chloe said.
"Which way we going, Tess," I said.
Then I had to kill 3 infected and then move the dumpster.
"Climb on up. Maybe we can cut through here," I said.
Then Chloe followed me.
"Yeah, That worked out great last time, Sorry I'm just saying," Ellie said.
Chloe and I work on opening the garage when we hear a cry ring noise in the distance.
"Shhh," Tess said.
"What I don't hear anything," I said.
"Okay, Double time," Tess said.
"Shit," I said.
Then Chloe and I work double time opening it.
"They're coming," Ellie said.
"No shit," I said.
"That's good," Tess said.
"Chloe get in," I said and she and the other 2 do then I get in then the girl shut it down before they could get us.
"That was close," Ellie said.
"You got something on your shoe," Ellie said.
Then I saw a infected off arm on my shoe and kick it off.
"Gross," Ellie said.
"Okay, Hold do we get out of this place," I said.
"Let's find out," Tess said.
Then I saw a workbench and when to work upgrading my weapons. As did Chloe.
"So Marlene thinks your immune?" Tess said.
"That' what she believes," Ellie said.
"Well, How were you bitten. I mean you must of been somewhere you shouldn't to find an infected in the zone," Tess said.
"Yeah, I'd sneak out, I was in this military boarding school," Ellie said.
"You'd sneak out," Tess said.
"Yeah to explore the city. I was in the mall when I ran into infected," Ellie said.
"That place is completely off limits. How the hell did you get in there?" Tess said.
"I had my ways anyways one of those what you 3 call runners but me and that was that," Ellie said.
"I see, Were you with Marlene when you were bitten?" Tess said.
"No, I went to her for help afterwards," Ellie said.
"Knowing her I'm surprised she didn't shot you," Tess said.
"She almost did," Ellie said.
Then we enter the adjoining museum. Then Ellie knocks over something.
"Shit, Sorry that was me," Ellie said.
"Tess," I said.
"Sorry," Ellie said.
"Come on, Stay close," Tess said.
"What is this place?" Ellie said.
"It's an old Museum, Some of these things are hundreds of years old," Chloe said.
"Really, Wow," Ellie said.
Then Chloe and I lift debris for the other 2 which got through before it collapsed.
"Shit," I said.
"Scott, Chloe," Tess said.
"We're fine, We work our way round to you," I said.
"They're here," Ellie said as Clickers could be heard.
"Chloe you," I said.
"I'm fine, Dad," Chloe said then we went off and killed the infected nearby and then we went upstairs bursting into the room where Tess was fighting off infected. After killing one before heading in.
"Tess," I said.
"Guys, Get in here," Ellie shouted in.
"The Girl," Tess said.
"Shit," I said.
Then we go in and fight off the infected there and we won just.
"That was too damn close," I said.
"Oh shit," Tess said.
"Tess, How're holding up?" I said.
"Just a bit winded this way. This'll get us to the roof.
"How about you kid? You okay?" I said.
"Define okay," Ellie said.
"Are you still breathing?" Chloe said.
"Do small panicked breaths count," Ellie said.
"Yeah they count," I said.
"Alright then I'm okay," Ellie said.
Then we go and met Tess up on the roof and get a plank for us to cross the Gap.
"Alright now watch your step as you going up cause it's gonna be a little," I said.
"Pssh," Ellie said. Crossing over then Chloe and then me.
"Is that everything you hoped for?" I said.
"Jury's still out, But man you can deny that view," Ellie said.
"Come on this way. Hey. Pick it up, Look we're almost done, Stay focused," Tess said.
"Piss off," Chloe said.
That took Tess back a bit then she just went on.
"I'm getting sick of her," Chloe said.
"Easy, Chlo," I said.
Then we cross a hurdle and move to a swampy street nearby.
"Let's keeping moving. Kid," I said.
"There we go, Home stretch," I said.
"Just so it's out there I can't swim," Ellie said.
"Hang on you said your were at a military school. Did they not teach you that?" Chloe said.
"No," Ellie said.
"It looks shallow on the right side," Tess said.
"I'm glad Marlene hired you guys," Ellie said.
"Yeah, sure thing," Tess said.
Then we climb up the steps and went in the Capitol building and found the fireflies there dead.
"Shit," I said.
"No," Tess said.
"What happens now," Ellie said.
Tess was going frantically searches a corpses pockets as Chloe searched them for ammo.
"What are you doing Tess?" I said.
"Oh, god, Maybe they had a map or something to tell us where they were going," Tess said.
"How far are we going to take this," Chloe said.
"As far as it needs to go. Where was this lab of theirs?" Tess said.
"She never said. She only mentioned it was someplace out west," Ellie said.
"What are we doing here? This is not us," I said.
"What do you know about us? About me?" Tess said.
"I know that you are smarter than this," I said.
"Really, Guess what we're shitty people, Scott. It's been that way for a long time," Tess said.
"No. We are survivors!" Chloe said.
"This is our chance," Tess said.
"It is over Tess. Now we tried. Let's just go home," I said.
"I'm not going anywhere this is my last stop," Tess said.
"What?" I said.
"Our luck had to run out sooner or later," Tess said.
"What are you going on about," I said touching her. who shoved me off just a fast.
"No don't. Don't touch me," Tess said.
"Holy shit, She's infected," Ellie said.
Then makes both Chloe and I step back.
"Scott, Chloe," Tess said.
"Let me see it," I said.
"I didn't mean for this," Tess said.
"Show it to us," Chloe said.
Then Tess pulls back her collar to reveal a fresh bite wound.
"Oh Christ," I said.
"Oops right? Give me your arm," Tess said rolling up Ellie's sleeve where her bite mark is. "This is 3 weeks. I was bitten an hour ago and it's already worse, This is fucking Real, Scott. You've got to get this girl to Stiles'. He used to run with this crew, He'll know where to go,"
"No, No, No. That was your crusade. I'm not doing that or taking her out there," I said.
"Yes, you are, Look there's enough here that you have to feel some sort of obligation to me. So you get her to Stiles'," Tess said.
"No. He abandoned us when we needed him," Chloe said.
Then we hear a noise from outside.
"Shit," Ellie said.
"Oh," Tess said.
Then I moved over to the windows and a military vehicle pulls up.
"Watch the Exit," A Soldier said coming out the back
"They're here," Tess said.
"Dammit," I said.
"I can buy you some time but you have to run," Tess said.
"What? You want us to just leave you here," Ellie said.
"Yes," Tess said.
"There is no way that," I said.
"I will one turn into one of those things. Come on Make this easy from me," Tess said.
"We can fight," Chloe said.
"No just go, Just fucking go," Tess said.
"Ellie," I said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this," Ellie said.
"Get a move on," I said.
Then Chloe, Ellie and I moved out of the room. While Tess stays behind. And only hear.
"We know you're in there! Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up," He said.
Then I lock the room Tess is in.
"What the fuck. I can't believe we did that," Ellie said.
"Stop," I said.
"We just leave her to die," Ellie said.
"Stop. You stay close to me. We need to move," Chloe said.
Then we headed up stairs as we hear Tess fighting them.
"Oh man," Ellie said.
"Just keep pushing forward," I said.
Then we reach the balcony were we saw Tess's body.
"Oh my god, Tess," Ellie said.
"Target neutrailized, She took out 2 of my men. Copy that. You, Take out that door. You, with me," He said.
"Yes Sir," A second one said.
"They're gonna be here soon," Ellie said.
Then we continue into the new wing. And find some weapons 2 Rifles. Chloe and I took one then we had 3 Guards silently then we move to the ground floor.
"What're we doing? Scott, How're we gonna get outta here?" Ellie said.
"Alright, We're gonna have to go through that hall," I said.
"They had to come through here, Comb the area," Another guard said.
"Stay down. I don't know how many more there are," I said.
"They still haven't found the last 3," He said.
"I heard one of them was a kid," Another one said.
"Does it matter they took out a bunch of our guys," He said.
"Jesus. Well hey. After today this whole firefly bullshit will be behind us," He said.
Then Chloe and I kill the rest of the guards. Then we head for the Exit.
"Scott, Chloe, there's the Exit," Ellie said.
"We see it," Chloe said.
"There's stairs over there," Ellie said.
"Stay low," I said.
Then we enter an abandoned subway. Where then an armoured weaponized Car showed up.
"Shit," Ellie said.
"Move," I said.
"They're following us," Ellie said.
"Goddammit," Chloe said.
Then we run and found a spore filled area which Chloe and got our Gas masks on while Ellie ran on in Then we follow her and she pulls both of us down behind cover.
"Get down," Ellie said.
"No Target. I repeat. No target," Another guard said.
"There's a soldier over there," Ellie said.
"Understood. Hold your position and wait for reinforcements," The Radio said.
"Copy that. Holding position," He said.
"How the fuck are you breathing in this stuff," Chloe said.
"I wasn't lying to you," Ellie said.
"Did you spot them?" A second one said.
"No place is empty," He said.
"Let's find them and get the hell out of here before clickers show up," He said.
Then Chloe and I kill them where then we move into a submerged portion where Chloe got Ellie through as I swam ahead to find the way out. But it was on the other side where I had to find something to get Ellie over.
Then Chloe and Ellie make it over to me and Ellie found a flashlight.
"Hey look it still works," Ellie said. Turning it on.
"There's a ladder maybe we can use that," I said then saw a floating pallet. I swam over and got it then took it over and Chloe got into the water.
"Get on," I said.
"Really?" Ellie said.
"Ellie," I said.
"Okay. Okay, Be careful," Ellie said getting on.
"I Gotcha," I said swam it over so she could get up and push the ladder down and Chloe and I got up. Then we headed up out of the subway into fresh air with no spores and we got out and took off our gas masks and We sat down to catch a breather.
"Hey look. About Tess. I don't even know what to," Ellie said.
"Here's how this thing's gonna play out. You don't bring up Tess. Ever. matter of fact. We can just keep our histories to ourselves. Secondly. Don't tell anybody about your condition. they'll think your crazy or try to kill you. Lastly. You do what we say when we say it. We clear?" I said.
"Sure," Ellie said.
"Repeat it," I said.
"What you say goes," Ellie said.
"Good," I said.
"Now there's a town a few miles from here. A fella that owes us some favors," Chloe said.
"Good chance he can get us a car.
"Okay," Ellie said.
"Let's get a move on," I said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!