Part 9: Since they left
As they walked inside the hotel Johnny noticed different people in the main lobby. There were a few tents set up and some people were dressed in military uniform. "We tried to arm ourselves as best we could," Leo said pointing to a room filled with weapons and ammo.
There were two people checking ammo packs and loading them, "Hows your stock?" Tommy asked.
"Wed be lucky to last a few more gun fights," Leo said before sighing as they reached the medical area. Johnny noticed some of them were in pain and a lot of their bandages had blood on them.
"Johnny," Dave said getting his attention as he walked over and took off some rubber gloves.
"How is he?" Johnny asked as they walked over to the bed where one of Conners men were. He was sitting up on the bed with his shoulder in bandages.
"Hey Johnny," he said holding up his right hand before groaning in pain.
"We got the bullet out but hes not going to be able to shoot for a good while," Dave said.
"Damnit," Tommy said looking annoyed.
"Don't worry guys ill be back up before you know it," he said smiling.
"Yeah Conners not going to be happy if we don't bring you back," said one of the men from Conners group as they walked in.
"Well once he behaves he should be fine," a female voice said walking to the side of the bed and handing the man a cup of water, "Sorry if isn't much," she said smiling nervously.
"No thats alright," the man said looking surprised.
"Maybe we should," one of Conners men began to say before someone spoke outside the medical area.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE," a male voice yelled. Johnny immediately ran out with Ellie, Joel, Tommy and Dave following him.
Johnny found Philip standing in front of Dean as group of men and women looked at him. The man in the lead looked shocked to see that Dean was there.
"I remember you," Dean said looking nervous.
"How did you get back here?" He asked.
"Back off," Philip said, "Hes already been through enough," he said.
"Enough, do you know what the people of this city have been through," he said before Johnny yelled.
"STOP," he said getting their attention.
"Hey back off this doesn't concern you," the man said pointing his hand at Johnny.
"Actually it does," Philip said as he and Dean stood with Johnny, "Hes our leader," he said making the group of people look confused.
"Hes in charge of your group?" Leo asked looking at Joel.
"Some of us but were working together," Joel said when he looked surprised at something.
"Leo, whats happening," a man said as they all looked to see he was standing next to a woman who was holding a little boys hand. The boy looked to similar to the man and looked confused by the situation going on.
"You've got family's here?" Joel asked looking at Leo.
"They've been with us for about a year, now you see why were in the middle of a war," he said looking worried. He then looked at Dean.
"Where do you know this man from?" He asked.
"Hes one of the people who kept me captive while I was here," he said looking nervous.
"Yes that's true but," the man who spoke to Dean said before Leo interrupted him.
"Enough, all of you get back to your tasks, I need to have a chat with our new arrivals," he said before he and Luce started walking away.
"Wait outside with the trucks, keep someone watching over Conners group," Johnny said looking at Philip.
"Right, be careful with them," he said and Johnny nodded before following Leo and Luce to a large office. Leo was sitting at the desk with his face in his hands as Luce had her hands on his shoulders.
"Sorry about that," Leo said as Johnny and Ellie took a seat in front of the desk.
"If he was with the other guys then why is he working with you?" Ellie asked looking serious.
"Lets just say a lots changed since the three of you took out that truck," Leo said sitting up making Johnny, Joel and Ellie look surprised.
"You were with them," Joel said looking angry.
"No, but lets just say the destruction you caused was a story I heard a lot about when I got hear over a year ago," Leo said.
"Apparently after you and two other people left they sent out group to see what happened to the truck," Leo said. "They said it looked like a tornado had gone through an entire town," he said.
"You caused it didn't you," he said looking at Johnny who nodded. "How did you get that power, its not something you see everyday in this world?" He asked.
"Thats not important," Ellie said looking serious.
"Shes right, from what i saw it looks like you are the good guys in this place, so what happened to divide you all?" Johnny asked.
"Now I see why you are a leader, a lot of blame was put on the leader of the group at the time for the destruction of our best weapon," Leo said. "From what I heard it would have been pure luck if we had something like that again," he said.
"So instead of killing everyone who came into the city they started taking prisoners, turning them into their own army," Luce said.
"They werent treated right were they?" Tommy said and Leo nodded his head.
"The man you were talking to earlier, a friend of his was killed a few days after one of your people escaped," Leo said.
"I'm the second person to lead this group, our first was killed when he separated from the others," he said before clenching his fist.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Johnny said, "Where did the family come from?" He asked.
"Theres only a few of their group left, they were captured a few days before we came here, they thought it would be safer with us," Leo said.
"You all have a safe place to stay right?" Luce asked.
"Yeah but we were on our way to Boston before we ran into you," Joel said.
"Why would you," Leo said before someone quickly opened the door.
"Leo its incredible, their doctor saids they brought a cure with them," the woman who was checking on Conners man earlier said.
Johnny smiled before taking off his jacket and lifting up his sleeves. Leo and Luce looked shocked at his scarred arms, "I think you should know something about us," he said.
A few hours later as the sun was getting closer to sunset. Johnny was standing next to a truck with Ellie when Dave walked over to them, "We still have plenty of the cure left for Boston," he said. After explaining about his immunity Dave worked with the groups doctor and started giving Leos group the cure.
"Thanks," Johnny said before Ellie looked at him.
"You look like your thinking about something," she said.
"We cant leave this place like this," Johnny said, "Who knows how long they'll all have left after we leave," he said.
"So were going to take down the enemy side, lets get it done," Dave said walking towards the building.
"Your okay with this right?" Johnny asked looking at Ellie who smiled before leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Honestly I would have been surprised if you didn't do anything," she said before Johnny smiled at her and the two of them kissed before heading inside.
The two of them then stood with Tommy, Joel, Philip, Leo, Luce and few people from Leos group in the lobby. There was a table in front of them with a map of the city.
"The man in charge is named Jim, warning hes a tough guy and a good shot," Leo said before pointing at a large building on the map. "He has his own room at the top floor," he said.
"According to Dean the prisoners are kept in a restaurant next door," Philip said before looking at Johnny. "Johnny he asked me if we could save anyone who was captured," he said.
"Ill go with them," Tommy said stepping forward.
"Then the rest of us will focus on taking out the guy in charge," Joel said and Johnny nodded.
"Tommy take the Jackson group along with Philips group to the restaurant with you," Johnny said.
"Conners group will attack whatever gate they have set up along with Leos group," he said before Ellie spoke up.
"Hey is this building the same size as the other one?" Ellie asked looking at Leo.
"Yeah, if I had to guess its top would be right across from the second last floor from the top," Leo said looking confused wondering why she would bring this up.
Ellie then smiled before she looked at Johnny, "Guess they wouldn't think we would fly right over," she said.
Joel smiled while most of Leos group looked confused. The team to take out the leader was Johnny, Ellie, Joel and Leo. The rest of Leo and Conners group was to attack the front gate to make a distraction for Tommy's team. Hopefully to make the restaurant less guarded.
Johnnys team was moving up the street and Joel spoke up, "Hold up," he said. They looked to see the gate to the enemy's group was the same as Leos. "We're not getting through there easy," one of the men from Conners group said.
"We could make an opening with this," another men from Conners group pointing at a damaged car.
"How are we suppose to push that," one of the men from Leos group said looking annoyed.
"Oh were not pushing it," Joel said before Johnny pushed his hand against the car. He then sent it flying at the barricade making the men from Leos group look surprised.
The car hit the barricade as they all ran forward. People from the enemy group ran up front and Johnnys group shot them down.
"Quick in here," Leo said opening the door to the large building across from the one they were heading too.
He along with Johnny, Ellie and Joel ran inside and quickly found the stairwell. "How is there no infected in the area," Ellie said as they ran up the stairs.
"They were all cleared out last year, they made this area their base because most of the groups that come by end up passing through here," Leo said before they reached the top floor.
It had rooms with large offices. They opened the door to one of them and Joel shattered the glass with his shotgun. "Alright everyone hang on," Johnny said before they all ran out the open window.
"Whoa," Leo said before they flew across the area between the buildings.
"Shoot the glass," Joel said before the four of them shot the windows with their pistols. They broke through the glass ending up in the room filled with small desks and pillars.
"There they are," one man said aiming an assault rifle at him.
"Shit," Ellie said as they all took cover behind a pillar.
Johnny looked past the side of his and saw two of them near the entrance to the stairway. He pushed his right arm forward and sent a desk flying right at them making them fall over. Leo and Joel then shot them.
"Someone's gotta stay here and make sure no more come after us," said Leo.
"You two go upstairs, will make sure everything's clear," Joel said looking at Ellie who nodded.
"Alright, keep a listen to your radio to see when everything's clear," said Johnny before he and Leo ran up the stairway to the next floor.
"Alright lets be," Leo said opening the door before someone grabbed him by the throat and threw him across a room that only had one desk.
"Leo," Johnny said before running forward and dodged the next punch. He then ran over to Leo and helped him up as they looked at a tall man. He was bald and had a smile on his face.
"Been a long time Leo," he said happily.
"Jim you asshole, couldn't even come fight us yourself," Leo said looking annoyed.
"My men are loyal, they know what it means to survive in this world of ours," he said.
"More like you threatened them," Johnny said looking angry.
"So you're the boy who can fly, sorry to say but your people wont be leaving this city alive," Jim said before Leo ran at him and threw a punch.
"You're the one whose finished," he said before his arm was grabbed and he thrown to the wall.
Johnny flew at the man and punched him across the face. "Nice trick," he said before trying to kick Johnny before he landed on the ground and dodged.
Johnny then blocked another kick before punching the man in the stomach. The man grabbed his stomach where Johnny punched him across the face. "You little shit," he said as his nose began to bleed.
He then screamed in pain as Leo stabbed him in the shoulder with a knife. "It will take more then that to kill me," he said before blocking a punch from Johnny who looked surprised.
He then punched Johnny in the face before sending him flying with a kick to the stomach. Johnny fell against the desk coughing and looked up in time to see Jim blocking a punch from Leo.
"You cant win against me Leo, you've lost," Jim said before punching Leo to the ground and stepping on his arm. Leo screamed in pain and Johnny knew his arm was broken.
"Ahh," Johnny yelled flying at Jim again before pushing him to the ground. "Your not going hurt anyone ever again," Johnny said between punches to his face making it bleed.
"YOU LITTLE ASSHOLE," Jim yelled punching him across the face again. But Johnny still punched him in the face again before Jim pushed him off.
"Your dead," Jim said standing up and taking out a pistol.
"Ahh," Joel yelled pushing Jim agaisnt the window. The window cracked and the two of them fell out.
"JOEL," Johnny yelled as he ran to the window to see Joel had grabbed onto them ledge. But Jim had grabbed Joels right leg and was smiling.
"Looks like I win after all," Jim said.
"Not a chance," Joel said as Johnny grabbed his arm that was holding the ledge.
"I'm not going to lose you," Johnny said looking worried.
"You save him, you save me," Jim said smiling before looking surprised as a switch blade flew out of Johnny pocket.
"Not happening," Johnny said looking angry as he made the switchblade stab into Jims shoulder making him scream in pain before he left go of Joels leg. He then fell into an old car and after a few moments the gunfire outside stopped.
"Johnny, Joel," Ellie said rushing into the room.
"Over here," Johnny said as he began to pull Joel up. Ellie and surprisingly Leo helped Joel up. Once Joel was up he immediately hugged Johnny close to him.
"Everything alright?" Joel asked looking at him.
"Yeah, I'm just glad your both okay," said Johnny smiling before Ellie looked shocked.
"Your face," she said putting her hands on each side of his face.
"Nothing a good nap wont fix," he said before Ellie hugged him and he hugged her close before his radio went off.
"Johnny can you hear me," Tommy said from the radio.
"Yeah I'm good, what about everyone else?" He asked picking up his radio.
"We got the prisoners, but theres someone you gotta meet," Tommy said making him look confused.
"Alright, ill be right down," said Johnny as he stood back up and walked towards the window. "I have enough strength left to fly us all down," he said.
"Alright if your sure," Joel said before he, Ellie and Leo stood next to him.
They flew to the ground finding most of the enemy group was either dead or tied up. The ones who tied up looked nervous wondering what was going to happen to them.
"They're all ones that were captured," Tommy said walking over to Johnny before noticing his face. "What happened?" he asked looking concerned.
"Nothing that wont heal," Johnny said before noticing the man standing next to him, "You're the guy I let go earlier," he said.
"He killed the other two guards that were guarding the prisoners, surrendered right when we saw him," Tommy said.
"I remembered what you did for me, I thought I wasn't going to find anyone good anymore but then you let me go," he said. "If it would be okay I'd like to work with you," he said.
Johnny looked at Leo who nodded before looking towards Jims body. "You work with Leo and you help make things here better," he said.
"Thank you Johnny," he said before walking over to the captured enemy's.
"Ellie," Lily said running over to her.
"I'm going to check on the rest of the team," said Ellie and Johnny nodded at her before Leo walked over to him.
"This belongs to you," he said handing over his switchblade.
Johnny smiled, "Thanks," he said and Leo nodded at him.
The next morning outside at Leos base. The trucks were being loaded with fresh supplies while inside Johnny and Ellie were talking with the man from Conners group who had been wounded. "So looks like I wont be going with you all to Boston," he said.
"No both David and their doctor said you need to focus on recovering," Johnny said calmly.
"Alright, but make sure you come back for me," he said smiling. "Besides I'm in good hands," he said smiling at the woman he had met yesterday. She waved at him smiling while Johnny laughed before he and Ellie got up.
They met Leo and Luce out in the lobby. Leos right arm was in a sling, "Guess this is it," Leo said.
"Yeah, make sure to look after yourself," said Johnny shaking his hand.
"We will, by the way we discussed it with Tommy but were going to move our group to Jackson," he said.
"The city's to big to defend and I'm pretty sure it would be good for everyone," Luce said.
"It's alright, will be happy to have you," Johnny said.
"Take care," Ellie said before she and Johnny headed towards a truck, "Hows your eye?" She asked.
"I plan to sleep on the trip so hopefully it will heal fast," Johnny said putting a hand over his bruised right eye.
"You good to go," said Tommy walking over with Joel.
"Everything's set," said Johnny.
"I spoke with the man you let go, the ones we captured agreed to work for him and Leo," said Tommy. "Told us they felt like they had no other choice but to work for Jim so they could survive," he said.
"Well their in better hands now," Johnny said.
"I also heard their moving their group to Jackson, they're gonna work on a bridge while were gone," Tommy said.
"Well that will make things easier for our way back," Johnny said smiling.
"So you two ready to go see Bill?" Joel asked.
"Can't wait," Ellie said before sighing and heading to the lead truck.
"Is he really that bad?" Tommy asked looking confused.
"Youll just have to wait and find out," Joel said and Johnny nodded before the two of them headed to the lead truck.