Author's note
Hey guys just wanted to start off with saying I'm really really sorry that I haven't been updating the story. Various things got in the way which prevented updates but I should hopefully be able to update now. Thank you everyone for your patience and your reviews, it's really encouraging and makes me want to update the story. Please leave a review as it's very helpful and encouraging. Now without any more dilly dallying, onto the story.
Chapter seven: Escape
"Sorry about the whole gun thing," Sam apologised, mostly to Ellie.
"Don't worry, I would've probably done the same thing," she replied and then walked over to Jake and nudged him in the gut "Apologise," she whispered.
"I don't have apologise for my methods of survival," Jake responded making no attempt to stay quiet so Sam clearly heard, causing Ellie to roll her eyes.
"Where you from? Ellie asked.
"All the way from Hartford."
"Really? I heard some bad stuff going on down there."
"Yeah, the military abandoned the zone," Henry explained "It's why we left. Place probably looks like this by now. The five of them moved through the building in silence as they went to the Henry's hideout. "Gotta be careful. We're real close to one of their lookout areas," Henry warned "Is it just you and your kids?"
"Uh, neither of us are are his kids. We're more like, uh," Ellie replied awkwardly.
"I promised some people I'd take care of them," Joel explained.
"Yeah, I can appreciate that," Henry said.
"Take care? Is that what this is?" Jake thought "Promised? I wonder if they had this planned out if shit hit the fan. No real way of knowing I guess."
Small talk was put on hold after the brief exchange whilst the group moved on through the building. "Wait, wait. Everyone be quiet," Henry instructed as they entered a toy store "Get away from the windows," he ordered urgently as the humming of car approached. The members of the group then hid themselves from the view of the window as the hunter's truck drove on by. "Man, that fucking truck. It's been hounding us ever since we got in this dang-" Henry began but his attention was taken by his younger brother who held a toy robot in his hand. "Sam what are you doing?"
"A toy, seriously?" Jake thought to himself "Does this kid even realise what world we live in? And even still, surely he's outgrown toys by now."
"Nothing," the boy responded simply.
"Get rid of it," Henry told him.
"My backpack is practically empty."
"What's the rule about taking stuff?" Henry questioned in an aggressive tone as he walked towards Sam.
"It weighs like nothing."
"The rule. What is it?"
"We only take what we have to," Sam answered as he dropped the toy on the ground dejectedly
"This is gonna be more of a drag than I thought. At least the older one has some sense in him," Jake thought. Henry then pressed the group to move on but Ellie lingered by the toy for a few moments whilst the others went ahead, however this did not go unnoticed by Jake. When she was sure no one was looking Ellie stored the toy away and then promptly re-joined the group. "Didn't I tell you I can see with sound?"
"Shut up. Don't tell them about this," Ellie hissed at Jake who rolled his eyes in response to her childish nature.
"Don't get too close to them yet. We still don't know if they're trustworthy."
"They're fine, don't worry."
"We'll see," Jake responded simply, ending the conversation as the group continued on towards the hideout Henry mentioned.
After taking out a few hunters blocking their progress, the group entered an office building which Henry confirmed to be their destination.
"You sure it's safe, being so close to them?" Joel asked referring to the hunters in the area.
"I'm the only one with the key."
"And where'd you get that?"
"I killed one of em, he won't miss it now," Henry answered as they entered the office.
"So how old are?" Sam asked Ellie resuming small talk.
"Me? Fourteen. How old are you?" Ellie responded.
"Uh, the same."
"Oh so you're fourteen huh?" Henry asked teasingly.
"I'm close."
"Alright," Henry said while laughing.
"Really?" Jake thought as he let out mocking chuckle "So that's his angle. Dumb kid."
"What's funny?" Sam questioned aggressively.
"You know exactly what's funny kid," Jake replied.
"Kid? And how old are you?"
"Fourteen."
"We're the same age, so don't call me a kid."
"Age isn't the same as maturity."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'm sure you'll figure it out, after all you're not a kid are you," Jake replied whilst putting emphasis on 'kid'. Henry then opened the door to a smaller room within the office space.
"Welcome to my office," Henry said as the group entered.
"How long have you guys been holed up in here?" Ellie asked Sam.
"A few days. We found a bit of food though. Here," he said as he led her away to where they kept their food, leaving Joel, Jake and Henry to themselves.
"Why don't you go join those two?" Henry suggested to which Jake wordlessly decline "Blueberries. Found a whole stash of em. You want some?" Henry asked Joel as Joel paced the room.
"No," the older of the two replied bluntly.
"Hey man, relax. We're safe," Henry attempted to reassure to which Joel gave a skeptical look.
"Then why haven't you left?"
"Been waiting for the right opportunity."
"And?" Joel asked impatiently.
"Here," Henry replied as he made his way towards the window with the other two following closely behind. The three of them observed a group of hunters guarding a bridge. "Look at these sons of bitches. Every day they congregate down there, guarding that damn bridge. Come night time, it's down to a skeleton crew. After sunset, that's our window. With most of them gone, we can sneak right past them," Henry explained.
"That could work."
"Oh it'll work, it'll definitely work."
"As long as we're not dragged down," Jake remarked.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Henry asked defensively.
"I just hope you're capable."
"I'm more worried about you kid."
"I wouldn't be. Worry about yourself and get this straight. I'm not any kid."
"That's enough Jake," Joel intervened what looked to be an argument in the making.
"Wow," Henry let out as he looked towards Ellie and Sam smiling and laughing at each other.
"Like I said, I'm not like them so don't think that I am," Jake stated.
"It's been awhile since that boy even cracked a smile. She doesn't seem bothered by all this," Henry said. Joel then moved to sit by the desk near the window so Henry pulled up a chair of his own.
"So where were you heading?" Joel asked.
"I heard the Fireflies are based out west somewhere. We're gonna join up with them," Henry answered to which Joel chuckled. "Something funny?"
"It just seems like a lot people are putting their stock in the Fireflies these days."
"Yeah, maybe there's a reason for that," Henry retored in a once again defensive tone.
"So you don't know where they are and you're just gonna drag him across the country to find em?"
"I tell you what. How bout I worry about my brother, you worry about your kids," Henry said in a now threatening voice.
"This guy's annoying. We should just rip him up," Jake thought.
"Easy, we're looking for the Fireflies too," Joel replied calmly not at all threatened by Henry.
"But for different reasons than you are," Jake commented internally. Henry then reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He laid it out on the table and unfolded it to show a marked location on a map.
"This is us," he said as he pointed on the map "There's an abandoned military radio station just outside the city. Any survivors from our group they're supposed to meet us there. Tomorrow. You and your kids wanna join us it goes down tonight."
"Great more bodies to cover," Jake groaned in his mind.
"I guess we best rest up then," Joel replied after a pause and then began to settle into his seat to sleep. Jake then made his way over to the other two teens to inform them of the new plans.
"We leave tonight. Get some rest, you'll need it," Jake mentioned curtly and then began to walk off again.
"Why do you have to be such a hardass?" Sam asked in an irritated voice.
"Somebody's gotta stop you all from getting your brains blown out."
"Yeah right, as if you can actually do anything," Sam stood up in an act of defiance causing Jake to stop to reply.
"You're welcome to try, though if I recollect we've been through this already," Jake responded not even turning back towards Sam. Sam then strode towards Jake and threw a punch at him once he was close, however the punch was grabbed by Jake who in one swift motion twisted Sam's arm around his back. "I told you didn't I," Jake taunted as the other boy struggled and squirmed to get out of Jake's grip but to no avail. "Quit tryna act tough, it's not your thing," Jake stated as he released the boy and walked off.
"Dick," he heard Sam mutter which caused a smirk to form on Jake's face. Jake made his way over to a desk nearby and removed his backpack and pouch. He emptied the pouch of all the knives inside and arranged them on a table and carefully cleaned each individually with a cloth and then put in make in a separate pile. Meanwhile Joel and Henry had already fallen asleep, getting what rest they could before nightfall, whilst the other two teens continued to converse with themselves quietly. Jake could easily hear what they were discussing if he chose to but he decided to tune the two of them out.
"These two are going to be a real pain. Numbers aren't strength, they're just extra weight," Jake thought to himself "Just like people in general. Just like," he continued to drift into his own thoughts but was abruptly dragged back into reality by the footsteps of an approaching Ellie.
"How are you doing?" She asked in a cheery tone, the one that always seemed to annoy Jake. He didn't respond, her lively nature was too much of a pain for him. "How many of those do you need?" She asked referring to the set of knives on the table.
"As many as is needed to get the job done," Jake replied monotonously as he began to sharpen the blades.
"You could stand to lighten up a bit," Ellie pestered but continued to receive only silence from the dark-haired teen "And just when I thought I had gotten on your good side."
"I don't favour particular people over others, there are just those that need to be killed and those who don't in order for me to get to the next day and fulfil any objective I need to meet."
"What's your current objective?"
"Getting you to Tommy."
"And that's it?" She queried to which Jake simply nodded "And what happens afterwards?" He didn't answer. "You know you could express a little bit of emotion, even Joel has more expressions than you."
"A single display of emotion is enough to cost your life. When in combat people need to utilise useful tools in order to defeat their opponents. Things like emotions are useless, simply extra baggage."
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Ellie shrugged off as she began walking away "Wake me up when you stop being such an ass. Or whenever we have to go." Jake was then left alone with his tools to the silence that he so appreciated.
Everything was deadly quiet now with everyone now deep in slumber, the only noise interrupting the silence was the chimes of metal as the teen sharpened his blades. He looked to his surroundings, Joel sat in the same chair snoring away with the odd mumble here and there. Henry sat not too far away but unlike the older man he was as silent as could be. And there were Sam and Ellie who were laughably close in Jake's mind, he chuckled at the silly image of them dozing off next to each other. "That brat probably thinks I'm his competition or some shit," Jake muttered to himself "Not that I really understand or care for that sort of thing anyway. Going with them all the way to the Fireflies. Who knows where those fuckers are. Out west somewhere, what a drag," the teen sighed.
Night had fallen, everyone was gradually beginning to stir out of their sleep. Jake had spent the time preparing for the night to come. He had made sure each of his blades were in order, foraged any supplies in the nearby area and crafted anything that might aid them.
"It's time to go," Henry stated simply, the resistance in his voice did not go unnoticed by Jake "Wake the other two," he instructed and walked off. Jake moved to wake Ellie first, he gently shook her in her sleep to which she let out a few tired moans.
"Wake up," Jake spoke softly with an abnormal care in his voice.
"Is it time to go already?" Ellie asked whilst yawning and stretching "Alright let's go," Ellie said now fully awake. "Did you not sleep?" She asked to which Jake simply shook his head "Why not?"
"Sleep is secondary to the preparation needed for this to be successful."
"Is sleep not also preparation?" Ellie questioned trying to think along the same lines as Jake.
"It would be less useful."
"Right and people need to utilise useful tools or some shit. Whatever I'll go wake up Joel," she stated as she went to wake the older man. Once awake the three of them joined Henry who was telling same to stay close. After confirming that the everyone was ready the group set out through the building to get to the office. Joel queried Henry as to whether he had attempted his before which Henry confirmed not filling the others with confidence.
The five of them had managed to clear the defences of the hunters as stealthily as they could. They now attempted to unlock the gate leading towards the bridge which was their destination. Whilst doing so they heard the nearby roar of the military truck that had given them so much trouble; they opened the gate as quickly as they could and promptly closed it behind them. Their progress was blocked by a second gate but there was thankfully with a truck's trailer ladder on the side which they could use to get over. Joel boosted Henry up first followed by Sam and Ellie. When Jake was being hoisted up the ladder gave way so he was barely pulled up by Henry.
"Ok we gotta get him up," Ellie stated with panic in her voice as the Humvee started to ram into the gate to force it open.
"I'm sorry," Henry responded after contemplating the situation "We're leaving," he stated as he made a move over the truck and towards the bridge.
"What?" Sam asked in shock at his older brother's decision.
"What, this is bullshit," Ellie replied but Henry and Sam had already left "What the fuck Henry?!" She called out to him but it was no use. The Humvee began firing over the gate but didn't hit anything, Jake then jumped back down to Joel followed by Ellie.
"Move now," Jake ordered as he already ran towards the gate of a nearby shop with others closely behind. He and Joel then lifted the gate whilst Ellie made her way inside, at the same time the truck had just broken through and began blindly firing. The two of them then entered the building just in time and dropped the gate as the military vehicle opened fire on the metal gate. Knowing that the hunters were still on their trail the group didn't slow down and quickly made their way outside into the road leading towards the bridge. The truck had broken through the gate that had previously blocked the group's progress and was now giving chase along the road leading to the bridge. Jake had thrown a smoke bomb down to prevent them being shot down by the vehicle as they continued to sprint across the bridge. They went around some abandoned cars only to find that the bridge had fallen apart and that there was no way across.
"How many bullets do you have left?" Joel asked in panic.
"They're gonna kill us," Ellie protested.
"What other choice do we have?"
"We jump."
"No, it's too high and you can't swim. I'll boost you up you ran past them," Joel explained as the truck began pushing other vehicles of the bridge.
"Joel she's right we can't beat that thing," Jake attempted to reason.
"Jake," Joel said firmly not accepting the plan the two proposed. Ellie then placed a hand on Jake's shoulder which wordlessly communicated the plan.
"Time to move Joel," Jake shouted as the two teens held each other tightly and jumped off the bridge and plunged into the rough water. Jake did his best to keep the both of them afloat but the current was too strong which was exacerbated by the need to hold onto Ellie. "Oh fuck," Jake shouted as they headed straight towards a rock; he quickly shifted their positions so that his back had hit the rock as opposed to Ellie but it resulted in him being knocked out.
The injured teen began to stir as he began to regain consciousness. "Henry, he's awake," Sam called out as he ran to get his older brother who was also accompanied by Joel.
"Hey you, we're alive," Ellie greeted as she knelt down beside him. Jake then attempted to get up with Ellie's support.
"See, what I tell you huh," Henry said jovially "He's good, everything's fine," he continued as Jake stomped towards Henry. "You know Sam's the one who spotted you-," Henry began but was interrupting by Jake giving him a jab in the left side of his abdomen followed by a hook across the right side of his face. Henry was unprepared for the sudden attack and had fallen to the ground as a result, Jake then drew his pistol and had it firmly trained on Henry.
"Henry!" Sam shouted in response to the sudden attack.
"Get the fuck back!" Jake yelled as he briefly pointed the gun at the child but it quickly returned to Henry.
"Hey, hey, hey," Henry said to draw attention away from Sam "He's pissed but he's not gonna do anything."
"You wanna bet your life on it?"
"Stop!" Sam shouted.
"Jake enough," Joel said calmly but Jake ignored him.
"You left us for dead, gimme one good reason I shouldn't return the favour," Jake spat at Henry.
"No, you had a good chance of making it and you did," Henry replied as he kept an arm between him and Jake "Coming back for you meant putting him at risk," he said whilst pointing at Sam "Stay back," he told his brother "If it was other way around would you have come back for us?" Henry asked but Jake had no reply "I saved you."
"He saved me too," Ellie commented as she placed a hand on Jake's shoulder "We woulda drowned," she added. Jake gave a narrow eyed, sceptical look at the man before putting away his gun and turning away from him. Sam soon went to Henry's side seeing that the situation had calmed.
"It's fine I'm ok," Henry told Sam as he got hit. "Man, you hit hard for a kid," Henry commented as he felt his face where he was punched.
"I told you didn't I," Jake retorted without looking back.
"For what it's worth I'm glad we spotted you," Henry commented "Now that radio tower is on the other side of that cliff. Place is gonna be full of supplies. You're gonna be really happy you didn't kill me," Henry explained as they began moving onwards.
"That was intense. You cool?" Ellie asked to which Jake simply grunted "Um, do you trust him?"
"He remains trustworthy for now," Jake replied calmly.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning circumstances can change and I'll be prepared should he be a danger to us."
"You know for a second there I thought you were gonna shoot him."
"Damn well might've."
"They're alright. I think it's good to have them around."
"You may be right," Jake replied. The group boarded a shipwrecked boat in search for supplies, Ellie engaged in idle conversation with Joel to which the usually grumpy man even replied sarcastically, causing Ellie to take note of the progress of their relationship.
"Now if only the other one would stop being such a dick," Ellie thought to herself. After exploring the surrounding area the group had found an entrance to a sewer which they decided to go through to get around the cliff. A few feet in and there was already a fork in the path, Henry and Sam decided to go one way to look for the path onwards while the rest went the other way. "Do you think they'll join us all the way to Tommy's?" Ellie asked as they searched the area.
"Well, I don't know. We're just gonna have to see how everything pans out," Joel replied.
"Do you want them to?" Jake asked.
"Well yeah, it's nice to have some company around that isn't like talking to walls."
"So you just want a friend?"
"I guess so, I mean can you blame me when I stuck with you two all the time."
"Sorry, I've never been much of a talker."
"Yeah, yeah if you just stopped being so much of a dick all the time it wouldn't be so bad," she remarked "This is unlike you to actually ask questions. Are you finally opening up a little?"
"Don't get your hopes up," Jake chuckled.
"You're smiling," Ellie pointed out.
"Huh?"
"I said you're smiling," she repeated and he had realised that he was.
"I... guess I am," he responded awkwardly "But why? Why am I smiling?" Jake thought to himself "What is this feeling?" He continued to question internally but could not come up with any answers so he shrugged the thoughts of and refocused on the real world.
"You should do it more often, it isn't as bad as you think."
"I'll keep that in mind," He chuckled.
"Hey. Thanks for saving me earlier."
"Just doing my job."
"Are you guys even getting paid anymore?"
"Probably not."
"Well it's not really your job then, is it?"
"In this case my job isn't for payment but I have an objective to fulfil so it is still a job. You already know what that objective is."
"Why do you need to do it?"
"You already know that as well," Jake answered causing Ellie to immediately think of Tess, awkwardly ending the conversation. The three of them then regrouped with Sam and Henry after they had found a way onwards. The group's progress was now blocked by a wide gap in the sewer with only a moving platform as the way across, however it seemed that is wasn't functioning. Sam informed the group that he couldn't swim much to the annoyance of Jake who complained about both Sam and Ellie being unable to swim. They took a few moments to analyse their surroundings to find a way across. After a sometime Jake made his way over to Joel, "This platform runs on a track powered by the generator on the other side. If you can get one of us across then we can power it. That gate most likely has something of use on the other side" he explained to the older man who then dived into the water in search of a way across.
"What did you just tell him?" Ellie asked curiously as she walked up to the other teen.
"The plan."
"Which is?"
"You'll see," Jake responded vaguely which irritated the young girl but she shrugged it off. Joel soon returned from the other side of the gate with a wooden pallet in front of him whilst he swam.
"Oh – this thing again," Ellie commented.
"Do you get it now?"
"Yeah, but how did you know there'd be this thing on the other side?" She asked as she stepped onto the pallet whilst Jake got into the water to help Joel push it.
"Think about it for a second," Jake responded as the two pushed Ellie to the side where the generator was. She climbed up and attempted to switch it on, surprisingly it still worked. As a result, the platform began to move along the track with Sam and Henry on top and after a few moments they were transported to the other side.
"Can't believe that actually worked," Ellie expressed her surprise. Once on the other side Henry lifted Jake and Joel up from out of the water so that they could continue on. "So, I still don't get it. How did you know?"
"What would be the gate's purpose if there was nothing on the other side? There would have to be something and potentially something of use," Jake explained which now made sense to Ellie. They continued to move on through the constricted pathways of the sewer, the group then came across some make-shift cover in front of a door leading onwards as well some child-like drawings of a castle around the door. "On your guard, this place looks like its inhabited," Jake warned as he now kept his pistol on hand. Joel went through the door first and upon opening some bottles fell from their hanging position atop and in front of the door.
"Oh shit," Joel exclaimed in shock at the sudden noise.
"It's a sound trap," Henry stated.
"A what?" Ellie asked in confusion.
"It's a sort of alarm," Joel explained as they stepped over the shards of glass.
"I don't hear anything."
"Someone used to live here. Don't look that's the case anymore."
"Who would stay in here?" Sam asked with disgust in his voice.
"Well, someone who thought they could keep a place like this safe," Henry answered. With that brief exchange the five continued to tread carefully through the sewers, now aware of potential traps in the area.
"Oh awesome," Ellie stated as she found a football.
"Ellie don-," Joel began.
"Ah, calm down," she interrupted the older man as she bounced the ball "Hey Jake, quite being such a bore and have a bit of fun," Ellie insisted but Jake paid her no heed instead he searched the area of supplies "Sam stand by those posts there," Ellie instructed to which he complied. Once in position Ellie shot the ball Sam's way who caught it.
"Oh, Henry did you see that?" Sam asked jovially.
"Let's keep it keep it down, buddy, okay?" Henry asked so the two of them quietened down and left the ball. Having had their fun Sam and Ellie followed the others as they walked on through the abandoned sewer. Passing on through a gate they were soon greeted a by group of infected including a clicker but they were soon disposed of.
"Well I guess we know what happened to these people," Ellie commented.
"Seeing how there was a clicker, they've been gone for a while," Joel observed.
"We keep moving forward. All we can do is hope that there aren't any more of em. Doubtful I know," Henry said. On that cheery note the group pressed onwards.
The group travelled in silence as they moved through the once inhabited sewers, along the way finding remains of the life the people here used to live in the form of notes and the items they kept in their possession. Joel moved to open a wired gate so that they could progress but after doing so another trap was triggered. Hearing something about to collapse down over the group right where Sam was so Jake quickly pulled him away from the spot he was standing in. However, this now left the group split with Joel, Jake and Sam on one side and Henry and Ellie on the other.
"Sam!" Henry shouted in concern as he ran towards the large metal gate that separated them.
"Yeah, I'm cool," the boy responded as he walked towards the gate "Thanks," he said to Jake but he didn't respond.
"That was me. I must've triggered some kind of safety gate or something," Joel explained "See if we can lift this," Joel said as he Henry and Jake moved to see if the gate could be raised.
"So... this is awkward," Ellie said to Sam from the other side.
"Yeah, I know, it's like every time-," Sam started.
"Clickers!" Ellie stated in panic as infected approached.
"Hey, this thing isn't budging man," Henry informed also panicking from the situation.
"Just go, get outta here," Joel ordered.
"Don't die," Jake told Ellie bluntly.
"Same to you," Ellie replied.
"Sam, you stay close him," Henry instructed.
"Henry we gotta fucking move!" Ellie shouted as the infected came closer to the two of them.
"You keep him safe!" Henry yelled before finally running off with the clickers on their trail.
"Keep quiet, keep close and keep an eye out," Jake told Sam "You can manage that right?" He asked to which Sam simply nodded whilst staying close to Joel as they moved through the sewers quietly to avoid the attention of infected.
Having snuck past infected Joel, Jake and Sam moved on through the sewers without much difficulty. In the distance they heard shooting and yelling prompting Sam to ask whether it was Ellie. After turning a corner Sam's question was answered as Henry and Ellie came running towards them. "Sam!" Henry shouted relieved that his brother was okay.
"Oh, thank god," Ellie sighed in relief "We gotta keep running," Ellie informed as more infected revealed themselves. They ran through the narrow halls closing any door behind them to halt the infected's progress however their own way was now blocked by a chained gate with a pipe holding it shut. Henry and Joel continually pushed to attempted to get through but to no avail. Taking initiative Sam had crawled through a small duct and opened the gate for the group. Not stopping for a moment as soon as the gate was opened everyone charged through as quickly as they could, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the infected as possible. The exit was seen but the door leading to it was blocked off from the outside. "Gimme a boost. I can get through that window," Ellie instructed after having noticed a narrow window. Henry then lifted her up through the small opening followed by Sam after Henry had told him that he wouldn't stay here. The two teens attempted to remove the vending machine blocking the door whilst Joel, Jake and Henry readied themselves for combat. The three of them desperately fought off the massive hoard of infected but they continued to arrive in larger and larger numbers. Thankfully Ellie and Sam had managed get the door open and as soon as they did the three exited promptly and closed it just as quickly as they exited and blocked it off again.
"Fresh air," Henry exclaimed as he let out deep breaths along with Jake and Joel.
"Wha - Look at this," Sam said as he pointed towards writing on the wall which spoke of the infected inside.
"Oh, are you fucking kidding me? Thanks for the warning on the other side guys," Ellie let out in an annoyed voice.
"So where's this tower?" Joel asked after regained his breath and focus on their objective.
"We're close. Real close," Henry answered as he moved on.
