***Chapter 5: Boston QZ***
2016
(Three Years After Sarah's Death)
Joel sat rigid against the bus window, and examined the latest zone from a sign that stood in front of a large, metal fence:
Boston Quarantine Zone
Who'd a thought two country boys would eventually end up this far north? Joel thought to himself in silence. It was nearly six o'clock in the morning, and his fellow passengers were asleep. Tommy stirred in sleep next to him in their seat, and Joel looked down on him with sentimental affection. Maybe Boston is a fresh start…
Joel knew he'd been a terrible companion the past few years. Not only was he moody and prone to angry outbursts whenever Tommy tried to get him to talk about their experiences, but he had become so focused on survival that he'd lost most of whatever human compassion remained in his heart.
Sometimes he thought he might very well become a monster. After Sarah's death, the brothers had been so exasperated with the government's military and pathetic attempts to save lives, that they avoided the new quarantine zones and tried to make it own their own in the wilderness. Eventually, they met up with a few men who held similar beliefs in Louisiana, and together they formed into what Joel would eventually call "Hunters".
The brothers preyed on the innocent to steal their possessions for keep. What terrified him most was that he knew it was much more than personal gain that served as motivation. Truth be told, Joel enjoyed the thrill of the kill because it was the only way he could effectively release his rage, frustration, and absolute misery.
The world was a terrible place to live, and humanity had gone to hell, so there was no point to resist the brutality that nature itself attempted to enforce.
At some point a few months ago, however, Joel and Tommy had discovered that the other men had taken to cannibalism during a shortage of food in the winter, against their knowledge and far beyond their comfort level. From this, the brothers decided they had run from what remained of civilization for long enough, and it was past time for them to return to a "normal" life.
Joel was not sure why Tommy continued to bear with his animosity, but assumed he felt some sort of responsibility for their brotherhood, and perhaps even Sarah's death. Then again, those were the only two similarities they now shared, but maybe deep down both of them feared complete isolation more than anything.
"Tommy, we're here," Joel nudged him awake, as the sun had begun to rise. The soldiers would probably wait another thirty minutes to release them into their new home, but Joel felt that it might be a good time to show his brother that he was done with his animalistic attitude.
"And where would that be?" Tommy mumbled, and stretched in the seat.
"Boston, apparently," Joel replied, still somewhat surprised that they had made it this far. The military had no interest or responsibility to inform people who were involved in quarantine transfers. This was just another prime example of lack for common human decency.
"Well I'll be damned…Boston. You and I never thought we'd end up here," Tommy said, with a smile formed on his face in awe. One of Tommy's best qualities was that he never seemed to hold a grudge, and Joel deeply admired him for that.
"Ain't that the truth, little brother…" Joel remarked, and continued to stare out the window.
Joel very seriously considered an apology, but the lump in his throat would not allow it to be delivered effectively. Not only was this not the right time or the right place, but he felt his actions would serve as the true basis for his regret.
After a few days, the brothers had settled nicely in the small, rundown apartment that they were suddenly expected to call home. Then, both were given jobs.
Tommy, who was lucky, was chosen for maintenance inside the zone.
Joel, however, assumed he had received the short end of the stick when he was stuck with outside work duty.
He was not entirely sure how individuals were chosen for their specific positions. From the looks of all people chosen for his own, it seemed to be filled with more than half the people who had entered the quarantine zone with them just a few days ago.
In other words, the rookies without the experience or the means to survive outside the zone filled with infected and spores. There was no real job description, and he assumed the latent reason they were there was to keep the infected at bay and to prevent them from wandering near Boston. There was, however, another function…
Inside the zone was more than overcrowded from the looks of things, not to mention that food shortages were as common as the sun rising in the morning. If more people died on the outside, then the military could be more effective and responsible for taking care of the people inside.
Joel, however, was not concerned for his safety. Not only had lived on the outside for years, but death was not a concept that he feared any more.
A bus had arrived early in the morning to take everyone beyond the zone limits, and where that was exactly Joel did not know, but the drive seemed to go on and on. Joel, true to his nature, sat alone next to the bus window. Soon, however, he felt the seat next to him fill with a presence.
Joel turned his head, uninterested, to find a young woman who eyed him carefully.
"How'd you end up here?" she asked, blunt and to the point. Joel frowned in confusion, as her eyes continued to glare at him with an intense curiosity. It gave him the feeling that she was in search of something he lacked.
"Don't know," he admitted without interest, and looked out the window to return to his peaceful solitude.
"You don't look wide eyed and bushy tailed like the rest of these people…" she assessed, with a frown on her face.
"Does it matter?" Joel turned to her, with an icy glare. The woman looked somewhat surprised at his hostility, but a small, devious smile spread across her face.
"In fact, you look older than me," she said with a chuckle.
Smart-ass kid.
"I don't give a fuck what you think, I'm here to do the job," he spat, and stared into her eyes. Not once did she flinch or look away.
"Easy there fucker, I'm trying to save your ass," she replied, and Joel winced in annoyance. It appeared, however, that this woman was experienced.
"You ain't gonna be able to do much savin'," he said with a roll of his eyes.
They glared into each other. She had an almost sly smile that teased around her mouth, and her eyes pierced right through him. Joel kept his jaw clenched, and refused to look away. She shook her head to herself, and snickered.
"What is this, a god damn pissin' contest?" he finally grunted.
"If you want it to be," she said with a shrug. He took a deep breath.
"…Most of these people…they came in the same transfer with me. Why do they have all the rookies stationed on work duty outside the zone?" he asked, and although he knew the answer, he wanted her to confirm it.
"They're lambs being fed to the lions: easy slaughter and distraction for the infected. Less people inside the Boston QZ make it a happier place for everyone," she said, and Joel nodded.
"That's what I thought. Why are you here? You seem to be experienced," he questioned, now curious.
"The put the less desirable people out here. The new people, the troublemakers, the prostitutes…you get the idea," she explained. Joel raised an eyebrow.
"You a prostitute?" he questioned, and almost allowed a small smile to spread across his face.
"You kidding me? That's a ladies work," she joked with contempt, but maintained an air of seriousness.
"Then why you stuck out here with us rookies?" he asked.
She glanced around first.
"I smuggle things," she admitted with small nod.
"Alone?" he questioned, and she seemed to ignore it.
"I can handle myself, Tex. I was just worried about you when we get to where we're going," she explained, and he cringed at the petty nickname.
"Worried how?" he prompted.
"You got a gun on you?" she asked, and his eyes became wide.
"No, wasn't aware we were allowed to have one," he explained.
"Aww, that's cute. Do you do what everyone tells you?" she said with sarcasm and a frown.
"Well, do you?" He questioned, now guilty that he and Tommy had left their guns behind once they had reached civilization. That's what they'd been required to do to get here, at least.
"Two, actually. Always keep an extra, just in case…first rule of survival buddy. Either that or have a partner, but I'm no social butterfly," she explained, and he actually laughed this time.
"I, uh, I know about survival. This is my first QZ…I used to live out there some guys and my brother," he explained.
"My God, were you one of those guys who preyed on the innocent?" she asked, eyes narrowed with a smile across her face.
He frowned, and then huffed.
It was enough of an answer for her, and she nodded. Joel sat with his focus on the palms of his hands. It sounded so much worse when someone else said it. A conscience was not something that helped anyone endure, but it was impossible to ignore all the time.
"Hmm…well, at least your good with a gun. Here, take this, you're gonna need it when we get to where we're going," she said, and pulled a small revolver from her backpack before she handed it to him. Joel almost forced his face into a smile, and received her gift with eager hands.
"What's our 'actual' job description?" he questioned.
"We're supposed to pull weeds and cleanse the environment of spore spread. They say it prevents spread closer to QZ, but I don't buy it. There are plenty infected out there, so don't be surprised," she warned, and Joel shrugged to dismiss it.
"Why do I need a gun if the military's there?" he asked, and she just flashed him an incredulous glare.
"They're dropping us off at the sight. They come back for us at sundown," she explained, and Joel shook his head.
"Assholes," he spat.
Although he was good with a gun and had experienced infected before, most of his targets had been human. Infected were something that they used to avoid at all costs. To be at close range everyday with them was enough to intimidate, though he would never admit it.
"I think we're here. What's your name, Tex?" she asked, after a long moment of comfortable silence.
"Joel," he said, and outstretched his hand. Her grip was firm and rough.
"Tess," she said, and continued to look around.
The bus parked, and the sound of silence filled the bus, before a shrill, ungodly clicking ripped through the quiet.
"Clickers…better stick next to me if you wanna save your hide, Joel," she added, before she stood to leave the bus.
Did this woman just challenge me?