Panting, tired, bloody, hunted.
Really, just another day in the life of a survivor. But this time was different. Joel could tell that these people weren't just bandits or rogues; the looks on their faces, like hungry lions looking for a wounded zebra or gazelle, confirmed what was already lurking in the back of his mind: cannibals. He'd heard rumors as far back as Tommy's dam, but it all seemed so farfetched, the idea that in this cruel, cold world, there were those who chose to eat each other to live. He wondered whether he'd feel guilt about killing them, knowing that they, like him, were simply hunting for their next meal.
But this wasn't the time to debate the morality of his situation. Right now, all that mattered was finding Tess and Ellie.
Inside their cell, Ellie finally gave into her hunger and ate some of the meat. As promised, it was, in fact, deer. She made sure to leave some for Tess, who was slowly regaining the feeling in her muscles.
No words were spoken, but they both knew that Joel needed help. And they needed to escape before David returned.
Ellie retrieved her knife from where she had hidden it in the seat of her jeans; David's friend had been too modest to feel her ass when he patted her down. The lock on the door was rusted from a lack of maintenance; a few good whacks had been enough to spring it loose.
With Tess on her arm, Ellie slowly crawled to the front. It became clear that they were in the backroom of an old pet shop just across from the slaughterhouse. David's men were still running around outside, guns in their hands, yelling at each other through the shrieking winds.
"Where is he?"
"I need a light! Search every building!"
"I'm checking over here!"
The door slowly swung open, and a man in a green jacket and a knit cap entered, a pistol in his left hand. He began working his way to the back of the store, making no effort to keep quiet. Ellie carefully moved around him, and jumped on his back, plunging her switchblade into his neck. A few stabs, and he was bleeding out all over the floor.
Tess picked up the gun. "I'll find Joel. Stay here, Ellie."
"No. I'm coming with you."
"It's too dangerous. Snow's too thick; it'll be impossible for me to keep an eye on you."
"Don't worry. I'll be with you the entire time."
The cannibals slowly worked their way through every dwelling and crevice in town; each was picked off one by one without so much as a peep. Eventually, the few who were still alive made their way back to David, who, despite the look of calm serenity on his face, was filled with seething rage at how two goddamn women and an old fool had outwitted him.
"It seems God himself has sent me a message. When those who plot against you hide in the shadows, lure them out with righteousness. Get the girl. Bring her to the restaurant. We're ending this."