Sorry guys for the wait. Long story short I had an old friend come over, than The Walking Dead 400 days happened, than Hotline Miami happened. So hopefully this chapter makes up for it. Enjoy.

I felt significantly better in the morning. Though I already suspected I would, I've learned multiple times in the past, that everything feels better in the morning. By the time I got dressed Joel and Ellie were already packed and ready to go. Waiting for me, I guess.

"Sorry, I woke up late." I said sheepishly feeling kinda bad for keeping them waiting.

Joel shrugged. "No big deal. We decided to let you sleep in." He motioned me and Ellie towards the truck.

"You sleep good?" Ellie asked me joining at my side.

"I guess." I replied "I mean I don't know how anyone could sleep after, well you know." This time I think I succeeded in hiding my emotions.

Ellie replied. "Sleep is sleep and no matter how shitty it is you still need it." She said

"Yeah pretty much, still it would help." I said.

Ellie quickly changed the subject. "Fuck its cold out here." She said shoving her hands inside her coat. She smiled at me.

"Yeah it is pretty fucking cold out here." I chuckled as we walked over to the truck.

I whistled. "Joel this is a pretty old-ass truck you got here." I said walking around it. "Damn is that a cassette player?" I said looking in through the glass. "This has gotta to be an early 2000's, maybe a late 1990's at the least." I finished.

"You know a lot about cars?" He asked while getting in the driver's seat.

"Not really but I had a friend in the zone who knew all about 'em." I replied throwing my backpack in the back seat.

"Here jump in you two. We've go a long ride ahead of us." He said starting the engine.

Ellie and I got in the back while Joel began to drive. I quickly got my backpack and began to rummage through it. Ellie looked at me curiously as I found what I was looking for.

"Here Ellie take a look at this." I said handing her the object with a grin.

"Tom Petty, Running down a dream….. It's a cassette! Ah Jake this is awesome!" She said as she handed it back to me.

"Yeah had it with me since I was a kid." I chuckled. "Can't tell you how much I listened to this back when they were making batteries at the zone."

"Yeah that song is actually pretty good. Here give it to me." Joel offered. I handed it to him and he put in the cassette player and pushed play.

As the music started playing I shifted in my seat as me and Ellie drifted off to the sound of the music..

Ellie's POV

"Hey Jake, Ellie, wake up."

I yawned, Stretching my arms out. "What the hell is it Joel?" I said rubbing my eyes.

"We're running out of gas. We have about a fourth left and that won't get us halfway to where to we need to go."

"So what next?" Jake said barely awake.

"I'm gonna go siphon gas from the station up ahead and I need you two to keep watch." He said getting his revolver.

"So why aren't we just driving up there and getting it?" Jake said.

"Draws too much attention, for both hunters and runners." Joel replied getting out his revolver.

"You think you can handle this?" He said handing the gun to him.

"I can try." he replied with doubt in his voice.

"Ellie do you need any ammo?" Joel asked. I quickly got out my handgun from my bag and checked the clip.

"No I think I'm fine." I said loading the magazine.

"Alright call out if you see anything." Joel said.

He was halfway across the lot when a shot broke out. Joel cried out in pain as he fell down. Blood was rapidly draining from his shoulder. Joel quickly stood back up and sprinted towards the truck.

"Fucking sniper." He spat as he quickly jumped in the driver's seat. He started the car and was greeted by another shot. I held my breath and looked around to see where it had landed. Instead I heard the sound of leaking air and Joel cursing.

"He shot the fucking tire!" Joel angrily exclaimed as he turned his head to look at us." We're going to have to push the truck if we wanna get out of here."

Jake replied "Alright we'll all get out on one side and we'll use the doors to push."

We all got out and pushed, actually not that hard to do with Joel doing most of the work the sniper shot at us several more times before figuring out what we were doing. Two shots rang out in the air and subsequently two tires gave out. Joel cursed even more as he tried to keep on pushing

"Fuck it." Joel exclaimed as he crouched down for cover.

"Alright, first thing, we're gonna get this fucker than we're gonna find some tires and get the hell out of here before every goddamn clicker in the county comes." Joel said, drawing his pistol.

He looked at Jake "Alright son you're gonna have to be the first to run across to that building." He said motioning about a dozen yards away.

"The fuck? Why me Joel? Jake exclaimed.

"Yeah why him?" I said confused to why Joel would send a kid in plain view of a sniper.

"He doesn't know that you two are here and I'll cover you." He looked at Jake. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Fine whatever." Jake said still moderately pissed.

"Alright on the count of three. One, two, THREE!" Joel yelled as Jake made a mad dash to the next car. Joel started firing randomly to places I guess he assumed the sniper might be at. As Jake made it in to cover, Joel turned to me.

"Alright Ellie your gonna have to make a break for it" he said with an assuring look in his eye. After all we've been through I know he wouldn't let me die.

About halfway through of the sniper finally realized what was happening and spotted me. I felt several shots rocket right pass me. I hesitated for a second long enough for another bullet to find its way near my face.

"Ellie don't stop. Get the hell over here!" Jake shouted from the side of the building. I brushed my auburn hair away from my face and sprinted over there.

Once I had gotten over there Jake asked "You hurt?"I nodded at him and we both turned back to look at Joel, the sniper already knew where he was and what he was going to do. This was going to be extremely difficult for him to not get shot.

As Joel started running, Jake quickly stood up and chucked a bottle a few dozen yards away. It landed with a satisfying crash as Joel finally arrived.

"You threw that to distract the sniper?" I asked. I said it as more of a statement, and he confirmed my belief.

"Yeah, Figured something is better than nothing right?" he said with a sense of gladness in his voice, like he wasn't sure it would work or not and was satisfied with the results.

"Alright let's keep on going." Joel said gasping for breath as he led us towards the back.

"Here's the plan. We stealth in, I take him out we find tires and we leave. Got it?" He asked.

We both nodded and made are way towards the back. As soon we opened the door we were greeted by gunshot. Me, Joel, and Jake quickly moved on in.

The sniper called out."Don't fucking touch her, you fucking crazies!"

"What the hell is he talking about?" Jake harshly whispered.

"I don't know, I don't care let's just get in, okay?" Joel said.

We moved in deeper going to cover 'till we had a clear shot at the sniper. The guy kept on going on about 'her' and how we shouldn't touch her. As we got closer we devised a plan where I would throw a bottle in the guys face and Joel would run up and take the guy out.

As I threw the bottle in the dude's face Joel ran up and kicked him to the floor, the sniper spat at Joel as he got his pistol. The guy had tears in his eyes, realizing he was about to be killed he softly said. "Please don't touch her." Not sad, Not angry, Just desperate, like he was more concerned about 'her' welfare than his. Joel pulled the trigger.

"Well that's that I guess." Jake said as he weakly looked over the body.

"Here let's look around to see if there's anything that we could use." Joel quickly went towards the cars "I'll check if these tires are in good shape."

I turned to Jake. "That was a good idea, throwing the bottle to distract the sniper I mean." I said smiling in the process.

"Just kinda came to me. I don't how, just did." He said, shrugging.

"Here lets go check the food storage" I said motioning to the big double doors in the back.

"Sure why not?" he asked as we both walked through the doors.

"So how old are you?" I asked him. Trying to make conversation.

"Fourteen. You?" he asked looking around

"Same. Weird eh?" I said. "What are the odds in an apocalypse that the only kid I've seen for months is my own age?"

"Yeah. Pretty damn slim." Jake replied as he glanced my way

We walked through for about a mminute. When I was suddenly grabbed from behind what I could only guess was a clicker.

"Oh fuck! Jake help!" I said desperately fighting back the clicker. Hoping that I could keep it at bay.

"Get off her, fucker!" Jake said as he kicked it down. The clicker tried getting back up, only for a revolver bullet to pass straight through the fungi on its head through her skull.

Jake stood their looking at the body as I gasped for breath. "You okay?" He asked running over to see if I was okay.

"Yeah I'm good, thanks for saving life." I looked at him and gave him a smile. "Holy fuck, that almost got me." I said laughing a bit.

"Yeah it was pretty close." He said chuckling.

I looked over the body. It was a girl about my age. Judging from her state of decay, she's been infected for a long time.

"Maybe this was the 'her' the sniper was talking about." I pondered.

"Yeah maybe that guy went crazy because of her." Jake said looking at the body.

Suddenly Joel ran in turning towards the door aiming his pistol.

"Kids get ready. We got a whole horde of infected coming our way."

Da dun dunnnnnnn.

Cliffhanger yeah! I know the ending was a bit cheap but I thought the chapter was long as it is. Oh and before I pass out of sleep deprivation it is currently 12:40 pm, so happy 4th of July! Yeah!

Until next time

-Jogman