The truck continued speeding away from the camp which soon becoming a spec in the distance the question on everyone's mind was where were they being taken back at the camp there was so much panic in trying to get away if there was a space on one of these trucks it was forcibly filled tearing families apart no one knew where they were going, the soldiers riding with the truck were tight lipped saying only that they were being taken to a more secure quarantine zone, the road was cleared earlier that day allowing the truck to pass by without incident as the sun began to set in the sky the atmosphere in the truck became an eerie calm. Looking around the truck many seemed to be in a state of shock completely zoned out some lucky few had even managed to bring a bag of personal belongings with them unlike Joel and Tommy who had nothing with them not even Joel's revolver as this was confiscated back at the camp, FEDRA had set some tough rules by which everyone had to abide by. Tommy was lost in thought hunched over looking at his shoes as this was happening Joel had his head lent back into the wall of the truck this quiet was shattered moments later.
"Dad where are we going" asked Sarah
"Somewhere safe don't worry" replied Joel as he sat up repositioning himself into a more comfortable position
The soldier's riding inside the truck began passing round the evening's rations consisting of little more than dry bacon which was consumed in mere moments by the hungry passengers. As the evening began to set in a chill blew through the air.
"I'm cold" Sarah said with a shiver
"Here you go then" Joel said as he wrapped his blanket around Sarah
"Thank you" Sarah responded
"Now you just focus on getting better now alright" said Joel
Sarah nodded before closing her eyes drifting off to sleep. The truck continued along the road for about another 20 minutes looking outside the world seemed so peaceful as if nature itself was oblivious to the plight that was infecting man, the truck which was not far behind the rest of the convoy suddenly came to a stop. One of the passengers exclaimed.
"We can't possibly be there already"
"Quiet down back there" barked one of the soldier's
Joel overheard a conversation happening in the cabin between the 2 drivers's
"What the hell is there a bus in the way, this road was clear this morning?" said one driver
"I don't know I will radio command and see what to do"
After a few moments of chatter the truck began to move taking a side road and began to proceed cautiously not long after a sound like bubble wrap exploded out and the truck veered left coming to an abrupt stop. Joel now dazed his first instinct was to check on Sarah who was luckily unscathed breathing a sigh of relief he got up and passed Sarah down to Tommy then taking a few steps back and looking at the truck it was clear that the tyres had been purposely slashed. The soldier jumped out of the cabin taking a quick look around saw a spike strip no to far from the truck shouting.
"It's is a trap stay down"
In that instant gunfire rang out striking one of the soldiers this caused major panic in the group of survivors as more gunfire rang out several Survivors were gunned down by masked men hiding in the bushes, Joel grabbed Sarah and shouted at Tommy to run, Tommy grabbed the downed soldier's side arm and quickly followed suit. The remaining soldier's fought on killing a couple of the assailants but were ultimately outnumbered and killed. Joel carrying Sarah and Tommy ran deeper into the woods whilst a couple other groups from the surviving passengers fled in different directions, the brush was thick but yet Joel pushed on through running into the mass of growth of undisturbed woodland pressing on as the occasional bullet flew passed impacting on nearby trees the very ground creaked and cracked with every step the group took twigs bent underfoot whilst leaves blew in the autumn wind the chill felt like nothing now.
"Joel where are we running to" shouted Tommy
"Away from those guys" snapped Joel
"What... what's happening daddy" Sarah nervously said
"Just keep your head down baby okay" Joel replied
In the distance you could hear the attackers pursuing firing at anything that moved shouting at one another.
"Fan out and find those people they may have some goodies on them" shouted one
"You heard him... Kill em" shouted another
As Joel and Tommy ran screams rang out to the gunfire that was whizzing past as the bandit's had found and killed another survivor.
"Keep running" exclaimed Joel
"Here this looks like a good spot" yelled Tommy
It was a disused sewage outlet pipe big enough for a man to hide in but hidden amongst the leaves of autumn. Joel and Tommy dived into the pipe and tried to control their heavy panting Joel and Tommy both did hiking but this was way too much.
"Keep quiet, keep quiet" said Tommy
"Where did they go? I can't see them!" Shouted one voice directly above the pipe and as the man stood there a patch of soil slid down in front of the pipe falling harmlessly.
"This way I hear another group" shouted another
Joel and Tommy waited until they could no longer hear the men and the gunshots were only the sound of echoes far away.
"Uncle Tommy are they gone" asked Sarah
"Now stay there with your dad I will go look" replied Tommy
"You be careful now" said Joel
Tommy slowly edged out of the pipe looking around silence had fallen upon the area and it seemed as if all that had just happened was just a bad dream that they would wake up any minute now but that was not the case, Tommy returned a few moments later.
"Okay the coast is clear they are gone for now"
"Let's go I don't want to be here when they come back" replied Joel
"You okay Sarah" Tommy asked
"I'm fine" Sarah replied in a quiet tone
Joel once again picked up Sarah and Tommy led the way. The group soon came up to what remained of a summer camp disused in the autumn it had just received a new coat of paint waiting to be used again the following year they got close to one of the bunk houses and then suddenly heard a noise.
"Get down" said Tommy
In that moment on of the door's burst open a man running only to be mercilessly gunned down.
"Ha survival of the fittest baby" said the voice behind the gun
"Alright let's check him" said another
"Nothing but a few snacks and a knife"
The attackers had killed this man for little more than what he was carrying and soon they moved on to another building leaving the dead man there as if he never existed.
"Alright our best bet is going around" said Joel
"Okay I will go ahead you follow"
Tommy moved around several of the buildings with Joel following close behind slowly going around the buildings trying to avoid a group who had massed around a fire pit who were yelling and drinking. As Joel moved up he there was a loud crack as he stood on a twig alerting one of the men on guard.
"Fuck" mumbled Joel
Joel hid up against a crate with Sarah Tommy looked back over preparing to take a shot as the man walked right up to the crate peering almost right over, he was so close you could smell the breath of this man.
"Ah it must have been nothing" the man murmured turning around to rejoin the group, Tommy lowered his gun and gestured for Joel to move Joel peered over the crate seeing what was going on then carried Sarah over to Tommy
"That was to close" said Joel
"I almost shot him" remarked Tommy
"You still alright baby girl" asked Joel
Sarah just nodded somehow she seemed to be calm and collected but then again she was mature for her age. Now dark Joel and Tommy's minds turned to where to sleep they strolled on into the late hours of the night losing all trail of the people from earlier.
"What's that" asked Sarah
"What's what" replied Joel
"That" said Sarah pointing in its direction there was an old cabin the wood had darkened with age rendering it almost invisible
"It's a cabin it's so dark we almost missed it" remarked Tommy
"Alright we will stay here for the night" said Joel
Opening the cabin revealed it to be mostly empty a little in the way furniture it had been neglected for quite some time
"I will take the first watch you look tired anyway" said Tommy
"Thanks wake me in a couple hours" replied Joel
The creatures of the night began their Corus which although was scary in itself it meant no one was nearby to disturb it something to take comfort from Joel guessed. Joel found a couple dusty old blankets covering one of the chairs it would have to do for a blanket for now. Sarah huddled up to Joel for warmth as Tommy sat in a chair closest to the cabin door as his watch began.
"Dad what's gonna happen to us" asked Sarah
"Nothing nothing's gonna happen baby girl now get some rest you will need it." Replied Joel