That night the creatures of the woods let out their quiet symphony of insects croaking and owls hooting, Tommy alert to every sound with the thought lingering what if those bandits were still out there, as time went on Tommy could feel himself slowly drifting off just before he fully closed his eyes something grabbed his shoulder.
"Jesus Joel you scarred me half to death" Tommy exclaimed
"You look tired. I watch over the place you get some sleep" said Joel
"There's been no sign of those bandits so far" said Tommy
"You just concentrate on getting some sleep" replied Joel
Joel gripped the pistol they had taken from the dead soldier the day before checking its ammo
"Dam just seven rounds" Joel mumbled
As the hours went by Joel looked down at his watch watching the seconds go by thinking to himself he had something to fight for he was going to survive to keep Sarah safe, looking out into the wilderness all seemed to be still as if nothing had happened. As the sun rose on the horizon light beamed through the woods illuminating the cabin the level of dust in the cabin became obvious as each streak of light could be seen through the windows. Joel walked over to Tommy.
"Come on wake up we've gotta go out and look for some food"
"Alright give me a moment to wake up"
Joel then turned his attention over to Sarah leaning down beside her he gently nudged her awake
"Morning Baby girl, Tommy and I are going out to look for food we won't be long, now you just stay here okay"
"But Dad" mumbled Sarah
"No buts just stay here if anyone comes in you hide got it "replied Joel
"Okay" Sarah hesitantly said
Joel then gave Sarah the last of the drugs they had to help her abdomen heal from the gunshot inflicted a couple weeks back which was doing surprisingly well given what they had been through and then left with Tommy slowly pulling the door too making it seem in the same state they had found it.
"I think we should try that summer camp" said Tommy
"The one that was crawling with those guys that crashed the truck" replied Joel suprised
"They may be gone now, and maybe they overlooked some supplies we could use" remarked Tommy
"I guess it's our only option" Joel replied
As Joel and Tommy walked through the woods they noticed it was peaceful and mostly undisturbed a far cry from what must be going on in any built up area. It was not long before they arrived at the summer camp the fire now gone and no sign of any bandits they approached the building that stood against nature already partially reclaimed due to neglect and time since it was left from summer.
"Be careful they may still be here" stated Joel
"After you, you've got the gun" replied Tommy
Joel and Tommy edged closer to the main building which was located at the centre of the camp and moved inside the tiles on the floor had mud stains stretched out across it like skid marks from a car and the air was dry completely devoid of moisture, they began searching the derelict summer camp not finding much that could be used; the cafeteria and vending machine had already been raided. Joel and Tommy entered a room that looked like it was used as a loading bay where delivery trucks would make stop offs.
"God dam it there's nothing here" exclaimed Joel
"Hold on a minute I might have found something" Tommy replied
"What is it" Joel answered back
"It looks like a storage room, dam it it's locked, how do we get in?" Tommy asked
"I got an idea" Joel replied
Joel grabbed a nearby knife and started to jam it into the door and then moving the knife around
"What are you trying to do" asked Tommy
"Seeing if I can't break this lock"
After several moments of trying a loud clunk sound rang out.
"That could of gone better" remarked Joel
"Well open it up then" Tommy replied
Upon opening the Door they entered a small room with multiple shelves most of them empty and several cardboard boxes damp from being next to a broken freezer that had spilled its contents however on one of the shelves at the back hidden by a towel draping from the top shelf was a few cans of food tucked away.
"This will have to do for now" Tommy mumbled
All of a sudden the silence of the woods was broken by the rattling of an engine that came roaring to a stop with the screech of tyres a car had pulled up outside and a few people jumped out
"I told you we'd come back to get what else we can we can't miss anything the boss says" echoed the first voice
"Well that's my brother for you, It's just as well he got us to attack that military truck we've now got ammunition and supplies for weeks" said the second voice
"Didn't a couple of people escape though" a third voice replied
"There no concern they probably didn't have much anyway let the wild take them for all I care" the first voice said
Hearing this Joel and Tommy began to move hoping to avoid these new arrivals and get back with their food they made their way through a few of the class rooms hoping to avoid the main corridors where the men were patrolling Joel and Tommy managed to make their way back out the entrance and headed back towards the cabin
"Shit I thought they were gone" whispered Tommy
"Just keep running" replied Joel
Joel and Tommy began to run back into the woods away from the classes but they were noticed and a fire door in one of the classes burst open
"Look over there, Get them!" a voice cried out
"Oh fuck run!" Joel shouted
Joel and Tommy continued running into the denser trees dodging the hail of gunfire that was now coming from the group, Joel and Tommy ran shots flying every time a shot hit a tree on the right they ran left this continued over and over creating the feeling they were being led into a trap soon their suspicions were confirmed and they were backed into a corner Joel and Tommy hid waiting to try to ambush them as they came past.
"Stay down" Joel barked
A Bandit came running past where Joel was hiding and Joel pounced grabbing the man managing to get him from behind in a strangle hold and started to strangle him throwing the man's gun over to Tommy. The duo then shot down two more and started to make a run for it.
"That looks like the last of them" remarked Joel
In that moment from behind a large tree a boot appeared kicking Joel to the floor two men jumped out from behind a large tree knocking the gun from Joel's hands whilst the other wrestled Tommy, Joel was lying on the Floor and when Tommy realised a gun was pointed at Joel ultimately surrendered.
"Those were my friends you killed you know that" The larger man said
"You attacked us" Tommy replied
"Look they got some food on them" replied the smaller man
"So I guess this wasn't a complete waste then and I can tell the boss we found the last of the truck survivors" the large man replied
"Look please let us go we won't bother you" Joel pleaded
"Let you go oh no were going to kill you... slowly" the large man replied
The smaller man began beating Joel blow after blow Tommy helpless to do anything when the man was finished he stood up and took a step back, Joel hunched over on the floor the larger man took aim at Joel head and a shot rang out...
The look on the man's face tuned from anger to that of shock as his white shirt became darker his face became paler he toppled over for this shot was not from his gun but from another gun altogether just a few metres away stood Sarah holding the still smoking barrel of a pistol from one of the dead bandits.
"You bitch" cried the small man raising his gun
"That's my daughter you bastard" yelled Joel who grabbed the man's weapon arm began wrestling with him Joel was kicked in the gut to the floor and the man realigned his gun in Joel's direction and then all of a sudden he dropped his gun falling to the floor in a heap for sticking out of his back was a large stick thrust between his ribs by Tommy, Joel regained his footing and immediately turned his attention to Sarah.
"What are you doing out here I thought I told you to stay inside!" shouted Joel
"I heard gunshots and I feared the worst so I came to see" replied Sarah
"Where did you get that gun anyway" snapped Joel
"I found it on one of those guys back there, oh god I feel sick" said Sarah
"God dam it Sarah next time do as I say it was for your own good you could have been killed" barked Joel
"Cut her some slack Joel without her we'd both be dead" Tommy yelled
"Stay out of this, anyway come on we've gotta move" shouted Joel
Joel grabbed what was left of the food put it into one of the bags the bandits had and led the group off into the distance, Tommy tried to reassure Sarah as they walked
"Sarah look I know he won't say it but he is glad you came for us then it was either them or us so don't feel bad" Tommy assured Sarah
Sarah had a look of horror in her face somehow she knew this would not be the last person she would have to kill but she was taken by Tommy's words and tried to take comfort in his words being.
"Look over there a town we may be able to meet up with the military there come on" said Joel seemingly wanting to avoid talking about how his daughter had just taken a life. The group began to walk off Sarah's leg seemingly having gotten better to the point of being able to walk on did not need to be carried but she did need to take a pair of shoes from one of the bandits although to big they would have to do for now, the group set off into the distance not knowing what horrors could await them...