The night dragged on for what seemed like days, Joel and Tommy were unable to get any sleep as they were to focused on what was going on outside where only a few houses down the sounds of a group of looters reverberated throughout the street, Joel thought Sarah did not need to be troubled by this and let her sleep in blissful ignorance to what was currently going on around them. Tommy suggested they move but Joel asked to where in the end they had decided to whether out their current situation until early morning so they had the some rest and could still slip away whilst it was dark.

"How much longer" whispered Tommy

"Not much longer" replied Joel as he looked at his watch

"God I thought we got away from these guys back in that town" said Tommy

"Well either they're further spread or they're some completely new people" said Joel as he looked through a small crack that lead out into the road

"Did you hear that" said Tommy as he perked up

"What, where did it come from" said Joel

Joel and Tommy moved to the back of the house looking into the garden where they saw something moving in the shed. Joel moved over towards the shed with his knife drawn edging closer and closer and then, SNAP

"Oh please don't kill me" squeaked the voice in the shed

"Come on out now where I can see you" Joel replied in a stern manner

As the man exited the shed before Joel stood a short slim built messily dressed man who didn't look physically imposing but Joel wasn't taking any chances.

"Who are you" asked Joel

"I I I'm Chris, are you with those people looting across the way there" he replied

"What no we're just passing through, what are you doing" replied Joel

"Some things broke and I was looking for some tools to fix them before those looters take everything" Chris snapped

Joel and Chris walked back into the house away from anyone who could overhear them

"Who is this Joel" asked Tommy

"My names Chris, I was just looking for tools" Chris replied

"Why haven't you gone to the quarantine zone" Tommy instantly asked

"The quarantine zone, why would I go there" Chris replied

"Perhaps because it's the most god dam safest place" Tommy snapped back

"Those oppressive bastards you go there and it will be the end of any freedom you have, that FEDRA or whatever they call them self declared Marshall law the way you think life is has gone" Chris retorted

"All right lets calm down" said Joel

"They wouldn't just get rid of the whole government" said Tommy

"Well they have everything's ran by the military now" said Chris

As Joel looked at his watch he realised it was best time they be going in order to sneak away without the looters noticing.

"Chris look, what would be the best way outta here to the city" asked Joel

"You want to go to the quarantine zone are you serious" said Chris

"Just humour me" replied Joel

"Follow this road to the end take a left go down take the second right and you should be on the main road and follow it on in" replied Chris

"Thank you, also what do you know about these looters around here" said Joel

"Not much except there styling themselves as the Hunters some big guy going around convincing people to join him as it is safer then the quarantine zone and you still get a say in what you do they got themselves a militia now" Chris replied

"That don't sound too good" said Tommy

"Now is there anything around here I could take" Chris said as he began walking through towards the living room where Sarah was

"Hey, Hey there's nothing here" Joel said leading him away as he thought Chris didn't need to know they were travelling with a kid.

Then a horrible shrieking echoed through the streets and voices outside screamed "infected!"

"Well love to stay and chat but I gotta go" Chris said as he ran back to the shed picking up what he had scavenged and then proceeded to clamber over a fence

"Shit Joel we better get moving" said Tommy

Joel moved over towards Sarah and gave her a nudge

"Come on baby girl we gotta move" Joel said softly

"Already" Sarah said as she had a large yawn

"Hurry" replied Joel

"Dad you kinda freaking me out what happening" asked Sarah

Before Joel could give his reply all that could be heard was gunfire and the screams of those looters who were being torn to pieces by the infected at least the noise they were making was drawing the infected away from them.

"Sarah pack your bag we're leaving now" said Joel

Joel and Tommy packed their things whilst Sarah rolled up her sleeping bag and then they were ready to head off. The group left through the back gate trying to draw the least attention taking the back path to the road it was still dark and the power was out to this part of the suburb so it was difficult to see but was becoming clearer with each passing moment. A group of infected ran right in front of them heading towards the looters, these infected had started to sprout fungus on their faces that had to be the reason they couldn't see them Joel thought to himself

"It looks like were clear" said Joel

"God that was a close call" said Tommy in a sigh of relief

The group followed Chris's instructions a left and then second right with no sign of infected the group began to talk more openly again

"How do you know where you're going" asked Sarah

"I've got a good sense of direction" replied Joel

"Since when have you had a good sense of direction we got lost to that game of soccer you remember" joked Sarah

"Ha I remember" Joel said trying to end the conversation it wasn't helped by the fact Tommy was chuckling along with Sarah.

The group walked along the main road which was a lot quieter than when they had been getting into that staging area all those weeks ago, they continued walking whilst eating breakfast which consisted mostly of biscuits from what was scrounged up from a gas station on their way to the city and by the time the sun had risen they were now in the city where it sounded busy, In Joel's mind this had to mean they had found the zone and were not far from it, meanwhile all Tommy could think is how the zone was controlled this did not sit well with him but deep down he knew it was the safest place.

"Daddy if the infection started in the city are there gonna be any sick people here" asked Sarah

Joel mood instantly dropped realising Sarah was right but still trying to keep his composure he replied

"They wouldn't have a zone here if it wasn't safe now"

"Okay" replied Sarah

Now entering the city the group had spotted the quarantine zone by seeing makeshift fences in the main road as they got closer towards it they could see crowds of people massed outside chaotically all trying to gain entry, Joel closed his eyes took a deep breath and exhaled then began walking towards the zone just a short distance away.