Just a quick question those who are enjoying this story but I would like to ask you how you think I should continue the story any idea's would be greatly appreciated.
Many months had passed and it was now spring leaves had re-grown on trees but yet somehow the coldness of winter still held its grasp. Joel and Tommy's joint venture in producing good quality building materials had taken form it now sold to 3 districts and even the military occasionally bought from them this had been a crowning achievement for Joel who had always wanted to run a buisness. Joel even found the time t support Sarah in her soccer games which proved a nice distraction to the troubles of running a business and it even filled him with a sense of pride as Sarah's team was top of the league which consisted of the few schools that dotted around the zone.
Many other changes had also occurred during this time Tommy had become an active member in the fireflies much to Joel's discomfort, in what started out as just peaceful protests about food shortages and the treatment of people by the military had begun to turn darker as the fireflies began to use more forceful methods to get there point across such as disrupting general work and parading outside military barracks sometimes a few would get out of hand and try to instigate a riot.
News from other quarantine zones was scarce but rumour was many were now gone, overrun by zombies or felled by internal disputes only a few zones had managed to hold off the unending assault of the infection.
It was a cold evening the light of day had begun to fade away as Tommy entered the room panicky and out of breath
"Tommy are you okay" asked Joel in an inquisitive manner
"No no I am not okay" Tommy shouted back as he manoeuvred his way towards the kitchen sink to get a drink
"Tommy what the hell did you do" snapped Joel
"I didn't do anything" Tommy retorted
"I told you those fireflies were no good they've got some vendetta against the military" Joel answered
"I don't know what happened but down one of the alley ways at the market there's a couple dead soldiers and one hung by a street light with a firefly painted on the wall" Tommy began to reply
"What! This is beyond crazy what the hell has Marlene got to say for this" Joel yelled
"That's the point none of this makes any sense Marlene does not believe that the fireflies did this or else she would know she believes it was set up so the military can stamp out any resistance" said Tommy
"You can possibly believe that" replied Joel
"No some soldiers have been disappearing for weeks, it doesn't add up the soldiers killed weren't exactly the lowest rank it would make sense to have killed off some lower ranks. Marlene is becoming more paranoid by the minute, the others wouldn't want me telling you this but things are not going well with the fireflies people have begun t argue on how we should act many are scared and lashing out whilst Marlene is trying to block the truth of this execution at every turn and I doubt these disappearances are coincidence. The troubling thing on my mind is that a couple few gallon tanks of petrol was stolen today behind all our backs." Tommy hastily responded
"What the hell have you got yourself into?" Joel said as he took a step back
"Look the fireflies would never do this unless we all agreed we all have to..." said Tommy before he was cut off by the sound of a loud bang
"What the hell was that" Joel said as he moved towards the door swinging it open
They were greeted by the sight of a fireball off into the distance and all too familiar sound of gunfire a military jeep swung by and pulled to an immediate halt the sole occupant stepped out to view the fireball which you could feel the heat off of. The soldier reached for his radio
"What the hell just happened" the soldier barked down the radio
After a few seconds a reply came back which Joel and Tommy couldn't help but overhear
"There's been an explosion at the fuel depot, my god the blast has levelled the north western fence all soldiers report the infected are everywhere" shouted the voice from the radio after which the soldier immediately sped off in the direction of the fire.
"Your firefly friends better not have done this" Joel angrily stated
"Why would they we need that fuel as much as the military" Tommy retorted
"It doesn't matter now I've gotta get Sarah now!' said Joel as he turned to run back in the house
Joel entered the house like a rocket grabbing items off shelves and shouting up the stairs after Sarah who appeared moments later
"Dad what's going on" asked Sarah
"Just pack up some things we have to go now" replied Joel
Sarah knowing only one thing could have Joel behaving in such a way immediately set off to pack some clothes as well as other items of a useful nature.
Joel then turned to Tommy
"Don't just stand there" Joel shouted breaking Tommy from his trance like state
In what must have been the most activity the house had seen for weeks Joel Tommy and Sarah zoomed past each other grabbing items filling water bottles and raiding the fridge for any food that was left and thankfully there was a bit as the profits from Joel's business had enabled them to even stock up some items of food. Several minutes later they all met in the hall each with a full backpack and connected to them were sleeping bags hastily rolled into its bag connected by string tied around the straps in Joel's mind if they were going to have to face that world again they would be prepared for it.
"Right so have we got everything" asked Joel as he went through a list of things from the top of his head to which Sarah and Tommy nodded making him think they were more prepared than he was.
Upon opening the front door they could see the fire had gotten worse it had sucked the moisture from the air leaving the air dry and the streets became abuzz with people running in all direction no one knowing what to do, gunfire in the distance was muffled over the cracking of trees now blazing like torches in the night.
"Joel where do we go" yelled Tommy
"Not that way that fire will have attracted a lot infected" replied Joel as he began to lead the group towards the main entrance for the quarantine zone in the hopes of escape.
Panic filled the streets and with the military trying to secure the fire there was no one to keep order it was as if it was day 1 of the infection again. The group ran around street corners through some buildings including libraries and a hotel to cut time off of the journey each street busier than the last as it seemed everyone had the same idea. Approaching the gates to the outside it was revealed that the gates had been cast down they were built to keep people out not in, the military was ushering people past shouting the zone had no chance to recover and people should just run. Passing by the gates Joel could not help but think about all the effort they had put in to get into the quarantine zone and how now none of it mattered as they escaped into the city that was levelled months previous.
"We have to keep going infected will surely swarm this area soon" Joel shouted as if to reassure himself more than anything
"Where are we going" asked Sarah trying to maintain a relatively calm demeanour
"I don't know okay I don't know" replied Joel as they ran through the rubble
Eventually the group came upon a bridge crossing over the river so they slowed down the pace and looked back at the bellowing smoke signalling the end of yet another quarantine zone.
"Right we should look for some shelter off the beaten track" said Tommy trying to forget what had happened as Joel nodded
"Are you alright baby girl" asked Joel as he bent down putting one hand on each shoulder
"Yeah I'm fine" replied Sarah in a soft tone
The group continued to walk as the number of people dwindled around them they believed they had found a spot they could use as shelter for the night it was a petrol station neglected by months of disuse windows smashed most likely from the initial looting, upon entering they found it to be derelict empty shelves at every turn they walked toward the back over broken glass to office which was more intact and set down their bags.
"I guess this will do" said Joel
"It's better than outside" replied Sarah
"Not much can't you feel that draft" Tommy said killing the mood
As time went on Tommy and Sarah had fallen asleep whilst Joel lingered on for the first time in so long silence had never been so loud Joel's outlook towards life was beginning to turn cold his family once again going to have to live day to day and his ambition of running a business destroyed...