A week had passed and Joel had managed to find a small job as a repairman working odd jobs around the city whilst Sarah had found a school in which join and yet somehow even though things were returning more or less to normal it seemed that even the weather in Boston was against them with rain pouring down but then again maybe it was one of those weeks.

Sarah woke to the sound of Joel yelling for her to get up

"You better get up or you will be late" Joel yelled as he took a seat at the table to eat his breakfast. Next to Joel was a list of places he had to go in order to do odd jobs, He started working through the list thinking what order was the best to do it in. After a few moments Sarah appeared from her room taking a seat opposite Joel and begun to eat through the food in front of her.

"So you have a fun day planned" Joel asked

"Oh yeah another fun day at military preparatory school" Sarah sarcastically said back

"Beats being outside the wall though" Mumbled Joel

Joel and Sarah went their separate ways Joel went to do his jobs and several hours later he had arrived at his last job which was to fix a leak at the military barracks. Joel began the job but half way through a shadow was cast over him.

"Excuse me your blocking my light" said Joel

"Hello Joel" a familiar voice replied

Joel looked round to see Derrick standing there still walking with a limp from his wound a week previous.

"So you found yourself some work as a handyman wow you must be living the highlife on a income like that" Derrick sarcastically mocked

"Yeah well I manage" retorted Joel

Derrick walked over and leant against a wall lighting up a cigarette whilst Joel continued to go about his job.

"I went over your file you're not doing so well It seems that some of the guys in administration think that the place you have is too nice for you and are thinking of downgrading you and your girl to the slums" began Derrick

"Is that so" Joel replied trying to block him out even though it was true

"I can get them off your back and you can earn a few extra ration cards because come on what you must be eating right now must be no better than cardboard and all you have to do is something for me" said Derrick

"Oh yeah and what would that be" asked Joel

Derrick looked around to make sure no one would overhear

"Well as you know from time to time I smuggle things into the zone and I want you to go get it for me" said Derrick

"Go out there are you serious" replied Joel

"Think of all you have to gain, Oh and my collector outside hides things in high places so this is a two person job you will be taking your girl along with you" Derrick said

Joel grabbed Derrick and pinned him against a wall

"Now you leave her out of this" snapped Joel

Derrick shrugged off Joel before recomposing himself

"Now you listen I can make your lives a living hell so you don't have much of a choice so think about it" yelled Derrick as he left a brown envelope on top of Joel bag before leaving.

Joel although obviously troubled continued his work before finishing up he picked up Derrick's letter placing it in his bag before heading home. Upon arriving back he lay down on the sofa with a drink before deciding to look through Derrick's letter he read it over and over until he fell asleep.

Joel remained asleep for a small while and was awoken by a nudge and upon opening his eyes Sarah stood over him holding a piece of paper

"What is this" Sarah asked

"It's nothing" Joel replied

"It says if we don't go and get whatever it is Derrick wants we will lose this apartment" said Sarah

"It's not true he's just bluffing" Joel answered

"And this bit about sending a few extra ration cards our way we're not doing so well on the food front you know" said Sarah trying to get as many answers as possible

"Listen I'm not going out there you're certainly not so end of story" snapped Joel as he took the letter from Derrick ripping it in half then throwing it to one side

"We can handle ourselves we got this far come on we caught a break we need this" said Sarah trying to change Joel's mind

"No" Joel angrily replied

Sarah walked off to her room closing the door whilst Joel just sat on the chair thinking to himself even though the break they needed had arrived He was not going to risk their lives for it. Joel thought they would manage he would take more jobs to improve their standard of living to that of your average quarantine zone survivor. Joel got to his feat and made his way into his room where he looked at his watch Sarah had gave what seemed like a lifetime ago before falling asleep once again on the bed.

A lightning strike woke Joel in the night and as he got up checking the time a hour or so had passed he heaved himself to his feat and made his way towards Sarah's door to apologise for snapping at her earlier.

"Sarah look I'm sorry about earlier" said Joel as he knocked on the door which swung open slightly so Joel walked in and looking around he couldn't find Sarah anywhere

"Sarah" said Joel raising his voice he looked around again and noticed that her bag was missing and upon inspecting the lounge found that Derrick's letter was missing to which Joel realised what had happened and he immediately left running towards the smugglers tunnel he had used to gain entry into the zone.