"Alright, alright. We're commin'" Joel leaned back against the bleachers once more and hoisted his friend up. In a swift movement, Joel was hoisted up as well. The pack of survivors made their way from atop of the to the earthly ground through a convenient hole in the wall.
"This way" Bill directs. No sooner, infected came flocking to our position howling cries unto the air. Bill panicked, "We're sittin' ducks here."
Seeing an opening through the fence nearby, Maggie directed the others to the discovered exit. As the group went through the passage way, the infected creatures started to close in around them. Many attempting to pass through the fence, others climbing it. Infected upon infected piled up on each other as they scrambled for a bite of human flesh.
Ellie and Bill were ahead on the pathway of a small stream, scouting an exit.
"There's another ladder over here!" Ellie cried out to her companions lagging behind. Bill wasted no time in grabbing the ladder and setting it up.
Joel yelled over to them, "Keep going! We're right behind you!" More infected hordes sprung up out of nowhere causing Ellie and Bill to scramble up the ladder in panic.
"Hurry, Joel!" Ellie yelled when the two survivors reached the end. Joel and Maggie rushed over, adrenaline high, and went up and over as well. Infected rushed over to chase after them. A few even attempting to break down the fence itself. For precaution Bill grabbed the nearest object to him, using it to push the ladder away from the fence.
"Inside the house. Now!" Bill ordered as they ran to the house behind. As soon as the last survivor passed the threshold, Bill slammed the glass sliding door closed, locking them in. Silence enveloped the group as they attempted to catch their breath.
After a few moments, Ellie decided to break silence, "*Pant* So, that worked out well." Maggie sat on the floor against the wall, with an arm propped upon a knee, and watched as the two men paced.
"Okay. Ah, I'll go check out this side of the house." Ellie left the room with an uncomfortable silence. Only Bill had acknowledged Ellie's leave as Joel walked up to him.
"Bill?" Joel questioned, exasperated.
"Somebody had the same idea. They stole my shit."
"Well, then what the hell is plan B?" He suggested.
"You ought to be thankful you're still drawing breath." Bill argued, "That was plan A, B, C, all the way to fucking Z." Bill pointed towards the school, "And furthermore, tell Tess that she can take this job-"
Joel cut him off as he stalked towards Bill, finger raised at him, "Don't' you bring Tess into this." He said in a low warning tone. Maggie hearing the conversation, quickly got up from her spot on the floor. Tess? The women walked right up to Bill when she noticed something dangling behind Joel.
Bill continued his rant, "-she can shove it right up-"
"This has nothin' to do with-!" Joel countered, but got stopped himself when he noticed Maggie standing behind Bill. "Maggie, what-" he stopped once more as he looked at both of his companions faces and quickly shifts around and looks. Hanging from the ceiling was a body, maybe a week fresh, wearing a tacky aloha shirt.
"Jesus" Joel breathed. He then simultaneously switches his gaze from Bill then to the body, as he gestures to the hanging corpse. Joel questioned him,"What? Do you know this guy or something?"
"Frank" Bill simply provided, "Frank was his name."
Joel shrugs dejectedly, "Who the hell's Frank?"
Bill took a deep breath, "He was my partner." Joel quickly turns back to the corpse with realization.
Silence.
Bill unsheathes his machete, "He's the only idiot that would wear a shirt like that." He walks up to the corpse and cuts it down. Maggie noticed the look on her old friend's face. She has seen that look before to many times.
Bill takes in a shaken breath, "He's got bites...Here. And..." He trails off.
"I reckon he didn't want to turn so he..." Joel trailed tried to reassure him as he waved an arm to where the body once hung.
"Yeah. I guess not." Bill took in another deep breath, "Well fuck him." He cursed walking away from the body.
Joel gives Maggie a look of exhaustion, to which she gives a small smile in return. All heads turn when the stuttering of a car was heard. Joel looks to Bill in question as they head to the area of the noise.
They find Ellie in the driver seat of the car partially hanging out the open door, trying to start the car. Joel jogs up to Ellie as Bill walks up to the open hood of the car. Maggie watches from the doorway arms crossed. Ellie finally notices the people around, and fidgets around in her seat.
"Look what I found. It's got some juice in it." Ellie excited of her find.
Bill inspected the engine, ignoring the kid's words. "That's my battery. That fucking asshole." Then looks to Joel tilting his head towards the engine. Joel just glances in for it wasn't his forte. I learned that the hard way Maggie mused to herself. Bill closed the hood, and ordered Ellie out of the car with a wave of his hand. Bill walked around to where Ellie was still in the driver's seat. Bill firmly ordered again, "Get out."
Ellie rolls her eyes, "Okay, geez." When Ellie jumps out Bill takes her place and turned the keys into the ignition. The car stuttered once more, attempting life.
After a couple of seconds, Bill sighs and rubs his forehead, "Battery's drained but the cells are alive."
"Meaning?" Joel asked and Bill got out of the car.
"Meaning we push it, get it started and the alternator will recharge the battery." The man walked around the car.
Joel questioned once more, "Is that your guess?"
As they face each other, Maggie buts in, "The battery provides the car with electricity, but it it only enough to get you a few miles down the road, you'll need more. The alternator, charges the battery so that we never have to worry about the whole 'running out of juice problem.'" The woman then helps Bill with the vehicle.
"Look, you wanted a 'plan B.' This is as good as it gets." Bill said, gesturing to the car.
Ellie looks to Joel, "What're you thinking?" Joel looks back over to Maggie then Ellie and takes a breath.
"Thinkin' you drive and we push."
"What about her?" Ellie whispers to Joel nodding her head in the direction of his oldest friend.
"What about me?" Maggie raises an eyebrow at the girl.
"What are you going to do?" Ellie retorts, fully facing her.
She just reloads up her pistol, "I'm going to keep those buggers off of ya."
A/N: sorry that it is kinda short and all. But... Well this is a long one in the making... Thank you all you have followed. My mind is a bit of a mess now, going through story phases. I'll try update when I can. Till next time!