Anna woke up slowly, feeling a throbbing pain in her body. When she opened her eyes, she saw Joel standing next to her, holding a gun and looking at her coldly. Anna's heart raced with fear and confusion.
- What's going on? Why are you pointing that gun at me? - she said in a trembling voice.
- I'm not going to risk my safety, what happened to you?
- We were attacked by muggers, we were trying to escape... I'm not a threat!
Joel kept his expression hard and controlled, his mistrust permeating his words and actions. Meanwhile, Tommy rested in a corner, catching his breath after the intense escape.
Anna was now fully awake and watching Joel. Her heart beat faster and she felt an overwhelming mixture of feelings: fear and, above all, an inexplicable attraction.
He was tall, with a strong, imposing posture. His brown hair, now with a few gray strands, fell messily over his forehead, giving him an air of charm. His gaze was intense, as if it carried the history of a world that no longer existed.
Anna's eyes were constantly drawn to Joel's face.
When their gazes met, she felt her cheeks flush and looked away, ashamed that she had been caught admiring him. It was as if an electric current ran through her every time he came near, leaving her speechless and breathless.
But at the same time, Joel's strong and impetuous personality intimidated her. He wasn't the kind of man who opened up easily, keeping his emotions under lock and key.
This aroused in Anna a mixture of curiosity and fear, a desire to uncover his secrets.
Likewise, Joel's eyes couldn't turn away from her, because Anna's beauty was simply irresistible. Anna awakened dormant emotions in Joel.
She tried to deny the attraction she felt for him, after all, they were in a world where survival was the priority, and giving in to feelings could be dangerous.
In the midst of this silent tension, a loud noise echoed nearby. They both turned and saw Tommy approaching quickly, a worried expression on his face.
- He's finally awake! Tell us, what's your name? - Tommy asked.
- Anna... - she answered slowly.
- You're lucky I managed to convince my brother to bring you! - said Tommy, staring at Joel.
- What are you doing, Tommy? - asked Joel, coldly.
- Is it just us here? - she asked, worried.
- I'm sorry, Anna... We managed to bring you, and that was risky enough... - replied Tommy, slowly.
She became desperate and apprehensive, and in a matter of seconds, she began to pull away from them, running in desperation.
-What's gotten into her? - Tommy asked.
- Oh, Tommy, I said we shouldn't! Damn it, I'll be right back - replied Joel, putting his gun to his shoulder.
He ran towards Anna and caught up with her, holding her arm tightly. She tried to push him away, but to no avail. Joel was too strong for Anna to react against him.
- You'd better stop, or I'll finish you off! - he said coldly.
- What have you done with the rest of the group? - she asked, fearful.
- Infected - he replied, forcing her by the arm to return.
- Let me go! - she said, trying to open Joel, who was holding her.
He held Anna's arm tightly as he took her back, walking towards Tommy. She felt a mixture of fear and distrust, but Tommy intervened to calm the situation.
- Joel! - Tommy spoke, with a hard expression.
Joel let go of Anna's arm, but remained cautious at her side.
Tommy approached her and spoke gently:
- Anna, you can rest easy. We're not going to hurt you - we're just trying to survive, just like you.
Anna looked at them, feeling a mixture of fear and relief. She decided to risk a little of her trust.
- What happened to the rest of the group? - she asked again, her voice trembling.
Tommy sighed, searching for the right words to explain the situation.
- The group was attacked by the infected. Me and Joel were the only ones who managed to escape, taking you with us.
She felt a squeeze in her heart when she heard those words. Tommy looked at her with understanding.
- We're going to a safe place, Anna. A place where we're protected from the infected and can rebuild our lives...you're not alone - Tommy reassured her.
- Enough, Tommy! - Joel interrupted abruptly, before the atmosphere could lighten.
Anna thanked Tommy for his support, but the tension between the two brothers was evident. Tommy, however, tried to defuse the situation.
- Don't mind my brother, Anna. He's just worried about our safety. He'll take us back, right, Joel? - said Tommy, putting his hand on Joel's shoulder and facing him.
Joel agreed, giving in to reason, and left Anna to work out a plan that would guarantee everyone's safety. Meanwhile, she sat at a worn table, looking thoughtfully out of the window.
Tommy approached Joel, noticing the concern on his face, and decided to broach the subject more delicately.
- She'll be fine. - Joel... have you seen how beautiful she is? She must have been through a lot you know what they could have done to her.
Tommy's words echoed in Joel's mind, making him understand what his brother meant. He realized that Anna hadn't had an easy journey and had probably faced far worse threats than the infected themselves.
- Tommy, I understand... - he replied, sincerely.
After a while, the two returned to Anna's presence, with a new determination to face the challenges that lay ahead.
They were heading for an uncertain future, but knowing that together they could find hope and protection in this world ravaged by ruin.
