As dawn broke, the group awoke from their brief rest. Joel and Anna exchanged glances, but there was a silent unease between them.
She, feeling irresponsible for the almost intimate moment they shared, tried to start a conversation.
- Joel, I... - said Anna, with an expression of regret.
He, in turn, pulled away slightly, maintaining a rigid posture.
- It shouldn't have happened - he interrupted, his words cold.
Joel's response hit Anna like a blow. She felt hurt by his lack of empathy and the way he pushed her emotions away.
Joel felt something inside him, a twinge of discomfort, but his stubbornness and fear of opening up spoke louder.
- We need to concentrate on surviving and completing our mission - he replied, without looking her in the eye.
Anna lowered her gaze, feeling helpless in the face of Joel's coldness. The distance between them seemed to be growing, and she wondered if they would ever be able to overcome this emotional barrier.
With the tense atmosphere between them still hanging in the air, the group decided to get ready to hunt in the nearby forest. Joel led the way, with Anna and Tommy following behind. An uncomfortable silence accompanied them at every step.
After walking for some time, Tommy decided it was time to bring up the delicate subject that had been hanging between them and approached his brother.
- Joel, we need to talk about what happened last night. I saw what was about to unfold between you and Anna. What exactly was going on?
He paused for a moment and looked at Tommy, his eyes heavy.
- Tommy, there's nothing between me and Anna - his voice firm and resolute.
Tommy frowned, dissatisfied with Joel's evasive answer. He sensed that there was something more, something that wasn't being said.
- Joel, you need to understand what you feel, or you'll be consumed by it.
Joel looked away, feeling the pressure of the moment. He knew Tommy was right, but he was also determined to keep his emotions under control.
- Trust me when I say there's nothing between us - he concluded, ending the conversation abruptly.
Tommy shook his head, accepting Joel's answer, even if he wasn't completely convinced. They continued on their way in silence.
After hours in the dense forest, Tommy finally managed to bring down a deer.
He skillfully prepared the animal, cutting the meat into pieces and setting up a fire to cook it. The succulent aroma spread through the air, awakening everyone's senses.
Sitting around the fire, the three of them shared the silence as they devoured the food. The need to satisfy their hunger outweighed any conversation, at least for the time being. Only the crackling of the fire and the crackling of the embers could be heard.
Suddenly, a disturbing sound broke the silence. They turned towards the noise and saw a man sneaking up on them.
Instinctively, they stood up, ready to act if the situation became hostile.
The strange man continued to approach, his presence arousing a mixture of concern and suspicion.
The unknown man with a wrinkled face, tired features and a disheveled appearance approached the brothers. However, in a brief moment, his gaze settled on Anna, who was a few steps behind them.
She was as dazzling and captivating as ever, her hair glistening in the sunlight between the trees, and her innocent, seductive gaze captured the man's attention. Internally, he was overcome with excitement, and his hand went to her hair.
Immediately, Joel stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Anna and grabbing the man's arm, pushing him back with his extraordinary strength.
Anna felt insecure in the man's presence, but Joel was there, and at that moment she didn't even notice his hand squeezing Joel's shirt. She felt like a sheep protected by a ferocious lion.
Anna wanted Joel, and that was something she couldn't escape.
Joel stared at the man with piercing eyes and a stern expression. Adrenaline coursed through his body as his temperature rose.
- What are you doing? - Tommy asked the man, not understanding, analyzing him to determine if he posed a threat
- Better...
- Don't go near her! - said Joel bitterly, interrupting what Tommy was about to say.
- Ah, well, no offense taken here, old John. It's been a tough time since the event, you know, the one that changed our lives. Everything's gotten darker, there's no joy in life anymore. But look at her, what a beauty! You don't find a virtuous woman like that nowadays. I just needed to know if it was real - said John, struggling to express himself and keep his balance.
- He's not sober, Joel, calm down - said Tommy, quietly and almost unnoticed, approaching him.
- Your friend doesn't seem to have been pleased with my presence - said John to Tommy, with a note of disappointment in his voice.
- He's not going to like it any better if he doesn't pull himself together and watch his actions - Believe me, he's my brother...I know, not by choice - said Tommy, taking the man to a place a little further away from Joel.
The tension began to ease, and Joel realized that Anna had a firm grip on his shirt. He turned and loosened the fabric, looking her in the eye. His countenance remained cold, as had always been his custom, but this time the atmosphere between them was charged with tension and desire.
He involuntarily stared at Anna's lips. However, the presence of others broke the moment of intimacy.
- I'll get the weapons and food ready for us to leave - said Joel with an intimidating inflection, walking away.
Anna and Tommy's gazes met, and Tommy gave a slightly mischievous smile, realizing what had happened.
Anna felt embarrassed and decided to walk away, leaving them alone.
However, the man John interrupted the silence by saying:
- Well, it seems the brave man has a weak spot.
- It would be better not to say that out loud. What did you take? - Tommy asked.
- Maybe a little drink, who knows - replied John, shaking his head.
- Where did you come from? You'll only get in our way - said Tommy.
- Tommy! - Joel said, asking for him.
The brothers exchanged glances full of concern and caution. Tommy knew that this unstable man could become a problem.
In a sudden gesture, Tommy approached him and whispered in his ear:
- Let's keep him at a distance. We can't trust him.
Joel nodded, making it clear that he was willing to deal with the situation.
- You'd better leave us, or I'll end up killing you - Joel said in a determined tone, addressing John.
They knew they had to remain vigilant. So the brothers continued their journey, keeping a wary eye on the man John, who was following them from afar with an enigmatic expression.
As they walked away, Anna watched from afar, feeling somewhat irresponsible for having attracted the man's attention. She knew that his presence could bring danger, but she also couldn't deny the spark of attraction that existed between her and Joel.
However, at that moment, Joel seemed distant and cold, which made her feel upset and confused.
The group continued in silence, surrounded by the lush forest. The scent of nature and the sounds of animals filled the air.
As they walked, Anna couldn't help her furtive glances in Joel's direction. His hard, defined muscles showed beneath his skin. She felt irresistibly drawn to his presence, her heart racing with every step he took.
She immersed herself in Joel's captivating beauty, longing to feel the touch of that statuesque body and be consumed by the passion that burned between them.
--
As they advanced through the territory known to Anna, the tension grew. The plan was to reach the place where the equipment crucial to her safety was kept: an advanced communication device capable of tracking suspicious movements and signaling imminent danger.
They were getting closer and closer to the place where the crucial device was hidden. However, their journey would not be easy, as the presence of the infected became more intense and threatening with every step.
As they cautiously approached the location, a horde of infected emerged from the shadows, sneaking up on them.
Without hesitation, they opened fire on the infected, hitting them one by one.
Joel and Tommy were quite skilled, their backgrounds determining their survival skills.
With a lot of effort and determination, they managed to obtain the long-awaited device.
However, a new threat arose. Three smugglers approached stealthily, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the infected. Tommy sensed their presence and made an instant decision.
- Go! I'll distract them - he shouted.
Anna and Joel looked at Tommy, reluctant to leave him behind.
- You need to go now! - he said in a serious tone - I'll meet you at the settlement! - he finished.
- Tommy, we can't leave you here! - Joel said in a worried tone.
Tommy put his hand on Joel's shoulder, conveying confidence.
- I'll be fine, I know what I'm doing. You need to get to the settlement and take the device. It's our only hope.
Joel hesitates at his brother's response, even though he realizes that a direct confrontation with the smugglers would not be the wisest choice, given that they have few resources at the moment.
Despite their concern for Tommy and Joel's difficult decision, they saw an opportunity to escape with the device they so desperately needed.
As they left, they spotted two other smugglers who hadn't noticed them.
Joel, searching for a solution, fixed his eyes on a nearby tree.
Anna began to climb quickly, but her lack of agility was evident. Like a fragile woman, she struggled to find support on the branches of the trunk.
Just as Joel was preparing to reach her, a muffled cry escaped Anna's lips.
- Ahhh! - she exclaimed, as the bark of the trunk crumbled beneath her feet and she slid down.
He reacted quickly, grabbing her around the waist before she fell any further. Anna's blouse rose above her navel during the incident, and Joel's hands firmly touched her skin.
A wave of heat ran through Anna's body, her heart beating fast.
Joel's firm hands wrapped around her waist, conveying a sense of protection. Every fiber of her being reacted to the touch, wishing never to lose this connection.
He became nervous, feeling Anna's soft, fragile skin under his fingers. He knew how much she touched him, and he hated himself for feeling it.
Joel fought his feelings, but it was impossible to deny his growing desire for her. Both their breathing became heavy, but he knew they had to act quickly if they were not to be discovered.
He swung Anna forward, holding her firmly as she grabbed the next log. Soon afterwards, Joel climbed up too, managing to remain unnoticed.
It was a close call.
They spotted an abandoned car in the area, which probably belonged to one of the smugglers chasing them. Without hesitation they went to meet it, got into the vehicle and started the engine, feeling relieved to see that it was working.
Tommy used all his skills to dodge the attacks, and eventually managed to distract them.
With their hearts full of concern for Tommy, they drove away from the scene, driving as fast as they could.
--
