Before dawn breaks, we're shackled and kicked out into what they call 'the grove' and forced to work again. This time however, they're gonna have a rude awakening.

Joel and I are with Abby. Dina got roped in with Owen and went to a different part of The Grove. Our plan is a little complicated. Abby has the bomb near the edge of the grove. The plan is to plant it near the edge of the grove and leave it in a patrol path soon after they pass through. It usually takes about an hour for them to circle back around. They rove just about every hour. When they get near the bomb though, it'll detonate giving us time to slip out.

Owen and Dina will do the same thing, just as the sun breaks the horizon. By the time we get to the checkpoint we agreed upon, the man power will have dwindled. Like Abby mentioned, these guys' organization isn't the best, they've never had an uprising. So, they'll more than likely send a majority of the manpower to the bomb sights believing that was our exit point. This is when we'll throw the other two bombs at the checkpoint and in the chaos, slip out. At least, this is best case scenario.

Abby, Joel and I all spend the next hour actually working. Joel slowly and tiredly chops at the branches of a tree not far from Abby and I. After a few swings, he seems to slow down from exhaustion, and a guard comes over and whips him hard on the back. He winces and groans in pain, and he gets whipped again.

"Don't stop worm! Keep working!" The guard yells.

Joel, while he doesn't look too happy, continues to work. I'm furious, and instinctively reach for my knife in my pocket that is no longer there. Abby grabs my wrist faster than I can respond and forces me down to our saw. I look up at her with a mix of anger and surprise.

"Don't. Stop." She says seriously.

I don't know Abby very well, but she says that almost reminding me of our real mission. I nod and wait for her to return to her side before continuing to saw our next tree. Not much longer. Not much longer until we are free again. Just have to bear through until then.

My left shoulder is on fire from my wound. It feels better today, but it still hurts like a son of a bitch. Abby brought her medical pack with her. She told us it was what she did anyways, so it shouldn't tip the guards off. I'll have to remind her on the road to give me another pill.

Soon, the sun begins to rise and peek over the horizon. I look to Abby for a signal. She looks to me and nods, telling us the time has come. We make our way to the edge of the grove with the saw, a pretty good ways away from Joel. We pretend to cut a smaller tree up.

It doesn't take much time for the next patrol to walk by. Maybe twenty minutes. As soon as they walk by, I look over to Joel, telling him to give us some time. He nods back and starts to pretend to cough. He drops his axe and the guards wander near him to see what the problem is with him. I waste no time. I sneak the bomb out from Abby's hands and place it near the path the patrol route takes and hurry back.

Joel was whipped again, and returns to work as he sees me make my way back. My blood boils, but I take a deep breath and continue on. The guards settle down and everything resumes as normal. Abby and I finish the small tree we were on and move more inward toward Joel, but not far as to avoid suspicion.

It again, doesn't take long for the patrol to rove around. Maybe thirty minutes and two guards are walking along the path. I look to Abby with apprehension but she continues cutting. We can't make it look like we know, just in case.

As we cut, an explosion rips through the grove. Shattered wood, blood, and what used to be the guards sprays everywhere. Guards and slaves alike panic and most of the guards go to investigate the damage. As soon as we see our opening, we slip out through the tall grass unseen.

Screams of pain, fear, and anger echo through the grove. We continue silently through the grass for what seems like forever. Joel lags behind a bit. His knees don't treat him well, so he does his best to stay crouched. After about ten minutes of hustling through the woods, I slow everyone to a stop.

"Joel?" I ask him with a look of worry.

He groans as he catches his breath in pain, "I'm fine, let's just get the hell outta here."

Abby makes her way to him taking her bag off her back, "let me see your back." She says as she reaches for his shirt.

He grabs her wrist hard and looks at her with that stone cold look I've seen many times before, "I told you i'm fine. Let's just go."

She nods and heads back to the front. We continue onward for what I think is another mile, sneaking past trucks and guards scrambling to get to the bomb site. As they pass in the morning fog with their headlights on, we drop to the ground as low as we can go, avoiding the bright gaze of the truck. One wrong move and we're dead, no doubt they know it was us that left by now.

Eventually, after a few more minutes of sneaking, we find a clearing with the main check point for the grove. Only two guards are left, less than we thought. A bonfire is roaring to the left of the gate with a very nasty smell and a pile of personal items are near it that are most assuredly the slaves former items, but that's not what catches our eye. Not far from that is a pile of bodies they're burning as well.

"What the fuck dude." I say in astonishment.

"Ellie look away." Joel says moving in front of me.

"That's so fucked." I say covering my nose from the ghastly smell.

"Must be former slaves. Or just the sick or rebellious people." Abby says.

"Fuckers." I say angrily.

"Nothin' we can do for them now. We got to get outta here now." Joel says with a little fear lingering in his tone.

Abby nods, "Owen and Dina can't be far. Once they're here, we'll throw the other bombs and get out of here for good."

"Alright." Joel says.

It doesn't take long for Owen and Dina to show up. When they arrive I instantly head to her and kiss her.

"You okay?" I ask her.

She nods, "yeah, I'm fine."

I nod in return. I turn to Abby and she's already preparing the bombs. She hands me one and Joel starts fidgeting.

"Ellie let me do that." He says holding out his hand.

"No, you stay here. You're hurt." I say.

"So are you. Gimme that." He says.

"No." I say swiping it away from him.

"Alright, I've had about enough of that." Dina says stealing the bomb from me and taking off with Owen before I can even grab her.

"What the fuck." I say in a hushed tone.

Joel sighs, "dammit."

We watch helplessly as they head out into the open.

"They'll be fine. There's only two guards. They just have to throw one at each of them and problem solved." Abby says.

I sigh, "I just don't want her to get hurt."

She shakes her head, "if she isn't stupid, then she won't. Trust her a little bit." Abby says shoving my shoulder a bit.

I hiss in pain.

"Oops, sorry. My bad. I forgot." Abby says.

I roll my eyes and look on at Dina and Owen.

They sneak up to a pile of sand bags on each side of the dirt road. They arch their arms back, and on three they throw. The familiar ticking of the bomb is enough to trigger curiosity in the guards before exploding. The guards go down and don't get back up. I can't say I feel bad for them.

"Go!" Joel yells and we book it for the gate.

On the way by the bonfire, I spot something familiar, my pack. I stop and swipe it really quick and spot Joel and Dina's as well. I grab theirs and run. But right as I turn around, I see everyone stopped. Confused, I look in the direction they're looking, and see one of our horses, and on top, our captor.

Silas.