𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐎 (𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒) *editing*

𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧🌞

They stood before another locked gate. Annoyingly enough, it was blocked off from the other side, a pipe had been wedged into the handles, which prevent anyone from entering the street.

"Damn. It's jammed," Joel grunted, wiping his mouth.

Maeve peered at their destination, the street, through the chain-link fence with a half-frown. She tried to rack her brain for any clue of getting passed the obstacle. She could climb it, but Joel would crumple that idea up real fast.

"Here, boost me up!" Ellie said suddenly.

It took a mere second to realize what she meant. The gate didn't have wire at the top, and someone could easily climb over it to unjam the door.

"Yeah, nice try, toe fungus. Not happening."

The sisters glared at TJ, telepathically cursing him to step on sharp rocks barefoot, and during the night so he wouldn't be able to see them.

"TJ's right," Joel said before a fight could break out. "That's not such a good idea."

Ellie scoffed with a slight attitude. "Well, I can't boost you up. How else are we gonna open it?"

"Just do it," Maeve encouraged bluntly. "She's the lightest out of all of us. She can open it, no problem. Agile and quick."

"Alright, alright," The older man grumbled and readied himself to boost Ellie up. "Gimme your foot. Now just open it. Nothing else."

"Sure thing," the girl put her left foot in his hand and catapulted toward the top of the fence.

"Careful, Ellie," Maeve said, eyeing her sibling as she climbed the rest of the way and dropped herself off on the other side.

"Okay," She landed in a bent position, and then straightened herself after a second. She turned to the door and grabbed the pipe. "Ah, let's see. Ta-da~"

With the pipe removed, they were free to enter the street.

"Beautiful!" Maeve hip bumped Ellie the second she was out. "You are a ninja."

"Oh, that would be fucking awesome." Ellie beamed, her mind swirling about endless fantasies about being a ninja.

"Good job, kid," Joel briefly praised the younger girl.

"Thank you." She bowed dramatically and dropped the pipe with a metallic clatter.

TJ scooped the pipe up, shut the gate behind them, and stuck the piece back into the handle. If anything wanted through, they'd have a hell of a time doing so.

Maeve didn't mention the action. If anything, she agreed with it. It was safer that way.

"So..." Maeve began. "Let's say we a car from this buddy of yours. Then what?"

"Well, then we go find Tommy," Joel replied.

"Marlene said he's your brother?"

"More importantly he was a Firefly. He'd know where to take y'all."

"Oh, okay." Maeve hummed.

"He lives far from here, which is why we need the car."

Makes sense, Maeve guessed. But, other than the military trucks, she hadn't seen any other working motorized vehicles at all.

"And what if your friend can't fix one up?"

"Well, I guess we'll walk." TJ said.

The older girl couldn't help but groan. If this Tommy guy lived far, she'd rather not walk all that way. Her legs would probably break off if she was forced to walk another mile. She could already feel the strain on her hamstrings, and the soles of her feet were beginning to ache.