a losing battle - the last of us

[007] eyes without a face.

CHAPTER SEVEN

eyes without a face.

THE SKY HAD DARKENED, CIVILIANS RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES AS FEDRA CAME OUT TO 'PROTECT' THE STREETS. Joel, Tess, and Ellie had managed to make it out of the QZ's walls, sneaking through a short tunnel as they continued their escape plan, the thunder and lightning roaring in the sky making it a little more difficult than they'd hoped. The three continued their way away from the zone until they were spotted by a FEDRA guard, Lee; albeit not the sharpest tool in the shed, but a FEDRA guard nonetheless. "What the hell? Hey, hey! Don't, don't, don't move." The man exclaimed as he zipped his pants back up after having just relieved himself against the wall beside him. "Don't move!" He screamed once again, picking up his large rifle and pointing it toward the three who'd quickly put their arms up in surrender. 

The harsh storm made it harder to think, the flashing of the lightning along with the loud booms of thunder acting incredibly overwhelming. The man stared at the three for a few moments before flipping up the cover of his mask, his eyes trained on Joel. "You gotta be shittin' me."

"Okay, let's talk this out," Joel spoke up.

"Turn around." It had quickly become apparent that Lee wasn't open to any form of negotiation, Joel unsure of whether he wanted to test his luck considering it would also put Ellie and Tess in harm's way.

"Hold on-" He attempted before he was quickly cut off. 

"Get on your fuckin' knees. Get on your fuckin' knees!"

"Now hold on-"

"What did I fuckin' tell you, man? I said stay the fuck home. Get on your knees!" The flashlight attached to his gun shined directly in the eyes of the three across from him, the warning he'd given to Joel earlier in the day warning enough in his mind. 

"Just get on your knees, just get on your knees," Tess spoke up, not wanting to cause more trouble than necessary. "Listen, you let us do this run... we'll split the cards with you." Tess attempted to persuade as she and the other two turned around, kneeling in the wet cold mud. 

"Oh, will you?" Lee argued. "I'm so blessed." He finished sarcastically. "Hands on your head. Eyes forward. Hands on your head!" As time went on, the man grew more agitated, the scanner sitting in his hand growing impatient to check for fungi growing within any of their bodies. The three abided quietly, Lee stepping behind Tess before pressing the scanner to her neck.