Left Forsaken: A The Last Of Us Story

Beyond The Gates

Months have passed since we were handed our uniforms and ranked. Ever since I became a soldier, nights were busy; I have been taking the night shift for the last few weeks. We were receiving a lot of infected invaders lately. We'd have to shoot out about ten to fifteen infected a night.

"I hate these fucking things." My comrade said as he kicked the corpse of a clicker aside. "Happy for our little hike towards the City, Kari?" He asked. Our division had been assigned to plant bombs on the surrounding areas of the quarantine zone to eliminate as much of the infected as possible.

"Can't wait for a calm night, Harrison." I can't deny I missed the calm nights where I just stared out my window, and all I heard were the crickets and my daughter's shuffling on bed. "Once the mission is over we can come back and have a barbecue."

Harrison chuckled, shaking his head, "How I wished that were true, man."

"Oh, but it's true."

Harrison kneeled down sticking the bomb to the ground and setting it's timer. We heard the screech of an infected. He looked up in alarm.

"Sounded pretty far." I assured. "Let's get it over with."

He climbed onto the truck and we set for the next checkpoint to plant the bomb. The skyscrapers reaching to the sky, and the cars slowly rotting and consumed by the weed that broke through the asphalt, the road of the city a complete mess: glass, laundry, open suitcases, bodies scattered all through out.

A couple of miles away and we stopped the truck, Harrison and I stepped out. "You should check for supplies while we're here, and I bet there's something useful around here." Harrison told the others, then continued to mount the bomb on the wall of the building. "Do you think anyone might've seen the notice?"

"Who knows? If no one has read it, then that means no one will get affected by the explosions."

"Other than infected?"

"Other than infected."

"Where the hell did these bastards go? We only have twelve hours before the damn bombs blows this fu--" A loud screech accompanied by gunshots interrumpted Harrison's complaint.

"Get to the truck!" The men that were sent to scout for supplies were sprinting towards us, then the screeches and the clicking of infected came after them. I climbed onto the truck, starting the engine, Harrison climbed into the machine gun and started shooting the infected chasing the soldiers. I heard the pained gurgled screams of the infected, matching each shot. Then the loud thud of the rest of the group as they climbed into the truck. "Go! Go! Go!" I stepped on the pedal and the tires whirled and the truck sped forward. A while later I hear the laughter of the men. "Shit. I thought I'd die." One of the soldiers said between laughs.

"We're almost at the next checkpoint." I said as I drove past a curb. Then two people ahead, they turned at the sound of the truck, one clutching at his stomach while leaning on the other. "Oh, no..." I slowed the truck down to a halt.

"What is it?" Harrison asked as he approached the front of the truck and looked through the windshield. "You two, scan them." Harrison ordered.

The two men got out of the truck rifles in position, "On your knees now! Hands where I can see them!" A loud bang resounded around us and one of our soldiers plunked to the ground, blood spilling out of his head along with part of his lobe.

"Shit. I heard Harrison exclaim and hurried to the machine gun. I reached for my assault rifle and climbed out the window. Harrison had shot the two men down, "Kari, find that bastard and kill him!" He ordered, I nodded. Running and ducking. I ran in zig-zag motion. Whoever was shooting was good at it, a few bullets had only missed me by inches. "They are on the run, Kari!" Harrison yelled at me and I looked up ahead, I stood straight, my rifle against my shoulder, aiming at the head, and pulled the trigger. The impact of the bullet strong enough to throw the body forward. I walked towards the corpse, and pushed its shoulder with the tip of my boot to roll it over. The bullet shot out through his forehead and blood sprayed off the gap, pooling arouns his head. I searched through his things, his backpack was filled with food and clothing.