Secrets And Hope {The Last Of Us Fanfiction}

XIV

As the sun shined down on the crisp morning grass, the cold winters hold on the town had finally lost its grip. Leaving life to fall somewhat back to normal. Hunting became easier, crops could be grown once more and the turbines were repaired enough to a state that saw them fit to use for the first time in months. But even with the simple warm weather, life was still far from easy.

Bandit attacks were getting more frequent and hordes of infected seemed to be growing. It was getting harder for the town to keep up.

Nora stood silently, leaning against the wall with an expression of stone set deep within her face as the grunts of pain and groans echoed throughout the abandoned shack. Joel's blood boiled with anger throwing punches, each blow as hard as the last till he heard a sickening crack. The single bandit whaling in pain spitting blood at Joel's boots. Kneeling down; Joel looked the man hard in the eye.

"Alright now, one more time... Where'd they go?"

"I ain't tellin' you nothin'!"

The bandit yelled out once again in pain as Joel's fist flew across his face, effectively breaking his nose.

"Where are they?!"

"I don't know! I swear!"

Joel locked eyes with Nora, they both knew he was lying. After a day spent tracking the man down and another day questioning him; they seemed to be getting nowhere. After another bandit attack days before, the group had somehow managed to take off with the most of the town's weapons and first aid supplies. Luckily the bandit left behind hadn't been too hard to find. But they needed the supplies back soon or the town would quickly crumble to ruins. No medical supplies meant sickness and disease and no weapons meant no protection.

Joel threw his fist at the bandit's jaw, blood trickling down his chin from his busted lip. Nora moved across the room never taking her eyes off the bandit. Joel stood back beside Nora, the bandit's groans of pain the only sound filling the room. Looking at Joel, Nora sighed deeply.

"Joel this is getting us nowhere. We need those supplies back, and this guy just won't talk."

"Well when you're right you're right. Reckon we finish this and look ourselves."

"Sounds good."

Nora pulled her gun from the back of her jeans as the bandit jumped in his seat, eyes wide with fear.

"Alright! Alright! I'll tell you! Boys are held up in a town near Livingstone, it's a few miles from here. If they took your supplies anywhere it's there! I swear that's the truth!"

The two glanced at one another before heading towards the door, only to stop once again as the bandit jumped around in his seat.

"Wait! You gotta let me go! You...You won't find the place without me!"

"We'll take our chances."

Nora didn't say another word as she killed the bandit with a single shot, turning back to Joel she placed her gun back in her jeans as they both picked up their backpacks and headed for the door.

"So you know where'da find this town?"

"No, but I know someone who does."