GUARDIAN, TLOU

7.

Joel drove through a different street, lost as he turns to Ellie in urgency, "Where the fuck is the highway?"

"I can't tell from this. I'm all turned around."

"Don't look at the state map. Look at the inset," pushed Joel.

"Well, I don't know where we are in that either! This is my second day in a fucking car, man. I mean, I think we're heading north?"

Joel groaned, "Pass the map to Jo."

Just before she could, Ellie's eyes spotted something in the distance, "What the fuck? Stop! Is that the QZ? Where the fuck is Fedra?"

Jo's face dropped, realisation setting in her features as her and Joel's eyes met in the car mirror, one word falling from her lips, "Shit."

Suddenly, a man's voice called out, "Hey! Please help!" He was holding onto his side, limping as he begged the car occupants.

Joel clenched his jaw, his knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, one removing itself to reach for his seatbelt, "Put your seatbelt on."

"Aren't we gonna help him?" Ellie asked incredulously.

"No," he shook his head.

Jo gripped into the back of Joel and Ellie's seats, glaring at the 'injured' man, "He's not even hurt."

Joel pressed down on the accelerator, driving forward. The action caused the 'injured' man to widen his eyes, standing straight and running to the side with a shout, "Fuck!"

His distant voice, shouted to other men, Ellie spotting one and widening her eyes as she saw he launch something at the car.

"Joel!" she warned, hoping he would steer away from the brick.

It landed harshly on the front car window, leaving a spider web crack in its place. Spinning the car to the side, Joel drove over car spikes, causing the tires to pop, sending the car out of control. Joel spun the wheel to the right, sending the car through a store window.

It crashed into a bunch of stacked boxes, the three getting launched back into their seats.

Ellie gasped in shock staring ahead as Joel questioned her, "Fuck."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

Joel swallowed, "You're not hurt? Nothin'?"

"I don't think so," she exclaimed, looking back at the woman behind.

"Jo?"

Joel turned to face her, pressing his lips together at the sight of glass sticking out of her arms, a small cut on her face, dripping with blood.

Not dwelling on it, Jo nodded, grabbing her and Joel's gun when the men begin to shoot at them again, shattering the car windows.

"Belts off. Fast!" shouts Joel.

Ellie and Joel exit through the passenger door, Jo doing the same in the back. They crouched against the vehicle, Jo passing Joel his gun. He nodded at her in thanks.

"Let's see you, motherfucker! Give us your shit, you make it through this! I promise!"

Jo looked around the area, spotting a small hole leading to another room, she tapped Joel on the shoulder, nodding her head at the spot.

He understood her gesture, turning to Ellie and pointing at the hole, "Hey, you see that hole? Can you squeeze through?"

"Last chance!"

Ellie nodded panicked, eyes wide with fear as her body shook.
"When I say go, you crawl to that wall, and you squeeze through, and you don't come out until I say, okay?"