Playing Enemy......

"oh, the misery. Everybody wants to be my enemy. Spare the sympathy"

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮; 𝓘𝓶𝓶𝓾𝓷𝓮

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The group of five trudged through the pouring rain, Madison pulled her hood over her head so she wasn't seen by an patrolling soldiers, Malia and Ellie doing the same, the three pulled it tighter over her head as a speaker came on in the background. Tess walked Infront of them, Joel walked behind the three making sure that everyone stayed together.

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The five walked into an apartment hallway, Madison could heard and feel her socks and shoes squelching with water in them as She followed Joel and Tess down the hallway with Malia and Ellie following her. They turned a corner, Joel stopped as Tess pulled her keys out of her pocket and opened the door with a loud creak from the hinges. Madison stopped next to Joel looking at him on what to do, The man gestured to the door raising both eyebrows. So she walked towards the room. Joel's eyes stayed on Madison for a moment, but Malia and Ellie both say it as death glared him as they walked past. Malia ran her thumb along her neck quickly as she glared at him.

The three walked inside, as Tess walked out "give us a minute" she said Ellie turned around "what the fu-" Her yell got cut off by the door on Tess and Joel's end.

Ellie looked towards Madison as she shook her head slightly and chuckled, The youngest sister leaned her head against the wall, as Malia sat on the couch and Madison walked around, looking at the clutter filled table. She saw a radio on the far cabinet near the window, Ellie went to look at the table in front of her it had an old battery pulled apart on it and a book.

Madison picked up a large bulky paperback book, it was a book of number one hit songs. Madison flipped through the pages but stopped when a piece of paper was wedge in the spine. "Maddy what's that?" Ellie was intrigued when she saw the paper from over Madison's shoulder. Malia looked over her shoulder from the couch, but she didn't get up.

B/F

60 - nothing in
70 - new stock
80 - ❌

Joel soon walked in, he ruffly put his bag down and sat on the couch. "So who's Bill and Frank?" Ellie asked as she took a few steps forwards now holding the book that Madison had past her. She moved to sit on the one person couch with Malia. Joel didn't say anything as he looked from Maddison to Ellie, she eyed the radio "the radios a smuggling code right?" She questioned again. "60s song, they don't have anything new,  70s, they got new stuff. What's 80s?" She asked more questions. Joel got up and snatched the book from Ellie's grip, he roughly threw the book on to the table.

Joel laid down on the couch, adjusting myself into a comfortable position, he placed his hands on his chest "What are you doin'?" Madison asked "killin' time" he said

"Well what are we supposed to do?" Malia raised her voice, Joel shrugged "I'm sure you'll figure that out" Ellie rolled her eyes as she grabbed the book from the table. "You're watch is broken" Madison said from the couch as she turned sideways, resting her legs over the arm rest. Joel looked at it in thought before looking at Madison from the corner of his eye.

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Joel opened his eyes "you mumble in your sleep" Ellie said as Joel slowly sat up he looked over to the other couch where Madison lay asleep with Malia's head resting in her chest. "We've never been on the otherside of the world. Madison said it's darker then she remembers....." Ellie took a breath before moving her head to the side to look at Joel "you guys go out their a lot?" She asked "I guess"

"When was the last time?" She immediately asked "maybe a year what's it matter?" He said "you've been out their before......so we'll be okay?..... she'll be okay?...." Joel immediately looked at the sleeping Madison before looking at Ellie. He took a breath "yeah" he breathed out as he leaned back and resting his arm on the back of the couch. "So what's the deal with her anyway, you three some sorta bigwig's daughters or something?" He asks, Ellie smiled a bit "something like that" Ellie accidentally knocked Malia's shoe causing her to shift. Which caused Madison to wake up immediately gripping her switchblade, ready for an attack.

Ellie cringed "I'm sorry, I accidentally knocked Malia's foot" Madison waved a dismissive hand "don't worry sweetie" Madison said as she flipped the blade back down and placed it next to her on the little space next to her. She stretched her arms up, causing her shirt to be pulled up reavling a little bit of her abs. Joel stared slightly at the older sister, she intrigued him even if she was a total dick to him earlier. He could tell that she would protect her sister against death himself. Malia slowly sat up rubbing her eyes, as she yawned.

"Oh the radio came on when you were sleeping" Joel moved his eyes away from the oldest Sister and out of his thoughts, as she pulled down the bit of her shirt that rose up, to Ellie. "What was the song?" He asked quickly "it went something like...wake me up before you go. go." She explained, Joel's face dropped as he moved his face into his hands "oh shit" he muttered. "Ha..80s means trouble....code broken.." she said smiling. Joel stood up "listen--" he began but was cut off by the door opening and Tess walking in.

"The spot under Lancaster looks good." She set her bag on the table "you got jackets in your packs?" Tess asked the three sister who all nodded "yeah." Madison replied "okay go get it. It's time to go"

Maddison nodded as she grabbed her back and took out her black jacket with a dark red hood, Malia and Ellie doing the same. Tess walked around to where the bed was and grabbed to green jackets off, she tossed Joel his.

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The soldiers stood on the streets holding their guns with lights on top to look out for Infected, Fireflies or Wanders. People who didn't stay in their houses, were searched, check for infection and most of the time killed if you weren't put into confinement. The military was relentless in their ways. They would kill everyone if given the chance. Trucks drove past with army men on the top of them, they served the area as they drove past allyways. The loud speaker came on and a man's voice continued to repeat "Observe mandatory curfew to fight the infection and insurrection."

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The shifting of a patch of dirt as it got pushed with a grunt to the side. Joel climbed up, he turned around and held his hand out for Malia to grab, Madison lifted her up, she reluctantly grabbed joels hand. The man pulled her up and onto the dirt. He turned around to help Madison up but she pulled herself up. She turned around and pulled Ellie up then helped Tess.

"Wow I can't believe we are really outside" Ellie said as she stood up and looked around but got pulled down by the sleeve of her Jacket. Ellie ducked so she wasn't seen, she looked towards Malia who had pulled her jacket sleeve. Malia gestured to the man with the giant spotlight. Ellie made an 'o' shape with her mouth in realisation. "Okay, we're gonna take the left edge around the buffer zone." She explained looking directly at Madison "You stay close and you follow my lead." Madison nods, Tess knows that wherever Madison goes the other two would follow. "Yeah. Yeah, of course." Showing that she understood the instructions

"Let's go." Tess ordered as she crawled towards a yellow bus, she takes lead as she goes under the gap between the ground and the underside of the bus. Joel just mad it under the bus as the light shone on the spot they where previously on.

Tess lead the way as they walked past tipped over cars. A truck drove past making a lot of noise as they shone the light everywhere. Joel quickly pulled Madison and Malia towards him, they pressed their bodies against the car as Ellie and Tess did the same. Madison gripped Joel's wrist an instinct, she didn't mean to grip as hard as she did. They listened intently at the sound of the truck as it drove past. Tess looked over at them. Madison nodded to her that they were alright.

Tess continued to walk, with Ellie following after her, Madison looked down at her hand "I'm sorry!" She whispered as she quickly let go of his wrist "I didn't mean to-" she got cut off as Malia started walking away "Malia?!" Madison whispered yelled as she scrambled to get back to her sister. She wasn't as worried for Ellie because she was with Tess. Joel rubbed his wrist a little at the redness that was on his wrist. He started walking into the large pipe after Madison.

They all stopped when another light went over them, they stopped in fear of being caught. The pattering of the rain fell against the pipe in a soft patten, they waited for a little bit then continued to walk. They hid behind a wall as lightning struck illuminating their faces for a moment.

The group of five began to walk around the wall, a solider stood at the far end urinating, they tried to quietly sneak by, the soulder turned at the last minute at saw them "what the hell?" He said as he saw the five trying to leave the city. "Hey, Hey!, Don't, don't move." He ordered as he fumbled with his pants zipper. He quickly grabbed his gun as he ordered for them not to move, Joel held his arms up, showing he wasn't going to do anything the lightninv illuminated their faces and the solider looked at Joel. He lifted up his visor, as he pointed his weapon at them. "You gotta be shittin' me?" He said astounded, "okay, let talk this out." Joel said as he held his hands out. "Turn around" the soilder turned on his flashlight.

Joel subconsciously stepped closer to Madison and her sister as the man ordered them to get on the ground. "What did I fuckin' tell you, man?" He said to Joel, "I said stay the fuck home, get on you knees!" He ordered again.

Tess reluctantly gave up and got on her knees, "just get on your knees, just get on your knees." She looked at Joel to The three sisters. "Listen, you let us do this run, we'll split the cards with you." Tess offered as Joel got on his knees, then Ellie then Madison, the Malia. Malia gripped Madison left wrist as Ellie gripped her right in fear. "Will you?" He sarcastically said as he pointed the gun at everyone's head "I'm so blessed."

"Hands on your head. Eyes forward." He directed, Tess stared at him "hands on your head!" He demanded,  Ellie and Malia let go of Madison's wrists reluctantly as they put their hands on their heads "Maddy" Malia said her voice wavers in fear "just do what he says I won't let him hurt you okay?" She whispered.

The solider got out the handheld scanner and went to press it against Tess's neck, she turned her head "really man?!"

"Yep. We're doin' this by the book." Ellie looked at it then at Madison, panic rose the the three sisters. 'don't do anything' Madison mouthed to the two girls. Who nodded. Tess felt a zap against her neck, the man looked down at it to see the screen green.

The two smugglers started trying to negotiate with him, but he wasn't having it. He wanted all off on the pills or nothing. Turns out you get hung for trying to get out of the city unauthorised.

He started to move up the line, Joel was clear, Malia was clear, Ellie was clear, he finally got up to Madison. She had to act fast, she grabbed her knife and stabbed him in the leg just as the machine zapped her neck, the solider dropped the scanner letting it fall to the ground as he moved back in pain from the blade coming out of his leg. "Holy shit Maddy!" The two sister exclaimed as their older sister was breathing fast. "fuckin' bitch" Madison had to stop Malia from running at the man for calling her a bitch, the soilder ripped the blade out of his leg and immediately pointed the gun at her or tried to at least, Joel stood in the way. He was the only thing in the way of a bullet going straight through Madison's head.

Tess watched this, she was confused he didn't know this family, he normally wouldn't stand in front of a gun for anyone, what maybe these three so special?...what made Madison so special?..."get out of the fucking way!" The soilder ordered. Joel looked at Madison who held her sister behind her, ready to take a bullet, she had fear in her eyes and written on her face but she tried to cover it.

"We can fix this" Joel shouted as he held his hand out Infront of his showing the officer he wasn't armed. The soilder demanded he move again. Each time getting more annoyed and ready to shoot anyone. Joel spaces out for a moment, he got an image of 20 years ago, the memory he had been trying to push away from him for years. The solider took a step forward ready to move the man out of the way to shoot the three girls mainly the young women.

But Joel did something on instinct, he didn't know why but something in his gut told him to, he let out a shout as he tacked the man to the ground, he repeatedly punched him in the face, the solider didn't even put up a fight, Joel rapidly punch him, the officers face was broken and bloody, Joel's knuckle was bloody and probably broken from how hard he is punching the guy. He snapped back to reality when he remembers the three sister behind him. He looked behind him at the older sister who looked scared as she held her sister close to her, Ellie and Malia's faces were away from the scene in front of them. Joel and Madison stared at each other but it was broken when Tess grabbed the scanner.

She looked up from the scanner to Madison, then back at it the screen was red. She immediately paniced "no, no! no, I'm not sick!" She started telling as he sisters started telling she's not sick as well. Tess pointed the screen towards Joel as she shouted his name. "Look! Look! This is three weeks old!." She yelled and pulled up her sleeve, showing a healed bite mark. Tess let the scanner fall to the ground as she grabbed the women's arm "nobody lasts more than a day!" Maddison and her sisters continue to shout protects "does that look a day old to you?" Malia and Ellie yell as they sling on to their sister. "you would've kill me!"

"I should fucking kill you!" Tess hissed, Joel looked from the arguing group, to the dead soilder, to his bloody and sore knuckle.

"When did it happen?" Tess asked "it doesn't matter! You have to trust me!" Madison yelled "they're gonna catch us if we don't run!" Malia yelled at the sound of soilder trucks. Joel slowly stood up, Tess grabbed Ellie as Madison grabbed Malia. Tess looked at the still in a daze Joel "Joel, we gotta move. We gotta move, Joel!" She yelled as she moved Ellie towards a gated fence. Madison and Malia following after her, they all ran towards a fence that had cut wire. Tess moved it aside as Ellie ran through, then Malia, then Madison, then herself. She called to Joel again who made his way through the opening in the wire as Tess and Ellie started running, Malia and Madison waited for Joel, even though the both of them hate or are scared of Madison.

Madison held the wire a bit more so Joel could climb through without his bag getting stuck but he just moved away from her. To be honest that one hurt, she didn't want the people on the trip to hate her, sure she didn't make the greatest first impression but she now was surely not on the best smuggling job ever. They walked into the wreckage of a old building. The group didn't notice ether sign on the gate.

WARNING

BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION AREA
DO NOT PROCEED

A warning from FEDRA. Maybe the warning was useless. Maybe it was just abandoned. Maybe it was filled with the infected. Whatever it is signs are put up for reasons, you should listen to them.

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Words; 2890