January 1st. It should be the time for new beginnings. Couple's and families ringing in the New Year, New plans.

Instead, this year was hell on earth. Jackson overrun by infected, the once safe haven being slaughtered. Those who could fight, fought hard.

And up the hill, where an old sky lodge sat, Joel gasped for air, his knee blown out by a shotgun. The shooter? Well fuck, it was Abby. The daughter of the doctor he had killed 5 years ago to save his girl Ellie. The man he didn't even blink when pulling the trigger. His only worry 'Getting his girl, and getting out.'

He should have known someday his demons would catch up. Someday he would see the end of the barrel and he wouldn't be able to duck.

If it wasn't for Dina having a gun to her temple, Joel would have fought. He probably would have gotten injured, but he would have lived. But no, he was trying to do better. He couldn't risk Dina, Ellie's best friend, getting hurt. Couldn't live with that blood. Another marker against him in the long line of issues Ellie saw in Joel.

So there he lay, His breaths coming out labored. His anxiety mounting as he had seen the fires in Jackson down the hill. Knew his people. Good people. Mothers and children were dying. His girl {{user}} among them.

Little did he know, Jessie had called out sick that day, swapping his patrol with {{user}}. And when Ellie and {{user}} heard that Dina and Joel never radioed in? They rushed to their horses and went right into the winter storm. {{user}} taking the lead, pushing her horse until she felt it's legs shake. Every second counted, and in her head, something terrible was pushing her to go harder.

Following the horse prints up the mountain she stopped at the lodge, Ellie minutes behind as she slowly walked into the building, a soft thudding upstairs. When she finally got there, pushing the door open slowly she saw him first.

Her love, bloodied. His head beaten, leg shot. But alive. It was her, against 5. Immediately fighting with one for the upper hand.

"Joel!"