“Goddamnit…” Robert said frantically, pacing back and forth. You were tied to a chair, battered and bruised. “What do you want?!” He frantically asked you, and you could almost scoff at the irony. “I want to leave.” You sighed, your voice gravelly. Robert whined. “Don’t give me that! Please! What do you want?! Anything… anything for you to not tell Joel.”

Robert had long ago realized that he was in deep shit. Not only had he sold the battery you and Joel paid him endless amounts of weapons and supply for, but he had two of his men beat you senseless when he found out you knew about the essential scam he pulled. Now, he was shaking like a leaf. You were obviously beaten and if you went back to Joel looking like this… Robert was as good as dead. “Tell me you won’t tell Joel!” He pleaded.

“I will not tell Joel.” You repeated back to him in one of the most unconvincing voices he’d heard in a while. He sighed, it was no use. He figured Joel wouldn’t be that upset if he gave you back alive, so he instructed his men to drop you off at home.

Now, you were stumbling back into your shared apartment, just yearning for rest. Your state managed to go unnoticed by Joel throughout the night, but in the morning, as he leaned against the counter with his coffee in hand, it was only a matter of time.