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yelena-bellova · 2 years

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Twenty Years Later: Joel Miller x F!Reader - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: Violent Innocence

Plot: A separated Joel and Y/n work different angles to try and best David and his men.

Word Count: 6.8k

Warnings: canon-typical violence, implied attempted SA, insinuated abuse, c*nnibalism, knives, guns, blood, wounds, language, loss of a child, ptsd, (16+)

A/N: This was a hard, hard chapter to get through, guys. If the quality of my writing isn’t up to its regular standard, it’s because it was truly emotionally taxing to write. I’ve also left out descriptions of certain events/discoveries/dialogue in an effort to keep the 16+ rating.

As always, this series is 16+ and I will not be adding anyone to the taglist who does not have their age/range in their bio. Gotta look out for younger eyes 👀

I advise everyone to take a breather, or just skip to the end of the chapter, if it’s too much to handle. Ep.8 was traumatizing and I don’t fault anyone for not wanting to put themselves through it again. I’m so looking forward to finishing out this series with y’all and the finale tonight. Thank you thank you thank you for your constant support and encouragement ☀️

——————

Unlike the movies, where the main character on the verge of death is miraculously returned to the living, Joel did not wake with a start. Still lost in the haze of blood loss, hunger and medicinal side effects, his eyes hurt to open. He registered the room, remembering being dragged down a flight of stairs and falling into a mattress.

One memory dripped down before the flood unleashed.

Ellie and Y/n.

Stay awake.

Men coming.

Leading them away.

Kill them.

The footsteps on the floor above startled Joel, the ticking clock and the realization that Ellie and Y/n were gone motivated him to roll off the bed. He stifled a groan, hurrying to his feet, clutching the knife that Ellie had placed in his palm. He wobbled his way to the rear of the room, falling against a water heater that could conceal him.

Joel listened for the footsteps over the blood pounding in his ears.

They crept through the room.

He waited…until the man finally passed the heater.

Joel couldn’t have possibly known that it was the same man who, five minutes before, had clubbed Y/n and ordered David’s men to shoot her and Ellie. But he slashed his knife through him as if he’d watched it happen.

After wrestling the man to the ground and assuring that he was dead, Joel rolled off him, wheezing for breath. He tried to gather his thoughts on his back. There were more men, all looking for him, Y/n and Ellie. They weren’t back yet, which meant they’d either been kidnapped or killed. Most likely kidnapped, so long as Ellie’s bite wound hadn’t been visible. Tortured, maybe, or worse.

Joel inhaled as deep as he could and began to drag his body across the floor towards the stairs. Towards his girls.

—————————

Y/n leaned her head back against the concrete wall, wondering why the fuck there was a cage inside a kitchen.

She’d carried Ellie into it, the butt of David’s follower’s rifles pressing into her back as they forced her in. They’d both been stripped of their winter coats and weapons. She had yet to get any answers as to why they wanted them there or what they were planning to do to them. Ellie hadn’t woken up, leaving Y/n on her own to try every conceivable possibility to escape. None had succeeded.

David entered then, finally gracing Y/n with his holy presence. He pulled up a seat across from the cage, smiling politely.

“How is she?”

Y/n turned her head, indignant at the fact that David’s men had shot at them, caused Ellie’s injuries, and yet he had the nerve to inquire about her wellbeing.

David tried a different approach, “I know this all must be a bit strange…”

Y/n bristled, “I lived in Texas, I’ve seen a lot weird shit, but, uh,” Y/n took a look at her surroundings, “Yeah, a jail cell next to a butcher’s block is an unusual feature.”

“We only use it when necessary,” David held up two innocent hands, “I’d love to explain our community more to you, but it’d be nice to know your name first.”

“Beyonce,” Y/n answered without hesitation.

The preacher chuckled under his breath, “You’re very quick. Stepping in to portect your daughter, your…what, your husband? Boyfriend?”

Y/n had been interrogated so many times, had sustained so many injuries in FEDRA lockup, that there weren’t many tactics that could work on her. David trying to get a feel for her and Joel’s relationship was a waste of breath.

He sighed, tapping his hands against his knees in wait. “You know we’re not here to hurt you,” he said softly.

“Gee, I wonder where I would have gotten that idea,” Y/n retorted, “What with my fucking head splitting and my kid unconscious on the floor.”

“An unfortunate turn of events, yes,” David corrected her, “But we’re protective of our own. You can understand that, can’t you?”

Y/n didn’t move a muscle, staring David down, “Oh, yeah. We’re one and the same there,” she cracked a smile, vengeance practically dripping from her lips, “And that should scare you.”

David, however, only found her threats mildly amusing. He exhaled with a small laugh, Y/n rather preferred being underestimated. It caused people to leave their weak spots exposed. She was sure if she looked hard enough, she could find David’s.

Beside her, Ellie finally began to stir, drawing Y/n’s attention. She scurried to place her hands on Ellie’s back, helping the girl to sit up.

“Me and your mother were starting to worry you wouldn’t wake up,” David said.

Ellie’s vision was blurry and her entire body hurt, her words didn’t carry their usual edge as she told David, “Let us out.”

“Well, that’s certainly the goal,” David nodded, “Hungry?”

“Why are we in a cage?” Ellie hazily took in their surroundings.

“Because I’m afraid of you,” David gave the same calm smile he’d given Y/n, “You’re a dangerous person. You’ve certainly proven that. The others want me to kill you two for what’s happened.”

Y/n held Ellie steady as she got to her knees, neither of them particularly alarmed by David’s words.

He leaned forward, “Did you hear me say the others wanna kill you?”

“Yeah,” Ellie breathed.

“But I stopped them.”

“Fuck you,” Ellie said on behalf of both her and Y/n.

“Why don’t we just start with your name?” David asked once more.

Ellie didn’t miss a beat, “Eat shit.”

“Hey,” David’s voice rose, “Listen to me!”

As he got to his feet, Y/n did as well, coming to meet him at the cage wall as Ellie scurried to the far end of their prison. Y/n wanted to rip into him purely for startling the girl.

“You can’t survive on your own,” David continued, his eyes looking past Y/n to land on Ellie, “No one can. But I can help you,” his gaze finally flicked up, “Let me protect you two.”

“We don’t need your help or your protection,” Y/n enunciated every word clearly.

“And we’re not on our own,” Ellie added from behind Y/n.

David nodded, “Right. Your friend,” his face changed to accommodate faux concern one might use on a child, “And how is he?”

Behind her eyes, Y/n’s mind flicked to Joel, beads of sweat around his temples, breathing so frighteningly shallow, his tan skin deathly pale. She couldn’t admit to the fear pooling in her belly that against David’s men, Joel might have lost the fight.

“I can see how much you care about him, so I know it hurts,” David continued, l having broken Y/n and Ellie’s first line of defense, “But even so…you gotta face reality.”

David turned and began to circle the cage. Ellie and Y/n moved as one, Ellie crawling in the opposite direction and Y/n standing in front of her as a shield.

“That part of your lives, it’s ending,” David went on, finally stopping on the other end of the cage, “And what I’m offering you is a beginning. But if you can’t find a way to trust me, then yes,” his eyes scanned Ellie, “You are alone.”

Without another word, David walked off through a door in the kitchen, leaving Y/n and Ellie to themselves.

Y/n was on her knees immediately, holding Ellie’s face in her hands and checking her head.

“Definitely got your bell rung,” Y/n lightly ran a finger over the pink bruise at Ellie’s hairline.

“What the fuck do we do?” Ellie asked, unconcerned about her injuries.

“I’m trying to figure that out,” Y/n replied, stroking a quick hand over Ellie’s hair, “I’ve already tried to window up there,” she pointed to a small pane of glass above them, “I can’t break it. Guns are over there in the corner,” she gestured to the edge of the room. And I can’t-“

Y/n was cut off by Ellie, throwing her arms around her body. The girl pressed the side of her face into Y/n’s chest, her short breaths warming Y/n’s skin through her layers.

Of all the horrible memories Y/n carried from September 26th, 2003, there was one in particular that lived in her chest every second of every day. As she had clutched Sarah in her arms, with Joel trying to assess her mortal injuries, Sarah had tried desperately to speak. Her lips pressed together, only able to make a humming sound. Y/n had shushed her, telling her that it was okay, she was okay, they’d all be okay…and that had been the last of it.

Whatever Sarah had needed to say died on her lips, but lived on in Y/n’s mind. She had spent so long, playing the memory back, watching the girl’s mouth, listening to the buzz in her throat, unable to rest until she knew what she’d wanted to say in her final minutes.

It took her one year to figure it out, and twenty to accept.

Mom.

Y/n had failed Sarah just as Joel felt he had failed. She’d spent the last two decades telling herself she could have jumped in front of them, she could have yanked Sarah out of Joel’s arms, she could have attacked the guard…all things her brain knew there hadn’t been enough time for, but guilt and logic never agreed on anything. Y/n had begged God, the skies, the earth, the universe, anyone, for a second chance. For some miraculous, mind-bending turn of events to send her back to that day and save her daughter.

And as she cradled Ellie in her arms, pressing a kiss to the girl’s head, she knew her second chance lay not in the past, but in the future.

“We’re gonna get out of this,” Y/n said, speaking with a strength she hadn’t in twenty years, “I promise.”

David was right about one thing, they had to face reality.

Joel wasn’t coming to save them.

They were on their own.

And Y/n would be damned if she failed to save someone she loved again.

————————————

Joel had tried to keep his violent side hidden from both Ellie and Y/n during their time together. He’d slipped with the FEDRA guard in Boston, remembering the terror in Y/n’s eyes as she’d watched him beat the young man to death. Whether or not he knew it, he’d tried from that moment on to be better.

But now, with their lives at stake, Joel didn’t care about better.

Every punch he drove into the raider’s face he had tied to the chair was pure rage, the only thing strong enough to keep him upright. The pleas of the bloody pulp of a man fell on deaf ears.

“Stop…stop, please…”

Joel rammed his fist against his cheek once more, silencing him.

“Leave him alone,” the raider who Joel had yet to touch urged from the other side of the room.

“You’re next,” Joel muttered, withdrawing the knife from his belt with a spine-tingling smirk.

“Please,” the man he’d been hitting begged, “I don’t know any girls.”

Joel was a human lie detector, having seen both the best and worst of humanity. He didn’t have to second guess whether it was the right decision to drive his knife into the man’s knee.

“Marco,” the guy tried to call, his voice strained from his screams of pain.

“No-no, no-no-no,” Joel cooed, his soft tone contrasting the roughness in which he pulled the man by his hair, “He can’t help you. You focus right here. Or I’ll pop your fuckin’ kneecap off.”

The man’s breath trembled as Joel gripped him, knowing that betraying David came at its own cost. “They’re alive,” he admitted.

The hope spread through Joel, but it couldn’t outmatch the anger that doubled at the thought of Y/n and Ellie being held and tortured. “Where?”

When Joel didn’t get his answer quick enough, he reached down and twisted the knife in the man’s leg.

“Ah! Fuck,” he squealed, “Fuck! Ah! The town!”

“WHAT TOWN?!” Joel screamed into his face.

“Silver Lake,” the man panted, wincing after.

Joel reached into his pocket, taking out his map and unfolding it.

“It’s not a real town name,” his victim said, his speech slow from the ache in his jaw, “It’s a resort.”

Now that was a word Joel hadn’t heard in a long time, “A resort?”

Feeling each precious second that Y/n and Ellie were still breathing slipping away, Joel removed his knife from the man’s leg and forced his mouth open, slipping the handle in. “You’re gonna point to where we are,” he held up the map towards the guy’s head, “And where your resort is. And it better be the exact same spot your buddy points to.”

Joel had a death grip on his hair, pressing their foreheads together and feeling his near-attacker’s body tremble with fear. Trying his best, the man aimed the blade at the map, pinpointing their location. Fear could always deliver results.

Joel sat back, examining the drip of blood that served as a marker. His body ached with exhaustion, but his chest felt the same pain it had for the last three months. The kind that was usually a precursor his panic attacks, except now, adrenaline was all that followed.

“That’s where we are,” the man whimpered, “I swear. Go ask him, he’ll tell you. I’m not lying.”

There had never been a question as to whether or not Joel would show mercy. These men had seen Ellie and Y/n, knew where they were being kept, they might have even laid hands on them.

Joel slid the blade into the man’s chest without a second thought.

Marco unleashed a string of expletives as Joel caught his breath.

“Why the fuck did you do that? He told you what you wanted,” Marco whined.

Joel took clumsy steps across the room, reaching for the lead pipe Marco had carried in with him that now lay across the couch.

“You motherfucker, fuck you,” Marco spat as Joel strode towards him, “I ain’t tellin’ you shit.”

“It’s okay,” Joel nodded empathetically, calling on the same disarming tactics he had in his days as a raider, “I believe him.”

In that moment, Joel wasn’t a monster.

He wasn’t the villain.

He was a father and a husband.

And he brought the pipe down with all the fury one could possess.

—————————

Ellie was relentless.

“El,” Y/n insisted as the girl continued to try and pick the lock, “I already tried that.”

“Well, maybe you didn’t try hard enough,” Ellie replied as she tugged on it.

“Yes, ‘cause this is just so pleasant,” Y/n spread her arms out to the cage, “Look, we’re not getting out of here like that. We’ve gotta wait for him to slip up.”

Ellie looked over her shoulder, “What do you mean?”

“He thinks we’re two little lost lambs or sheep or whatever, all alone without anyone to protect us,” Y/n explained, “We’ve gotta wait for the exact right moment when he fucks up and gives us an opportunity.”

“Okay,” Ellie nodded before quickly turning back to the lock.

Y/n slapped her hands against her legs, “I just gave you the plan.”

“I thought I felt it jiggle,” Ellie insisted, shaking the lock a few more times before coming to a sudden stop and stumbling backwards towards Y/n.

Y/n caught her in confusion, “What?”

She followed Ellie’s line of vision across the room to the chopping block, falling south to the floor. Y/n’s stomach turned at the sight…

An ear.

An actual fucking ear.

In all his perfect timing, David entered just then, carrying a tray and sliding it under the cage walls. Two bowls of soup and a cup of water.

David followed Ellie and Y/n’s eyes down to the butcher’s block, frowning when he realized what they were looking. “For what it’s worth,” he gestured to the bowls, “This is just deer meat, I swear.”

Ellie and Y/n were separately connecting all the dots of why they were being held where they were. They could have been trapped anywhere in the town, their weapons stripped from them and beaten into submission. This was a purposeful choice.

“You’re going to chop us into little pieces,” Ellie stated.

“I’d rather not,” David answered, “Please, just tell me your names.”

Y/n forced herself to exhale, wondering how the hell he could be so focused on a trivial detail.

“If you wanna judge me-“ David shrugged.

“Judge you?” Ellie raised her voice to a scream, surging forward to grab the metal bars, “You’re eating people, you sick fuck!”

She kicked the tray across the floor, it landed under the chopping block. David backed away from her anger.

“Yes,” David replied, “There are only a few of us who know. But I would’ve told you, sooner or later. I guess sooner.”

“You’re a fucking animal,” Y/n seethed, finally finding the strength to speak.

“Well, yes, we all are,” David said, his sociopathic calm tone beginning to worry both Y/n and Ellie, “That’s sorta of the point,” he took in Ellie’s disgust, “It was a last resort. You think it doesn’t shame me? But what was I supposed to do? Let them starve? These people who put their lives in my hands, w-who expect me to keep them save, who love me?”

“Yeah, maybe,” Ellie shot back.

“You don’t believe that,” David shook his head, “I don’t think your friend would either. Didn’t he take another man’s life to save yours?”

“Your men fucking attacked us,” Y/n added, her tone sharp.

“He was defending himself,” Ellie replied.

“He was defending you and your mother,” David corrected, even though he was calling on Y/n, his eyes were locked on Ellie’s, “But you knew that. You see a lot. So do I. And you know what I see when I look at you?”

Y/n watched the conversation in wait, it was beginning to alarm her that he was focusing all his attention on Ellie.

“Me,” he continued, “You remind me of me. You’re a natural leader, smart…loyal. Violent.”

Ellie froze at his words, while Y/n took a step forward.

“Keep going and you’ll see how violent I can be,” she threatened.

“Now, see, your mother,” David gestured to Y/n but never once looked at her, “She is deeply afraid, faking her confidence with threats. But that’s not who she actually is. I could unlock this door, hand her her gun, and she still might not be able to do what she needs to to protect you.”

Y/n’s nostrils flared at the assumption that she wouldn’t break his neck to save Ellie.

“But you, on the other hand…” David continued speaking to Ellie, “If I let you out of that cage right now, put that knife of yours in your hand, you’d stick me in a second. You have a violent heart. And I should know…” David took slow steps towards the cage, his eyes alight, “I’ve always had a violent heart. And I struggled with it for a long time. But then the world ended and I was shown the truth.”

“Right…” Ellie muttered, “By God.”

“No,” David breathed, “By Cordyceps. What does Cordyceps do? Is it evil? No. It’s fruitful. It multiplies. It feeds and protects its children, and it secures its future with violence, if it must. It loves.”

Y/n’s blood heated to a boil, her cheeks warming with rage. Cordyceps had taken everything and everyone she had ever loved. It was the purest form of evil nature had ever created. She wanted to cut through David, whispering the names of all her lost family into his ear as she did.

But this wasn’t her opportunity.

“Why are you telling us all this?” Ellie asked, she still believed it was a conversation between three people.

“Because you can handle it,” David said, Y/n may as well have not even been in the room, “The way the others can’t. They need God, they need Heaven,” David took another step towards the cage, “They need a father. You don’t. You’re beyond that. I’m a shepherd surrounded by sheep, and all I want…is an equal. A friend.”

Alarms rang in Y/n’s head so loud, she thought they were real. But Ellie was playing the game that Y/n had told her to, and she couldn’t stop her.

“What about our friend?”

“Like I said, loyal,” David nodded before taking another slow step towards them, “I can tell the others to stop looking for him. They’ll spare him.”

Ellie looked up to Y/n, convincingly filling her eyes with hope, before looking back to David. Y/n quickly adjusted her expression to match, pretending as if Joel’s safety was the only thing that mattered.

“Really?” Ellie took a step forward towards David, “They’ll just let him go?”

“Yes,” David answered confidently, “If he leaves us in peace, they will just let him go.”

It wasn’t hard for Y/n to whip up some tears, taking a choking breath in and following Ellie towards the metal bars.

“They do what I tell them to do. They follow me,” David was getting closer and closer, his gaze fixated, obsessed with Ellie, “And they would follow us. Lord knows, I could use the help. I-“ he chortled, gesturing to below the chopping block, “Look what’s happened.”

David extended his hand, gripping one of the horizontal metal bars between him from Ellie and Y/n. They stared down at it, considering their options.

“Think of what we could together,” David said, his voice alive with passion, “As strong as we are. We’d make this place perfect. We’d grow, spread out. And we’d do whatever we needed for our people.”

Ellie reached to grab the other side of the bar, her hand perilously close to David’s. Y/n had to fight every instinct to rip her body behind her own.

“Imagine the life we could give them,” David said wistfully, moving his hand to slide over Ellie’s, “Imagine the life we could build.”

David may not have been watching her, but Y/n made effort to drop two tears down her cheeks and sniffle as if it was the most beautiful idea in the world…

“Oh,” Ellie whispered, reaching a nearly shaking palm up to David’s hand, hoping that Y/n sensed that the moment was upon them.

Ellie pushed David’s finger back, a sickening crack erupting in his hand. As he cried out in pain, Y/n dropped down to her knees, pulling him in by his belt and grabbing the keys off their hook. Unfortunately, he wriggled out of Ellie’s grasp and reached through the bars, grabbing Y/n by the throat and squeezing. Y/n gagged and choked as his fingers tightened, but she still held onto the keys.

Ellie struck a blow to David’s abdomen, causing him to drop Y/n and stumble backwards. In the sudden movement, Y/n dropped the keys to the floor and nearly fell. David was quick to come back, grabbing Ellie’s hair and slamming her face into the bars twice before throwing her down.

“You little cunts,” he seethed, picking up the keys from the floor, “Let’s see what I go tell the others now.”

Y/n coughed violently, earning each and every breath back, but bent over Ellie to make sure she was alright. The girl’s blood painted the floor of their cell.

“Ellie,” she said, crawling past Y/n and towards David.

David turned, “What?”

“Tell them Ellie is the little girl,” the girl crawled to the bars, raising her voice, “Who broke your fucking finger!”

“How did you put it?” David asked, his tone mocking them now, “Hmm? ‘Tiny little pieces?’”

He stormed out of the room, slamming it behind him and leaving Ellie and Y/n to contemplate their impending doom.

“Fuck,” Y/n whispered, rubbing her already sore neck and forming a plan in her dizzy head. “Okay, when they come in, I’ll take them and you fucking run.”

“No,” Ellie replied quickly, stumbling to her feet, “No, we-“

“You’re going to get the fuck out of here,” Y/n continued, emphasizing each of the last words, “And you’re going to run.”

“I’m not fucking leaving you,” Ellie yelled, shoving Y/n’s arms.

“And I’m not asking,” Y/n yelled back, feeling her fate slowly approaching. If it bought Ellie time, it was all worth it.

She gripped Ellie’s shoulders, wrenching her closer and locking eyes with her. “You. Run.”

———————————

The snow outside had picked up, nearly blinding Joel as he trudged through the ice, clutching his abdomen the whole way.

He’d made it to Silver Lake, against all odds, but didn’t know the first place to look. He kept his good ear peeled, trying to listen for Y/n or Ellie’s cries, but the storm made that impossible. Leaned up against one of the resort’s buildings, trying to catch his breath, Joel tried to think clearly about his next move.

Then his eyes caught the trail of blood in the snow and logic went out the window.

Joel followed the crimson that led him to the building’s door. He broke the lock with the butt of his rifle and entered, clicking on his flashlight and drawing his pistol. He crept through the shed, bending down once to search under a table and finding only old clothes and useless supplies. Then, he spotted a nearly identical trail of blood leading into the next room.

All the while his heart thudded with fear, fear of failure.

Joel made no noise as he entered the room, shining his flashlight ahead to find what was left of one of their horses. They’d captured Y/n and Ellie while riding. The picture of their kidnapping was beginning to fill with color.

Joel shone his flashlight past the horse, finding tarps over equipment and…something…hanging on the other side. He moved around the animal’s body to get a closer look…

His stomach turned.

He had to fucking hurry.

—————————

David stormed through the door with James right behind him. Ellie and Y/n scurried away from the cage’s front. Y/n hadn’t expected a second set of hands, it made her entire plan impossible.

“No! No! No!” Ellie screamed, pressing herself into Y/n’s body in fear.

David and James wrenched the two of them apart.

“Don’t you fucking touch her,” Y/n screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping someone might hear them and come running, “No!”

“Get off of me!” Ellie shrieked, kicking at both of the men, “Get off of me!”

If Y/n had been on 10, Ellie’s pleas dialed her up to 12. She picked up her entire body weight and let herself drop to the floor, bringing James with her. He stumbled, but regained his footing and dragged Y/n out of the cell, kicking and screaming.

“No!” Ellie yelled, biting down on David’s all-too-close hand.

“Ow,” the preacher cried out, but stayed undeterred in his mission. He pulled Ellie out of the cell.

Y/n wrestled against Jame’s firm grip, flailing her arms as she tried to reach around and scratch him. She’d tear him to pieces with her hands, if the chance came.

“You motherfucker,” she cried, trying to catch her leg on anything that might slow them down, but he lifted her onto the chopping block as if she was nothing. James held her hands down at her sides, giving Y/n the opportunity to spit in his face.

“Wait, wait,” Ellie begged as David dragged her towards the block.

“Shut up,” James growled, narrowly dodging Y/n’s head butt.

David lifted Ellie up and dropped her harshly on Y/n, knocking the wind out of the woman with Ellie’s weight. He forced Ellie’s hands into Y/n’s, lining the two of them up.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” Ellie begged, Y/n’s coughs sputtering in her ear, “Don’t! Don’t do it! Please, don’t do it!”

“You had your chance,” David spoke over Ellie as he raised the cleaver above his head.

In her struggle for oxygen, Y/n let out a final cry. For Ellie, for Joel, for her grand failure to save all of them.

This was how it ended.

“I’M INFECTED!”

Ellie’s words echoed off the walls, David simply scoffed at her.

“I’m infected,” Ellie said once more, her voice low, “And now so are you.”

David glanced down at the bite mark Ellie had put on his hand. Y/n caught it too, fighting the urge to smile. The girl was smarter and quicker than she or Joel had ever taught her.

“Roll up my sleeve, look at it,” Ellie insisted, “Look at it!”

Biting down on his lip in frustration, David slammed the cleaver down beside Y/n and Ellie’s heads, causing both of them to flinch away. He tugged Ellie’s right sleeve up, revealing the ever-present mark that Cordyceps had left on her.

“God’s will,” Y/n strained, smirking below Ellie.

James looked up at his leader in concern, “David…”

“No,” David shook his head, “No, she would’ve turned by now. This isn’t real.”

Unable to speak without them hearing her, but needing to signal Ellie that she was on board with the plan, Y/n squeezed the back of Ellie’s hand twice.

“It looks pretty fuckin’ real to me,” James continued.

Ellie pressed her hand back into Y/n’s.

This was their opportunity.

Ellie reached to her side, grabbing the cleaver and lodging it in Jame’s shoulder. Y/n threw the girl off and kicked both feet into David’s stomach, buying them a few precious seconds to escape. Bullets chased them as they flew through the door.

Y/n and Ellie ran through the rest of the kitchen, making it out into the dining room. They went from door to door, banging and pulling furiously. Nothing.

Hearing David’s footsteps down the hall, they rushed back into the kitchen to look for any weapons. Ellie reached into a wood burning stove, grabbing one of the crackling logs before Y/n shoved her out of the room and down behind a wall.

The kitchen door squeaked, announcing David’s presence. Without her gun, Y/n knew she didn’t stand a chance at going up against David, but she could buy time. She crawled away from Ellie, ignoring the girl’s frantic looks and moved behind a table, popping up once she heard David’s steps.

“You’re very determined,” David’s calm tone continued, even as he clutched the cleaver in his hand, “I’ll give you that.”

“What a parent won’t do for their kid,” Y/n shrugged, “Right, Father?”

As Y/n put a period on her sentence, Ellie stood up from her spot and threw the burning log at David, missing him and giving Y/n the chance to duck down and crawl away. Ellie had, however, succeeded in starting a fire that quickly began to eat through the drapes of the dining room. Ellie crawled back, spotting Y/n and hurrying in her direction.

“There’s no way out, Ellie,” David called, moving away from the rapid fire, “The doors are locked and I have the keys.”

While she couldn’t see the flames, Y/n could smell and hear them. They were spreading as if nature herself had started it.

“Ellie?” David called tauntingly, “Ellie.”

Y/n knew that if there was any chance for escape, it would only come for one of them. David would have to be preoccupied with something else to let anything slip through his fingers and that anything had to be Ellie. Reaching down into her boot, she remembered she still had her knife on her.

She drew a deep breath and begged for Joel, dead or alive, to forgive her.

It was the only option that ensured Ellie’s salvation.

————————

Joel couldn’t move fast in the snow, the winds threatening to shove his fragile frame down into the ice. With every step he fought, trying to see something, anything through the gust of snowflakes.

In his mind, he was begging and pleading with the universe to give him a sign, a direction..he felt more and more panicked with each passing moment that he was too late.

Joel walked a little quicker, ignoring the stabbing pain in his stomach.

He couldn’t lose them.

—————————

“Ellie…” David called again, “I know you’re not infected. No one infected fights this hard to stay alive.”

Y/n belly crawled on the floor of the restaurant, away from Ellie and closing in on David’s voice. She clutched the knife in her sweaty palm.

“So…how did you do it?” David asked the room, “What’s the secret? Or are you just that fucking special?”

Y/n was near enough to the bar that she could see the panels swing open and Ellie’s legs trailing in. She was smart enough to try and find a true weapon.

“No one likes being humiliated, Ellie,” David continued his tirade, forgetting Y/n’s presence entirely, “You don’t know how good I am! You don’t know what I could have given you! If you had just let me!”

Y/n continued her army crawl before crouching behind the wall nearest to David, waiting for her perfect chance.

“Well, I have news for you,” the “pastor’s” tone softened back to its pulpit pitch, “None of us are dying today. You see, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided you do need a father, and your mother needs a husband.”

Y/n tightened her grip on her knife, waiting, waiting, waiting…

“So I’m gonna keep you two,” David promised, “And I’m gonna teach you.”

In her years, Y/n had heard and witnessed truly disturbing events. Nothing could have terrified her more than the sick headlines about corrupt preachers, using the Word of God as a deflection, coming to life in front of her.

Y/n leapt to her feet, spininning around the wall’s end and stabbing David’s shoulder from behind. The man cried out in pain, but didn’t fall as Y/n had needed him to. He faced her, swinging the cleaver past her before gripping her throat with one hand and shoving her up against the wall. Y/n struggled ferociously, speed kicking his legs until he dropped her. He wrenched her back, throwing her to the floor, and let one of the heavy dining tables fall straight onto Y/n’s abdomen. The pressure crushed her, stealing all the air from her lungs, and left her sputtering and choking for breath.

David leaned down, his lips grazing Y/n’s ear in a way that had only ever been reserved for Joel. “I’ll deal with you in a moment,” he growled.

Y/n was too breathless to speak and the table was too heavy for her to lift. It was almost guaranteed that David had cracked at least one of her ribs. She flailed about under its weight like a bug being crushed, frantically trying to escape.

With a lack of oxygen, her ears began to ring and her eyesight began to blur. From across the room, she could see David and Ellie’s figures fighting, with Ellie’s being shoved to the floor.

Y/n’s lips tried to form the girl’s name.

The corners of her vision began to darken just as David pinned Ellie down.

Her screams poured the air right back into Y/n’s lungs.

With strength only a mother whose child was endangered could have, Y/n strained to push the table off of her. She raised it enough to shimmy her abdomen out, letting it fall on her legs with a pained groan. She pulled and pulled her body out from under the surface, Ellie’s cries of terror giving her all the power she needed to roll the rest of the way. She grabbed her knife, stained with David’s blood and crawled across the floor.

David’s back was blissfully turned.

Ellie couldn’t see Y/n.

The flames were consuming the restaurant.

Y/n inched her way closer.

David said something Y/n couldn’t hear over the fire.

Ellie screamed louder.

Y/n reached her hand out, ripping David back by the collar, stabbing him in the chest with her knife and wrenching him off of Ellie.

Ellie reached above her head for the cleaver.

The rest passed in a set of thirty blood soaked seconds.

When it was over, Y/n stumbled to her feet, reaching down to pull Ellie up with her. The room was filled with a gagging smoke, the fames mere seconds from bringing the whole building down.

Y/n rushed them out through the kitchen, the back end was their best chance at escape. Down the hall were two large black doors, the lack of lock allowing Y/n to shove her and Ellie’s trembling forms out.

The cold air greeted their heated skin, both of them struggling to catch their breath. Y/n clutched Ellie to her as she maneuvered them down the stone steps and into the snow.

They both screamed as a pair of strong arms grabbed their bodies, tugging them backwards.

“No! Get off of me!,” Ellie shrieked, the reality of David’s death ceasing to exist under the strange touch.

“No! You fucking-“ Y/n tried to shove Ellie behind her, turning around and fighting hard against the figure before she even looked up.

Adrenaline somehow granted Joel enough strength to turn Ellie around in his arms and restrain Y/n’s hands.

“It’s me,” Joel coaxed as Ellie slapped his chest.

Y/n eyes turned up at the sound of his voice, meeting his eyes finally. “Ellie,” she breathed, awestruck.

“It’s me,” Joel repeated to Ellie, her hits finally stopping as she finally returned to reality. Joel took her face into his hand, cupping her cheek and drawing her gaze to him, “Hey, look…it’s me. It’s me.”

Ellie let out little whimpers as she took in his presence, miraculously in front of her.

Y/n ran her hands over Joel’s arm, in utter disbelief that he was actually there. His hand that rested on her back slid half an inch, the movement giving her the assurance that he was real. He had come for them.

“It’s okay,” Joel told Ellie, the girl mumbling and stuttering in shock.

Ellie didn’t think twice before looping her arms around Joel’s neck and burrowing her face into his shoulder. Y/n did the same, keeping one arm firmly around Ellie.

“It’s okay,” he promised once more, taking the full force of their embrace as if it were the very air he breathed. “It’s okay, babygirl,” he said to Ellie, “I got you. I got you.”

Y/n sniffled into Joel’s shoulder, feeling his hurried kiss press against her temple. She had gone from her most vulnerable to her most safe in the course of a single minute.

After a few seconds, wishing it could last longer, Joel pulled back to look at them both. He took in the blood on both their faces, there were big bruise marks on Y/n’s neck and she was clutching her stomach. He felt ashamed that he hadn’t been there sooner to spare them the pain of whatever they’d gone through.

“Okay,” Joel said softly, taking off his coat and wrapping it around Ellie’s shoulders.

Y/n finally noticed that Joel was carrying both his rifle and all three of their backpacks. She hurried to grab hers and Ellie’s, slipping one on her shoulder and carrying the other.

Joel and Y/n got on each of Ellie’s sides, wrapping an arm around the girl and setting off into the snow. The adrenaline began to fade in Joel’s body, weakening him once again till he was limping. The searing pain in Y/n’s chest ached with every breath, she had to time each inhale in between her steps.

But it didn’t matter to either of them. They locked their hands around each other’s arm, tightening their hold around Ellie, and took slow, unsteady steps towards the river.

—————————

That night, they sought shelter in a different neighborhood, hiding in someone else’s former house.

Y/n and Joel sat upright against the freezing concrete wall, Ellie sleeping soundly between them. They each kept one hand on her as they had soothed her to sleep, but they kept their hold long after. They needed the physical reassurance that she was okay.

All day, Y/n had held it together as they journeyed as far from Silver Lake as they could. She was too determined to get the three of them the hell out of dodge to fall apart. It wasn’t until Ellie had fallen asleep, under the safety of Y/n and Joel’s protection, that the weight of what had almost happened to them fell onto her.

Joel felt the trembling from Y/n’s hand gently shake Ellie’s body. He peered across her into the dark, the moonlight catching on her face to perfectly illuminate the silent tears down her cheeks.

As she stifled her sobs, Y/n felt Joel’s fingers intertwine with hers over Ellie’s torso. She squeezed her eyes shut, his touch sending her emotions right over their edge.

Joel squeezed, trying to tell her that in the silence, in the pain, he was there. He was there for the first time in twenty years for her to lean on.

Y/n squeezed back, savoring the press of his calloused fingers into her palm. They had come so close to losing one another, but they were alive. They were alive, they were together and if that was the only thing they had to hold onto, they’d cling to it like life itself.

——————

TYL Taglist: @bachiracore @stolenxkissess @kayleezra @the-wistful-reader @allthesesonsofbitches @goth-detectives365 @trippovert @rh1nestonecowg1rl @emiliaserpe @khaleesihavilliard @frietiemeloen @gracie7209 @dorck26 @thegirlnextdoorssister @alanis-altair @mariwinns16 @whosscruffylooking @endofthexline @alexiaricciardo @eonnyx @pedrosmexicangf @scarlettequinn @ao-sleepy @toinfinityandbeyonce2 @deanlovescassie @turmoil-ash @sorrowjunky @kpopslur @xxlilyxx90 @midgetpottermills @presidential-facts @scoopsnini @tubble-wubble @jamesdeerest @burninggracesandbridges @star-wars-lover @lucyhotchner @cococola-cocaine @witheringhqarts @fall-writes @alwaysdjarin @xxmoonn @emilia-the-artist @wand-erer5 @boneyarrd @lizard-zombie @themultifandomofmadness @cassidylea123 @paleepeaches @mxltifxnd0m @kettlekatie @ultimate-cinephile @gloryekaterina @caramelkatsukis-bitch @whovianayesha @memeorydotcom @deadunicorn159 @get0ut0fmyr00m @siriuslymooned @emmyeed @superbreadsoul @hellu-people1 @ourautumn86 @inas-thing @noraapple05 @givemylovetoall @luvwanda (tags cont. in comments)

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller imagine #joel miller fanfic #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #the last of us imagine #the last of us fanfic #the last of us fic #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us spoilers #twenty years later

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treeroutes · 10 months

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what's up ! non-exhaustive list of stories featuring weird plants :

The Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham

The Night of the Triffids, Simon Clark

In the Tall Grass, Stephen King and Joe Hill

The Boats of the 'Glen Carrig', William Hope Hodgson

The Man Whom the Trees Loved, Algernon Blackwood

The Red Tree, Caitlín R. Kiernan

Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer

The Willows, Algernon Blackwood

The Nature of Balance, Tim Lebbon

'Bloom', John Langan

The Ruins, Scott Smith

The Wise Friend, Ramsey Campbell

'The Green Man of Freetown', The Envious Nothing : A Collection of Literary Ruins, Curtis M. Lawson

The Beauty, Aliya Whiteley

The Ash-Tree, M.R. James

Canavan's Backyard, J.P. Brennan

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Jack Finney

The Hollow Places, T. Kingfisher

'Reaching for Ruins', Crow Shine, Alan Baxter

'Vortex of Horror', Gaylord Sabatini

Hothouse, Brian W. Aldiss

Vaster than Empires and More Slow, Ursula K. Le Guin

Odd Attachment, Ian M. Banks

Deathworld #1, Harry Harrison

The Bridge, John Skipp and Craig Spector

'The Garden of Paris', Eric Williams

Apartment Building E, Malachi King

The Seed from the Sepulchre, Clark Ashton Smith

Rappaccini's Daughter, Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Nursery, Lewis Mallory

The Other Side of the Mountain, Michel Bernanos

The Vegetarian, Han Kang

Sisyphean, Dempow Torishima

The Root Witch, Debra Castaneda

Semiosis, Sue Burke

The Wolf in Winter, Charlie Parker #12, John Connolly

Perennials, Bryce Gibson

Relic, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Gwen, in Green, Hugh Zachary

The Voice in the Night, William Hope Hodgson

Ordinary Horror, David Searcy

The Family Tree, Sheri S. Tepper

The Book of Koli, Rampart Trilogy #1, M.R. Carey

Seeders, A.J. Colucci

Concrete Jungle, Brett McBean

The Plant, Stephen King

Anthologies/collections :

The Roots of Evil: Weird Stories of Supernatural Plants, edited by Michel Parry

Chlorophobia: An Eco-Horror Anthology, edited by A.R. Ward

Roots of Evil: Beyond the Secret Life of Plants, edited by Carlos Cassaba

The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

Sylvan Dread: Tales of Pastoral Darkness, Richard Gavin

Evil Roots: Killer Tales of the Botanical Gothic, edited by Daisy Butcher

Weird Woods: Tales From the Haunted Forests of Britain, edited by John Miller

'But fungi aren't plants' :

The Fungus, Harry Adam Knight

Growing Things and Other Stories, Paul Tremblay

The Girl with All the Gifts, M.R. Carey

Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Fruiting Bodies, and Other Fungi, Brian Lumley

'The Black Mould', The Age of Decayed Futurity, Mark Samuels

What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher

The House Without a Summer, DeAnna Knippling

Mungwort, James Noll

Fungi, edited by Orrin Grey and Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Trouble with Lichen, John Wyndham

Notes :

all links lead to the goodreads page of the book, mostly because i like to look at book cover art ;

list features authors/books that i love (T. Kingfisher, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Ursula K. Le Guin, the collections from the British Library Tales of the Weird, etc.), but also a few that i don't like and some that i have not yet read ;

if upon seeing that list the first novel you check out is by Stephen King's you have not understood the assignment ;

not all of those are strictly horror stories, some are 100% science fiction (Brian W. Aldiss' Hothouse for instance).

#text #ramblings #plant tag #botanical horror #last time i posted a list of non-fiction books on the topic. time for some variety

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oswildin · 2 years

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We Could Try (Joel Miller x Reader)

Summary: You have to protect Joel and Ellie. At any cost. But along the way, it brings you and Joel closer. The man who never showed you emotion, opens up.

Warnings: Violence, blood, SA insinuation

A/N: My first time writing for Joel, I’ve just finished the Tv show, I haven’t played the game, so I’m going based off the show. I love Joel. I love Pedro. And Ellie is the best.

“Ellie, stay here.”

“No fuckin’ way-“

“Please, do as you are told!”

Your eyes pleaded with her, your tone sharp as you glanced down at the wounded Joel. He needed someone with him. You didn’t even know if he was getting better, let alone if he could wake up and protect himself if he needed to.

“You may have some visitors of your own, and I’m sorry that I’m having to ask this of you-“ You told her, shaking your head. “But I need you to stay with him. If they get to him, they will kill him.” Your voice trembled at your own words, with Ellie’s shaky breath following suit as she realised… You were right.

“Okay.” She nodded, grabbing her knife from her backpack as she gripped it tightly.

“I’m going to draw them away from this area-“ You said, picking up Joel’s rifle as you slung it over your shoulder. “Get them as far as I can.” You explained, as you sent the pair one last glance. “Be careful. Don’t endanger yourself.” You told her sternly, causing her to give a small nod. Sending one last worried look at Joel, you turned, determination on your features as you rushed out. Getting to the garage, you lifted the door, hearing distant voices as you untied the horse. “Come on-“ You ushered, tugging on its leash as you exited. Once outside, you mounted the horse, making sure the gun was in reach by your side as it hung from your shoulder.

Giving a tug on the reins, you directed the horse, heading towards the voices. It didn’t take long for you to round the corner, seeing the group of men a few metres away as you yelled, getting their attention. They lifted their own guns as you quickly grabbed yours, sending warning shots their way before taking off.

Glancing over your shoulder, you could see a few of the men running after you, sending wild shots your direction. Whilst distracted, you didn’t see one of the men hiding out of sight, who had aimed his gun right at your horse, pulling the trigger, shooting the poor animal, sending you flying off as you hit the cold snow with a groan. Gasping for breathe, you felt yourself winded, laying on your front as you looked for your gun, seeing it a few inches away. With a yelp, you tried to crawl towards it, but the pain in your side quickly caused you to draw back.

“Shit, shit, shit-“ You whispered, tears forming in your eyes as you heard the men approaching. Even when laying in pain, fearing you would be shot dead, your mind still went to Joel and Ellie, praying they were ok. You pushed yourself onto your back, turning to see the group of men stood over you, hatred in their eyes. One of them raised their gun, aiming it at your head as you narrowed your eyes, almost daring him to do it. With some encouragement from the others, he was ready, finger on the trigger. However, another shot rang out, causing him to lower his gun to see their ring leader.

“Punishment will be served.” The man, David, told them. “But not yet.” He walked towards the group. “Bring them.” He ordered, as the group reluctantly did as he said, two walking to you as they roughly hoisted you up, causing you to grit your teeth in pain.

“Fuck you.” You spat, as David simply smirked, nodding for the men to head off.

Some point on the journey you’d passed out from the pain, awaking in what looked like a makeshift cell. Groaning you tried your best to push yourself into a sitting position, a hand going to your side as you gently gripped it to try and almost stop the pain. Lifting your shirt slowly, you saw a bruise beginning to form on your ribs, hissing as you realised you’d probably broken a few. The sound of the door opening caught your attention as you hastily dropped your shirt. David stepped in, holding a tray as he approached the cell door. He lowered himself, sliding the tray under the wiring.

“Thought you might be hungry.” He said calmly, eyes scanning your face.

“No thanks.” You said defiantly. “Not exactly 5 star service is it?” You sneered as the corners of his lips flicked up for a second, amused.

“Is that anyway to speak to your generous host?” He quipped, raising a brow.

“Generous?” You almost scoffed, looking down at the tray. As your eyes lowered, you saw something just past David on the floor. Something that made your stomach churn. Your eyes widened as your mouth went dry. He frowned as he followed your gaze, before standing. An ear. A fucking human ear.

“For what it’s worth, that’s just deer meat.” He told you. “Promise.” You covered your mouth for a second, processing what he had just said, fighting the bile that was threatening to come up your throat.

“You’ve been…” You cleared your throat. “You’ve been eating people.” You stated as he turned back to look down at you. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” You spat, furrowing your brows.

“I did what I needed to to survive. To feed my people.” He still spoke with calmness. “They were starving. I couldn’t watch them starve.”

“So what?” You narrowed your eyes. “You pick up strays, chop them up, feed them to your people.” You clenched your jaw. “And they’re ok with that?” He stayed silent as you noticed a slight shift in his stare. “Oh…” You laughed slightly. “They don’t know, do they?” You used all your strength, to push yourself to your feet, using the wall for support. “What would happen if when I get out of here…” Your tone lowered. “I told your people what you’ve been doing…” You challenged him, watching as he began to tense up. “Tell them what a murdering scumbag you are.” You smirked. “I think there would be a revolution.” David suddenly, finally, lost his cool, slamming his hands on the cell door, causing you to jump slightly at the sound.

“When you get out of here?” He let out a breath laugh. “That’s a big presumption to make.”

“Shit.” Ellie hissed as she heard footsteps above. She turned to Joel, gently shaking him to try and stir him. “Joel, get up.” She pleaded. “There’s someone upstairs. Joel.” He opened his eyes as he frowned, trying to push through the pain and confusion he was experiencing. “Joel, we need to hide.” She tried as she began to use her strength to push him to sit. They began to hear a sliding across the floorboards, as Joel seemingly began to become more alert.

“Go.” He ordered her, voice low as he pushed her to hide. She looked apprehensive for a second before he gave her a reassuring nod, to which she followed his order. As the door to the basement opened, Joel had gotten to his feet, following Ellie as he reached out for her knife. As the intruder came further into the room, Joel readied himself, getting his stance ready to pounce. As the attacker came into view, he made his move, going behind him as he slit his throat, causing the man to gurgle and fall to the floor. Ellie finally came out of her hiding spot, as Joel shook his head. “No, stay here. There will be more outside.” He told her.

“But-“ Ellie tried.

“No buts.” He lightly scolded her. He looked round the room, noticing his gun was gone. But not just that. You. “Where’s (Y/N)?” He asked, as Ellie gave him a sheepish stare. “Ellie…”

“They went out to lead the guys away.” Ellie said quietly. “I had to stay here to protect you.” Joel’s eyes widened at her words, as he felt anxiety swell in his chest.

“Shit.” He muttered, clenching his fist, gripping the knife tightly. You were gone. Out of sight. He didn’t know where you were or if you were ok. He silently prayed you had gotten away, stayed hiding whilst the men looked for him. But he knew you all too well. You would’ve gone in guns blazing to get them away from him and Ellie. Putting yourself at risk for them. “Stay here.” He told Ellie, his tone teetering on dangerous, before disappearing from sight, on the hunt for his next victim.

David had left you alone once again, as you tried to fiddle with the lock on the cell door. However, you quickly realised it wasn’t going to work as you let your frustration take over, yelling as you hit the door. You even tried bending the wire of the door, just to try and make a gap big enough for you to get out through. But it wasn’t as easy with broken ribs. Looking at the floor in defeat, you had an idea. Bending down with a groan, you untied your shoelace, glancing up at the door every now and again to check no one was coming in. You began to pull out the lace from the shoe, holding it in your hands as you held it taut, seeing how strong it was as you smiled to yourself. You hid it up your jacket sleeve, keeping a bit of the lace in the palm of your hand to get easy access.

After a few more minutes, David finally returned. You licked your lips. You knew men like him. You knew how to butter them up. Putting on your best innocent eyes, you watching him closely.

“I’ve…” You began, making your voice low. “I’ve been thinking.” You bit your lip. “Maybe… Maybe I’ve been wrong. Quick to judge.” You cleared your throat, watching as he narrowed his eyes. “I mean… You have the weight of a whole community on your shoulders. That must be hard.” His features seemed to soften slightly.

“It can be.” He agreed. “But I just do the Lords work. I look after my own.” He paused. “Just like you. With the girl… And the man.”

“I just wanted to protect them.” It wasn’t a lie. “They are my community… Surely you understand.” You took a step towards the fence.

“I can see it in you. That fight. That desire to protect.” He lowered his voice. “I see that part of me… in you.” You fought the urge to shudder at his words. “Imagine if we both took charge of this community… Both of us. Headstrong. Protective. Willing to do what it takes to keep our own safe.” He took his own step forwards. “Mother and Father.”

Joel stood over one of the men who was tied to a chair, as Ellie had eventually come out from the basement, watching with curious eyes as Joel seemingly scared the man.

“Where are they?” Joel questioned, leaning down so his face was mere inches from the man.

“I-I don’t know, man.” The raider tried, but Joel clicked his tongue, bringing up Ellie’s knife into the air as he stabbed it through the man’s kneecap, causing him to yell out in pain.

“Not good enough!” Joel snarled, Ellie had seen Joel angry… But this was a new level. He was scared. Lashing out. “Where. Are. They?”

“He-He took her!” The man shouted. “To our community.”

“Where?”

“A-a town, not far.”

“What town?!” Joel twisted the knife as the man yelled once more, gasping and panting as he tried to think straight.

“It’s not a real town!” He exclaimed. “It-It’s a few miles from here, please-“ Joel took the knife out from the man’s knee as he fell forward for a second. He turned, grabbing a map from the side as he held it up, putting the knife in the man’s mouth.

“Point to it.” He ordered, as the man did as he was told. “Now point to where we are.” Again, he did, as Joel took back the knife.

“Please, I swear-“ He pleaded. “I’m telling the truth.” Joel turned, grabbing a gun he’d taken from the raider. “Please.”

“Oh. I believe you.” Joel told him, before quickly aiming the gun at the man’s head, pulling the trigger. He’d completely forgotten Ellie was even in the room. Consumed by his rage. He turned, leaving the man dead as he caught Ellie’s eye. She didn’t look scared. But he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in his stomach. “Let’s go.” He told her as he threw her knife back to her.

David opened the door, but you waited. You didn’t want to seem too eager to get out. To leave. Taking a slow step forward, you waited for him to nod for permission. Once he did, you exited the cell, standing in front of him. He slowly lifted his hand, causing you to flinch slightly. He then gently traced your cheek with his thumb, causing you to fight the urge to attack him right then and there.

“I’m sorry about my men.” He apologised. “They did quite the number on you.” His hand slowly moved down. Painfully slow. As he reached for the bottom of your shirt, lifting it to reveal the bruise on your ribs. “Luckily for you, we have more medicine.” He told you as his hand grazed your side, lowering your shirt. “Plenty of rest, food and medicine… Then we will begin.”

David led you down the hallway, walking in front as you swallowed the lump in your throat, beginning to get the shoelace from your jacket sleeve. You shuffled it in your hands, as you wrapped both ends on either hand, pulling it out taut to get ready to attack. You got to the kitchens, as you finally decided to take your shot. Moving behind David, you moved your arms over his head, ignoring the pain you felt, as you pressed the lace against his throat, using all your strength to press down on it, causing him to jolt and gasp. He tried clawing at the lace, as you kept pulling, kicking the back of his knee to buckle his leg, causing him to falter as he fell to the floor.

“I know men like you.” You said lowly. “Why would I, want to join you?” You spat, as his movements began to slow. You saw your chance, seeing him on the floor as you let go of the lace, making a run for it out the kitchen, limping slightly to put less weight on your hurt side. You entered out into what appeared to be a dining hall area, as you rushed towards the nearest exit, pushing on the door, which was locked. Swearing under your breath, you went to another door, trying that one. But again, it was locked. You yelled in anger, refusing to let it stop you. You picked up a nearby chair, yelping as it sent pain down your side. But the adrenaline was taking over. The will to survive. You launched the chair at one of the windows, causing it to crack it slightly. You quickly picked up another chair, repeating the action. However, as you went to throw the last chair to finally break the window, you felt a pressure on your throat, causing you to drop the chair to claw at the shoelace you had used on David, that was now pressing on your neck. He hauled you back, causing you to gasp and groan, before he threw you to the floor, causing you to knock over one of the tables as you clattered into it. The candle fell to the floor, the flame catching fire to a nearby table cloth, quickly going up in smoke. Your eyes widened at the sight, realising the building would quickly be set alight.

“You stupid little-“ David spat, as he quickly appeared over you, using his body to hold you down. You tried your best to fight, using your fists to try and hit him, your legs to kick, and your mouth to bite, however, your body was growing weak. “You will repent. You will follow my rules, my lifestyle…” David continued. “You need to be taught a lesson.”

“Fuck. You!” You shouted, rage filling your mind as you spat in his face. That only angered him further as he grabbed your face with his hand, gripping your skin tightly as he forced you to look at him. “Asshole!” You managed to force out, causing him to smirk, seeing how much power he had in the situation. A sudden shot rang out through the room, as David flinched, frowning. You let out a breath, coughing as you looked up, seeing blood coming from his chest. His features began to become distant, as he finally fell forward, landing on you as you yelled, tears forming in your eyes, trying to push him off you. “Get- Get off!” You cried, closing your eyes tight, feeling the smoke making your mouth dry. Suddenly, the weight on you lifted, as you felt a hand grab your arm, causing you to scream, fighting against it.

“It’s okay.” You heard a voice over the flames. “It’s okay. It’s me.” You opened your eyes, smoke clearing as you realised it was a face you recognised. “It’s me, baby, it’s me.” You let out a breath.

“Joel…” You reached out, grabbing onto him, almost to make sure he was real. He nodded, wrapping an arm around you as he carefully led you out of the hall, leaving the flames and smoke behind you both. As you stepped outside, the cold air hit you roughly, as it made your throat close up for a second. Your eyes scanned around, looking for danger, but you only saw Ellie as she looked shocked by your appearance.

“Ellie…” You whispered, thankful she was safe. That they were both safe. You had done your job.

“We’re okay.” Joel told you, feeling your legs buckle as he allowed you to fall into him, your head landing on his shoulder, as he wrapped you in a warm embrace. “It’s okay Darlin’, we’re here now. It’s okay.” He said softly in your ear, as his gloved hand held the back of your head.

You jolted awake, gasping a little as you sat with a start, which soon made you wince. You didn’t know where you were. And your heart rate increased as it saw the flames from a fire.

“(Y/N)-“ You jumped at the voice, turning to see Joel sat on a nearby rock. “You’re safe.” He told you gently, getting up to come over to you. “You passed out, it’s okay, we’re hidden. They won’t find us.” He told you, almost like a promise. “Found this little cave, decided it was the best bet.” You nodded at his words, pushing yourself to lean against the wall, breathing a little ragged. You looked over, seeing Ellie asleep in her own sleeping back. “She wanted to stay awake till you woke up.” He said. “But sleep had other ideas.”

“Your wound-“ You realised, turning to face him as he waved you off, sitting beside you against the wall.

“I’m fine.” He grunted. “Penicillin fixed me right up.” He paused. “I’m more worried about you. I think you’ve cracked a few ribs.” He said through a clenched jaw.

“Yeah… Not great when you’re trying to travel across the country.” You let out a small chuckle. “Don’t even have a horse anymore.” You both sat in silence for a moment. Joel didn’t know what to say. Every time he thought of you being hurt… He couldn’t help but blame himself. He couldn’t help but feel anger at the ones who did it. “I’m sorry.” Your words broke him out of his thoughts as he turned to frown at you.

“What for?”

“For making your life more difficult.” You shrugged. “For going and doing something stupid.” You licked your lips nervously. He quickly shook his head, sitting up a little.

“This wasn’t your fault.” He told you sternly. “If it was anyone’s… It’s mine.” He sighed, pulling his gaze away from you.

“Don’t do that.” You whispered. “Don’t put this on yourself. I made the choice to go out there, I made the choice to risk my own life.”

“But you shouldn’t have had to.” He said a bit more angry. You knew it wasn’t at you though. “I should’ve been there to handle it. Instead… I was laid up. Useless.” You frowned.

“Joel, you kept Ellie safe, and you came and got me.” You almost scoffed. “You did more than enough. You did handle it.” You paused. “I tried to handle it. I tried to help, to make your job a little easier, so you could focus on getting better.” He finally looked at you once again, seeing the honesty in your eyes. You really wanted to protect him. Help him. Ease the pressure on him. “And I’m sorry I couldn’t do that.”

“Not many people have done that for me.” He said quietly, voice a little gruff. “But please, don’t do it again. If we’re ever in this position again, you stay put. You don’t put yourself in danger for me.” You didn’t reply, simply giving a small nod. You couldn’t promise anything, but you were both stubborn, meaning you would never agree. “Now, let me sort that cut.” He gestured to your cheek, as you furrowed your brows, before lifting a hand to touch where he’d pointed, feeling dry blood on your skin. You didn’t even realise it was there. He reached over to his backpack, pulling out a small first aid kit. It just held some wipes and plasters. He opened it, reaching in to grab a wipe, opening the packet as he pulled it out. You watched him closely, as he gently reached up to wipe away the dried blood. You couldn’t help but just stare at him.

“How did you know where I was?” You asked, voice low. Joel seemed to hesitate for a moment, before clearing his throat.

“I have my ways.” He said, his eyes still trained on your cut.

“Sounds ominous.” You quipped, before letting out a small hiss as the wipe touched a sensitive part of your skin, causing him to whisper a small apology. “Was Ellie okay?”

“Yeah-“ He finally finished, taking his eyes away from you as he fiddled with the first aid kit. “Bit scared I think. Worried about losing you.” He admitted. “We both were.” He didn’t meet your eyes as he said it, he actually avoided looking at you altogether. You felt your heart swell at his words, as you pursed your lips.

“Yeah… Well, you gave us quite the scare too.” You said. “You were out for a few days.” You cleared your throat. “I thought-“ You felt your eyes growing glassy. “We thought-“ You tried, as he finally met your gaze again. “Both of us were scared of losing you.”

“You would’ve been fine.” Joel tried to shrug it off, but you shook your head, reaching out your hand for his, as you gently gripped it.

“Joel you need to start realising… We care for you. Ellie adores you. She’ll never say it-“ You added, with a small laugh. “But she does. I’ve never seen her so worried.” His eyes softened for a moment.

“And you?”

“Of course I was worried.” You told him sincerely, giving his hand a small squeeze.

“I was too, y’know.” His voice was quiet, almost above a whisper. “Bout you.” He admitted. “When I came in… When I saw you-“ He shook his head. “With that… scumbag.” He almost spat. “I just saw red. I felt… I felt it in my chest.” He explained, as you kept your eyes on his. “The thought of him hurting you-“

“But I’m fine.” You reassured him. “I’m here, I’m alive.” You promised, as he moved his spare hand, gently placing it on your unharmed cheek. You didn’t flinch. Not like you did with David. It felt right, his touch felt right. It was welcomed. You melted into his hand.

“Before Ellie… Before you-“ He began. “I didn’t think I’d feel…” He couldn’t finish as you nodded, understanding.

“I know.”

“And I can’t.” He removed his hand, leaving you feeling empty. “Not now.” You removed your own hand from his as you recoiled back slightly. “Not during all this.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Maybe once… Once we get back to Tommy’s…” Your heart became full of hope again. “We could… try?” He asked. It was weird, seeing the hardened, gruff and ruthless man you knew become so soft, unsure and emotional. But it was nice. It felt special. You nodded, a small smile on your lips.

“Yeah… I’d like that.”

#joel miller x reader #joel miller #the last of us x reader #the last of us #Pedro pascal x reader

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thatlastdanceofchances · 8 months

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Details about the Ianthology!

We have one cover and three summaries for the Ianthology!

Tube Strike, due for release in March

Building work on the London Underground has disturbed a nest of Weevils. The ravenous creatures are hunting for flesh. Can Torchwood One contain the feast?

The first one is set during the Torchwood One era and features Tommy from the Torchwood One range.

Missing Molly, due for release in April

Molly went missing from the estate 12 years ago. Ianto remembers it as he lived just round the corner. Only, Molly’s come back. Ianto’s just as interested as her parents in what happened to her.

Disco, due for release in May

It’s 1987 and “Disco” Jones is still dancing. Life and soul, bab, life and soul. Wednesdays is darts at The Merry Miller, Thursdays – shove ha'penny at The Boilermakers, Fridays played by ear, and Saturdays it’s the Disco at Cinderella’s. So who is Tom and why does he want to build a fence with him?

Can't wait for this one since it's going to be about Ianto's dad. From Gareth David-Lloyd: “Disco has been a long time coming. Ianto's dad has been this nameless entity so far who seems to have been quite a negative force in Ianto’s life. So, I thought it was about time that we made him a three-dimensional character and really looked to who he was and at the reasons Ianto is so affected by him.”

#torchwood #ianthology #ianto jones #big finish #rift alert #tube strike #missing molly #disco

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krispyweiss · 4 months

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Boz Scaggs Turns 80

Though he’s best known for Silk Degrees and “Lido Shuffle,” Boz Scaggs’ musical history is much more - and much more interesting - than that.

As Scaggs turns 80 today, June 8, 2024, Sound Bites offers this brief sketch of the dude who’s worked with some of the all-timers and sings like the world’s smoothest Muppet.

Scaggs was a founding member of the Steve Miller Band, contributing guitar and vocals to 1968’s Children of the Future and Sailor before leaving for a solo career. His 1969 self-titled LP features Duane Allman on slide guitar and spawned the modern blues standard “Loan Me a Dime.”

He briefly joined Mother Earth for 1969’s Make a Joyful Noise before dedicating himself to solo work, which peaked commercially with 1976’s Silk Degrees, and whose band, hand-picked by Scaggs, became Toto.

“I’m not sure if Toto would have happened as soon, or quite the same way, without Silk Degrees,” David Paich once said.

Scaggs has kept up a low-key solo career ever since, breaking briefly to tour with Donald Fagen’s New York Rock and Soul Revue and releasing six 21st-century albums, most recently 2018’s Out of the Blues, which features a killer rendering of Neil Young’s “On the Beach.”

Don’t be fooled by the disco-leaning hits. Scaggs is an important player in the history of modern rock and blues and that - along with hitting the milestone of 80 - is worth celebrating.

6/8/24

#boz scaggs #the steve miller band #duane allman #toto #mother earth #neil young

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emma-watson-blog · 7 months

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Overview:

Born:

April 15, 1990 · Paris, France

Birth name:

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson

Nickname:

Height:

5′ 5″ (1.65 m)

Mini Bio:

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson was born in Paris, France, to British parents, Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson, both lawyers. She moved to Oxfordshire when she was five, where she attended the Dragon School. From the age of six, Emma knew that she wanted to be an actress and, for a number of years, she trained at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a part-time theatre school where she studied singing, dancing and acting. By the age of ten, she had performed and taken the lead in various Stagecoach productions and school plays.

In 1999, casting began for Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001), the film adaptation of British author J.K. Rowling's bestselling novel. Casting agents found Emma through her Oxford theatre teacher. After eight consistent auditions, producer David Heyman told Emma and fellow applicants, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, that they had been cast for the roles of the three leads, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. The release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) was Emma's cinematic screen debut. The film broke records for opening-day sales and opening-weekend takings and was the highest-grossing film of 2001. Critics praised the film and the performances of the three leading young actors. The highly distributed British newspaper, 'The Daily Telegraph', called her performance "admirable". Later, Emma was nominated for five awards for her performance in the film, winning the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film.

After the release of the first film of the highly successful franchise, Emma became one of the most well-known actresses in the world. She continued to play the role of Hermione Granger for nearly ten years, in all of the following Harry Potter films: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011). Emma acquired two Critics' Choice Award nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for her work in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. The completion of the seventh and eight movies saw Emma receive nominations in 2011 for a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award, and for Best Actress at the Jameson Empire Awards. The Harry Potter franchise won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in February 2011.

2011 saw Emma in Simon Curtis's My Week with Marilyn (2011), alongside a stellar cast of Oscar nominees including Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe and Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, in addition to Eddie Redmayne, Dame Judi Dench, Dougray Scott, Zoe Wanamaker, Toby Jones and Dominic Cooper. Chronicling a week in Marilyn Monroe's life, the film featured Emma in the supporting role of Lucy, a costume assistant to Colin Clark (Redmayne). The film was released by The Weinstein Company and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. In 2012 Emma was seen in Stephen Chbosky's adaptation of his coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), starring opposite Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller. This independent drama centered around Charlie (Lerman), an introverted freshman who is taken under the wings of two seniors (Watson and Miller) who welcome him to the real world. The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and received rave reviews. The film won the People's Choice Award for Favourite Dramatic Movie and Emma also picked up the People's Choice Award for Favourite Dramatic Movie Actress. Emma was awarded a second time for this role with the Best Supporting Actress Award at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards where the film also won the Best Ensemble Performance Award.

In summer 2013, Emma starred in Sofia Coppola's American satirical black comedy crime film, The Bling Ring (2013), opposite Katie Chang and Israel Broussard. The film took inspiration from real events and followed a group of teenagers who, obsessed with fashion and fame, burgled the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles. The film opened the Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Emma also appeared in a cameo role as herself in Seth Rogen's apocalypse comedy This Is The End (2013). The film tells the story about what happens to some of Hollywood's best loved celebrities when the apocalypse strikes during a party at James Franco's house.

2014, Emma was seen in Darren Aronofsky's Noah (2014), opposite Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Douglas Booth, Logan Lerman, and Anthony Hopkins. The film told the epic, biblical tale of Noah and the ark. Emma plays the role of Ila, a young woman who develops a close relationship with Noah's son, Shem (Booth). Noah made an outstanding $300m since its release in March. In 2015, Emma starred in Regression (2015), written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Also headlined by Oscar-nominated Ethan Hawke, and set in Minnesota in 1990, Regression tells the story of Detective Bruce Kenner (Hawke), who investigates the case of young Angela, played by Emma, who accuses her father of sexual abuse.

In 2012, Emma was honored with the Calvin Klein Emerging Star Award at the ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards. In 2013, Emma was awarded the Trailblazer Award at the MTV Movie Awards in April and was honored with the GQ Woman of the Year Award at the GQ Awards in September. Further to her acting career, Emma is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Emma graduated from Brown University in May 2014.

2017, Emma starred in the live-action Disney fantasy Beauty and the Beast (2017), one of the biggest movies of all time in the U.S., and the dramatic thriller The Circle (2017).

Family:

Jacqueline Luesby(Parent)

Chris Watson(Parent)

Relatives:

Freda Emma Watson (Duerre)(Grandparent)

Toby Watson(Half Sibling)

Lucy Watson(Half Sibling)

Nina Watson(Half Sibling)

Alex Watson(Sibling)

Trivia:

Has kept a painstakingly detailed log of her everyday life since her film career took off, as many as 30 journals in total.

Favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Best friends with Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint after practically growing up with them on the Harry Potter set. She calls them her 'brothers'.

Was offered the titled lead in Cinderella (2015) but turned it down.

At the age of fifteen became the youngest person to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine.

Paris at the time of Emma's birth. Emma lived in France until the age of five, when her family returned to the United Kingdom.

Was named the 'Highest Grossing Actress of the Decade' by the Guiness Book of World Records. Her film work in the past decade has grossed over 5.4 billion dollars worldwide (2009).

She achieved eight A* and two A passes in her GCSEs (exams British school pupils take in their last compulsory year of secondary school).

Prefers to sign autographs for fans rather than taking pictures with them.

Auditioned eight times (at age 9) for the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, playing opposite five prospective sets of Harry's before landing the part.

Was offered the role of Mia in La La Land (2016) but turned it down to play Belle in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast (2017). The role then went to Emma Stone, who won an Academy award for her performance. Ironically, she replaced Stone for the role of Meg March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women (2019) after Stone was unable to take the part due to her scheduling conflicts in promoting The Favourite (2018).

Both of her parents are lawyers.

Emma's favorite movies include Notting Hill (1999), Love Actually (2003), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), About Time (2013), Giant (1956), Breathless (2008), Amélie (2001), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), The Fountain (2006), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Gladiator (2000), Braveheart (1995), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Philomena (2013), Blue Jasmine (2013), Rush (2013), 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Great Beauty (2013), The Woodmans (2010), Closer (2004), Pretty Woman (1990), Chicago (2002), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Dirty Dancing (1987), Grease (1978), Shrek (2001), Ice Age (2002), and Finding Nemo (2003). school and local teams), skiing, painting, cooking, singing, and dancing (has twice competed with her school in Rock Challenge 2006 and 2007).

Entering Brown University, Rhode Island, U.S.A. after completion of the Harry Potter Movies (July 21, 2009).to study literature.

Emma's favorite actors are Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe.

Her parents divorced in 1995; each parent has since remarried. On her father's side, she has a younger half-brother, Toby, born 2003, and half-sisters (identical twins) Lucy and Nina, born in 2004. Lucy and Nina played the younger version of her character Pauline in Ballet Shoes (2007). She also has two stepbrothers through her mother's remarriage.

Has said that she'd like to work with directors Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro.

Is a certified yoga and meditation instructor.

Is a fan of The Golden Compass (2007) and the rest of the fantasy trilogy 'His Dark Materials' by Philip Pullman.

Emma's favorite actresses are Julia Roberts, Renée Zellweger, Sandra Bullock, Rebel Wilson, Goldie Hawn, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Portman and Meryl Streep.

Is the former roommate and current best friend of America's Next Top Model (2003) Cycle 18 winner, Sophie Sumner.

Attended The Dragon School, a renowned preparatory school in Oxford, between September 1995 and July 2001. She then went on to attend Headington School, a private all-girls school, between September 2001 and July 2006.

She enrolled in a Shakespeare course at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts during the summer of 2008.

May 25, 2014) Graduated from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in English literature.

Emma's favorite television shows include Friends (1994), Sex and the City (1998), Girls (2012), Gossip Girl (2007), America's Next Top Model (2003), Mad Men (2007), House of Cards (2013), Pride and Prejudice (1995) and The Crown (2016).

Has two cats, one is named Bubbles and the other is named Domino.

Emma Watson has stated that, since her audition at age 9 through the completion of 8 Harry Potter features by age 22, the hectic, educational experience consumed over half her life.

She was named after her paternal grandmother, born Freda Emma Duerre who, after marriage, became Freda Emma Duerre Watson.

Was in a relationship with Will Adamowicz from 2012-2013. The couple met while studying at Oxford University in 2011.

Took AS levels in English, Geography, Art, and History of Art in May 2007, and has now dropped History of Art to pursue the three A levels.

When she made a promotional appearance on a Dutch TV talk show for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), the interview ended with her joining the Dutch illusion act Magic Unlimited, who sawed her in half.

Has the same birthday as her Beauty and the Beast co-stars: Luke Evans and her Harry Potter collaborator Emma Thompson.

Is taking legal action after private photos of her trying on various outfits were stolen and posted online.

Was ranked #3 on Empire Magazine's '100 Sexiest Movie Stars' list.

She and her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint were named #9 on Entertainment Weekly's Best Entertainers of the Year in 2005.

Ranked as having one of the most beautiful famous faces by "The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World." She was ranked #2 in 2010, #12 in 2009, #27 in 2008, #30 in 2007, and #54 in 2006.

In 2008, BoyDestiny wrote and sang the song "You Got Me Going", also known as The Emma Watson Song.

Sixth highest paid actress of 2017 with $14 million.

Passed her driving test in the U.S. in 2008 and drives a Toyota Prius.

Was named the face of the 2009 Fall/Winter Burberry Campaign.

Radio One's movie critic James King named "Ron Weasley" and "Hermione Granger", played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, as number 4 in his Top 5 Movie Couples list on The Colin and Edith Show (2006).

Emma's style icons include Jean Seberg, Mia Farrow, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger, Jane Birkin, Edie Sedgwick, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Sofia Coppola, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Françoise Hardy, Charlotte Rampling and Michelle Obama.

She served on a jury to select the 2004 teen-aged film-makers' First Light Film Awards. The ceremony was held in London's Leicester Square. Other jurors included Pierce Brosnan, Kenneth Branagh, and Samantha Morton.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $4 million.

Has worked closely with the organic and fair trade pioneer People Tree.

Announced that she would be collaborating with People Tree, a Fair Trade Fashion Company, as a creative advisor for the new Spring/Summer collection.

Emma's favorite filmmakers are Richard Curtis, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Sofia Coppola, Darren Aronofsky, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, Lynne Ramsay, Ang Lee, and Tom Hooper.

Emma Watson has combined/hyperactive type ADHD, for which she has been medicated ever since she was 5.

Has spoken in the United Nations Organization in favour of Women's Rights, including abortion.

Was ranked #8 in Portrait Magazine's 'Top 30 Under 30' (2009). 'Harry Potter' cast mates Evanna Lynch, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe also made the list on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th and 18th place respectively.

Was ranked #15 on Forbes List of The 20 Top-Earning Young Superstars.

Ranked #4 by Portrait Magazine for favorite celebrities by fans' vote. Her Harry Potter co-star Bonnie Wright Had also Ranked #5.

Includes Justin Timberlake and Alanis Morissette among her favorite singers.

She was the front-runner for the role of Yelena Belova in Black Widow (2021), but it was given to Florence Pugh.

Was ranked #3 on Moviefone's '25 Hottest Actors Under 25'.

(April 24, 2011) Her publicist, Vanessa Davies, said that Emma will transfer from Brown University to another school in the Fall of 2011.

Was ranked #3 on 'Yahoo! List of the 10 Most Popular Stars of 2007'.

Was ranked #69 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 women of 2011 list.

Once accidentally mistook Jimmy Fallon for Jimmy Kimmel.

Was born at 6:00pm (GMT + 1 hour) on a Sunday.

Voted #17 on Ask Men's top 99 'most desirable' women of 2012.

Ranked #94 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.

Was Entertainment Weekly's "Entertainer of the Month" for the month of July (2009).

She was ranked #8 on Portrait Magazine's 'Top 30 Under 30' list.

Ranked #29 on Askmen's list of the Top 99 Most Desirable women for 2013.

She was ranked #3 on Teen Vogue's list of the Best Dressed celebrities of 2009.

Ranked #15 in the 2011 FHM Australia of "100 Sexiest Women".

Was ranked #97 on Forbes List of The Celebrity 100.

Ranked #23 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

She was ranked #6 on MSN's list of 'Best Dressed Stars of 2009'.

Was ranked #28 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list.

Ranked #29 in the 2010 FHM UK list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

Was ranked #26 on Empire Magazine's '100 Sexiest Movie Stars' (2007).

Named #1 on 'Sexiest Movie Stars" Poll on Empire Magazine voted by over 50 000 people around the world.

She was considered to voice Coraline Jones in "Coraline", which later went to Dakota Fanning.

Salaries

Beauty and the Beast (2017) - $15,000,000

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) - $15,000,000

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) - $15,000,000

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - $4,000,000

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - $125,000

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - $125,000

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - $125,000

#emma watson

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damn-stark · 2 years

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Chapter 6 Precious girl’s

Tragedy at the Miller’s chapter 6

A/N- We’re close to the end

Warning- ANGST, swearing, blood and wounds, violence, long chapter, fluff :) and talks of suicide

Pairing- Joel Miller x daughter!reader, OC x fem!reader, Henry x Fem!reader

Episode- 1x08 & (part of) 1x09

(If you want to be tagged let me know!)

————

*Crunch. Crunch.*

“Come on…”

*Crunch. Crunch.*

There’s no one out of the house yet, but the stupid rope around your legs and hands isn’t coming off.

“Stupid. AGH.”

*Crunch—*

There’s a falter in the person's approaching footsteps, so you peer back and this time see some grimy man under the door looking at you trying to take off your restraints.

Fuck. Fuck!

Trying to leave with both restraints tied around you wouldn’t get you anywhere so you continue to try and take off the restraints you have around your ankles, while the man runs at you to try and stop you. Which is really a waste of time on his part considering David wanted to kill you. Then again it is really fucking convivent for you that the man decided to spare you for whatever sick fucking reason. YET! You can’t get the restraints off no matter how much you mess with the rope.

“Come on! Come on!” You yell at the rope as it refuses to get off. And nevertheless the man reaches you before the rope can loosen and kicks you down to the ground.

“You aren't going anywhere,” he grumbles and climbs over you, causing you to cry out and tense.

Fear hits you, complete terror that threatens to paralyze you under the dirty man, heart racing panic grows out of the thought of what he was capable of doing as you’re restrained; as his nasty rancid breath swept over your nose and his sweat dripped down on your own sweat covered face. Especially as his eyes darkened as he studied your face.

“Let me go!” You bellow and try to drag yourself back, but he suddenly lays his fingertips on your waist, making your breath hitch and your body freeze.

Rather than being unable to move, pure raging adrenaline strikes you and let’s you swing your hands up his jaw. The man yelps and lifts his hands off you to grab his offended area, so you then don’t fret and pull your legs back and muster enough strength to kick his groin.

The musty man falls back and groans in protest, and out of a desperate attempt you begin to crawl away since your weapons were swiped. Which is why the man ignores his pain and flips around on his stomach to grab your legs and drag you back towards him.

You shriek and quickly hit him back rapidly until he lets you go when he can’t handle anymore hits. And luckily when you were kicking and he was pulling, you managed to loosen your restraints enough on your ankles that the man actually slipped them off when he was pulling, letting you push yourself to your feet.

Instead of running off back to the house you spin around on your heels with the thought to beat the man up and demand him to tell you where they took Ellie, but as you turn to face him you actually see…your dad, it’s actually him, limping and grabbing at his wounded side. And it’s the most heart-warming and reassuring sight, he doesn’t fail to erase all that fear you had just felt.

Furthermore, your dad storms over and kicks the man down with fury. Even once the man is laying back your dad stomps down on the man’s groin before using a rifle that isn’t his to knock out the man that had antagonized you.

“Daddy,” you gasp as you study him in disbelief.

Said man snaps his head towards you and immediately drops the anger that was painted on his features to look at you with a soft look before approaching you.

“Daddy,” you breathe out with a wobbly smile as you finally fully comprehend that he isn’t some vision. “But,” you mumble and look down at his side, catching that his shirt was stained with old blood, but nothing else since he does have his wound covered. “How?”

Your dad closes the gap between you to loosen the restraints off your wrists. “I don’t know how,” he mutters. “I heard Ellie and you and I just knew I couldn’t stay on my ass anymore.”

You let out a breathless chuckle and then look up at his face with a relieved smile. “I thought I almost lost you. I was so scared.”

He manages to rip the rope off your wrists and then snaps his eyes up to meet your gaze. “Not yet.” He says and cups your cheek to turn your head to the side to focus on something on your face. “They cut your cheek but luckily missed your eye.”

With all the panic and fear you didn’t even feel the pain on your face until he pointed it out.

“You’ll be okay,” he assures you and then tilts your head again to meet your gaze. “Did he hurt you in any other way?” He asks.

You shake your head. “No, no,” you tell him.

He lets out a relieved sigh, and you can actually see his shoulders slightly untense before he pulls you in for a surprising embrace that you quickly melt into.

The need to cry grows in the comfort of his arms but there’s one concern that doesn’t let you actually relax, so you pull back but keep your hands on his arms as you face him with anguish. “I’m sorry,” you mewl out. “I’m sorry…I was only trying to help but I lost her,” you ramble out from actual regret and worry, but also an already rooted fear that begins to regrow, making you tense under his hold. “It should’ve been me, I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to go that way. I was just trying to help you…” you trail off as you drop your head.

“Hey, hey,” he calls for your attention and lifts your head so you can once again face him. “I understand. I do. It’s not your fault….”

Your breath hitches and tears now roll out of your eyes at the sound of those exact words.

“Just help me find her. I…” he pauses and glances down, you follow his line of gaze and catch him looking at his wound. “I need your help.”

You sniffle and meet his gaze to nod quickly without hesitation.

“Do you know where they took her?” He asks.

You shake your head. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he assures you. “There’s another way we can find out,” he explains and looks over at the man he had knocked out. “There’s another one of them around here. He should be coming around soon, come.” He let’s go of you so you can follow him to hide behind a fence.

You wait for the other man then, but not for long just like he had said.

“Timothy?” The man calls out for his friend and unknowingly passes your dad and you as he walks in the yard. Once the man spots his friend's limb body on the ground he stops, making you grab your dads rifle and stand up from your crouched position.

“Oh, shit,” the man mutters and walks closer to check on his friend. You quietly sneak towards him and slowly begin to raise the rifle.

Somehow the man seems to feel your presence, or manages to catch you from the corner of his eye so he turns his head and catches you approaching him. Before he can move though you bring down the end of the rifle on his face and knock him out.

“This is what’s gonna happen,” your dad interjects as he pulls away from his previous spot.

You hum to press him while you snatch your backpack off the man that had you; Timothy.

“We’re going to take the two of ‘em, and make sure they’re not facing each other to question—”

“Oh,” you cut him off as you take back your pistol, knife, and lastly snatch back your rifle and both of the men’s bullets as well. Which they had plenty of. “It’s uncle Tommy’s method, yeah?” You turn and face your dad now standing near you. You knew all about that considering you’ve witnessed it multiple times, and done it by yourself once.

Your dad nods and doesn’t waste time to grab the feet of the man you just knocked out. “Grab him by his arms,” he tells you.

You step over Timothy to grab the other man’s arms and help your dad take him inside and tie him up against the wall. After that you proceed to bring Timothy in and tie him up against a chair, all before he could gain consciousness again—Which actually turns out to be quite a hassle since you don’t have time to wait for them to wake up.

Now torture wasn’t something you enjoyed doing, or were proud of, you made sure to avoid it when you could and rely on other tatics. But there are some moments that can only be solved with violence, and a coldness in your persona that you didn’t enjoy demonstrating.

Then again Timothy nor his cult of creeps deserved any kind of soft approach. Which is why it’s easy to shove snow in his face to force him to wake up from his slumber.

“Wha-Where the hell am I?” He yells out and begins to squirm under his restraints.

You walk up behind him to grab a cluster of his oily hair and yank his head up so he can see your dad in front of him.

“You!” Timothy sneers. “You’re that bastard that killed Alec.”

Your dad narrows his glare on him and ignores his comment to get right to the point. “Where’s the girl your friends took?”

Timothy tries to turn his head to look back, but you turn his head back to only face your dad. “I don’t know no girl,” he spats out.

Your dads eyes bounce to you to raise his eyebrow and tilt his head up slightly to share a speechless ‘your turn’.

You smirk and let the man go to slowly stride around him. When you’re in front of him you crouch down so he can meet your gaze. “Really?” You query with feigned curiosity. “You, know no girl?” You shoot him a smirk that makes his scowl falter—“I don’t quite believe you. Tell us again,” you press him one more time. “Where’s the girl David took?”

Timothy scoffs and shakes his head, “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Oh well isn’t he a damn good gaslighter? Fuck him.

From one second to the next your dad then walks over and swings his fist across the man’s face, landing a harsh right hook that makes you flicker your eyes away. Yet you don’t stay looking away, as the man refuses to answer, you watch as your dad violently throws one punch after the other until he can’t handle the pain on his side and steps back, but meets your gaze.

He doesn’t need to say anything for you to know that he wants you to continue hitting the man, he was still silent after all.

“I’ll ask again,” you interject as you step towards Timothy in hopes he’d give in this time. “Where is she?”

There’s no glance, or groan, there was nothing so you clench your hand and swing your fist, landing blow after blow. Each time tapping more and more into your anger over losing Ellie, and what this man wanted to do to you before your dad came.

There even came a point that it felt like you were blinded in some moments, but not because you enjoy it and get lost in the moment, but because even if there were reasons for the use of this violence, actually having to use it wasn’t something you enjoyed doing. You just have to mask that distaste well so the target won’t see you falter. And it’s because of that same dislike why you hoped the man would give in and spill the truth, but no, he keeps denying.

“Leave him alone,” the other man’s voice cuts in from the ground, startling you a bit.

You snap your eyes to the man and form a smirk on your face to intimidate him as you throw Timothy one last punch.

“You’re next,” your dad says and pulls his knife out, making you let out a deep breath and step back.

“Please,” Timothy begs now that the knife is pulled out. “I don’t know any girl.” He shakes his head.

You scoff and glance down at your raw and red bleeding knuckles and only catch the sound of your dad stabbing the knife in Timothy’s flesh instead of actually seeing it.

“Oh, fuck!” Timothy cries out.

“Jesus!” The other man complains, causing you to fist your hands before crossing your arms over your chest to then look up at the bloody scene.

“Marco,” Timothy groans and tries lolls his head back, but your dad quickly grabs him by the hair as he interjects.

“No-no, no-no-no,” your dad mutters and pushes the man’s head back to face him. “He can’t help you. You focus right here. Or I’ll pop your fuckin’ kneecap off.” He shakes his head and presses one more time. “Okay?”

“She’s…” Timothy begins to say between raspy breaths. “She’s alive.”

You feel your eyes brighten as you grow curious. “Where?” You ask and step forward.

However, Timothy hesitates to answer, making your dad twist the knife in the man’s knee. “She asked you a question,” your dad spats and only twists the knife more. “Where?”

“Ah, fuck! Fuck! Ah, the town!”

“What town?!” Your dad bellows.

“Silver Lake,” Timothy answers between pants.

Your dad lets Timothy go now, only making him cry out again. When your dad pulls out the map he had in his pocket, Timothy interjects.

“It’s not a real town name. It’s a resort.”

“A resort?” Your dad questions as if in disbelief to what was said.

And when Timothy doesn’t answer your dad pulls the knife out of his knee, causing him to yell. Your dad takes advantage of that and sticks the end of the knife in Timothy’s mouth.

“You’re gonna point to where we are,” your dad says as he gets the map close to the man. “And where your “resort” is. And it better be the exact same spot your buddy points to.”

“Okay,” Timothy mutters, and doesn’t hesitate now that he’s in pain and scared to point to where your dad said. Once he’s done he spits the knife out, letting your dad take the map whilst Timothy interjects. “That’s where we are.”

Nevertheless, your dad shows you the map and the bloody points Timothy marked down. “This look right to you?”

You squint your eyes and sigh. “David did say it was 2 miles away from here.” You confirm.

“I swear it’s right,” Timothy mutters. “Go ask him. He’ll tell you. I’m not lying.”

Only seconds later your dad catches Timothy off guard and stabs the knife in his stomach, making the other man now protest out of fear.

“No, no!”

Once again you mask your dislike well and look over at him to smirk. And that only makes the man more distressed.

“Shit! Jesus! No!”

Your dad lets go of the knife once Timothy is dead and now heads to the other man.

“Why the fuck did you do that?!” The man yells out. “He told you what you wanted!”

While your dad approaches the other man he first picks up a metal pipe before closing that gap.

“You motherfucker!” The man snaps. “Fuck you. I ain’t tellin’ you shit.”

“It’s okay,” your dad assures him. “I believe him.”

“No, no.”

Your dad lifts up the pipe and then violently swings down, bringing the man to death with one mighty swing.

“Are you okay?” Your dad immediately asks and throws the pipe aside to turn and face you.

You rip your eyes away from the now dead man and nod. “Yeah, just bloody knuckles that’s all,” you mutter and instead walk up to him to check on his wound. “What about you? Is it bleeding?” You ask, and let him lift his shirts to show you his wound.

“Given that they’re shitty stitches,” he says and glances down. “No.”

You narrow your gaze on the wound since you don’t want to touch it with your bloody and dirty hands, and just make sure that he really isn’t bleeding before you leave.

“Okay,” you mumble. “Looks good.” You step back and point to the door. “Let’s go.”

Now to tread through mountains of untouched snow, to witness as the cloudy sky darkened and sent a heavy blizzard that nipped at your uncovered face, and at your fingertips; that made seeing even beyond just a few feet impossible, and made walking that much harder already since your dad could hardly move. You know he was only keeping strong because of Ellie, because of you.

It’s very bad to admit but your dad and you were just navigating by pure instinct. Eventually there was some clearing as stationed cars came to view.

“We must be close!” You yell out over the wind so you can be heard.

Your dad drifts his squinted eyes to you and nods. “Yeah! Keep your eyes open for any lookouts!”

You nod and pick up your pace to walk ahead, you proceed to shield your eyes with your hand first before you slowly lift your head up more to look around for any gleam of a scoop, some kind of suspicious makeshift building, some kind of tower, or people. But there’s nothing.

Until finally there’s houses that you come across. Even then there’s no one, not even surprise attacks, besides the howl of the wind it’s quiet. It should be rather suspicious actually, considering that you also don’t come across any walls either, but then again after remembering that David couldn’t truly keep his people safe, just walking in without struggle wasn’t so surprising. The only problem you face now is figuring out where Ellie might be because the farther you walk in, the more buildings you see.

You can only hope she’s still alive, that creepy David hasn’t hurt her in any way, or that her bite mark hasn’t been revealed. You hoped that you’d hear something, gunshots even, something that’d lead you to her through all this mess. But there continues to be nothing.

Eventually after more walking, your dad grabs your arm to stop you. When you turn to face him he points to some kind of shop at your side, so you follow him but come to see that he immediately leans against the wall for a break….

What if it’s his heart?

“Are you okay?” You ask him and grab his arm as you face him.

He snaps his eyes to you and nods between pants. “I’m fine, I just—” he suddenly stops and his eyes focus on something behind you. You quickly follow his line of gaze and notice a blood trail lead inside the building. Can it be…Ellie’s blood?

It better not. It better not.

Before you can double check with your dad about walking in you turn on your heels and hurry to the door. You spot a lock so you don’t hesitate to break it to be able to walk into the dark room, your dad follows you in and closes the door behind you, welcoming darkness and some kind of warmth; also letting the metallicy smell of blood bombard your nose. Once you both turn your flashlights on you come to recognize that it’s a storage room of some kind; to the side there’s packets on shelves, and past that theirs bundled up clothes and backpacks on a shelf; one that your dad and you quickly recognize at the same time. Yet you don’t want to accept it at first.

There’s just…hard insinuations behind why Ellie’s backpack isn’t with her, all ones that make your guilt heighten as you can’t help but think of the worst.

“It’s hers,” your dad confirms what you tried to deny as he pulls the backpack out of the shelf.

You sigh and swallow thickly. That fucker better not have killed her, he better not have touched her.

“There’s more past there,” your dad breaks the silence and breaks your train of thought to make you follow where he’s pointing his flashlight to, another room behind a glass wall.

This time your dad slowly leads the way to the back room which remains quiet, you look around and try to hear if there can be additional footsteps, but there’s just your dad and you.

Once you’re able to walk into the back room you can’t help but let out a shocked gasp as the first things you see are the horses you came with dead on the floor.

“Come on,” your dad makes sure to pull your attention away from the horses by leading you ahead to find the exit.

Albeit just as he takes a few steps ahead he immediately comes to a sudden stop that you almost miss.

“What’s wrong—” you begin to proclaim, but stop the moment you look past the stacked canoes and catch what made him stop.

“Y/N,” your dad says and steps in front of you. “Don’t look, baby.”

Too late, he was too late to stop you from witnessing the gruesome sight of those headless bodies hanging from the ceiling. He was too late.

Regardless now if he blocked your view you still cover your mouth and shut your eyes. You gag and feel nothing but pure terror. Never in your past years of living through this apocalypse have you…come across uninfected people that…eat other people. Never.

Is that what they wanted to do with you? Is that what they want to do to—No. No, no. You won’t let it happen.

“She,” you mutter out as you move your hand off your mouth and open your eyes away from where the bodies are. “She’s probably not far, come on,” you urge your dad and walk ahead to get away from the gruesome scene.

The moment you walk outside though, the blizzard is worse and the snow is only thicker, obscuring your view that much more. However, even with the drifting wind you can still catch the smell of a nearby fire.

Maybe it’s her? It smells too much for it to be some chimney fire. So without hesitation you follow the smell, and your dad follows you without question.

Luckily you keep not running into any sort of trouble, it makes the resort almost seem abandoned. Plus the further you continue to follow the smell of smoke, the stronger it gets, and the further your heart sinks to your stomach out of concern that Ellie was caught in whatever fire is burning close by.

What would happen if you lost her too?

You can’t even think of the possibility. You ignore that thought as best as you can and only pick up your pace, coming close to the edge of the resort and spotting a lake just past a snowy field. The smell of the fire gets stronger, especially towards the side of you, so you turn the street and come face to face with flames breaking out the windows of some restaurant.

You want to get as close as you can to be able to see inside just in case, but alas, just across from you you spot Ellie walking out from the other side of the restaurant. Your dad spots her too and without saying anything you share a relieved look before he breaks away from you to grab her.

“No!” Ellie screams out the moment your dad touches her. “Get off of me!” She tries to fight away his touch, causing you to immediately halt in your steps just before you can also approach her, and just watch out of concern, confusion, and most of all guilt as to what happened.

“Get off!” Ellie keeps yelling out even as your dad turns her to face him.

“It’s me,” he tries to assure her, but she loses balance and falls on her knees and begins to hit him.

“Get—” she cuts herself and slowly stops fighting, but keeps hyperventilating.

“Hey,” your dad tells her softly as he holds her jaw. “Look.”

You take a step towards them on the ground and feel your breath hitch as you see blood splattered all over face, and the look of utter terror and shock written all over her face.

“It’s me…it’s me. It’s okay,” your dad consoles her as she studies him.

“He,” she mumbles, but doesn’t finish what she’s going to say for the first time, instead she pulls your dad in an embrace that he returns.

“It’s okay,” he keeps telling her as she cries into his shoulder. “It’s okay, baby girl. I got you. I gotchu.”

Besides feeling completely relieved to see her alive, you’re also hit with more guilt that strangles your heart. She’s feeling this distress, this agony because you failed, because you couldn’t keep her safe. She got taken because you failed her, she’s crying because of you. She’s hurt because of you. David hurt her because of you.

You let out a shaky breath and finally approach her as she pulls away from your dads embrace, and interject quietly. “I’m sorry.”

Ellie slowly lifts her gaze and watches you get on your knees by her and your dad.

“I’m sorry,” you repeat and slowly cup her cheek to wipe away the splattered blood that was on her face, while you cup her shoulder with your other hand. “I’m sorry.”

Ellie slowly places her hand on your arm as she studies you. And it seems that she actually looks relieved to see you, her eyes are soft as she holds your gaze, and her breathing keeps calming down instead of rising more.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” you mutter in a quivering voice. “I’m sorry, Ellie.”

More tears stream out of her eyes, and she then lets out a small breath before she surprises you by pressing her forehead against yours.

You tense up, but only because she catches you by surprise. She should be mad, furious at you, but she isn’t. She isn’t, she’s relieved to see you. Knowing that lets you close your eyes and bask in the comfort that she’s okay, that she’s not gone too.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” you whisper. “I was so scared.” You pull back but only to wrap her in an embrace. Ellie hugs you back and presses her face against the crook of your neck, making you hold onto her tighter.

She doesn’t say anything, nor do you expect her to, you just hold onto her and feel grateful that she’s okay, that you didn't get lost again, and still have her; your unexpected light in your heart that Sarah had left dark.

——

*SOMETIME LATER IN SPRING*

“I had a weird dream the other night,” you mention to your dad as you lean against a kitchen cabinet whilst he searches the other cabinets.

“Okay,” he says. “Go on, tell me about it.”

You scratch the back of your neck and sigh. “So I’m on this big plane that’s full of people, and everyone is screaming and yelling ‘cause the plane is coming down, right.”

He hums and begins to search closer to where you are, so you peel away from your spot and shift to the middle of the RV’s hall.

“So I walk to the cockpit, open the door and there’s no pilot. I try to use the controls, but I obviously have no clue how to fly a plane, and,” you continue and watch him find two cans of food. “Right before we crash I wake up.” You draw out a deep breath and sit down on the bed. “I’ve never been on a plane. Isn’t that weird?”

Your dad scoffs softly and then turns to face you with the cans of food in his hands. “Well you know, dreams are weird.”

You bounce your eyebrows and nod. “Yeah.”

“But if you’re still scared of planes, then it makes sense,” he says and walks to you.

You press your hands on the edge of the bed and lean back as you watch him sit next to you. “Terrified. The few times I’ve been in a car I got really scared that suddenly a plane was going to come out of nowhere and crash near me. That’s why,” you nod. “Once we make out of this shit and they’re back on the sky I’m not getting on one. Never. Like what if we crash and explode, what then?”

Your dad shrugs and glances at the end of the bed. “You die.”

You blink rapidly in disbelief and turn your head to look at him, he feels your stare and slowly meets your gaze with a smirk.

“Simple logic,” he deadpans.

“Simple logic,” you mock him in a deep voice.

He begins to narrow his gaze and gets all serious, while you begin to smile. But it’s only for a minute because then you both begin to laugh.

Once you both calm down he hands you the cans he had found in the cabinets. You proceed to turn the can to read what it is, which to your surprise is something good.

“Mhm, 20 year old Chef Boyardee.” Your stomach growls, but it still isn’t time to eat so you hold back from opening it and hand it back to him instead. “My babysitter used to love cooking that for me. And when you had late nights at work that's what Sarah would cook for us.” You smile.

“He was always reliable,” he jokes.

You giggle and nod. “Still is, apparently.” You sigh, and look around the bed you’re sitting on and spot a broken guitar.

“She’s been…” your dad pauses. “Extra quiet today,” he points out what you had noticed as well—Well correction, that she’s been quieter than the other days because after leaving creepy David’s resort you noticed Ellie hasn’t been herself since.

“Has she talked to you?” He asks.

You glance down at your hands and sigh deeply. “No,” you admit but it’s not because you don’t want to, but well you understand what she might be going through. It’s not easy just bringing it up. “I,” you continue and blink to look at him. “I’m giving her space. I told her that when she wants to talk she can come talk to me.” It doesn’t take too much context to know what David wanted out of Ellie, you saw the creepy way he looked at her.

“It’s hard,” you add and turn your head to glance out the back window. “It takes a toll on you. I can’t say what she feels exactly, but as long as she knows you’re there for her that’s good, it’s the little things that matter.” You look at your dad and offer him a small smile before getting off the bed.

“Have you,” he adds but stops, and you hear him swallow thickly. “Have you been through something similar?”

You stop just past the kitchen and clench your hand into a fist and begin to gently hit your thigh. He’s just curious, worried, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it happened a while ago now.

Still, it’s never easy.

“Uhm, yeah,” you whisper. “When I was out on my own.” You peer at him over your shoulder and see a deep and sad frown on his face, and also notice his eyes are watery.

“You don’t have to worry,” you assure him. “I’m okay. I’ve,” you sigh. “Healed. She will too, just give her time.” You continue walking out of the Rv, but before you can walk down the stairs to get out, you point to the door. “Come on, let’s get goin’. The faster we do this thing the faster we get outta here.” You rush down the steps and jump down the last one, and immediately get greeted back by the brisky spring wind. Which in truth, it’s a lot more refreshing and better than the cruel and bitter winter winds, plus you don’t have to be wearing so much weight anymore either.

AND! The flowers are able to grow now, which is the best thing that you look forward to all the time.

“Ellie,” your dad calls out once he’s out of the RV. But nothing, she doesn’t respond or look back to acknowledge him. “Ellie,” he calls again and walks past you to call out for the girl again. “Ellie.”

Said girl finally looks back and meets your dads gaze from the back of the truck she was waiting on.

“D’ya hear me?” He asks her.

“No,” she says the truth. “What?”

You grab onto your backpack straps and try to read her face, but she’s a bit too far to get anything.

“Well,” your dad says. “I found this in there.” He points to the RV. “Beefaroni. Chef Boyardee.” He says as he lifts one of the cans to show her.

“Oh, cool,” Ellie responds with little energy.

Your dad walks closer to her, so you slowly follow behind him.

“And have you ever played this?” He asks her and shows off a box of some game you didn’t see him grab in the RV. “Boggle? It’s a word game.”

“Mh-hmm,” Ellie shakes her head.

“If you wanna beat me at somethin’ it would be this. Just don’t let y/n play, she's a cheater.” He scoffs in amusement and glances at you.

You shoot back a smile, and then tilt your head a bit to the side and notice Ellie simply nods as a response when he expected a witty response, when he wanted more. It’ll take her time, but it’s good to see him trying.

“Well, all right then,” he changes the subject. “We’re gettin’ close.”

Ellie nods. “Mm-hmm.”

“Hospital that way,” your dad points back, making Ellie look over her shoulder. “May be the one we’re lookin’ for.”

“Got it,” Ellie says and gets off the back of the truck now, letting your dad and you walk off so he can get his backpack he left close to the RV.

When Ellie catches up he pulls the rifle off his shoulder and looks to Ellie. “Take this for me?” He asks and hands her his rifle as he puts the stuff away. And as he does you slowly drift your eyes to the corner to look at Ellie, noticing her lose her gaze on the horizon ahead.

You want to ask her a simple question, but you also don’t want to be too pushy.

No matter how much you understand her desire to be quiet and keep to herself, you have to keep telling yourself that it takes time. That you can’t take her pain away no matter how much you hate seeing her look so upset and having her be so quiet.

Nevertheless, your dad takes his gun back and you all continue moving. This time you’re the one that interjects just to let her know you’re thinking of her.

“I’ve been thinkin’ now that the weathers gettin’ warmer, once we get back to Jackson we can go down to the lakes near there. I’ve heard that you can’t swim,” you mention and look at her, catching only a glimpse of her gaze. “I can teach you. Or we can. Would you wanna learn?” You look over at her again and wait.

However, Ellie doesn’t answer, making your dad cut in. “Ellie?”

Said girl blinks and looks at the both of you to query. “Hm? Oh, yeah.” She nods. “That’d be great.”

You offer her a soft smile and nod back. “Cool.” You then glance ahead to see the hospital sign that you follow before looking back at Ellie and noticing her lingering gaze.

She does look away when you turn, but she does a double take and parts her lips a bit. You keep walking, and wait as if you noticed nothing in hopes that would help her build the courage to say what you see her take her breath for. But no, she just slowly breathes out and remains quiet.

It’s okay.

“Once we get there,” your dad breaks the silence as you keep walking towards the hospital. “Is there going to be anyone you know?”

You let out a deep sigh and shrug. “Marlene, I don’t know about any others though. Besides, most of the fireflies I was close with are in Jackson, all the others well they’re gone. We’ll see.”

“Do you have a firefly tattoo, or what?” He asks, making you roll your eyes to the side to meet his gaze.

“No,” you answer. “Why would I?”

He smirks and shrugs. “Seems like you would. Maybe the catchphrase on your arm or somethin’.” He looks over at Ellie hoping she’d break a smile at what he said, but she remains lost in her own thoughts.

“My knuckles,” you joke and put your fists out. “One side one half and the other side the other half of the phrase.” You snicker and can’t help but glance over at Ellie too. But still nothing.

“It’d be stupid.”

“Yeah,” you agree with your dad and meet his gaze, he then looks to Ellie and back to you to pass a worried look that you respond with an assuring one as you pat his arm.

After that silence returns, this one is long since you do try to remain quiet when you enter the city, so as to not gain unwanted attention. Albeit the city is quiet, the deeper and deeper you get in that silence never falters. You would’ve expected some infected.

Then again if the Fireflies are really here then that would explain the lack of infected, and other survivors out—Still you can’t assure yourselves that there is no danger, you just can’t see that from the ground.

“Okay, so this is what I’m thinking—”

“Cut through that building to get around that stuff,” Ellie cuts your dad off, and refers to the rubble straight ahead blocking your path. “Find the skyscraper, go up and look around.”

You smirk in amusement since that’s exactly what he wants to do. And what you want to do too.

“Uhh, actually, this time I was thinkin’ we blast our way through that rubble,” he obviously jokes around, but you still snap your gaze his way. “I found some dynamite in that RV back there.”

“Really?” She questions him, making you smile softly as to how gullible she became when she’s with him.

“No,” he lets her down. “So we’re gonna cut through that building, find a skyscraper, go up and look around. But I had you goin’, didn’t I?” He queries as he looks back at her.

You watch her too and see her meet his gaze and nod. Not much, but it is something that you and your dad will take.

Anyhow, you now end up finding an easy way into the unfinished construction building that’s wrapped with sound kind of colored sheets.

“So,” you break the silence as you walk in after Ellie and your dad. “What are the covers for, huh?” You ask your dad as you study the orange covers.

“Uh, to prevent falling debris and dust, it was a safety hazard for tall buildings like these,” your dad answers.

“Huh,” you nod. “Makes sense. Always thought they were big presents. When I was a kid of course.”

Your dad peers back and snickers. “You sure about that one.”

You slide your eyes over to him and shoot him a pointed glare. “I'm sure.”

He shoots you a teasing smile and looks back ahead as you slowly continue cutting your way through. “Look at this place though,” he adds. “Talk about bad luck. Military drops bombs…not one of them hits the building you’re trying to demolish.”

“I think what’s even worse luck,” you add to his comment as you all come to a halt in front of more rubbal. “Wasting so much time on this and having it be bombed.” You scoff and look up in hopes there’s some kind of way up to get a better look, but, no, nothing.

“No way up,” your dad points out.

You sigh and turn away from the gap. “I guess we have shitty luck too. Long way it is.” You begin walking away from the pair, and spot a fenced up area you immediately head to in hopes there’s something there you can use.

The others follow, you can hear their approaching footsteps, and they’re easy to identify too; the heavier and faster paced ones are your dad, and the slower and softer ones are Ellie.

“Here,” you point out to the pair and pull the fence open to walk in. “Look,” you point to the weird metal tower thing as you quicken your pace to approach it. “We can climb up the edge, and…” you trail off and step back to look up. “….Maybe hop a bit to reach the top, but I think we can do it. Yeah?” You ask and look at your dad walking around the tower.

“Or,” he says and steps back to point at the floor above. “We use that ladder.”

You speed walk over to his side and follow his line of gaze to now spot that same ladder.

You scoff. “Yeah, or that.” You put your hands on your hips and share the idea that comes to mind. “We can get you up there, Ellie, you can drop that ladder down, maybe go through that way.”

“Mhm-hmm,” your dad agrees. “Come on, Kiddo, I’ll give you a boost.”

You turn around to look at Ellie, catching your dad mirror your actions. Albeit you come to notice that she isn’t facing either of you, instead she’s focused on some ancient piece of paper that was left behind. So out of concern for her lack of attention you let your dad approach her instead of you since she has known him the longest, and right now maybe she does need his comfort more.

“You okay?” He asks her.

Ellie looks back at him and responds. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“It’s just you kinda seem extra quiet today, so,” your dad says to her.

“Oh…I’m sorry.”

Oh precious Ellie.

“No, it’s fine,” your dad assures her. “Did you hear what we—”

“Yeah,” Ellie cuts him off. “Boost. Got it,” she nods, and now breaks away from her spot to follow your dad on some wooden pallets.

As to not get in the way you watch first as your dad helps Ellie climb to the floor above. After some struggle you see her get up as you now walk up on the wooden pallets, and wait for her to push the ladders down for your dad and you.

However, just as she’s about to hand them to your dad and you, she freezes for a bit and then interjects with what sounds to be, wonder. “Whoa!” Ellie then lets the ladder fall down, and so as to not be hit by the fucking metal ladder you have to jump back off the pallets.

“God damn it, Ellie!” Your dad exclaims as you flinch and press yourself against a pole.

“Shit,” you exhale between heavy breaths.

Your dad snaps his head to you and looks at you with a mix of concern and annoyance due to what just happened. “You okay?” He asks.

You push yourself away from the pole and nod. “Yeah,” you nod. “Missed.”

He looks up again, and you bend down to pick up the ladder.

“You stay there!” Your dad yells out at Ellie as he helps you get the ladder up on the wooden pallets.

Once it’s placed against the floor, and steady on the wood, he helps you back up so you can begin climbing up first.

“You guys gotta see this!” Ellie yells out with what you detect seems to be excitement. Which is good? This is a sketchy place so you’re not so sure if you want to get your hopes up.

That’s especially even more true to you when you finally get on the other floor and spot a very odd large shadow passing by from the outside.

“Ellie?!” You yell out as you hear her running footsteps up the stairs.

“Up here!” She exclaims as you only hear get further. Of course you and your dad follow her, and there was another fucking large shadow that Ellie is chasing.

“Ellie,” your dad calls out.

“C’mon,” she encourages and only ends up running ahead, leaving the both of you behind.

You take one last glance outside before picking up your pace and jogging after her up even more stairs that lead to what seems to be like the back of the building. She seems to stop just past the bare door frame, so you slow down as you follow her, and notice the greenery that now trickles around the hole on the wall. And just past it is Ellie standing in front of another hole that overlooks the vivid green field outside.

“Ellie,” you mutter with concern between pants.

However, once you walk past that gap on the wall and take in more of what lays past that hole Ellie stands in front of, you come to a sudden halt and feel a breath escape past your lips as you come face to face with what Ellie had been after, that “creepy” shadow that had been walking around the building; a giraffe. It’s a giraffe.

You smile at the sight of it, but still find a hard time believing if it’s real or not. Ellie is seeing it too, but you still can’t believe what’s in front of you. It’s just….so beautiful, so calm as it eats the greenery that drapes over the gap on the wall. It’s not afraid or cautious about either of you. It’s just there, living.

When your dad catches up, and you see him stop beside you from the corner of your eye, you have to ask for reassurance. “You’re seeing what I am right?”

He hums in agreement, and that’s all you need to finally break away from where you had frozen to slowly approach Ellie and the giraffe.

“Don’t scare it,” Ellie whispers to you softly.

You beam at the giraffe but assure her in a sweet voice. “I won’t.” You get closer to the edge and carefully pull off a thin green branch.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asks you.

You peer over at her and smile. “It’s all right. Come here, hurry. C’mon.” You wave her over with the leaves in your hand.

Ellie offers you a small smile. Finally after months she smiles at you as she takes the leaves you offer her to feed it to the giraffe. It’s a small moment, and you know this won’t just wash away all her pain, but it’s a sliver of hope, a hope you notice she lost at that resort, it’s a hope that you see rejuvenate her.

“Hey there,” Ellie greets the giraffe before she feeds it more leaves and giggles at the purity of it.

You grin brighter and glance over at your dad, who now stands nearby, and notice a happy smile on his face too as he watches Ellie smile, and hears her laugh. And that only makes your heart even more content.

“Come on now,” he encourages you as he meets your gaze. “Here,” he says and hands you more leaves.

You let out a nervous laugh and take a step closer to the giraffe to offer it what you hold.

At first it’s too busy eating what Ellie offers it so it pays no mind to you, not until Ellie’s done. After that it steps towards you and sticks out it’s long dark tongue to take what you have to offer it without hesitation, no fear; it actually manages to brush its tongue on your fingers, making you giggle at the very odd feeling.

The giraffe stays near you after, so you build up the courage and slowly reach over to pat the side of its face.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asks.

You drift your gaze to her and grin brighter. “It’s okay. It’s not scared.” It’s soft, and it’s jaw feels funny as it moves under your hand. You return to look at the giraffe and feel your smile soften for a moment before it falters as a memory resurfaces as you watch the beautiful creature.

"I decided what I want to have in Wyoming…a giraffe."

Tears fill your eyes, but they’re not out of sadness, not this time, not here as you pull your hand back from the giraffe and remember Sam and Henry. No, this time the tears are happy tears.

They would’ve loved seeing this, especially Sam. And Henry would’ve been happy seeing his brother happy. He would’ve been happy seeing you happy….

That’s it…isn’t it? All this time, all these months you’ve been devastated, but they wouldn’t have wanted that. Henry wouldn’t want you overthinking his death, he wouldn't want you sad.

This giraffe is that sign you’ve been looking for ever since you lost them, that’s it’s okay to move on and not blame yourself anymore. They’re gone and you’ll never see them again, but at least they don’t have to live in fear, or in pain, they’re okay. You won’t ever see them again, you have no picture or any part of them to remember them by, but you’ll never forget them, you’ll never forget Henry or the peace he brought you. You'll never forget that thanks to Henry you learned to love again.

You’ll have them with you forever. You know that now.

“Aw,” Ellie breaks you from your train of thought. “Where’s she going?” She wonders.

You focus back on what’s going on and see the giraffe walk off, and Ellie run after it from the inside, once again leaving your dad and you behind.

“Come on, come on, come on, come on!” She encourages your dad and you.

You sigh and shift around, but stop and gasp as you're surprised by your dads gaze on you.

“You okay?” He asks softly.

You sniffle and offer him a soft smile. “Yeah,” you assure him with sincerity. “I’m better.”

He offers you a gentle smile and nods in comprehension before he grabs his rifle off the ground and begins to walk after Ellie, whilst you face the field, the city, and the blue sky ahead to pull out the sun pin that you still kept in your pocket.

You brush your thumb over the sun and smile.

“You comin’?” Your dad queries from the other side.

You lift your head and nod. “Yeah,” you agree and turn away from the light to join him further in the dim room.

When you make it outside, Ellie is there, leaning over the cement patio wall, watching the giraffes wandering around on the green field. You join her at one side while your dad falls by her other.

“So…” your dad interjects. “Is it everything you hoped for?” He asks her.

You slide a backpack strap off your shoulder to pull the backpack in front of you and finally pin the sun pin on the material after holding it in your pocket for months.

“It’s got its ups and downs,” you hear Ellie say. “But you can’t deny that view.”

When you finish, you hook the backpack back on to then prop your elbows on the cement railing, and rest your chin on your hands to watch the view Ellie made you fond of.

“Look, I don’t know exactly where this hospital is—”

“Yeah, we’ll find it,” she cuts him off before he can finish.

“Sure, it’s just—” your dad says in a tone that makes you shift your gaze to him—“maybe there’s nothin’ bad out there, but so far there’s always been somethin’ bad out there.”

Ellie shrugs. “We’re still here though,” she counters.

“I know. I’m only saying there’s risk.”

Hasn’t there always been?

You narrow your gaze slightly as you continue to hear what he says to say.

“We don’t have to do this. I just—I want you to know that.”

You pick up your head, and slowly stand straight up whilst you let your hands rest on the railing.

“What do you mean?” Ellie asks what you were going to ask too. “What else are we supposed to do?”

“Nothin’. We just go back to Tommy’s. We forget about the whole damn thing.”

No matter how much you just want to go home with Ellie now and not meet those fireflies to not run that risk of losing her, you understand that it falls to her. It’s her choice, your dad might be worried for her, but he can’t make her change her mind.

“After all we’ve been through…” Ellie doesn’t take a moment to think of her answer, she just does. “Everything I’ve done…” she pauses now, letting you step back to be able to watch the both of them. “….it can’t be for nothing. I know you mean well. I know you wanna protect me. You have. And when we’re done, we’ll go wherever you want,” she says and looks between your dad and you now. “Tommy’s. Sheep ranch. The moon.” She smiles.

You mirror her gesture, while your dad lets out a soft chuckle.

“I’ll follow the both of you guys anywhere you go,” she continues to add, and offers you a smile.

You shoot her a small grin in return.

“But there’s no halfway with this,” she continues. “We finish what we started.”

Your dad stays quiet, he hesitates for a brief moment before he nods in agreement. Ellie then nods back, and you interject. “It’s your choice, Ellie, I’ll support it no matter what. You say we go, we go. If we stay, we stay and see it through.”

Ellie meets your gaze and offers you a small smile. “Thank you,” she says softly.

“Of course.”

She turns to face the scenery for a moment before she turns away to walk to the exit door. You follow her and don’t realize your dad has lingered back until you’re at the door.

Hopefully, he understands that it’s her choice and her choice alone. He can’t defy her with something she deems so significant, he’d only hurt her if he does. He needs to understand that. Let's hope he does when it comes down to it.

Nevertheless, the silence follows and the serenity lingers every step of the way back down to the ground. Yet honestly, the calmness of Salt Lake City is concerning.

There isn’t infected? Other groups of people? Yes you’ve only traveled a small fraction of the city, but there should be something out there.

“Was this a FEDRA thing?” Ellie asks as you come across an old abandoned medical camp.

“No. Army.” Your dad answers her, whilst you fall behind to spin around to look around as you continue to walk after them.

“They put these places up all around the first few days after the outbreak,” you hear your dad continue to explain. “Emergency medical camps. Obviously didn’t last.”

You were young then but you do remember coming to one of these. Unlike other people who’ve forgotten their childhood, you still remember yours.

“They had me in one just like this.”

“With Sarah and y/n?” Ellie asks, making you turn back around out of curiosity.

“No,” your dad shakes his head. “Sarah was gone already.”

“Oh.”

You sigh and hold onto your backpack straps as you now continue to look around.

“So what was wrong with you?” Ellie probes.

“It’s for this,” your dad says, and as you look over at him again you see him point to the scar on his head; one you remember seeing on him suddenly one day.

“Ah, the guy who shot and missed,” Ellie adds. “I figured that would’ve happened later.”

“No. Second day.”

You blink and focus on him whilst he comes to a slow stop.

“Well,” Ellie continues. “I’ve gotta hand it to the Army people. They were way better at stitching you up than I was.”

You stop too when you realize it wasn’t just a quick break, and shift your stance to look at him.

“It was me,” your dad adds, causing you to slowly loosen your hold around your backpack straps and blink in disbelief to what you heard.

“I was the guy who shot and missed,” he says and pulls the rifle off his shoulder to sit down on one of the cement roadblocks. Ellie takes a seat by him, but you linger where you stand as you unravel the dark meaning behind his words.

“There’s no story,” he continues softer. “Sarah died, and I couldn’t see the point anymore...”

Your breath hitches softly whilst your eyes begin to water now. As your heart, well that immediately sinks to your stomach.

But you need to hear him out before your emotions get the best of you as your mind races with doubt and guilt.

“I failed to keep her safe…”

Keep listening. Keep listening…

“So how could I keep y/n safe if I had failed her sister.” He says and slowly looks over at you. “I didn’t want to be the cause of her death too, simple as that.”

You let out a slow exhale but feel as if your heart stayed sunken now that you know he wanted to…kill himself out of tremendous guilt for losing Sarah, insecurity over not feeling strong enough to keep you safe, and grief for Sarah. You were being stupid just seconds ago with the poisonous feelings that began to resurface, those of not being enough for him.

It’s stupid. You were insecure. Stupid.

“And I wasn’t scared either. I was ready,” your dad continues to say. Now you break away from your spot and sit at his other side.

“I couldn’t have been more ready. When I—” he pauses and briefly drops head, before looking up again to continue. “When I…went to pull the trigger, I-I flinched.” He huffs out softly. “Still don't know why.” He looks over at you, so you gently caress his arm to comfort him.

“Anyway,” he goes on. “The reason I’m telling you all this—”

“I know why you’re tellin’ me all this,” Ellie cuts him off.

“Yeah,” he nods. “I reckon you do.”

It’s his way of comforting her, which is good, it’s sweet. As awkward as you feel their interaction to be.

“So time heals all wounds, I guess,” Ellie breaks the short silence that had built.

“It wasn’t time that did it,” he lets her know and meets her gaze, whilst he lifts his arm you’re holding so he can instead grab your hand.

More silence follows as he holds Ellie’s softened yet timid gaze. She nods very softly in what you understand to be comprehension, so he then looks over at you to meet your gaze so you’d know he was also referring to you.

You offer him a soft smile as your gaze gleams with tears, and then rest your head on his shoulder. As Ellie remains quiet he then looks over at her again.

“Well, I’m glad that…that didn’t work out,” you hear her interject in a quivering tone.

Your dad nods. “Me too.” He proceeds to sniffle and drops his head to wipe his eyes—or really the tears he couldn’t hold back.

It’s still quite odd seeing him cry since he wasn’t one to show it before. Not until Sarah died. He’s always tried to be strong in front of his girls. You admire that, truly from the bottom of your heart, but seeing him not hold back now is also quite refreshing, it’s okay. You let him know that with a gentle squeeze of his hand, whilst you also notice Ellie sitting there awkwardly just watching him.

It’s quite funny though that they’re both like that.

“We should…probably loot the place for supplies,” Ellie cuts off the silence. “We wouldn’t want to desperately search for some…again.”

“Yep.” Your dad agrees.

You smile down at the interaction, and then get up after Ellie to break off to a tent behind her.

Since there isn’t much left in the tents your search should be quick, but you use this time to finally share your own words of comfort.

“It gets better,” you say without referring to what exactly because she knows. “With time the pain…it becomes less, until it fades away when you least expect it.”

Ellie stops rummaging and quietly interjects. “Does it?”

You nod. “It does. Right now it seems like you’ll never forget. And you won’t…that’s the worst thing, but as time passes it becomes only a distant memory.” You find bandages in a drawer and twist your body around to shove it in your backpack. “It’ll feel like you can never be yourself, like…” you pause. “Like you’ll never recover what was lost.” You sigh and turn around completely to walk over to a stack of boxes beside the drawers she was searching in.

“But you do, you are.” You smile faintly. “Slowly, in your own way, you’ll find the light in the void. And my dad and I will be here every step of the way. I’ll be here for you.”

Ellie closes the drawer, and you hear her sigh before she breaks her silence. “Thank you.” She sighs shakily and gently hits her knuckles against the cabinet. “I appreciate it. You make it…easier,” she whispers and then glances over at you.

You meet her gaze and offer her a soft smile that she mirrors. She doesn’t add anything on the matter after that, nor do you, so instead you walk over to the drawers on the desk that’s in the tent.

“By the way,” you interject in a much uplifted tone. “I like that scar on your eyebrow. It’s very cool.”

Ellie scoffs, and you can practically hear her smirk. “Thanks,” she redirects.

You yank the top drawer open, and come to find a small bottle of vodka rolling to the front. “Cool!” You muse and pull it out.

“What?” Ellie queries and falls beside you rather quickly.

“Vodka,” you point at the words fading on the label. “Not my favorite, but it hits the spot.”

“Can I try it?” Ellie asks and reaches for the bottle in your hand. Albeit you quickly smack her hand away.

“Ow!” She complains and pulls her hand back to rub it as if it truly hurt. “What was that for?”

You meet her gaze and shake your head. “You can’t drink, you’re not old enough.”

Ellie furrows her eyebrows and snaps back. “I’ve drank before. You saw me.”

You also choose to put the bottle in your pack, and then turn to begin heading out. “So what?” You shrug. “That was then, and now I’m tellin’ you that you’re too young. Plus, you’ll just ruin your liver, you’re too young for that. Try next year.”

“I thought you were supposed to be cool,” she retorts sassily while she follows you out of the tent.

You smirk. “I am cool.” You correct her and pick up your pace as you spot your dad waiting for the both of you where you had been before.

“You know what I’m in the mood for?” Your dad interjects now that you continue to try and find the hospital.

“What?” Ellie asks before you could.

“Shitty puns,” he says.

Ellie’s lips pull to an immediate smile. “Oh-ho-ho.” She muses and slides a strap of her backpack off to take out her own pun book, and quickly flip to a page. “People are making apocalypse jokes like there’s no tomorrow.”

Your dad smacks his lips, and you squint your gaze.

“Too soon?” Ellie questions.

“No,” he shakes his head. “It’s topical.”

Ellie laughs and then focuses back on the page. “Oh, I love this one. Moon rocks taste better than earth rocks. Why?” She asks and bounces her gaze between your dad and you.

“Why?” You press with a half smile.

“‘Cause they’re meteor,” Ellie gives the answer to a pun you knew, but let her tell regardless.

“Oh, that’s terrible,” your dad says, whilst you giggle.

“Fuck you,” Ellie counters. “That was actually good.”

“It was, I like it,” you back her up.

“That-that’s a zero outta 10,” your dad adds, making you roll your eyes in a lighthearted way.

“All right. All right,” Ellie says, and then continues on to read another pun. “What did the green grape say to the purple grape? Breathe, you idiot.”

You snort and nod. “That was a 3 outta 10. What do you say?” You ask and look at your dad, noticing his smile.

“Yeah,” he nods. “I think you’re right.”

“Seven minimum,” Ellie tries to plead her case. “I mean,” she points at you. “You snorted.”

“I’ll give it a five,” your dad assures her. “Five outta 10.”

“That’s good,” You nod. “That’s the best it gets.”

“Five?” Ellie repeats.

“Yes,” you agree. “Five—” you cut yourself off immediately the moment you hear something small fall on the ground behind you. Ellie and your dad hear it too, so when you look to the ground your smile falls and your eyes widen as you notice that it's a bomb.

It’s so sudden and out of nowhere that you can’t help but freeze out of disbelief. Luckily your dad throws his arms around Ellie and you and throws all of you to the ground as the bomb goes off and releases a thick cloud of white smoke.

However, it’s that same simple bomb of smoke that causes your ears to ring, and your vision to blur as your mind begins to spin and hurt.

Was it the fireflies, or another group?

“Y/N?” You can identify the muffled voice of Ellie, it sounds distant. “Joel?”

You slowly pick up your head off the ground and catch a glimpse of her right by you actually, she’s not far.

“Ellie,” you croak, and then cough out as the smoke burns your throat and clouds your lungs. You lift your hand up weakly, but try to reach over for her regardless.

Ellie notices your hand and begins to reach for you too, but before you can touch she's suddenly being picked off the ground.

“Joel?! Y/N?!” Ellie cries out as she’s now out of view.

“Ellie,” you can barely hear your dad call out.

“Joel!” Ellie’s cries gets louder and full of panic. You try to look back at her, but as you do you see some man in a vest over you.

“Wait,” you try to plead, and lift your hand to stop whatever he wants to do, but he doesn’t hesitate and lifts his rifle over your head before he brings it down, and brings darkness.

——

*SOMETIME LATER*

Pain is the first thing that you feel, it’s throbbing and radiates all around your head, but, there is one spot to the side that the pain is sharp and hurts the worst.

There’s a chiller breeze you feel, making goosebumps grow on your skin. As your eyes slowly flutter open, a bright light from above blinds you, causing you to lift your hand to shield your eyes.

However, it’s at that moment as your eyes grow accustomed to the light above, as your daze fades away that you notice rundown bare white walls surrounding you. You’re on a small couch, and there’s no one with you. Not your dad, or Ellie.

“What the hell?” You grumble now and sit up quickly as you’re now riddled with fear.

Where is it that you are exactly? It’s an office you’re in, you notice the desk, the window on the wall, and the bookshelf, but where is this office? Where’s your dad and Ellie? It’s too quiet

“Don’t worry,” a voice startles you. “You’re safe.”

You snap your attention to the front of the room where the voice comes from, and gasp the moment you recognize the women standing against the door.

That’s right you were ambushed. But she wasn’t there.

“It’s nice to see you again,” she says.

You scoff and shake your head. “Marlene,” you greet coldly.

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