#tloufanfiction

[saintgoths]

ᴠᴇʜᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ

POSSESSIVE!JOEL X SIREN!READER - VEHEMENT.

[PART SIX TO THE SIREN SERIES].

WORD COUNT - 4,613.

RATING - 18+. [infidelity, angst, joel being the bold and petty person he is and multiple hardcore sex].

SUMMARY - both you and Joel could feel the building intensity between the two of you, even after the intense and bitter history the two of you had shared, the both of you openly long for each other but there are two obstacles in the way, yourself and Shiloh.

if you want to join a the last of us/joel miller discord here you go! 𓆩♡𓆪

feedback would be appreciated!

As the pair were hungry, the two rode out of the woods in awkward silence, even though it had normally taken you longer to become ravenous compared to Humans, you had lately arrived to your limit. You had been in front of Joel, and comically the both of your stomachs had been faintly growling, in spite of the years of wandering around the world specifically due to the outbreak, living in Jackson had weakened both their endurance for food.

You had turned around to look at him, nonetheless of the feelings you demonstrated the night before, you had adhered it was right to get food for the both of you. “We’re near an ocean, I can go fetch us fish to eat before we make it back to Jackson,” you forwardly clarified and timid, Joel held the reigns of Old Beardy against his lower stomach and haltingly beckoned his head.

“That’ll be great,” he softly replied; and earnest to make it quicker to the beach, you had directed Mira to jaunt faster.

Still and all the ride to the beach wasn’t long, and you had lightly pondered how long it would have taken if both you and Joel were on foot. Would it have made the two of you find way to accommodate and make peace with one another? Withal, it was not like Joel had to make appease with you, especially because it was him that had made you feel like a problem. Feel ruffled because you weren’t Human.

The second you had found a good place to tie Mira around, you had directly dragged your feet against the sand once you became shoeless. With Joel left behind, he had watched you near yourself towards the cold body of water with the moment he multi-tasked to tie his horse next to your stallion, he had observed you taking off your clothes in order to prepare yourself to dive inside the water.

Despite of what you had told him the night before, he couldn’t help himself but miss you, he had missed everything about you, and favourably, you had given him parts of yourself he had longed for. Your impudence, allure and physical figure. Contrite, Joel pulled himself together, his hazel vision set on how your black tail flicked out of the water, before the entire of your body had plunged into the liquid.

It didn’t take you long for you to retrieve the fishes for the both of you to eat, in fact, you had reclaimed multiple of fishes just in case. The concept of Joel standing in front of where you would pull yourself out of, didn’t come to you, thus, the moment your eyes met with his, you weren’t familiar with how you should’ve reacted, howbeit, you kept yourself together. Silent, you had dragged yourself out of the body of liquid, the laser of his perception hot on your skin.

Your skin a lighter shade compared to your Human skin, your hair longer and your fingers webbed. The small gills in your cheek and the thin slits in your eyes, impertinent, Joel had externally gazed at every detail of your Siren frame. The black scales of your rudder that had dimly glowed blue hues, the prevailing details of your inhuman form had Joel consider that with how complicated and exact your Siren body had looked like. Perhaps Sirens weren’t an aversion, mayhap they were made to exist by God just like how Humans were but instead were made to live in the Sea.

You were beautiful, and he had no longer had any fear that had made him think other-wise. Eventually, you had looked away from him, suddenly ambivalent due to how hard he had been staring at you. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

Nourished, you curved your eyes at him. “You didn’t need to do that,” chiefly, with the conversation you had shared with him yesterday, you’d think he’d leave you alone, yet, Joel wasn’t always a man of his word, as well as you being a flaky person, but there was a commodity of him being there for you to make sure you came out that had made you feel cordial.

The moment your entire body had been pulled out of the water; you had forced yourself to transform back to your Human physique. Your skin had returned to its mortal shade while your hair had returned to its previous length, your hair was long but your Siren hair was considerably longer, and the webbed skin between your digits had shrunk back into your hands. Your akin legs currently separate and abruptly, you were back on your feet.

Absorbed, Joel had watched the entire transformation and the second he had realised you were naked he had briskly turned his head away from you.

“Nothing new,” you coolly muttered and satiated, Joel scoffed.

“Does it hurt?” Joel asked and the moment he had felt your body was covered, he curved his face to look at you.

“The first few times it did, but now it doesn’t anymore,” you answered, your back faced towards the bearded man as you picked up the dead fish you had collected.

“It must be strange, living with people who aren’t like you,” Joel thoughtfully commented and you had continued to achieve your task without responding to what he had said. “What type of fish did you catch?”

“Saltfish.”

Impressed, Joel nodded his head just as he directed you to where he had lit the fire within the brief time period you had assigned yourself to catch bait. Constructed, you had put down the chum and wrapped your arms around your body, the weather was cool and sunny with a bit of breeze that had poised the two of you. Perchance, it was because of the time you had currently spent together, but there was a brusque craving the two of you were hit with, perhaps, it was always there and you had pushed it away thus your explosion towards Joel the previous night.

Fluctuant, you had looked at Joel and an article in you had broadcasted that you knew that he anticipated the same emotions, but, no---you couldn’t, you couldn’t do this to Shiloh, you just couldn’t, but you did. You were in his arms; your lips longingly caressed his while your body had pressed against his physique. It was so quick, so impetuous that you didn’t even realise your frame was against the ground, ready to open to him and ready to be worn.

The fabric you had currently worn had been taken off again, and your breast, plump had faced upwards, fondled and played with by his generous hands. His lips removed off your mouth and placed against your neck, sensitive, your body had lightly jolted to his touch, the pad of his fingers had glid down the side of your waist and to the hem of your lower garment. He was quick to pull them down, quick to contact your pearl with his digits, the motion soft but the feeling had felt excessive and fervent.

Your opening wet had ached for his size, and in entreat, you had gripped your breasts and gently moaned to his touch. “Joel, please,” you perilously begged, and quickly his eyes landed on yours, his range of view hungry and sensual, he had gazed at you, his eyes inquisitive and lewd.

“What is it, gorgeous? What do you want me to do?”

His voice had been coarse and genitive, the way he had sounded had made your skin rigid and firm, timid your eyes had become low, his fingers had worked on you and you had arched your back and released a flushed moan. “What do you want me to do?” He dragged and quickly you had grabbed his wrist the moment you had recognised your climax which had throbbed to release.

“I want you to fuck me,” you implored and for one last time, you had stretched a moan, your sap had quickly slipped out of you and furthermore, you had gently run your fingers against your nectar and pushed your coated fingers into his mouth, and compliant, Joel had sucked the amrita off your digits. As his hands found way to his clothes, the Miller man had swiftly pulled off his clothing, his shaft hard which had flared hungry and cardinal.  

The moment he had lowered his body against your frame, he had embraced you once more, his caress rough and eager, your lips sore to his esurient behaviour, you had wrapped your arms around his shoulders whilst his hands found way to the back your knees. You could feel the stiffness of his cock press against your cunt and the juncture your wetness had coated around him, you loudly discharged a moan against his mouth, your eyes tight shut as your body re-adjusted to his size.

Oh, you had missed him so badly, and your body knew, throughout the time the two of you were separate, your body had craved his touch so much, Shiloh couldn’t give you what had needed but Joel did. His moves were strong and persuading, as he pressed his body in an able and laden manner, his stout bulky to prove that once again, you were his. His thrusts angry and chafe, as his hot breath waved against the edge of your neck as he chased his comfort, your moans altered loud as the head of his cock pressed against the urchin-like spots that had been elevated.

Your nails had dug into his shoulders as you submerged the need to mark his body, your digits found way to his hair, and roughly you had gripped his locks, eyes shut and cunt in ardor. “Joel,” you had whined in pleasure, the way his sac had slapped against your heat and his low grunts in memo of his pleasure, firm, your cunt had gripped around his shaft, the hotness sweeping around your body as you could feel yourself pulse around him.

“Fuck, gorgeous,” Joel sparingly moaned, his movements twitched and inconsistent as the high ride dragged through his current. The wet slaps expanded just as Joel’s figure pressed harder against your body, his seed had quickly released inside you but the hitherto hunger he had was still prominent, his hips continued to buck forward, strong and speedy, being selfish to chase his lust but his libidinous ways had caused your body to shake under his, your forehead urged against his while you had wrapped your legs around his waist, your body tight while you had eventually released a carnal nectar that had wickedly built up in your chassis.

Relieved, you had slumped your body against the cold sand to gather on what had just happened.

The two of you had barely spoke since the exchange, moreover, you had both silently consumed the fish you had finished cooking a couple of minutes ago and the both of you had awkwardly exchanged glances to each other while the other wasn’t looking.

Guilty, you had lightly bit off the fish food your teeth had dug into and slowly chewed on the fare, you had dragged your eyes to the older man who had sat opposite you, even though he had seemed sullen, you could detect the alleviation he had embodied due to the activity the both of you had shared.

“Don’t tell anyone what we did with each other,” you dryly muttered, your eyes serious while his coloured orbs met with yours. He seemed like he had attempted to hold something back, but Joel’s pettiness usually got the best of him.

“The anyone being Shiloh?”

He had seemed diverted of your request and his mean but pleasantly occupied expression had made you shrink into your error. “He’s too good to me and I ruined everything.”

In response, he shrugged. “It’s my fault for kissing you.”

“I’m the one who agreed to kissing you,” you contritely muttered as you threw away the bones of the fish you had finished eating into the fire carcass.

Silently, Joel gazed at you as he quietly disagreed with your comment, it was a moment of zeal and as Joel had no regrets with what he had done with you, he could see that you were rattled about what had just happened and he comprehended that for now, there was nothing he could do about it. In spite of that, you had all of a sudden been distracted by something that had caught your disrupted attention, he had curved his head to give attention to what had caused you to become pre-occupied and briskly, Joel had noted Shiloh and Bella come into view with their horses.

They had appeared happy and it was authentic, the moment Shiloh jumped off his horse, Rocky, Shiloh had immediately caressed you into his arms, his limbs soft and inviting which had you blended into his touch. You had returned his hug and felt Shiloh press his mouth against the top of your head.

“I missed you so much,” Bella commented then turned to look at the Miller man who had gracelessly watched the scenario occur in front of him. “Well, I missed you too,” Bella clumsily delivered in order to make Joel feel appreciated, her inept behaviour had pushed a laugh out of you as Joel uncouthly beckoned his head towards your best friend.

“Is there something wrong?”

The abrupt inquiry from Shiloh had caused you to stiffly shift your head towards him, he had his hands framed around your face just as he carefully examined your frame. During his time being in a relationship with you, Shiloh could easily tell when you were upset, and he had consistently taken your emotions seriously.

“There’s nothing wrong,” you responded but your answer hadn’t been enough for Shiloh to believe so.

Hastily, Shiloh turned to look at Joel who immediately gathered the strength to defend himself. “Did you do anything to her?” Shiloh bluntly accused and suddenly, the fear he had for the respected man had depleted, his eyes denunciatory and fervent, he had angled his body in direction of the bearded man who swiftly stole a glance from you.

“I didn’t do anything,” Joel calmly responded and in distrust, Shiloh turned to look at you then twisted his gaze to Joel once more.

“Did you say anything to upset her?” Shiloh inquired, “because that is definitely something you’re talented at.”

“Okay that’s enough,” Bella interrupted, she had fleetly dragged herself between Joel and Shiloh to prevent anything tangible, if it were to happen.

“I just told you nothing happened between [Y/N] and I, she even told you,” Joel impolitely replied, crassly, he looked at you, his eyes crude. “Did you tell him everything?” Joel questioned; his tone had bluntly hinted to the break-up you two had mutually shared a while back.

 Snotty, Shiloh curved his orbs at the older man as if what he had asked was deficient. “Of course, she did!” Shiloh arrogantly responded. “She tells me everything, I’m her boyfriend!”

Humoured, Joel crassly laughed at him, his sharp tone had caused you to diminish into your body and confused, Shiloh turned to look at you while you had looked back at him, your eyes had pleaded for him to stop. “I told you everything, now just sit down and eat.”

For your well-being, Shiloh had sat down beside you, his position grumpy and mellow, “if he had just accepted you for who you are, things wouldn’t have been so tense.”

“I’m very confused,” Bella candidly confessed. “It seems like there are things I’ve been left out of because things aren’t making any fucking sense.”

Fallen silent, the group had been sunken into their own thoughts, you had promised yourself that you wouldn’t speak anymore, if you were honest, you had been tired of hearing everyone’s voice, chiefly your own. “After this, we’re returning back to Jackson,” Joel dryly instructed, as your eyes were fixed on the ocean you were still able to catch Bella nod her head with the corner of your eyes, dismal, you had dragged your bent legs against your chest. You had then wrapped your limbs around your lower body and pressed your face against the cup of your knees and lightly fell asleep.

The moment Shiloh and Bella had finished their fare, Bella had lightly shoved you awake, the group had readied to return back to town and Shiloh and Joel were already on their feet and had carried their hooves to their horses.

The ride back to Jackson had been awkward, everyone had resumed to keep their thoughts to themselves for the sake of everybody but specifically, [Y/N]. Joel had been in front of everybody while you had been sandwiched between Bella and Shiloh. When the four had arrived to the gates they had quickly been able to note the people who had awaited at the opening, it had seemed like everyone had been able to make their way back, and you had considered it as luck. The moment you had dropped off of Mira, you had noticed the auburn haired that hastily made way to you and Joel, the person’s stance excited yet relieved.

“I thought something really bad happened to the both of you!” Ellie had cried out; her reassured physique had wrapped around you with her thin arms. Content, you had returned Ellie’s caress and gently pressed your lips at the top of her head while she quickly said a few hyped words that included of you having to tell her what had happened when you were out there.

Just as she resumed on speaking, Shiloh had appeared beside you, his large hand had been placed on your shoulder which had caused you to let go of the Williams girl who had impertinently looked at the man who stood next to you. She muttered a low welcoming to the man just as Tommy arrived and commenced to speak to both you and Joel.

“I’ll walk you home,” Shiloh candidly asserted just after Tommy left after he spoke about how he was glad everyone made it intact. It was evident that Shiloh hadn’t waited for you to tell him that you had agreed for him to take you home, he had just grabbed your arm and softly dragged you away from Ellie and Joel.

You didn’t want to see the look Ellie and Joel must’ve had on their face, aside from Joel’s apparent dislike for your romantic partner you could also tell that Ellie discernibly didn’t take liking for the nurse. Nevertheless, your home hadn’t been far from the gates but it didn’t stop Shiloh from his investigation. “Did anything happen before I came with Bella?”

You had gritted your teeth, you had wished that he had just let go of his inquiries and you had wished you didn’t fuck Joel in the beach, but you’d be lying. “Nothing happened, and if something happened, I would’ve told you.” You impatiently declared and with his hand now moved into your hand, Shiloh turned to look at you, the both of you had arrived to the destination of your home and it had seemed like the weather had begun to pick up the babble, you weren’t surprised, you can tell the nice weather was about to change the moment you saw the skies blue darken.

Your partner had then cupped your face, his face solemn but satisfied. “Good, I’m just glad nothing happened to you, and that you’re safe,” he kindly declared, “get some sleep, you must be tired.”

Softly, you had nodded your head, the warmth of his hands was removed from your face, and you had then been heralded to enter your home, and when the door was closed behind you, automatically, your shoulders had dropped, and you could feel the acute and excessive energy in your veins disappear. Finally, you didn’t feel like the whole world was on your shoulders, and eventually, you had become unburdened by what you had done.

Luckily, rain hadn’t picked up, you had gazed out of your windows for a couple of minutes while your thoughts and fought in your mind. You knew shouldn’t do it, but you were an adamant girl, and an adamant girl who usually made the wrong choices.

With your mind made up, you had carried yourself out of your home, and on your way out you had quickly yanked your coat from where it laid and quickly guided yourself out of cabin, and forcefully made your way to Joel’s home, you had noted that he was in as you could see there was a couple of lights that glowed in his window, as your eyes had stared into one of his windows, you had suddenly fell into a puddle of hesitation, yet, just as fast, you allowed yourself to drag yourself up his porch and knock on his door.

He didn’t take long to open his door, and the moment his coloured gaze rested upon you, he remained stunned. “[Y/N]?” He questioned, surprised, slowly, he had pushed himself slightly out of his door frame to check if anyone had seen you come by, but with this strong weather he doubted that anyone would be outside. “[Y/N], come in,” he quickly ushered and in response, you stepped into the warmth of his home, the vehement warmth you had longed for.  

“Is there anything wrong?” Joel questioned and quickly you shook your head, but you were in truth, unsure.

“I wanted to come and apologise for what had happened, and I wanted to know if you were okay,” you truthfully explained, tightly, your arms were wrapped around your body as your eyes were big and destitute for his response.

“I’m fine,” Joel kindly replied, “why do you want to know?”

Graceless, you had gently bounced your shoulders. “I can’t keep lying to myself,” you poorly responded, “about the fact that I don’t care about you when I really do. I’m not angry at you anymore, I can’t bring myself to still be mad at you.”

“Especially with what you said last night?” Joel asked, his eyes intrusive to her answer.

“Everything I said last night, I take it back,” you candidly replied, your vision examined the bearded man who calmly stood in front of you, searched for his approval, for him to at least understand that what you said had come from the heart.

Indulgent to your reply, Joel had felt the intensity in his shoulders become permissive. “And I take back how I reacted when I found out what you were the other time.”

Content with his answer, you had automatically hurried yourself towards his muscled figure, your arms ready to hug him but something once more switched in your mind, and instead of a hug, you had invited him to a kiss. Joel hadn’t been surprised with your behaviour and had wanted what he had received from you, ever since yours and his interaction at the beach, it had left Joel wanting more albeit the anger Shiloh had brought out of him. He liked the fact that he could fuck you again, to silently prove that no matter how much Shiloh could be angry with him, you would always run back to him, to Joel.

With your trousers and damp underwear nether to your ankles, Joel had slid his fingers between the wetness of your heat, just by the feather of his touch you had loudly moaned at his caress, your swollen lips pulled away from his mouth just as you begun to grind against his digits.

“Do you want to keep doing this behind Shiloh’s back?” Joel boldly asked and in control to his touch, you had furrowed your eyebrows in bliss.

This was a bad idea, you knew this could end bad, but doing this with Joel had given you entice. “I can’t do this to him,” you whimpered as your forehead softly collided with his, your eyes had wettened not due to sadness but due to pleasure. The roughness of his fingertips had circled on your nub and quickly you could feel your body quake against his.

“Do you love him?” Joel inquired and in ease you closed your eyes, your lack of response had caused the taller being to become rough with this play, his rough moves had caused you to yelp in revelry. “Do you love him more than me?”

In desperacy you hastily shook your head, you had wrapped your arms around Joel’s shoulder to balance yourself, you had lightly lifted your left leg to give Joel better space to fondle and stroke your clit and when he had found the gratifying area and continued pursue it, you had gasped, your cunt eager and keen to have his cock thrust inside you. “I want you to say it,” Joel eagerly escorted, “do you love him more than me?”

“No!” You shamefully cried out; tears had rolled down your cheeks as you could feel yourself climax endlessly to his touch. Breathless, you had rested your head against the corner of his neck, gingerly tired. “I love you more than I love him.”

“Show it,” Joel forwardly offered, “fuck me and show it.”

Suddenly electrocuted with energy, you had aided Joel to unbuckle his belt, as well as the moment his trousers dropped, his shaft had eagerly heaved out from hiding, quickly, Joel had carried you and allowed you to wrap your lower limbs around his waist, and slowly his cock had immersed into your cunt, relaxed, the both of you had sighed but not too long after, Joel had begun to thrust his cock upwards, his heavy pulls taking you for surprise. Yet, you had hastily joined his act, in sync you had bounced on his shaft, your wetness thickly coated and gripped his cock that had caused him to fight his barbarous and abhorrent lust.

Still, your fervor and glow had commenced him animalistic and fleshly desire to activate, with craving cruelty, his dick had angled in your walls, the curve of his cock had stroked all the good tactile areas inside your body. Your skin had become damp with sweat and had mixed with his. His sac swollen had socked against your skin and your eyes swelled with tears had acquired you to release troubled and overwhelmed moans, you could feel your orgasm surge in your body as you humped and sprung on his cock, your clit puffed and athirst while your cunt had repeatedly gripped around him. Edacious for his semen, you had arched your back and rolled your hips, “Joel!” You lustfully cried out.

“Yes gorgeous?”

“Make me cum!” You eagerly whimpered, and keen to appease to your request, the man had become furtherly coarse and bearish with his thrusts. As your limbs around him gripped onto him weaker you had echoed embarrassing moans out of response of his brusque blows and abruptly you had climaxed around his dick, exhausted, you had held onto him and allowed the able-bodied man to use your body like the jade you were until he had eventually milked out his load into your cunt.

Finally, he had let you go, and the moment you were on your feet you had quickly gathered the clothing that had stiffly laid on the floor and put them on. The exchange had been too fierce and shameful for you to even say anything, but Joel had no complaint, he had watched you put on your clothes and quickly leave his cabin, it didn’t upset him because he knew there’ll be another time, you’ll come back to him.

songs that fit this chapter ⬎

⟶ purity ring - vehemence.

what do you think of this chapter? i actually really liked it, the drama.

if you want to join a the last of us discord/joel miller discord here you go! 𓆩♡𓆪

masterlist

♆

[youareabird]

Prologue

October 25, 2015 Mankato, Minnesota

The young woman sat on the cold wooden floor, back leaned against the aging yellow wall. Her dark hair stuck to her face, drenched in sweat. The weather was unusually warm for the time of year. She assumed it was due to the infected that wandered around. In her head, she racked all the possibilities, thinking back to the reports before the world went to shit. She could vaguley remember the scientists saying a fungus had evolved, finding its way into the food supplies due to global warming.

She couldn't remember.

Pain shot through her body as she held her belly, the almost nine month pregnancy reaching its end. She didn't know how she got to this point. A year ago, she was fighting for her life. Two years ago, she was clueless, and three years ago, she was in school. Worrying about homework and what new movies were coming out. Now she sat in the sweltering heat of an abandoned grocery store, being accompanied by a large group.

When the outbreak started, she didn't know what to do. She was only nineteen, with no licenses, no car, and no family. She remembers that day as clear as a sunny sky in summertime. It was at this moment that she regretted her choices. I tried to figure out why she chose to stick to this pregnancy. She was stuck in that fucking store for almost a year, she had access to Plan B's and still decided to kill her body.

When she found out she was pregnant, she hesitated. Having no idea how to continue on with her life. There was a 33% chance she would have this baby and live, another 33% that she would have the baby but it would die, the last 33% being she would. At the time, the odds were good, she didn't know how long she would live anyways. Maybe that's why she didn't take a pill.

The pains began to pulse through her body, not being able to move. People of her group surrounded her as she moaned in pain. Two, holding her hands as she squeezed tightly, another patting her face with a cloth to rid it of sweat. Her closest friend sat in between her legs, giving words of comfort. "You're okay," she said sweetly, "Take a breath with me."

She inhaled deeply as her friend did the same, letting out a shaky exhale. "You're doing good, honey." They continued taking deep inhales and exhales, the soon to be mother moaning in pain once again. A man came scampering from across the store, towels and water in hand as he slid to his knees. 

Looking deeply into her eyes, "Are you having contractions?" he said hastily.

Nodding slightly, the young woman squeezed her eyes shut. Relishing in each breath she took. The man looked at the watch on his wrist, "I want you to squeeze their hands each time you feel one, I'm going to time it. Okay?" he said, waiting for her response.

She took in a sharp breath and squeezed their hands, he timed them at two minutes. "She's going into labor." he stated, looking under her dress.

As each contraction passed, she grew louder. Being instructed to push, breath and be as quiet as possible. Sweat dribbled down her hairline, following the curves of her body as it went down her face, neck and settled in the collar of her dress. Twenty minutes had passed since the start of her journey. As each minute passed, the closer she got.

Thirty.

Forty.

Sixty.

One hour and twenty minutes.

That's all it took, as she gave her final push. A healthy baby girl was born. She was in a haze of pain when it ended, someone scooping the baby up and cutting the umbilicord. 

One hour and twenty two minutes.

She finally was holding her baby. She looked down at her light brown eyes, admiring the work that she did. Her soft skin sported birthmarks all over her body, the beautiful shade of dark red. Tears rolled down her face as she watched every move of her beautiful daughter.

"She's gorgeous." Someone whispered from beside her, relishing in the moment between the two.

"You did good, mama."

"Good job."

Her friend stared in awe, "What's her name?"

Smiling lightly at her daughter, she looked up through her lashes, "Cerise."

March 5th, 2020

Midland, South Dakota

The grass was green as rabbits roamed. Chirps from birds filled the air, as Cerise and her mother walked. Her mother hummed the tune of, 'Twinkle Twinkle little star' as they trudged through the tall grass. The group that they were once apart of died off, leaving only Cerise, her mother and her mothers friend.

The small group dropped their bags into the tall grass, falling to sitting positions with a 'thud'. "Cerise - baby, come here." the mother said softly, pulling the four year old into her lap. She dug around her backpack, looking for any food for the toddler.

Pulling out a can of beans, she pulled the pull tab and opened it carefully. Setting it down and balancing it on her knee as she she looked for a spoon. "Liana, we need to go." her friend said harshly.

"We just sat down." Liana said confused, eyebrows furrowing.

Her friend crawled over the mother and daughter, being as quiet as possible. She made to the small family, whispering in her friends ear. "People."

Shooting her head around, Liana removed the can of beans from her lap and hurriedly stuffed her small child into the fabric carrier around her torso. Shushing quietly to the young girl, she grabbed her bag and pulled it over her shoulders.

The two adults, on hands and knees, crawled through the brush. Keeping low as they listened for voices. The women could make out hushed voices of a few men and one woman. Bodies scurrying across the ground, Lianas hand crunched under weight. Looking down, she saw a broken twig. "Fuck." she cursed quietly.

"Hello?" One of the men yelled.

Another hushing him and whispering, "It could be an infected."

"What, They're hiding on the ground now?" he sassed. Footsteps crunched under their weight as they made way to the group of three. The two women not having any idea of what to do, stayed put. Not moving an inch. They hoped the group would pass by, not catching any sight of them.

Of course, their luck had to run out sooner or later as the the group quickly found them. Jumping to their feet, the two women started running. Rushed footsteps behind them, Liana looked back. Instantly tripping over a fallen root. the man behind her quickly picked her up, noticing the small child strapped around her. "Are you okay?" he asked quickly. A worried look finding its way onto his face.

She looked in his eyes, looking for any sign of ill intentions, all she found were concerned blue eyes. "U-um," stumbling over her words, she looked over her shoulder looking for her friend. She saw no sight. That bitch. "I-I'm fine." she mumbled. Still looking over her shoulders.

His hands found her shoulders as she flinched, "You're safe." He said softly, eyes finding hers. Crouching up from his position, he turned to where the rest of his group was, "Guys, over here!"

The rest of the group listened to his words and made their way to where they were. "We're going to Wyoming, rumor of a safe area up there, you can come with us if you want."

She looked down at the bright eyes of her Cerise, debating on if she should, "My friend was with me, I don't know where she went." She looked at the group of people that found their way through the brush, eyes settling on a young girl holding hands with another, His eyes followed hers.

"It'll be fine, We'll find her." he said, "Guys, introduce yourselves."

"Dakota."

"Jeremy."

"JJ."

"I'm Talia and this is Dina." the girl said, looking down at the younger girl.

The man in front of her looked at her again, "I'm Dean."

She listened intently, matching names to faces. They looked at her in anticipation, "Oh...I'm Liana and this bean is Cerise."

December 23rd, 2027 Jackson, Wyoming

The air was dry, snow covered the ground as it pelted heavily from the sky. Liana sat on her small porch, a blanket she had crocheted wrapped tightly around her. Clouds of white escaped her mouth with breath as she watched her daughter. 

Cerise was twelve, Liana rounding on her thirty-fourth year, they've been living in Jackson for only a few months. The couple grew to like the comfortable lifestyle. Jumping from place to place, losing people you grew to love became unbearable.

Jackson made it bearable.

Cerise sat in her font lawn, Bundled up in an oversized coat, scarf and gloves. Her hands squished the snow, making it clump together in the form of her hand. Her long hair was pulled into a brain, falling just below her shoulder braids. 

Liana sighed, watching the young girl. She needed a haircut, only recieving a few in her lifetime. "Bean!" she called out softly. Causing her daughters head to shoot towards her. "Lets go in, its getting colder."

The sun was beginning to set, causing the slow darkness to engulf them as time passed. Getting up, she made her way towards the front door, pulling it open gently. She stood in the doorway, body leaning against the door as Cerise ambled her way onto the porch. Stomping her boot clad feet, she let the snow fall before walking into the foyer.

The two women didn't utter a word. Finding solace in the quiet, warmth quickly engulfing them as they shut the door. Earlier in the day, Liana made a small fire, letting their house relish in the warmer climate. "I'm scheduled for patrol in the morning,  you'll be okay tomorrow?" she asked her daughter, hand meeting the back of her shoulders.

Cerise nodded, "Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Alright," she said, "Why don't you get settled in the bathroom, I'll give you a hair trim."

The young girl nodded as she skipped towards the small bathroom, stepping into the bright room and sitting down on the toilet. She sat there for a few minutes, waiting for her mother to arrive. When she did, scissors in hand, she directed the girl to stand.

Cerise stood in front of the mirror, eyes meeting her down as a brush ran through her hair. Small clippings of hair fell onto the floor, coating it in a puddle of darkness. The two women didn't say anything as the hair fell down.

Wrapping it up, Liana clipped the last bit of hair. The newly chopped hair fell on Cerise's shoulders, resembling a long bob. "Alright, Kiddo, head to bed." her mother said, a slightly stern tone reaching her ears.

"Okay." she said, beginning her journey to her bedroom. A hand reach her arm, making her halt. Turning around slightly, she met the eyes of her mother.

"I wont see you in the morning," she began. Hands on her shoulder, "I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that I'll see you before it gets dark."

"I love you too, mom."

"C'mere." she said, pulling the girl into her embrace. Giving her a tight hug, they stood there for a minute, relishing in each others touch. Releasing her grip, her hands planted on Cerise's shoulders, turning her around and beginning to push her out of the bathroom. "Go to bed."

[tloudestiny]

[quillsickink]

I’ve meant to churn out the first chapter of this slow-burn nightmare for a while, so here we go. Caution - this is an eventual Ellie/Abby fic, so if you are not a fan - please evacuate while you can!

This story begins in a slightly alternate timeline from the events of the game. We start after three characters choose to make a handful of very different decisions. 1. Owen deserted to Santa Barbara while Abby and Yara rescued Lev. Dispirited, Abby fled with Lev to travel north along the coast instead of following her former friends to southern California. In a desperate effort to find a place in the world for them, she heads to an abandoned conduit for the Fireflies - an enigmatic hunting lodge from her adolescence. 2. Tommy refused to cooperate with Jesse and his request to come home. He instead continued his pursuit for revenge against Abby, having found evidence she defected and is wanted for murder by the Washington Liberation Front. 3. Broken from finding a mere empty aquarium after killing Nora, Ellie returned to the theater. Tommy's refusal to return to Jackson spurs her to make a drastic decision to abandon Dina and Jesse to bring him home.

With that, we start in a little town outside of just west of Montana.

===

Ellie's sneakers slap hard against the pavement as she trots down the arcade's alley. She pushes sharply against the emergency exit, ignoring the cold rain pelting her face.  She hisses, nearly losing her balance on a slick patch of cracked asphalt.

"Fuck-"She breathes after righting herself and throws her shoulder against the entrance.

The hinges are stubborn, but after a couple of shoves, it gives way. She shrinks inside and pulls back the hood of her jacket from her soaked head of hair.

Shouldn't have bothered, Ellie thinks bitterly, wiping the rainwater from her eyes. A finger strokes the grip of her revolver as she takes a moment to check her sixes.

She presses the switch attached to her pack's flashlight, and it flickers on, illuminating the dusty room. Storm clouds had quickly blotted out the setting sun on the ruined city, and the sound of rolling thunder was enclosing on the outskirts of town.

Ellie shudders and takes a moment to run her hands along her forearms in a vain attempt to warm herself. She strips herself tiredly of her wet coat and overshirt and tosses the articles across the back of a weathered chair to dry.

It was going to be hell managing to pick up Tommy's trail again after tonight if she relied on the ground.

Whatever tracks or evidence he or Abby had left behind would have surely been washed away by morning. She groans at the possibility. There had been many nights where she was left to wrestle with the genuine possibility of giving up and returning to Jackson.

Ellie didn't want to face another morning of wrestling with herself at another dead end.

Above Scars, wolves, and infected - the weather had proven to be Ellie's most frustrating obstacle. Heavy and often unpredictable showers had kept her circling the area for far longer than she had anticipated. It seemed each time she caught the wind of Tommy's trail, she was met with nothing.

Another late night, she thinks, trotting quickly up the stairs. The second floor had a window featuring a downhill view of a formerly commercial section of town. It was worth the long sprint back in the storm if it meant camping with a good line of sight for the evening.

It had been difficult to move anywhere since yesterday, and she had doubts Tommy could cover much ground either. Not being able to see the ground six feet in front of you would be enough for anyone to seek shelter.

Ellie catches her breath and slides down the wall next to the open window. Her eyes scan the darkening streets, looking for the sign of fire or flashlight inside an endless assortment of broken, boarded windows.

It was easy to look for signs of life here; it had been improbably peaceful since her arrival. There seemed to be little human presence at all, save for the band of wolves she had stalked here. She had heard gunfire some days ago, her only clue that Tommy was still lingering somewhere nearby. Trees had taken over most of the downtown buildings, uprooting foundations and creating a canopy of shade and a sea of broken concrete. It was the perfect place to hide, both for herself and Tommy... or Abby.

The thought of the latter intruded into the forefront of her mind more often than she liked to admit.

Ellies wonders if the murderer's trail had gone cold for him, too. Why else would someone linger here?

She carefully rifles through her pack and plucks free a pair of cracked binoculars, pushing the thought of Joel's killer away. If was painful to dwell on, causing her to lose her focus.

Ellie peers through the lens, searching for the tell-tale signs of flashlight or fire.

She allows her arms to rest against the windowsill. Muscles ache from a tedious day of tracking, and she is hungry, but there's little motivation to eat. Not right now.

"Goddamnit," She whispers under her breath. All clues pointed the other woman had headed north along the freeway to this place. Ellie had no choice but to follow the wolves' tire tracks carefully, a tedious process, and a measure of Ellie's patience.

Ellie had spent weeks trodding after them. Just far enough behind as not to alert them of her presence, but close enough that she couldn't lose them in an emergency.

Snake, traitor, bitch. There were many choice words the wolves had picked to reference Abby, which piqued her interest. Ellie had only picked up bits of conversation, but it seemed her former brethren had equally vitriolic relationships with her.

Wonder what the hell you did to them. Something alarming enough to send a squad after you, at least.

Despite the slow start, stalking them had provided her with an unreliable stream of information. The circumstance had proven to be working in Ellie's favor, and that's all that mattered at present. Following them hadn't been easy in any capacity, but it was the only lead she had since discovering the aquarium was a dead-end.

She shuddered, thinking about a handful of close calls that had kept her on her toes.

A buzz around their camp indicated they were hot on Abby's heels, but Ellie had suspicions they had been pressured from within to turn back. A fatal run-in with infected had dampened their spirits and left two of them dead. Not everyone who split off to escape came back to regroup.

A three-day barrage of miserable weather had been the nail in the coffin for their expedition to bring Abby to justice. Ellie had watched their hopes deteriorate before they tucked their tails and began the trek back to Seattle. That had been a hard night for her.  Equally defeated, she was forced to choose between leading a blind goose-chase or returning to Jackson. Again.

And for what? This was a persistent thought for her. For Dina?

She reaches for her journal and begins to notate her position. No sign of life anywhere. Ellie eyes the countless windows where inevitably, she would hope to see signs of light.

She probably despises me.  

After everything they had done to get this far.  

All the blood that had been spilled just to get here, with no tangible resolution in sight.

She kept these thoughts to herself, feeling them too miserable to bring to life.

She felt there was nothing left in Jackson for her. Not right now. Ellie had broken a lot of promises already. Returning home wasn't plausible until she kept her word to Maria, or buried Abby. Whichever came first.

She opens the leatherbound book to the middle, carefully removing the tattered bookmark. Her fingers press against a photo carefully tucked into the spine.

Dina.

Ellie's lips twist into a partial smile.

Bet you're really showing by now. For sure.

She presses the tip of her pen to the paper.

She had spent weeks trying to suppress the notion that they hadn't made it back to Jackson.

Jesse better be taking care of you, she writes slowly.

Her eyebrows furrow.

It hurts to say so.

The words scratch heavily into the paper, and she pauses to twirl her pen.

Day 7 in this place. Four days since I heard gunfire. No sign of life today. Another storm is blowing in. Feels like it is going to freeze over soon.

Ellie pauses, lifting her head to take a tentative peek over the sill. She hoped the temperature didn't dip too low tonight.

Time passed slowly in moments like these. Three months of traveling alone had begun to take its toll on her spirit. The disconnect between Dina and Jesse felt real; separated now for almost twelve weeks.

She had said things that she had slowly begun to regret. Even worse, regrets from words she didn't say.

Ellie twirls the pen in her fingers.

Running low on ink. I should probably try to find another soon.

She jots a final statement in her entry for tonight.

I hope one day you understand.

She tucks the picture into the journal and moves the ribbon to the following page—time to put this away and be diligent, for now.

===

"Tommy's not coming back."

Jesse had knocked defeatedly at the theater door. When Ellie opened it, his expression spoke volumes on the grimness of the situation.

"I tried to reason with him, but-" Jesse sighs in frustration.

"-he's caught wind that Abby's defected. She's left Seattle."

Ellie bites her lip, a seed of dread growing in her stomach.

"Where did you see him last?" She asks sternly, gripping the straps of her pack.

---

"Take her home, Jesse," The exhaustion in her voice the following morning was apparent. She had barely slept, rattled by her experience in the hospital. The weight of the pipe in her hands and Nora's face haunted her thoughts, and there was little comfort in Dina's arms. In the wee hours of the morning, she had grown numb to her decision.

"If something happens to Dina or the baby-"

"You won't be able to forgive yourself?" Jesse was understandably angry. He had caught her on the way out, fully prepared to depart without them. The look of surprise on her face had spoiled her intentions.

Jesse couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of Ellie abandoning them to leave on her own.

"No. I couldn't. And she can't go home on her own-" Ellie finds it challenging to look at him in the eyes.

"You're not thinking straight-"

"No, Jesse, I...I don't know. I do know if I'm going to find Tommy, I have to think like him,"

Jesse was speechless.

Ellie knew well enough how clever he was at covering his tracks.  

"He's not going stop until he has her head." She forces herself to lower her voice, should she threaten to wake Dina.

Jesse clenches his fists, and Ellie gestures toward the back of the building.

"...I promised Maria. Dina's too sick to see the end of this. If you really want to help, just take her and go back to Jackson,"

"Ellie-"

"Don't follow me."

Jesse stares incredulously, shaking his head in disappointment.

"You're making a mistake."

Ellie did not respond and instead turned to leave.  

She hoped Dina was able to read the hastily penned letter before Jesse could spill her transgression.

The door's weight felt enormous on the way out.

===

Ellie wakes with a start, her eyes fluttering open to a surprisingly vibrant room. Exhausted, she had fallen asleep in the crook of her elbow.  

Shit.

She hadn't intended to sleep this long. Ellie squints and shields her eyes from the grey skylight. It takes a moment for her to grasp what she sees, struggling to peel reality away from a familiar nightmare.

Her heart skips as a beat as she notices a dark contrast of black smoke against ash-colored clouds. She grabs frantically for the binoculars and shoots upright to her feet. Peering expectantly through the lens, she focuses in on the location of the fire.

The trail disappears behind the rooftop of a brewery in the distance. Ellie racks her brain for details - recalling the layout of the streets of the city's downtown.

Has to be him, She thinks as she scrambles to gather her things.

Couldn't be more than a few miles off.  If I keep a steady pace, I could reach the campsite by noon.

===

"Abby!"

Lev's voice echoes through the department store, and Abby's head whips to greet him. He waves her over to where he's kneeling across the street.

She grunts and rises to her feet, having just rummaged through the pack of a long-dead drifter. Poor guy didn't have much to his name - at least not when he died. She dusted off her hands before moving to join Lev, kneeling next to another corpse lodged in the threshold of a general store. Still somewhat fresh.

"Do you know him?" Lev asks curiously, reaching for a pouch attached at its side. Abby furrows her brows as she takes a look, allowing her counterpart to rummage through the rucksack.  

"No," She shakes her head. "Doesn't look familiar. Has to be one of the assholes that was following us," Abby inspects the unfamiliar man's face, then his jacket.

"There were a lot of us,"

No patches of any kind - must be new. She reaches for his neck, carefully pulling a bloodied chain from the dead man's collar. Aha.

"W.T.," She says, reading the two letters stamped into the tag. "Weird. Just initials," Abby drops the tags, which clink pitifully against his chest.

"Wonder what they stood for."

"Hey-" Abby cracks a faint smile and reaches down to pluck something from between the corpse's fingers. Lev eyes her incredulously.

"Missed something," She hums fondly and presents it to her counterpart to have a look.

It's a pistol - in surprisingly good condition. Abby allows her fingers to run across the barrel before engaging the safety. Only two bullets left, she thinks, before slipping the gun into her side-holster. The former wolf notices the pout forming at the corner of Lev's mouth, and she stifles a chuckle.

"This one's nice, but it's got some kick to it. The gun I gave you suits you," Abby crosses her arms and Lev suppresses the urge to argue.

"Yeah..." He sighs, carefully stepping over a crumbled bookcase used at one point to barricade the entrance. Abby follows suit behind him. He had seemed morose since this morning, not that she could blame him. She had struggled to keep them occupied and maintaining momentum; for the betterment of them both. The lingering effects of Yara's death were most noticeable when there wasn't an immediate goal under their nose.

Having direction kept her from dwelling too much on the recent.

She often thought of Yara. And Owen...and Mel. Their last interaction together had left a bitter taste in her mouth. As much as their abandonment had stung, she still hoped they had made it to Santa Barbara in one piece. She had meant her word when she promised she would head in the opposite direction, at least for the time being.

Abby wondered how Alice was faring at sea.

Similar thoughts intruded often, and she found it necessary to find something distract herself. Right now, her focus was keeping Lev safe and getting the two of them to the lodge.

"Been a while since we've practiced," She adds as they move into the street. Abby leads the two of them along, her eyes looking expectantly for the inn's sign in the distance. It "Maybe we can set up some targets once we get out of town,"

Lev nods and shrugs his shoulders.

"That would be nice," He hums, fiddling with the straps of his pack.

Abby stifles a sigh. I'll cheer you up eventually. Somehow.

The walk to their camp was brief, and soon enough, Abby could see the familiar flaking, sky blue exterior of the 'Silver Cloud'. It had been a long day of scouring for supplies, and the idea of resting her legs was more than appealing.

Abby grunts as she struggles to peel back a rusted tin section used to bar the window. A bit of elbow grease was enough to peel it back and allow Lev to slip through the opening. Abby follows shortly after, careful not to let the metal make too much noise behind them.

Lev breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes his shoulders. The inn smelled like the underside of a pier, Abby thought as she wrinkled her nose. But it was safe, and that's all that mattered. Whoever the owners were before the outbreak had taken care to seal the place shut before closing the doors. The roof sagged slightly from years of neglected, unattended leaks on the south end, but it had managed to stay dry enough to use as shelter.

Lev carefully settles onto the floor after removing his pack. Abby watches as he begins to pull a few items from the day's scavenger hunt, carefully inspecting their spoils.

Abby turns to rifle through her backpack. They had enough food for now, but they still needed a few more things before she could comfortably have them venture out of town. It might be some time before they could scavenge a town for necessities.

Preparing for a trip of this magnitude had taken longer than anticipated; with limited supplies, Abby had resorted to exhausting every potential resource they could explore along their way. They had spent themselves looting the husks of department stores, pharmacies, residences, and a sole general store for any useful materials they could find.

She pulls a small tin from her pack, a makeshift first aid kit. Abby had been more conscientious of the need lately after the trauma of dealing with Yara's injury. The former wolf purses her lips as she carefully opens it, examining its meager contents.

A handle of sewing needles in a yellowed, plastic package. A small bottle of alcohol and a sterile razor. A pitiful wad of unused gauze.

She blinks, recalling have found that Mel and Owen had not only left them behind; they had also taken the precious medical kit she had almost gotten herself killed to get her hands on. The feeling of dread in her stomach when she and Lev returned to see a missing boat was hard to forget.

Blinking away the thought, she puts a spool of thread inside the tin and bitterly snaps the container shut.

"Hey," Lev murmurs, holding an object up for inspection in the dim light. "Look at this,"

Abby peers up from her thoughts to see her counterpart clasping what appeared to be a coin between his thumb and pointer finger.

"Found it in a matchbox," He flips it over to inspect the back, lips pursed in disappointment.

"We needed the matches."

Abby extends her arm and gestures for Lev to hand it over.

"Let me see," She purrs quietly as she plucks it from his palm. The blond squints, her eyebrows raising.

"This is a wheat penny," She hums and offers it back. "You should keep it. They're good luck."

"Huh. A wheat penny," Lev repeats curiously, rolling the coin between his fingers.

"You believe in luck?" Lev eyes her incredulously as he flops onto a nearby couch, adopted as a bed. He tucks the coin into the pocket of his pants for safekeeping.

Abby smiles and raises a brow.

"Sure. When I'm lucky," Abby slides into an armchair with a quiet huff and begins to rub the tension in the back of her neck. She rests her head against the cushioned back, her eyelids growing heavy.

"We should get some rest. Got a long day ahead of us," Abby sinks further into the worn leather, throwing her legs across the chair's arm. She works a hand into her back pocket to remove a map, heavily creased and often referenced. She carefully unfolds it, her eyes drawn to a penciled circle at the outer edge.

"Nearly there," She mutters under her breath, tapping their location. Carefully, she traces her finger along the highlighted route to their destination. Getting there wasn't as easy as the mapped route suggested. Abby had taken the time to mark their actual path, which proved to be a much more jagged and cumbersome hike than anticipated.

"This is our last night here, right?" He asks quietly.

"Swear," She sighs, rolling onto her side. "Last night. We head out first thing in the morning."

Lev sighs in relief and closes his eyes.

They had hunkered down in this place for longer than she cared to admit.

Having the WLF on their heels in the early weeks had fatigued them. The two had spent time resting and biding their time here until she felt they were ready to leave.

Shaking them off of their heels had been a victory for them. Now, they just had to keep moving.

"You think the lodge is still empty?" He whispers. Abby closes the map as dusk dies outside, along with her light source. She furrows her brow.

"I hope so, Lev."

Abby didn't really know what propelled her to take them there. Intuition? A sense of nostalgia? A little bit of both.

She had only been there once with her father when she was about Lev's age. Back when the Fireflies were naively hopeful.

But it was the most extraordinary few months of her life before the Fireflies found it in their best interest to abandon the property. She knew that the lodge was exploited as a conduit for them in the faction's early years. They were moving on a shred of hope that it was still there.

The place had good bones...at least that's what her father would say. She wasn't an engineer by any means, but she was hoping she and Lev could patch any disrepair that might have overcome it…

It was the only place that came to mind when she thought of rebuilding her life.

===

"Fuck,' Abby stutters as she stumbles forward onto her knees. The wolf's boot catches on the wheels of an overturned utility cart. She's shivering, soaked. Foul greywater reaches to her elbows, and she can't see her hands through the filth of it all. In a panic, he pushes herself to her feet and propels herself forward.

A dismal realization overcomes her; she's back in St. Mary's.

No, no, no...even worse. Abby's head whips desperately to find some sort of evidence of her whereabouts. She stifles a cry of terror when she sees the flickering emergency room sign swinging woefully in her peripheral. The whirling growl of a generator sings somewhere in the distance.

The air smells familiarly sour, and she's painfully aware that her hands are empty. Her pack is gone and stripped of all her weapons, Abby is vulnerable and naked to her environment. A quickly approaching gurgling scream encumbers her senses, and her instincts only tell her to move forward. Trembling fingers reach frantically at her hip for a pistol that's no longer there.

Dread transmutes to sickness as she turns a corner to be met with a dead-end.

The sound of flesh and bone scraping against the walls sends a shiver of horror down her spine. Abby's body reluctantly swivels to face the monster lunging aggressively toward her.

She tries to scream, but the sound dies in her throat. She can see every face in the tangled amalgamation of the Rat King. It's twisted core rolls closer, and it dawns on her that the mountain of fungus and flesh isn't a conglomerate of unknown stalkers, but of people she knows—her friends.

The twisted gaze of Mel and Owen cause her to cry out for help. Manny's slack jaw and aimless stare are positioned next to the familiar faces of dead Scars. Yara and Lev. The shoulders supporting them all attaches onto a central face - a memory of a man she had compartmentalized and locked away for some time.

Joel Miller. He stares at her, and Abby snaps her jaw closed. Her body trembles, and she forces her eyes shut as the snarling of the beast swallows her whole. A young woman's scream echoes in her thoughts as her eyes snap awake before the creature's maw reaches her.

Her mind wanders to the ski resort- the grisly sound of metal against skull-bone and the young girl's piercing cry on the floor, begging her to stop.

"Please, don't do this-!"

The creature stumbles aside, and finally, Abby can see a young woman's figure kneeling in the flood-waters.

"Abby, please don't do this-!"

---

Abby startles awake, her forehead coated with a thin sheen of sweat. She takes a deep breath as she snaps up to rest on her elbows, finding the air thick and hard to breathe. The shrill screech of her name was disturbing.

It's cold in the riverside inn, but she's burning hot - her shirt dampened from wrestling a nightmare in the morning's wee hours. Abby takes a few moments to regain her senses, relieved to see it was still early. Tiredly fixated on the pinholes of grey light streaming from the ceiling, Abby Anderson forces herself to sit. It's unbearably quiet.

Thank God, she thinks, allowing her head to rest between her knees. She was surprisingly happy to be here, in this dank place. Nausea slowly begins to ebb away.

It had been a while. Abby tries to remember the last time she dreamed about the hospital. Her fingers massage at a knot of muscle in her neck.

That's not what happened...with the girl, back in Jackson. She didn't know my name.

The incarnation of Joel and the girl's cry for mercy had truly grated her. More than that vile creature.

Funny, she thought. She had tucked that memory to bed some time ago, having washed it away with a new sense of purpose. She shakes her head, instead choosing to turn toward Lev's sleeping form.

Except he's not there. Instead, Abby's met by with the sight of an empty couch.

Her name is Ellie, she recalls suddenly. Joel Miller's little counterpart. The girl with the cure.

She rubs at her eyes.

No time to dwell on it now, she thinks, slowly moving to her feet. The muscles in her jaw ache with tension, and she slowly stretches her mouth open. Ouch. Fuck, that hurts.

It had been a long time since her mind had wandered to linger on the man who killed her father. Those feelings of hatred and resentment had been excised and buried. It seemed guilt had trickled into the empty space. It was growing harder to ignore, especially in moments where she found herself alone.

She had done far worse things to people that weighed on her less. But why?

He deserved it.

Abby pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers, reaching to grab her jacket and boots.

She opts to rise on her feet and itemize her things to prepare for the journey that lies ahead. Dawn was fading, and she wanted to hit the pavement before the day got away from them.

"Lev?" She asks hoarsely, moving slowly to the back door. She notices it's unlocked, and the rotting shade was open.

She opens it and steps onto the dock. Lev is sitting on the edge and turns to look at her. He seems serene this morning.

"Morning," He says quietly as Abby comes to sit next to him, relieved. She yawns, and he tucks his knee to have a place to rest his chin.

His eyes focus on a thick line running from his palm into the dark water.

The two didn't say anything for a few minutes. The breeze blowing in the water felt nice, and Abby allowed it to rejuvenate her spirit.

"I thought maybe we could have breakfast before we go," Lev begins to wrap the line leading down to the hook, removing the slack. The shadow of a fish flickers into view, prompting Abby to notice a nearby bucket, teeming with several others.

"Good idea."

===

Weird.

A dead wolf.

Ellie takes a careful glance around before squatting to investigate the corpse.

'So you're the one they left behind,' Ellie thinks, rifling through the dead man's pockets. The body was still...somewhat fresh.

Gross. Ellie grimaces as she picks up the coat in his hands. Still dry, without much blood on it. She would soon need it, as a simple overshirt wasn't going to cut surviving a harsh winter. The temperature was already starting to drop now as autumn was kicking into full swing again.

She runs her fingers across the WLF emblem stitched onto the bicep. The article was still in pretty good shape.

She offers an empathetic glance as she shrugs the jacket across her shoulders. The brunette found it a bit ironic to be brandishing WLF, not that she had much choice. She felt it a shame she couldn't find a proper replacement.

Ellie pauses as she realizes his gun is missing from his holster. Her gaze narrows and her breathing slows as she weighs the possibilities.

Her attention is drawn to a wound at his chest.

Clean shot, large bullet. So this was the last rifle blast I heard.

Instinctually, she peers over her shoulder at the many possible vantage points. She traces each one, trying to figure where the shooter was standing.

Tommy. Had to have been him.

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but it was the only clue she had to go on. Excitement swells in her chest - instinct was telling her she was moving in the right direction.

She exits the shop, leaving the door open the way that she had found it. It closes slowly against the body in the threshold.

I'm convincing you to come back, even if it kills me.

She picks up the pace, slipping into the liminal spaces of the broken city's alleyways.

And what if it's not him?

Ellie struggles to catch her breath as she finds herself in a full-blown sprint.

A part of her screams in anticipation; what if it's Abby?

Her heart pounds, beating painfully against her ribcage.

She wished she could stop hoping that it was. There was a sliver of her that simply refused to let it go.

Her body slams loudly against a chain-link fence, and her fingers curl viciously through the openings. She presses her forehead against the metal links.

The smoke is feigning in color, but it was closer.

She pulls herself up, scrambling to the slide over the top.

Ellie pauses to wipe the sweat from her eyes.

Wonder what Dina would think - seeing me like this.

Doesn't matter.

Ten minutes at a time.

The bottom of her soles slam against the concrete, and she's off again.

Just follow the smoke.

===

"C'mon Lev," Abby peers nervously over her shoulder.

"We're more exposed than I would like to be,"

Lev stares in wonder over the bridge's side, leaning against the concrete with his elbows. There was something about rushing water that was captivating, especially with a view like this.

The river below had become swollen from heavy rainfall, peppered with old cars and carcasses of boats. The bridge itself had long since collapsed in the center. Instead, it served as a downward ramp into the rushing water. A conglomerate of cars and pontoon boats from neighboring docks had formed a footbridge to the other side.

Lev moves to crouch beside Abby next to a shelled tanker. She raises a brow as she stares at the trail of cars before them. A look upriver only showed miles of running water, with no evidence of another way across.

Abby huffs in thought.

"That's...a long detour," Lev murmurs as he studies the pebbled bank. They had been walking non-stop since breakfast. The sun had settled in the west, threatening to retreat behind the mountains in the distance.

The bridge had collapsed as to leave a path of broken automobile rooftops to tread across. Rain from the night prior had risen the water level yet again, evident by the muddy current below.

"Yeah...shit," Abby rubs at her chin and slides to sit. She allows her pack to slip from her shoulders onto the fractured asphalt and turns to Lev.

"It's not safe. We have to wait,"

Lev feels her frustration, sighing in disappointment. He turns his attention downriver, thinking hard for any semblance of an idea.

"Abby," He murmurs after a few moments. Abby turns to him while unscrewing her canteen, before nearly draining half of it.

"Look, there." He squints, pointing indistinctly to the favoring riverbank. Abby squints, trying to spot what Lev is referencing. It soon becomes evident as she makes out a dull, orange blinking light at the edge of the water. The dimming sun favors the detail, and she strains her eyes to get a better look.

"Attached to the line, across the water," Lev whispers. "That box. Can it take us across?"

Abby realizes he's talking about a nearby metal cab, half-way hidden in the undergrowth. She had assumed it to be a power-line, and her pulse quickens as she realizes it's a fashioned, rugged lift. Clever.

"Someone's been here recently," Abby looks hard at the forest across the river. The line angles high above them to meet the slope on the other side, disappearing somewhere in the trees.

"See the generator?"

Lev blinks, nodding. Abby can almost see the wheels turning, and her gut starts to sink.

"Maybe it works-"

"Absolutely not," Abby says immediately, shaking her head. She almost feels sick thinking about it.

"And who is to say it's safe- ?"

"You said yourself, someone's using it," Lev interrupts her, nearly pleading in earnest. Thunder rolls somewhere beyond the mountains, and seeing the expression on Abby's face, Lev looks away in disappointment.

"It might take days for the river to drop," He leans tiredly against the car and crosses his arm. Abby stays quiet for a moment, and she can see he's despondent.

He was right about that. Abby sighs, peering thoughtfully at him as Lev peers into the water below.

"If it's not lowered by morning, we'll check it out. Deal?" She sighs, her hands resting on her hips.

Lev hesitantly nods, and a gentle smile tugs at his lips.

"Okay."

"I know what you're thinking. All the good things about fear. Yada-yada."

"Yada-yada?"

"Don't worry about it-," Abby tosses Lev his pack.

"... I'm sorry, Abby."

Abby walks a few paces and sharply pulls at the old tailgate of an old pick-up. It squeals as she lowers it to use as a seat.  

She tries not to think about the cable-car.

"Don't be. Let's get some rest. It's getting dark."

===

Ellie slips to the ground, her chest heaving to catch her breath.

A runner gurgles piteously on the ground beside her. She watches as it grows still in the grass before her fingers relax on the handle of her bloodied machete.

Shaky fingers turn off her flashlight, allowing the soft-orange glow of the generator to light the riverbank.

Her mind hums numbly with fatigue, and she forces herself to take a few minutes to rest. Ellie had been pushing tirelessly today, desperate to make up for the lost time she took investigating the campsite.

Whether it was Tommy - or someone else - they hadn't left much for her to recover. She had discovered only the charred remains of a perceived cooking fire, which had been neatly scratched away save for a handful of burning coals. A pile of stripped fish-bones did little to identify who had started it.

No scraps, no belongings left behind. The only notable clue had been the imprint of a boot-heel entrenched in a sodden patch of grass up the street. Fresh.

Whoever it was had intentions to head east, towards Libby, denoted by the signs.

She stares blankly at the generator. Hugged by tall grass underneath a shelter, she almost hadn't seen it...and probably wouldn't have in daylight. A gas canister lay on its side amid a patch of trampled grass. Whoever had left it was kind enough to screw the cap closed.

Someone was here, and not long ago. Ellie stares at the cable high above her, and the gondola, which hung only a few meters away. It gives a groan as it swings, agitated by a gust of wind.

Ellie squints with exertion as she lifts herself onto her feet. She had wandered to the river's edge, having spotted a potential foot trail near the road. The bridge in the distance offered little promise she could use it as a means across the river. It seemed to have collapsed and crumbled into the water below.

In an effort to find some semblance of a boat, she was met with this.

Ellie spots several other infected littered in the surrounding area as she carefully takes a look around. All shot, save for the one.

Tommy...if it was you, you left in a hurry. The noise must have drawn them out of the undergrowth.  

I can't afford to stay here tonight.

Ellie staggers to pick up the canister and carefully moves to fuel the generator with what remained.

This might be the dumbest thing I've ever done, she thinks, glancing at the dilapidated bridge downriver.

She takes a few tentative steps toward the rusted cab on the platform to inspect the interior.

Seems to be in okay shape.

Ellie presses her boot into the floor to test its integrity. It was exceptionally dark inside, but Ellie had faith that it could hold her across. Somebody had trusted it enough, at least.

A muffled clap of thunder startles her, and she shakes her head in disbelief at what she was about to do.

The shriek of a clicker echoes in the distance. Rainy weather seemed to disturb them as well – drawing them out from the darkness into the rain.

There's not enough time to find another way across tonight.

Ellie grips the handle of the generator's starter cord and gives it a few sharp tugs. It growls in response, the mechanical roar spurring her adrenaline to spike. The platform beneath her vibrates, and Ellie holds her breath as the lift squeaks to life. The gondola lurches forward with a jolt, and she's suddenly made aware that the motor is not going to wait for her to board.

Ellie pulls herself up into the gondola before it can escape the platform. She stumbles inside, careful not to spill backward out of the open door.  A nervous laugh escapes her as the cab sways, pulling her skyward along the cable. She allows herself to sit, her back pressed against the cold aluminum. Her eyes squint the car's body scrapes along the weathered line, and she takes a few deep breaths while the swinging slows to a gentle sway.  Ellie thinks of all the ways she would suffer if the car detached, finding herself smiling in fear and disbelief.

I may have actually lost it, Jesse.

Her gaze is drawn out the window where the cable ran to an identical platform, presumably among the trees on the other side of the river.

Just a few more minutes… then I'm never doing anything like this again. Ever… ever again.

===

Abby awakes to the sound of a screech.

Before she can even comprehend what's happening, she's upright in the truck's bed.  She jerks her head to see Lev already on his feet, staring across the water.

The two offer a confused glance to one another. Lev's mouth hangs open, but before he can say anything, Abby sees the cable-car floating above the river along its suspended course. A mechanical whir slices in the air, the unmistakable groan of a gas generator.

A clicker cries out again in the distance.

"Someone's in there -"Lev whispers and kneels behind the truck out of eyesight. Abby purses her lips in worry as she zips her coat closed.  

"Lev, c'mon," She whispers hurriedly, her gaze following the gondola's movement.

Who the hell is in there?

"We have to move."

[saintgoths]

Hello, I’ve been reading a song of thorns and I’m here to say that with the character profiles and your writing, the depth you put into your work is amazing! I can’t wait to see how things between Seth and Isabella will settle down and if he would snitch on her or not 😅

thank you so much! i cant wait for you to see the future chapters i'll release, i know everything is building up slow but i promise it's worth the wait!