A/N: First off, this is going to be a long author's note. The bit that I find most important will be in a different paragraph, which regards music and the surprisingly important role it plays in this story. So, I just finished the Last of Us fanfiction "Two Orphans", and Jesus was it a fucking rollercoaster.

One thing though. The ending left me blubbering like a baby for minimum 4 hours. However I hated it. I hated the plot holes that led from chap 35 through to the end. I hated the seeming loss of common sense in both Riley and Ellie. I hated it all. So I did what I do best when I'm pissed beyond belief; I smoke a pack, drain a bottle (or 5) and the next day, coffee and an ashtray in my right hand, a guitar, paintbrush, or laptop in the other, I sit down and try to channel it through creation. I honestly recommend MordecaiQ's Two Orphans. Despite the lacklustre end, it's one of the best things I've ever read on this website, and I recommend anyone to read it. A story that I would love to get published and bound. A complete work of art.

The definitive album for this fanfic is Jason Isbell's 2013 masterwork, "Southeastern". Although there will obviously be a large amount of music beyond just this astonishing LP, this is definitely among the most important listed.

Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer

I Kaien Crosszeria, do not in anyway own any aspect of the Last of Us, or the artists mentioned. The plot is my own. If a copyright holder would like me to retract their property I shall do my best to accommodate their desires. Please note that there might typographical errors.

Chapter 1: Cover Me Up

Ellie was jolted awake by the sound of a door opening. She rubbed her eyes. She looked up, and after seeing the look on the guard's face, she stood up. Scowl ever present, she followed him into the door. She stood in front of the property desk of the juvenile detention centre. The officer at the window, who looked as bored as he did middle-aged, looked at her, then down at his paperwork. He then pulled out a box, opened the window further and placed the box on the new counter space. Once the guard behind her retrieved the box, the administrator closed the window.

Ellie shuffled awkwardly behind the guard, before they came to a plain steel table. He opened the box, retrieved the paperwork inside and removed a pen from his breast pocket, and finally spoke as he removed each item.

"1 military surplus pack, one side buckle broken." He ticked off something on his list, then started to recite the rest of the list robotically. "1 steel water canteen, scuffed. One small leather wallet, empty. 1 copy of Trainspotting, hardback. 1 kinetic flashlight, clip-on. One analogue watch. 1 Sony Walkman. 1 pair of headphones. 1 box of cassettes. 1 switchblade, steel. 1 Swiss army-knife." He laid every item out on the table once he retrieved them. He dug deeper, retrieving clothes. "1 pair of work boots, steel-capped. 2 pairs of denim jeans, 1 lined with flannel. 1 pair of thermal leggings, 4 pairs of bras. 4 pairs of women's underwear. 6 t-shirts. A pack of medium-length socks. 2 hooded sweaters, or hoodies. 3 flannel shirts, red, green and blue. 1 leather jacket, brown." He looked in the box on last time after he finished ticking off his list, made a double-take, reached in, and pulled a box of Tampax out. Ellie blushed slightly. He ticked it off his list.

He pointed towards the toilet sign, seemingly signalling Ellie to change. She glared, and proceeded to pick out an outfit. She picked out her Nirvana t-shirt, worn and slightly faded, and, after checking the weather through the window, also set aside her flannel-lined jeans, her grey hoodie, her red flannel shirt, her thermals, her boots and finally, blushing again, she added underwear to that pile. She stuffed everything else in the appropriate bag compartment, with the exception of her switchblade. She put her bag, a muddy brown colour, down beside the table, and then took her clothes to get changed.

In the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a younger Ellen Page, for which she had constantly been made fun of for around the prison, just with coppery red hair. She had an eyebrow slit, caused by a fight in the prison yard in which the girl she was quarrelling with had gotten a makeshift shank out and nicked her eyebrow. Her skin was stupidly pale, due to a mixture of genetics, and her hatred of the sun. She turned away from the mirror and headed into the stall in front of her.

10 minutes later, Ellie came out dressed. She threw her leather jacket over her shoulders, slung her backpack over her right shoulder, and walked through to the reception. It looked as grey and dull as the rest of the juvenile detention centre. The plants potted around somehow made the place more depressing, presumably due to their incessant drooping. She quickly ran over to the water cooler in the corner and filled her canteen before she attached it back onto her bag. She then took a deep breath, and turned round, heading towards the front desk. The woman there, her bleached blonde hair betrayed by her ratty brown roots, gave Ellie a horse-like, sickly sweet smile.

"What can I do for you, honey?" Her voice was patronising, topped off by an annoying whine that seemed to just be present whenever she opened her mouth. Ellie quickly gave her a wad of paper while saying "My name's Ellie Williams. I'm supposed to be leaving today."

Once the woman discovered she had been an inmate, her face did a complete 180, turning into some twisted, disgusted grimace. Her voice, still high-pitched, suddenly developed a cold tone.

"Ah yes. Let me see here… Yes here it is. Ellen Williams, born on the 3rd of May, 1997 to Anna Williams. Father unknown, though no surprises there..." she muttered the last part under her breath, but then continued. "Incarcerated on the 4th of April 2013 for vandalism and theft. Release date 4th of October 2013." She snatched the papers from Ellie's outstretched hand, and then checked over them.

"All seems to be in order. If you could sign here, then here, and then…" Ellie signed her name many times, her left hand aching from all the writing. The woman said to Ellie "Wait until someone arrives to escort you to Stone Edge Orphanage." The ratty woman then turned round and headed into a room behind the desk. She looked through the window into the room, and she could tell based on their gesturing and pointing that they were talking about her while the receptionist seemed to fill her coffee. She sat in one of the chairs and soon became bored. She dug her Walkman, headphones, and a few cassettes out. She looked over the tapes and soon decided on one. The storm got her in the mood for something primal. She stuck her chosen cassette in, rewound it and soon hit play.

Son House came on, singing 'Don't Mind People Grinnin' In Your Face.' Ellie instantly felt better, and soon found herself lost in the rather fitting music. Halfway through the blues mix, right in the middle of Robert Johnson's 'Crossroad Blues', someone shook her out of her daze. She looked up at whoever it was.

A man in a black suit, with close-cropped hair and a touch of stubble pulled her up from her seat. "I shall be escorting you to your orphanage. Follow me into the car, Ms. Williams."

She begrudgingly followed him out to his car, some bland, black vehicle. She threw her bag in, and waited for him to enter. She strapped herself in, and soon she realised she was headed towards a new place. A new life. And the idea fucking terrified her.

Chapter End

A/N: Ellie is supposed to look like adult Jodie from Beyond Two Souls by the way.

Sorry if the chapter seemed a little short. I just wanted to get the idea out. And to me intros should never be super long. Anyway, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed. All reviews are appreciated.