AN: How's it going bros? I'm doing fine, great even LOL XD So…I'm gonna try to make a full legit story bros. But that's the thing, I feel like that…I'm not even gonna finish the damn thing. But, I'll try; IDEK how long each update would be up but I'll write and post each one as quick as I can. I know this may seem familiar, which it already is…but I want to make it long enough for you bros to get interested AND I can add a little something after that the whole, big…cutscene, so it'll go smoothly. So, here's the prologue to my story, Hope you bros like it ;)
Prologue
The car suddenly stops; the engine gave way and the battery died out. Joel got out of the car checking to see if he can bring the car back to life but it didn't do anything good. But the car really didn't matter anymore; they were close to Tommy's, so it isn't so much of a problem than Joel suspected.
He closed the door hinge and walks over to Ellie, her right sleeve rolled up to her elbows, touching the bumpy, dead skin on her arm. As she looks down, she seems so lost, like if she's thinking of an old memory that put her through hell with this damn bite in the first place.
"Well", Joel walks to her, making himself known. "Looks like we're walking."
She looks up at him, rolling down her sleeve to cover up her bite mark. She slid off the driver's seat and shuts the door.
"Should be a straight shot through here", he calls out. He points over to the wired fence.
"Alright", she murmurs.
As they were walking, Ellie seems to wonder off in her mind, thinking about the things that now had occurred. She thought more about Joel and the Fireflies but she knew something was off. How could she not question the obvious? Like when she woke up back in the car with a hospital gown with a splitting headache. Even when she asked him what happened, she knew something was up. Just the way he wouldn't look at her and how he became nervous and stuttered a bit.
"Actually kinda pretty, ain't it?" He questions her.
She snaps out of it, a bit hesitant before she response back.
"Yeah"
Joel was holding the wires for her, so she can get through more easily.
"Now watch your head going through", he said with caution as he sees her step through.
She made on the other side, now helping her old companion get through.
"Here", she said, holding down the wire. "Got it."
She watches him go through, making a long groaning sound as he straightens back. He felt his bones crack and his muscle loosen.
"Feelin' my age now", he said with a smirk, making Ellie huff and rolls her eyes.
They continued to walk, so did Ellie mind, wondering away. She knew something was up. She knew that he's lying to her. Everything he told her that day, it was complete utter bullshit. Well yeah, there may be people like her but are they really? It's not there's a line a people ready to get their head cut open to help this cause. Hell, maybe this cure thing didn't work. But she doesn't know that, maybe it would've.
"Don't think I ever told you this but Sarah and I used to take hikes like this", Joel admits.
Once again, it caught Ellie's attention. She was falling behind a bit, so she starts to jog up next to him.
"I think ah…I think the two of you would've been good friends", he admits with a bit of sadness in his voice. "Think you really woulda liked her. I know she woulda liked you."
"I bet I would've", she said with a sad, fond smile on her freckled face.
She climbs up onto a steep hill, finally catch up to the now amazed Joel looking over the settlement.
"Wow", he pointed out. "Look down there."
He continued to jog down the hill at a slow pace. Ellie, on the other hand, still stand there over the horizon. She was amazed of what she saw, seeing many cabins with a lot of people walking around like there is nothing to worry about. It just blew her away.
She looks down at Joel, almost reaching to the bottom of the hill, jogging down to him.
"Just a little bit further now", he states, walking through the stream.
Ellie follows his lead, until she walks up to Joel, who is now looking up at the ledge. He got up over the log and took a big leap up to the ledge. As he does so, the log broke off and almost made Joel loose his grip.
"Oh shit!" He screams out.
He uses his upper body strength to pull himself up successfully. It was a bit of a problem; Ellie can't get up on her own, but he doesn't mind helping her up. She gets on top of the log, looking up at him, reaching down to her.
"Here, I got you", he calls out. "C'mon, gimme your hand."
She jumps up, successfully grabbing his hand. He starts to pull her up while she uses some of her upper body strength to pull herself up. Both of them help each other out until they finally got her up, which was a success.
Ellie wipes off the sweat and dirt from her palms on to her old, ragged skinny jeans. She also adjusts the straps on her backpack before they head off.
"Alright come on", Joel gestures to her, now starting to walk away.
Something stopped her from moving, having that feeling building up in her chest again-guilt. She doesn't know why but she feels that way. Maybe it was because of not giving herself up for the world. Maybe it because she felt like she should've turn just like everyone else. What makes her so special like any other person? She doesn't know; she doesn't want to be special. It's not like she ask for this, any of this. She feels bad, not just for herself, but others. Like Tess and Sam, and Riley. Riley. She was there when she got bit; both of them were. So every time she looks at her bite mark, it always is a sad, constant reminder of what happened that summer day with Riley and her. Maybe that's why it's her fault. Because of her, she couldn't do anything to stop it. Maybe, maybe it's time…to let it out.
"Hey, wait", Ellie calls out.
Joel stops from his tracks and turns back around, walking up to the girl slowly.
She looks up into his eyes, ready to say it but it wouldn't form. She grabs her ring finger and rubs it, for her comfort. She felt lost, like she's drifting off to a whole other place. She shook it off, walking away from him for a moment, to make her more confident and then let it out.
She turns back around. Her back was straighter, standing up tall for her sake, to be confident. She looks into his eyes, with so much boldness and power. She was ready, to let it out.
"Back in Boston, back where I was bitten", she states out. "I wasn't alone". She shook her head back and forth. "My best friend was there, and she got bit too." She raises her arms out a bit. "We didn't know what to do." Her eyes left him, wondering off on her own, thinking back on what happened that day. "So, she says…"Let's just way it out. Y'know we can be poetic and lose our minds together"…I'm still waiting for my turn."
"Ellie", Joel softly calls out to her, now feeling bad for what she's has been through.
"Her name was Riley and she was the first to die", chocking up a bit. "And then it was Tess…and then Sam."
"None of that is on you," he says, crossing his arms.
"No, you don't understand," she says, whimpering a bit.
"I struggled a long time with survivin'", he points out. "And you…"
He drifts off, looking down at his broken watch that Sarah gave him for his 28th birthday 20 years ago. It was constant reminder of what happened that tragic day but yet Ellie reminds him of Sarah, giving back his humanity and hope.
He shakes it off before continuing.
"No matter what", he says looking up at her. "You keep finding something to fight for."
Ellie huffs out a stressful sigh. Her eyes were closed, her back hunched over, and now shaking her head a bit, like what he said was ridiculous.
"Now I know that's not what you want to hear right now but it's-"
"Swear to me."
Her statement was bold and powerful. She'd never hesitated at the slightest. It's enough for her, but she needs to know. She needs from him if everything he'd said was true. It was now or never.
"Swear to me that everything that you said about the Fireflies is true."
He shifts awkwardly, taking him a moment before speaking one more, bold and confident.
"I swear."
She looks up at him with her green, sparkling eyes. She looks away from him for a moment, thinking to herself.
"I think he's lying. Straight to my face, you sick bastard." Ellie thought. "Just the way he hesitates, taking a while to answer me. He can't keep even look in my damn eyes when he said it!"
She closes her eyes and left a heavy huff, keeping her cool.
"Alright, I'll give time", she thought. "If he says something that I didn't say, I'm mentioning it to him. One way or another."
"Okay", was all she said, shaking her head in satisfaction.
She walks off away from him, never looking back. Joel's eyes fallen back from Ellie, feeling bad about lying to her, back driving away from Salt Lake City and even now. Just the way she looked into his eye, he felt his heart shattered. Maybe she knew; he hopes not. Even though she's a smart, mature teenage girl to figure things out on her own, he stills feels she's not ready for the truth.
"One day", he thought. "When you're old enough, I'll tell you the truth. I'll tell you everything."
He looks back down at his broken watch, caressing it with his thumb. He felt the crack glass beneath his thumb, rubbing the dirty face. Beneath the dirt and grime, the glass reflects, seeing his dark salt-n-pepper hair and his wrinkles and bags under his eyes. He looks back at Ellie; she now reached the bottom of the hill.
"Ellie, stop!" Joel calling out from the top of the hill down. "Wait for me!"
Ellie slows down her pace and turns around slowly, without a care in the world. She sees him jogging down the steep him, being careful not to lose his balance and fall because of the so many rocks and holes. She waits for him anyway.
"What?" She said carelessly. "I'm right here", throwing her out.
He finally caught up to her. Not of because he's a little irritable for her carelessness walking alone but he was starting to get concerned about her. Even from the car drive here, he noticed her changed: she wasn't as talkative like she was, becoming more distant and less happy, and hell, she's isn't cracking stupid puns with that joke book of hers. He missed that, despite the fact it annoyed the hell out of him, he missed seeing her smile and laughing away. But goddammit, that isn't simple.
"I know just…don't wonder off like that", Joel said softly. "Who knows what's out there? Someone or something can pop out of nowhere. "
"Infected, bandits…Psychopaths who eat people and prey on small, innocent children", Ellie darkly thought.
She shivered at that though, quickly burying it down inside her before it gets worse. She shook her head, turns around slowly, walking toward the tall, well-protected wall. To be honest, she doesn't feel like talking. Her body is full of fatigue and stress; she just so damn tired, like she could sleep for years.
Joel was about to stop her once more, but quickly shut it mouth, knowing it was useless talking to her in this state. His eyes closed for a moment, leaving out a heavy sigh before continuing following her to the settlement.
They both finally made it to the wall, staring at a tall door made out of strong material 20 feet high up as the rest of the wall continue to surround the settlement.
Joel saw a large handle on the door, figuring he can get inside using that. He looks at Ellie, who is surprisingly staring back at him, shrugging a bit. He walks up to the tall door, ready to pull the handle.
"Hey!" A male's voice screams down at them. "Get back from the wall now!"
Both of them jumped from the unexpected outburst. Joel remains cool but Ellie, on the other, immediately react by pulling her pistol out, pointing it straight up at him.
"Tell the kid to drop it now!" He readjusts his rifle, getting a better aim if one of them does something stupid.
"Ellie", Joel sternly told her. "Do as the man says." Now looking at her with full of seriousness.
"Okay", she says, holding her gun in the air.
"State your business", the male, around his mid-50's, said with a stern voice.
"We just came here to see Tommy and Maria, trying to find a place to live", Joel said.
"Why?" He asks with suspicion, raising his eyebrow at him. "How do you know them?"
"Tommy's my brother", he explains to the ill-tempered man. "We we're here last fall to talk care of certain things."
The man lowers his rifle a bit. He may recognize him when the bandits attacked the plant last year. But he wasn't quite sure. He put his rifle off the side for a moment, reaching for his walkie-talkie in his front pocket. He brought the large, black walkie-talkie to his mouth, clearing his throat.
"Hey Tommy", the male said, his deep voice a bit strain from yelling earlier.
"Yeah?" Tommy calls on the other line.
"Some people are here to see you, saying that he's your brother."
It was quiet on the end for a moment, before speaking again.
"Alright, I'm on my way", he say, now checking out.
The man puts his large, black walkie-talkie back in his front pocket.
"He said he's on his way", the man said. "Wait a minute or two, will ya?"
He grabs his rifle, which was slouched over his shoulder, and holds his weapon with a tight grip; now he's slowing walking way, keeping a sharp eye on the two yet guarding the perimeter.
"The guy has a fucking…stick up his ass", Ellie said, putting her pistol back in her back pocket.
"Just be happy that he wasn't shooting at us," Joel looks over to her, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah", she mumbles.
She bit the inside of her check, now looking at the ground and her dirty black converse. He looks at her with concern once more, shifting his feet as he now cross his arms.
"Is there a problem?" Joel questions her.
Ellie looks up at him, eye to eye with her eyebrow raised.
"What do you mean?"
"You just", he said. "You just seem quieter than usual."
"Am I always?" She says sarcastically yet kind of teasing, smirking a bit but then faded quickly.
"Ellie", he sighs out, uncrossing his arms, stepping toward her a bit as if he's reaching out to her. "If it's about what happened back there…the um, Fireflies…I me-"
"Joel", Ellie raised her voice a bit, holding a hand out in front of him. "I'm just…I'm just really tired, okay?"
"Yeah…okay…"he mumbles out under his breath, thinking now it's best to leave her be.
Their attention was caught by the big, large door swinging open. As the door opens up further, they both can see Tommy and Maria, walking calmly with their weapons on their holsters, with a sincere and relieve smile on their face.
"God damn", Tommy murmurs, with a satisfied smile on his face. "I was thinking when you two would get back."
Both brothers walk up to each and have an on-and-on embrace, hugging each other like if it was the first time seeing each other again.
"And look at that", Tommy pulls back. "You still got older when I'd last seen ya."
"Hey, what did I say about taking it easy", Joel chuckles; he lightly punch his baby brother's shoulder.
His eyes are now fallen on to his sister-in-law Maria. Even though she is his sister and friendly, he is still kind of afraid of her
"M'am", He rubs the back of his neck. "How you've been doin'?"
"Better than ever I guess", Maria replies back, smirking. "Why you address me as m'am? Are you afraid of me or something?"
"Uh…"Joel awkwardly states. "…maybe a little…"
"Good", she smirks once more. "That'll keep you in line for taking him away from me." She's now gesturing at Tommy, grinning to him and back at Joel.
Ellie looks at Maria and Joel, biting her bottom lip, to hold back a grin forming on her freckled face. Maria notices her, now smiling at her.
"Ellie, how you doing?" She said smiling fondly at her.
"Uh…better than the last time I was here I guess", she said smirking a bit.
Maria smiles at the girl, looking over at her husband and her brother.
"I think it's time to head back inside", Maria lays her hand on Tommy's forearm.
"Yeah, come on", gesturing the two inside the settlement. "We'll find you two a place and about an hour or two, we and the town can celebrate for your return home."
Ellie was astonished, her mouth dropped open a bit, can't even believe what she was hearing.
"A home?" She perks up. "Celebration?!"
"I thought you were tired?" Joel said with amusement.
"Not anymore!" She said running off through the door.
The three adults finds her childlike innocent to be amusing.
"She's a weird kid but she is something", Joel said, smiling at her and her happiness.
All three of the adults walk through the door, closing the tall door, finally going to a place where Joel and Ellie can call home.
AN: OMFG, after all this time (mainly the last 2 days) this was exciting to write. Even though bros, you may recognize one part of the game. (May? That's outrageous man, the bros know XD)but it would help my writing skills. Plus, if I just went straight to my "creative" part of the prologue , it wouldn't be long. I wouldn't be satisfied with it. Nope. Shut up, I'm picky like that! DON'T JUDGE ME!" LOL XD You bros should be happy that I wrote this, it's 2:18 in the morning! On a school night! And I didn't even take a shower yet! OMFG, that's outrageous! So, since I care about you bros over my precious sleep…your welcome ;) Well, bros, I better go. I gotta take care of things and head off to bed. Bye! :D *brofist*
