As they settled down in an old barn house, the science building already in sight on the horizon, Ellie curiously inspected the campus from a window on the second floor. The whole concept of a university was still pretty foreign to her. A bunch of adults that all just studied? Even though they were all grown up? She'd have to ask Joel about this tomorrow.
She could also see this big open field with wide ascending steps surrounding it. Joel had told her that it was a stadium, and that they used to play football in it. He wanted to explain the rules to her, but not today, as he said he was too tired and that they were too complicated. Ellie was eager to learn them anyway and to play it someday. Oh wait, I can't.
She almost forgot. They were about to end their journey. She didn't know what Joel would do after all this, but for Ellie it was the end of the line. Marlene had wanted to keep that a secret from her, but Ellie had secretly read some files back in Boston, after the doctors there had tested her. They had to remove her brain in order to get the cure, and the only reason they hadn't done it yet, was because they didn't have the right equipment there.
She had been absolutely okay with that. After Riley had died, she had lost most of her will to live, and sacrificing herself for the greater good seemed like the only possible outcome. Tess' and Sam's death had only confirmed her in her stance. What was one death compared to saving everyone else?
But now she wasn't so sure on that anymore. Because once again, she had grown attached to someone. In the last couple of weeks, Joel's embrace had become the happiest place she knew. He was almost... almost like a father. And now she knew that he had once actually been one. Wasn't he already seeing her as more than a protégé? What would it do to him to lose another daughter? And was she really about to sacrifice all of this? For the possibility of a cure? The files she had read also revealed that they couldn't be certain, she would produce a working vaccine. And even if it worked, who was she saving? The hunters in Pittsburgh? The military in Boston? The only people she could think of, that actually seemed decent, were those in Tommy's community.
But she couldn't just do that, could she?
The next morning, Joel didn't have to wake Ellie up for once. To his surprise, she was wide awake, but still curled up on him, as it was normal for the two, to conserve body heat at night.
»Good to go?« he asked.
All he received as an answer was a short nod. What the hell is wrong with her now? Normally she was active and excited within less than a minute of rising. But now she just walked downstairs to the horse, which she had decided to name Callus.
What kind a name is Callus anyway?, Joel thought as he watched her. Something wasn't right. This wasn't the Ellie he knew. She never was despondent.
Except for that one time of course. When she had run away. When he'd had to accept that she meant something to him. He was reluctant to use the term daughter. That wouldn't do Sarah justice, would it? But now that he thought of it, they would've been good friends. Maybe even... sisters?
»Everything all right?« he asked as she was already saddling the horse.
She sighed »How long do you think will it take until we're there«
»Probably until late evening. Why d'you ask?«
»Was Tommy serious when he said there'd be a place for you?«
Joel still had no cluewhat she was trying to get at, but he played along »I reckon he was«
»So, would there be one for me as well?«
»Uhh... I suppose so«
She took another look at the horizon.
»We don't have to do this« she said.
»What's the other option?« Joel asked
»Go back to Tommy's. Just be done with this whole fucking thing. We could just, you know... Build ourselves a good live there... together«
Joel's heart skipped a beat. There was nothing he'd rather do. The mere image of it made him, a grown man and a murder-machine, almost cry. But there had to be something wrong with that.
»But why do you suddenly want that, Ellie?«
»Well... There's something that you don't know yet...