mgowriter's notes: This story takes place 2 years after the end of Uncharted 3 and many years before "Searching for Hope," my other Uncharted/The Last of Us Story. It's the most challenging piece of fanfic I've written to date, partly due to the wintery/gloomy mood I was in and partly due to what happens in the story itself, but I'm happy I stuck with it! The next one will be different, I promise.
Edit: Finally got around to posting the chapters separately.
Chapter 1: Danger
Victor Sullivan observed his surroundings cautiously. The residential block was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos on the more heavily trafficked streets in the city. The faint bustle of a window curtain across the street caught his attention. He frowned, wondering how many other pairs of eyes were watching him. Hurrying from his car to the brick building, he pressed the button next to an apartment number on the third floor.
"It's open," a voice sounded over the intercom as the door buzzed.
Nathan Drake opened his door just as Sully rounded the last flight of stairs.
"Sully, come in," he said in greeting.
The older man nodded, looking around as he entered the apartment. The living room was in more disarray than usual, with newspapers, magazines, and empty mugs littered across the coffee table. A trail of toys made its way through the room, ending just below the TV screen mounted on the wall. Although the volume was muted, the news coverage was continuous.
It had been the same thing, and increasing so, for the past ten days. They were calling it the Ophio Infection—a fungus that jumped species and could now infect humans. Experts who had a chance to study it were coming forward to suggest it had been altered by humans for use as a biological weapon. Hospitals, houses, and even neighborhoods were being quarantined. The first reported case was in California, but it was spreading, fast. The National Guard had already been sent to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta.
It entered the body by way of blood or saliva, and made its way quickly to the brain. There were reports, some believable, some preposterous, of personalities being changed by the infection. With the breakdown of order, the number of rioters grew in the bigger cities. People were scared. There were rumors that martial law would be implemented soon.
"You're packing a lot of heat for a visit." Nate's comment brought Sully out of his thoughts.
He absently touched the handle of the Smith & Wesson revolver at his side.
"It's not just a visit."
Sully pictured the assortment of pistols and rifles in the back seat of his car, along with the extra gasoline and duffle bag he packed earlier in the morning.
"Nate, is that Sully?" Elena's voice interjected from the bedroom before he could elaborate.
She emerged a second later, holding their squirming seven month old daughter in her arms.
"I'm glad you're here," she said, and walked over to hug him. Her usually warm demeanor was tense, her eyes full of worry.
Ellie, wearing a miniature pink dress and socks to match, wiggled around in her mother's hold. Her pudgy hand reached toward Sully.
"Hi there," Sully said with a genuine smile, lowering himself to her level.
Ellie mirrored his smile, revealing four baby teeth. She grabbed for Sully again, this time with both arms.
"Here," Elena said, as she handed Ellie to him. "She only does that for you, you know."
"What's that?" Sully asked, securing the child in his arms.
"Look cute and adorable. She's an absolute monster when it's just the two of us."
Sully laughed. "Is that right?" he asked Ellie, who answered with her own cooing. "I guess there's just something about the Victor Sullivan charm. Girls can't seem to resist it."
Elena rolled her eyes, but smiled at the sight of Sully entertaining her daughter.
. . .
"What do you think, Sully?" Nate's voice brought them back to reality. He turned to look at the TV. "This stuff sounds crazy."
Sully nodded, handing Ellie back to Elena.
"It sounds like a goddamn science fiction movie that's getting worse by the hour. Did you hear about them stopping all flights last night?"
Both Nate and Elena nodded.
"I think we should leave, get out of the city, maybe out of the state, find somewhere where there's less people and wait it out."
"I don't know," Nate hesitated. "Ellie's not even a year old. It'll be hard to go on the run with her."
Sully shook his head. "I don't think we have a better option. If the infection gets here and they decide to quarantine the city, who knows what's going to happen? We're going to have a helluva lot harder time trying to get out. We should go now, today."
"We can't just—"
Nate's next words were engulfed by the loud punctuation of three gunshots outside.
Frightened by the noise and the reaction of the adults, Ellie started to cry. Nate walked quickly to the window.
"They're gone," he said, "I don't see anything."
Sully straightened himself from his instinctual crouch.
"Look, kid, I know it's dangerous, but we've been in some pretty hairy spots before. You've got me, and Elena can hold her own. We do this together, and we make it out alive. It's getting too unstable to stay here, especially in a building with twenty other people who are scared to death and willing to shoot the first person that crosses their path."
"Sully's right," said Elena, holding a teary-eyed Ellie. "We can't stay here."
Nate looked between his best friend and his wife. Their reasoning made sense, but he couldn't shake the growing doubt in the back of his mind.
"Okay, okay," Nate finally agreed. "But we stick together, and we do this the right way. We can't risk anything happening to ourselves or to Ellie."
"Good," said Sully. "Elena, you stay here and pack. Nate and I will go get as much food and water as we can fit in the car. Be ready to go when we get back."
"Wait," Elena said, as the two men headed for the door. She walked towards Nate and kissed him on the lips. They exchanged a look before she turned to Sully. "Be careful, the both of you."
"I'll keep him in check," said Sully. He turned his attention to Ellie, who was now sniffling into her mother's shirt. He wiped a stray tear from her cheek and kissed her soft, brown hair. "See you soon, Ellie."