"So...lets keep moving.." Joel said. He knew she didn't believe him. Not fully anyway. It made him question his decision. His decision to save her but...would she had really wanted to give up her life for a chance at a cure? Or-
"Ok, let's go" Ellie said she said trying to force a smile.
"Ok..." Joel meekly replied. They headed down the hillside in silence. The skies were beautiful, the perfect mix of blue with an orange haze in the horizon. The breeze was chilling as it collided with the sweat they built up because of hike toward the town. Joel stole glances at Ellie, who walked behind him, head looking down as she buried herself in her own thoughts. He sighed. His own guilt was slowly creeping up on him, threatening to strangle him if given a chance. No. He wouldn't let it. He made...he made the right choice. he needed to do something, anything to lighten the mood. It only took a few seconds and a smile etched its way unto his face.
"I said Grandpa what's this picture here..." Joel began.
"What?" Ellie said, looking up at his face, puzzled at such a random comment from him.
"It's all black and white, and it ain't real clear" Joel continued, much more in tune than before. Then it hit her. He was singing. A mischievous smile was slowly making its way on her face as she continued to listen.
"Is that you there, he said yeah, I was eleven
And times were tough, back in thirty-five
That's me and Uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
A cotton farm, in the Great Depression" It felt strange and awkward to Joel at first. It's been so long since he's done this, so long since he had time to do this. So long since he had a reason to do this. He slowed down his pace a little while really getting into the song. He must admit that this...it felt great!
"And if it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color" Ellie chuckled a bit at those words. Somehow she thought it sounded funny. She didn't know what song it was but she was clearly amused and the sight before her. Joel. Singing. She silently urged him to continue by walking closer to him.
"This one here was taken overseas
In the middle of hell, in nineteen forty-three
In the winter time, you can almost see my breath
That was my tail gunner ole' Johnny McGee
He was a high school teacher from New Orleans
And he had my back, right through the day we left"
If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should've seen it in color
And this one is my favorite one
This is me and grandma in the, summer sun
All dressed up, the day we said our vows
You can't tell it here but it was hot that June
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
And just look at that smile, I was so proud
That's the story of my life
Right there in black and whiteeee"...his voice cracked.
"Haha. What was that?" Ellie asked laughing.
"Hey it's been a mighty long time, I'd say this old man did pretty good yes?" He responded, visibly happy that Ellie had brightened up.
"It's not bad...haha. Ok it was pretty good. Except that last part," Ellie laughed. "Did you write that song?"
"No it's a song by-a...Jamey Johnson," Joel replied, "it was one of my favorites back in the day."
"Oh, well it's nice," she replied smiling.
"Yeah..." Joel sighed, "ok we're almost there." Ellie was taken aback a bit. She didn't know that they were this close to the town. She was so caught up with Joel's song that she didn't pay attention to where she was going.
"So what happens when we get there?" Ellie asked.
"Well, we try to just...settle down I guess. Take it easy," he responded.
"That sounds good," said Ellie, "right now Im starving though."
"Always hungry," laughed Joel.
"Hey it's not my fault I'm growing up," retorted Ellie.
"Ok, ok. As soon as we get there we'll have something to eat," Joel answered as they approached the main gate of the town. The town was surrounded by thick barricades made of metal and wood with barbed wire structures that stood about 20 feet off the ground. It certainly looked sturdy enough to offer protection.
"Ok but you'll have to carry me soon if we don't," Ellie spoke.
"Wait, listen. You hear that?" Joel asked. Ellie listened and furrowed her eyebrows.
"I don't hear anything," said Ellie.
"Exactly," Joel said deadpan, "no guards either." Ellie thought for a bit.
"Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's just the way it is," Ellie said.
"Maybe..." Said Joel, " alright help me with this." He nodded toward the gate. Both he and Ellie pushed the heavy gates open and peered inside.
"Where is everybody?" asked Ellie.
"Maybe further down," Joel said. They closed the gate behind them proceeded to walk further inside the settlement. Both of them couldn't help but keep their guards up because it was quiet. Too quiet. They threaded cautiously, creeping up to the nearest house they saw. It was a simple wooden house with windows that were shielded by wood instead of glass. It looked recently built also, probably no more than a year old. Joel peered inside.
"Nothing," he stated simply. He crept along the side of the house, with Ellie right on his heels. There was nothing when he looked on the other side. He heard no sounds of movement, he didn't hear anything at all except the accelerated breathing of Ellie behind him. The place so far seemed...deserted.
"Let's check these houses, see if there's anything or anyone that can help us," Joel said.
"Right," Ellie said. They headed to the house directly opposite to the one they were just at before and it looked basically the same.
"Alright stay close," Joel said as they entered through the front door. Everything seemed in order, but there was dust everywhere. All the furniture and eating utensils, the toys in the corner next to the bed. All dusty.
" It's been abandoned a while," Joel said.
"But why?" asked Ellie.
"I don't know, but we have to find tommy," he said, "maybe he can tell us what the hell,is going on." Clunk
"What was that?" Asked Ellie.
"Shhh," Joel retorted. They stood completely still, listening for any other noises. But none came. "Let's get out of here." They walked out from where they came and made a bend to the right into a lane that would lead them to what looked like the centre of the town.
While they headed along this passageway, something staggered out into their view in the distance.
"Shit, get down," Joel said, grabbing Ellie and pulling her down behind a couple of barrels at the side.
"What the fuck? Is that...a runner?" Ellie asked concerned. It can be seen, even at this distance, that it was having spasms, holding his head. Faint moaning could have been heard as the tension rose.
"It can't be..." Joel said in disbelief, "if a runner's here then that means..."
"The town people," Ellie offered, " do you think they..."
"Let's just go around it, we go back, use another passageway and get behind him," said Joel .
"Okay," Ellie said as the both backed up slowly and quietly, toward the bend they took. They never took their eyes off of that runner in the distance as they crept back. They didn't know how long it took but they finally arrived back to the passageway entrance.
"Alright, we made it. Lets just go around and head up the other way," Joel said. But when he turned to get moving in that direction, he bumped into Ellie who was standing still, almost statue like.
"Ellie what's wrong with y-," his voice trailed off. There in front of him, about a dozen or more runners were scattered, standing in place, heads in their hands.
"Joel?" Ellie said.
"Don't move Ellie," Joel whispered, "Don't. Move."