Chapter 2: Origins

Ellie stood up quickly, the bowl of soup crashing to the ground with its content spreading all over the floor. She began to back away from Gale but felt as if the walls were quickly closing in on her.

It couldn't be. He couldn't be. She ended him. His head was nothing more than a puddle that his sick counterparts probably turned into soup later. The last sound out of that sadistic fuck was one of mercy. But she sure as hell didn't give it. No way.

"I know what you're thinking." Gale spoke up. He finished the last of his own soup and placed the empty bowl on the table in front of him. "Let me ease your worries. I'm not him. I'm not David."

Ellie let out a shaky breath, one she felt like she was holding in the entire time. It was one of relief but she still did not feel at ease.

"But I reckon you can see the resemblance. I won't deny it, David and I are blood. He's my older brother."

"Y-your brother?" Ellie said.

"Indeed he is, or was anyway."

"You know he's-"

"Dead?" Gale interjected. "Found out a little while back. I found out brother dear wasn't too far away from me so I decided to pay him a little visit."

"His crew let you in? They weren't exactly too friendly." Ellie took a seat.

"They knew who I was. David always talked about me apparently."

Silence filled the air.

"To be honest with you," Gale started. "I'm not surprised that David hasn't changed much. On the other hand, I may have set my expectations too high."

"What do you mean?"

"Gale chuckled. "Ah you're wise beyond your years. But you're still young in the end. You weren't around during the good old days, before it literally became hell on Earth." Gale stood up and began to walk around the living room.

"Ask anyone about what it was like before the Cordyceps hit and they'll all tell you a similar tale. A tale about being just a person, just trying to get through the struggles of the modern world. David was no different."

"David was a pretty well established man. Very well educated if you can believe it. A masters in Psychology and English."

"A masters...is that good?" Ellie asked.

"One of the highest you can earn, but below a PhD and a doctorate, depending on your field. But it still takes a lot of work, dedication, and lost hours of sleep to get."

"Wow."

"He was a well liked English teacher in High School. His unorthodox way of teaching was a hit with the kids. He not only taught them, he connected with them. He taught them about life. He was their friend as well as an educator. Everything was going great for him. Shoot, I even aspired to be like him."

"So everything went to shit when the Cordyceps hit?" Ellie asked.

Gale clicked his tongue and sat back down on the couch. "Quite long before that actually."

"Now as great a teacher David was, he was a little tough on the grading. He liked to challenge his students and push them to their full potentials. When you got an A in his class, it was accompanied by a sense of accomplishment. You felt like you deserved it."

"He taught at a junior level, and in the junior year of high school the grades mattered the most when it came to applying for colleges. Students would strive to have nothing below a B- minus and getting the coveted straight As were a dream come true."

"So they couldn't get any Cs then?" Ellie was somewhat familiar with the grading system and knew that a C meant average. It's what she always went for.

"Getting Cs would be pushing the envelope a bit. But it's safe to say, those who were working double time to get straight As or to have the grand mixture of As and Bs were the ones who were either trying to keep the streak going or fucked up in their first two years and were trying to turn it around now."

"Sounds stressful." Ellie commented.

"Those were the ways of the world. People your age would get so stressed out, it would lead to consequences, sometimes dire. Even cost them their lives." Gale laughed dryly. "Funny how the dynamics of the world can shift in a blink. Going from keeping your grades on point, to just trying to keep your head on point. Get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah..."

"Anyway, another imperfection with David's teaching methods was he didn't believe in extra credit. He believed you either got it on the first try, or you don't. But students were desperate. So he cut them a deal."

"What was the deal?" Ellie asked, dreading the direction this story was taking.

"Simply put, he offered grades for favors."

"What kind of favors?" Ellie asked. She chastised herself for asking such a dumb question.

"The worst kind. And if you didn't do it to his liking or he caught wind that you told someone, whether it be a fellow classmate, a family member, even their fucking pet, ANYONE, and he found out, the deal would be dropped and the student's grade would remain. He even threatened failure. And he knew how to flip the script if a student accused him of this once they graduated. It's happened three times. A real shame how shit like that often went back then."

"This was allowed?" Ellie asked incredulously.

"It sure as hell wasn't legal, but some who weren't supposed to, got free passes or a slap on the wrist. Some would blame the victim for letting it happen. In my humble opinion, the only positive thing that arose from this outbreak is things got a lot simpler. Things were so complex back then." Gale shook his head.

"As you could imagine, this became an addiction for and it overtook his teaching style. Eventually this disintegrated into him giving bad grades on purpose, just so he could have anyone he deemed special in his clutches."

Ellie shuddered.

"He didn't discriminate either. Boys, girls, and everything in between."

"Was he ever caught or did the CBI break out beforehand?" Ellie asked.

"I don't know if this was fate or karma that shit would hit the fan, but lord did they for him. When he found out she was pregnant, he threatened failure if she tried to get rid of the baby in any form, whether it be accidental, an abortion, or just giving it up for adoption. Her parents kicked her out. Her chances of getting into her dream school were fleeting away. Her friends wound up abandoning her too. Because she was all on her own she had no choice but to stay with him."

"One of his neighbors noticed something was off about the two of them and they alerted authorities. They got into contact with her and with courage on her side, she told them everything. DNA tests checked out. Internal and undercover investigations were conducted and they found evidence of several cases in the span of years. He was arrested but the outbreak broke out before he could be officially convicted and jailed."

"Wow." Ellie shook his head. She was surprised but at the same time, she wasn't. Every sick person has their sick origins. Old habits die hard, even when the rest of the world has.

"When I came to see David a few weeks back, the people in his group would tell me what he would do to some of the young people. I heard your name come up. I'm guessing you offed him before y'all got to the main event?"

"Something like that." Ellie muttered.

Gale sighed. "Well that's the past." He stood up and cracked his neck. "I suppose that's enough story time for tonight. You check out for the night, I'll clean up this mess."

"You sure?"

"Don't be crazy, you're a guest. Take the load off. You look like you need it. First room on the right is the guest room, there's a bathroom in there as well if you need it."

"Okay." Ellie stood up and made her way to the stairs. "Good night."

"Sleep tight, don't let them clickers bite, you hear?"

Ellie chuckled. "Sure." She went upstairs. Once in her room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, then slowly sliding to the floor.

David's story was heavy but it explained a lot. Everyone's past explains why the way they are now. Even Joel's. Especially Joel's

But what in his past would cause him to lie about what he did? What would force him to choose to doom mankind to save just her?

Maybe she should have given him a chance to explain.

But did he deserve to explain himself? What if he lies again? Ellie wasn't sure.

She didn't know anything anymore.

~T~L~O~U~

"God damn it!" Joel exclaimed, throwing a cup into a wall in frustration, shattering it.

Tommy whistled. "I hate to say it Joel, but we often underestimate how smart Ellie is. She was able to sneak out with none of us the wiser.

"Well I hate to say it, but I may have taught her little too well." Joel said.

"She sure as shit ain't getting anywhere near my horses ever again. I usually believe in three times you're out, but I can't go losing three horses now. Especially 3 of my best." Gavin spoke up. He was the main caretaker of the horses on the settlement.

"I'm guessing she take what you said too well?" Maria asked.

"I don't think she could give a better clue about how she feels."

"What are you guys on about?" Gavin asked.

Joel, Tommy, Maria shared a look. They wanted to keep this a secret but now they may have no other choice. With a nod of agreement, they all took turns, explaining everything. And why this situation may be more dire than ever.

The response was one neither of them were expecting.

"Jesus on a bicycle, Joel!" Gavin exclaimed. "Do you even realize what you've done?! This shit show of a nightmare could have been ended! And all because you can't learn to let things go?"

Tommy winced and Maria looked the other way. Gavin deserved whatever was coming towards him with that comment.

"You wanna run that by me again?" Joel growled.

"All I'm saying is after 20 years it may be time to let things go. I understand your loss but eventually, you got to let things flow down the river, y'know?"

"You have no idea what loss is. So don't get the idea thinking you can tell me how I can fucking deal with mine!"

"Joel, I have lost people too, probably more than you could ever imagine. But I've let it go because I don't dwell on the past. In these days, you can't afford to do that. You honestly think little Sarah would approve of your actions? Dooming humanity for your own selfish cause? I bet she's up there ashamed of you!"

"You keep her name out of your fucking mouth-!"

Tommy stepped in between them. "Look, whether Joel knew it at the time or not, he may have actually done the right thing."

"How the hell do you figure?" Gavin asked with a sneer.

"Truth be told Joel, I see where you're coming from. Now more than ever. Back then, I wasn't too firm of a believer that they could pull of a vaccine. I've seen dozens like Ellie come and go and each outcome was even worse than the last."

"Dozens?" Joel questioned.

Tommy didn't expect Joel to be so shocked. "Yeah, dozens. You honestly think Ellie is the first the fireflies encountered?"

"Your hesitance to take her said a lot."

Tommy shook his head. " When you came here with Ellie, it seemed like she was going to be the one. The one who could end this all. It gave me the tiniest bit of hope. But of course, I still had a bit of doubt brewing. She could have ended up like the others and seeing how close you two are, it would have devastated you. I know that for sure now."

"I've seen too many, way too many people who were immune die in a feeble attempt of making a vaccine. That's why I lost faith in the fireflies and left. I couldn't stand to see someone else give up their life without reason. "

Joel sighed. "Don't you think that information might have been useful about 24 hours ago? We wouldn't even be here having this conversation!"

"Well I didn't anticipate her running off now did I?"

"Those who don't learn their history are doomed to repeat it. Could have saved me another fucking horse."

"For someone who was about a second away from getting his head torn off, you're awfully chatty over there. Maybe you should learn your history, yeah?" Joel said.

Gavin scoffed, brushing off Joel's threat

"She's no doubt headed back to Salt Lake City, but there's no telling where she is right now. Hell, she could already be in danger." Maria said.

Hope was escaping Joel fast. It was about the only thing that stayed in his box and it was getting ready to part with him as well. He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to hold back tears. "Where do we even start?"

"You can start with me."


So we have the origins of David. Thoughts? XD

Who do you think has come to help the crew? Do you think Ellie's in danger yet?

Thanks for reading (and waiting for the next update) and please review =)