Two days had passed and Ellie, Tommy, Joel and Dominic were still staying by the lake. Between the four of them they had managed to build shelter even though it was just a few logs and branches crammed together, build a fire and gather some supplies. It wasn't exactly a picnic in the park but they were surviving. Ellie and Dominic weren't talking to each other after their heated confrontation.
"We can't stay here much longer. It's not the safest of places Joel" Tommy said.
"Yeah you're right. We can gather up any supplies we can get our hands on and then set off tomorrow" Joel commented.
"I'd prefer if we left this afternoon. We can use this morning to get anything we need. Plus it's coming up to hurricane season and we aren't well protected. I recon if we headed off in a couple hours we could all go back to Jackson County an-" Tommy was interrupted.
"Look… I don't mean to be rude. I've really appreciated you guys helping me out these last few days but we have to go our separate ways. I can't come back with you to Jackson County. You have people to get back to and so do I. It's been a real pleasure meeting you- well… almost all of you but it really would be for the best if I just got out of your way". Dominic said.
"Oh no… You're leaving already… That's a shame…" Ellie said sarcastically.
"Ellie that's enough" said Joel putting his arm out in front of Ellie to stop her from approaching Dominic.
"Ellie look! I know you don't like me and if I'm being perfectly honest I'm not that keen on you either" Dominic said before being rudely interrupting by Ellie
"No! You listen here shit head! You've been nothing but trouble since you got here. I should've just left you back at the cabin and then we wouldn't even be in this situation! We'd probably already be in Jackson County! In a safe place with nice people and warm food! But no! You had to come along and just fuck everything up! So please… Do us a favour and just leave now" Ellie shouted at Dominic leaving him quite startled.
"Ellie stop! Go cool off somewhere! Just go!" Joel shouted at Ellie. He couldn't help but feel guilty after shouting at her.
Joel ran after Ellie. Once he had caught up with her he could see that she was crying.
"Ellie I'm sorry but you have to calm it down. We don't know what he's like. He could be a murderer for all we know. You can't just keep losing your cool like that"
"Fuck you Joel! Ever since he's been here it's all been about Dominic! Oh Dominic you wanna play cards?! Oh Dominic you wanna go hunting?! Oh Domi-" Ellie broke down.
"Hey hey hey! Stop this. You're acting crazy this isn't like you" Joel said whilst putting his arms around her.
"You don't get it do you? It's not just about Dominic. I know Joel… I know..." Ellie wiped away her tears and moved away from Joel.
"You know what, Ellie?" Joel looked concerned.
"A few months back when all that went down with Marlene at the hospital. Afterwards you told me that they gave up because there were others like me and they couldn't find a cure. I know that isn't true Joel. I know that I was the only chance of this hell hole finally coming to an end and you stopped that from happening. Why Joel? Do you wanna spend the rest of your life having to live like this? Every day we wake up knowing that it's kill or be killed. Don't you want that to stop?" Ellie sat down on the floor.
"Ellie it's not that simple. You don't understand" Joel was finding it hard to swallow back his tears.
"Then help me understand Joel" Ellie looked up at Joel and gestured him to sit down.
"I can't Ellie. I just can't. You have to understand that what went down that night was the right thing to do. Maybe one day you'll understand but now, in this moment, I just can't"
Ellie stood up, "Okay then. If you aren't gonna tell me then I want nothing to do with you. I don't want you to talk to me I don't even want you to look at me Joel. We had a real chance at stopping this but you just ruined it. Not just for me or for you but for Tommy, for Marlene and for every other person fighting in this messed up world" She began to walk away from Joel
"Ellie please…" Joel sounded helpless
Ellie had walked back to the lake and saw Tommy. He was sitting on a log skinning a small rabbit. She sat on the log with Tommy and began to pick at the grass tufts surrounding her feet.
"Hey Kiddo you alright?" Tommy asked
"Yeah I'm okay… I think" Ellie said with a sad tone to her voice. Joel eventually walked back to the lake to join the rest of the group. As he approached the camp, Ellie stood up and moved over to their make shift beds.
"Ellie?" Tommy asked sounding concerned. He looked at Joel and hoped he would give him some answers.
"She knows Tommy. She knows about what went down at the Firefly Lab" Joel said whilst crying
"What?! She knows about you shooting Marlene too?" Tommy said jumping up to his feet
"No! and it's best if it stays that way. She can never know about Marlene Tommy. Promise me you won't say anything to her!" Joel was pleading at Tommy
"You killed Marlene?" Dominic came out from behind the bushes and stood with his hands in his pockets looking at Tommy and Joel.
"Shit" Joel said.