Edited chapter.

Joel and Ellie walked through the door, he swung his bag on a table. Ellie looked around the room; it was small and all it homed was: a t.v set, a sofa, a single bed in the corner and a tiny kitchen, But it was clean.

"Much better than your old place." She said. Joel chuckled.

"Yeah, much better." To Ellie he seemed a lot more at ease since they got to the apartment.

"What year is it." Joel asked this less like a question and more like he was testing her knowledge.

"2000 and... Shit i always lose track, 32? no 33. Yeah its 2033, why?" Ellie watched as Joel flung himself on the sofa, he opened a can of beer and took a sip. and then another. He looked like he savoured every drop.

"Its 2013." Joel still wasn't looking Ellie in the eye, he knew she wouldn't believe him straight away.

"Fuck you" Ellie laughed, sitting next to him. Joel stayed silent, waiting for her to piece it together. Ellie's face hardened.

"You're being serious, aren't you."

"Yep." Ellie stood up and walked over to the kitchen counter. She leaned over the sink and turned on the tap. The water ran smoothly, not even a trace of mud or grime spluttered out.

"Oh my god..." Ellie walked back over to Joel, and stood in front of him." So this isn't some kind of those 'Post whatever they're called's' little set up!? Shit..." Ellie stormed over to the window, she saw a flashing sign that said motel, and about five people standing around a car chatting.

"There's a shit load of people here Joel, you've gotta be fucking kidding with me, its impossible!"

"Ellie, just watch." Ellie led her eyes to the direction that Joel was pointing, the T.V flashed on at the click of a button, and on the screen were two people dressed in suits. The headline above them read 'Mass murderer caught on the 25th may. 12 confirmed dead.' Ellie sat down again, she couldn't believe it, it was 2013.

Thoughts raced through Ellie's mind about what would happen to her now. Joel had a life in this time yet she didn't even exist. Joel began to tell her most about what he knew about the situation- Primarily about the laws. No guns in public. No killing. Ellie wanted to know more and more about the time she was in, and frequently asked the question 'How did this even happen.' Joel didn't have the answer.

"How'd you get that car? And the clothes, and this place."

"Stole some guys wallet at the hospital, it had car keys, and a bunch of money." Ellie suddenly felt a wailing in her belly. She doubled over in pain.

"Y'all right there?" Joel put his hand on Ellie's shoulder.

"Im fine!" She brushed his hand away and stood up quickly. The sudden bolt upright gave her head rush, she spread out her arms to level herself. " Just dizzy." Ellie tried to walk, but instead ended up curling over, hugging her stomach, hurling and passing out.

Later that day, Ellie woke up in the back seat of a moving car, her spine felt as painful as ever and she started to feel the bruises on her body. It was the same car as before and Joel was in the drivers seat playing country music.

"Joel."

"Yeah? Oh your up." Ellie climbed into the front seat and buckled her seat belt.

"Did i pass out."

"Like a log. You got hit by a car Ellie. The adrenaline has worn off and you've started to feel the pain again." Ellie looked at the cuts on her hands, they did sting more than before.

"Oh."

"We'll get you some pain killers soon." Ellie rested her hand on her chin and stared out the window, admiring to green trees and beautiful flowers.

"So where are we going now?" She asked.

I'm takin' us to Texas, my home. Just want to see if there's somthin' waitin' there for me." Joel concluded. He had a forlorn look in his eyes. Something was wrong but she decided not to pry. Ellie nodded and decided to catch some sleep before she be would on her feet again. And just like that, she was out.

It was a long journey to Texas, night fell after the first hour of travel and Ellie drifted in and out of slumber a numerous amount of times. The road soon changed into a dusty dry path surrounded by grass and trees, and when the fragile car drove over a pot hole, it jolted Ellie awake.

"Shit!" Ellie exclaimed making Joel laughed. "Oh ha ha." The small girl started to smooth down her jeans, which where a crumpled mess. Ellie thought back to all the girls she had seen yesterday walking on the street. Most of them had long shiny hair that ended in soft curls. She liked it, though. They where wearing make-up to, she'd never tried it before and she didn't want to start; It looked like they just painted on their features to her. Ellie touched her hair, it was shiny and soft- but not in the way those girls had theirs. She felt the oil on her hands after touching it, that was how it normally felt and maybe that was what most peoples hair was like. She decided not to worry about it.

"You hungry?" Joel asked. Ellie never noticed her hunger much any more, it was quite wonderful to think that food was available to everyone here! No hunting for days to catch a decent meal.

"Yeah i guess i could eat." Joel turned into a fast food restaurants car-park.

"Stay close Ellie." He said as he stepped out of the car.

"You don't have to say that any more Joel, were in the fucking past! No infected. Every things safe." She replied, smiling and slamming the door shut.

"You'd be surprised."

Joel and his little companion were sitting at a table in the corner of McDonald's, he chomped down on a massive burger that was dripping with oil. Ellie had in-front of her the same burger as Joel and a large coke to. She wasn't sure how to order so she had waited at the table whilst Joel went to the counter. Ellie looked at the long white cup, it was almost see through and it showed the dark black liquid inside. Maybe i should have just got water... She took a sip. The fizzy bubbles almost made her sneeze.

"Shit that's crazy!" She laughed, and began to drink more. Ellie eyed her burger hungrily. "Iv'e never had a burger before, what's it like?"

"Its okay" Joel didn't care to much for fast food, but it was good enough for him now. Besides, for years he's had to live on scares rations and rabbit or squirrel meat.

A group of about 3 girls and 2 boys walked in to the restaurant. The girls noticed Ellie in the corner, and instantly began to giggle

"Man i'm starving." Ellie scooped up the heap of moist bun and beef, then she took a bite. The burger leaked with frying pan residue, it was all around Ellie's mouth. "Greasy." She said disappointed, she didn't enjoy the burger but her stomach was growling for food.

"Just like her hair." She heard one of the girls loudly whisper, just so Ellie could hear. The group started to look at her.

"What are they looking at!" She said to Joel.

"Just mind your own business Ellie, don't attract any attention to yourself." Joel said still munching his burger in disgust.

"Mind my own business? Why don't they mind their own business! Fucking ass holes." The girls started to give Ellie dirty looks from across the room, so she stuck her middle finger at them and returned her attention to her food.

"Mm," Joel mused. "That's one of many things i don't miss about this time, those god damn teenagers. Ellie looked up at him, taking offence. "I mean ones like those."

"Is this what kids where like before the world went to shit?"

"Some, but a lot where like you. Kind, generous, beautiful." Joel looked like he spaced out a little.

"Ha, well you sure aren't talking about me." Ellie giggled. No answer. "Well thanks..." Ellie looked over to the rude teenagers, two of them where kissing. It made her cringe so she looked away. "Hey Joel?"

"Yeah."

"You ever wonder if the future even exists any more, like time has just rewound and we're the only ones who know! Or what about you, i mean your younger self. Wouldnt you be at your house in Texas?"

"Ellie..."

"What if you met yourself! Wouldnt the time space continuum just explode or something? Awesome." Joel sighed.

"Kid you read to many comic books."

Joel stood up leaving his rubbish on the table. Ellie started to follow him to the exit but remembered she forgot something, just to have the last word, she walked over to the nasty girl that commented on her hair and said. "By the way, you look like a fucking horse that's been rolling around in shit all day." Then she walked out with pride.

"Whats her problem." The nasty girls friend said.

"Well Courtney did say she had greasy hair basically to her face." A boy with blonde hair and blue eyes said. He watched as Ellie ran up to the man she was with, and cracked a laugh. "I think she's alright."

"Oh shut up Jace! Besides you saw what she was wearing, she looks like a boy."

"She's pretty, though." Courtney's other friend Alice said quietly.

"Ugh" Courtney rolled her eyes.

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