iiii.

By this point, Ellie's trainers are torn apart. Her feet are vulnerable to the earth, and she is careful where she walks. The land gets worse. Rain, snow, darting hail which nearly causes blindness, torrential wind and whenever it is sunny, the heat is horrendous. The skies are angry, pelting down with its cries and betrayal. If infected or people don't kill them first, then Mother Earth will.

She, and her ugly claws.

They haven't found food in days. Death lurks wherever they go. At night, when they've eventually discovered shelter (and those are rare gifts), Tess offers Ellie the tiny amount of rations they have. Ellie notes how Tess only has a minimal amount herself, and sometimes nothing. Her face looks older; wiser somehow, and Ellie wonders if this is as old as she will ever look.

Every so often, Ellie can hear infected. Screaming, moaning; crawling the earth around them. They can smell living flesh, but can't find them; both Ellie and Tess have ensured their safety. But Ellie recounts Joel's words: it's just luck, and it's about to run out. However both of them have been lucky for so long now, Ellie fears the end is near. Her immunity is of little value initially. The infected can still rip her apart. She isn't entirely sure which way out she'd prefer: by the living, or by the dead.

Tess doesn't sleep. She can't. She's too tired. Too determined to hand Ellie over to the Fireflies. They have gone so far. Losing Ellie now –– she can't fathom it. She tells herself that, anyway. This is for the Fireflies. Ellie is mere cargo. That is what she tries to tell herself, because if she considers Ellie as anything else, then it just gets hard. It gets tricky and complicated, and she cannot afford that mistake.

Sometimes Ellie watches her, one eye open, pretending to doze. Tess is motionless. Sort of lost in her own head, but conscious of the noise –– or lack thereof –– around her. A lioness, waiting patiently for its prey; protecting her little cub. Something fierce, yet soft. A vulnerable thing, who has endured pain so much, it has somehow developed a rough shell. Impenetrable. The kind of shell which is agonising in itself to grow. Ellie won't forget Tess's precise aim when she shot Joel.

Maybe it is the military training, but Ellie isn't convinced. Maybe this is just Tess; what the world has done to her. And it makes her –– sad. Sad to think that, perhaps if this infection never existed, Tess would be an entirely different woman. What sort of woman was she, anyway? Before the outbreak, was she warmer? More affectionate? Less adaptable? Just somebody who Ellie would never meet.

Did she have family once? Her own children, maybe? She would have been a young mother if so, but Ellie is familiar with young mothers. What did she want to be? What did Tess do every day before a gun was placed in her hands?

When Ellie sleeps, she can see Joel's face. Sorry, and pleading –– this is his only way out. And Riley is saying the exact same. Don't make me turn into one of those things. And Ellie can feel the gun, the cold metal, and she shoves the damned monstrosity into her mouth, angles it upwards. Let me die instead. It should be me. I don't deserve to live. Ellie scrunches her eyes shut, squeezes the trigger––

She jolts upright, yelling out. But there's darkness, and the crackle of the fire nearby, and Tess hasn't moved. Ellie exhales slowly, running her hands through her hair. 'Bad dream?' Tess asks. Ellie doesn't answer. She isn't able to. Those faces were so vivid, and that gun, that bullet felt real. 'It's okay. Go to sleep.'

Whether Tess truly means that, Ellie isn't sure. Regardless, she lies back down again, eyes wide, and stares up at the night sky. Its stars twinkling, beautiful and so out of place amongst the devastation.

The following morning, the two of them come across a small road. Ellie is so busy staring down at her feet, she doesn't actually hear the sound of men's voices, until Tess grabs her by the collar. Ellie gasps, pressed up against her, and listens. Chatter. Calm, casual chatter from the road. That's when she sees them. Five men, surrounding a car. They have stopped for the time being.

Ellie swallows. She's ready to run if Tess orders it, but the order never comes. Instead, Tess gently tugs Ellie back. Further back. One of the men has separated from the group. He's walking over to where they are positioned, and Tess quietly tells Ellie to hide behind a tree she is pointing at. Ellie dashes over, chest to the trunk, and breathes out. Tess joins her, and Ellie watches her retrieve her handgun.

While the man busies relieving himself, Tess ensures none of the men below have spotted them. She checks Ellie hasn't moved. Then, as the man begins to zip up his jeans, and turn around, she raises the gun.

He stops.

Stares.

All of the colour from his face drains away, and he slowly raises his hands.

'I––I got nothing for ya.'

'That's a pretty car,' Tess says, eyes sharp. Gun steady. 'What you got in it?' He doesn't answer. His face darkens, and Ellie grows tense. 'Food? Water? Any ammo?' She clenches her jaw, 'Feel like sharing?'

'Like I said,' he glances at Ellie, smiling, 'I got nothing for ya.'

'Don't look at her.' His eyes flicker back to Tess. 'You look at her again––' Ellie looks up at Tess, holding her breath, '––I'll shoot you.'

'Oh, yeah?' He chuckles softly. 'Your daughter looks hungry.' Pauses. 'We got food. We can feed her. We can feed her well.' He takes one step forward. Tess clicks the gun. He stops. 'Don't want your little girl starving, do ya?'

Tess wonders if she's made a mistake. But she wants that car. She needs it. If they're ever going to make it to Tommy's, they have to drive. Both she and Ellie are exhausted from walking so much. And she can't go much further like this. 'I'm the one holding the gun. I'd hate for you to make the wrong decision.'

'She is a pretty one.' He smiles at Ellie, and a shiver shoots up her spine. 'We'd treat you both real nice.'

And something happens. Nothing physical. But the air changes. The atmosphere drops. Tess breathes out, and an incredible hatred is shared between her and the man. A deal will not be made. He smiles wider, daring, eyes greedy. Tess reaches over for Ellie, and her pulse races just a little faster.

The gun in her hand flashes in the sunlight.

It suddenly gets very cold.

And––

The man throws himself at her. Tess's head smacks into the earth, and he pins her down, grasping for her weapon. He struggles, and she tries to fight him off, but he's bigger, heavier, stronger, and then the weapon is in his hand and he presses the snout to her cheek, squeezes the trigger.

Nothing.

He fell for her bluff completely.

Tess takes this opportunity to knee him in the groin. He groans, and rolls over, clutching where it hurts. Tess stands, slamming her boot against his throat, searching for whatever little ammo she has in her pockets. While he chokes, the men below have heard the commotion and are running over. One has a rifle. Another a shotgun. Tess manages to fill the pistol in time.

Swiftly, she fires, shooting one in the head. Another shoots back, but she dodges. He whacks his fist across her face, and the impact is so deadly, she's flown off her feet. Tess can taste blood, her jaw throbs, and for a moment she temporarily loses vision. Trying to find her feet, she can hear Ellie's hurried footsteps.

'Hey, you piece of shit!'

She throws a rock, hitting a man square in the face. He's knocked out cold.

Tess looks up. Blood drips off her chin. One of the men grabs Ellie around the middle, attempts to strangle her, and an unimaginable fear grasps Tess entirely. She ignores how her body screams at her to stop. Her legs move faster than her brain, and she jumps onto the man's back. He's forced to let Ellie go, and Tess tries to shoot at him, but he clings to her arms, before hurling her off him. When she lands, something breaks, but she has no time to wonder what.

She kicks him in the stomach. As she stands, she retrieves her gun––

'Tess, on your left!'

Shoots in the direction Ellie said.

Another man down.

'Fucking bitch!'

Tess does not have the same muscle mass as a man, and this puts her at a disadvantage. One of the men manages to grab her around the waist and attempts to drag her away. Tess kicks her legs out, 'Fucker!' Headbuts him from behind. This works. He drops her, but she loses her gun in the process. She tries to reach for it, but the same man presses her hard into the ground with his weight.

The next attempt he makes is to suffocate her. Tess can't budge. But Ellie's at the scene. The girl copies Tess's move, and jumps onto the man's back. Tess escapes his bind, and Ellie bites him in the neck. This causes a shock. He screams, throwing her off of him. 'She––she bit me! She bit me!'

'Is she infected?'

Tess grabs Ellie, a crooked, bloody smile. She yanks up Ellie's sleeve, and reveals her dated bite. 'Oh, dear,' Tess breathes, smiling still. Ellie sees something demonic in her expression, and it's almost scary.

The bitten man looks in terror.

'Oh, fuck…'

'What you doin' carrying around an infected girl?'

While they're both distracted, Tess turns and hits him with the back of the gun. He drops out cold. The other man is still paralysed in fear. 'Ellie,' Tess says, impressively calm, 'Get to the car. Drive it. Now.'

Ellie doesn't need to be told twice.

She bolts down the hill. Tess is about to follow, but the bitten man has recovered and begins to shoot at her. Ellie doesn't look back. If she looks back, she'll trip, or see something she really doesn't want to –– she opens the car door, practically throws herself in, turns on the ignition, exhales, glances out of the window.

No sign of Tess.

Drive. Just drive.

Ellie does just that, and the engine roars with life. She starts at a slow pace, hoping, just hoping, Tess will appear from the top of the hill. Nothing still. 'Fuck, Tess, c'mon,' she pleads quietly.

As she reaches 10mph, that's when Tess is seen. She's bloodier than before, her hand pressed to her stomach, and Ellie reaches over to open the passenger door. Tess jumps in, and Ellie hits the accelerator. Neither speak. Ellie needs to get them out of sight. She's driving so fast, everything around them is a blur, and she's shaking. Tess is hurt. She doesn't know how hurt. But she's hurt.

Once they're far away, Tess speaks. 'Didn't know you could drive.'

'I learnt a while back.'

Tess groans, trying to adjust herself. 'Gonna need you to do that for a while.'

'… are you shot?' Ellie asks, whispering it, scared for the truth.

'No,' Tess sighs. 'Bastard fucked me up a bit though.'

Ellie chuckles, relieved. 'Yeah.' She sighs. 'But you did a number on them.'

'Thanks for your help.'

Ellie lets that sink in. She smiles, eyes on the road. 'You're welcome.'

The world escapes them for the next couple of hours. Their journey is in silence. Which is best. Neither have the energy to talk, and Ellie has to concentrate. Not that that are many hazards on the roads these days. A fondness passes her eyes when she looks over to find Tess sleeping. A rare right. But it's the least she deserves, and Ellie wants her to have as much rest as possible.

The blood on her clothes and face have dried. Ellie just hopes not too much damage has been made. Tess is oddly peaceful while resting; her youth shows, and her appearance stuns Ellie. She always acts considerably older than she actually is and to this day, Tess's real age remains a mystery to the young woman.

Everywhere is empty. So many cars abandoned, occasionally blocking other roads. She imagines another world, where the outbreak didn't happen, and cars would drive alongside her. People. They would wave through their window, and she would wave back. Maybe people were nicer back then. Kinder. Happy. In these little metal boxes with their family, friends, pet animals.

She read stories about people going on holiday in cars. Holiday. Ellie can't really get her head around the point in those. Still, she enjoyed the fantasy. Her and Riley would often joke about "going on holiday" as it were. Go to the deep, blue sea. Where the fishes and sharks swim. Get tangled up in seaweed, and create sandcastles. Buy plastic spades to dig holes, and buckets to fill with water.

What a bizarre life.

Tess begins to stir, and she winces when trying to move. Ellie glances at her, smiles. 'Rest well?'

'Uh,' Tess tries to gain an idea of their whereabouts. 'How long have I been out?'

'About an hour.'

Tess looks at Ellie, then faces forward. 'I'll take over in a minute.'

'It's okay. I like this.'

'You don't know where we're going.'

'Huh. True.'

Tess snorts. 'Whatever, kid.' She rubs her eye with the heel of her palm. Tess looks behind her into the back seat, and spots a couple of full bags. 'Any clue what's in these?' Ellie looks at her, puzzled, then realises what's she referring to.

'Didn't see those.'

Despite the pain it gives her, Tess stretches over, and snatches both bags. She doesn't hesitate to check their contents. And it's a real treat. Bottles filled with water, packets of food, a map, ammunition. 'Fuck,' Tess breathes, 'Pay day. Ha!' Ellie laughs, uncertain what pay day means. Tess lifts a bottle of a murky liquid. 'This is my day. Come to mama.' She pops off the cork to the bottle, and takes a generous gulp.

Ellie gathers it's a type of cognac.

But she's only seen them in picture books.

She eyes Tess suspiciously while she drinks some more.

'Ain't it illegal to drink while driving?'

Tess chuckles, appreciating life for the moment. 'Only if you get caught, kid.'

'Can I have some?'

'You won't like it.' Tess straightens, 'Makes you feel funny.'

'I've had some before!'

'Not on my watch. Finders keepers.'

Ellie scoffs, and pouts. She glowers when Tess has another swig. 'You're enjoying yourself,' she mumbles.

'A'right. Let's consider this. I've been doing this crap for the past twenty-one years. You've only had it fourteen. Think I deserve the small pleasures more than you, boo.'

The sarcasm in that petname makes Ellie scowl. 'Don't call me that.'

'Ha. Someone's sensitive.'

'Feeling the alcohol, huh?'

'Oh, trust me, hardly.' Tess exhales, content. She falls into her seat, and has another swig, eyeing the label of the bottle. 'Tastes just as good with a cigarette, y'know? Damn. What I would give for one of those right now.' She glances at Ellie, who blinks, stupefied. 'I must be other-worldly to you, sometimes.'

'Yeah,' Ellie says. She can't imagine having booze and a cigarette at the same time. Bit weird. What people used to do before the outbreak – crazy! 'Sometimes.'

Tess grabs a packet of food and chucks it at Ellie's head.

'Oi! What the fuck?'

'Enjoy that, kiddo.'

Ellie pulls a face at her, but can't resist the temptation of food. She hasn't eaten in days, after all! Stomach growling she opens the packet quickly, maintaining a smooth ride on the road. While she gobbles what she can, Tess enjoys her bottle of cognac, and, at least for now, the world doesn't seem so bad.