Last Of US

Episode 8
"Education"

Bill allowed the three to gather whatever supplies they needed around the old diner for their trip to gather whatever they can for a car that'll run. Ellie and Rylan were in the back room gathering, rags, broken scissors, and other things to craft for weapons against the infected, the teens actually started to have a decent conversation here and there, instead at each other's throats.

"He's got a fucking stick up his ass." Ellie whispered. Still raw about that little dispute with Bill,

"And you almost went to the lengths of pulling it out and beat him to death with it." Ellie giggled at that, Rylan Quirked an eyebrow, "No pun intended either," Ellie then laughed out loud, she did have a thing for puns and Rylan smirked a little. The two joined Joel and Bill back in the bar area, Ellie's eyes fell onto the chess board.

"You know how to play this?" She asked.

"Yeah, pretty badly though."

"I always wanted to learn." She sighed, her hand was drawing to one of the pieces.

"Hey Bobby Fisher! Don't touch anything on that board!" Bill exclaimed.

Ellie glared at the guy, "Bobby what?"

"Just let it go." Joel whispered.

All four began cutting through the living area above the bar, the rooftops were eroded to hell, and fresh air poured in. Bill took point leading them towards the church that can be seen in the distance, Ellie stuck close to Rylan more than Joel. She began to like him again but she doesn't know if he felt the same way at all.

"So what kind of trouble are you in? Where the hell's Tess?" Bill asked. Rylan clenched his fists tightly, Joel looked back to see the painful expression on the boy's face and turned to Bill,

"It's a job. A simple drop off." Joel replied.

"What are you delivering? That little brat?"

"Ha-ha, fuck you too." Ellie spat. But Bill only laughed, and hopped through a window.

Bill turned to Joel, "Alright, first we go to my other safe house, it's more of an armoury."

"Wait I thought we were gonna fix up a car?" Ellie said,

"We? You know how to fix a-"

"Why don't you just shut up!" Rylan defended. Ellie smiled, then Bill went on about their plan,

"Like I said, the parts are on the other side of town. Now, that side I don't ever go to cause it's filled with infected. So, we're gonna need more guns." Joel was startled by sounds of infected but Bill took care of it, "So you didn't answer my question about Tess. I mean I thought the three of you were inseparable."

Rylan huffed and curled his hand into a ball again, but Ellie put her hand over it. Rylan didn't react, yet it calmed him down a little.

"She's busy." Joel said. As they went outside Ellie can see the entire parking lot was filled with cars, she quirked an eyebrow,

"Why can't we just fix one of these cars?" She asked.

"Oh my god, you're a genius why on earth hadn't I thought about fixin' one of these cars?"

"Okay... don't be a dick."

Rylan pulled her close, "Tire's are rotted and their batteries are dead. The only way we can get a working battery is from a military truck," Rylan turned to Bill, "That's where we goin' right?"

*Roagarah!*

"Goddamnit," Joel growled,

"Infected!" Ellie cried. Rylan, Joel, and Bill pulled out their guns and opened fire on the runners and clickers coming at them. Ellie hid behind Rylan, brandishing her switchblade. Rylan got a couple of headshots, Bill and Joel decided to go close quarters. Rylan led Ellie away from the pack of infected by taking her hand. After clearing the area, Bill led them through what was left of the death trap until they found the cellar door to the basement of the church. Thankfully Bill lit a lamp illuminating the room stocked with random items,

"Let's gear up." Bill said. "And you two don't touch anything." He said pointing to the teens. Ellie headed towards the weapons, but Joel stopped her, "Uh-uh." She frowned.

"What? I need a gun."

"No you don't."

"Joel. I can handle myself."

"No. Just... Stay with Rylan."

She scoffed, "Fine. I'll wait around for you three to get me killed."

Rylan shot a look towards her, "Hey don't bring me into this!" She ignored him, Joel went with Bill to start loading up on weapons and ammo, Rylan can hear the distant conversations the two were having.

"This goes on record as the worst fucking job you've ever taken." Bill said pulling a shotgun out of his footlocker checking it's condition, "How the hell is Tess okay with this suicide mission?"

"It's actually her Idea." Joel replied.

"Really? And sending her kid along with ya? Well, then the broad's not as smart as I thought she was. But... Fuck her." Bill pulled out a bucket full of shells and grabs a second shotgun and begins loading them, "Seriously, you gotta take that girl back to where ya found her."

"Bill I can't Just take her back."

"Then send her packing let her find her own way. You know let me tell you a story. Once upon a time I had someone I cared about..." He paused. "A partner, someone I had to look after. In this world that shit's good for one thing... Gettin' ya killed. So I wisened the fuck up. And I realize that it's gotta be just me." As they argued on that, Ellie was snooping around Bill's things

"What are you doing?" Rylan asked.

"Seeing if there's anything worth taking." She replied.

"I wouldn't, that Bill is already looking like he's gonna pop a gasket."

"Well I don't answer to you guys."

"You guys? I didn't say a damn word." Rylan pointed out.

"But you would." She countered, still looking through stacks of stuff.

Rylan rolled his eyes, "Only when you're about to do something stupid." She stopped, and glared at him,

"That's my business. You two think that I can't take care myself but you're wrong. I spent my time with Marlene before you guys, I managed to learn a thing or two, so stop treating me like a damn child!" She spat and turned towards the pile,

"HEY!" Bill shouted. "What did I say to you when we came down the steps? What did I say?"

"I was just fixing your stupid pile!" She shot back.

"Don't. Touch!" Bill growled only to be given the finger by Ellie. Rylan sighed,

"Look, I know how you feel. Being treated like a child, My mom would shove me away from danger all the time. I had to show her I was capable. You just have to show Joel, he may change his mind or maybe not you just have to let him now that you are capable." Rylan said catching her full attention, "I knew you are capable from the moment I met you, after all I put you through what I said to you. I hurt you both physically and mentally, I can see it in your eyes since Boston. I don't expect your forgiveness but despite all that, you kept your head up and you toughed through it. You saved both our asses, more times than I could count. You're not a child Ellie, your a survivor."

Ellie smiled and leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "That was for saving me, and... I do forgive you Riley."

Rylan remembered what he said about what would happen if she called him 'Riley' but he just smirked, "Ok then... Fresh start?"

Ellie shrugged, "Got no problem with that." She grinned.

"Hey kid!" Bill shouted, specifically talking to Rylan. "C'mere a sec."

Rylan looked back at Ellie and patted her shoulder, he walked up to the two adults, "What's up?"

"I got somethin' I gotta show you two. A new toy from the toy box." Bill showed them a set of nail bombs and how to make them. Happy with the bombs and shotguns the plan was simple enough. Clear the school and take the battery from the truck crashed into the side of the school, just sitting there waiting to be picked up.


"Kid I swear to god if you took anything-" Bill said before being cut off,

"Hey, man. I don't need any of your shit. Trust me."

"Rylan you were keeping an eye on her right?" Joel asked.

"Like a hawk." He said winking at the girl. She smiled and her cheeks turned a little pink. They all came up inside the church, more of Bills junk everywhere. Rylan walked by a statue of Jesus Christ,

"Yo, JC, you take any requests?" He asked before joining the others out side out the window.

"Ready?" Bill asked.

"I guess we'll find out." Joel replied. They pushed through the graveyard sneaking by the clickers, most of it wasn't easy after trying to save all the ammo for the hoard in front of the school where the battery is. Bill can see the truck sticking out of the side of the school and pointed it out to all the others. Rylan, Bill, and Joel went with stealth tactics first before unleashing their guns on the rest.

*Bang!*

The final runner fell dead from a shotgun blast to the head, blood and gray matter sprayed from the back of the skull.

"Well, that was easier than I thought it'd be. They must be holed up somewhere else." Bill said.

"Well, let's not test our luck. How do we get inside?" Joel asked.

Ellie looked up on top of the school bus, "Hey someone left a ladder on the bus. Here, get me up there and I'll drop it t you." Rylan walked over and boosted her up. The battery from the truck was there for the taking,

*Roaghah!*

"Oh fuck, They're piling on this fence over here. It's not gonna hold!" Ellie cried. Bill and Joel pried a window open and they all began fitting through it, Joel was the last one in and had a damn near close call from a clicker pouncing on his back which luckily Rylan managed to shoot off. Ellie slammed the window shut,

"That's not gonna hold!" Rylan shouted. Joel and Ellie proceeded to barricade the door while Bill tried to jimmy the truck's hood open.

"It's empty!" Bill said.

"What do you mean it's fucking empty?!" Rylan snapped taking Joel's place holding the barricade back.

"Bill where to?" Joel asked.

"Uh.."

"Guys!" Ellie gasped.

"Bill where?!"

"Anywhere but here!" They all ran for the door on the other end of the shop, Ellie pulled Rylan with her as they bolted. The two followed the adults through the dark dingy school hallways.

"Let's um... We'll sneak out the back." Bill whispered.

"Not this way, anyway." Rylan hissed as he spotted three runners. They all ducked behind some desks,

"How do we get passed 'em?" Rylan watched as they kept rather close together,

"I got a plan." Rylan said before asking Joel for some Molotov's, Rylan leaned back and threw it into the middle of the runners setting them all a blaze. Bill was impressed by his quick thinking, they made it to the gym, just when they thought it was safe enough. Loud banging sounds erupted from doors on the other side of the gym the flimsy doors were burst open.

"What the fuck is that?" Ellie exclaimed as a hulking infected limped out, growling and snarling sounds echoing through out the gymnasium. Rylan froze,

"Rylan! Rylan Move!" but he couldn't, no matter how many times Joel shouted at him the sight of the abomination froze Rylan in complete shock. Bill and Joel tried to fend the beast off.

"Rylan I'm running low!" Joel ran to him, "Rylan I know what these thing did to Jessica! But unless you help we're all dead!" But Rylan didn't even move, it came closer and closer and he closed his eyes.

"Jess." He though, before he knew it. Ellie screamed his name that set him off as he jerked his eyes open and sprinted forward kicking the creature back with a roundhouse kick. But it grabbed a hold of him and slammed him against the wall. His vision was blurred and his ears were ringing. Suddenly things were quiet and he can feel warm hands clutching the sides of his head and quiet pants against his neck,

"Riley? Riley open your eyes!" He opened his eyes to meet Ellie's natural emerald green eyes with fresh tears glistening in them, before he said anything she slapped him, "Fuck you! You almost left me! Damn you..." She then fell on his chest sobbing silently.

Rylan was shocked and surprised, he then subconsciously hugged her close, "I'm sorry..." He said.


Well that worked out well between the two now that they are friends but can they be more? Find out next week on the Last Of Us! Don't forget to review