Author's note

Sorry for the long wait the reason is because the laptop that has the files broke and I've been trying to get it fixed but couldn't so I rewrote the whole chapter on my phone. Anyway with that said I hope you enjoy and please review.

Chapter 9 Decision

Ellie's POV

Yesterday's events were heavy on my mind Jake almost killed himself I didn't dare tell Joel because he would just flip we began walking again then I found a sign that read "Jackson County"

"Jackson County. Means we're close to Jackson city, right?", I asked.

"Shouldn't be more than a few miles from here", Joel replied.

"Ready to see dear, old brother?".

"I'm just ready to get there".

"Nervous?".

"I don't know what I feeling", Joel said and then continued walking near the river which Joel said would lead us to Tommy's place.

"What happened between you two?".

"What do you mean?".

"You and Tommy… you're not together, so clearly something went down", I said an this seemed to have caught Jake's attention he's been super quiet lately more quiet than usual.

"We had a bit of a disagreement that's all".

"Oh here we go.. so what was it about?".

"Tommy saw the world one way I saw it another".

"And that's why he joined the fireflies?".

"Yeah, your friend Marlene promised him hope. That kept him busy for awhile but just like Tommy, he eventually quit that too".

"How was it the last time you saw him?".

"I believe his last words to me were I don't ever want to see your god damned face again".

"Jeez. But he's gonna help us?".

"I suppose we're gonna find out".

"Well with or without his help, we'll get there".

"Let's just keep going", so we moved forward down the stream and saw some metal structure.

"What's that?", I asked.

"That right there is a hydroelectric power plant", Joel replied.

"A hydra what?".

"It uh uses the river's movement and turns it into electricity".

"How's it do that?".

"Look I know what it is, I don't know how it does it".

"Jake?", I asked to see if he knew but he didn't hear "Jake?!", I said this time louder.

"Huh, what?", Jake replied.

"How does this hydra- whatever work?".

"River move, movement make energy, convert energy into electricity", Jake explained.

"So how do we cross it now?".

"Give me a minute", Jake said and took a look at the place "Spin that wheel it will raise that platform then we need to get to the other one and spin that".

"Alright," Joel replied and then dived underwater to look for something to get Ellie across he returned a minute later with a wooden pallet.

"I need you to-", Joel said.

"I know I know step on the fucking pallet", i then got one the pallet and Jake got in the water and helped push me to the other side.

"Spin that wheel", Jake said as the he and Joel started swimming back to the other side, I did what he said and the other platform started moving and made a bridge for those two to cross.

"Hey be careful crossing that thing", I said.

"Sure thing", Joel replied.

"Teamwork", I said once on the other side and raised my hand for them to high five me Joel did but Jake just walked past "Really Jake?".

"What?", he replied.

"Just gonna leave me hanging".

"I didn't notice".

"You're the one always telling me to stay sharp now look at you", he didn't seem to listen though, I guess it takes time to recover from almost killing yourself. We then arrived at the gate of the plant and Joel tried to open the gate but some guards on watch towers pointed their guns at us.

"Don't even think about reaching for your weapons", I woman in her mid forties said but I ignored and got out my pistol "Tell the girl to drop her's now".

"Ellie do as the lady say", Joel said I then put our hands up.

"Please tell me you're lost", the woman said.

"We didn't know the place was occupied we're just trying to make our way through".

"Through to where?".

"They're alright", a man from inside said.

"What you know these people?", the woman asked the man.

"I know him", the man replied and then the gate opened "He's my goddamn brother", the man said revealing himself to be Tommy.

"Tommy", Joel said.

"Holy shit", Tommy said and came out to hug Joel.

"How you doin, baby brother?".

"Goddamn", Tommy said as he stopped hugging Joel "Let me look at you. You got fucking old", Tommy said and the woman from earlier showed up.

"Easy- it's gonna happen to you too", Joel replied.

"This is Maria. be nice to her, she sorta runs things around here".

"Ma'am. Thanks for not blowing my head off".

"Would've been embarrassing considering you're my brother-in-law", Maria said.

"We all gotta get wrangled up at some point", Tommy said.

"Who are these two?", Maria asked.

"This is Jake", Joel said putting a hand on him "He's my great nephew. This is Ellie I've been looking after her for someone", Joel stated.

"Why don't we bring em inside?", Tommy said.

"Yeah you two hungry?", Maria asked.

"Starving", I said but Jake remained silent.

"What about you?" Maria asked Jake.

"Huh," Jake said as he snapped back to reality.

"I asked if you're hungry."

"No thanks"

"False alarm. They're friendlies", Maria shouted "We've been dealing with a lot of raids and bandits in this area".

"It's been quiet a few days", Tommy said.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought I'd find you in Jackson", Joel said.

"Been trying to bring the plant back to life".

"We had it working before, but one of the turbines went south", Maria stated.

"We have electricity, Joel. had. We'll get it running again".

"No way", I said "You guys have horses".

"We got a whole lot of em", Tommy said.

I then walked up to one "Can I?" I asked and Maria understood what I was asking.

"Yeah, of course", Maria responded "He likes it when you pet his ears. You ever ride one?".

"I actually have".

"When have you rode a horse?", Joel asked.

"Winston, this soldier back in the zone. He gave me lessons", I explained.

"You know if you want we can take him riding later", Maria said.

"That'd be awesome", we then followed Tommy into a building.

"Maria", a voice said from Maria's radio.

"Yeah go ahead", she replied.

"We're in the control room. Steve's about to start it back up. Do you wanna come check it out?", the voice said.

"I'd rather eat with Ellie", Maria said to Tommy.

"It's my turn anyway. I'll go", Tommy replied.

"I'll come with you Jake you too, Ellie you and Maria put some food in you.", Joel said.

"Joel?", I said.

"C'mon, Ellie. Let's give the boys some space", Maria said "I'm sending Tommy over stand by", Maria said into the radio and we all separated.

Jake's POV

"This'll be the sixth time of them trying to get the turbines back on line. We've been here just a week, but it feels like forever.", Tommy said me and Joel.

"I don't know what it is about Tommy but something about him seems weird."

Me and Joel then walked over to him "Uh.. I got something for you. Last year I went back to Texas back home. Most of our stuff was long gone. Most of it", he said and reached into a box and pulled out a picture "Here", he said handing it to Joel "It's a little faded but it still looks pretty good".

"Can I?", I asked Joel then handed me the picture and I saw him and a blonde girl wearing a blue soccer jersey and was holding a trophy,

"Why do I remind Joel of her? She has blonde hair I have black, she has blue eyes I have red, by the looks of it she's into sports and if I lived in that world I wouldn't care, I'm a huge reader, an I'm a killer", I thought I then handed the picture back to Joel.

"I'm good", Joel said.

"Should've known," I thought.

"You sure? I mean", Tommy said.

"I said I'm good", Joel answered.

"Okay. Well I'll hold on to it for you", Tommy said putting it back in the box.

"Tommy I.. I need to talk to you. Privately"

"Yeah. Okay. Let me just check on my guys real quick. C'mon", he said and we walked away from the box with us following we then made it outside to a metal platform near the river "I don't know what you heard but you should see the town. We're over twenty families strong now. It was Maria and her father. They set this place with the idea of being self-sustained. We got crops and livestock. Remember how we thought no one could live like this anymore? Well, we're doing it".

"What do you do for protection?", Joel asked.

"The adults take turns guarding the perimeter. We even got an electrified fence when the plant is up and running".

"Still gotta deal with infected though, right?".

"Who doesn't? But it's the world we live in".

"Well maybe you don't have to".

"You sound like Marlene", we then entered the building with all the turbines "These two geniuses are gonna bring the plant back to life", I then walked up to the them and saw a paper on the table with their diagram of the plant.

"We think we got it this time", one of the two men said Tommy then laughed "You don't believe us?".

"I didn't say that", Tommy said.

"I'll bet you a million bucks it works".

"Sure. Make it two".

"The problem's right there", I said pointing at the paper the two then looked at it then at each other.

"Of course it all makes sense now, you're a genius", one of the men said.

"You two idiots would've been down two million", I replied "2 grown men given 1 week to fix a plant and couldn't, it takes a fourteen year old one minute", I said.

"Joel are you taking care of Einstein's kid?", Tommy asked.

"He spends a lot of time reading books on science and stuff", Joel replied.

"We'll start fixing the problem", one of the men said, we then walked through the room with all the turbines.

"Alright Joel let's talk", Tommy said and then entered a room attached to the room with the turbines.

"That's quite the crew you got here", Joel said as he closed the door behind him.

"They're good men. This place gives them a second chance. It gives all of us a second chance. So why'd you leave Boston?".

"We've been on quite the adventure little brother", Joel said as he pulled up a chair and sat on it.

"I reckon it's got something to do with that girl".

"It's got everything to do with that little girl".

"Well, go on then".

"She's immune".

"Immune to what?", Joel didn't answer he just looked at Tommy "Oh c'mon".

"Absurd I know. I really need to stop having conversation with myself in my head."

"See I know. I've seen her breathe enough spores to take down a dozen men and nothing.I wouldn't have believed it neither but I can show you".

"Alright. I'll bite", Tommy said as he sat down in a chair.

"I'll bite funny", I thought.

"Why bring her here?".

"I was supposed to deliver her to the fireflies. I the way I figured it they're your boys you finish the job, you collect the whole damn payment".

"Is he even getting payed? Did they bring the guns with them to wherever the hell they are.

"I haven't seen a firefly in years"

"But you know where they are. Now I'm not asking for much, Tommy. I just want some simple gear enough to set me on my way".

"What makes you think I'd do this for you?".

"This isn't for me Tommy. This is for your damn cause".

"My cause is my family now. You ain't talking about some walk in the park here".

"Jesus boy. Have Maria get some of your born again friends to do it".

"They got families too".

"Tommy I need this".

"You want some gear sure,. But I ain't taking that girl off your hands", Tommy said standing up from his seat.

"This is how you gonna repay me, huh?".

"Repay you?".

"For all those goddamn years I took care of us", Joel also stood up now.

"Took care? That's what you call it. I got nothing but nightmares from those years".

"You survived because of me!", Joel shouted.

"It wasn't worth it", Tommy responded, Joel then pushed him into the wall I could see where this was going and it wasn't good I then stepped between Joel and Tommy trying to hold Joel back but I knew if he wanted to Joel could easily kill but what difference did it make at this point.

"I bring you the cure for mankind and you wanna play the pissy little brother".

"Joel calm down", I said.

"You should listen to the kid. This ain't Boston. You lay your hands on me again it won't end well for you", an alarm then went off.

"What's that?", Joel asked.

"We're under attack", Tommy replied picking up a rifle "Kid you know how to kill?".

"Time to blow some fucker's heads off", I said. We then went out the room and were already were under fire in the room with the turbines. We took out all the bandits and regrouped with Maria and Ellie and she hugged me when I saw her for whatever reason then she started rambling about what happened then I shook her from the shoulders to get her to stop.

"Are you hurt?", I asked

"No, I'm fine. What about you?", Ellie asked.

"Don't worry about me", I replied we all then stepped outside listening to Tommy and Maria's conversation about taking Ellie to the fireflies Ellie then walked up to where me and Joel where sitting.

"Hey - what's all that about?", she asked.

"We'll talk about it later", Joel replied.

"Does that have anything to do with me?".

"We'll talk about it later".

"Did he tell you where the lab is?".

"We'll talk about it later", Joel said with emphasis on later.

"Why just tell her?" I thought.

"Later", Ellie said and walked away I then followed her.

"Go get her", Joel said and I unwillingly got up from my seat.

"Ellie", I said.

"Fuck you", she said.

"I'm not going to stop you from doing whatever you're doing", she then walked up to the horses and mounted one "Hey. Can I tag along?", I asked and she nodded I then got on a horse and followed her through the muddy forest into a farm house we left our horses outside and went upstairs and into a bedroom, I slammed my fist into a wall and Ellie went and sat on the bed and started reading a diary of some sort

"So what's up with you?",Ellie asked me.

"What do you think? Hell that's what. Nobody tries to kill themselves without a reason", I replied.

So what's your reason?".

"Joel doesn't give two shits about me and I have no one else left".

"Oh".

"And you? what's eating you?".

"Well I gonna be alone since you guys are leaving me and I don't know or trust Tommy".

Guilt suddenly came over I haven't felt it in years so it feels so weird.

"I.. I'm sorry".

"If you don't mind me asking who's Marry?".

"She was my twin sister, but even she's not here any more".

"Care to explain?".

"Fuck it, no point hiding told me and her to get to Joel with their dying breath so we were on our way to Boston when we were cornered by a bloater she sacrificed herself and gave me enough time to escape", I said as tears slide down his cheeks all the memories of Mary began rushing back to me.

"I'm sorry".

"Can I go with you to the fireflies?".

"How could I say no to that? How come you wanna go".

"I wanna make sure that Tess' last wishes are completed".

"Okay".

"Ellie! Jake!", Joel shouted.

"We're up here", Ellie responded. Joel then entered the room and pushed me to the floor.

"Do you have any idea how much danger you put yourself in by coming here you two?", Joel said in a very aggressive voice.

"Fuck you Joel I don't care what danger I put myself in and you don't either. I don't care how much I remind you of Sarah ", I said getting off the floor.

"Don't mention Sarah".

"I'm sorry Joel but you can't care for me one day and say fuck off the next. It's either you want me alive or not. Now I don't care what you say anymore but I'm going with her to the fireflies, because you were the last person I cared for in this damn world but not anymore so I might as well risk my life to save mankind because I have nothing left".

"Then do what you want", Joel said I then walked passed him but kicked him in the shin before I did and got a glare from him in the process.

"Try me", I said as I returned the glare and went downstairs with some tears slowly trickling down my cheeks I then saw Tommy downstairs.

"What's wrong kid?", Tommy asked with a sympathetic face.

"What kept you going before you meet Maria?", i asked.

"I knew that humanity was capable of good that's what kept me going".

"Capable of good huh", I replied and saw a group of men with the corner of my eye outside the house "Tommy we got company", Tommy then looked out the window then we ran upstairs and burst through the door of the room Ellie and Joel were in.

"Get it together. We're not alone", Tommy said Joel then walked to the window.

"Got two coming in", Joel said

"There's more inside already", Tommy said we then killed all the people in the house and got to the horses and then rode to Tommy's town "There she is. Kids'll be watching movies tonight".

"What movie?", I asked.

"Something called Savage "Tommy said.

"Where is this lab of theirs?", Joel asked.

"It's all the way out University of Eastern Colorardo".

"Go big horns. Ellie get off your horse, give it back to Tommy. I'm gonna hang on to this fella, if thats alright with you. Go on don't make me repeat myself".

"What are you doing?".

"Your wife kinda scares me, I don't want her coming after me", Joel said Ellie then gave the horse to Tommy.

"Sorry for stealing your horse", Ellie said.

"Look, come back to town. Let's discuss it at least".

"Eh, you know me. My minds all made up", Joel said as he helped me on to his horse.

"Impractical as always", I said.

"How's that?", Joel asked.

"It's almost night not safe, we should get a full night's sleep, get some gear, put some food in us and I'm sure you want to see the town", Jake explained.

"Alright fine", Joel said.

"Kid if you ever come back here know that you definitely got a place here cuz of that brain off yours", Tommy said.

"Thanks", I replied and then helped Ellie onto my horse. "Guess you're stuck with us," I said to Ellie in a quiet voice

"Wouldn't want it any other way," she replied and we rode into to town and put the horses away.

"For today the three of you can rest in this house", Tommy said pointing at a large wooden house "Dinner's in at nine at my place".

"Where's the movie happening?", I asked.

"In the centre of town at town hall. Why you wanna watch?".

"Hell yeah I do. You wanna come?", I asked Ellie.

"Sure," Ellie replied and we walked towards town hall.

When we got there we saw the movie the place was full of mostly kids a couple our age but most of them looked a lot younger there were three adults in here who seemed to be running this whole thing so we sat on some benches in front a giant white wall it looked like and we waited for the movie to start in that time . After the movie was over we took a slow walk back to our temporary house.

"I really like this place".

"Yeah me too".

"Why don't you stay?".

"What's the point?" he asked as he looked to the ground.

"You can live here safely."

"Ellie I stopped living a long time it just survival now. You wanna know what hasn't stopped me from pulling the trigger? I'm to damn scared that's why."

There was a long silence after I said that I can't really blame her how are you supposed to respond to that.

"Do you trust me?".

"With my life."

"Why do you trust me?"

"You're the only person that hasn't stabbed me in the back or died yet. Plus you've saved my ass like three times".

"Alright".

"C'mon let's get to the house", we then arrived at the house where Joel was waiting for us.

"How was the movie?", Joel asked.

"It was good", I replied since it looked like Jake didn't want to talk to Joel, Jake then walked into the house

"Jake", Joel said causing Jake to stop "I shouldn't have been such a dick to you I should've been more considerate, I now realise that I'm the only person you have left in this world. So what I'm trying to say is sorry"

"Whatever", Jake replied.

"Okay now you're being an asshole", I said "Can't you see that he's trying to make up for what he did?".

"Ever heard the saying too little too late, exactly what this is," Jake replied and then walked upstairs.

"Jake".

"Just leave him be for awhile I know that kid he'll come around".