Hey guys! Just gonna warn you now, this might a tiny bit gory. Not too much, but enough that some people might need a warning. Also, remember to review. I need to know if you guys like certain things. Like, do you like Nathan/Nate? Should I find a way to get rid of the double-personality? Only way I know about that is if you guys tell me. So enjoy!

Chapter 10: What To Do

Ellie watched as the bat hit the back of Joel's head. His eyes filled with shock, and then rolled back into his head. As Joel fell over, a single tear left his eye. His body hit the pavement with a sickening thud, and Nathan stood over him. There was a grimace on his face, like he didn't like having to do this. But Ellie saw through the facade that was Nate. She knew that in this moment, Nathan was relishing in the moment. He raised the bat again, and then brought it down on Joel's head. When he lifted the wooden bat, there was a bit of blood on it. He brought it down again, and there was a dent in Joel's head. Nathan brought it back up, and there was a lot more blood on its stained shaft. He slammed it back down, and a piece of Joel's head fell off. Nathan tried to pull it up, but it was stuck. He yanked, and then it came loose. Another piece of Joel's head came off with it, and then Nathan didn't delay. He brought it down one more time, and the force broke the bat in half. It splintered, and a shard went into Nathan's arm. But he didn't notice. He looked at what was left of Joel's head, then stared at Ellie. The audience he had was turned away in disgust. They weren't disgusted that did it, they were disgusted by the event. It was necessary. Besides, Nate would never expose them to something that wouldn't help them. He took care of them. Ellie looked into the depths of Nathan's eyes, and saw him smiling. And with a turn, he put his foot on Joel's shoulder, and gave it a shove. Ellie watched as her closest friend's body fell over the edge of the building, plummeting over the side. Nathan took a step back, and stared at the bat. When he looked at his hands, Nate knew what he had done. Ellie didn't know what to do, but she knew that she was going to kill this man. She was screaming and crying, and she tried to get up, but Spencer was holding her. She was hitting his arm, but he didn't let her go. So Ellie did the only thing she knew would work: she bit his arm. Spencer dropped her, and Ellie ran at Nate. She tackled him, and began hitting him. Nate pushed her off, and stood up. Ellie stood up and ran at him again, and he grabbed her, and threw her down. Ellie tried to get him, but Spencer grabbed her, and held her arms this time.

"Spencer, put her in the room. Now!" Ellie kept screaming, and Spencer walked her downstairs. He locked her in the closet, and walked away. Spencer told two guards to watch the door. Ellie was still screaming and crying. How could he do that? Why did he have to kill Joel? She couldn't stop herself from crying. But as sad as she was, she was still furious. Why would Joel lie to me? She didn't know how to feel. Should she try to kill Nate? Yes, I should. He killed Joel. But I won't survive, and the cure will never be made. If they get the cure, then I die anyway. Ellie didn't know what to do, and realized she was tired. She was having the hardest time staying awake. Ellie fell asleep, but when she did, she was still crying.

Nate was looking out of the broken window in his office, and he heard the door open. He turned around, and saw his best friend. He stood up, and walked over to the bear-like Russian.

"Spencer, what did the doctor say?"

"He said it would be fine. As long as it doesn't get infected." When he saw the look of horror on Nate's face, he laughed.

"Regular infected. Bacteria, not the fungus." Nate let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding.

"Don't scare me like that, old friend." He walked back to his desk, and sat down. Spencer was looking at his friend, no longer with the light of loyalty, but a spark of fear, and then he spoke.

"Nate, I'm going to scout out the surrounding neighborhoods across the bridge. I will take a car, and some extra gas. I'm planning on staying for a day or two." Nat turned his chair around, with worry in his eyes.

"Who's going with you?"

"No one." Nate was worried. He didn't want to lose his friend. Spencer saw the fear in 's eyes, and laughed.

"I always do better alone, right?" Nate thought about it, and nodded.

"Fine, but if you aren't back in two days, I'm coming to get you." Spencer nodded, and left.

"Good bye, old friend."

"Good bye, Nate." Spencer closed the door, knowing that was the last time he would see the man.

Ellie thought about the situation, and decided that she would kill as many of them as she could. She would rather die than help them. She realized she might be dooming humanity, but it didn't matter. Ellie was planning how to get out of the room, and she realized that eventually, someone would have to walk in. And when they did, she would be ready. Ellie looked around her room, and realized that there wasn't much to use, except for some boxes. She looked around, and realized that there was a sharp stick hidden behind some boxes, and knew what happened. Thank you, Joel. Ellie didn't know what to think, but decided to reserve judgement for later. If I'm still alive. No, I shouldn't think like that. She took the stick, and broke it so it was smaller, almost like a knife. All Ellie had to do was wait. She sat by the door, and waited. The best case scenario would be if comes to get me himself. Ellie was ready, and she knew that it would be hard, but she was prepared to do it. It had been awhile since she had to kill someone. Ever since...Tommy's.

Two years earlier

Ellie was shaken from her sleep, and saw Joel looking at her. She was still tired, but was nevertheless alert.

"What's up?" Joel started to grab her stuff and put it into her bag.

"We need to go!" He continued to pack her stuff, and handed a pistol to her.

"What about Tommy? Are we going to say good bye?" Joel stopped what he was doing, and looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

"Tommy is dead." Ellie saw the tears in her friend's eyes. She jumped up, and didn't think about it. She just ran and hugged him. He gave her a hug, and then let go.

"Come on. We have to go." She picked up her bag, and they left the room. Ellie could smell the smoke now, and when Joel opened the door, she saw infected running around, and eating people. She saw her neighbors defending themselves, and she saw people shooting at them. They were being sieged by infected and hunters. A few bullets hit the wall behind her, and she turned and fired at the nearest person. Joel pulled her down, and they hid behind a wall. Ellie turned and saw a body on the ground, its head missing. Ellie didn't need the face to recognize her mayor and friend. Joel ran and picked up Tommy's discarded shotgun, and handed it to Ellie. Ellie was still looking at the indent in the wall above the stump that was Tommy's neck. She takes the gun from Joel, who nods, and walks over his dead brother's body. They run to the gate, and with one last look at his brother, Joel leads Ellie through and back out into the wilderness. But there is an even bigger war going on outside. Even though it's night time, the fire that is consuming the town gives off enough light. Ellie watches as a hunter shoots an infected, and then the person it was eating. A bloater is lumbering about, throwing it's weird fungus bombs at people. Joel puts on his gas mask, and leads Ellie out. As they run through the forest, Ellie trips. When she goes to get up, a man comes over and kicks her. Joel tackles him, and begins hitting him. Ellie slowly gets up, and sees someone pointing a gun at Joel. She runs forward, and stabs the man. He screams, and when he falls over, Ellie stabs him again. She continues to stab him, and she is sobbing. All the loss, all the pain is coming out into the thrusts. Joel grabs her, and pulls her away.

"Ellie! We have to go!"

"They killed him, Joel! They killed your brother! How are you fine?!"

"I'm not! Okay?! I'm not fine! But I promised people I would protect you, so I have to forget that he died. Until I get you to safety! I feel bad, but we can't do anything for them now! We have to run!" As if on cue, the bloater came through the brush, and roared. Joel picked Ellie up, and ran. He was running so fast, he couldn't see where he was going. Joel tripped, and they fell into the river. Joel was submerged, but instinct made him breathe in, and he swallowed water. He kicked his feet, and got above water level. He took a deep breath, and fought to not cough. He looked around, and saw Ellie trying to swim to shore. While she was able to swim, she wasn't as good as he was, and she was swimming against the current. Even Joel couldn't swim against the current for long. He swam over, and helped her get to the shore. He bent over, and began coughing up water. His ears still ringing, and he wasn't able to fully function, so when Ellie touched him, he grabbed her arm, and pulled her to the ground. Joel was in survival mode, but when he saw her face, he stopped. He sat up, and looked at Ellie. She was scared, and she scampered back a few feet.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I'm still out of it." She nodded, but kept her distance. Joel looked around, and grabbed his gun. He stood up, and looked around. He saw the smoke in the sky, and knew Tommy's home was still burning. He looked in the opposite direction and started walking. They walked for a few hours, and Joel decided to break the silence.

"Hey, Ellie. Were you swimming with your pack on? Cause that's good. You've been making progress…" Joel turned around, and saw Ellie had stopped walking. She was looking at him, and her lips were quivering.

"Oh, Ellie." Joel dropped his gun, and caught her as she fell over, sobs shaking her whole body.

"It's okay. Get it out, baby. It's okay." He was stroking her head, and she was crying into his shoulder. Joel knew that he should hold it together for them, someone had to be alert, but he couldn't. This was someone who he had been around for his entire life, except for the few years before Tommy was born. Tommy was the last family Joel had. Not true. I have Ellie. Joel felt the tear leave his eye, and forced himself to hold it together. Even though Ellie was done, she still didn't move. Joel looked down, and realized that she had cried herself to sleep. He set her down gently, and took out a blanket from his backpack. It was wrapped in plastic, so it was dry. He wrapped her inside it, and leaned against a tree. Thank god it's the middle of the summer. Joel leaned against a tree, and closed his eyes for a second to rest.

"Joel! Joel, you awake?" Joel opened his eyes, and saw that the sun was out. Ellie was shaking his arm, and he saw the look of worry on her face.

"Joel, what's the plan?" Joel stood up, and realized he was hungry.

"Do you have any food?" Ellie shook her head.

"Then we need to find some." Joel walked over and grabbed his gun, and checked it to make sure it was loaded. He looked at Ellie, who was confused.

"Why don't we go back to Tommy's compound?"

"Ellie. There were infected and hunters. If anyone is still alive, odd's are they aren't friendly. So going back would be dangerous. Also, I doubt there is anything left. It's not worth going back to." Ellie nodded, and she felt bad. All those people. Ellie looked up, and saw Joel walking away. She ran to catch up, and looked up at the sky. Here we go again.

Present

Ellie was shaken from her memory from a thumping outside the room. She silently stood up, and waited by the door. She heard it open, and when she saw a man walk in, she jumped and brought the stick down in between his shoulder blades. For Joel.

Did you guys like the chapter? Sucks what happened to Joel, right? I felt like he had to go, and while I will miss him, I will honor his memory with something good. Also, the raid on Tommy's was pretty good right? Tell me what you think! I feel great when you guys do. Thank you for reading, and take care everybody!