Chapter 11:Winter
Winter
Jake's POV
It was now winter snow was on the ground it was cold and life wasn't getting any better we were low on food so me and Ellie went hunting in the snow we shot a few rabbits using the bows to make sure we didn't alert any infected or hostile humans good thing we found another bow, Ellie's actually a good shot with that I'm now regretting not giving her he bow back at Bill's but what can you do now. We shot one more rabbit and tied it up to Callus we left Bessey back out a house we were occupying with Joel in it.
"Oh this won't last very long", Ellie said as she tied a rabbit to Callus.
"Shh, look over there", I said in a whisper and pointed in the distance there was a deer that would last us a lot longer Ellie then tied Callus to a tree.
"You'll just startle it", Ellie said and we then went after the deer that went into the wood, we followed it until we had a clear opening at it I aimed at the head Ellie aimed at the body, unfortunately it moved at the last second so I hit some part of it's body and Ellie missed entirely so we followed it's blood and gave it another shot and it ran off again "How are you still alive", Ellie said under her breath, once again we followed the dear and arrived at a wooden shack it's blood ran through so we followed "What is this place?", Ellie asked but I couldn't tell her we then entered the shack "Everything's cool. This place is not creepy at all".
"Do not worry it looks like it's abandoned", I replied we walked through and on the other side found the dear dead, on it's side with blood coming from it's neck, we then heard footsteps and both of us drew an arrow and pointed our bows at the direction of the noise "Come out", I said then two men came from behind a tree.
"Hello we just wanna talk", the first and definitely older man said.
"Don't try anything or we open fire on your skulls", I warned them "What do you want?".
"Um, name's David, this here's my friend, James. We're from a larger group- women, children we're all very, very hungry", the older man whose name was David said.
"Same goes for us women and children all very hungry", I replied it was technically true.
"Well ah maybe we could, ah, trade you for some of that meat there. What do you need? Weapons, ammo, cloths", David said I then looked at Ellie and she nodded.
"Got any medicine?", I asked "Any antibiotics?".
"We do back at the camp. You're welcome to follow us-", David said as he approached us.
"We're not following anyone. He can get the medicine, with no reinforcements or tricks the deer is all yours, if you do pull any tricks then I'll-", I replied.
"You'll open fire on our skulls", David said interrupting me.
"Glad we have understanding".
"Two bottles of penicillin and a syringe. Make it fast", David ordered James and Ellie then pointed her bow at him "Go on", David repeated and James then left.
"Drop the rifle", I said.
"Of course", David said taking the rifle of his shoulders and on to the snow.
"All yours", I said Ellie then picked it up checked if it had ammo then pointed it at David I already had a rifle which I took on our way to the house we were occupying.
"He's gonna be a while. You ah mind if we take some shelter from the cold?", David asked.
"Bring him with us", Ellie said we then entered a shack next to the one from then started a fire in the shack using some stones and wood.
"There. You two really shouldn't be out here all on your own", David said putting his hands close to the fire.
"We're not fans of company", I said with an emotionless face.
"I see are you two like?".
"It doesn't matter to you and if we are then one of us more likely to put a bullet in you bullet in your skull if you pull any tricks on the other", I replied.
"Okay. What are your names?".
"The fuck's it matter to yoi?".
"I know it's easy to trust a couple of strangers. Whoever's hurt, you two clearly care a lot about. I'm sure it's gonna be just fine".
"I hope so", I replied "Do I? I really only want so that we can get to the fireflies if Joel is dead it doesn't matter to me anymore", I thought and then a clicker entered the building and then charged at Ellie then David shot it twice causing it to fall and shot it one more time to finish it off.
"You had another gun?", Ellie asked.
"Sorry. Okay I'd really like my rifle back now", David said.
"No. you have your pistol", Ellie replied.
"I hope you know how to use that thing".
"I've had some practice", David then closed the door and covered the dear with a cloth.
"Cover the windows", David said as he ran near one we all then took one side of the room we took out the first wave of nearby infected "You weren't kidding you're a better shot with that thing than I am. Give me a hand with this", David said we all then pushed the a metal wardrobe it looked like in front of a window to block the infected then an runner got through a small gap in the window and tried to bite Ellie but I stabbed it with one of my knives, I know she's immune but I don't want to risk what a second bite might do to her. We then waited until there was a window where we weren't being attacked "Screw it were getting out of this room", David said as he kicked down a door in the room that lead to a narrow hallway "Come on you two", we then ran through after David "I'll block their path cover the stairs", David said and began pushing a shelf over the doorway he then broke open another metal door to get out of the room.
"Do you know where you're going?", Ellie asked.
"I've never set foot in this place", David replied.
"Oh great", Ellie said David then walked ahead of us and check round the corner of this metal object.
"It's clear", David said motioning us to follow "This way".
"Right behind you", I replied as we climbed some stairs to a second floor made of old metal that could break at any moment
"How you two holding up?", David asked.
"Don't worry about us", I answered.
"Alright. Stay close", we then jumped over something blocking the path then when Ellie jumped over it the floor beneath her broke and she landed on her back, I then jumped down to help her it wasn't much of a drop but I didn't want her to deal with infected on her own I don't know why but it felt like the right thing to do, and David can take care of himself, I then helped her up.
"You okay?", I asked.
"Yeah", Ellie replied and I helped here up.
"Come on there are Clickers here", I said and I saw David running from some above us, we then found a ladder that lead back up to the floor David was on and we were greeted by a Clicker that was about to charge at us but David shot it in the head before it could.
"You alright? Oh there you are", David said looking at us "C'mon - door is this way", David said as he lead us to the door.
"That was to close", Ellie said.
"We need to get up there", David said looking up at the next floor.
"The ladder", I said as I pointed to it "Ellie get up there and drop it to us", I said and got ready to boost her up "Move quickly", I said once she was up.
"I know", she replied, she then made her way around to the ladder and dropped it down to us David went first then I followed then Ellie we then went through a metal door that went into a wooden hallway with holes in it.
"We need to find a way outta here", David said.
"No shit Sherlock", I replied we then entered a small room with a stair to slightly higher ground and a giant metal box in the middle there were bodies all around.
"Geez. Looks like someone already fought those thing and lost", Ellie said.
"Ah, lord. I've been looking for these boys", David said.
"Don't matter. Grab their gear, we need to get out of here", I said "Crap looks like we have to hold our ground".
"Alright then get ready", David said then infected started coming in through the hallway we entered through.
"You hear that they're on the roof", Ellie said. We took care of them as fast as we could with minimal injuries then we heard a loud thud on the metal box.
"That doesn't sound good", David said.
"It's a bloater!", Ellie shouted.
"A what?".
"One of those big fucking guy".
"Oh shit", I said in absolute fear I tried to keep my distance and kept shooting at it with my rifle and threw a molotov at him every so often it then fell flat on it's stomach "Holy fuck", I said now breathing very quickly my hear was pounding sweat pouring down my face Ellie then walked up to me.
"Jake get a grip. It's okay it's dead now", Ellie said to me I then tried to calm down and wiped the sweat of my forehead.
"Oh my god. Thanks I needed that", I replied.
"Hey I think we did", David said.
"Like we killed all of em?", Ellie replied.
"Don't sound so disappointed".
"More like disbelief", Ellie replied we then walked into the wooden hallway and went up to one of the holes to see the outside.
"Listen", David said.
"No infected", Ellie stated.
"What'd I tell you?", David replied "Alright. Let's head on back. Check on that buck of ours", he said and then hit Ellie with his backhand on her shoulder.
"I still don't trust him", I thought "Then again I have trust issues". We then followed him back into the room with the dear.
"Well you two handled yourselves pretty nice back there. I'd say we made a pretty good team", David said as he sat down next to the fire from before that was still lit surprisingly.
"Psshh. We got lucky", Ellie replied.
"Lucky? No, no… No such thing as luck. See I believe that everything happens for a reason", David replied, I noticed every so often he would just stare at Ellie I couldn't put my finger on it but my gut told me that something was wrong.
"Sure", Ellie responded.
"Well that raises a lot of questions in life", I said.
"I can prove it to you. Now this winter has been especially cruel a few weeks back I ah.. I sent a group of men out nearby town to look for food. Only a few came back. They said that the others had been ah, slaughtered by a crazy man. And get this a crazy man traveling with a little boy and girl both about the same age. You see everything happens for a reason", David said we then stood up and pointed our rifles at him "Now don't get upset. It's not your fault. You're just kids. James lower the gun", David said causing both of us to turn to the door and see that James the guy from before had a pistol aimed at us.
"No way David I'm not gonna let-", James said.
"Lower the gun", David said cutting off James' sentence "Now give them the medicine", David ordered James then threw the medicine at the floor in front of us.
"The others aren't gonna like this", James said.
"Yeah, well, that's not your concern", David replied Ellie then picked up the medicine and pointed her rifle at James.
"Move the fuck out of the way", Ellie said to James and he listen she then she pointed her gun at David.
"You won't survive long out there. I can protect you", David said as he pointed at Ellie
"No thanks", I replied then we ran back to Callus, I got on first and then Ellie.
"Let's get out of here", she said and then began to clutch my winter jacket. We then returned to the place we were staying at we entered through the garage and left Callus this is also where Bessey was we then walked down some stairs to where Joel was sleeping when Ellie walked close him I then collapsed and everything was black "Jake", a distorted voice said. I then began to have strange dreams. It started with me running after my deceased sister then she stopped and turned around and turned into Ellie then she eventually went through the stages of infection until she turned into a bloater and then she bit me. I then woke up it looked like it was night, Joel was laying down next I turned my head to the right to see Ellie asleep curled up and shivering. I then took of my jacket and put it over and her shivering was less noticeable.
"Don't get attached," I mentally cursed myself "It just makes things worse."
The next morning I woke up in the same spot except Ellie was gone"Ellie?" I asked very quietly as I could hardly get the words out she then came into the room.
"Finally awake I see", she replied in a relieved voice and the sat down on the floor next to me.
"What.. happened?".
"You passed out when we got back", Ellie explained.
"Guess a bloater makes me tremble in my boots that much", I said and then began to cough very hard.
"Jake?", Ellie said as she moved towards me 'Are you okay?".
"Yeah. I don't know what's wrong with me", I replied Ellie then felt my forehead.
"You're sweating like crazy I think you've got a fever", Ellie said she then removed her from my forehead.
"Just my luck", I replied and then let out a few coughs "You give Joel the medicine?"
"Yeah I did".
When then heard voices of older men outside and got up Ellie look out the window to see.
"Oh fuck. They tracked us", Ellie said.
"I knew we should've shot them," I said in my head Ellie then walked over to where me and Joel were sleeping "I'm gonna draw them away from here. I'll come back for you two", Ellie said and then got her bag.
"Wait Ellie", I said in a weak voice "I'll go too".
"No you're too sick", I replied.
"I'm fine", I said.
"You're not fine Jake. You need to stay here and rest".
"And risk you getting killed. I don't think so. Tess said I have to look after you until we get to the fireflies", Jake said and then started couching again.
"I know but", Ellie said and sighed "Tess said I had to look after you too so stay here and rest".
"What?".
"I won't die out there I swear", I said kneeling down to Jake's level
"Still".
"I'll be fine don't worry I'm just going to draw them away from here".
"Alright. You better come back", I said and Ellie smiled in response and then kissed me on the cheek then got up and left "Why did she?", I thought after she left.
Ellie's POV
"Hey I got her", the man that grabbed me said I then stabbed him in the throat with my switchblade and began to ride away as quickly as I could while bullets were being fired over my head, I to get tried to lure them away as far as I could but then they shot Callus and we both fell to the ground. I sneaked through what looked a like a village back to Joel and Jake since they weren't there anymore but then someone snuck up on me and made pass out. I then woke up in a prison cell with someone outside cutting up a human to eat, he noticed I woke up and then left I then started shaking the metal gate to get out but it was useless.
"How are you feeling?", David asked as he walked in the room with a tray in his hands.
"Super", I replied.
"You should eat", David said passing the tray under the gate of the prison cell "I know you're hungry. You've been out for quite some time".
"What is it?", I asked.
"It's deer".
"With some human helping on the side?".
"No. No, I promise. It's just deer meat".
"You're a fucking animal", I said and then began eating.
"Awfully quick to judgement considering you and your two friends killed how many of our men?".
"You didn't give us a choice".
"You think we had a choice? Is that it? You kill to survive. And so do we. We have to take care of our own. By any means necessary".
"So now what? You gonna chop me up into tiny pieces".
"I'd rather not. Please tell me your name", David said then I pushed the tray back under the gate.
"You're so full of shit", I said standing up and putting my hands against the metal gate.
"On the contrary. I've been quite honest with you. Now I think it's your turn. Where's that friend of yours anyway?".
"None of your business".
"Look if your not answering my questions then I won't be able to convince the others".
"Convince them of what?".
"That you can come around", David replied "That you're loyal. You have heart. That you're special", David said and put his hand on mine when he said the last sentence, I then put my other hand on his then broke his finger then reached through the metal gate for the keys hanging from David's belt but he grabbed my arm and started pulling it and in the process slammed my face into the gate several times.
"Oh fuck", I said as David walked away holding his hand.
"You stupid little girl", David said walking back towards the cell "You are making it very difficult to keep you alive. What am I supposed to tell the others now?", David said and walked away again,
"Ellie", I said as I wiped some blood from my nose.
"What?".
"Tell them that Ellie is the little girl that broke your fucking finger".
"How did you put it? Hmm? Tiny pieces? See you in the morning, Ellie", David said and walked away.
Jake's POV
"Ellie?", Joel said as he opened his eyes and looked around.
"Joel you're awake", I said as I put my bag over my shoulders.
"Jake where's Ellie?", Joel asked, guess she's still more important to him, well fuck him.
"She went to lure away some people who followed us since I was sick. I was just about to go look for her".
"Let me go too", Joel said as he tried to get up.
"No, you still need to rest. I'll go get her", I replied even though I hadn't forgiven him yet I still couldn't help but care for him, he is the closest thing to family I have left.
"Alright, be careful", Joel said and I nodded in response and took Bessey out but she was instantly shot then the people that shot it ran away.
"Ellie!", I called once outside "Where is she?", I asked myself. I started looking around and some men jumped out from a house and started firing at me "Where is she?!", I shouted at them but no response so I returned fire then they started running like little bitches, I guess they were scared because of what Joel did to them at the university and what me and Ellie did to them at the Colorado mountain plaza, I then followed them through neighbourhood "Where is she?!", I kept asking, on the way "You're gonna tell me whether you like it or not", I shouted I followed them once again then one man grabbed me by the neck from around a corner and someone was coming with a machete I pulled out a knife from my belt and stabbed the guy that grabbed me in the leg and then took a pipe he had and hit the other guy in the head putting him in a dazed state I then dragged both of them into a house and tied one up to a chair and the other I started beating the other one until he was too weak to move then I went over to the guy that was tied up and sat down in front of him "Is the girl alive?", I asked the guy tied up.
"What girl?", he replied I put my knife deep inside his kneecap, he then screamed in pain, this was gonna be fun
"Concentrate right here. Or your knee is gone fuckface. The girl".
"She's alive. She's David's newest pet", he replied that last sentence made me cringe.
"Where?", I asked I then twisted the knife in his knee and he cried in pain I was trying to hold a grin back but it was becoming more difficult with his crying.
"In the town. In the town", he answered I then put the edge of the knife's handle in his mouth I then pulled out a map of the area.
"Mark it on the map and it better be the same place your buddy over there points to", I said as I moved the map closer to the knife, he then marked it and dropped the knife from his mouth I then picked it up.
"There you can go verify it. I ain't lying", he said I then stabbed him in the throat I then took out Bill's baseball bat and walked over to the other guy.
"Fuck you man. He told you what you wanted. I ain't telling you shit", the other guy said.
"That's fine, fortunately for you I believe him", I said and then crushed his skull with the bat. I then went into their town to where Ellie should be, in that building I found her backpack that building then some bodies hanging from the ceiling "Shit where is she?", I asked myself I went out a different door and saw a building on fire "Oh no. Ellie", I said and ran towards the building and saw David on top of Ellie and Ellie the grabbing a machetes cutting him up with a it I then went to Ellie and pulled her away but she didn't seem to notice it was me and cut me near my lip with the machete but I didn't care "Ellie it's okay now I'm here", I said trying to comfort her.
"He tried to", Ellie replied and then started crying.
"I know it's gonna be alright", I said and in that moment I felt horrible for all the shit I gave her and wanted I wanted to make David suffer if he wasn't dead. But I had more pressing things to take care of ,we were in a burning building I can comfort her later i then let go of her "We need to get out this place is on fire", I said and Ellie nodded we then left the building leaving David's body to burn to ash"Serves you right fucking bastard."
When we returned I found that Bessey was gone she must of snuck out the garage door with me and I didn't notice we went through the house to see Joel leaning on the counter of the kitchen Ellie than ran up and hugged him in.