Plot: After a series of tragic loss Joel Miller travels far and wide surviving on his wits and experience. Always moving forward despite the unforgiving environment he encounters because a quest keeps him going in his journey.
Note: From the game The Last of Us and the live action TV series.
MUSIC: THE LAST OF US Ambient Music & Ambience 🎵 Post Apocalyptic Peace (The Last of Us OST | Soundtrack) by z3n Pnk
THE LAST JOURNEY
CHAPTER 5
THE GOLDEN HIGHWAY
"They want you and Joel to go there." Lee looks terrified when Maya took a step to him. The man took a step backwards to the gate as if he wanted to run out and shut it behind him.
"Say again?"
Only one person could stop Maya: Patty. "Mom, wait!" The girl shields her father much like what Maya did for Joel against Carl's rage. Joel shakes his head-they're true mother and daughter.
"You better have a good explanation, Lee."
"I do, okay?"
"Dad," Patty grabs her father by the shirt and drags him inside. She plunks Lee in a backless chair beside Joel, "sit and start explaining."
"It wasn't my idea, okay? Rina…"
"Of course…"
"Mom! Just listen!" Maya gestures 'fine', straddles a chair at the head of the table near Joel.
Joel exchanges a knowing glance with Patty as the kid went back to her seat on the long bench. He admires her quick thinking and strategy; in case things get hairy Joel could shield Lee and Patty would take care of her mom. Smart kid.
"It was Rina's stupid idea. She made a lot of noise about Carl and now the council is being convened."
"What are they being convened for?" Joel stands up and brings some cups from the dish drainer and a pitcher of water on the table.
"Carl's future."
"Lee, the council has been lenient about her cousin. He's just gonna be in jail for five days not five years!"
"Dad, can't you at least talk some sense to her?"
"I tried, egg."
"Try harder. She's being unreasonable more and more. After the third offence Carl should have been punished for a year in jail or expulsion."
"Lee, I will not risk my neck for someone who doesn't even respect our rules. If you let her undermine your authority again and again the community will lose confidence in you."
Maya left the two men at the garage closely followed by Patty. Joel and Patty shrugs to each other as the younger pass by. Maya's footsteps were heavy at the stairs reflecting her anger at the whole thing.
"Fuck." The man heaves a sigh of relief that he's still alive after his ex-wife carved him a new hole. Lee's morale is bleeding out on the floor of the garage. "Thank you." The man took a deep breath after he downed the glass of water Joel poured out for him.
"Take it easy."
"Easy for you to say that's not your ex. I'm aware that there are times Rina doesn't seem to have common sense." Lee rubs the sweat from his face and brows.
"Why, man?" Joel points up the house.
"Where do I begin, huh? Yeah, I know. It's complicated as hell. I made a mistake. A fucking big mistake." The man pours himself another glass of water. "What's your take on it?"
"Oh, man. Uh, I don't think it's my right…"
"Hey, you're with us now and that means you also share all the shit in it."
"Okay. Fine. You might not like what I'll say. I think Rina is being petty and yes, you better start getting your shit together. You can't let your people down."
"True. Rina's jealous. Plain and simple."
"What's she jealous about?"
"Lots of things."
"Like what?"
"Could be anything. It's a woman thing, huh?"
"Hmm. Have they, you know, had a full on fight?"
"No. Maya's not into that. How ironic, right?" Lee smirks.
"That it is…."
Lee looks up to the second floor and leans to Joel. "But one thing about Maya, when she's had it she's gonna blow."
"That's your job to prevent, Lee."
xXXx
The council meeting according to Lee is going to be held in the evening; around seven. They should all go the village clubhouse or community hall, the man said in parting as Joel saw him out. He kinda feels sorry for the poor bloke. Talk about being between the sharp end of a katana and a second wife! He doesn't envy the man's situation, Joel thought as Lee goes back up the road to the mall where he would prepare the young man, Carl for the deliberation this evening.
When the man left Maya and Patty are still up Maya's room. Mom and daughter must have a lot to talk about and Patty has a lot of consoling to do.
"Left holding the bill." Joel snickers as he looks at the table with the remains of their lunch. He took a moment to check where things are at before he began washing up the dishes. It seems the same home-made soap he used before is also the dishwashing soap. What's important is that it's soapy enough to break down the sebum on the dishes.
He lowers the bowl, looking at it as if he'd never seen it before.
It's bizarre that just three days ago he was navigating an endless path of concrete which guided him to his destination and target: to the largest city in the metropolis where Maya lives. He traversed that highway for more than six months after going through four typhoons. If not for the old and stained book map he found at Rick's neighbor's house he'd possibly be wandering the whole northern island of this archipelago forever.
The boat that took him across from the ship he was on dropped him from the Pacific Ocean side. The boat captain, a small man, stressed out he must follow the highway. 'Do not get off highway, okay?' the boat captain said. 'If you go off, back again fast. Fast!'
Joel's heart starts beating wild as the man's dirt lined fingernail weaves on the laminated pages to that city. Maya's city.
On that book the highway is colored yellow.
A golden path.
He was scared as hell when the men on the boat waved goodbye to him on that fish port.
And the rest is history. So they say.
His soapy finger traces the line he had memorized on the bottom of the bowl like that golden highway.
You made it.
You have arrived.
Joel closes his eyes as he lowers the bowl in another basin to rinse it off. It feels like he's also washing off everything that happened.
His dishwashing duty was done quite fast since it's easy to see where to put things where they belong at the garage kitchen.
Joel made sure to follow Maya's instruction that the gate must be locked; the deadbolt is secure and another lock has been placed.
When he reached the top of the stairs he pauses at the landing, one ear listening. The two women were talking quietly. Joel decides to leave them be. He was eager to go back to his room and get some shut eye before they attend that meeting.
His room!
The wall feels cold under his palm but it feels solid. Real. It is real. He is here. The place where Rick said Maya is.
He made it. He really did.
It's a miracle…
"Shit…" Joel felt a momentary feeling of vertigo making him lean to the wall weakly, other hand against the wall to support him. He had to close his eyes tight or he'll fall. Stay calm. Damn it. He waded through almost hundreds of infected and here he's panicking at a spell of dizziness…
After a few seconds the feeling passes but it worries him. God, he hopes it's not serious. Must the stress and difficulty of his journey, he thought as he slowly leaves the wall and to his bed, legs bent a little. He reaches up to unlock the balcony door to let some fresh air in. The leaves of the mango tree right outside the garage sways in the light breeze. Air flows in the window on the right side of his room.
Voices reach him; Maya and Patty. They sound light and content. That's good. That's good, he thought as he eases himself in bed, eyes closed.
The pillow feels cool under his nape. The dizziness is gone. Getting old. Fuck it, he thought. He's not vain. Vanity is the least of his vice, pushed down to the very bottom of the barrel. Before the chaos happened all he wanted to do was take care of Sarah. He's more concerned on making sure he does right as a father.
He's pleased to say that he's not bad at being a single dad. He also felt kinda proud that he had managed to appear and be there at Sarah's school events. Even when he's on duty he'd take a few minutes to show up and yell some encouraging words from across the field to make his baby smile and wave that pompom back at him.
Sarah understands; that kid was mature for her age.
A hot tear made its way down and he swipes it off a little angrily. He hates what happened to the world because it ripped away the one person that he loved in all the world so violently. He didn't have time to properly mourn Sarah only get a twinge in his chest when something would remind him of her here and there.
A light laugh…Sarah? His eyes open a crack. Who's that? Did somebody call me?
Dad?
Yeah? What is it baby girl….
Oh…Patty. Maya…Patty talking about Lee…
xXXx
"Hey, Joel!"
Joel gets that small twinge in his chest. For a moment that skip in her step looks so much like his baby girl. "Hey, Patty." The kid walks in step with him on the asphalt street just outside Armory E.
"So, how are you and my mom getting along?"
"Just okay, I guess." His 'why' is a lift of his brow.
"Nothing!" she gave him a cute smile. "Just the usual question a concerned daughter asks about her single mom."
Joel had to chuckle about that. "Are you trying to pair her up?"
"How did you guess?" The girl grimaces, looking up at him. "Not easy. She has a reputation." Her lips turn down.
"Reputation?"
"You know." The girl did some motions almost the perfect copy of Maya's katana moves.
"I see." He smirks. "Wait. Do you know how to use it too?"
"I do." Patty nods, "she's taught me since I was a child but I'm not as good as her. I have to practice more."
"Do you need a practice buddy?"
"You?"
"Yeah, I wanna learn too."
"You know, my mom can teach you better. She was a two-time champion in New York city."
"Shit." Joel shakes his head. "That's impressive."
"See my problem?" she and Joel nod together. "If you study with her you can learn from the best." She winks at him. "And you get to know my mom."
Joel couldn't help roll his eyes in amusement, shoulders shaking from his chuckle. "Any takers?"
The girl's shoulders sag low. "Some tried but she's not interested."
"Maybe she's happy that way."
"Maybe." Patty gave the two people walking way ahead of them a sad smile, her parents. Lee came back to fetch them to the meeting. "We used to take a stroll down these streets after dinner. The houses were lit from within, you could hear people having dinner or watching TV, cars pass us by, and neighbors walk their dogs. There were stores open here and there. That? That was my kindergarten. I mean, I went there when I was in kinder. Over there, "she points to a covered court," there would be a basketball game every night. We'd stop and they'll sit to watch while I play at the swing or the monkey bars." Patty points to his left. "Oh, see that building up there? That's where mom used to work. She trained people."
"The call center?"
"Right. Now instead of training people how to talk to angry customers she trains people how to kill."
"And she's done that for you." the young woman nods at his words but she doesn't look happy..
"Can you keep a secret?" Joel raises his brows. "My mom doesn't think I know about what happened here. I did. I saw it. It was scary." The child's eyes dart around as if she could still see the horrific images. "I kept it to myself so she wouldn't worry."
"Yeah, she told me she was trying to shield you from it all." Joel looks down at the girl who is shaking her head.
"I saw her. There was this movie of a samurai who is a girl. I've watched it again and again. Have you seen those samurai movies? Get the picture?" she shakes her head when Joel nods, face stunned. "She was…that was not my mom."
"She had to be that. She had no choice. It's either you or them." Joel looks back at the young woman. 'Do you understand?" he said softly.
"I know." Patty nods to him as Maya stops, letting Lee walk ahead. She waits for them. "Let's switch. Catch you at the clubhouse!"
"Yeah!" he gave Patty a languid wave.
"I hate to ask what you and Patty were talking about."
"She's giving me a tour and she's marketing you off." Joel chuckles when the woman gave an embarrassed groan.
"Oh! That child! I'm sorry."
"It's okay. She's cute. She reminds me of Sarah."
"How old was Sarah when she died?"
"Twelve." Joel whispers.
"Damn! That's too young."
"If Sarah were alive she'd be almost the same age as Patty. They kinda have the same sassy personality but...her hair has tighter curls." Joel blew out a breath from deep from his chest.
"I'm sorry for your loss." The man nods his acceptance and gave her a glance. "You must miss her terrible."
"It was hard. I felt numb…anyway." The man shakes his head, a loose curl slips down on his forehead. "So what else is this meeting about?"
"Carl and the event this morning, Rina and maybe about that therapist."
"Are we really going to that university?" Ellie...
"It all depends on what the council will decide on but I have a feeling it's about ejecting Carl from the village."
"Fuck. Where will the kid go?"
"He has to take his chances out there." She points the wall beyond the village.
"That's harsh. He wouldn't last a few hours let alone a day!"
"That's the rule. He has violated the rule once too many. Rina thinks she could sway the council because she's Lee's new wife."
"Do you have a say at the council?"
"The clubhouse." Maya nods to the A-frame structure built beside the tennis court. People are gathered inside and outside. Here and there people are coming down from various streets and alleys. "Lets go inside."
He suddenly felt self-conscious when people started to pay attention to their arrival. Joel was glad he got to take a bath and changed his clothes. Maya gave him a few shirts that one of the tenants left a long time ago. Even Maya changed into a different shirt; she even smells faintly like baby cologne.
Maya returns the greetings and nods. She looks casual but her left hand rests on her weapon. Joel nods to some people who greeted him. They're seemed more curious than mad. He returns the raised hand greeting of the bald man who was at the mall this morning. Joel catches the can the man tosses to him. He couldn't believe it. It's a cold can of coke. The others raise their drinks to him in greeting. "Maya! Come over! Coke?"
"No, thanks. I'll have some water."
One of the men hurriedly dug up a water bottle in the cooler. "Here you go, miss Maya." The man looks like a high schooler who sees his crush.
"Thanks. Everyone's here?"
"Not yet. The attorney's on his way down and the actor just finished his class."
"'Attorney?'" he whispers to Maya.
"The members of the council. They're on duty. The attorney is at one of the outposts and the actor is one of the teachers up there." Maya points to a building behind them. "The kids study there at night." Joel looks up just as a chorus of young voices says their rehearsed farewell to their teacher.
"How do you like our village?" The bald man opens his arms wide.
"It's not what I expected."
"What do you mean?" Asks the bald man who introduced himself as Manny.
"In some places I've been the houses and buildings are run down or totally destroyed. People are like animals...the infected are all over the place..."
"We still have them but they get eliminated quickly."
"I heard there were cannibals too?" asks another guy who wears a manbun.
Joel nods after he took a sip of the fizzy beverage. "Yeah. There were."
"That's sick, man."
"We are proud to say that we have been kind of blessed here. That's why we were careful of strangers." Manny point at Joel.
"We worked hard to create this for the children and for us." The man who has a crush at Maya says.
"Yeah, Maya told me."
"I used to be in the police force." Manny points to his name printed on his shirt. "You?"
Joel extends his hand. "Same! Highway patrol." Smiling, Joel took something from his back pocket. "My badge and ID." the men passed it around. Maya looked at it last, brow raised.
"Welcome back to the force!" they raised cans again.
"You're at the Armory E now?" Manny asks.
"Yeah."
"So you're her new lieutenant."
"Manny, he can decide what he wants to do." Maya joins in. Joel noticed that she would always stand facing his side area when they stop or when they're talking.
"What?" Joel asks the group.
"Like Maya you'll be the caretaker, the next quartermaster. Everything important is there."
"What? How? What about my case?"
"What case?" Manny frowns.
Joel looks at Maya and back at Manny. "At the outpost? The shooting?"
"What case? Hey! The council's complete! Let's go!" Manny slaps Joel on the arm. The group dispersed. Joel and Maya were left alone in the deserted parking area.
"Uh…what just happened?"
Maya couldn't help but smile at Joel's bewildered face. "It means you're pardoned. Fully."
"That's it?"
"The guys accepted you." Maya slaps him on the arm like Manny did. "Let's go."
xXXx