Sorry for the short chapter, but I have a couple more almost ready. I'll be publishing them soon!

Chapter 22

Joel stretched his arms while finally walking around the bed, yawning and unbuckling his belt on the way. Once he came to his own side of the bed with the belt in his hand, he observed his belongings for a while. He had his short guns, a bow and a rifle. Everything else but the one thing he finally noticed to be missing from the group.
"Hell.. " he grunted, turning his eyes to the bedroom door. Furrowing his brows, he took a few steps towards it, thinking Ellie was asleep.

"Hnng..."
Joel instantly turned to see the girl, who was suddenly moving on the bed. His furrowed brows straightened back as his concentration was disturbed, and the gun fell second on his priority list. He had promised not to leave her alone, but he wouldn't be going that far.

Ellie didn't open her eyes, but furrowed her brows while obviously dreaming of something. She was not awake, and Joel sure as hell hoped she wouldn't wake up for a while. He needed some of that sleep too, and her being awake would only make him concerned, for some odd reason. What if she'd need his help while awake? The paternal instinct had awoken in him, and there seemed to be no way to stop it now.

Joel stared at her for a short while, but decided to go on and enter the hallway since she was still asleep. He wouldn't be going too far, he wasn't leaving her alone.
Joel carefully closed the door behind him, making sure that he was still carrying his revolver in it's holster.

Again, the same song popped to his head. The show must go on, he suddenly remembered the title.
"Empty spaces... what are we living for" he whispered once he was sure Ellie couldn't hear him. He looked behind him while walking towards the door, and then turned his head back at the walking direction.
It was for two reasons: first of all, he didn't want to wake her up. And secondly, he still didn't want her to hear him sing. Years as a hunter and then a smuggler had truly hardened his skin, and despite the recent softness, he was still the angry old man, not too happy to show emotion. Singing an emotional song like that to someone was still in the distant future if anywhere.

Even so, he continued singing.
"Abandoned places, I guess we know the score. On and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for?" It was again the correct melody, but he was almost whispering. His voice was harsh but warm, perfect for those words.

Joel continued his way towards the bedroom Andy had slept in the couple of days. As he slowly approached it, he subconsciously grabbed the revolver before arriving to the door.

Once he saw the door, he felt a sudden need to quiet down. Even though he had quite loudly cracked the boy's neck in two, there was still an odd feeling that there was a huge threat behind that door. He felt he should keep his voice down.

He leaned against the door, pushing it open more slowly than he did before.

Even though he had a strong feeling of the threat, it was in vain. Once he looked at it, the room was looking the same he had left it a few hours ago. The few hours that had felt like days. Andy was still lying dead against the wall, and Ellie's blood was covering the spot on the floor in front of the armchair. His eyes quite quickly wandered off of that sight.

Even though it did disgust him, Joel was curious to know what had led to the situation they were in when he arrived. Had Andy just snapped, or did he have a real reason for it? It would demand a true madman to torture some girl without a clear why, and it concerned Joel. Despite all that, the facts would have to wait.

Once Joel stepped further, his foot hit something. As he lowered his gaze, he saw his shotgun lie on the floor, loaded and ready to go. He had not shot the bullets he had loaded in it, since he didn't have the time for it. One more regret, as he rewound the situation. He could have shot him, had he been just a little faster. But he shouldn't beat himself for that. Despite the hassle, he had still saved her. He had killed Andy.

Joel crouched and picked the shotgun, putting it to his shoulder while lifting his eyes again, gazing forwards.

His eyes got stuck on the bloody spot. Ellie's blood was covering a large area of the hardwood floor, starting to dry out after the hours had passed. Not even this time could he look at it for too long.

As he finally turned his head, he saw the pipe that lied on the ground near Andy. It was covered with blood, both Ellie's and Andy's. His emotions showed clearly on his face, as he was disgusted and angry.

Joel bit his teeth together, walking towards the pipe. He took slow, heavy steps towards the boy and the piece of metal pipe, tardily crouching in front of them. He kept his eyes on Andy's corpse, wishing he was still alive so he could make his death more painful. Even though he was dead tired, the anger inside him felt no exhaustion. If there only were a way to undo what had happened, remove Ellie's pain and wounds.

Staring the boy only made him angrier. With the powerful hit against his head he had wiped out the malevolent grin from his face, but the picture was still in Joel's head. How he had trusted him and laughed with him. How he had believed in him as he promised to walk Ellie upstairs. Why didn't he do it himself? It's not like Ellie was able to judge Andy in that condition. Joel knew he should have done it for her. He should have protected her.

As soon as these thoughts entered his head, he got even angrier. Not being completely able to punish himself for it, he had to do it on someone else.
After a while, he put the revolver back to it's holster, reaching for the pipe.
"Another hero... another mindless crime" Joel whispered with the correct melody, getting up from the floor. He felt the pipe in his hand, observing it as he took a better grip on it.
Then, it appeared to him.
"Behind the curtain... in the pantomime"
Joel turned his eyes on Andy, feeling the anger grow every second. He observed the boy's every limb, every square inch of his skin, gathering up the power as he lifted the pipe in the air.
"Hold the line... does anybody want to take it anymore...?"

A wide splash of dark red blood coloured the surroundings once again. The sound was not suitable for kids under 16, but it soothed Joel as sick as it sounded. He saw Andy's head detach from his body, landing a few feet away from them, covering it's way with blood.

"The show must go on"

Joel stared at the separate head, as it was facing the other way. He bit his teeth together, swallowing once after the hate and anger had taken away his breath for a while. He squeezed the metal pipe in his hand for a brief while before dropping it on the floor. It made high pitch ping as it hit the floor, slowly settling down.
"I'll see you in hell" Joel whispered, slowly starting to walk back. He took a last, long look at the boy's face before turning around and heading to the door. He was not completely satisfied with this revenge, but it would have to do. Joel stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. It was the last time for either of them visiting the room.