Chapter 10: Moments

After the three travelers had wordlessly reconciled with each other they decided to take up Tommy's offer and the spend the night at Jackson. Though Joel was always the type to move forward relentless, even he had to concede that these months of traveling had taken a toll on them all and that one night of rest was deserved. They rode on at a relaxed pace through the dimly light dirt roads of Jackson. Makeshift houses of wood and brick dotted either side of the streets, with residents even more abundant. Children joyfully playing in the streets, adults tending to produce in their gardens whilst leisurely conversing amongst each other. The lack of tension was extremely foreign to newcomers, to the point that it was distracting. Ellie raised her head as she looked both ways in curiosity. She couldn't help but feel that the serene atmosphere of the town was something out of this world.

"Hey Jake, does anything feel weird to you?" She asked as she couldn't shake the thoughts.

"It's calm and peaceful," Jake answered with an unsure hesitation, unable to quite grasp the atmosphere himself.

"So you noticed too," Ellie commented as she relaxed again on the saddle "It's weird, feels like the infection hasn't touched this pkace."

"People new to Jackson always have that feeling," Tommy stated "This place is a community, so we've tried to make as comfortable as possible for everyone."

"I wonder what it'd be like to live here," Ellie thought to herself as images of a normal life with Joel and Jake in Jackson started to form in her mind. A small smile formed on her face from the bitter-sweet image "I guess some things just aren't meant to be."

"Everyone's so calming. It's almost nostalgic, back when I was a brat," Jake thought to himself.

"Well, here we are," Tommy announced after the group's short leisurely ride through town. They stopped in front of a small, wooden one story house. Soon after Maria emerged from the doors of the house to greet the group.

"Nice of you to show up," Maria said to Tommy, clearly still irritated from the couple's earlier argument "So when do you leave?"

"Actually ma'am," Joel began "There's been a change of plans. Tommy will be staying, I'll finish the job. I started it after all," he explained which caused Maria's eyes to widen slightly in surprise that soon after turned to relief. She turned to Tommy for confirmation who simply nodded in response, prompting a sigh of relief from Maria.

"Thank goodness," she let out but soon composed herself "Are you sure you want to leave? It's safe here. You could live a comfortable life."

"Thanks for the offer, but I know what I'm doing. We'll be leaving first thing in the morning so we won't be a bother for you much longer."

"Let them rest at our place," Tommy suggested "And a meal wouldn't hurt them either."

"Right, well I'll get to work then," Maria said and then went back within the house.

"I should go put these fellas in the barn," Tommy stated.

"I'll give ya a hand," Joel offered as he took the reins of two the horses.

"We've got some time before food will be on the table. Feel free to explore the town, everyone here is really friendly," Tommy informed them as he began to guide the horses away along with Joel, leaving the two teens to their own devices.

"Well now what?" Ellie asked with boredom in her tone.

"I'm going to make sure all my weapons are in order and prepare for tomorrow," Jake replied with a neutral expression and began walking towards the house.

"Aw come on! You're such a bore, why can't you let loose and have a little fun for once?" Ellie asked in frustration "Come on, explore the town a bit. This is one of the few times we can really relax, take advantage of it."

"You go ahead," Jake responded simply. Ellie sighed in frustration and then quickly walked up to Jake and grabbed him by the arm.

"Weell, too bad because I am not taking noo for an answer," Ellie said with a childish, jovial voice as she began dragging Jake by arm away.

"Hey, Ellie. Stop, let go," Jake protested but Ellie held on firmly.

"Nope, you're coming whether you want to or not," Ellie insisted. Jake simply rolled his eyes and let out on audible exhalation in concession.

"Fine, you win," he grumbled "But stop tugging you're gonna pull my arm out of its socket."

"Glad you see it my way," she teased at her victory as she loosen her grip on the dark-haired boy's arm but still held on to it.

The two teens nonchalantly walked through the dirt roads of the secluded town. The whole town was an anomaly to them; a bastion of civilisation amidst the sea of chaos they had traversed on the way here. The calm they felt strolling these streets was almost disturbing to them. Despite the overall tranquility of the area, the town was nothing but still and certainly not quiet. The one thing that stood out to them the most was the joyful expressions on every face they passed, an inconceivable thought back in Boston. Adults laughing heartily, children skipping through the streets. Ellie stared longingly at the simple yet peaceful world before her. She began to wonder if this was how society was before the infection had come crashing down on people. And she started to hope that this kind of community could become commonplace, that things could improve. Her desire to find the Fireflies was amplified, she was affirmed of the idea that this world could be saved. The foreign fantasy that no one would have to die seemed real, within reach, to her now. Ellie's distant gazes were not unnoticed by Jake who soon after began to contemplate how such an environment was possible. Everything around was in stark contrast to what he had seen as a smuggler. Those countless days and nights as child killer were in direct opposition to the sights of innocence before him. He was at a loss of how to react. It made no sense to him at all. He soon shook the thoughts away as they would benefit him in no way "What is it?" Jake questioned Ellie's fixation on the surroundings.

"It's just so… calm," Ellie replied simply, unable to fully verbalise her bewilderment.

"Yeah," Jake said as a baseball began slowly rolling towards the pair. Jake went down to retrieve the item and was soon greeted by the person to misplace it. A small boy ran towards the pair and stood shyly, waiting for his ball to be returned. Jake gingerly tossed the ball at the child and he promptly ran off whilst giggling.

"Do you think this is what things were like before the infected came?"

"Who knows. I feel like this is all too good to be true."

"What do you mean?"

"This place existing just doesn't make sense to me, knowing this world."

"Has he always been this negative and cynical?" I wonder what happened to him that made him like this," Ellie questioned internally "Yeah, I kinda get what you're saying. I wonder what it would be like to live here."

"You could stay and find out."

"You know I can't do that. I have to get to the Fireflies," she replied causing Jake to lightly grasp his left forearm.

"Why are you so fixated on getting to the Fireflies?"

"It's the right thing to do."

"The right thing? Right doesn't even exist," Jake thought "Right based on what?"

"It's just right, I can't explain how. It just is."

"I see."

"So why don't you stay here then?"

"I promised didn't I? I gotta hold to it now, even if it is pain," Jake said with a chuckle in his voice "Besides, I'm not fit for this place. I can tell that much just by looking at this town."

"What makes you say that?"

"I've done too much wrong, I'm beyond redemption. This kind of society isn't right for someone like me," he replied which left Ellie silent for a moment "I'll be doing more 'good'... going with you."

"How so?"

"You said you're afraid of being alone. I think I can manage that much. And if by some magic this cure works, well I guess that will correct some of my errors."

"What makes you and Joel so sceptical about the cure? You both see I'm immune."

"Yeah you're immune, but I doubt that can be turned into a cure. The infection has been around for twenty years, it just seems to impossible by this point. And if it is accomplished, it's highly likely the Fireflies will use it to their own advantage."

"We still have to try. No one else is looking for a cure."

"I guess you're right."

"Thanks for coming with me though… It means a lot."

"Don't worry about it. Tess would've wanted me to see this through anyway."

"I'm sorry about Tess."

"It's not your fault. Don't be sorry."

"It's just you two seemed close and, well she died because of me."

"Were you the one who killed her?" Jake asked to which Ellie simply shook her head "Then she didn't die because you. And yeah, we were close. But there's nothing we can do about it now," Jake commented with a neutral tone in his voice. Jake then lightly wrapped his hand around Ellie's whilst giving a small but warm smile "Don't worry yourself over it. It's in the past now," Jake reassured causing Ellie to give a smile in return. "There's a lot wrong with this world. People warping it and warped by it, I'm one of them. Don't let that happen to her," Jake thought to himself.

"I see you've started doing that more often."

"Well, yeah I guess so."

"Keep doing it will ya."

"No promises," Jake retorted and they both chuckled between themselves. Ellie then turned her head upwards and gazed at the open night sky above them.

"The sky looks so much prettier out here, I can't really explain why."

"It is a clear night, maybe that's why," Jake commented as he too turned to stare at the star filled sky. The soft, low rumblings of the town around them settling in as they now stood rooted in their place on the dirt path.

"No that's not it. Even when it's clear other places, it's never had the same calming feel to it."

"Maybe it's because of where we are. This is the safest place we've been."

"You're probably right," Ellie stated "It's completely clear out here as well. None of the depressing, broken buildings from the quarantine zone to block it out."

"Enjoy these moments of serenity whilst they last Ellie," Jake thought. He then allowed her to stand there in silence as they both took in the picturesque view before them. "We should get back," Jake suggested softly, not wanting disturb Ellie's peace right now.

"Yeah, you're right," she said as she slowly turned her head away from the sky and the two started walking back the same way they came.