And Chapter 4 is here! The chapter are taking a bit longer than I hoped to put up, as I have other stuff going on, but I'll try to make them as quick as possible without ruining the quality.
Ellie suddenly felt utterly alone. Without Joel there to protect her, memories of the burning restaurant came back to her. Her breaths became fast and panicked, and she felt like the rabbit she had shot. It doesn't sound like infected. She pointed her gun down the stairs.
"Come out!" A girl, about her age, slipped her hands into her pockets. "Hey. I believe we've met?" Ignoring the gun, Jay leaned against the door frame, trying to look as nonthreatening as possible.
"Yeah," came the quiet reply. Her gun was still aimed point-blank at Jay.
"What are you doing here?"
Jay shrugged. "Practicing my tracking skills." Ellie's expression didn't change. "Really?"
"Hey, I could ask you the same question."
"It's… a long story." The tip of the gun shuddered, but quickly went rigid. You make one move and I'll put one right between your eyes.
"All right then." Jay sighed. This was going nowhere. "I've heard that I've got to stay with you and Joel. The blonde woman said something about you being his daughter?"
Ellie froze. "Maria. That's her name."
"Well, I figured we might get to know each other. Seeing as we have to live together. Actually, you know what? Never mind. I'll probably move out in a few days anyway." She turned to go.
"Wait."
Jay turned. "Hm?"
"What's your name?"
"Jay. Yours?"
"...Ellie." Tell them Ellie was the little girl that broke your fucking finger. "What do you know about the Fireflies?"
"Eh, quite a bit." Should I lie? "I was a part of them before. Seemed better than those military schools they put orphans in." Okay, stop. You're going to say everything. "Why?"
"No reason. You should probably head back."
"'kay. You coming?"
"No." 'Those military schools' are where I grew up, idiot.
Well, she's not gonna say anything else. "See ya." Jay made her way out of the house. "Hey, mind if I steal your horse?" She laughed.
"You do that and I shoot you." I put one right between your eyes. "Right between your eyes."
"Bye!" Jay took off. Not very friendly, is she?
When she unlocked the door, it was probably past midnight. The man she had seen earlier woke with a start. "Ellie?"
"Nope. Maria told me I could stay here while they put something together for me."
Joel cut her off mid-sentence. "Have you seen her?"
Jay nodded curtly. "Yep. She took one of the horses. She's in a creepy old house that's a ways walk out of the gates."
Joel cursed. The ranch house. I knew she would go there. He shook himself awake.
"You. Choose one of the bedrooms. Don't touch anything else. Understood?"
"What's the big rush? I'm sure she'll be back tomorrow."
Joel stood over her. "Understood?"
"Understood." She moved aside, and he rushed out of the door. He considered taking a horse, but decided against it. Two horses missing without Tommy or Maria's knowledge could mean trouble.
He started making the trip to the old ranch house, but the telltale pop of clickers stopped him. Ellie better be okay. He spotted one mangled figure twitching, trying to orient itself, and quickly crouched down behind a rock. He covered his flashlight with a hand to muffle the click as it turned on, and sneaked toward the enemy. The clicker walked around the rock he was hiding behind, and he shifted his weight as far from it as possible. At the last moment, he pulled out a shiv and stabbed it in the neck. The clicker flailed helplessly for a moment, then sank to the ground. There's probably more out there. I should get going.
Ellie put down the diary and rubbed her eyes. Joel chose to save me over humanity. What about Sarah? Am I really worth that much? She got off the bed and walked down the steps just as Joel pushed open the door. Ellie's hand went to her gun, but left it when she saw it was Joel. They stared at each other for a moment.
"Come on. You need to get some rest."
Ellie walked the rest of the way down the steps.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, Ellie."
She ran the last two feet to him and threw her arms around him in a hug. We fight, for every second we get to spend with one another, whether it's two minutes, or two days. We don't give that up. After a moment, she felt Joel's arms wrap around her.
"Let's just… head back, okay kiddo?"
Ellie sniffed, trying to hold herself together. "Yeah."
"Hey." He pulled back, and lifted her chin up with a gentle finger. "You do understand why I did it, right?"
"Yeah," Ellie repeated, but she didn't know whether she was trying to convince herself or Joel. It doesn't matter. Even if he did lie, he's all I have.
A numbness settled over Ellie as they made the trip back to the settlement, and she didn't protest when Joel told her to go to bed.
In the next room, Jay rolled over in her bed. Most of her things were not packed away yet, and were in a messy pile near the door. Maria said I would have to earn my place. What did she mean? Do I have to devote my life to this place? She grinned into the darkness. Is this like a secret cult or something? Guess I'll find out tomorrow.
Long after the sun rose, Ellie's thoughts were still a million miles away. No such thing as luck. No, you see I believe that everything happens for a reason. Ellie was shook awake, her body banging on the cold floor. Wakey wakey. Come on. Ellie shoved her hands in front of her.
"Don't fucking touch me!" she yelped. Her hands connected with something solid.
"Ellie! It's me… you're okay." Her head spinning, she looked up into not David, but Joel's eyes. Breathing hard, she looked away.
"Sorry," she said.
"Nightmare?" Joel asked gently.
She sighed, her breath catching in her throat. "I hate bad dreams."
"Me too." Joel smiled slightly. He rubbed her back rhythmically, and her breathing returned to somewhat normal levels.
"I woke you up to tell you that I'm gonna be gone for a bit.
Tommy's put me on guard duty. I'll be back around lunchtime. But, uh… I can cancel if you need me."
Ellie's gaze drifted. "Uh, I think i'll be fine. But thanks for the offer."
"Alright. Might be good for you to meet some of the people you're goin' to be living with."
"Right." Joel rose to go, and Ellie got up off the bed.
"Make sure to get some breakfast. They actually try to put together something tasty here." He looked like he was going to say more, but walked out the door instead. His silhouette was replaced by one of the girl that Ellie had met the night before.
"Hey. Do you happen to know where breakfast is?" Jay asked.