Chapter 10: You're old self

Four days later

Ellie woke up in her bedroom, which she still wasn't used to yet, she then got up and got dressed and went downstairs into the kitchen to see Joel sat at a table eating his breakfast.

"Morning", Joel said as Ellie entered.

"Morning", Ellie replied then sat down at the table, Joel then handed her plate consisting of some fried eggs and bacon strips "Thanks".

"Tommy said you're supposed to go hunting today", Joel stated.

"What time?".

"As soon as you can".

"Who else is going?".

"There aren't many available men so it's just you and that new kid. What's his name again?".

"You mean Jason?".

"Yeah. Be careful around him".

"Why?".

"He used to be a firefly so I don't exactly trust him".

"Tommy was a firefly".

"Well Tommy's the leader and my brother".

"He's Even's friend if Even trusts him it's good enough for me".

"Speaking of which you never told me what happened".

"He.. got infected when he rescued me from the fireflies and was in the forest when I found that out. He's probably a runner by now".

"Oh. Sorry".

"Doesn't matter. He taught me that I have to learn to accept death", Ellie replied then got up from her seat since she had finished eating, she grabbed her backpack and unlocked the door.

"Be careful", Joel said.

"I will.. Dad", Ellie said with a feint smile and then left this then brought a smile to Joel's face.

"So that's what happened to him", Joel said aloud "Thank you for bringing her back".

Ellie then started walking towards Jason's house to get him, she wanted the hunting session to be done as quickly as possible not because she was scared but because it wasn't the most entertaining of things and she got bored pretty quickly. When she arrived at Jason's house she knocked on the door and was then greeted by a slightly tired looking Jason.

"You okay?", Ellie asked.

"Yeah just a little tired that's all", Jason responded.

"We're on hunting duty today".

"Alright let me grab my stuff", Jason said and went back into his house and then returned with his backpack on his shoulders "Let's go", Jason said then the two walked towards the gate.

"So how are you liking Jackson?".

"It's better than staying with the fireflies".

"I wouldn't know", Ellie replied the two then exited town and went into the forest to look for things to kill.

"Deer tracks", Jason said pointing at the ground "Looks pretty fresh".

"Then let's find this deer", Ellie said and started following the deers tracks with Jason following behind.

"How much meat do we need?".

"A deer and a couple of rabbits should do", Ellie replied "Where is this thing?".

"Shh", Jason whispered "It could be near and you'll startle it. Over there", Jason said pointing in the distance where the deer was spotted Ellie then pulled out her bow and head and the animal's neck "Don't miss", Jason said but got no response Ellie then fired the arrow and it hit the deer causing it to drop dead.

"Come on", Ellie said walking off towards the deer motioning Jason to follow. She then removed the arrow when she got to it, she then saw a pair of legs sticking out from behind a tree close by "What's that?", Ellie asked as she pointed to the tree.

"Should we check it out?", Jason asked.

"No harm if we do", Ellie said then started walking towards the tree she then saw what the legs came from "What the hell", she said in shock she saw Even sleeping soundly against the tree the cuts still visible on his face.

"One why isn't he runner two why is he sleeping here?", Jason asked in confusion.

"Even", Ellie said as she started shaking him to wake him up his eyes then slowly opened eyes "Wake up".

"What are you doing here?", Even asked as he rubbed his eyes

"Why aren't you a runner yet?", Jason asked.

"Beats me", Even replied as he sat up against the tree.

"Maybe you're immune", Ellie suggested.

"Lucky me".

"Come on get up", Ellie said as she gave Even a hand up which he took.

"So how come you guys are out here?".

"We're hunting", Jason replied.

"We just need a little more since we just killed that deer over there", Ellie added "After we're done we can head back".

"Then there's two rabbit over there you should kill", Even said as he pointed into the distance.

"Let's go then", Jason said and then started walking towards the Rabbits with Ellie and Even following, once the they were in range Ellie and Jason drew their bows and shot the two rabbits and then went to get them. They then went over to the deer and then went back to the dam.

"Even? I thought you were infected", Tommy said when the group returned Even shrugged his shoulders in response "You're a lucky one".

"I guess so", Even replied he then spotted Joel out of the corner of his eye and then saw him coming towards them, Even just looked away from him.

"I don't know how you're still alive but thank you for bringing her back", Even didn't say anything and just walked away, he then noticed Dave hiding behind a house.

"Hey fatface how's the cut treating you?", Even asked with a smirk.

"How many guesses do I get as to what happened?", Jason asked.

"I don't think you need to guess", Even replied "Hey Tommy you got a house that I can stay in?".

"Yeah, three down from mine", Tommy replied as he handed him the keys.

"Thanks Tommy", Even said then started walking towards his house, when he got there he went straight to the living room and sat on the couch, he then took off his backpack and opened it up and saw some paper sticking out of one of the pockets "What's this?", he asked himself then took it out and unfolded it.

Dear Even

I know that you're not exactly fond of me but I think that there are a few things that you should know that I know your mum won't tell you, I'm writing this out since I can't bring myself to talk about it. You're probably annoyed at the work I have to give you watch your cousin for long hours even though she's fairly safe, but your dad wanted Ellie's guaranteed safety. You have know idea what she meant to him, he cared for his sister dearly ,he was broken after her death, and so I think he felt that same care for Ellie. If I could I would've kept her here with us, but the others didn't like the idea of a non-firefly's child being taken care of here, if she was brought up here everything would've been different Samuel would still be alive. I don't think Lucy ever told you why he died, while on watch he was spotted and got shot right in the chest they then showed him as one of the people killed and we were able to get his body .Then we didn't have anyone left to watch Ellie and Lucy wanted someone to do it, she's just as stubborn as your dad, but I didn't trust anyone to do it then she volunteered you and that's how it happened. I'm sorry about your dad, he died because I let him go out there, and now I'm killing the girl, I guess I'm not really honouring Anna or Samuel's memory, I hope that you can forgive me. I'm not only killing someone you spent you much time taking care of but also a close friends child.

Forgive me

Marlene

"You know dad I think I finally understood you".

The end