And so I have returned, I am so sorry, but my computer broke down a year ago and I wasn't able to upload any more chapters or stories, but now I'm back, some may cheer others may boo, its understandable.
Without further a do, after growing up a little this past year...here it is.
Chapter 6
Ellie and John
"Whose knocking on my Door?"
Ellie sat on the bed at the clinic early in the morning, the doc sitting at his desk reading a news paper, he's a good doc, a bit of a coward but still good. Hidden from the doc man himself, Ellie brought her backpack and took out a comic, using her backpack as cover, she looks down at the cover of the Comic book.
Issue #1: The Adventures of Seven
This book was something she found when she was still traveling along with Joel back in her world, it was about seven different people who've never met each other before, mostly because they were from different worlds, one was an alien girl trying to get home, one was a man from the past, one was a rebellion hybrid, one was a time traveling assassin, the other a crime fighting ninja, and last was just a normal girl, who wanted to go home just as much as the Alien girl did.
Just from the cover, Ellie could already tell this was going to be a bizarre story, but considering what's she's been through, and her sudden predicament, it might not be so bad.
Ellie just turned the first page until a certain cowboy enters through the front door.
"You ready Ellie?" John asked, Ellie snapped her head up, the familiarity of those words had her picture Joel saying them almost instinctively, she was brought to the real world however, she puts away her comic book, and jumped out of bed.
Dr. Walt waved Ellie and John goodbye, "You take care of yourself now, you hear?" He told them, John nodded while Ellie waved back.
They walked outside of the porch of the clinic, the Golden mane horse waiting for the duo, John let Ellie climb up first then he did next.
"You good back there?" John asked, Ellie nodded, "Yea, I'm ready,"
"Well good," he responded back, "cause this may be a long ride," he gently kicked the horse to walk forward and turned towards the entrance of the town, but before they could leave, Marshal, Jonah and Eli stepped out of their station.
"Goodbye Ellie! Hope you have a safe trip!" Said Eli, "Shoot up some more bandits, alright red head?!" Jonah joined in, Marshal walked up closer, looking towards John.
"Can't help but thank you again, Marston," Marshal said, John nodded at him, "Well, you could say I owed you one." Marshal then looked towards Ellie, a hint of distrust still lingered in him but decided to let it slide, John could handle himself, even by a little girl, tough, but still very much little.
He tipped his white hat to the both of them, "Stay out of trouble, you hear," he said before turning back, "No problem," Ellie said back, at first she wanted to joke around and say 'no promises', but she could tell that this Marshal guy isn't the guy anybody should ever fool around with.
Ellie looked back at Jonah and Eli, "So long losers, you mean well!" She told them as she waved back, Jonah and Eli didn't get it until they saw the smile on her face to realize that she was only kidding, or at least that's what they hoping for.
With one last goodbye, Ellie wrapped her arms around John from behind, John grabbed hold of the straps that were connected to his horse's head gear, with one short whip, he yelled out.
"Let's go!"
And the two gunslingers rode their way out of the small town of Armadillo.
John decided he was going to look after Ellie until he could find her dad, the only problem is that Ellie told him that she and her dad moves from place to place, so they don't have a single home John could go to.
His only best shot was to take Ellie to his place and let his family look after her while he goes and searches for some clue about the dad's whereabouts, and maybe give the guy a piece of his mind for being careless enough to lose his eye on the girl.
"So how's your foot?" John asked, he figured since this was going to take awhile, even on horseback, he might as well strike up a conversation.
Ellie looks down to her foot, her shoe covering her bandaged foot she now wore it like a sock, it didn't sting as badly as it did before so that's a good sign.
"It feels a little bit better," she answered
"Well that's good, let that be a lesson when your hunting down with your dad next time, I still don't understand how he could just take you hunting at your age," John said.
"He's not a bad guy, he's cool, and its not like he taught me how to shoot when I was a baby," Ellie said, just by mentioning him, she was already starting to miss him, hell, if she was on her own right now she would be freaking out.
"Is that so? Who taught you then?" John asked, Ellie figured it wouldn't hurt to tell her story that's true for once, well, kind of true at least.
"A woman name Marlene taught me, she practically raised me when my mom passed away," her voice started to lower, memories of her and Marlene swooped into her mind, Did she knew that the Fireflies stopped looking for the cure? The more she thinks about it, the more she wanted to see Marlene again.
John caught her tone, "I'm sorry to hear that." He said sympathetically.
"Yea, well, we all got to lose someone, it's a part of life," it was quick, so quick that Ellie almost didn't see the image of Riley, but she did, she tried her best to block it out, she'll remember her another time, Ellie's eyes drifted back at Armadillo, the town was getting farther and father away.
"Sounds like you lost someone else before," John said, he didn't want to believe that a girl this age lost a lot folks she loved, but life can be and will be harsh in old west, unfortunately for John, that's just not where Ellie came from.
Ellie looked down, not at her foot, but at her arm, the same arm where she was bit not by the wolves, but by an infected, again, an image of Riley came to mind.
"I don't want to talk about it," she said quietly but just loud enough for John to hear.
"Of course, I didn't mean to press," John said, the tone in her voice, they sounded out the hardship that this little girl faced, just what happened to her? John didn't want to press any further, especially if they bring her back some painful memories, instead, he quickly changes the subject.
"You sittin alright back there?" He asked her, Ellie, unseen by John, was starting to get annoyed.
"Yea, I'm fine, for the up-billionth-teen time," Ellie said sarcastically, John heard her sarcasm, a weird one, but decided to play along.
"I must be bad at counting, cause I thought I only asked you twice," he said it with his own sarcasm.
"Look, I appreciate that your trying to make time go by faster by chatting, but I don't make friends that easily, especially to some old guy," Ellie explained.
"And I would also appreciated if you start being a little more honest with me," John said.
Ellie's heart stopped for a moment.
"W-what do you mean?" She asked, afraid of what the answer would be.
John made another whipped his horse and he started to ride faster, "Well, last night, Marshal told me that it was your 'dad' who taught you how to shoot, and now your telling me that it was this woman who taught you," he looked back at her, still riding his golden mane horse on the road, "So, either your lying to me or it was two people who taught you how to shoot," John said.
Okay, so about what was said before, about Ellie freaking out if she was alone, well, now she's freaking out and she's not alone. The cowboy has a more than decent marksmanship for him to catch Ellie in her lie.
So now what? Should she tell him the truth, would he throw her off no matter what answer gave? To put it simple, either she piles on more lies so bad he would throw her off his horse, or tell him the truth, that she came from another world of walking undead mushroom heads and her adventures with Joel so unbelievable, that he would still throw her off his horse.
John looked at Ellie, eyes widen in fear, knowing she was caught in a lie and is now cornered, in all honesty, he didn't really care at that moment, she was still a lost and scared little girl, and when it comes to a child, there's no questions asked.
John sighed, "Look, whatever kind of trouble your in, I'm here to help, I gave you my word and I intend to keep it," John started, "So you don't have to explain it to me now."
In his view, Ellie relaxed a bit, the worst thing John could do was scare the truth out of her, but that would only either make her hostile or have a tighter lip.
John looked back at the road, "But I expect you to tell me the truth when we get there, you hear me?"
Ellie tensed up again but still tried to remain calm, they got a couple of hours till they get to John's home, she looked to her side, passing by shrubs and cactuses, and from a distance, she could see mountains in the horizon, Ellie didn't realize just how cool everything looked around her, maybe its because there aren't any infected roaming around.
Ellie was in deep thought, debating with herself whether she should tell the truth, but immediately stopped herself, there's no way this guy would believe her even if it was the truth, even she still couldn't believe it herself.
John wasn't kidding when he said that this was going to be a long ride, so long that Ellie asked him about his horse, John explained that he caught this horse when he was helping another friend of his named Bonnie, the horse, Ellie decided to name it Goldie Locks, is a strong and sturdy stallion, its been with John up to the very end of his journey, Ellie also questioned him who else did he help, only his answer was 'I helped more than a couple, so it's a long story' and it would of been if they weren't already nearing Johns Ranch.
Entering through the front entrance, "Whoa, easy there," John slowed his horse down, and led Goldie Locks to a small barn, stopping when he got close to a post, John got off of Goldie Locks along with Ellie.
Ellie took the time to look around her new surroundings while John histhes his horse to the pole. It was nice looking home, with side fences surrounding some cattle's, and Ellie could see inside the barn that there are horses inside.
"This is where you live?" Said Ellie, John finished hitching his horse and went back to Ellie, "Yep, just me and my family here," he said with pride.
Ellie followed John to his house, but before they could set foot on the porch, a woman with dark brown hair tied behind her head came out through the front door, she had a blue coat and a pink checkered like skirt, and she looked fuming mad.
Whether John saw the anger the woman had or not he didn't seem to faze, instead, he responded to the woman coming at him with a smile.
"Darling," he said, spreading his arms for the woman, "It's been a day but boy did I miss y-," he couldn't finish before the woman smacked him on the head, Ellie stepped back in surprise.
"Where have you been, where have you been!" The woman yelled as she started hitting John, Ellie didn't know if she should intervene, but by the way this crazy lady is beating up the guy, she finds it best not to.
"Ow! OUT! I was out, just like I told you!" John raised his arm in defense, this seem to only anger the woman even more, "You said you were gonna be out, you didn't say how long!" She kept hitting him, it was actually kind of funny to Ellie, seeing this tough cowboy being beat down by this woman who was a foot shorter than him, she finally stopped, only to look at John not with continuous anger, but somewhat sadness.
"I thought you were dead," she said, her voice sounding out a sign that she was holding back tears.
John's arms were slowly put down though not all the way, "I'm sorry," he started saying, "I kind of got caught up with something else."
Ellie thought that this would be the perfect time to defend the cowboy, "Yea, that might of been my fault," Ellie spoke, the woman turned to the new voice and sees Ellie, she then looked back at John then back at her, the woman was both surprised and a little embarrass that someone had to see what just happened between her and John.
"Oh, I...I didn't know you were gonna bring in someone," said the woman, "It was kind of short noticed," said John, he moved to a side for Ellie to see the woman clearly, raising his hand towards the woman, John addressed to her.
"Ellie, I like for you to meet my wife, Abigail," John looked back at the woman he called Abigail, "Abigail, meet Ellie." Ellie raised her in greeting and Abigail did the same.
"John," Abigail started, "Care to explain?" She placed both of her hands on her hip, waiting for Johns answer.
"Well, I was on my way to Armadillo for a friend of mine," John started explaining, "That much I know," Abigail said.
"Then, as I head my way there, I-" Ellie stepped in. "Your husband saved my life," she started, Abigail looked at the new girl, she's definitely someone Abigail never seen before especially with her clothing, or that kind of hair.
John looked at Ellie curiously, "I was lost and would of been dead, if John," she pointed her thumb at John beside her, "Hadn't come and save me, where I'm from, most people would of left me for dead, but, he didn't," Ellie finished, hoping to get that out of the way. Abigail, looked rather impressed.
"I'm trying to find her dad," John explained, "But, from what Ellie here told me, he's not the sort of man that stays in one place, so what I was thinking, hoping for your approval, if Ellie would stay here for a day or two so that I could go and look for her dad," John finished.
Abigail stood there and stared at Ellie for a minute, thinking as the man she loves and the girl she never met words sink in, finally she looked back at John.
"Well, I don't see it right to just throw her out on the road, especially if she don't have a place to sleep in," Abigail started, Ellie eased up at her soft tone. With a deep breath, Abigail looked back at Ellie again.
"Alright, I 'suppose' it would be fine for you to stay for a few days," Ellie finally got a chanced to breathe, she's been nervous the moment she got here, and when she witnessed Abigail's personality, Ellie thought that Abigail wouldn't even consider it.
"But!" Abigail raised her index finger, "I'm not holding up no slacker, so starting tomorrow, you'll be set up with a couple of chores, as long as there is an extra member in the house, nobody gets left out, Agreed?" Said Abigail, Ellie was caught of guard by her demand, but nodded, better than sleeping on the road while watching out for horses she's not looking forward to be trampled over her.
"Agreed," Ellie agreed, and she was able to witness Abigail's genuine smile.
John for most part was relieved that Abigail would let Ellie stay here for the time being, maybe she saw that the girl was in deep trouble too.
"Alright then," Abigail started, "Why don't we head inside, I've made enough stew just for everyone," she turned and walked back towards inside the house, Ellie was pleased that she was going to eat something since she hasn't eat all day while John doesn't look as enthusiastic when dinner was mentioned.
They finally did stepped on the porch and are on their way inside, "First we eat, then you can tell me what kind of trouble you're-" John was interrupted when an old man came running from the other way.
"John!" Yelled the old man, Ellie turned to see the old man coming, he wore a white shirt with suspenders and a gray colored hat, his beard was what grossed Ellie out, it was messy with either Alcohol or something else that Ellie didn't want to know.
John didn't look pleased when he saw the old man, "What is it old man?" He asked, not really wanting to deal with him right now.
"John, where the hell have you been?!" He kept on yelling, when he finally got to them, the old man hunched down, clearly out of breath.
"I got caught up, now what do you want?" John asked, not really caring that the old man was out of breath.
"It's..." The old man coughed and gasping for air, "It's Jack," he finally said, John's look of irritation changed into shock while Ellie just looked confused, "Jack? Isn't that John's son?" Ellie thought.
"What about him? What happened?"
John rode his horse into the woods, his dog, Rufus, was far in front of him, sniffing Jack's scent as to where he could be. The boy left right before John came home, after hunting with his father John for a few times he suddenly thinks he can go kill a bear on his own, John slowed down when he realized he just passed Rufus who was sniffing the ground.
"Come on boy, where is he?" John said as he waited for the dog, the dog's head perked up, and ran towards a new direction, "That a boy, go find Jack!" John cheered at Rufus as he follows the dog.
He was panicking, he was angry at Jack for disobeying his father by going out on his own, but most of all, he was scared, John hadn't been this scared in a long time, sure when his family was taken from him, he was worried and was dying to see them again, but this was different in a way.
John got his family back from those government bastards and now its his responsibility to look out for his family now, he can't help but feel that if something serious were to happen, or worse, if Jack got himself kiled, John would have nobody but to blame himself, well, other than the old man with the messy beard, was that lazy piece of dusty bones only good for nothing, couldn't he try to stop Jack a little harder? John fumed, not at just that, but also by the sounds of another horse following behind him.
"I told you to stay behind!" John yelled out at the red headed girl behind him.
"That's what I'm doing!" Yelled back Ellie, riding on the horse she got back at the barn.
"Dammit you know what I mean, this could be dangerous!" John argued, his son was already in trouble, he didn't want nor need the girl to get in trouble too.
"That's why I'm coming too! It'll go a lot smoother with the two of us, besides, I told you I know how to hunt!" Argued back Ellie, she thought that this could be one way she could repay John for saving her life, whether John likes it or not, Ellie hates to leave a dept unpaid.
"So you've told me, or that could be another one of them lies!" John pointed out, they both slowed down when Rufus stopped and sniffed the ground again, Ellie met with John side by side.
"At least I know how shoot, look, I'm already here, so why don't you just deal with it and let me help you," Ellie said to John, he didn't appreciate the attitude this little girl was giving to him, but just shook his head and sighed.
"You don't sound like him, but you reminded me of Jack, stubborn...but a good kid," he told Ellie. Ellie thought for a moment about what he said, then whispered.
"and you reminded me of Joel." Ellie hadn't thought about it much, but John really does make her think of Joel, they were different but alike in a way, its their attempt to intimidate or just fighting for something their trying to protect that makes them similar, only difference is that Joel can be moody while John seems more laid-back, at least when he needs to be, but when something threatens the both of them, boy, can they be scary.
Rufus barked as it caught a scent of Jack again and took off, John and Ellie followed Rufus which led them up a hill, there was snow all around, when Ellie saw them, she immediately wonder if Joel was around, since it 'was' winter the last time she saw Joel.
They went up the snowy hill until Rufus stopped completely, meaning Jack was around here, John stopped Goldie Locks along with Ellie, they both mounted off their horses and started looking around, there was a cave nearby that was attached to a mountain, trees stood tall all around, and it was quiet, except for a few chirping of birds.
"Jack!" John yelled out as he scans the area, Ellie also tried to see if there was anybody up here but saw nothing, "Jack!" John yelled out again, he felt his heart go heavy, was he too late?
Ellie had an idea, since they can't really see where this Jack is, maybe she could hear him, she crouched down, bending her knees and starts to listen very carefully.
"...help." It was quiet, but Ellie heard it, "What are you doing?" John questioned, seeing the girl crouched down. Ellie shushed him then tries to listen again.
"someone...help..." there it was again, coming from the edge of a nearby cliff, "Over there!" Ellie pointed for John to see where. Before John could ask what, Ellie took off the to edge with John following behind, she stopped when she was at the edge of the cliff, she looked down below and sure enough, there was young man sitting beside a boulder ten feet below the ground. He had dark hair and looked to be wearing ranchers clothing, Ellie could see from where she was that there was a little amount of blood on the snow.
"I think I found him, John!" Said Ellie, John came running by her side to see what she was talking about, then also saw the young man below.
"Jack!" John said in relief but soon was now concerned for he saw the blood on the young man, who was Jack after all. Jack his head up when he heard John's voice.
"Pa!" Jack cried out, he tried to get up but finds himself sitting back down when he felt a sharp pain on his side, "Ah, I'm hurt pa, I don't think I can get up," Jack told John.
"Don't worry, just sit tight and I'll come and get you," he told Jack, Ellie grabbed his arm to get his attention.
"I'll go down and get him, just drop us a rope and pull us up, okay?" Ellie offered, John looked at her.
"Are you sure?" John questioned, believing that this is too dangerous for a little girl, but when he saw the focus she had in her eyes, he somehow knew she could handle it.
"Alright then, let me tie my lasso around you so that I could lower you down easy," John said, Ellie nodded in agreement.
After John tied the lasso around her waist, Ellie started to climb down the edge slowly, "You ready?" Ellie asked John, who was holding onto the lasso, "I got a good grip on it," he told her, with that set, Ellie jumped down and slowly descended to the ground beside Jack with John lowering her easily.
After feeling her feet on the snow, she untied the lasso around her and went towards Jack who looked at her in surprise.
"Who are you?" He asked, Ellie put Jacks arm around her and helped him up, "Ellie, your dad helped me out, now I'm helping him out," she explained.
Ellie tied the Lasso around Jacks and her waists, she called out to John that they were ready, John gripped onto the lasso tightly and using all of his might, pulled his son and Ellie up, and they were safely on the edge beside John.
"Come on, Lets get you out of here," John helped his son up, as they head for their horses, a loud growl was heard in the cave, so loud that the horses are freaking out.
Ellie looked to where the growl came, and started to draw back slowly, "John," Ellie said slowly, John also heard the growl and looked to where Ellie was looking at, A grizzly bear was coming out of its cave, seeing whose been disturbing his home, it let out a roar and started charging at them.
"S***!" Ellie swore, she brought out her pistol and started shooting at the bear, "Ellie get back!" John warned Ellie, but Ellie ignored him and continue shooting, the bear was shot six time and it soon stepped back.
"You get Jack on the horse, I'll deal with it," Ellie started to reload, John just shook his head in frustration, "You crazy little..." John growled, he has to get his son away to safety, so he did what Ellie told him to do.
Ellie finished reloading and fired again when the bear started coming again, "Stay the f*** away!" She shot her last bullet and finds out she's out of ammo, the bear was shot but it only looks like Ellie made it even more mad.
Ellie cursed as the bear was coming after her again, until it was shot at its leg by John, "Get behind me Ellie!" John called out, Ellie didn't argued as she ran towards John and went beside the horse she brought in, John was ready to finish the bear off, until he pulled the trigger to his rifle jammed, "God dammit," He yelled.
"Pa, watch out!" Jack warned John, the bear was weaken but it still had enough energy to bite Johns head off as it runs toward him, and just when it got on top of him, an arrow pierced through the bear's eye, it struggled until it finally went limp, John pushed the bear off of him, seeing the arrow sticking out, he turned to see Ellie with a bow and another arrow in her hands in case the bear wasn't finished.
When the bear did remain lifeless, Ellie placed her arrow back and wore her bow around her, her knees suddenly felt weak and she just sat on the snow.
"Whew, glad that's over," she breathed out, John would of felt the same if he wasn't a little upset at Ellie for being that so reckless. He then went towards to Jack who was on top of the horse
"What were you thinking boy? Going out here on your own, you could of been killed!" John angrily said to Jack who resist the urge to looked down and away from his father, instead he looked at him in the eye.
"I'm not a boy anymore, I could handle myself," he argued, John didn't look convinced, "Sure," he started, "And look what happened," he pointed out the claw marks on Jack's side which was now bleeding.
John then looked at Ellie, "And as for you, you weren't much better," John scolded, Ellie looked both surprised and annoyed.
"What the hell did I do, I just saved your ass," Ellie pointed out.
"And you would of been killed just the same," John argued.
Ellie just looked at John in disbelief, "Well, its not like that bear was just going to walk away, you had Jack and I had a gun!" She argued back, John just shook his head, he then went towards Ellie and offered her a hand, she took I though not happily.
"Just get on the damn horse," he said, Ellie just looked at him, "Your welcome," she said to him and got up on her own horse, she went ahead before John could even get on.
"Where did you meet her pa?" Jack asked as he watches the strange girl ride away, John placed himself in his seat on top of Goldie Locks.
"I'll tell you about it another time," John said, he yelled out a 'let's go' and his horse started running after towards Ellie, when John did catches up to her, she didn't even look back at him, as she was angry at John.
Now John has 'two' rascals he has to look after, with Jack, he can handle, but this girl, boy was she stubborn, and that attitude! John rubbed his temples as a response to a sudden headache he has.
He turned to see Jack sitting behind, "You okay there son?" He asked, Jack looked down at his side and placed his hand over his wound, "Yea, I think so, it doesn't hurt so bad now," Jack answered, John sighed in relief.
"Well good, now what were you doing out here on your own, you've only been hunting twice and you suddenly think an expert now?"John asked.
"I thought I could go hunting on my own, that I teach myself, when you didn't come home, I knew you left us again, so I wanted to be the man of the house, and to be that, I had prove myself that I could do it," Jack explained, John eyes widen in understanding.
"Jack, I didn't leave you, Abigail or even your uncle, there was a set back, I had to stay for a day, and it was 'only' for a day," John started to explain.
"You mean, with that girl there?" Jack asked, looking up to see Ellie still ahead of them.
"Exactly, now you should know me better than that, I would never leave, and I'm not going to anytime soon, it was just this one set back, that's it," John explained.
Jack put his head down, "I just thought, that something happened to you, or that you did leave, I thought if I could take down a bear, then you wouldn't leave anymore " Jack explained.
"Well you shouldn't have done that, do you realize how worried I was, what would your mother say?" John asked.
"I'm sorry pa, I didn't mean for you to worry," said Jack.
The three rode on their horses out of the woods and are getting closer to the ranch.
"So who is she?" Jack asked
"Ellie? She's just a lost kid whose missing her dad, by the way, I have to tell you, tomorrow I'm going to see if I can find her-" John was interrupted by Jack.
"You're leaving again?!" Jack said in disbelief.
"I'm not leaving, I'll only be traveling to find where her dad is, she may seem like a tough girl, but she's scared, scared and doesn't really know who to turn to," John explained, Jack was silent but he understood, no child should ever be without a parent, he knows that for certain.
"You know I could hear you, right?" Ellie said in front of them.
The three were able to get home safely, after hitching their horses, John helped Jack walk though he kept saying he could walk on his own just fine, while Ellie walked behind them.
"Listen son, don't get too eager to grow up, trust me, it's not always that pleasant," John said to Jack.
"Yea, it sucks " Ellie said quietly, but not quiet enough for John not to hear, he looked back at Ellie but decided to talk to her about it later.
Abigail ran out of the house, shock to see Jack and his injuries but happy to see Jack alive, she then ran up to John, Jack and Ellie, "Jack, are you alright?" Abigail walked towards Jack, John let Abigail hold Jack up on her own.
"I'm fine ma," Jack answered, Abigail smiled in relief.
"Well that's a relief, now, what were you thinking going after a bear you silly boy!" She smacked him in the head with her free hand as her other arm was holding Jack up.
"Ow, I said I was sorry ma!" Cried out Jack as he was being taken to the house, Ellie couldn't help but giggled at the scene she's witnessing
She stopped when John started talking to her, "Sun's setting, you want to come inside for dinner?" as soon as dinner was mentioned, Ellie's stomach began to growl, she blushed when she heard John chuckle.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said, still chuckling. Ellie just started walking towards the house with John following beside her.
"Look, I uh..." John started, hoping that Ellie is listening, "I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier, I've never been one to approve a fourteen year old girl to shoot a gun and kill a bear, let alone letting my son do that," John apologized, Ellie just gave him a confused look.
"You didn't have a problem when I shot those bandits back at Armarilo," Ellie said.
"it's 'Armadillo', and that was different, when a couple of bandits start shooting at you, its only necessary to defend yourself," John explained
"And how is it different from shooting a bear?" Ellie questioned, John thought for a moment, "Well, its different cause back then, you had cover, what happened back in the woods, you were open, that bear could of killed you in minutes if you didn't have a good distance between the two of you," John answered.
Ellie looked down, he did had a good point, but she still didn't agree to the fact that John just yelled at her like a child, she hated being looked down like that, its a good way to catch your enemies off guard, but when the whole world treats you like a child, they treat you like you don't know anything when Ellie knows plenty, they treat you like your helpless when Ellie is capable on taking care of herself, she managed to escape death countless of times, even when she was supposed to die when she got bit she still survived somehow even when her best friend Riley was also bit, died beside Ellie and she turned to one of those infected.
John knew nothing of what Ellie went through, then again, she could argued that this world doesn't know Ellie, and Ellie doesn't know the new world itself either.
Ellie was inside the house where she was introduced to the whole family, well, it's more of a family of four, so Ellie got a quick introduction from each of them, she already know who John Marston was, then she met Abigail, a fierce woman but was pretty cool in Ellie's opinion, Jack she still doesn't know much about other than being polite, though she could guess he must of been stubborn and an idiot for him to go out on his own, and then there's the old man, Uncle is what they called him, and it didn't take Ellie long before she would already not like the guy, he was lazy, rude, and just gross, but that could just be because of his beard.
After Ellie ate dinner, which wasn't the best but was better than nothing, John led Ellie to a small empty bedroom, there was a mattress laying on the floor and that was just about it, other than a small window with curtains on the side of the wall.
"It's a little tight, but at least it fits your size," John teased, Ellie just looked at him in annoyance.
"I swear, if you make fun of my height again, I will shoot that hat of yours," Ellie threatened, John raised his hands and backed away. Ellie enters the room, there was dust on the window and spider webs on the corner, Ellie figured that her first day at her job would be to clean her room. Oh the excitement.
"The old man's bringing in some clean sheet so that way you won't get cold," John said, Ellie nodded in gratitude, "Also, Abigail is willing to giving out some old clothes in case you want to change," He then pointed out the window, "Just cover the window and lock the door so that nobody would come in," he added, Ellie was definitely grateful for that, John began to leave after saying that.
"You have a goodnight you hear?" John told Ellie.
"Yeah, thanks," Ellie said, when John left Ellie looked out the window, the sky was getting darker by the minute, indicating it will be night time soon since the moon hasn't really come out yet.
A knock on the door had Ellie to see who it was.
"Uh...it's Ellie right?" The young man, Jack Marston asked.
"Yeah, your names Jack, right?" Ellie also asked.
"Yes ma'am, or young ma'am, or maybe little ma'am, or-" Ellie stopped him
"Stop, just stop, Ellie's okay, alright?" Jack nodded, "I just wanted to say, thank you, for saving my pa back there, and saving me too," he thanked.
"Sure, it's no problem, glad to hear that you at least appreciated," Ellie said, hinting out John's outburst, though outburst isn't the exact word, more like he was scolding.
"I know what you mean," Jack knew who she was referring to, "He can be strict, but, when you really think about, he's just doing what he can to look out for me, sure it's not like I need it, but..." Jack tries find the right way to say it, but Ellie said it for him.
"But, at least he's trying," she finished for Jack, Jack leaned against the door frame, arms crossed and looking down on the floor, "I guess so," he said.
Ellie wondered what was going on with him, "Isn't he always around?" Ellie asked.
Jack shrugged, "Now he is, a while ago, some government men kind of sent us away from here, me, ma and uncle hadn't seen him in months, it felt like years," Jack started.
"Why did they take you away?" Ellie asked, Jack thought for a moment, "They just wanted some favors from him," he explained, Ellie still didn't get it.
"What, did he owe them for something," Ellie asked again, "I guess you could say that," Jack said, rubbing his head, "He did some bad things in the past, he was in a gang, a gang ma and uncle was in too, but I'm not too sure about uncle though," Jack said.
"A gang, like he was a bandit?" Ellie asked, Jack nodded, "Yeah, pretty much."
Ellie wasn't shocked or surprised, but found it interesting since Joel was part of a bandit crew himself, maybe John and Joel were similar after all.
"So, how did he 'owe' the government?" Ellie asked, not liking the sound of this government, she knew well enough how corrupted the government was in her world, it wouldn't surprise her that it was the same here.
"Pa told me that he left the gang after the gang left him to die in a bank robbery once," Jack started, "He made some friends before he left the gang though, they were my uncles."
Okay, that caught Ellie off guard, sure it was a surprise to find out that Abigail and Uncle was a part of a gang, but they kind of fit the part, but apparently, this whole gang were like Jacks cousins.
"So you were a family?" Ellie asked, Jack nodded, "We 'used to be' a family," Jack said, when Ellie didn't say anything else, Jack continued on.
"There was Uncle bill, Uncle Javier, and even Uncle Dutch, we weren't related but we were family, then Pa told me that Dutch wasn't feeling right in the head, that he was losing it," Jack went on, "Then Uncle Javier also went crazy, and so did Uncle bill,"
"Geez, talk about family issues," Ellie thought
"After Pa left the gang, he became a rancher," Jack went on, "it was going good."
"Until the government came," Ellie finished for him again.
Jack nodded,"They found out he was in a gang, and had him go find Bill, Javier, and Dutch."
"And do what?" She asked, Jack looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"Either catch them or..." He didn't finished, and Ellie understood why, these uncles of his were still family to him, and after they went crazy with his dad being forced to hunt them down, the Marstons, Ellie could tell, have been through hell, they might even deserve to settle on a ranch here, away from the shooting, away from the government, and away from their pas. This is the kind of life Ellie would like to have along with Joel.
Before Ellie could ask what did John do to find these uncles, another certain uncle came into view.
"Here girl, these are the sheets you need and some old clothes you can change into," the old man said in a grouchy voice, Ellie accepted the bed sheets and clothes as she took them off of Uncle's hands.
"But don't be expecting me to get you everything you want, my ass is already getting tired just from carrying this stuff," the old man complained.
Ellie looked at him, annoyed. "Did you carry these on your ass, because I would rather wake up with a cold than sleep in these," Ellie commented.
It didn't seem what Ellie said eased the old man soreness, for he himself was starting to look annoyed.
"You best watch you manners, girl," Uncle told Ellie.
"Look whose talking," Ellie talked back, the old man growled as he turned around and spat while Ellie flipped her finger with his back turned.
Jack was caught off guard by Ellie's bird action.
"You sure do have an attitude, don't you?" Jack commented, Ellie just shrugged it off but Jack wasn't finished, "Look, go easy on him, sure he can be...er..." Jack was trying to think of a word that describes Uncle nicely.
"An Ass," Ellie said the word for him, she's starting to get really good at finding the right words for Jack.
"Sometimes," was his response, "But seriously, go easy on him, I don't think he can compete with you own stubbornness."
"Can you tell that to him?" Ellie suggested, Jack just shook his head, "Believe me, we tried."
Jack looked out the window Ellie has and sees the moon was up.
"Well, guess its time for you to be heading for bed, sorry I kept you up this long," Jack apologizes, in all honesty, he hadn't intended to talk to Ellie this long, she wasn't anybody she met before so Jack just thought she was interesting.
"Sure," Ellie said, she waved at Jack a goodnight and he did the same. Ellie went and closed the door, she closed the door and covered the windows with the curtains, knowing for sure no creep was looking through, she changed her clothing to the ones Uncle gave her, happy that it wasn't covered in spilled alcohol, they fit just right and soon she lied down on a mattress and fell into a deep sleep.
Ellie was floating along the ocean water, when Ellie realized this she started to freak out, but when she saw the infinite stars above her, she immediately calmed down, never have she ever seen so many stars, not even from her world, to her right there was a light house, it's light off as if no one was able to turn it on yet, but Ellie didn't care about that, she just wanted to keep looking at the stars in peace.
"The stars are dying..." A girl's voice spoke and it snapped Ellie out of her meditation, she looked around to see where the voice was coming from.
"No one was able to stop them..." Ellie looked around but still saw no one, then as Ellie started to look back up, she sees the stars are fading away, one by one.
"So many, are imprisoned..." Ellie then heard screaming and yelling, as if a lot of people are trapped and are trying to get out. It was then she began to realize that she was sinking, Ellie frailed her arms widely but something was pulling her down.
"You're one of the only ones..." All that was left was Ellie's head trying to stay on top of the water, she held her breath as her head did too went under water, she felt the familiar sense of drowning.
"That can still fight!"
Ellie woke up with a jolt, heavily breathing in and out, she looked around her surroundings and remembered that she was still in the small bedroom inside a house that was inside of John's ranch, daylight peaked through the curtains of the window that indicates its morning.
Ellie rubbed her eyes and yawned, that was the same dream she had before, but something in her tells her that it was important, she shook it off however when she remembered Abigail telling her about the work she was supposed to do.
Ellie got up, removed the old clothes and changed into her regular outfit, after she was done she pulled back the curtains and looked out the window.
"Yep, still here," Ellie said to herself. She exited the bedroom and looked into the kitchen, Ellie could see one plate sitting on the table alone which tells her that the Marstons were already up. Boy was she hungry, Ellie pulled back the chair but before she could sit down, sounds of knocking were heard at the front door, knowing that if it were any of the Marstons, they would of just entered, so she decided to go and see for herself who it is.
Ellie was just across the hallway yet she could still hear not one, but two voices coming from outside.
"Did you knock hard enough?" The sound of a young woman was heard through the door, Ellie walked closer.
"Well of course I did! You don't think I know how to knock?" Another voice, the sound of a young man spoke as well.
"Well knock again," the voice of a woman spoke again, "Why am I doing the knocking, you could at least call out hello," the voice of a man talked back, Ellie was in front of the door now, curious as to who could be arguing at each other.
"Yes, that might make things progress better, Hello?!" The voice of the woman raised as the knocking possibly from the other person was made again, Ellie at last opened the door, and she didn't even come close guess what the two people soul of looked like.
The two people weren't just dressed similar, they looked almost exactly alike, the only difference was that the young woman was a foot shorter than the young man next to her, she wore a green tie with a yellow coat over her brown vest with a white shirt underneath and a long brown skirt, her brown hair was up an in a style Ellie never seen before, the man next to her looked just the same only he wore brown pants and his hair was short and neatly cut.
When two saw that it was Ellie who answered the door, their distressed changed into relief.
"Well, this makes things easier," said the woman in a British accent, the man next to her nodded in agreement, "Perhaps its do to a fact that we are drawn to something we know is out of place," said the man.
"Like a bean in a barrel full of apples," the woman said.
"Or an apple in a barrel full of beans," added the man.
Ellie just stared at the two strange people, they've already weirded her out just by dressing the same, now they're creeping her out just by talking the same, Ellie decided to stop their rambling before they continue to go on.
"Look, what do you want?" Ellie told the two.
"Right, it's best to simply cut to the chase then," said the man
"And cut it quickly we must for we are being chased ourselves," agreed the woman.
Ellie just waited for whatever the two strange strangers have to say.
"I suppose an introduction matters, I am Robert Lutece," the man introduced himself.
"and I am Rosalind Lutece," introduced the woman, "And we know who you are..." Said Robert, Ellie just looked at him curiously then Rosalind spoke.
"Ellie," she said, Ellie's heart froze.
"Was that a bit too out coming?" Rosalind asked Robert.
"I do believe it is," Robert answered to Rosalind.
"It's seems we're a bit rusty," said Rosalind.
"Not rusty, just set back," said Robert.
"Ah, that makes sense," Rosalind agreed, they both looked toward Ellie to see her ready to make a run for it.
"Oh, you don't want to do that just y-" Ellie slammed the door before Robert could finished, she ran to the other side of the hallway and opened the other door at the other end of the house, only to find herself bumping into the same Lutece siblings.
"Perhaps next time we should do a more 'slower' approach," suggested Rosalind.
"Indeed, we should," Robert agreed, Ellie took a couple of steps back away from them. "What the-" Ellie thought, she turned back at the front door opened it only to see the twins again.
"Now before you start running again, you should know that we're not the the men after you," explained Robert.
"On the contrary," Rosalind started, "We're here to help you."
Ellie looked at the twins, untrust were shown in her eyes.
"Oh yeah, well why should I believe you?" Ellie questioned the two.
"Well whether you trust us or not," started Robert
"Though it is important to hear what we have to say, especially if your life is in danger," said Rosalind. Ellie looked at her, not believing what she just said.
"You should try to get out of here," said Robert
"For some old friends of John Marston, are coming to pay a visit," explained Rosalind
Ellie wondered what they were talking about, until she heard from a distance the old man yelling something at the small barn, she still eyed the Lutece siblings suspiciously but soon walked past them, she looked out to see John and Uncle looking through something with a binocular and Jack was waiting behind them, wondering what's going on.
Ellie looked back at the twins only to see them gone, before Ellie could be baffled by this however, Jack came running towards her, "Ellie!" He called out to her, when she looked back, she saw the worriness in his eyes.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Ellie asked, Jack just looked at her, trying to find the right words, only the only thing he could possibly say was.
"I don't know." Jack then told Ellie that John said to get him, Ellie and Abigail inside the house, and Ellie was able to see why,from a distance from her view, men in uniforms were coming towards to ranch on their horses, it didn't take them long before they started firing, aiming mostly at Uncle and John Marston.
Happy New Year! :)
Next time on the Last of Hope...
Faith, Desmond and the hybrid named Dante are trying to figure out the situation they're in only to realize that they need to get out, but not before rescuing the girl in the blue dress, will they be able to escape? The most important question is, can they deal with each other?.