Chapter 13, a little unsure about this one but i hope you enjoy the read!
"Let's rest for a little while, my legs hurtin'" Tommy huffed
"Okay" I agreed, reluctantly
I didn't want to stop, I wanted to keep going, I wanted to find Ellie and get her home before anything bad happened to her. We had been going pretty much flat out for the past two days now and the only thing we came across was a few infected here and there that me and Kieren easily dealt with. We should have found them by now, they were on foot but some of the woodland on the outer edges of Jackson proved hard to navigate with the horses and eventually slowed us down, not to mention Tommy needing to stop every time his leg hurt.
"Hey Dina, come sit. Eat something, you're going to be no good to Ellie if you pass out" Kieren called over.
I sighed and walked over to where he was sitting "Okay" I took a seat next to him on a nearby log.
"Here" he threw me an protein bar "It's not much but it's something"
"Thanks"
"I know you're worried but we can't be far behind them. They only had a day ahead of us, we will get her home"
"I know" I closed my eyes and tried to push the worry out of my mind so I could think clearly. "So why do you owe Ellie?" I asked him trying to focus on something else
"Oh that well she…urm" his cheeks flushed red
"You like her don't you?" I heard the words leave my mouth a little more sharply than I expected
He looked back at me a little shocked "No. I mean yeah.. But not like that" he laughed "She sort of got me and Olivia together"
"Did she?" Now I was the one with the shocked look on my face. Ellie wasn't so much the matchmaker around Jackson.
"Yeah, it started a couple of months ago actually. Me and Ellie went out on a couple of hunting trips and we got talking about life and I ended up confessing my love for Olivia. I've had a thing for her since I was young but never admitted it" he paused and looked at me for a second "She told me about you and how she had loved you from the day you'd both met"
I felt the edges of my mouth twitch up remembering that moment, meeting Ellie for the first time. She was so adorable but also so fucking fiery. Always proving she could stick up for herself even when she didn't need to. Even when deep down she was scared shitless.
Kieren paused for a moment before carrying on, noticing I'd zoned out a little after his last comment "I just guess it pulled on her heart strings a little because the next time we were suppose to be on hunting duty together she didn't show, Olivia did"
I looked at him, my expression clearly not doing me any favours as he smirked at me "She never mentioned that"
He shrugged at me "well you know Ellie she's not one to gossip or take thanks for anything"
It was true she would always go out of her way for others but she would never take anything for it, she never expected anything back. She gave so much that nobody even noticed. I think she felt like she owed everyone more than she did because in reality she never owed anyone anything. But that's just how she was and I think a big part of that was her immunity, her survivor's guilt. She had a tough exterior just like Joel did, but deep down she was soft as shit and she knew it. She would tell me how much she loved me every day. She would bring me home flowers whenever she could and be so affectionate towards me. There wasn't a day that passed us by where I didnt feel incredibly loved by her, even if she was having a dark day or we argued, she'd always find herself coming back to me and wrapping those skinny arms of hers around me or placing carefully planned kisses on my neck.
I laughed "she's one of the good ones"
"Yeah she is and don't worry, she's all yours" He winked at me
"Okay y'all let's get movin'" Tommy called over
"Hey, who's the new kid?" Jesse leaned over the table to get a better look
"Who?" I replied
"Her, over there stuffing food in her pockets like we are going to run out" He laughed
"I dunno, why don't you go ask for yourself?"
I looked over at the small auburn haired girl lurking around the canteen, she was in fact stuffing food in her pockets like it was all going to disappear and it made me laugh. I'd never seen her before, she looked a little younger than me and didn't look to know anyone. She looked around the mess hall with her eyes wide, taking everything in. I remember that feeling, being so overwhelmed at everything Jackson had to offer.
An older man came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. He was new too. Her dad maybe? I think his name was Joel, he was Tommy's long lost brother by the sounds of it. She must be the girl that showed up with him. They exchanged a few words and Joel pointed over to our table, encouraging her to come over. She looked at the floor awkwardly and shook her head. Joel gave her a little nudge forward and they both started to walk over.
"Oh great the new kids coming this way" Jesse laughed
"Be nice" I hissed at him
She looked at the floor most of the way, I stood up and made my way over to them, meeting them in the middle.
"Hey, I'm Dina! Nice to meet you" I put my hand out for her to shake but she just looked at the floor avoiding my eyes.
"Howdy Dina, I'm Joel" He took my hand in his large grasp and shook it.
The girl kept her head down still not wanting to meet my eye line.
"And this is Ellie" he gave her a little nudge and forced a smile at me "Come on Ellie" he hissed still forcing a smile at me
What's her problem
She finally lifted her head and looked at me. Her piercing green eyes finally found mine and I had to catch my breath for a second. Her freckles dotted across her nose and cheeks. I felt like everything stopped for a second as I looked at her infront of me, her eyes soft studying my face. Her stern facial expression softened as we gazed into each other's eyes.
"Well I'll let you kids get to know each other" The large man Joel interjected
"Oh yeah! Come sit with us" I said gesturing to the free chair that was across from me as we walked over to the table "This is Ellie" I announced to the table
Ellie placed her tray on the table and slumped into the chair, her face hardening once again
"I'm Jesse!" he threw out his hand to shake Ellies, she was hesitant at first but reciprocated the gesture "Was that your dad?"
"Uhmm no" she huffed picking up her fork and shovelling food into her mouth
"Soooo, Ellie tell us your story. What have you been up to before arriving at this lovely place we call Jackson?" Jesse continued to question her
Ellie looked a bit nervous, she kept her head low focusing on the food in front of her, it looked like she hadn't eaten in months. Jesse kept probing her with questions and I recognised the look of anxiety she wore on her face. "Jesse leave the poor girl alone, she probably doesn't want to talk to you, I'm the nice one here" I gave her a wink and her cheeks flushed
She's cute
"Well" Ellie looked directly at Jesse, not breaking her gaze from his "Well if you really want to know" She paused and slammed her falk into the small piece of meat on her plate, brining it up to her mouth and looking at it, as if she was studying it "not so long ago we ran into some cannibals" Ellie put the meat into her mouth and started to chew loudly
Me and Jesse exchanged a look of shock at how casually she announced that to the table.
"Yeah they were eating a clown, one of the cannibals asked the other 'does this taste funny to you?'" She smirked.
I looked at Jesse who still had a shocked look on his face and I let out a belly laugh "Good one Ellie, you got us there!"
Cute and funny
Jesse let out a few low laughs "yeah yeah funny" He picked up his tray and started to leave the table "I best be off anyway, see ya Ellie"
"That was funny, I can tell we are going to get along like a house on fire" I smiled
She smiled back at me flashing those green eyes at me and my heart skipped a beat
Oh Ellie, I hope we find you soon.
"Shhh!" Tommy hissed. He stopped just in front of us bringing Dash to a halt
"What?" I whispered back
Tommy dismounted his horse and pulled out his hunting rifle "I think I can see em, ahead of us"
"Where? Can you see Ellie? Is she okay?" I jumped down off Japan and moved closer to Tommy leaning into him trying to share the rifles scope with him
"Take a look" He handed me the rifle
I could see them both walking along the exposed path on the outskirts of the forest. Abbey was in front dragging Ellie behind her like a dog on a lead and it made my blood boil.
"Yeah I can see them, come on let's go!"
"Hold up Dina '' Tommy put his arm out to stop me. "We need a plan first, we can't just go down there shootin' up the place. We don't even know why Abby still has her alive and we don't want to risk her getting killed"
"Hmm okay" I was hesitant with my reply but I knew Tommy was right.
"Look there headin' for that bridge over there by the looks of things. If we get a move on we can still cut them off and get the jump on her. I'll get to a high position and make sure y'all have some cover. Then you both cut them off either side of that bridge"
"Okay sounds like a plan" I agreed
Tommy took Dash up the hill to get to a spot where he had a clear view of the bridge while me and Kieren hot tailed it down to the bridge before they could get there.
"You go down the path by the bridge and hide. I'll ride across to the other side and cut them off, okay? They must nearly be here by now"
"Yeah sure" Kieren agreed
I was right, it wasn't long before Abby was pulling Ellie out of the forest up toward the bridge. Hopefully Tommy was in position by now or it would be down to us. I watched as they walked across the large structure, Abby kept tugging Ellie along causing her to stumble to the ground every few steps. I could feel my heart pound and the blood in my veins boil. I wanted more than anything to run out and shoot her in the head but I knew I had to hold on and bide my time until they were about half way over the bridge. For what felt like an eternity it was time and me and Japan stormed out from behind the bushes.
"Hey!" I shouted
Abby stopped suddenly her eyes narrowed when she saw me
Ellie peered round her "Dina!" She shouted "What are you.."
Abby turned and grabbed Ellie by her collar pulling her the other way, she stumbled over but Abby picked her up dragging her along the rough ground, Ellie's feet struggling to keep up. Kieren appeared and was blocking the only other exit off the bridge.
"Don't think so" he called, holding his rifle high.
"I suggest you let her go!" I shouted again edging Japan forward a couple of steps
Abby took a quick look at Kieren and then another look back at me. She pulled Ellie round to face me and kicked the back of her knee making her fall to the floor. "I'll kill her!" she shouted, taking her machete out and placing it to Ellies neck.
"Dina!" Ellie shouted but before she could say anything else Abby kicked her in the side "Ah fuck!" she winced
I took out my pistol and jumped off Japan taking a few steps closer to her "Don't Fucking touch her!"
My eyes filled with water as I looked at the girl I loved knelt on the ground with that monster towering above her. Ellies head had a large gash with dry blood smeared across it along with her nose. Her shirt was covered in patches of blood and her shoulder looked like it had been awkwardly patched up. Her wrists were red and bleeding from the rope bound around them. My heartache quickly turned to rage and I stepped closer, tightening the grip on my gun.
"Let her go!" I ordered
Abby reached down and grabbed Ellie's hair pulling her head back, she winced again. Abby placed the machete to her throat, slowly applying pressure causing a few trickles of blood to leak from her neck.
"You need me alive!" Ellie rasped out
Abby looked down shaking her head "Fuck" she picked her up placing an arm around her kneck, Ellies feet hardly touching the ground with how tall Abby was.
"Let her go!" I shouted again
"Dina, she needs me alive..." Ellie tried to talk but Abby took her machete and dug it into Ellie's side, she winced at the pain scrunching her eyes shut
"Shut the fuck up!" Abby was starting to look debrate
I could see the fear building in Ellie's eyes as she looked at me, her once soft green eyes were terrified. The last time I saw her like this was when I woke up in her arms at the theatre after Abby tried to kill us. She thought I was dead and she would be alone and couldn't live with herself If I didn't make it. It broke my heart seeing her like this, so vulnerable, unable to do anything. Ellie wasn't the type to let people in, let people see her genuinely scared. Only me and Joel got to see that side of her. I looked back at her locking eyes with her and mouthed 'I've got you El'
"Dina" Ellie winced
"I might need her alive but I don't need her in one piece, so back off!" She roared
I took another step closer to them, and as I did Abby pushed the machete into Ellie who screamed in pain, the scream shot through me and my heart pounded in my chest.
Abby took a few steps backwards towards the edge of the bridge, the water was running fast beneath them. "Step back or I'll start slicing bits off of her!"
"Last chance, let her go or I'll shoot you!" I shouted again
Without warning a loud shot pierced my ears making me jump out of my skin. The shot must have come from Tommy. I looked towards Abby and Ellie, Abby had blood pooling out of a gun wound in her shoulder, her eyes started to roll back into her head and as if it was slow motion they both began to fall backward off the bridge. Abby still had a tight grip around Ellies neck
"Ellie!" I shouted running forward with my hand stretch out
Ellie had her hands out in front of her reaching for me "Dina!"
Our fingertips brushed each others, I saw Ellies green eyes fade away as I wasn't quick enough and they both fell back off the edge of the bridge. I lunged forward, nearly throwing myself off the edge of the bridge with them but I felt hands around me catching me just before I went over the side.
"Ellie! Ellie!" I cried
I looked over the edge into the deep blue water, the current looked strong and it was running so fast. Thrashing against the banks.
"Ellie" I sobbed
She can't be gone, I was so close
I shook my head and pushed the thought of Ellie's dead body drifting through the river out of my mind and struggled against the tight grip of Kieren.
"Come on, let's go!" I shouted running over to Japan
"Dina, what about Tommy?" Kieren called
"I can't wait for him, we need to follow them down the river!"
I didn't wait for a reply from him, I bolted over to Japan, jumped up on the saddle and set off down the river bank.
"Ellie I'm coming!"
Thanks for reading let me know what you think!