Latibule - The Last Of Us [Joel]

Chapter Two

Jade changed out of her uniform and wore a faded lilac t-shirt, wrapping a light jacket around her waist and slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

As her mind thought of what it would be like in the outside and how much risk it would put Ellie in, Jade began to regret saying yes to the whole new mission.

"Oh, God. If you're still up there- at least watch over Ellie." She said a couple of times in her head as she made her way to Ellie's dorm.

Looking around, all she received were stares and whispers.

"Great." Jade rolled her eyes. "Chloes was right about gossip spreading like wildfire here."

Not liking the extra attention she received (more than usual), her eyes were glued on her combat boots until she reached Ellie's room.

Knocking on the slightly open door, Jade stood in the doorway. Ellie already had her things packed but was nervously swinging her legs as she sat on her bunk bed. Jade's knocks on the door didn't seem to catch her attention, so Jade spoke up as she leaned against the doorway.

"We don't have to do this if you don't want to. You don't owe anyone anything, Ellie."

Ellie's bright eyes met her sister's dark ones and jumped off the bed, landing with a little thud. She shook her hands and nodded before she spoke, "no. No. I want to do this."

"Ellie-"

"I promise. This is the only thing I want."

"More than that puppy you've been asking for your birthday?"

Jade tried to lighten the mood and was satisfied when she received a little chuckle from her sister.

"Yeah. More than that puppy for my birthday."

Jade stared out the window that was behind Ellie and thought to herself; even though her duty was to protect Ellie and nothing else, Ellie was old enough to know what she wanted in life. Maybe this is her destiny and she wasn't going to stop her from doing that. Besides, the only trouble they'd face was on the way there. There was no need to worry over a couple of blood tests.

"You've got everything you need?"

Ellie nodded her head.

"Did you say goodbye to your buddies?"

Ellie nodded her head. But that wasn't the truth. After seeing Riley turn, Ellie didn't want to see any of her other friends for some reason.

"Well then, what're you waiting for? C'mon dummy, Marlene's waiting."

***

Marlene, Ellie and Jade left the safety of the Firefly enclosure days back and it didn't seem so bad. Ellie was amazed by the outside but to Jade it was garbage. The walls were spray painted with some Firefly bullshit of finding the light, the streets were empty and the apartments were abandoned.

Marlene and Jade took care of some of the runners they faced and the rest of the trip was spent in silence, with Ellie occasionally asking the two women questions about the old outside world. All Jade could think about now was how she didn't get to say her goodbyes to Chloe. Who knew if they'd ever see each other again.

But her thoughts were immediately cut off when they bumped into a militia group- Jade insisted that Ellie took no part in the fight, all she needed to do was to hide while her and Marlene protected her.

Jade with years of being a soldier, was rather smooth and she was lucky enough to not get any physical damage over the years. But again, she didn't venture too far- she believed her mother made Marlene promise not to put her daughter into too much risk even though Jade didn't mind the idea of risking her life (not really risking her life for the Fireflies. But for some other self reasons).

Marlene was also strong in combat but this time, unfortunately, Marlene got hit.

"Oh fuck!" Jade's eyes widened as she watched Marlene drop to the floor in pain, but immediately taking cover.

Jade advanced carefully but agile, shooting the last soldier to the ground, the same soldier that shot Marlene in her side.

"Marlene!?"

"I'm okay." Marlene cried out.

"I think that's all of em!" Jade scanned the area before running to Marlene. Ellie was already by the woman's side.

"I'm f-fine."

"No, you're not!" Ellie screamed as she turned to her sister, "what do we do now?!"

Even though the question was directed to her sister Marlene answered instead, "help me up, Jade. We need to hide out before more of them show up. I know where we can go."