Secrets And Hope {The Last Of Us Fanfiction}

XXII

Exiting the shuttle was like entering a new world after sky rocketing into space, all three of the survivors wobbling slightly and taking a deep breath. They continued onwards, and out through a door to the outside world where birds sang carefree and the sky cloudlessly blue. In front, there was no way of continuing forward except for a leap into murky water and towards a door that was sealed shut. Without a second thought, Ellie jumped into the water, and looked over at the two.

"God! You give anyone else this much grief?" Joel questioned as he once more cringed from Ellie's recklessness, but Nora couldn't help but grin, the two really are a pair.

"Get down here," Ellie called, in which Joel's face screwed, giving her an exaggerated 'No' in return.

"Hey! Whose birthday is it?" Ellie threatened, making Joel shake his head with a point of his finger.

"You can't keep doing that!"

"I want a good splash! We've got more exploring to do!"

"She wants a good splash," Nora parroted before jumping from the ledge and canon balling into the depths below. Finally resurfacing, she looked up at Joel expectantly.

With a sigh, Joel backed up to give himself a bit of a runway, and then plunged himself over the ledge with a shout, "Geronimo!"

Giggles were heard all around as the three swam to the steps and made their way over to the double doors, only to find that it was jammed.

"Shoot," Nora said under her breath.

"Here, boost me up," Ellie called, peering up at a broken window above.

"Ellie, i don't know-" Joel went to argue but Ellie was having none of it.

"I'll just go over and open the door for you," She insisted, Joel still looking reluctant.

"I'll go with her, we'll be fine," Nora began, and Joel gave out a sigh.

"Fine,"

He positioned himself below the window and crouched down with his hands clasped together. Ellie put her foot onto his hands, and with a hold on his breath, Joel lifted Ellie up. Then, Joel looked over to Nora, "Alright darlin', your turn,"

Nora couldn't help the slightest of smirks that played on her lips, the endearments causing her heart to skip ever so slightly. Her foot lifted into Joel's clasped hands, and with a count to the three, Joel strained as he pushed her upwards. Once over, Joel waited a few seconds before his voice rung out, "You okay?"

"Yeah, all good," Nora yelled back.

"Do you want the  bad news?" Ellie piped up. 

"Go ahead," 

"There's shit blocking the door!"

"Well, see if you can find me another way in. I'll walk around the outside," Joel replied.

"Okay Joel, just.. be safe," Nora answered, her eyes meeting Ellie's as the two began to walk through, but Joel answered back before they could.

"You be safe!"

A small smile perked up on Nora's face, and the two girls began to walk around the museums blocked off section. There were no signs of life, only the taxidermic animals that were dotted around the natural history area of the museum, a lifeless zoo. It wasn't until they began to venture deeper into the museum that Nora started to notice signs of human presence in the form of graffiti. 

'I killed for them'

"This guy needed a hug," Ellie said from behind Nora, and Nora chuckled quietly, before continuing through.