The Last Of Us: Past And Present

Chapter 10

AN-MUST READ: This chapter is super short, because (as I said last chapter) this is the second half of the previous chapter. So, don't be surprised if it's not as long as you want it to be. Also, I've had like two hours of sleep, so my brain's a little fuzzy. But I'm going to write for you guys! So, enjoy!

Chapter 10:

Joel sat crouched on the shoulder of the highway, his arms resting on his knees. His hand was trembling heavily, and blood slowly oozed from it, down his forearm. His right lower eyelid twitched, and he shook his head. His sanity seemed to be hanging halfway over the precipice. Joel blinked a few times, and looked down at his shirt. It was grimy, and stained red by the blood. He would have to get a different shirt. He swallowed thickly and looked over to his right. Ellie saw with her back against Devin, her head buried in her hands. It had been close. Too damn close.

Joel hissed, and clenched his hand as pain washed over his shattered knuckles.

"Hey," Joel looked up to see Tommy, his face a mass of bruises and cuts. Joel looked back down at the ground and swallowed once again.

"We need to get moving." Joel nodded, and slowly climbed to his feet, before calling to Ellie and Devin, and climbing onto his horse.

Several Hours Earlier:

Joel walked quietly over to his bunk, and began putting things into his pack. Ellie saw this and walked over. "Where are we going?"

"Tommy says he has a trade route with another civilization. We're goin' with him to make a trade." He looked at Ellie for a short minute before telling her to get enough things packed for a two day trip. Ellie nodded her head, and walked back to her bunk. She said something to Devin, who nodded his head and grabbed his backpack from the side of his bed. Joel saw this and shook his head.

"Nuh-uh Ellie. I had a hard time convincing Tommy to let us go in the first place." Devin smiled at this and shook his head.

"Sorry old-timer, but I'm not gonna' let you guys have all of the fun." He didn't give Joel anymore time to speak. He just packed his things, and followed Ellie out.

"We'll be waiting outside!" Ellie called back. Joel just watched them, his eyes narrowing in the direction of Devin. He wasn't too sure what he thought of the kid, but he knew he didn't fully trust him yet. Once Joel was sure he had all of his things, he pulled the pack onto his shoulders and walked in the direction Ellie and Devin had walked.

Outside, he found Ellie and Devin blabbering away, engrossed in their conversation. Joel had to clear his throat several times before they noticed his presence. "You ready?" Devin asked. Joel nodded his head, and the three began making their way across the dam. When they reached the front gate, they found Tommy, Maria, and Houser (who once again apologized for almost killing Joel).

"Alright, let's get rollin'" Tommy said once everyone was on a horse, and holding onto their reigns. The group started off in silence, making their way for a place Tommy referred to as "The Hilltop".

Devin looked over at Ellie, who sat on her horse, whistling quietly to herself. He grinned, and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. Ellie's head turned in his direction. "What?" He chuckled again and shook his head. "Nothing, I just find that cute."

"Find what cute?" In response, Devin whistled sharply. Ellie shook her head, a smile playing across her face. "You're so weird." Devin shrugged.

"Yeah, but in a good way."

For awhile, they continued on in silence. Devin watched everyone for a small space of time. Tommy and Maria rode at the front, side by side. Both looked very calm. Houser however, looked very uncomfortable. Devin noticed the way he scootched around in his saddle a lot, and made the deduction that he wasn't very into riding horses all that much. Joel sat still on his horse, eyes forward. But every once in a while he would catch them flit left and right. He was nervous, anxious. Devin cracked a smile. The old man was always on watch mode.

From the corner of his eyes he watched Ellie. She was just as calm as Tommy and Maria. Except, she seemed happier. There was a small grin on her face, and he noticed the way she'd send small glances his way every now and then. He found that cute as well. She looked like a lovesick puppy. This caused Devin to burst into another fit of chuckles. Ellie once again questioned him, but he simply waved a hand and said; "Nothing. It's nothing."

They rode on.

For several hours they rode on. Ellie and Devin having small conversations here and there. Houser shifted around almost constantly, trying desperately to find a comfortable position on the horse. Tommy and Maria stayed silent, and both stayed side by side.

Joel stayed vigilant. His eyes flitted back and forth at random intervals. In between these, he let himself relax.

It was in between his glances, that it happened. The sun had gone down about an hour before, and it was almost pitch-black, except for the glare of their flashlights. The air was still, and warm. Crickets sang around them, reminding Joel of a time before the Cordyceps. He was beginning to calm down. He made less glances left and right, and his focus was on keeping himself awake long enough for them to find a spot to camp for the night.

It wasn't until too late that Joel heard the sound of approaching feet. Someone grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him from the horse. He fell, and landed on his side, his whole body jolted by the suddenness of the fall. He heard everyone else get pulled off of their horses, and looked around them. About seven guys surrounded them. Joel's hand and arm was grabbed, and was pulled roughly behind his back. He was than pulled to his knees. He looked around him, and saw everyone else in the same predicament.

Joel tried to get out of their grasp, but whoever was holding him had him in a vice grip. "Don't struggle," a deep voice whispered in his ear. The voice than spoke to the one holding Tommy.

"Start with him, make sure he goes slow." Joel saw the guy holding him motion towards Ellie with his hand. "Have some fun with her. When you're done, waste her. We'll shoot everyone else after that. This guy goes last." Joel heard him say. Fury and fear filled him as he saw the guy holding Ellie knock her to the floor and climb on top of her. "Joel!" She called out. He heard the sound of a fist connecting with skin, and saw Tommy fall to the ground.

"Let her go." He growled, looking back at Ellie, who was struggling with all of her might to keep the guy from having his way with her. He would get a good grip on the hem of her shirt, but she would somehow manage to stop him. But than he'd do it again. Joel knew Ellie didn't have long. He needed to move. "Sorry pal, we can't do that. You're old buddy Devlin wouldn't like that." Joel felt his heart stop. These guys had been sent by Devlin? He heard a crack, and saw Tommy getting kicked in the ribs.

With a yell of rage, Joel swung his head back, connecting it with the nose of the guy holding him. The guy stumbled back, and Joel drew his 9mm. He popped off a round, and blew the fucker's brains out. He shot the guy holding Tommy, who drew a gun of his own. The guy holding Maria tried to put her in the way, but Tommy was too fast. Blood shot from the guy's throat and he fell back, dead before he hit the ground. Joel shot the guy holding Houser, and grabbed the guy holding Devlin. The one who'd tried to rape Ellie shot too late, and his rounds sunk into the flesh of the guy Joel was holding.

The last guy was outnumbered, and he quickly realized that. Fear filled his eyes, and he dropped his gun before turning and setting off. Tommy raised his gun. "No! He's mine." Joel growled. He sprinted after the guy, and tackled him. "NO! PLEASE!" The guy yelled as Joel rolled him over.

Joel sat on the guy's arms, raised his fist in the air, and sent it crashing down. He punched the guy over...and over...and over...and over. He punched him until he heard his jaw shatter. He punched him until his face was unrecognizable. He punched him until his own knuckles broke even more. He punched him until Tommy pulled him off of the guy. Joel yanked himself free of Tommy's grasp, and pulled his 9mm. The guy's brains painted the ground in a crimson red.

AN: So now we know what happens when someone tries to rape Ellie in front of Joel. They end up getting super fucked up. ;) So...what did you guys think? Was it brutal? Was Joel awesome in action? Is Devlin (the Wolf) a dick or what? Yes, yes, and yes. What will happen in the next chapter? Now that would be a spoiler wouldn't it? But, if you read chapter eleven when I post it, you'll find out. Until then: adios!

~Exangellion