The Last of Us

Chapter Five: Silence

I felt something stir within me. Almost like a dull ache but it was like a wall had been placed inside my mind causing a migraine to start. I felt someone watching me and squeezed my eyes shut tighter. I did not want to be bothered again. Just earlier Doc had come in trying to stick me. I noticed he had been trying to hook me up to an IV line but I didn't want to be touched. This time the gaze on me felt different. I felt the mental tug again and I decided to open my eyes. When I open my eyes they automatically connect with blue ones staring intently at me. Damien walks towards me and Lisa's body flashes through my mind again causing me to flinch back and lift my head. Damien pauses and continues to stare at me. I feel something dull tug at my mind again. I stare into Damien's eyes noting how dark they've gotten. Almost as if a storm is brewing in them. Suddenly he turns and leaves and just like that he's gone. It takes me a while before I can relax again but just moments after Damien left I hear Doc enter his eyes, a shade of red I've never seen before. He notices I'm watching him and I see his eyes change back. He then walks to his desk after checking on me and I lay my head back down. A few hours later Cole comes in a little boy trailing behind him with a tray. The little boy's blue eyes stare at me and I freeze recognizing him instantly.

'Kayden,... He's alive,' I thought slowly to myself, surprised.

Relief washes over me but I try not to show it. Cole watches my reaction intently as the boy sets the tray on the stand beside my bed grabbing the old one which he hands to Doc. Who seems to watch me as well. Doc's eyes meet mine as he winks and leaves. I look back to Kayden and Cole who are both watching me. I raise my head deciding to stare back at Cole. Curiosity rose within me.

'Had Doc said something?' I think slowly.

Before I can worry though Cole speaks up and it takes me a second to understand what he's saying.

"I'm sorry I've been away. They told me you needed time. I tried to see you. Doc kept barring me from coming in. Doc and my dad have kept me so busy with training." Cole says pointing to Kayden and continuing,'' He's like my kid brother," he says finishing and I feel the pride he feels. Literally...

My head throbs and I close my eyes before I look at Kayden and nod to him. Kayden doesn't respond right away but instead looks like he's analyzing me.

"I'm sorry about your mama. To be honest I lost my family too. You two didn't look much alike though. Cole thinks you're adopted. Is that true?," Kayden says obviously speaking his mind and before I can fully process what he said Cole clamps a hand down over his mouth.

I lean forward and softly tug Cole's hand away from Kayden's mouth. I nod softly, looking into Kayden's eyes. Kayden looks back at me and speaks up again.

"Well I'm your new bodyguard and no one shall hurt you again," Kayden says smiling.

My confusion must have been evident on my face because Cole speaks up next.

"We thought it a good idea to put this little grunt to work", Cole says playfully as Kayden swats at his arm in response.

I smile and as I notice I can literally feel their happiness. It's almost like a soft pull and I let that feeling wash over me because I knew I felt it too even though the pulling also ached it felt nice. I guess I'm losing it.

Just then it hits me.

'Doc didn't tell them' I think slowly.

Relief swells within me but as it does sadness tinges at the relief as well.

'They're safer this way. I'm safer this way. I wasn't really one of them anyway. I'm too weak to be. I'd just stir up trouble if I told them,' I think slowly.