GLOWING (Joel Miller)

11 | The Forest

As we ran out of the building, Ellie managed to rip her arm from Joel's grip. He didn't snap at her or reach out to grab her again; he just slowed to a walk and silently stalked towards the trees. I stopped beside Ellie, who had a guilty look on her face. I let out a sigh. "It's not your fault-"

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed all around us, immediately followed by the building behind us bursting into flames. I whipped around, my jaw dropping to the floor as the shattered windows began to smoke profusely. From within the building the agonised screams of the burning infected pierced the air. I winced inwardly, trying not to think about Tess.

I turned back around, to see Joel's heartbroken face as he stared up at the Capital Building. His gaze dropped to the ground, before he eventually looked up at Ellie and I, a look of utmost disgust and hatred in his brown eyes. I lowered my gaze, knowing it wasn't my fault, but I couldn't help the guilt that rose in my stomach.

"Come on," I muttered to Ellie, gently pushing her forward as Joel averted his gaze. He turned around and started walking down the hill, leaving Ellie and I to follow after him.

***

We had been walking for almost four hours by the time Joel decided to stop for the night. We were deep in the woods and the sun was beginning to set. Boston was only a few hours behind us and it was crazy how quickly nature took over the abandoned buildings.

Joel dropped his bag on the ground and stared around the clearing. He didn't acknowledge Ellie or me and we didn't pressure him. He had just lost his best friend. How else should I expect him to act.

After a few awkward moments, Joel turned to face me. "Don't follow me," he said monotonously, before he turned and headed back into the woods. I let out a sigh of disappointment, as Ellie and I were left on our own.

"So," Ellie began, dropping her backpack on the ground at the edge of the clearing. "Is he ever gonna talk to us again?"

I nodded, reaching into my bag to retrieve the sleeping bag that was rolled up at the bottom. I laid it down on the grass and sat cross-legged on top of it. "He just lost his best friend, Ellie. Try to put yourself in his shoes."

Ellie's gaze dropped to the ground and she visibly swallowed. "Right," she muttered, leaning back against the tree behind her. "How much longer do we have to stay with him?"

"Bill and Frank live a few miles west, so we'll probably get there tomorrow." Ellie nodded, drawing her knees up to her chest. "Apparently they'll help us out... and Joel will go back to Boston, I guess"

Ellie nodded. "What about you?" She asked, fiddling with sleeve of her jacket. "Will you go too?"

"No way," I assured her, shaking my head. "I promised I'd stay with you until we get to Colorado."  I leaned forward and punched her lightly on the knee. "Do you take me for a liar?"

Ellie giggled, a small smile forming on her tired face. "No."

I nodded. "Exactly." We lapsed into comfortable silence as the sun continued to make its steady trek across the sky. The shadows that were on the other side of the clearing when we arrived were now creeping their way over to us. With a huff of contempt, I stood up. "He's taking too long," I exclaimed, picking up my backpack and dragging it over to where Joel's was left in the centre of the clearing. "I'm hungry."

I unzipped Joel's bag and rifled around until I found a portable stove—the kind used for camping. I placed it on the ground, clearing away the dirt and leaves around it. Then, I plopped myself onto the ground in front of it and pulled a can of spaghetti from my own bag. It was pretty tasteless—not to mention, decades past the use-by date—but it would have to do for now.