averno, tlou

twenty four

chapter twenty-four: table manners
december 1, 2023

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

          Alejandra blinked tiredly while her head quickly dropped.

She quickly stepped backward, immediately finding the two lumps in the ground at her feet. Joel held onto the shovel while Ellie disappeared into the motel room minutes ago. "Hey, c'mere..." his voice was rough as he extended an arm out and Alejandra found her way to his side. He brought his lips to her forehead, releasing a breath and looking up at the man. "We almost lost her" Alejandra whispered as quietly as she could, watching Joel while he nodded his head in response. "We didn't though"

"Didn't what?" Ellie dropped Henry's backpack to Joel's feet, walking around him and setting down the notepad. "Don't matter..." Joel replied, dropping his arm from Alejandra's shoulders. "Let's go" Ellie sighed, picking up her pace while walking away from the two.

The woman walked slowly to the grave and looked down at the note.

I'm sorry

december 5, 2023

          Alejandra smiled at the woman she sat across from.

The warmness in the cabin made the throbbing in her leg worsen but she was thankful to be warm. Her coat was unzipped down the front and she pulled the gloves from her hands after the soup was placed in front of her. Sharing a seat next to Ellie who ate the food within quick minutes.

Joel stayed standing, holding the bowl in his left hand while he took slow drinks of it. Kept his eye on the woman who slowly rocked the chair she sat in back and forth. Joel snapped his head to Ellie and then to the door, "go upstairs." Ellie set down the bowl, quickly grabbing the railing to fly herself up into the loft. Alejandra stayed in her spot, leaning back and folding her hands in her lap as the door opened.

She could feel the confusion come from him when he saw her, how tense he had become when he saw his wife's direction her eyes to where Joel had disappeared to. Setting his weapons down and ripping off his gloves. He unzipped his coat, keeping his cap on while sharing another glance with Alejandra. Her eyes focused on the ground at her feet with a small grin on her lips, "and the gun." Joel's voice interrupted her thoughts while he walked back into view. Pointing his weapon towards the man, his finger off the trigger but centimeters away from it. Alejandra could smell the metal.

She turned around to tell him to put it away, "who the hell are you?" She froze, staring up at Joel and then at the gun while her back turned and leaned against the cushion of the chair. "Just someone passin' through." Joel spoke calmly, "take the gun out, two fingers only, put it outta reach." And the man did what he was told, with a sarcastic smile that made Alejandra chuckle under her breath.

"Why didn't you shoot 'em?" He asked his wife who shrugged her shoulders, "the gun's all the way over there. And this one doesn't have a leg." She looked to Alejandra whose lips parted, "really?" She whispered and the man took a seat. "They didn't hurt me, by the way." She added, "yeah, I got eyes."

"You made 'em soup?" His hands reached out toward the empty bowls. "Yeah, I did." She answered, raising her tone while continuing to rock back and forth. "I'm lookin' for my brother." Joel's voice interrupted Alejandra's thoughts again, her eyes refocusing while she stared at the fire. The man pulled his hat off, revealing gray, trimmed hair. It suited him well, Alejandra thought.

"Well, I ain't seen him." Alejandra slowly smiled and shook her head, sighing as quietly as she could. "I haven't told you what he looks like." Alejandra could see the smile on Ellie's face when she shut her eyes, "he looks anything like you?" He asked, "a bit."