The Last Of Us: A Forsaken Son

Reunion

     Being on the other side of the blue door was very consoling after having to endure those bizarre clickers — which Joel would refer to as Stalkers.

     Before going up the stairwell, Joel removed his gas mask then helped Caleb do the same. A delightful breeze brushed against Caleb's tan skin.

     Having to breathe in such dense air while simultaneously running for his life and dealing with an injured shoulder — which was burning intensely as he stood there catching his breath — could've caused his body to collapse sooner or later. How was Joel able to do this?

     After Joel stuffed both masks into his bag they started to saunter up each stair with a calm pace.

     Caleb held onto his right shoulder with his left hand. His recaptured breathing sounded as if he was letting out dry coughs.

"How's that arm feeling?" Joel asked

"It still hurts.."

"Once we get back to Ellie we'll try to find somewhere to rest a bit"

"Okay"

     Resting at the top of the stairwell was a squalor corridor.

     Joel searched the opened rooms, Caleb following him into each one. One happened to be a moldy bathroom with the smell of mustiness permeating through its atmosphere.

     The next room was an office, which seemed to be in fair use. No molds anywhere like the bathroom, but the smell of abandonment still lingered in its air.

"Look what we have here"

     Once Caleb turned his head to Joel he saw him holding a dark brown double strap backpack. The flatness of it confirmed it was empty. Even so, Joel would've dropped everything out before giving it to Caleb.

     The brown color contained dark diminutive spots of dirt — the abandonment conspicuous in its appearance. But Caleb wasn't one to complain. He actually felt glad he finally had one. Every person he came across in his journey carried one but him. He no longer felt like an exception.

     The straps sat draped on his shoulders — almost as if he wore a mini cape along his clothing.

"I think it's a bit big for me" Caleb says.

"You'll grow into it." Joel held out Caleb's gas mask.

Once Caleb stuffed it inside his bag they continued down the corridor running into a kitchen.

The screech of a clicker sounded just before a gunshot went off; assumably to put it down.

"I got it." The sound of a mans voice said

Caleb and Joel were both crouched behind equipment. Every moment felt as if it was an enduring experience. Infected at one turn, then humans at the next. Do they ever get a break?

     Joel talked with a whispering voice as he pulled his pistol from the back of his jeans. "stay here." He said "Let me handle this"

Giving Joel a nod of understanding he went forward alone. Caleb sat there, still holding his right shoulder as the male voices talked back and forth.

His mind languidly engrossed his figure with the sequence of chronicles that took place. To the point where he sat in a deep state of self absorption.

Recalling — his mind shifted to the conversation he had with Joel.

"I did what I had to..."

He reiterated those words. More so as sustainment to the poignance feeling that slowly made its awareness present, creeping up on him.