The Last Of Us: A Forsaken Son

Despairful Ubiquity

Fall

Listening to the combustion of wood kept him from diving deep in his thoughts.

"Looks like he fell asleep first"

Ellie sat beside Caleb on the ground. Joel was sleeping soundly on the opposite side of the campfire.

"Oh snap!" She picked up the green journal from Caleb's feet. It was open, already set to a page where multiple sketches were. "You did this?"

"Yeah"

"This looks really good"

"Thanks"

She turned to the next page "and who are these two?" This wasn't a sketch, but two fully drawn individuals.

"Henry and Sam"

The tall one had their arm over the shorter ones shoulders. The other arm pointed up towards the middle corner of the paper.

"Oh" her tone drawn out for a bit but she instantly picked it back up again. "How come you didn't draw their faces?"

"I.. don't know"

Drawing their faces would only retain the last images he saw on it — Sam's anemic skin and Henry's brokenness. He didn't want that.

She didn't respond and just turned the page instead, like she understood. When she saw it was blank she closed it and sat it back by his foot.

"I really miss them, you know" she stared at the campfire. "I wish I could have kept more of their stuff like you have"

Caleb looked over at the blue double strap backpack resting a few feet away from him, next to a green mat. He'd lay on it later when he's prepared for sleep, but on this quiet night, he wanted to stay up a bit.

"Do you think somethings wrong with me?"

"What? No, of course not. Why do you ask?"

"I..." he groped for a moment before continuing "I've watched so many people die. David, Emily, Tess, Henry, Sam — I'm starting to feel like I'm a curse or something"

"Well I don't think you're a curse" she smiled before turning her eyes back to the fire. "I just think we may have been born in the wrong time"

"But, you're immune, right? So doesn't that mean you can't get infected?" He looked at the side of her face.

"Yeah, I guess so"

"Oh" he turned back to the fire "and that's why the fireflies want you?"

"Precisely why" she continued "I think they're gonna use me to make a cure"

"And it will help everyone?"

"Hopefully" she sighed

The forests wind whispered among their sudden silence. Joel body moved in his sleep, turning over to his other side.

"What about you?" She asked "once you find your dad, are you gonna look for your mom next?"

"I hope that they're together, but, i just don't understand"

"Understand what?"

"Why they left. Wouldn't they, you know, be worried about me?"

"I'm sure they are. Once Joel and his brother Tommy take us to them, they'll tell you why"

"I hope so"

She stood to her feet and stretched her arms out, letting out a yawn.

"Alright, I'm toast" she said "I'm gonna go hit the hay."

"Goodnight"

To Be Continued