The Last Of Us: A Forsaken Son

Even Darkness Has Its Own Story - Part 2

"But why would he want to leave us?"

Sitting on the ledge directly underneath the window, Ellie told Caleb about her concerns. How she feels like Joel is trying to leave them with someone new, someone by the name of Tommy.

Caleb didn't understand why that would be the case. Tommy was supposed to help them, right? This whole thing caused a cloud to hover over him.

Was it something he couldn't see? Everything was so vague and complicated. Up until he received an epiphany by Ellie's next words.

"Probably because of Sarah" she kept her eyes on the journal she found hidden in this ranch house they found living among the trees.

The root of Joel's bereft soul was Sarah, his daughter. Mariah told them about what happened when the outbreak first commenced. It sounded so horrible. Something you'd read out of a thriller novel.

If anything, this made Caleb even more eager to get to his parents. Along his yearning was the undoubtable oasis of fear. He didn't want to end up like she did, nor how Sam did. At that moment, he was considering Joel's words of not dwelling on things more favorable.

"I won't end up like her.."

"Neither of us will. And he shouldn't think we are, we were doing just fine"

Caleb could pick up on the bizarre tone on her voice. Was she angry, or sad?

"..are you okay?"

She closed the book and sat upright, paralleling Caleb's sitting position. Her eyes fixed on her dangling legs.

"I'm just..." she paused for a moment "disappointed, is all" her green eyes then met Caleb's. Her tone a bit calm and relieved now. "what about you?"

"I don't know.."

Momentarily, approaching footsteps entered the room.

Joel glared at them. Caleb recognized that look and expected words from him.

"Get up, we're leaving"

"And if we say no?" Ellie spoke, which seemed like she was challenging him.

"No?" Joel eyebrows furrowed "do you even realize what your life means, huh? For you to do something so stupid-"

"I guess we're both disappointed in each other then" she responded, her tone clear.

Joel switched his gaze between the both of them. "What is it that you two want from me?"

"Admit that you were planning to get rid of us the whole time"

"Look, Tommy-"

"Stop with the bullshit, Joel." Ellie stood "We can take care of ourselves"

"How many close calls have we had?" He switched gazes between them again "Huh?"

"We been doing alright so far"

"And now you both would do even better, with Tommy!"

Finding the strength to speak up, Caleb then inserted his input. "Is it because of what happened with Sarah?" He asked.

Joel turned his head, his eyes conveyed something perilous.

"Listen here boy, I've been patient with you" he took a few steps toward him.

"He's right, Joel. We're sorry for what happened to Sarah, but we lost people as well"

"You two know nothing about what it means to lose someone"

"I don't like this.." Caleb stood, unsure what the overbearing feeling surging from his gut meant.

The door then burst open with Tommy holding his gun in his hands.

"Get it together. We got company"

"Shit.." Joel pulled out his weapon.

Caleb and Ellie stayed behind them. After everything, was Joel really gonna leave?

⸻

      The horses galloping settled into the silence between the four. Caleb didn't have to get his hands dirty with the invaders at the ranch house. He couldn't bear that on his conscious on-top of what he already ruminated about at this moment.

     Tommy led them to a cliff hovering over an establishing town. His eyes never saw something of the sort. Many people must've been down there inhabiting that place. He couldn't help the interest that piqued him at this moment.

"Where is this lab?" Joel suddenly said to break the silence.

"All the way out. At the University of Eastern Colorado."

     Silence befell them again.

"Ellie, let Caleb have the horse"

     Both baffled by Joel's words, it took them quite some time for them to began moving.

"Go on" he said, a slight smile on his face.

     Being the only saddled person on the horse, Caleb held onto the reigns like a novice. A smile slowly growing on his face as he looked at Ellie and Joel.

Did this mean he wasn't gonna leave them?

To Be Continued