The Edge of Everything ¹ | THE LAST OF US |

nine ; endure and survive

"Stay back!" The man repeated.

Penelope felt a shiver of anxiety jolt through her body. She glanced over to Ellie, who was yelling Joel's name. Numbness bit at Penelope's body. Her fingers had pins and needles, her eyes adjusting to the darkened room.

She was going to die. Ellie was going to die.

"Don't move." Penelope threatened the man hovering over Ellie. Hoping her voice didn't sound as shaky as she felt.

The man switched his gun to aim at Penelope. "Stay back!" He threatened.

Ellie watched with frantic eyes at Penelope and the man before her. "Joel, wake up!" She cried. Joel jolted up with an inhale of air. His body twitched, his eyes falling on the young boy before him.

"Eyes on me." The man between Penelope and Ellie called Joel. "Eyes on me."

Penelope stared at the man in front of her with a look of pure hatred. Her breathing was ragged, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

"You don't have to worry about what to say. We don't wanna hurt you." Penelope's mouth dropped, her grip on Ellie's switchblade tightening. "We wanna help you."

Joel watched the man holding a gun at Penelope. "Okay."

Penelope quickly spoke, adrenaline making her head feel light. "If you want to help us, then why is your gun pointed at me?" Penelope scoffed, shifting on her numb feet.

Penelope could feel Joel's eyes bore into the back of her head, willing her to shut up .

The man's eyes fell over Penelope's form before staring back at Joel. He ignored Penelope and instead spoke to Joel. "I don't know what the next step is with something like this, but if I lower my gun...we didn't hurt you...so you don't hurt us—right?" The man uneasily watched Penelope and Joel, like they were about to pounce on him. Penelope glanced incredulously at Ellie, holding her switchblade protectively in front of her.

"That's right," Joel responded, his voice guarded. Penelope's glare hardened at the man, trying to make herself seem tougher than she appears. Granted, she did have a weapon in her hand, but with her frail figure and cannula on her face, she didn't look exactly intimidating.

"That's a weird fuckin' tone, man." The man in front of Penelope declared, shifting on his feet.

Ellie quickly cut in, trying to defuse the situation. "That's just the way he sounds. He has an asshole voice. Joel, tell him he's okay."

Joel glanced at Ellie. Penelope could feel eyes on her once again. "Everything is great."

"Dude," Ellie exclaimed.

"Fuck! Okay—listen...I'm gonna trust you." The man instantly started motioning with his hands to the young boy standing in front of Joel.

Penelope watched the two intently, her glare not wavering. She held Ellie's switchblade in trembling hands. The room was silent. Penelope could feel her heart racing rapidly in her chest. She didn't bother moving to look at the little boy in the room. Her eyes were on the older man in the room who was motioning with his free hand. His gun was still pointed at Penelope.

"But if either of you guys try anything..." His harsh voice startled Penelope. "Yeah?" No one responded. Understanding his threat loud and clear.

Penelope glanced at the little boy's movements. He stepped to the side, his gun still pointed at Joel. "Can I sit up?" Joel asks, staring at the little boy.

"Slow. Yeah. Get up slow."

Penelope shifts on her feet uneasily, her nose twitching. She can see Joel slowly move with his hands up out of the corner of her eye.