The Last Of Us: A Forsaken Son

The Hope Within A Deadmans Words

     It was a momentary hindrance before the resumption of their journey. In the campus's vastness, the silence that was present deemed an odd observance. Seemingly, that this was the place the fireflies were supposed to be.

     After seeing the fireflies insignia graffitied on the wall, you'd think a firefly soldier would present themselves by now. But nothing. Maybe they were keeping their presence unnoticeable to the clickers that lingered in the shadows. Joel managed to run into a few before making his way back to Caleb and Ellie.

     But it wasn't a thing to muse over. To Caleb at least. To him, that would be a trivial use of energy. He was sure that they would be here. Even if his parents weren't among this particular group, they'd know where they were and take him to them.

     Caleb's horse slowed her momentum while they sauntered past white medical tents. Its cover filled with grime and derelict.

"No guards, no nothing" Ellie suddenly spoke.

"Yeah..." Joel said "I expected to see someone by now"

     They continued forward towards the large science building, and that rush Caleb felt back in Boston when they were about to reach the capital building resurfaced.

     Finally, after Joel got the gate open, they climbed onto a dumpster and then onto the top of a truck. There was a gaping hole sitting in the side of the building awaiting them.

     Each room was neglectfully messy. Every piece of equipment was scattered around the room, science tools haphazardly lying about on the floors.

The constant silence surged thoughts into Caleb's head. Doubting thoughts, that warred with the bits of optimism of the fireflies being here.

"Where are they?" Ellie said out loud "Yoo-hoo! Fireflies! Cure for mankind over here! Anyone?"

     Her voice resounded through the empty hallway.

"Maybe they're on the higher floor or something" Caleb said.

"Let's just keep it down until we figure out what's going on" Joel then told them.

     With the corridor coming to a dead end, they discovered another pathway. Following the balcony led them towards the base of a staircase in another part of the building.

     A few boxes were stacked next to each other with a click board lying on top. While Ellie rummaged the boxes, Joel perused the click board.

"There's nothing here" Ellie said through her sigh.

"Ain't nothing here but a bunch of medical mumbo-jumbo" Joel dropped the click board back on top of the boxes.

     The weight gradually made its return. Indulging in the doubtful antics led him to feel despaired. His body filled of dissonance — parts of hope and anticipation for the moment where he can see the broad smiles on his parents faces. Then, the pessimistic view of never being able to see them again.

     With a spontaneous sense he spoke with an overt concern. "So what does this mean?" He ask.

"Looks like they all just packed up and left in a hurry" Joel responded "Explains the mess we saw in those rooms"

     From the upper floor an abrupt thud turned their heads towards the stairs.

"Maybe not all of 'em" Ellie said.

"Stay close"

     Joel led the way up the staircases while pointing his weapon forward, daring anything to pop out of hiding.