The Edge of Everything ¹ | THE LAST OF US |

ten ; a fucking bloater?!

The group of five approached a darkened doorway. Penelope was following closely beside Sam who had his flashlight on. Well, everyone did. Except for Penelope. Since she had lost her flashlight in the car crash. She was standing beside Sam waiting as Joel opened up the door first to see if there were any threats ahead. Penelope hoped desperately that there was nothing ahead for them. That they'd just be able to escape, with no harm done. But who was she kidding? Something almost always went wrong.

Joel motioned for the group to follow his lead. They did so quietly, making their way through the empty and dusty underground parking lot.

It was pitch black in the parking lot. No lights other than the small flashlight beams. Penelope and Sam walked side by side through the room, basically attached to the hip. Sam was gripping onto Penelope's canvas backpack strap, while Penelope led him through the room with the guidance of Sam's flashlight. They had come to an agreement moments before that they would stick together after Sam noticed how Penelope would jump at any movement.

Sam had placed a hand on Penelope's arm, causing her to swivel around in surprise. He motioned to his arm and held it out for Penelope to take.

Since then, the two had been walking side by side.

Sam's flashlight pointed in front of them, and Penelope stood slightly in front of Sam the whole way through the tunnels.

"Do you know where we are?" Joel asked Henry as the door closed behind him.

"Yep. The other side."

Penelope and Sam gathered beside Henry to look at some sort of sign. It was hard to make out the letters on the sign from the yellow light of the flashlights.

Moments later, the group of five were walking down a darkened road. On either side of them were broken-down cars and paved sidewalks leading up to big houses, withered with time. The gravel and dirt crunched under their footsteps as they walked through the hallowed road.

The darkness and quietness of the street crept up Penelope's spine. It was an eery silence. Like something was going to happen.

Their flashlights were turned off as they silently walked through the road.

It didn't help Penelope's fear of the dark. She could have sworn that she'd seen something hidden behind a tree, but as she walked closer to it, she saw that it was just a flipped-over baby carriage.

From beside Sam, she watched the brothers talk together. A fond smile pulled at her lips as she watched the two converse. It was fascinating how they could talk together with just their hands. Oh, and their facial expressions too. She's noticed how Sam and Henry sometimes use their eyebrows or their smiles when they talk. It's very intriguing how they talk to Penelope. She hopes that one day—if the brother's somehow comes along with them—that they'll teach her sign language.

"No. No one is here. No one's gonna be here because...my plan worked." Henry spoke up, breaking his conversation short with Sam.

"So much goddamn talkin'," Joel grumbled.

"I'm just saying... I delivered. Make this right," Sam pointed down the street. "Go down the street, embankment behind the last house...and we're out."

The group was silent as they passed more houses.

Penelope was advently—well, discreetly—staying from Ellie. Still. By standing on the other side of Joel, or standing beside Sam. Something that Joel had begun to notice. He also noticed how Penelope had grown quite distant since the car crash. But it's not like he's someone special to her, so he can't really talk to her about it.