The Crash of Worlds - The Last Of Us

Part XIII - Morality and Mortality

After the diagnosis a certain level of pain fell over all three. Even though James was the one sick, Joel took it harder than him. He'd barely talked in the past few days, only short responses to questions like "yes" and "no".

Joel was outside, chopping firewood hard enough that the axe's handle fractured. James watched through an upstairs window, hearing his own breath he heard the wheezing. Like his lungs were trying their hardest but we're starting to fail.

The blonde wandered over to the mirror in the bathroom. The splintered glass cutting his reflection into three parts, James focused on the center piece. Looking at his reflection he noted the way his face was changing, his eyes sunken and melancholic, his cheek bones ever so slightly more pronounced than before.

James's eyes widened as he found himself afraid of his own reflection. That person wasn't him. It couldn't be. He'd imagined so much for himself, so much more than whatever this all is. But it seems like fate had other plans. James almost wanted to pray, talk to "god" but then he wondered. What kind of god would do this to him? Certainly not one he ever wants to praise or ask for.

Ellie had sneaked out that morning, taking a shotgun and running downtown. The area was pretty clear of infected, and they were so remote barely if any people found their way within fifty miles of the town. She felt embarrassed to ask but she needed some menstrual products. Tampons, pads, anything it didn't matter.

James had tried his best to help out but he knows nothing of periods or how to handle them. So by Ellie's insistence he let her figure it out on her own, doesn't stop James from grabbing anything he finds that might be of use.

Finding any sort of tampon or pad was extremely difficult. In fact James had only ever found two boxes of tampons in over twenty years.

It's an uncomfortable subject matter. Puberty, periods, the sex talk. Luckily they didn't need to talk to Ellie much about that stuff, she knew a great deal somehow. And James cannot imagine how the hell he or Joel would go about talking about stuff. After all they're two grown men, they aren't women and to mansplain what a period is felt incongruous.

So they didn't talk of it, they had a sort of don't ask don't tell thing going on. And James would be worried about her if he didn't see just how good she was with that bow, and the fact that she's immune. However if she wasn't back within two hours he'd look for her. It was a twenty minute walk into town, there'd be no reason for her to be looking for over an hour and twenty minutes. It's not a big town. Maybe fifteen buildings, and only three of them would realistically have menstrual products.

There was a large general store that housed mostly what was once grocery's, but a good fourth of it is everything else. James actually remembered that store for an incident in 2000 when a man killed his mother and brought her head into the store and stabbed two employees. His mother avoided the place like the plague, and James never questioned it.

Then there's the CVS and the convenience store, which would possibly have Ellie's wanted products.

So Ellie ran down into town, once she got there she already had an idea of the layout. They've been down here countless times, while the stores are definitely raided they can still always find a few things if they look hard enough.

Ellie decided to start at what she'd named the "decapitation store". James didn't like the playful name as he really really didn't like the place.

Ellie carefully slipped through the broken in front door, glass crunching beneath her Converse as she stepped inside. She kept the bow up and ready to shoot, she wasn't worried of being bitten. Obviously it wouldn't do much, but if another persons here there will be a problem.

She walked down each isle, looking for anything of value. Most of everything was gone besides everything people didn't want. Lightbulbs, anything that required power, cleaning supplies, bread, pancake mix, literally anything that had flour in it. They aren't sure if Cordyceps actually dies, for all they know it could be waiting to infect the next person to grab some pancake mix.

However once she got down the isle labeled "toiletries" she found it empty as expected. Ellie got on her hands and knees, looking back as far as she could on the shelves. Nothing. Then looking underneath the rack she did see something promising, the magical label of "Tampax" as she reached for it it was grabbed from the other isle.

Ellie gasped as she readied her bow,
"Whoever's there I swear to god I'll kill you." Ellie said in the most threatening manner possible.
"I'm unarmed, please don't." A voice called out from the other isle. A young woman. Presumably.

Ellie carefully stalked down the isle before popping out and pointing her bow at the stranger. A woman stood with her hands up, the box clutched in her right hand as she breathed heavily.

She looked like Ellie's age, maybe a bit older. Possibly sixteen if she had to guess.
"I need those." Ellie growled, the woman sighed.
"So do I."
"What's your name." Ellie said, it wasn't a question it was a demand. The woman paused, thinking internally before blurting out,
"Tara." Ellie liked the name, she also liked the way this girl dressed. Kind of like a hipster or something, or what she assumed a hipster was.

Ellie had been taught at a young age to never give out your name unless your absolutely certain you can trust someone. But Tara just gave her name, it'd be kind of unfair to not tell her her own. She won't however tell her anything else, just her name.
"Ellie." She said, the woman looked shaken up. Her hands shook slightly and her eyes opened wide.

Slowly Ellie dropped her bow, holding it at her side. The woman looked completely incapable of doing much in terms of fighting, and she certainly didn't have a gun on her.
"Wanna split the box?"

...

James hurt beyond the pain in his chest, he wanted to see Ellie grow up. He loved the kid. She might be a bit feisty and a little rude but she still meant well. It's hard for him to think that he won't be able to see her or Joel for much longer.

He's coughing up blood, it's already serious. He could have anywhere from a week to a few months. It's impossible to know. But he'll make the most of it. He just wants one thing, to make sure Joel and Ellie are going to be okay. Just because he's not gonna be here much longer doesn't mean Joel and Ellie can't either.
"You okay?" Joel asked, looking over to James solemnly.
"I guess," James frowned, "I'm scared." He mumbled, watery eyes as he leaned his head onto Joel's shoulder.
"Why?" The man asked, doing his best to comfort James.
"I don't know what comes next. I... I don't wanna die Joel."

Joel hugged him as James began to sob into his chest. He comforted him the best he could through his own tears.
"I'm scared that there'll be nothing..." he sobbed, "I'm scared I'll never see you again."
"You'll never lose me." Joel insisted,
"You can't promise that."

James felt as if his world was falling out beneath him. Falling into a dark abyss slowly but surely as he got sicker and sicker.
"Please don't forget me." James mumbled, Joel sobbed. He'd never forget him. James had a place in his cold heart that nobody else ever could.
" I won't," Joel insisted, "not ever."