TLOU - Crystal Clear

Alone and Forsaken

James held the gun, his eyes narrowing, his bandana collected sweat under his chin and he cursed in his head. The man standing in front of him looked old, and experienced. And he had a kid with him and he got nervous. "That your daughter?" "No." The kid looked baffled and scoffed "Why does everyone think we're related?" "I don't know, most adults with kids who travel are usually their own." James spoke but he soon whistled and Vee stopped growling and he lowered his gun a bit "Who are you?" Joel looked at him and then to Ellie. "I'm Ellie, and this is Joel. We're headed West." "Ellie-" Joel gave her a firm look. "I am too, the name's James." Joel looked at him. "How old are you?" "16." He said gently and he put his rifle over his shoulder. "That's a little young, don't ya think?" Joel replied and James just smiled under his mask. "It's not like I really have a choice to travel with anyone." James said and he glared at Joel not to ask questions about it and he pressed no further. Vee soon jumped on James and started licking his face. "Yea, yea, I love you too girl." He smiled gently and they soon heard gun shots "Shit, we have to go around back, there's a staircase that leads to the basement. There's a doorway out through there." He soon picked up Vee and slid down a pole. When they made it to the bottom she jumped out of his hands and walked ahead to keep lead.  James stood there, waiting for the other two and she sat down. James looked up and soon Ellie was falling. "Shit-!" He caught her out of instinct and set her down "Give me a warning next time, kid." She smiled "Nah, I'm good." And she walked smiling as she did, over to Vee and pet her. Soon they all three walked around the basement and James got out his flashlight, and tugged on his bandana as sweat started to collect. He looked over at Joel and Ellie. Joel was watching him closely and he looked away and continued walking. Soon a doorway was seen and Vee yipped quietly towards it as she walked. James smiled and gave her a treat as he walked passed her. "Good girl, Vee." He smiled and opened the door with his shoulder. Soon they were met with a bright light and he his heart stopped. "Fuck!" There was people with guns, a tank, grenades and blockades blocked them. They were trapped as Vee started growling. James got out his rifle in the ready just in case. And as soon as the others fired they ducked under a trash bin. Running the other direction as they began to be followed by the others. He whistled low and Vee ran the opposite direction as him and growled as she jumped atop of a garbage bin, going to a roof top and ran along the side following them. James did the same on the opppsite roof and shot down anyone following Joel and Ellie on the alley floor. Grabbing a grenade as he threw it behind them and smoke began to appear as Joel and Ellie ran out of the alley, no one knew where they went and soon, him and Vee got to the end of the roof and he whistled in a high note and they both jumped, he caught Vee and tumbled on the ground, dropping her and running again with her by his side. "Joel, go right!" Joel did and they ran that way. James was behind Ellie making sure she was in the middle so she'd be safe. He soon turned around and shot at some guys who were following them. "Joel! Go down the pipe, now!" Joel did amd they followed in pursuit. Soon as they reached the bottom they were met with the dark atmosphere of the sewers "Yuck!" Ellie said and he ran ahead. "Don't stop! We have to move!" Vee followed and she ran through the water with ease as she followed James, they went through so many tunnels and after awhile they were met with the bright light of the outside sun.

Two Hours Later

James was down by a small creak getting water for the three and Vee was with Ellie, laying down as she pet her. James came back and handed everyone their waters and soon pulled down his bandana to reveal his face. A scar on his face was seen. Across his lip and he looked at Vee and whistled as he got canned dog food out of his bag and a bowl. Pouring it in for her as she ate. When she was done he poured water and she drank quickly and layed back down next to him. Joel looked at Ellie observing for any injuries and he looked over James, too. James didn't mind it and he soon looked around the forest area. He then looked at Ellie and smiled "Ellie, you listen to music?" She smiled "Yea!" He soon scavenged through his bag and found his Walkman. "Here, hand it back when your done, yea?" She nodded, smiling and she put it in and pressed play.
"Alone and Forsaken by Hank Williams." Began to record and he smiled as she did too. He soon looked over at Vee who as passed asleep. He soon looked over at Joel and nodded and soon layed down aswell. He was exhausted but he didn't close his eyes yet. He didn't want to, not with other people with him. He began to count the stars and he sighed. He looked around and he got up and looked around, Ellie soon u plugged the headphones making it to where everyone could hear the sing and he smiled as he began to sing along with it. "We met in the springtime when blossoms unfold. The pastures were green and the meadows were gold. Our love was in flower as summer grew on..~" He smiled, closing his eyes as he did and he continued to sing softly. "Her love like the leaves now have withered and gone. The roses have faded, there's frost at my door. The birds in the morning don't sing anymore, the grass in the valley is starting to die, and out in the darkness the whopperwills cry." He closed his eyes and his smiled faded as memories of his sister began to flood his head. He started tearing up and as he blinked a tear rolled down and he wiped it almost immediately and soon looked away after that. Soon he heard a noise and he quickly shut off the music and held a finger to his lips to stay quiet as he lifted his bandana.

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