The Last Of Us (Fanfic)

Joel Lives PT 2

Joel lives, PT2 [Fan-Fiction]

(I do not own these characters)

They ran through different parts of the lodge, unable to go back the way they came due to the amount of infected pouring in. They were running out of bullets, leaving any extra mags they had back with their horses. When they found themselves in the workshop for the Ski lifts, they thought they were cornered, until they found a lift halfway on a cart and noticed the broken window high up the wall. Tommy called for the girl to help them push it back on so they could try and escape. Hearing the screams getting closer made them all push a little harder to get out of there, and they got it on just in time for the infected to start piling in. Joel had asked if she had a gun prior, and he hoped she was a good shot to assist them in this mess.

Everyone noticed the amount of infected that seemed to be passing through their part of Wyoming. Maria expressed concerns over and over again at the patrol meetings while everyone tried to express how capable they were of handling whatever came their way. Now that Tommy was in the middle of it, all he knew was that he needed to get back to warn everyone, to gather a clean-up crew, and come back to take care of this problem. He just had to get out of it first.

"I got it, Go!" Tommy yelled.

The girl held her own, as did Joel, while Tommy used all he had to push this one-ton gondola. After nearly getting killed by a runner, and being saved by the strange girl, Joel offered to take over as Tommy seemed to be struggling to keep up the pace.

"I got it, just keep those infected away!"

A clicker fell from the rafters and landed on its side. Even with a limp, it charged at them absorbing bullets till finally taking two to the head and dropping limp to the ground. Runners kept coming through every crack in the building imaginable, it didn't matter that the doors behind them were barricaded.

"Tommy... I'm runnin' low!" Joel called, after loading the last few bullets into his revolver.

"Just another minute!" He responded.

Getting the cart almost flush against the wall for them to climb onto. Just when the girl was pinned against the wall by a runner, did Tommy feel the resistance of the wall. Joel pulled back the infected man, putting his blade through his temple, and once again helping the girl to her feet.

"There! Come on!" Tommy called.

Joel pushed her ahead, covering them both with his last few shots, "Hurry, through the window!" He said, climbing up after them when they jumped through the frame. The long drop and exhaustion from all the running and fighting made her knees buckle underneath her.

"I gotcha," Joel said, "Stick close to us." He told her before running ahead. Through the snow, they could see all the running bodies of the numerous infected. Their hearts raced as they tried to navigate their way back to their horses.

The girl asked where they were going, hoping to be able to stop somewhere soon. She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to keep up with these men before her body gave out. She was worried they didn't know where they were going.

"They're everywhere!" She said, completely terrified and regretting her decision on go out alone.

"Don't slow down!"

"Head for those doors!"

It was a blur till she watching them place a plank of wood over the door, keeping her pistol raised in case a few made it in. Only when Tommy started to give their names did she snap back to reality and reply with her own in shock. Wondering what were the odds that she would end up with the very men she was seeking out. Looking towards the man who saved her with malice rather than admiration, all she could think while they argued about what to do and where to go, was how she was going to make him regret saving her life. Noting the cosmic justice as she relayed that she and her friends were staying in a fenced-in mansion not far from here just as the plank started to splinter with the force of the hoard trying to get inside to devour them.

They immediately knew what house she spoke of, and agreed that it would work. She froze, dumbfounded that she had found him and that she was riding with the man who ruined her life, all the way back to her friends who sat by idly waiting for her return.

Getting back was rough having to ride with her gun drawn, aiming at everything else but him. But she had to, they just kept coming from every direction right at them in a storm of their own. It was like the cold didn't touched them while they could barely feel their toes anymore.
Abby's friends could hear the shots coming directly for their front gate. They knew Abby hadn't returned, and that only she would be barreling towards them knowing they'd be there. They waited and watched bodies emerge from the blizzard running directly for a pair of horses coming straight at them. It was like watching a current move around a rock as they pushed through the heavy snowfall, wondering who Abby had brought along with her. They wondered if these people had the information they needed about the man they came for. Maybe a trade, one man for two.

The infected clung to the gates, attempting to climb it while under gunfire. That was until Joel told them not to waste their bullets as he and another girl began to throw Molotovs to ignited the hoard, burning them till they stopped coming.

When it went quiet, the man who seemed to direct the group told everyone to get inside. The boys were relieved to get out of the snow but held two very different stances with these people. While Tommy felt comfortable being around them, already made up his mind to invite them back to Jackson to stay for as long as they needed And gather support. Joel - on the other hand - felt that something was off the moment they made it through the gate. Questions wracked through his brain as he noticed how capable the group was, how well off they seemed, even in a blizzard. Why were they here? What were they hoping to find? Who were they? He contemplated taking his chances back out in the blizzard before staying a moment longer in this house with these strangers. Strangers he knew weren't here by accident. One of them, a woman, approached them pleasantly, asking if they wanted to take off their horse saddles. Joel was quick to deflect and tell her that they were only staying long enough to ride out the storm as he watched the girl, Abby, walk off with the man who seemed to lead the group. They followed after them with everyone else, while Tommy talked, asking how they were fairing out here and how long they'd been staying there. A Hispanic man seemed to answer most of their questions, telling them how they had electricity and had been there since yesterday.

Joel asked, "What're y'all doin' out this way?" Before letting his eyes roam the room, memorized the people, and their posture, and felt the tension grow thick after another name exchange.

All of them zeroed in on him and he felt a pit in his stomach, knowing something was coming. He nervously replied, "Y'all act like you've heard of us or something."

"Because they have," Abby said, before shooting Tommy in the stomach.

"Tommy!" Joel yelled, just as one of Abby's friends knocked Joel's feet out from under him with a club before he could react.

Tommy groaned before going limp on the floor, his eyes closing and his chest rising very slowly.

"Put him against the wall," Abby demanded.

They pinned Joel down, tying his hands behind his back and dragging him to lean against the sliding glass door. "Let go of me!" He demanded.

His knee hurt to move, already feeling it pulse and swell, but all he could do was hold his breath and keep his eyes on hers. He didn't even dare look at his brother, not wanting to give them an inch more than what they already had.

Abby crouched in front of him, still holding the gun, the same one she used to save Tommy earlier in the workshop. "Joel Miller." She said bitterly.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Guess."

He looked around at them, realizing the situation he was in, realizing there was nothing he could do but take the blows as they came. He took a breath, held his head high, and said, "Why don't you say whatever speech you've got rehearsed and get this over with."

She stood, picking up the discarded club off the ground, gripping it tight in her gloved hands, and gritted her teeth. "You stupid old man... You don't get to rush this." She said before swinging the club at Joel's head and knocking him out cold.

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(Not my pictures)

Pt2, while holding slightly difference, is leading to an alternative story line. I had a busy day and tried to keep to the time I said I'd publish. I hope you all enjoy! 😊