Asthma (The Last Of Us)

A way out of the hole

(TJ's P.OV.)
"Eyes on me. Eyes on me!" The older guy calls out and I shift my gaze from what I presume is his younger brother to lward the older one, "you don't have to worrt about what to say. We don't want to hurt you. We wanna help you" he states, still keeping his gun aimed at Ellie. "Okay" dad said with a monotone voice as he watched him. The guy nervously shuffles in place "Okay, uhm, I don't know what the next step is with something like this". How about lowering your guns I thought to myself. "But if I lower my gun. We didn't hurt you, so you don't hurt us. Right?". Dad looks at him and keeps talking with his emotionless, monotone voice "that's right". "That's a weird fuckin' tone, man" the guy nervously exclaims, "that's just the way he sounds. He has an asshole voice. Joel, tell him he's okay" Ellie told my father. I had hoped he would sound less like a robot with no emotion but he didn't. "Everything is great". "Dude!", "jesus" both me and Ellie spoke at the same time. Disbelief at him not sounding a bit comforting to the strangers. "Okay, listen. I'm gonna trust you" the older one speaks. Then motions to the young boy before signing. I look back at the kid and came to the conclusion he must be deaf. "But if one of you tries anything" he points the gun further to Ellie's head, gesturing he will shoot her. Both me and dad sit upright. I groan slightly and grip my side. Feeling blood stain my hand. "My name's Henry. That's my brother, Sam" the older introduced himself and the his brother. Then he continues to explain he is the most wanted man in Kansas City. "Although, right now, my guess is you're running a close second". Some time later we shared some of our food with the brothers and had some small talk. While dad wanted to end this, Henry on the other hand seemed to either gift his help in return for our help. "Well, I'm betting, that ya'll came up here to get a view of the city and plan a way out. And when the sun's up, I'll show you one" Henry exclaimed. Both me and Ellie look at my father. Wanting to know his thoughts.

It was decided that we were going to team up. Henry shows the way and dad clears the way. I watch as Henry draws a grid on a piece of paper, explaining where everything was situated. Highways, downtown, us and the whole area that belonged to Kathleen. Leader of the resistance. "You can see the way we're bounded by highways. They got people posted all around the inside perimeter. If we get close, we get caught. No question. So how do we get across?". Henry turns to his brother and knocks the table, gaining Sam's attention. Before signing at him. We wait untill Sam is finished writting untill he shows it at us. One word told us the plan - tunnels. "You're right. It's a great plan. So what do you need me for?" Dad questioned Henry, "you notice anything strange about this city? Other than the strange shit you've already seen?" Henry asked. I thought for a second. "No infected" I answered. "Oh, there's infected. Just not on the surface. FEDRA drove them underground 15 years ago, and never let them come back up. It's the only good thing those fascist motherfuckers ever did". "This fuckin' city" I said with a half-laugh and shook my head. Hating this bloody city more and more the longer I stay. "So you want us goin' into a tunnel?" Dad asked. Henry explained that everyone thought it's still filled with infected, including Kathleen, so no people would be doen there. But he knew a guy who worked for FEDRA who said they had cleared it around 3 years ago. Both me and dad scoffed at his theory. "Okay maybe one or two. But you handle it" Henry said, "what if there's more?". "Or one of those blind ones that sees like a bat?" Ellie asked following right after dad's question. Henry fell silent and looked between us with suprise  "wait, you ran into a Clicker?". "Clickers. Runners. Stalkers" I named all of the ones, "and you're still alive, you see. You're the right people". He promised that if it was bad we will turn back around. "Oh that's your great plan?" Dad asked regarding it, "no, that's my dicey-as-fuck plan" Henry concluded, "but as far as I can tell. It's the only one we have".

We follow Henry and Sam into the bankbuilding. Jogging through the foyer towards the back. Henry opens a door. "Not more stairs" I sigh throwing my head back. Henry turns to me in confusion and so I explain "Asthma". Thankfully, this time we didn't have to go up. So that was a plus. All four of us descend with flashlights. "This should be it. You ready?". "Get your gun out" dad tells both me and Ellie and we oblidge. Then follow dad who took over the lead. Water drips down from the ceiling as we go through the wide empty tunnels. "You see. It's empty. The plan is good" Henry said with a proud smile. I shine my flashlight over the wall "and he jinxed us" I whisper to myself "We've been down here two seconds. We don't know anything" dad told him."your dad's kind of a pessimist" Henry said looking at me and Ellie. "He's not my dad", "I'm not her dad" Ellie and my father said in unison. Henry glances at me as I had not said anything. I walk past him "he is my dad" I answered. "Just point your light forward. And be ready to run". My hand grips on my inhaler, ready to use it during a run for my life. We walk forward, aware of our surrounds as our flashlights shine through the hallways. The ground clear, barrels stand to the side, pipes snake across the walls. We come up to a narrow entry way and continue forward. It opens up to a room filled with children's paintings on the wall. I shine my flashlight over the walls, lighting up the drawn castle, rainbow, flowers, sun and animals. Carefully, dad pushes the metal door open and slides through. All four of us follow him. I scan over the new scene. Children's play table, shelves with toys and colourfull books, painted walls depicting smiling people among houses and a vibrant sun. "I heard places about this" dad explained, "people went underground after Outbreak Day. Built settlements". "So what happened to them?" Ellie asked walking to one of the shelves, "maybe they didn't follow the rules and they all got infected".