The Last Of Us (Fan-Fic)

Summer- Chapter Two- Part 10 Tess

"Now watch your step as you're going up 'cause it's going to be a little-".

"Pssh" Ellie said, getting up onto the plank and quickly walking across to the next rooftop. I went next, being careful with every step. "Well, is that everything you hoped for?" I asked, staring at the view with Ellie. "Jury's still out" She replied, shrugging her shoulders. "But, man... You can't deny that view". She smiled, and I returned the same smile, sort of laughing at the thought of a world so ugly can still look appealing sometimes. "C'mon. This way" Tess said, not stopping for a second. "Hey. Pick it up" She told me as Ellie went down the ladder. I walked towards her, not knowing what caused her to be so bossy. "Look, we're almost done" She reminded me, "Stay focused". 

"Yes, ma'am" I replied, sarcastically. I followed them down, trying not to take her so seriously. "It's right around this corner. C'mon" Tess said as we landed on the ground. "Let's keep moving kid" I said, following Tess down the steps. I saw a dead man, it went to check his body for any ammo, but instead I found a note, as well as a few shells. "Look at this" I said. "There's a Firefly logo on his arm" Ellie pointed out. I picked up the note and read it:

ORDERS: Patrol the rendezvous area. Ensure no
military presence before moving the girl to the
next safe house. Make sure the girl is well fed
and in good health. Her safety is if the utmost
importance.

I moved a large wheelie bin to act as a step to get up and over the gate. "Up and over" I said, jumping up and then back down so we were on the other side. "There we go" I said, as the Capitol building was right before our eyes. "Home stretch, Tess" I called out. "Um... Just so it's out there. I can't swim" Ellie admitted as we came across flooded ground. "Looks, it looks like it's shallow on the right side. Follow me" Tess said, walking straight into the water. "I'm glad Marlene hired you guys". "What do you mean? Tess asked as we waddled through the water. "I know you guys are getting paid for this but- I'm trying to say thanks". "Yeah, sure thing" Tess replied.

We all kept our elbows above water, trying not to get all our clothes wet. We made it to the steps and made our way up them. I hadn't noticed before, but the water we had gone through contained objects that looked similar to rides you would find at a funfair. I opened the door for all of us and walked inside.

"No" Tess said as we got in. Everyone was dead, not a single person alive. "No, no, no" She said, going over to one of the bodies. "What happens now?" Ellie asked. "What are you doing, Tess?" I asked as she searched in the man's pockets. "Oh, god" She said, checking all of him. 

"Maybe they ah, maybe they had a map or something to tell us where they were going". "How far are we gonna take this" I asked. "As far as it needs to go". Tess looked up to Ellie, "Where was this lab of theirs" She asked. "Oh, she never said", "She only mentioned that it was someplace out West".

"What are we doing here?" I asked, genuinely confused. "This is not us. "What do you know about us?" She argued, standing up, "About me?". "I know that you are smarter than this". "Really?", "Guess what, we're shitty people, Joel", "It's been that way for a long time". "No we are survivors!". "This is our chance-". "It is over, Tess!" I shouted. "Now we tried. Let's just go home". "I' not... I'm not going anywhere". 

I shook my head. "This is my last stop" She said. "What?" I asked. "Our luck had to run out sooner or later". "What are you going on about-" I said reaching for her arm, "No don't" She said, pulling herself away, "Don't touch me". "Holy shit" Ellie said, walking forwards, I looked round at Ellie to see what she was on about. "She's infected".

I looked back round at Tess in disbelief, she was just looking at the ground. I stepped backwards, "Joel" She muttered, "Let me see it" I said. "I didn't mean for this-", "Show it to me" I demanded.

She pulled her collar away from her neck and revealed a large red bite mark. "Oh, Christ" I said. "Oops, right". "Give me your arm" Tess said, walking over to Ellie. Ellie held out her arm and Tess pulled up her sleeve where Ellie's bite was. "This was three weeks" She said, pointing at it. She pulled Ellie forwards to me, "I was bitten an hour ago and it's already worse". "This is fucking real, Joel".

"You've got to get this girl to Tommy's. He use to run with this crew, he'll know where to go" Tess explained, "No, no, no that was your crusade" I reminded her, "I am not doin' that" I continued, pointing at the girl. 

"Yes you are" Tess started. Tess came forwards to me and looked me in the eye. "Look, there's enough here that you have to feel some sort of obligation to me". "So you get her to Tommy's".

It was then when a military truck pulled up outside the building. "Shit" Tess said, running to the door so she could see what they were doing. "They're here" She said, taking her gun out. "Dammit" I muttered. "I can buy you some time, but you have to run". "What?" Ellie asked, "You want us to just leave you here?". "Yes" Replied Tess. "There is no way-", "I will not turn into one of those things".

"Come on" She said, looking me in the eye again, "Make this easy for me". "I can fight-", "No just go!" She said, pushing me away. "Just fucking go". "Ellie-" I said, not losing eye contact with Tess. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't- I didn't mean for this" She stated. "Get a move on" I told her. Ellie ran to the door as I walked backwards, looking at Tess, I knew it would be the last time I would ever see her alive. I went out through the door and sighed with disbelief. "What the fuck? I can't believe we did that" Ellie said. "Stop" I told her. "We just left her to die". "Stop. You stay close to me. We have to move" I demanded.

"Oh man.." Sh said. I went over to pick up a rag and some alcohol, and moved up the stairs. "We'll go upstairs. We can probably get out from there" I said. I could hear men shouting and then gun shots, I knew Tess would be the target. I could hear her screams, something I had never heard before. "Just keep pushing forwards" I told Ellie, but really I was just telling myself. I came out to a balcony, "Target neutralized. She took out two of my men. Copy that. You, take the door. You, with me" A man said. I looked down and saw Tess's body in a pool of blood.

"Oh my god" Ellie said, taking in the sight. "They're gonna be here soon" Ellie said. We walked around the circular balcony, keeping our heads low. "We're through". I knew this meant the men had got through the looked door. I picked up some more pills and jumped down into the next room.

I looked down at a dead body carrying a rifle. I took it from him and saw it was already loaded with six shells. "They're escaping into the hall! Go around". We hid behind a table as a few men jumped down from some stairs into the area we were in. I listened closely and was sure that there were probably three men. "I'm gonna find you" One said.