Secrets And Hope {The Last Of Us Fanfiction}

V

Nora shot the Hunter as her last bullet found its mark.

"Hey asshole!"

The final Hunter didn't react in time as the brick Ellie threw whacked him across the head. Joel quickly shot him down without missing a beat as he fell to the ground. Taking a breath the three looked at the group of Hunters that littered the floor. Joel placed his gun back into his jeans as he glanced across to Nora and Ellie.

"Alright I think that's the last of em. You girls okay?"

Nora looked to Ellie before glancing back at Joel.

"Yeah we're good."

Ellie looked around at the Hunters that covered the floor, some of the sights causing her to screw her nose up in disgust.

"Oh man, those fucking guys came outta nowhere!"

"Come on let's get moving."

Walking across to a fire escape, Joel waved for Ellie to follow.

"We should be able to cut through his building, Ellie c'mere and help me with this ladder."

Joel held his hands together for Ellie's foot as he boosted her up to grab the ladder. She pulled it down and was the first to climb to the top, while Joel stood back as he gestured for Nora to go first.

"Ladies first..."

"Thanks."

Ellie rolled her eyes at the two as she ventured off into the building. Climbing in through the window she looked around at her surroundings, the apartment building they were cutting through was near empty. The wallpaper was faded and torn and most of the furniture had either been looted or destroyed. It was obvious that the Hunters had been living there. With the scorched mattresses placed on the floor along with the scruffy blankets.

Ellie glanced back to the window as Joel was helping Nora inside, Nora looked slightly nervous when she stepped into the room. She had been hesitate to come back to the town Joel and Ellie had rescued her from two weeks ago. But it was the only town within a ten mile radius from the settlement and they were running low on supplies.

Ellie turned on her flashlight as its beam searched the dim room. Piles of belongings filled the room's corners; looted clothes, backpacks, shoes and weapons. Ellie sighed as she turned back to Joel.

"I guess this is where the asshole slept, look at all this stuff! How many people do you think came through this town...and never left?"

A grim look fell over Joel's face as he looked over the place before glancing back to Ellie.

"I don't know...its best not to dwell on it."

"Huh."

The two looked to Nora when they noticed her drawn to the kitchen that held more stolen items.

"Nora?"

Anger filled Nora's voice as she looked through the piles of belongings.

"This is my stuff! I knew those bastards stole from me! My backpack, my gun...oh."

Nora fell silent as she picked up an old worn photo from the pile, tears filled her eyes as she stared at the smiling face looking back at her. Joel and Ellie both looked to one another with concern before Joel slowly stepped towards her.

"Nora you okay? What it is?"

Nora quickly placed the picture in her back pocket before wiping her eyes and turning to face Joel with stern look on her face.

"Nothing. I'm fine! Come on let's get moving."

Nora marched towards the door without another word, Joel and Ellie stayed silent as they followed closely behind. Stepping out of the apartment, the hallway that greeted them sat quietly. The smothered daylight slithered in through the grime and foliage that covered the windows as the sun's rays danced along the cracked walls.

They continued on down a few flight of stairs until they came to an exit, Joel quickly pushed it open as he followed the girls out. The sound of breaking glass caused him to duck behind a concrete road block as he pulled both Ellie and Nora down for cover.

"Oh shit! Down, down, down."

Peering over the road block Joel spotted another Hunter's camp up ahead. Three huddled around a roaring trashcan fire while another six occupied a small makeshift tent. Joel sighed deeply as he rubbed his neck.

"Alright accordin' to Tommy, the stretch of houses should be just passed these guys."

"Pssh...we can totally take these guys!"

"She's right Joel."

"It's too dangerous, I'm low on ammo and you just used your last bullet."

Nora flashed him a confident smile before glancing back to the Hunters and shrugging her shoulders.

"We've handled a lot worse."

"No."

"What if we just-"

"Nora."

"Joel. We'll be fine, now come on we're almost there."

As Nora went to stand Joel gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back, dropping his voice to a sharp whisper.

"Wait! This isn't gonna be easy you know."

Nora smirked as she slid her arm from Joel's grip.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Joel scoffed at Nora's sarcasm as she disappeared behind an old police car. The sound of quiet laughter caught his attention as he glanced back to Ellie who was trying to hold back a chuckle.

"The hell you smiling at?"

"Nothing."

Ellie was quick to follow Nora leaving Joel alone as he smiled to himself before pulling out his gun and preparing himself for another fight