Just the beginning (The last of us fanfiction)

-May 2nd, 2022

 We picked up the pace as we walked through the wet grass. It was a humid morning, but nicer than most.

"We've been walking forever" Mack said stopping to stretch his body. "When are we going to get there?"

 Caleb ignored his comment and kept on walking. We got out of the tall grass and started on the cracked sidewalk. We turned left into an alley and walked until there was a dead end. Caleb groaned looked around. He looked up towards the top of the building and jumped. He grabbed hold of a ladder and held on to it, causing it drop.

 "Come on."

 Caleb started up the ladder followed by Mack, then me. I looked down for any runners and climbed up higher. I tried not to lose grasp of each wet bar as I pulled myself up. When I got to the top of the building Caleb was already half down the stairs, but Mack was waiting for me. We started walking down, I sighed as he started running down the endless staircase.

 We got t the bottom of the building, we walked to an open poorly lit cellar room, we walked down the concrete stairs see Caleb standing to close to a woman I had never seen before. I looked at Mack and he just shrugged and cleared his throat.

 "Um, dad?" Mack said.

 Caleb and the lady quickly turned around. I noticed that she has a fireflie patch  her shirt. We were then greeted by her. She had a warm smile and put her hand on my shoulder.

 "Hello Hope." She said

 "Um, hi" I felt uncomfortable. I started biting my fingernails.

 She walked slowly over to Mack and gave him a long hug. Were they crying? This made the situation alot more awkard. I gave a little smile to Mack, expecting him to return the smile. But he did'nt, so I looked back down at the floor and played with my thumbs.\

 When they stopped hugging, the lady walked back over to she first was and bent down looking in a drawer, she started talking to me.

 "Do you know why your name is Hope young lady"

 I did'nt answer. I was too busy thinking about how she knew who I was, and why I'm in the same room with her. She looked like one of those people that can make you feel comfortable almost anywhere. But I was'nt happy, I did'nt trust most people, the only people I can really call my family is Caleb and Mack. But then I did'nt really get this whole idea about what family was.

 Mack was like a brother to me, even though he told me several times that he really liked the way I looked and the way I acted. Even though I did'nt say much. Caleb always took care of me, always had me eat. He had once joked with me that he wish that I was his child instead of Mack. We often joked around liked  that. I think Caleb liked me better because I acted older than Mack, even though he is 19.

 "HOPE." She said snapping me back to reality. "I asked if you know why your name is Hope."

 She closed the drawer and took out a needle and took a wet tissue and started cleaning it.

 "Well, it's not like I had any parents to tell me or anything." I snapped.

 She stopped cleaning and set the needle down on a metal counter. "You have Caleb." She said resting her elbows on top of the counter.

 "Caleb is not my dad."

 I regretted what I said as soon as it came out of my mouth. Caleb rubbed his face and said "Why is her name Hope,Jennifer?"

Jennifer.

 "Your name is Hope because you bring Hope to all of us." She picked up the needle and walked over to me. She stuck the needle into my forearm.

 "What the hell." I said before falling to my knees and see black filling the room. The last thing I heard Jennifer say was,

"We really do have Hope."