The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Five, TCOM Part II

Ellie, Nick and Nova started slowly walking towards the small store that Nick said he'd seen about half a mile away from the camp. All three of them were ready for life to go back to normal. They missed school. They missed their families and missed having an enjoyable life. They had been walking on their worn out legs for about 8 minutes.

Ellie: We sure do get supplies an awful lot. If this was a book, it'd be boring as hell.
Nick: I mean, the supply finding... Yeah. That shits boring. But that chaos with Carter. That would make a great story. I'd read it.
Ellie: I would too. But I wouldn't even want to imagine people going through what Carter put people through.
Nick: I don't want to imagine it either. You're lucky you made it out alive.
Ellie: Better Alex making it out alive than me.

Nick smiled at his friend. He then noticed Nova's pale face, staring into the distance. It was blank. Nick nudged Ellie, causing her light green eyes to drift towards his face. He quickly moved his eyes towards Nova and then back at Ellie. Ellie looked past Nick and at Nova. She stared at her for a split second before looking back at Nick. Ellie subtly shrugged and shook her head.

Ellie: Nova?

Nova shook her head, completely zoning back into reality and remembering where she was.

Nova: Yeah?
Ellie: You okay?
Nova: Yeah.
Nick: You sure?
Nova: Can you just leave me alone?
Ellie: Nova, you're the one that brought us both out here. Don't talk to us like that.
Nova: Fine. I'll walk ahead.

Nova started walking faster. Nick and Ellie walked behind her, in shock.

Ellie: Jesus fucking Christ.

Nick sighed, looking down at his feet.

Ellie: What's up?
Nick: I just wish she was easier to handle. She's not bad, you know? The night we spent together on lookout was sort of... magical.
Ellie: Oh yeah? What happened?
Nick: Well I apologized for everything that's ever happened between her and I. She apologized, too. It was great. We just talked all night. Stargazed. Talked about what happened before all this. Talked about what we want to happen afterwards.
Ellie: Did you talk about constellations?
Nick: No. Why?
Ellie: No reason. Nicholas has a cruuuuuush.
Nick: I do not!
Ellie: You so do!

It fell silent.

Nick: She thinks someone is... stealing supplies.
Ellie: What? That's ridiculous.
Nick: I... I don't know, Ellie. Once she explained, it seemed pretty realistic to me.
Ellie: What happened to make her think that?
Nick: Well, she's in charge of supplies, right?
Ellie: Yeah. So what?
Nick: She... takes a little bit every now and again and keeps it for herself.
Ellie: What the fuck? She can't do that.
Nick: It's smart. It's all about survival now. Not wrong and right.

Ellie sighed.

Nick: Anyways. Whoever is stealing probably thinks nobody else knows about the secret stash. Because bits of food and water keep disappearing. Whoever is doing it, wouldn't steal if they knew it belonged to someone.
Ellie: I guess.
Nick: Yeah.
Ellie: Who does she think it is?

Nick sighed and looked Ellie dead in the eyes as they continued walking.

Nick: Alex.
Ellie: What?

Ellie stopped walking completely.

Ellie: It is NOT Alex. She wouldn't do that.
Nick: I don't know. She really thinks it is. She thinks Alex is secretly on Carter's side and slipping them supplies to keep them healthy enough to come after us eventually. It makes sense.
Ellie: Nicholas. I'm telling you. It's not Alex.
Nick: I don't know, El. But listen, you can't tell anyone this. I only told you because I trust you. And I hate keeping this to myself. Okay?
Ellie: Okay.