Safe and Sound// Ellie Williams

Return To Seattle

Ellie and I sit next to Joel's hospital bed while Maria is in the back talking to one of the towns doctors. Ellie has a black eye from the incident and has barely spoken or ate since. She hasn't left Joel's side since we brought them here.

"They would have killed him if you never showed up." Ellie mutters quietly, "What if he doesn't wake up?"

"Don't think like that." I tell her, but I know it's useless to say.

"I'm gonna kill all of them for doing this to Joel." I look over at Ellie with my eyebrows furrowed.

"Alone?"

"If I have to."

"Ellie there's a full group of them. They have hundreds of men, women and children."

"I'll make it."

"Seattle's a fucking war zone, Ellie. You don't know what it's like over there." Ellie doesn't even flinch when I swear. Her headspace is filled with revenge.

"Then be helpful and tell me!" Ellie seethes at me. I stay quiet. Maria walks in and looks between the two of us before clearing her throat. I step away from Ellie and look at Maria, but Ellie keeps her eyes trained on Joel.

"Maria, I can't let them get away with this. I can't watch Joel in that bed knowing that whoever did this to him is still out there. Ian and I left for Seattle. Make sure Ellie doesn't come, tie her up, lock up the horses if you have to. I'll be home when we finish this. I love you, Tommy." Maria finishes the letter and folds it up, "So I'm guessing you're leaving." 

"Yeah I'm fucking going. Tommy should have taken me with him." Ellie tells her.

"Ian went with him?" I ask and Maria turns to me and nods. Last time Ian was in Seattle he almost didn't come back. Maria and Ellie keep bickering back and forth, but I keep my eyes on Joel. Why would the Wolves come all the way here to try and kill him? What did he do to them?

"I'm guessing you're going with her?" Maria says. I turn to her and I don't even think as I nod my head.

"Yeah." I tell her.

"What?" Ellie looks at me with her eyebrows furrowed.

"I know Seattle. I know the Wolves. I can help."

"Why?" Ellie asks.

"Because I'm not letting you do this alone, Ellie. It's bad enough Tommy and Ian already left."

"You called them Wolves?" Maria questions

"That's what we call them. WLF for short. They're based all over Seattle."

"Were you one of them?" Maria asks and I shake my head.

"I was the one running from them." The atmosphere gets quiet as both Maria and Ellie process what I told them, which in the grand scheme of things still isn't much.

"And you want to go back?" Maria questions and I shrug, "Well you killed two of them already. There was one with a scar on his cheek. The other was some girl. We found these on the guy, his name's Jordan and the girl we couldn't identify."  Maria tells us and she hands us a bunch of polaroids all filled with photos of the group, "I told them to let you out with your horse." Ellie nods at Maria, "Just... bring my idiot husband home. Ian too." 

"Of course." Ellie tells Maria. Both Ellie and I head out to pack for our trip, "You know you don't have to come." 

I look over at Ellie, "I know. Doesn't mean I'm not going to."

"You said you were the ones running from them? The Wolves?"

"Yeah. Them and... where I'm from were in a longtime war between each other. Both sides just wanted to have full control over Seattle."

"What about your side? What of them?"

I take a deep breath and stop to look at Ellie, "I'm just hoping we don't run into them while we're there." Ellie nods slowly and we continue to her place to grab some supplies. Ellie grabs a backpack and fills it with another pair of clothes, her switchblade, some food, water, and any other small stuff we can carry. After she's done she motions her head so we can go. We walk to my place so I can grab some stuff. When I get there I'm greeted by Aster and Alaia sitting on the couch. When they see me Aster stands up and throws her arms around me. Alaia follows her movements and we're standing in a giant hug.

"I'll give you guys a minute. Tate, I'll go pack some stuff for you." Ellie mutters and I nod. I turn to Aster and Alaia and they're looking at me with concern.

"You're really going after them?" Aster asks quietly and I nod.

"I'll bring home Ian."

"Just make sure to bring yourself back too. And Ellie and Tommy. We can't lose anyone of you." Alaia mutters softly.

"I know the area. We'll be okay."

"We can come with you." Aster says.

"No offence but you guys are not the greatest fighters. Ian will kill you if you come with us."

"We can handle ourselves." Alaia says.

"I know, but going here it'd be better to travel with less people. Numbers would be nice, but less people mean less casualties."

"We know... just be safe." Aster says. I nod at her and Ellie comes back.

"Hey... you ready?" Ellie asks. I nod at her and turn to Aster and Alaia.

"Don't follow us. Please? We'll be okay I know their lookouts and how to get around safely." 

"Fine. Just keep your promise and be safe. I'll kill you if you come back dead." Aster says.

"That really doesn't make sense." I tell her with small smile.

"Who cares. Just be safe. Before you go, take this." I look down and Aster hands me a small switchblade. I nod at Aster and Alaia and give them a smile before I grab my backpack from Ellie. We head out and go to the stables to grab Shimmer and go.

"So, want to tell me what we are about to walk into?" Ellie says.

"A lot of chaos. Seattle is a full on civil war. Someone will come at us from every angle and they only shoot to kill."

"Fuck." Ellie mutters and we reach the stable. I grab Ellie's arm, "Look, the minute anyone in Seattle see's me they'll shoot at me first. Just, if that happens..."

"Then I'll help fight to get you out. I wouldn't leave you, Tate." Ellie tells me.

"Just from both sides... I'm not exactly welcome."

"You're with me. We'll be fine." I nod slowly and hop onto Shimmer after Ellie. I hesitantly wrap my arms around her. We still haven't talked about what happened at the library and it looks like we won't for a while, "Thank you. For coming. You don't have to." Ellie tells me.

"Like I said Ellie- I'm not letting you do this alone."

"Are you ready to go back?"

"I'll have to be. There's no way I'm letting you, Tommy, or Ian do this alone."

"Okay. Let's go then." Ellie mutters and kicks on Shimmer to get her moving.

It's time to return to the war I never wanted any part of.