No Matter What... | The Last of Us | Joel Miller x Oc

Chapter 3: Hunters

I feel completely blind in the sudden darkness after looking into the reflector directly, but I don't waste any precious seconds, hoping that the Hunters' vision hasn't got used to the sudden lack of lights either yet. I dash forward immediately after I let go of my arrow, trying to dodge the cars in front of me with more or less success. I feel the cold air sting my face as I run in the wind. I manage to avoid most of the wrecks, though one time I feel my left knee kick the remaining of a car so hard that tears fill my eyes immediately. I am sure the Hunters could hear that, letting them know of my position.

I don't stop; I run without looking around too much, aiming a tall building on the left side of the road, at the entrance of the downtown, which's glasses are quite shattered. I hear the constant angry yells coming from behind the barricade, informing the others about "the intruder". That is me.

When I reach the building, I throw my body inside through a broken window immediately. I only stop for a few seconds to regain a little bit of my breath and to take a quick peek at the streets behind the barricade. I can hear them yelling and giving each other orders, already seeing some of them heading towards my direction.

"I saw him running this way!" a man shouts, pointing right at me. I know he can't see me in the dark building yet, but it still sends shivers down my spine how directly his finger is pointing at my face. I clench my fist around my bow as I silently sneak my way towards the direction, I hope the back entrance will be. I take deep breaths to calm myself down. To get out of this situation in one peace I need to keep my head cold. My sister taught it to me. It is not the first time I get overpowered anyway. With her, we got into some pretty tough situations, but since I am here you can guess who outcome who.

She was always thinking so cold headed and logical and throughout the years I managed to learn a thing or two from her.

It is not just about strength anyway. It is also about how quick one can think, act and most importantly, react. Knowing your own weaknesses and advantages also helps. I reach the back door quickly, without making a single noise. It is just where I hoped it would be. I try to open it as silently as possible, but the hinges are rusty as hell and they squeak a bit louder than I would prefer them to. God damn it...

I hear someone jump into the building, the pieces of shattered glass crunch under his heavy feet. When the back-door squeaks, I hear him pause for a second only, just to then contentedly mumble to himself: "I got you now." He thinks he is ahead of me, but I am not thinking like a prey. I won't charge out the back door and try to hide or runaway...

I pull myself behind the opened door, let the shadows completely swallow my being, and motionlessly wait for him to arrive. I hear the steps coming from closer and closer and I even hold my breath back. He slowly walks by the door behind which I am hiding, and steps outside to look for me out there. I close my eyes for just one second, to prepare myself for what I am about to do. I hate myself in advance, as I step behind the man who is about 10 inches higher than me, become his shadow for the shortest second, and put the lower limb of my bow on his throat. I use all my weight to crush his gullet.

He is fighting for a bit, tiny suffering sounds leaving his mouth as his hands are wildly bucking against the direction of my head, sometimes trying to attack my hands as well. But in the end, his body still becomes lifeless despite his efforts to stay alive, and I take deep breaths while carefully laying his body under the shadows of the building. My stomach twists, and I feel myself dizzy but I try not to pay attention to it.

My slightly trembling hands are reaching for the gun in his motionless one and when I manage to struggle it out of his last clench, I put it in the back of my pants immediately and continue to search the pockets of the deceased Hunter. Jackpot! I find a grenade inside his vest. I gently drop the small, heavy thing in my backpack and stand up, feeling my head still turning a bit.