The Imagination Latibule: The Last of Us - Don't Dream it's Over

You reached Bill and Franks late afternoon, just as the sun was setting. Joel knew the password for the gate; the place was a fortified compound and without a code the three of you would've been electrocuted.

You knew there was something wrong almost immediately. Frank was an avid gardener; he'd traded one of Bill's guns for a few dozen packets of seeds once. But all of the plants were dead. He wouldn't let them die unless...

You pushed open the door to his house. There was a musty smell coming from inside, and cobwebs hung across the hallway. Joel opened a window solemnly. You both knew what had happened. 

"It's from Bill," Ellie said suddenly, and you turned to see her holding up a letter that she'd picked up from the dining room table. "To whomever... but probably Joel & y/n. I figured I fell under whomever." Ellie looked around. "So they're dead?"

"Mm-hmm," you mumbled quietly, sinking into one of their armchairs. Joel rubbed his face in his hands. He wouldn't consider Bill and Frank friends, but they provided the closest semblance to life before the apocalypse that one could get, and now you'd never see that again.

"You, you wanna?" Ellie asked, holding the letter out to Joel.

"Go ahead y/n, you do it," he said, and with trembling hands, you took the letter from Ellie.

"August 29, 2023," you read aloud. "If you find this... please do not come into the bedroom. We left a window open so the house wouldn't smell, but it will probably be a sight. I'm guessing you found this, y/n, and probably you too Joel, because anyone else would've been electrocuted or blown up by one of my traps." You took a deep breath. It sounded harsh, but you were glad they parted on their own terms. "Take anything you need. The bunker code is the same as the gate code but in reverse. Anyway... I never liked you Joel, but still, it's like we're friends... almost. And I respect you, so, I'm gonna tell you something because you're probably the only person who will understand. I used to hate the world, and I was happy when everyone died. But I was wrong because there was one person worth saving. That's what I did. I saved him. Then I protected him. That's why men like you and me are here. We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way. I leave you all of my weapons and equipment. Use them to keep..." you trailed off. Your name was on the letter, but so was Tess'. He'd broken Bill's last request without even realising. 

"Stay here," Joel said, and he left the room. You neatly folded the letter and placed in on the chair arm, and then leant back, palms in a prayer position and fingers resting against your lips as you thought. Your plan was to leave Ellie with Bill and Frank. Now you had to come up with something completely new. Ellie knew it too, and for the first time since you'd met her, read the room and decided to stay quiet. You could hear Joel in the other room, banging about, and decided it best to leave him be. You watched as Ellie pulled out her knife, fiddling with it anxiously. 

"Nice knife," you said to her. She was flicking it back and forth in her hand, an impressive skill that you lacked. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"The circus," she answered sarcastically. Then, as though she remembered that she was talking to you and not Joel, and that she somewhat liked you, she changed attitude. "Where are you from?" she asked, making conversation.

"Texas."

"What about Joel?"

"Austin. That's also in Texas."

"I go to school," Ellie said. "I know where Texas is. So, uh, you and Joel, you two like a..."

"Pass," you said as you heard Joel walking around.

"How'd you end up in Boston?"

"Pass. No more questions about me," you said, not wanting to relive the shitty past you had.