Back home

Ellie and Dina were now in Jackson. The children playing in the snow, shouting at the top of their lungs, the recently opened bars and restaurants around the roads, the town surrounded in 20ft high walls to protect the residents from any possible harm. "Ahhh, back home, how do you feel?" Dina curiously asked Ellie. "I feel great! can't wait to see everyone again." they both strut through the tall gates and into the stables like royalty, to put their horses away, "Hey Dina! you're back!" a local excitedly spoke. "And look who i found." everyone in the stable stood like a statue, their jaws all on the floor, they were in awe. "Ellie? oh my god where have you been?!" one of the stable workers said with a hint of anger in their voice "we all thought you were dead. Dina was the only person that insisted you were alive, and Tommy of course." Ellie was tired, she sleepily replied "i almost did die, if it weren't for Dina i would be dead right now." Dina could sense that Ellie was too tired to stay awake, she wrapped up the conversation, "take care of the horses will ya, Ellie's got some sleep to catch up on." They both leave the stable, back through the big, red doors, reinforced with metal beams. Dina escorted Ellie back to her small shed in Joels old back yard, the door creaked open, they sat down on the stiff, uncomfortable mattress, but to Ellie, who had been sleeping on the hard rocky floor for weeks, it was like laying on a cloud. Within seconds, Ellie was in a daze, completely unresponsive. regardless, Dina lied next to her, comforting her.

"Hey, Ellie! Ellie it's time to get up." Ellie could here Dina's muffled voice as she awoke from her slumber. This was possibly the best sleep she had in months. There was drool under where her mouth was hovering over pillow, her throat no longer hurting, she no longer felt weak. Ellie pulled the covers off her to find out Dina had changed her clothes and washer her dirty rags she wore for weeks at a time. Ellie spoke in a sleepy voice. "Oh god.. thanks Dina, you didn't have t-" "i know. i wanted to" Dina interrupted Ellie stood up, her bare feet on the cold wood floor as she made her way to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror at her dirty, scratched, bloody face. marks and bruises covered her soft cheeks, she pushed the shower curtain to the side and got in. she turned on the hot water, steam quickly climbed to the roof, Ellies skin felt like it was burning under the droplets of water. Meanwhile Dina was getting her personal belongings together; her gun, some ammo, a crowbar she found. Dina had also folded up up Ellie's clothes and stacked them on the bed. The bathroom door creaked open, steam spilled out of the doorframe followed by Ellie, wrapped in a long, soft towel, still dripping with water. "How are you feeling?" Dina asked softly, "Miles better." Ellie replied. a long pause made it awkward "Good, we should head out." Dina suggested, breaking the silence. Once Ellie was dry, she got dressed into her old jeans that were almost torn to pieces, a t-shirt and a zip up jacket over the top, she pulled her socks over her feet, followed by her shoes, Holstered her weapon and threw her backpack over her bruised shoulders. They opened the heavy, creaking door and left Ellie's home.

"We'll go see Maria," Dina broke the silence once again "I don't think she knows you're back." Dina continued "and if you want, we can grab something to eat, you must be hungry" "Yeah i am" Ellie replied "can't wait to see everyone." Ellie had a sudden burst of energy, snow masked the concrete floor, the kids, shouting and screaming, playing at the park, the locals standing around, having a drink and chatting away. After a short walk they made it to the bar, they saw Seth, the owner of the bar, behind the counter. "can we have two breakfasts." Dina raised her voice so she could be heard over drunken people behind her, shouting words that didn't even make sense, Dina lifted her hand onto the counter and dropped her money on it before she was interrupted. "no no, it's on the house" Seth said with a smile. he looked over Dina's shoulder "it's good to see you Ellie." They took there sandwiches and left the bar.