Alone

Sticking together

I woke up, slowly sat up, and looked to my side Ellie was still beside me sleep. I looked at her fingers again, What kinda story is behind those missing fingers I wonder. I got up from the couch slowly and went over to my bag and started rummaging through it.

"Here it is" I quietly said as I pulled out a book I got from an old library the day before.

The name of the book was called Demon Slayer, it was a book that had pictures drawn in black and white with dialogue connected to each character. When I was in the library it was under a section called "Manga", the section had other books like that but this one stood out the most to me.

I zipped my bookbag back up and went back to the couch, I turned on the light attached to my shirt and began to read the book in silence. About 20 minutes later Ellie moved in her sleep and before long she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning," I said folding the top part of the page then closing the book.

"Good morning," She said back looking at me.

"We gotta be out of here in a minute," I said standing up and walking to the back door grabbing my rifle.

Ellie stood up from the couch and grabbed her backpack, and hoisted it up onto her shoulders. I walked over to my bag, put my book up, and put it on my shoulders.

"Hey thanks for the help yesterday don't know what I would have done without you helping me," She said as we walked to the front door.

"Hey, no problem" I said smiling at her.

Ellie rubbed the nubs of her hand where her two fingers used to be as I opened the door to the house.

"Hey, do you mind if I travel with you?" I asked looking up at Ellie.

"Why? Don't you have somewhere to be?" She asked folding her arms on her chest.

"Well actually no I'm like a lone wolf traveling where ever with no goal" 

Ellie flinched at the word wolf, did I strike a nerve or something?

"Sorry I'm not looking for a travel partner," She said walking out the front door of the house.

"Hey wait a second" I called out to Ellie as I caught up with her. "You said it yourself you don't know what you would have done without me yesterday" I said grabbing her tattooed arm.

"Well ever heard of thanks? Cause that's what that was, me thanking you" She said pulling her arm back.

I sighed and rubbed my temples out of frustration. Is she afraid of traveling with someone or something? Or is she that dumb? 

"Look Ellie we can help each other out I know a bit about the old-world and I'm pretty good with a rifle if I do say so myself"

Ellie stayed quiet for a bit before speaking up.

"I'm pretty good with a rifle as well as a bow, shotgun, minigun, pistol, and a revolver" She said looking at me in the eyes.

I felt my cheeks heat up how embarrassing is she trying to make me feel inferior? I pouted and looked Ellie up and down.

"Listen I literally don't care what else you have to say anymore what you just said I took as a challenge so now I have to prove it to you and how am I going to prove it to you if we split up?" I said crossing my arms.

"It wasn't a-" I cut Ellie off.

"I don't care I'm coming with you and that's final understand?" I said glaring at her.

She stayed silent again and looked me up and down before chuckling.

"What's so funny?" I asked.