The Last Of Us // The Walking Dead

What Now?

"What now?" asked Ellie still a little drowsy from the meds in the hospital. Joel just replied with a smooth shoulder shrug and continued driving to Atlanta, away from the fireflies that tried to kill Ellie and get the cure for all mankind. The roads where covered with a green moss, a hint of shocking red blood, and a pungent smell of rotting flesh could paralyze anyone's nostrils. Ellie tightened her beautiful brown ponytail and yanked some of the hair out of her fresh style, which draped and shaped her oval face. Slowly and peacefully the drugs took over her. Her head became weightless. Her eyelids became heavy. Joel looked back at her through his rear-view mirror and chuckled to himself.

"Sweet dreams Ellie." He said with a smile

- - -

"Ellie - ELLIE!", she could hear his voice slowly getting louder - with panic. She shot up from leaning across all the seats in the back of the car. With a small force, she hit her forehead from the panic finally setting in.

"What?!" she asked still feeling drowsy, with vision still blurred.

"There is people, not fireflies, actual real life people!" screamed Joel.

"Who are you?" asked the figure. Ellie saw a tall man with a gun pointing between her eyes and the figures head was slightly tilted showing no mercy and intimidation. Ellie and Joel were forced out of the car, gave up the weapons, and were forced on their kneed by a man in a blue denim shirt and long brown hair. This guy showed no emotion and sympathy on his face with his iconic camouflage crossbow pointing at the pair.

"How many walkers have you killed?" questioned the tall, brown haired man.

"Walkers?! Do you mean runners, clickers, and bloaters? If you do, I have lost count." Joel and Ellie both replied in unison of the first word but Ellie gave control of the situation to Joel. She knew he could handle it better.

"Daryl, be calm. We don't want walkers, or even worse, the Saviours, come knocking at our door again. Not after the loss we have just gone through." Scolded the man with the gun. "My names Rick Grimes, Sherriff. We just lost some people so excuse my brother."

"How many people have you killed?" Daryl continued to question.

"Depends if they deserved it!" replied Ellie full of aggression.

"Why?" Daryl's face didn't move, his focus was still on the aim of his crossbow. Mainly targeting Joel.

"Too many. But they deserved it. I'm Joel, this is Ellie". Said Joel, giving in to the kindness emanating from Rick. Rick shouted for everyone to put their weapons down, which then came an eruption of rustling and moving as the rest of Ricks group came face to face with the outsiders.

"Like I said, I'm Rick and welcome to the Hill Top." Explained Rick with a Jurassic Park feeling.

"Whoa! Rednecks are always cautious. Daryl." He said while shaking Ellie and Joel's hand.

There was a long silence after Daryl's introduction. The group heard a disturbing sound that was to separate the group by far.

End of Chapter one