The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter One, TCOM Part II

Alexis: Weird to see you helping somebody for once.

Ellie laughed a little as she continued to help Sophia learn how to shoot.

Ellie: Oh yeah, just ignore the fact that I saved you two months ago.
Alexis: I escaped on my own.
Ellie: Yeah fucking right.

Sophia pulled the trigger again, shooting down the third bottle.

Sophia: I did it!
Ellie: Yeah you did! Good job.
Sophia: I just pretended they were muertos heads.
Ellie: Muertos?
Sophia: It's spanish for dead. It's what my family called them.
Ellie: I see. But you know how these things work now. We'll graduate you to muertos one day.
Sophia: Okay. I feel good!
Ellie: Not so scary, huh?
Sophia: Not at all.

Sophia handed Ellie the pistol and looked up at her, holding her hand up in the air, hoping for a high five. Ellie smiled, slapping her hand against Sophia's.

Ellie: Soon you'll be a professional.

Sophia smiled a wide smile and ran off into the building, presumably to tell the others what she'd learned. Ellie looked over at Alexis, smiling.

Alexis: That was so cute.
Ellie: Yeah, yeah. Whatever. How was your time out?
Alexis: Good actually. I mean, we killed a fox but-
Ellie: A fox? How the hell did you manage to kill a fox without it running off?

Ellie laughed quietly to herself.

Alexis: Dude I don't even know. I felt bad. But we needed the food.
Ellie: You saved our stomachs for the next couple of days. I'm grateful.

The two girls smiled at one another as they began to walk inside together.

Cisco: Hey, why don't we get some of that wood and make a fire. It's always good whenever we do that.

It was getting towards sunset. And the evening was nice. So the whole group agreed. Cisco, Alexis and Ellie went to pick up some firewood from inside. Cisco also picked up the now-skinned-fox to cook and eat. The three walked out to be met by the rest of their group. After setting up the fire and beginning to cook the food, they all sat around the flames, talked and ate as much as they were allowed.

Cisco: One hundred and seventy eight days without an accident.
Ellie: We're doing great. Lets not die.
Jess: Yeah, Lets not.

The eight of them all sat in silence for a while. The only sounds were the trees rustling and the munching of food.

Cisco: Just like the first time. Right?
Nick: Exactly like it.
Jess: Agreed. It's just a shame Leo and Lilly aren't here.

Alexis smiled at the three talk about it. She wasn't there. But it was nice to hear about.

Jess: Leo was...

Jessica looked over at Ellie. Ellie nodded at Jessica, letting her know it was okay to talk about Leo.

Jess: Leo was Ellie's brother.
Alexis: Shit. Why did you never mention him?
Ellie: It's not nice to talk about. You know?

Alexis nodded in agreement.

Nick: I miss Lilly.

Nova glared at Nick with cold eyes.

Nova: You didn't even know her.
Nick: Not very well. But I know she was a good person.
Nova: Well you were the one who got her fucking killed!

It fell silent. The only sounds were the sounds of the crackling wood.

Cisco: Nova, It's okay. Okay?