The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Six, TCOM Part II

Nova turned to Ellie with pure anger in her face.

Nova: Do we need any more evidence than THIS?
Alexis: Fuck evidence! Stop treating him like this!
Nova: Shut up, Alex! Ugh, I've heard enough out of you! Cisco! What's it gonna be?
Cisco: Just gimme a damn minute!

Cisco was really struggling to get this thing out from underneath the van. It was frustrating him that none of the group would help because of how caught up in this fight they all were.

Nova: Emmyn. You have until that infected is dealt with to tell me it was her and not you!
Ellie: Stop this, you're torturing him!
Emmyn: No!
Nova: Emmyn!
Alexis: Stop!
Ellie: I did it!
Nova: What?
Ellie: Yeah, it was me. That get you to lay off Alex and Em?
Nova: I think you're capable of being a real piece of shit. But I know it wasn't you.

Cisco finally pulled the infected from out of the van, dragging it's body away. He aggressively stomped on it's head, killing it well and truly in an instant.

Cisco: There! I got it.
Emmyn: Please... lets just get back in the van.
Nova: That's not happening!
Alexis: You think you're some tough bitch, don't you? Like nothing can hurt you. But you're just a scared little girl. Get the fuck over it. Take a page from El's book and try helping somebody for once.

Cisco looked up from killing the infected and started walking towards the others.

Cisco: Now... what the fucks the problem?

Cisco noticed Nova reaching into her back pocket and bringing out her pistol. His face dropped immediately.

Cisco: Alex!

Before Alexis could do anything, Nova pulled the trigger. The bullet went flying through the air. Jessica jumped in front of the bullet before it could hit Alexis. Just like Leo once did for her. It striked her right in the forehead. Jessica's lifeless body fell to the floor. Everybody stood there, in shock. Tears from Emmyn's eyes started to roll down his cheeks at the sight of his dead sister. Nova stood there, her hand and gun still in the air, staring at Jessica on the floor. Nova shook her head slowly as Emmyn fell to his knees beside his sister.

Emmyn: J— Jess?
Nova: N— no. It wasn't supposed to be her.

Ellie grabbed Nova's wrists in anger and pushed her against the side of the van, pinning her arms at the sides of her head so she couldn't move.

Ellie: Drop. It.

Nova dropped the gun, letting it crash against the floor.

Cisco: Holy fuck.
Alexis: Shit.
Cisco: Sophia go further inside the van and get away from the windows. Jesus Christ!

Cisco walked over to Ellie and Nova. Ellie still had Nova's wrists pressed against the van to make sure she couldn't go anywhere.

Cisco: El, get in. We're leaving this crazy bitch!
Nova: I... I didn't mean to. It wasn't supposed to be her.

Ellie glared into Nova's cold eyes.

Sophia: W— What are we gonna do with her?

Cisco looked over at Sophia.

Cisco: I thought I told you to stay inside.

Cisco walked over to Sophia, taking her back inside the van.

Ellie: You're not coming with us.

Ellie let go of Nova's wrists, bending down and picking up the gun Nova used to kill Jessica.

Nova: I— I'll die out here.
Ellie: I don't care.
Alexis: You're a murderer, Nova. We can't have you with us.
Nova: I'm a murderer? You've had Emmyn with you this whole time!

Ellie glared into Nova's eyes as Cisco walked back towards Nova and Ellie.

Ellie: So what?
Nova: "So fucking what?" Leo was your brother.

Ellie stared at Nova's pale face, not saying a word.

Cisco: If we keep you with us, how long until you kill me? Or Ellie. Or Sophia.
Nova: I was trying to protect all of us!

Cisco rolled his eyes and shook his head, walking towards the driver's side of the van.

Cisco: Get in, El. Lets go, you guys.
Nova: I don't have anything left.

Ellie stayed silent, getting into the van after Cisco. Alexis knelt down to Emmyn, placing one of her hands on his shoulder.

Alexis: Come on, Em.

Emmyn shrugged Alexis' hand off his shoulder and glared at her. She backed away slowly.

Alexis: Okay... okay.

Alexis got into the van and sat next to Sophia. She slid the door closed and took a deep breath.

Cisco: Emmyn?
Alexis: He's not coming.

Cisco sighed and turned the engine on.

Cisco: Ain't nothing we can do about that.

Cisco began driving away. A hoard of infected were on their way. Nova stood in the middle of the road, watching the van drive away from her. She noticed the hoard coming.

Nova: Emmyn! Come on!

Emmyn glared at the heartless girl, saying nothing.

Nova: Fuck you then!

Nova ran into the forest, away from Emmyn and Jessica. Emmyn knelt next to Jess, holding her hand and subtly crying. The hoard swallowed any sight of him and Jess.