Sitting with my hands tightly cuffed, I found myself surrounded by a group of menacing individuals brandishing heavy firearms. Their hostile glares sent a shiver down my spine. "I'd hate to encounter these men on a good day,"
I thought to myself, stealing a quick glance through a small tear in the fabric that bound me. I realized that I was only a couple of hours away from Jackson, and if I managed to escape, I could quickly make my way back.
I noticed that one of the men's holsters was unbuckled, making his gun easily accessible. The others seemed agitated, their tempers on the verge of exploding. "You know, I'm quite fond of getting to know people through games," I said, intentionally raising my voice to sound irritating.
Instantly, the men clenched their fists, their anger escalating. "Who shall I eliminate first, hmm?" I taunted, my voice laced with a sinister amusement.
My words struck a nerve with the bald man who stepped forward, looming over me. "What did you just say, you little-" Before he could finish, I swiftly headbutted him, disorienting him for a moment.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, I deftly twisted my elbow, striking another man and causing him to stagger. With lightning speed, I snatched the pistol from the disoriented man, firing off a series of shots.
One of the bullets ricocheted off an object, inadvertently hitting a woman in the front. Her piercing scream of agony echoed through the air, amplifying the tension in the room.
As the truck overturned and crashed, I felt myself being lifted off the floor. The impact caused my restraints to break, granting me the freedom to crawl out through the back. The cacophony of infected creatures drew near, their ghastly sounds growing louder by the second. Hastily, I scrambled up a snow bank, desperately seeking safety.
Midway through my escape, my foot caught on a rock, sending me tumbling down the hill. In the chaos, I lost my grip on the gun, watching it disappear in the distance. Once I finally came to a stop.
I staggered to my feet and darted towards Jackson. The closer I got, the unmistakable smell of burning filled the air, drawing my attention to billowing black smoke rising above the city.
My heart sank as I beheld the sight before me. Jackson, once a thriving place, was now engulfed in flames. It was unfathomable. "How could this be? How could it be on fire?" I wondered, my mind racing. Ignoring my shock, I pressed on, determined to investigate further. Reaching the gate, I found it demolished, allowing me to enter.
Everywhere I turned, the scene was one of devastation. Fire ravaged buildings stood as grim testaments to the chaos that had unfolded. The ground was stained with blood, a chilling reminder of the violence that had taken place. It was a sight that struck fear into my heart.
"Ellie! Joel!" I cried out their names, my voice filled with shock and disbelief.
As I searched through the wreckage, I found Ellie lying on the ground beneath the burnt rubble. She lay there lifeless, her throat brutally slit. There was no pulse. She was gone. Tears streamed down my face as a wave of grief washed over me.
In the midst of my sorrow, I heard slow clapping emanating from behind me. Through the thick smoke, a figure emerged, shrouded in darkness. They continued to clap, a cruel and mocking sound. Anger surged within me, and I rose to my feet, ready to confront this twisted individual. But as the figure stepped forward, my heart froze in my chest.
It was my father, but He was transformed, a horrifying zombified version of himself. "It's all falling into place, Y/N," he rasped, his voice chilling to the bone. He gestured towards something behind me, urging me to turn around.
Reluctantly, I shifted my gaze, and what I saw made my blood run cold. There stood another version of myself, holding a revolver with eyes that glowed with an eerie light. A sick smile twisted his lips as he locked eyes with me. "Bingo," he taunted, before pulling the trigger.
Ellie POV:
Last night was a whirlwind of events, from the moment Jessie caught me off guard to the shocking kidnapping of Y/N, and eventually being brought back here by Dina after enduring a brutal beating from a group of former Fireflies.
The memory of watching them mercilessly pummel Y/N until he was a bloody mess still sickens me. Despite my disdain for him, I never wished for his death, especially not in such a brutal manner. As I got dressed, it became clear that I needed to visit Y/N's home and check on Cassandra. She must be overwhelmed with worry.
As I left my house, people avoided making eye contact with me, seemingly indifferent to my presence. Along the way, I noticed Jessie and Dina engaged in a hushed conversation. I made sure to keep my distance, understanding that it wasn't the right time for me to ask questions.
As I approached Y/N's house, a rush of emotions flooded over me, clouding my thoughts. Memories of the times we spent together when we were dating resurfaced, making it difficult to focus. At the top of the steps, I noticed his sister, Cassandra, who appeared exhausted and sleep-deprived.
Since our breakup, Cassandra had become noticeably distant and cold towards me. It was frustrating, considering she had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding my relationship with Y/N. In truth, it was none of her concern to begin with.
Cassandra lifted her gaze to meet mine and spoke softly, "Joel's already inside." She rose from the steps, revealing six empty beer cans. "Don't judge," she scoffed before turning and heading back into the house.
I entered the house and found Joel sitting on the couch, cradling a cup of coffee, his beloved drink. I made my way upstairs to Y/N's room, curious to see how it was arranged. The space was a reflection of his natural style, a blend of half-messy and neatly organized items..
As I examined Y/N's room, my gaze fell upon an old tomahawk resting on the table. It had seen its fair share of use, evidenced by the lingering stains of old blood. Memories flooded back, making it impossible not to miss him deeply. I gently set the tomahawk down, my heart heavy with longing.
However, something else caught my attention. At the end of the room, by a trash can, I noticed a handful of tissues, each one stained with blood. Concern washed over me in an instant. "Is he sick?" I wondered aloud, my mind racing to decipher what this could mean.
Joel's voice came from behind me, not surprising considering his familiarity with the situation. "I see you found them," he said.
Curiosity burning within me, I turned to face him. "What is all this?" I questioned, eager to uncover the true meaning behind the blood-stained tissues and Y/N's illness.
Joel sighed, rubbing his hands together as he took a few steps back to lean against a nearby desk. "Y/N is sick. He contracted something five years ago at the hospital. It's a terminal condition, slowly taking his life," he revealed.
Shock washed over me, leaving me speechless for a moment. "Why didn't he ever tell me?" I managed to utter, my voice filled with a mixture of hurt and confusion.
"You broke up with him, and Y/N interpreted that as him being dead to you," Joel explained, continuing to rub his hands nervously. The weight of his words settled heavily within me, piercing my heart.
As I descended the stairs, my eyes caught sight of a note resting on the table. "Joel!" I called out urgently, beckoning him to join me as I picked up the letter. It was Cassandra's handwriting, outlining her plan to venture out alone and rescue her brother. I showed the note to Joel, a knot of worry tightening in my chest.
Without hesitation, Joel and I made our way to the stables. There, we found Jessie and Dana standing together, the evidence of a struggle evident on Jessie's face in the form of a black eye. It was clear that Cassandra had fought her way past them.
"Do you think there was any chance of stopping her?" I inquired, my voice heavy with concern.
Jessie gingerly touched his bruised eye, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "She's definitely Y/N's sister," he remarked, admiration and understanding lacing his words.
A surge of determination coursed through me. I swiftly mounted my horse, casting a glance at Jessie, Dana, and Joel. The four of us formed an impromptu alliance, united in our mission to come to Cassandra's aid.
Deep down, I held a silent hope that Y/N, despite the complications between us, would remain safe. Our shared story was far from over, and I couldn't bear the thought of it ending in tragedy.