Hello guys! I will keep this short for now but I am back! Thanks to the TLOU2 reveal trailer! But for now, here goes the next chapter!

As usual, TLOU does not belong to me. It belongs to Naughty Dog. Only my OC is mine and the added bits of story!

THE LAST OF US

"You ain't telling her anythin' from what you just told me, you got that?"

Peyton had remained quiet after having given him the lightest nod. Barely any words were spoken by her, or him, as they scavenged for supplies in the offices that surrounded them.

She had a plan in mind. The moment she could walk away from them, she would and would continue until she could reach the next city. She would probably have to find somewhere secure to sleep but if she could just get out of the city, then she would be able to get a rest. Until her next stop.

She looked up, shoving the last of her supplies in her bag before zipping it up and making her way out of the last office, seeing Joel waiting for her at another door. It was when she reached him that a noise startled them both, prompting each to reach for their gun as Joel threw a quick glance at her, Peyton nodding, signalling she was ready for whatever was behind the door.

Joel's hand carefully rose from his side, fingers twitching in anticipation of finding out what it was that was in the next room as he crouched and gently grasped the knob. His fingers wrapped softly around it, the muscles in his hand tightening when he began twisting it to the side, the knob twisting easily. They exchanged one last glance as he pushed the door forward, revealing the Hotel kitchen as he stepped further in, Peyton on his heels.

She peered over a fridge that had fallen over to see a clicker before she felt a tug to her arm, bringing her down as the sound of a shotgun rang through the kitchen. A thud followed where she assumed the clicker had now fallen limp to the ground.

She heard the sound of steps on tiles, a hunter having stepped in the kitchen as he went to check the now dead clicker, prodding it with his foot before he continued his round around the kitchen. Joel looked back and gave her a cue to move after the hunter while he would tackle the task of the other hunter nearest them.

She waited for the hunter to have his back to her before she began manoeuvring around the kitchen, keeping a close eye on Joel. She watched him reach the other hunter and she grabbed the small pocket knife she had, grabbing the hunter as she placed a hand over his mouth to silence any screams, planting the knife in his neck as she kept him from falling to the ground with too large a thump.

Letting go of the body, she quietly made her way to Joel.

Once she reached him, he gestured to two other hunters in the dining area. Giving him a nod, she glanced down to grab a already half broken bottle of beer, offering the object a quick scan before tossing it in the opposite direction of the bottle shattered, the noise echoing around the room in unison with the gasps of the hunters, clearly distressed by the noise as they moved away from them, giving Joel and Peyton their cue to move.

It wasn't long before both hunters were disposed of, hitting the ground with a thump. A sigh of relief left her lips as she stood up, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand as she looked around.

As she gathered supply, a whistle caught her attention as her head whipped around to see Joel pointing to a ladder he had just put up. She jogged to him as he held the ladder on one side before waving upwards, "Up there…" She licked her lips and nodded, hands grasping the ladder as she began her ascension.

She looked back to Joel as she kept climbing, "There's a way ou-"

The surprise hit that came to her face as she reached the top of the ladder sent her to the ground as she groggily noticed the hunter kicking Joel down from the ladder and ultimately in the water, hearing his body loudly hit the water as he struggled. Looking to her left she recognized the pair of sneakers that landed next to her, gazing up to see Ellie bending down to Peyton's level as she struggled regaining her composure.

"You okay?!"

Peyton waved Ellie off, "Joel…" she gestured down to where the struggle was still happening as Ellie climbed down quietly. Her body froze when a gunshot rang out but hearing the water move and someone catching their breath she then let herself relax. She slowly brought her hand to her forehead, rubbing in the hopes of getting rid of the headache. "Fuck…" she mumbled, finally able to straighten herself as she sat up.

"…You got anything like that for me, Joel?" She watched as Joel looked down before glancing back at Ellie.

"We gotta get goin'." He immediately went for the ladder as she stayed behind for a few seconds.

"Lead the way."

Peyton grunted as she got back on her feet with some difficulty, still holding onto her head, which throbbed in pain as she watched Joel reach the top of the ladder. He glanced at her before throwing a glance to Ellie, Peyton only staring as he continued climbing.

"Are you okay?" Peyton snapped her head towards Ellie whom had joined her as she gave a nod.

"I'm good…head hurts like a bitch but I'll be fine." She gently tapped Ellie on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's go."

She followed last, staying quiet and listening whenever Joel spoke up, only to receive short and annoyed answers from Ellie. No way they've been travelling together for long, she thought as continued rubbing her temple.

Joel had barely spoken a word to her since she revealed her infection to him. It terrified her not knowing what was going on in that man's head. He could have easily killed her back in the basement. They were alone, there was no Ellie and plenty of infected that could have shredded her to pieces. All he would have needed to tell Ellie was that an infected ripped into her throat and that would have been it. It's not like he cared what happened to her, not like Ellie cared either.

He probably preferred not saying anything. Either way, once they were out of the city she was going to go her own way and they would go theirs.

She caught Ellie glancing at her as they reached a broken down stairwell, jumping down to the lower level and repeating what they'd done since meeting up— scavenging as much as they could.

"Over here." Joel called as she found some bandages in an open drawer, shoving them inside her bag as she followed Joel and Ellie inside an enormous broken down ballroom. There were tables with torn tablecloths, dishes still set on them and surprisingly still standing on some of them. She glanced to her right, smiling at the familiar object as she noted Ellie heading to it.

Peyton followed her as the young girl tilted her head, unsure as to what it was. She swallowed hard when Joel slowly approached the two before his lips parted as he spoke.

"That's a backdrop. People would take their pictures in front of it."

Ellie quickly glanced at him, "Yeah. I know what it is." She stated bluntly, looking down to her feet as Peyton and Joel's eyes met briefly. Peyton moved away, deciding on looking for an exit and supplies.

"Okay then," Joel's voice resonated in the ballroom when he spoke, "something on your mind, Ellie?"

Peyton briefly looked over to Ellie, who still was looking down to her feet as she grunted before throwing her head back, "I wasn't trying to disobey you back there. You guys were taking a really long time and I thought, maybe they've gotten into trouble." Ellie looked up to Peyton, before looking away to watch Joel.

Joel looked up some more before glancing back Ellie, stepping away as he gestured to the upper balcony-like floor, "Looks like a way out."

Peyton couldn't help herself as she sighed. This is none of your business…whatever issue they have ain't your problem, she thought as she walked onto the stage and approached the dark piano. Her fingers lingered over the keys, feeling the dust and dirt stick to her fingers as she let them touch the keys, pressing on a few of them with a small solemn smile on her face.

"You know how to play?" She snapped her to watch Ellie approach with interest as she nodded.

"Yeah," she breathed, "my parents had me take piano classes when I was a kid, but I haven't played in a long, long time. I don't even know if I still could."

"Oh." Ellie mumbled, not adding more as Joel joined the both of them.

"This looks like it could work." He said more to himself than to them as he approached the piano, pressing his shoulder into it as he pushed, "Damn this is heavier than I thought."

He stopped, breathing heavily as he leaned on it to look at Ellie who just stood on the other side of the piano, "Hey, how 'bout a hand?"

"You sure you can trust me with that?"

"Ellie…"

Without Joel asking her, Peyton joined in and started pushing as the instrument barely moved until it rapidly moved to hit the wall they needed, its keys resonating loudly in the echo-y ballroom.

"There. How's that?" Ellie said.

Joel sighed and grunted, "Let's go."

The heaviness that fell around the room was nearly unbearable, Peyton shifting in her place and skimming the tip of her shoe onto the dusty wooden floors, arms crossed over her chest as she shakily glanced to Joel climbing first before Ellie followed behind him, throwing Peyton a glance as she followed suit. Hoisting herself up with little to no struggle she huffed a breath when she finally managed to stand back up on her feet, dusting her already dirty clothes as she glanced ahead. Ellie was often glancing back to her, Peyton nearly cracking a smile at that before nodding off ahead, prompting Ellie to look to Joel before hurrying her jog to catch up, Peyton doing the same.

They entered another room attached to the upper gallery, sun shining through the many broken windows and the wide-open set of French doors as Joel exited to the balcony where a scaffolding had been turned into a sniper's perch. Peyton had now passed Ellie and followed Joel when he vaulted over the ledge of the balcony, looking around before hearing Ellie vault over as Joel ushered them to stay down. Both girls stayed low and neared the edge, looking over to see a group of men speaking down below. They, luckily, had not been noticed yet.

Peyton glanced over Ellie's head towards Joel as he quietly spoke, "Alright now…I'm gonna jump down there and I'm gonna clear us a path—"

"What about me?" Ellie cut him off, both girls waiting the answer anxiously.

"You stay here."

Shit.

"This is so stupid. We'd have more of a fucking chance if you'd let me help."

"I am."

Peyton snapped her head up, surprised at the sudden change in Joel's decision as he began showing her the basics how-to of a rifle. Peyton remained quiet, not sure if Joel would want to utilize her at all before watching him move to the edge of the scaffolding. He glanced back to Ellie, throwing Peyton a rapid glance before returning his gaze to Ellie, "And just so we're clear about back there…it was either him or me…" he trailed off, almost looking like he wanted to say something else before climbed down to street level.

"You're welcome."

Peyton allowed herself to come closer, joining Ellie's side as she looked down the area guarded by a few hunters.

"They're all dead! They're all fucking dead!" She could make out a hunter yelling as he joined with the others, prompting Ellie and herself to glance at each other with a small look before shrugging.

"Alright, come on down!"

Ellie leaned back, rifle still in hand as she looked over to Peyton, eyes bright and wide before Peyton gave her arm a soft pat, "Good job."

Ellie returned Peyton's smile as both made their way down to Joel, Ellie walking straight to Joel as Peyton remained little ways behind her. She watched how different Ellie's posture was in this moment. She was almost timid. She only wanted to do well and make Joel proud.

"How'd I do?"

To her question, Ellie got a nod.

Peyton smiled as she watched them interact for a few more seconds, her smile faltering as she exhaled long and hard, turning around to search the dead bodies of the hunters left lying around the street. She knelt down next to a body, searching the jacket pockets to find a few bullets. She shoved them in her pockets, smiling to herself before glancing back to Ellie and Joel separating from each other as Ellie began walking towards her.

Peyton stood up, watching Ellie come closer as she waved softly at her, "I see you're officially carrying…" Smiling as Ellie gave her a similar smile, licking her lips before digging into her pockets, "Here. Ammo. You'll need it."

"Thanks…" Ellie took the bullets out of her hands as she gently shoved them down her own pockets. "D'you think there's any way out off this street?"

"Probably…Just…just gotta find it…" She shrugged, pointing to an area. "You look over there…Holler if you find anything, 'kay?" Ellie nodded as she walked in the opposite direction, Peyton heading to another direction.

She continued searching the dead bodies, finding little ammo and supplies on them as she tossed more empty bullet shells on the ground, shaking her head, "Fuck!" She muttered under her breath before standing up from her crouching position, dusting her knees off before flexing her soar fingers. She pursed her lips as she began walking towards a building, only stopping short in her steps when someone clearing their throat startled her.

She whipped her entire body around to face Joel, her body suddenly freezing in place as she started to play with the hem of her shirt, waiting for him to speak.

She swallowed hard, the silence becoming unbearable as she licked her lips and cleared her own throat, "What?"

"Uh," Well, that's a start…She thought as he continued, "I uh, wanted to say thanks…for keepin' an eye on her up there…" Peyton frowned softly before shrugging.

"Sure thing." She looked down, her feet scuffing the pieces of overgrown grass. "Thanks for not…killing me, y'know, I mean…not yet…" She found herself cringing at her words before looking at him, "Ignore what I just said…Just, no problem."

He nodded softly before opening his mouth to speak again before being interrupted by Ellie calling out to them, "Guys! I found something, c'mon!"

She snapped her head towards Ellie's voice, glancing back at Joel before he nudged her forward as she began walking, soon entering a small jog to join up with Ellie, "What'd you find?"

It was a garage door or something akin to it, something you saw in front of small businesses for security or protection, something that seemed like it could be lifted up if it was not too heavy. Joel approached it, squatting down and managing to fit his fingers under the gate as he lifted it up with a grunt, raising it high enough for Ellie, or anyone, to go through, "Alright, do your thing, Ellie."

"On it."

Peyton watched as Joel shuffled, trying to get a better grip on the gate, prompting her to move forward and helping him as Ellie tried to unstuck the gate with no success. Ellie let go, walking away to get a trolley as she dragged it under the gate, supporting its weight as both Joel and Peyton were able to let go, crouching down to crawl under it and into the loading dock area.

Peyton sighed in relief as she rubbed the dust off her hands, looking up to a ledge before she turned towards the trolley, "This, we might need this…" she said, moving to it before grabbing the handle. "Ellie? You think you could give me a hand?"

"Yeah." Ellie softly said as she hurried and with the help of Joel they lifted the gate while she dragged the trolley back inside, grunting as she pushed it to the ledge.

"Heeeere. Weeee. Go!" Peyton let go and climbed on the trolley, climbing over and letting herself fall with a small huff. She moved forward, letting Joel and Ellie climb their way over as well.

Ellie pointed to a door to their left, "Way out?" She glanced back to Joel with raised eyebrow.

"Maybe. Let's check it out…"

They continued walking forward, vaulting over debris as the sound of a machine gun resonated around them, causing all of them to crouch and hide as they cautiously glanced outside to two survivors running away from the shots before they were both shot down, collapsing on the street.

Peyton peeked at Ellie as she attempted to whisper to Joel about whether or not they should help, Joel shutting the idea down by quieting her with a simple gesture as they waited it out, hearing the hunters' disappointment with the lack of supplies the two survivors had on them.

She let her head fall back quietly as she leaned against the wall, eyes shutting down as she breathed slowly, listening to the sounds of the armoured truck purring as it stayed stationary. The voices of the hunters became distant to her as she inhaled deep, holding her breath for a few seconds before exhaling out of her slightly parted lips.

Her eyes snapped open, head whipping to her right as everything around her became clear again, sounds and surroundings. She looked up and suddenly she heard Joel's voice call out to her to follow as she stared at him, eyebrows furrowed as she swallowed hard, lips pursed.

"Let's go!" Joel's whispered firmly as he looked down at her before Peyton picked herself up, glancing out of the window as her eyes settled on the dead bodies before looking back at Joel, nodding as she spoke.

"Alright."

Well, it's been over a year now and now I am back. Went through lots of stuff but I don't wanna bore any of you with it so, I will just keep this short and say that I am back and inspired once again. I will definitely not challenge myself to posting every two or three days, but as long as I feel inspired I will write but I will definitely try to post more often!

I am a bit rusty so please excuse what could be an okay chapter, it had been half completed for the last year or so and I just picked right where I left off. I am pretty satisfied with this and am looking forward to improving my writing as I continue! :D

I appreciate constructive criticism, please don't bash and if you don't like, don't read!

R&R! Thank you and enjoy!