Endure & Survive

It was summer in the abandoned suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was disgustingly hot and muggy, so humid in fact that it made it hard to breathe. Making their way through the maze of boarded up homes and thrashed vehicles, Joel and Ellie looked for a safe place to stay for the night. They were practically on the border between Ohio and Pennsylvania and were yet again coming near the Ohio River once more. Ellie couldn't remember the last time she was able to sit down and bathe. Regardless of having to jump into the fucking river to save herself, she wanted to be able to scrub the blood and grit from all the nooks and crannies.

"So…hungry." Ellie groaned aloud.

"Yeah so am I. Just keep your voice down; I've been hearing Clicker pops here and there." Joel grumbled.

Ellie sighed heavily. Sweat was constantly getting in her eyes and making them sting. The heat threatened to overtake her. The sun was still visible but it was in its setting stage. Joel was as silent as usual, but his grunts and groans and labored pants made him easy to hear. So Ellie gave her eyes a rest and listened her way with him as they trekked. She opened her eyes now and then to make sure she didn't trip or run into anything.

Joooel…I don't know how much more I can take today…can we—urf!" Ellie was cut off by walking straight into Joel's solid back and almost fell back.

"Dude, what the fuck!?" She yelled.

Instantly Joel grabbed her by the arm and put a hand over her mouth and they ducked behind a blown out car.

Shhhh…" Joel crooned.

Ellie's heart raced intensely fast. She had no idea what Joel saw. Slowly he removed his hand from her mouth. Ellie stared at his horrified face.

"Fuck. What did you see?" She whispered.

He still didn't answer her. So she turned around and very slowly edged her sight above the car. She heard absolutely nothing. Not even the birds or the barking of dogs. Deadly silent. And there in the nearby house she spotted two dark figures. Neither of them was moving, they both stood stalk still. They were hunched over somewhat and had the hard fungus sticking out of their heads. The fact that she couldn't see them clearly made Ellie's heart race even faster and the fear well up from the depths of her stomach up to her throat creating small tears to fall from her eyes. A few moments had pasted and finally Ellie had enough courage to duck back down next to Joel.

"Are they Clickers? They have the fungus on their heads." She said as quietly as she could.

Joel shook his head. Well what the fuck could they be? If they aren't soldiers, Clickers, or Runners…what are they?

"Stalkers. They are smart in a way of speaking." Joel said.

Ellie could hear his voice tremble a little. Carefully Ellie lifted her hips and pulled the revolver from the back of her jeans and checked the barrel. Loaded. Finally she moved back up to see the threat. Oh shit. Her heart dropped and the fear spiked higher.

"Joel…they're gone." She mumbled.

"They know where we are." Joel said to Ellie.

Ellie looked down at Joel. Her eyes grew wider and wider. With light fading fast Joel didn't want to be caught outside at night with a pack of Stalkers about.

"Ellie we have to mo-!"

Joel was interrupted by the blood curdling howl from the Stalkers. Joel shot up and saw the two tall figures charging head on towards them.

"Shit Ellie move!" Joel blurted and they both went one direction.

Joel fired twice and hit one of the Stalkers in the arm. It wasn't even phased by the bullets. Ellie and Joel ran as fast as they could into one of the multistory houses and ran upstairs. The Stalkers still hot on their heels. Ellie ran on way and Joel the other. One went for each. Ellie had just enough time to hide in a shrouded closet when the Stalker entered the room. She couldn't hear Joel or the other Stalker. Her Stalker crept around the room screaming and thrashing about. And it had its back to her, not wanting to waste a bullet, Ellie moved quietly from the closet with her switchblade in hand. When she got close enough it suddenly turned around and decked her hard in the face sending her flying into the wall leaving her dazed. Then it was on her, trying to bite for her neck and face. It was so strong and so terrifying. In moments like this when she was fighting to stay alive, she wondered how much more peaceful and easy it would be to just let it kill her.

"Not today you ugly motherfucker!" Ellie screamed and stabbed the monster into the skull a few times.

Finally lifeless, it slumped into her lap, gushing blood onto her. Then right after she heard a gunshot and Joel came busting into the room.

"Aw shit, Ellie! Are you alright?!" Joel questioned as he helped her pull the dead thing off her.

"Other than almost being a Stalker Snack, I lie on the line of peachy and fine." She said, out of breath.

Joel helped her up and checked her up and down.

"You good, old man?"

"Yeah…just fine. C'mon lets go find a place to stay while there is still daylight out." He proclaimed.

Ellie felt even more miserable now. Covered in nasty dark blood and nonetheless all coated from her waist down. The heat was still being the biggest dick.