Separated

by Michael Blue

  "Quick! Are you alright?" Josh asked brushing up the sleeves of his thin light grey hoodie. He paced over and aided her to her feet. Looking up, he saw a Runner making it's way over the hood of the car.

  "I'm fine," she said dusting off her khakis in a breathless manner, "Let's just head back! This place is starting to annoy the hell out of me!"

  Listening closely, the two heard crackling coming from above them. They both looked up, to see segments of the tunnel falling apart even more.

  "Ellie!" Joshua shouted as the top of the tunnel came crashing down.

  Both of them jumped backwards, avoiding the dismantling debris from crushing them. Large pieces of brick and stone fell, completely crushing the car, the Runner and blocking off their path from the rest of the Infected. They both coughed, and fanned the air as the dirt swarmed into the air.

  "...That's it's I'm out of here," Ellie said before jogging off.

  "...Ellie," Josh groaned, "Wait!"

  As Ellie took off, Joshua followed after her. Both were in a very old and dark train tunnel; looking for their way back out since there was one major problem. Eventually, the two came closer to the way they came in. As they neared the exit, the light brightened and two silhouettes slowly made themselves out. Erlina was with Joel. She was clothed in her peach colored button up sweater and denim jeans, walking back and forth with her arms behind her back as she admired the beautiful birds fly from tree to tree overhead.

  Joel looked over at her, and forced a smirk to make her feel comfortable. After all this time, he realized that Erlina was the only one who hadn't really gotten so close to Joel. Talking to her was very awkward considering she'd only give him one worded answers half the time.

  "You like birds huh?" Joel questioned.

  Go figure, she looked over at him and nodded. However, his attention was taken when he noticed two figures moving in the dark of the train tunnel. The light revealed their legs and he recognized Josh's, as well as Ellie's walk, from anywhere.

  "They're coming" Joel said to her.

  She quickly focused her attention back to the train tunnel and saw the two of them make their way into the light and they turned their flashlights off.

  "Tunnel's caved in, overrun with Infected, and there's no way out," Ellie's raspy voice announced while counting on her fingers.

  "Damn it!" Joel said letting his head hang in disbelief.

  "There's got to be a way around this sucker..." Joshua said scratching his sideburns.

  Joel sighed,

  "We'll find a way."

  It was exhausting honestly: Walking all day and night just trying to find shelter, find food, or just trying to simply find your way around. These past two months Joel, Ellie, Joshua, and Erlina had stuck together through thick and thin. The girls remained close as usual and Joel became somewhat of a teacher and parent to Joshua. Erlina might have not seen Joel in any kind of way yet, but she just felt frightened by the big man. After she first saw him beat up Joshua on their first encounter, she saw him beat up other men countless times, showing them no mercy. Not to mention Joel also had a loose temper and got really loud during arguments. It was frightening being around someone like that for a long time. Ellie exhibited some ways you could tell she adapted from him, but it didn't really make a difference. Ultimately, they were all the same, and had blood on all of their hands. Whether it was emotional or physical they were scarred by traumatic events.

  Overtime, they found their way around the train tunnel, and ended getting themselves back on the right track, but it was night time by then, and the group needed shelter for the night. Throughout the whole day, they had not encountered any enemies after the tunnel, including Infected. After a long walk on the highway they made their way into a little city with towering buildings and a two story motel. They all gathered in the same room and made themselves comfortable enough. They ate some of the food they had saved in saran wrap, and they enjoyed themselves for the night. After a night of giggles and stories, they eventually fell asleep.

  During that midnight, Joel woke up from a startling nightmare. He was covered in sweat and the room didn't make it any better. The room felt very humid and he thought it'd be a good idea to open up a window, and so he did. The breeze flew the curtains apart, and it travelled mostly along the floor, giving Joshua and Joel some good breathing space. Going to lay back down, his sleepiness was overcome by the sight of Erlina's empty mattress. Hastily he got up, he noticed the door wasn't fully closed, and so he opened it. Sticking his head out, he looked up and down the corridor, and eventually saw Erlina resting on the edge of the balcony with her bow and arrows armed. She was busy looking at the moon and the starry night sky.

  He called out to her, and when she quickly turned her attention to him, she was surprised to see him. She wiped away what appeared to be tears from her eyes and she sniffled. She looked straight, wanting to avoid being seen. Joel noticed her tears, and he looked down, taking a moment or two to think about what he was going to say. He wasn't really the emotional, talk-things-out, type of guy.

  "You shouldn't be out here you know, it's really dangerous at times like this," he said crossing his large arms.

  "I know, I just..." she released a deep sigh, "I just needed a minute to myself," she confessed.

  Honestly, Joel was surprised to get more than one sentence out of Erlina rather than just one word.

  "Is everything alright?" he asked regarding the tears.

  She anxiously shook her head.

  "It's nothing," she said assuming he wouldn't care, "Just a bad dream..."

  Right then and there Joel had a slight idea what Erlina's problem might've been and that she was just holding it in and refraining from telling a grown man she barely knew. He bet Ellie knew the problem. The only thing is that Joel didn't want to be a hypocrite in a sense by telling her she needed to talk about it.

  "Just try not to think too hard on it," he said trying to make her feel better, "and come in soon. It's too late to be out here by yourself."

  As Joel turned around, he was stopped by her voice.

  "Joel?" she called.

  "Hm?" he did as he turned around.

  "...Did you ever lose someone close to you?" she hesitated.

  He looked down at the ground, trying to avoid answering. However, the look on the curious youngster broke his guard.

  "Yes," he said walking closer to her, "Yes I did."

  "I heard you mumbling in your sleep tonight..."

  "Heh," he force chuckled, "Yeah that happens..." he said nodding and leaning on the balcony beside her.

  "I lost someone close to me too..." she said looking up at the tall Texan.

  "Well, don't you worry," Joel said looking at the night sky along with her, "You'll find you aunt very soon. I'm sure of it."

  When Joel looked up at the sky, he was amazed by the glow the sky gave off. He remembered how the sky looked when he was a young adult. Light pollution was such a huge issue in other parts of the city. Luckily for him, he always got to enjoy the stars, but never like this. The moon looked as luminous as ever, and he couldn't believe it.

  "It's not my aunt..." she said looking up at him.

  Joel looked down at the girl, and watched her saddened eyes. That's when he realized why she was crying. Joel didn't want to intervene in feelings, because it would've probably lead up to her asking about his lost loved one, and that was a topic he never wanted to cross paths with. He looked away, staring down at the parking lot as he leaned in more on the balcony, slouching down. Erlina too, faced forward. As much as Joel didn't want to admit, even though it was more awkward than usual, he was happy to get more than one word out the soft-spoken child.

  "We've got to get some rest, kid..." Joel said softly patting her back, "We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow..."

  It didn't go as expected, and she definitely wished it was Ellie instead. However, she was happy enough to know she exchanged some words with the older man on an emotional level. She nodded, an
d walked behind him, entering the room.

  Spring

  * * *

  As usual, the quad resumed their travel. Joel walked with Joshua, mostly sharing stories about how he grew up on a farm with his older brother Tommy. It sounded so interested hearing it from another person's point of view. It was intriguing because Joel, just like Josh's mother, was born before the epidemic. Joel had been told some stories about Joshua's siblings, but Joshua didn't know as much about them. Hearing Joel talk about his brother as if he were a book, somewhat made him envy the relationship they had.

  "Just a couple more days and you two will be heading to Wyoming," Joel said walking beside Josh.

  "Wow," he chuckled, "Already?"

  "Well, you didn't expect to come to Salt Lake City with us, now did you? I mean...if you want that can be arranged—"

  "Nah, nah, that's cool," Josh immediately joked with his hands up in defense.

  Joel smirked with a soft chuckle and looked at the two girls in front of him. Both of their moods immediately changed when Joel mentioned their departure. Joshua noticed it too and nudged Joel on the arm to take notice, he ignored it though, and there wasn't really anything he could do.

  "Do you guys really have to leave?" Ellie said, turning back and looking at Josh.

  He nodded disappointingly.

  "Trust me, I wish I could stay with you two, but my mom..."

  Ellie nodded,

  "Yeah, I know..." she said looking over at Erlina and back down at her feet.

  "We'll see each other again...right Joel?" Erlina asked.

  Joel looked bewildered when she asked him that.

  "You and Ellie will be coming back to the Dam when you're finished right?"

  It never really occurred to Joel what he was going to do after he had done with whatever task he was sent to do, but Erlina brought up a very good option. He had nowhere else to go, and living with his brother and others he trusted was a possibility.

  "Sure... why not?" Joel said shrugging.

  Erlina looked over at Ellie and they smiled at one another, Ellie's being the widest.

  "Oh! I almost forgot." Erlina said lifting the flap to her side bag and reaching inside, "I read this two times already. I just finished it again last night..."

  After a little search, she pulled out a black colored book with what appeared to be a gold little bird inside of a circle.

  "Whoaaa! A book!" Ellie cheered. Happily snatching it, she read the title and author, "The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins..."

  "I think they might have made a film adaption to that back in my day..." Joel said quite intrigued.

  "This book is that old?!" Erlina said.

  Joel made an offended face that only a mother could love and when Erlina turned to see it, she laughed very hard, nearly squatting to the ground. Joshua couldn't stress the fact that she had a really creepy laugh, and it made Ellie smile every time she did it.

  "Well, what's it about?" Ellie asked curiously.

  Right away, Erlina began talking quickly as if her life depended on it.

  "Okay, um, It takes place in this strange future..."

  "Stranger than this?" Joel asked.

  Joshua couldn't help but laugh.

  "... and there's this government who's in control and they have twelve different districts. So kids from each district are chosen to be put in an arena and have to fight each other to the death, and the winner gets like...loads of money and stuff, and it focuses on this one girl. It's so cool; it has love, action and everything." she paused thinking that was the best way she could put it, "It sounds weird, but there's a lot more to it."

  "Fight each other to the death, huh?" Ellie said nodding her head in interest.

  "Yeah, and the girl uses a bow like me!" she said smiling from ear to ear and taking her arms and shooting an imaginary bow.

  "I'm definitely reading this tonight,"

  "I just wish I could get the others."

  "Others?!"

  "It's a trilogy."

  Ellie looked up at the sky and groaned her loudest, a feeling Erlina could relate to.

  "Yep..."

  "Alright, we have to pass through this forest over here..." Joel said turning off their course.

  He made his way through a bunch of bushes and entered the perimeter of a forest. Joshua, along with the girls, followed after him.

  "Speaking of splitting up," Erlina started, "Where are you guys going anyway...?"

  "Erlina, that's private," Joshua said looking at her as she turned around to look at him, "They'll tell us when they're comfortable..."

  "We never said it was private..." Joel said.

  "Well, whenever I asked you guys, you'd end up saying it's a long story; I'm pretty sure it is..."

  Ellie faltered a little behind the group. She was deep in thought and watched as Erlina and Joshua walked past her. That's when she stopped,

  "Joel." she called.

  Being the ringleader, he stopped and turned to see her twiddling with her fingers. He knew something was on her mind. He looked at Joshua and softly tapped his shoulder,

  "Give us a minute?"

  "Sure," Joshua nodded.

  Joel sauntered towards Ellie and looked down at her as he inched closer,

  "What is it?"

  "When are we ever going to be comfortable telling them...?" Ellie asked.

  "Telling them what?"

  "You know, about me being immune and all..." she whispered even softer.

  Joel sighed. The look on his face was very doubtful and Ellie didn't need a palm reader to tell how Joel felt about this.

  "Come on, Joel!" she said looking at him with her bright blue eyes, "They've been travelling with us for so long. They trust us and we trust them right?"

  Joel rubbed his temples.

  * * *

  "What do you think they're talking about?" Erlina asked not taking her eyes off the two.

  "Don't know..." Josh said, craning his neck a little to the side to see if he could get a good lip reading.

  Erlina playfully hit him and he fell back into position with a smile.

  * * *

  "Look, Ellie. Think long and hard on this. This isn't your everyday surprise," Joel firmly stated.

  He paused, glaring at her from the corner of his eye as he turned to watch the cousin duo oddly examine them. He watched the two of their faces, and couldn't think of anything but positivity and friendship to solely identify them. He turned back and looked at Ellie before exhaling.

  "But when you feel the time is right...you can tell them..."

  "I feel like right now's a good time," Ellie said immediately walking off.

  Joel opened his mouth to say something, but it was too late. He followed her; cautious of anything that was going to happen. Ellie didn't feel any kind of anxiety. She came to know these two on a personal level, and they shared the exact amount of love to Joel and Ellie as they did each other and it was something that should be treasured in times like this. Loyalty was something that was hard to come by. She walked, holding one arm.

  "Hey, guys..." Ellie said brushing strands of hair behind her ear, "I have something to tell you..."

  Erlina and Josh just stared at her, not knowing what to expect.

  "You guys know about the fire flies right?"

  They both nodded, not thinking much of them in the first place.

  "Well... Joel was assigned to...take me to a research facility they have in Salt Lake City..."

  Joshua listened in closely once she mentioned the research facility and Erlina was confused on where this was going.

  "Basically..." As Ellie was just about to roll up her sleeves, she was stopped by Joshua who grabbed out his pistol from behind.

  Joel freaked out at first, but Josh only ended up pointing it at a bush. He immediately walked in front of the two girls, who both stepped closer to one another. Joel, stepped in from beside, keeping his hand rested on his firearm.

  "That bush moved." Joshua said furiously.r />
  He sounded crazy for sure, but he was about to prove his point.

  "Get out!" Josh demanded with his pistol still pointed.

  Immediately, a young man, probably a couple of years older than Joshua, walked out from behind the bush with his hands up. He had bushy curly hair and a clear baby-face. He was somewhat fit and was clothed in a striped grey and black hoodie and demin shorts. His sneakers were old, but they looked like they'd last a couple more months. Overall, the boy looked terrified and was shaking.

  "N-not so loud," he stammered.

  "Check him..." Josh said.

  Joel needed a moment to shake of his scare and walked from behind him. He frisked the young man and found nothing but some balls of tissue and a shoelace in his pockets. He was clean and had no weapons, bites or anything else that could be potentially harmful. The kid didn't even have a book bag, which was quite strange.

  "Why were you hiding in that bush?" Joel interrogated.

  "I-I was being chased!"

  "By?"

  "Infected."

  "Likely story," Joel stepped closer.

  "I'm serious!" he said breathlessly, having his arms still raised, "I was going on a little run with my friend and we got separated. I just need to go back to the house to get what I need. We have a rendezvous spot we planned to meet at if we got separated..."

  Joel still eyed him meanwhile Joshua's pistol aimed right for his head.

  "Please..." he pled innocently.

  Joel lowered his guard after a while, and ordered Josh to do the same as well. That's when the large cries were being heard from the distance. Infected were nearby, and that wasn't good news for them.

  "Oh no!" the young man cried, "Infected! Let's get out of here!" he said.

  Without even thinking, the four followed, just hoping to get far enough from the Infected. They ran and ran until they thought they were safe enough. As forbidden as it was to entrust random survivors, they did so anyway. They didn't get such a bad feeling from the guy, and only guessed that he was a lonely kid that didn't have much, and was trying to survive like the rest of them. They paced through the forest, following a clear, path that led to only god-knows-where. After a moment or two, that's when Joshua felt it'd be more appropriate to apologize for their little scare.