The Two of Us-Ch.1

I awoke with a start, hearing the eerie, click click click of the clickers outside the building. My eyes shot open and I stood, listening for footsteps.

They must be outside. I thought as I smoothed my wrinkled clothes, attempting to get comfortable.

I had finally gotten to Boston; it had taken me four whole months of walking to get here all the way from just outside Tallahassee. I was forced to run from my home after a horde of infected stormed the town, murdering most of the inhabitants, including my family. I quietly opened the front door of the dilapidated building I had called home for the last night, being careful not to attract any unwanted attention from clickers and set off to find a way into the city.

I wandered the streets of Boston, looking for the school a woman named "Marlene" was supposed to be. I looked at the scarred bite mark on my hand, a wound that would forever remind me of my past. I was careful to not be spotted, after all I had no ID and I would be dead if any soldiers caught me. I eventually eavesdropped on two men in uniform, although they weren't military and followed them towards what appeared to be the school I was looking for.

I slid through the closing front door as quietly as I could, but ended up running straight into a guard.

"Well well, what do we have here? A kid come to join the fireflies eh?" The guard asked, grabbing my arms and pinning them behind me.

"I'm not trying to cause any trouble. I just need to talk to Marlene." I explained.

"Talk to her you will. Now move!" He ordered, pushing me down the hallway.

I was marched down the hallway, my arms pinned behind my back, expecting the worst from this encounter. The guard forced me through a door near the end of a hallway where a woman stood facing away from us, speaking to a group of three people, a tall, gruff looking older man, a tall, brown haired serious woman, and a cute, redhead girl who looked about my age.

"That's a long ways Marlene." The old man said, folding his thick arms across his chest.

"It'll be worth it, I promise." Marlene responded.

"Ma'am." The guard said, clearing his throat.

"What is it?" Marlene asked sounding very annoyed. "I told you not to bother us"

"I found this kid; he says he was here to talk to you." The guard answered, throwing me to the ground.

Marlene stood with her arms crossed, the group of people behind her stood awkwardly.

"Well spit it out before I throw you out of here myself."

"I was told by a friend that you were trying to find a cure, and well, I think I'm it." I told her, holding up my scarred right hand.

Marlene strode up to me and examined my hand.

"Ellie come here."

The girl nervously stepped towards me and extended her arm. Marlene rolled up her sleeve and revealed a scarred bite mark on her arm.

"Well two of you make better odds. You better leave now though, before night falls." Marlene said, ushering us through the door.

"Well let's get out of here before I change my mind on this job." The old man grunted, leading us out into the streets of Boston.

~~~Joel~~~

"Get the fuck off of her!" Joel yelled, kicking a runner off of Tess.

But Joel was too late. Joel could see the blood flowing from the bite wound on Tess' shoulder.

"Tess I- I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Tess responded. "It's my own damn fault. You have to get these two to Salt Lake. Y'Know that right?"

"Tess I can't do this by myself."

"You won't be, I can see those two have a lot of promise." Tess told him.

"They're coming through the fucking door!" Cameron yelled.

"Now get Tex." Tess said.

"Tess-"

"Now. For me."

~~~Ellie~~~

Fuck. She thought, Why did I go with these two?

She asked herself, questioning her own judgment. She stared at the two walking in front of her. The hardass old man looked troubled, and the teen next to him seemed troubled and tired. Ellie couldn't help but get lost in blue eyes for a moment.

God damn. She thought.

I guess these two aren't so bad... She was studying their faces as she trudged along beside them, neither noticing her looking. "

I'm tired. Can we stop?" She asked.

"I swear to god, quit your fucking whining right now or I'll leave." Joel said angrily.

"I'm tired too." The other teen said, she still didn't know his name. "I just got here this morning from Tallahassee." He said.

"Fine, but quit your whining, it's a long ways to Salt Lake City." He grumbled.

They found a house that would work for the night and set up camp.

~~~Me~~~

"So I never got your name." She asked me. I looked at her, puzzled for a moment.

"It's Cameron." I responded studying her face.

"Nice to meet you Cameron, I'm Ellie." She said.

"Pleasure." I said with a smile on my face. I jumped when I heard Joel burst through the door, firewood in his arms.

"You know, it would've been easier if you two got off your asses instead of just staring at each other." He said gruffly. Ellie love looked away from me, color flushed to her cheeks.

"S-sorry." She stammered.

"No it's ok, I'm the one getting paid for this shit anyways." He said sarcastically. He pulled out a can of beans and opened it.

"Bon appetite." He said passing the can around.

Maybe this guy isn't so bad. I thought.

Just need to get used to him. I told myself.

"Well better get some sleep." Joel said. "Long day tomorrow, and for a long time." He said lying down. "Goodnight." I said to Ellie. "Night." She said sheepishly.

A/N Welcome to the reupdated version of my story, my previous account was lost, I just hope everyone who was reading this before finds this. When you finish reading this story, check out the sequel, From Sea to Shining Sea.