Chapter Text
Ellie
Fuck, I just let her go.
Ellie sat motionless in the water, her entire body searing with pain. The saltwater seeped into her open wounds, intensifying the agony. It was as if she had been paralyzed, unable to move a muscle. The fight had drained every last ounce of strength from her.
She lifted her hand, with two fingers missing. Blood poured into the water, forming a pool around her body. Fuck!. Abby was now in the distance; she had taken the boat and left after releasing them. She wasn't waiting around for Ellie to change her mind and try to fight her again, but if she were honest with herself, Ellie didn't think she could do it anyway. I can't fight her again. I wanted this so badly, to kill her and to finally finish this and I couldn't do it. Why?
"Joel," she whispered with a sigh.
He was the catalyst for her quest for vengeance, driving her to seek out and destroy everything in her path. She believed herself to be consumed by bloodlust, yet despite the countless lives Ellie took and the pain she inflicted, she never felt any true satisfaction. That is, until this moment.
A laugh escapes from her lips, even in the midst of the situation she finds herself in. "Joal, you Fucking idiot."
He really should have left me in that hospital.
Ellie let out a weary sigh as she pondered her next move. The scorching heat bore down on her back, and the cacophony of screams and gunfire reminded her of the horrors that had unfolded in her desperate journey to this place. The noise was sure to attract infected creatures sooner or later, but she simply couldn't find the energy to deal with them. I’d not really thought past this point, I thought I’d either die getting here or die fighting her but here I am alive. Well, mostly.
The sky above her was cloudy and dull, with only faint glimpses of stars peeking through. Dina loved the night sky. They would spend hours sitting on the porch of their farmhouse, huddled together under a cosy blanket, gazing upward and engaging in heartfelt conversations while their little one, JJ, slumbered inside. In that moment, all other thoughts faded as she reflected on the loved ones Ellie had left behind at home . My little potato and the love of my life . Why did I come out here? I miss Dina so much.
"Well, there's no way back through there," she said, turning away from the inferno. She picked herself up and waded through the water towards the small boat where her bag was. She collected her switchblade along the way, determined not to leave it behind. “I’m not leaving you behind”. She knew this was going to be a long and arduous journey.
The next few hours were a nightmare. She attempted to stay close to the coastline and anchor near the town. She didn't want to take any chances with the poorly functioning boat flipping over and having to struggle to survive in the strong current. I fucking hated swimming at the best of times. Luckily, Ellie successfully landed on another nearby beach that was peaceful. Thank fuck for that. She needed to find a place to take shelter and patch herself up, realizing that she wouldn't survive for much longer. Her thoughts were focused and determined; she knew exactly what she had to do. She had to return to Jackson, to Dina, and J. J.
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
I’ve found a beach house.
I didn't even make it far from where I left the boat. My legs couldn't carry me any longer. I practically dragged myself most of the way.
My head hurts, I miss Dina.
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
I'm still in this fucking beach house, it’s been here a day I think…
Hopefully, I will have enough strength to get out of here soon. I can't go back through Vegas, it’s overrun. I’ll have to go around. GREAT!....
I need to rest.
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
I shouldn’t have left,
Left you standing there,
It was selfish and I'm sorry,
Baby, can you forgive me?
Fuck sake, inches away from dying and I'm still writing song lyrics. Who do I think I am?
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
Still no better, I need to move but I can’t
I wish Dina was here.
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
The fever is getting worse and I can't stand up.
I can't feel my hands anymore and I'm struggling to write. Everything hurts.
I can feel myself fading away, it can't be long till the end.
Maybe someone will find this diary and read the ending to my story?
(Diary entry. Unknown date)
Whoever finds this…. Please tell Dina I love her.
For me this is goodbye.
I’m sorry…
Ellie knew she couldn’t stay any longer in this place and her condition had deteriorated. She was no longer able to stand up and could barely open her eyes. Over the past few days, she had been sitting slumped in front of the door to the tiny beach house, frantically scribbling away in her worn-out diary. I guess the end will be here soon. What a waste, I bet Jole would be ashamed of me, everything he did to protect me and look where I am. Almost beaten to death laying here waiting to die in fucking Santa Barbra.
She looked up through the window opposite her, her eyes blurring. For a moment, she thought she must be hallucinating, as she noticed a shadowy figure moving around outside. It wasn't an infected; it appeared to be a person. Her eyes started to spin, and she could feel her breathing slowing down. I think I'm dying . I think this is it. The person in the window appeared to be looking at her. She couldn't believe it was real; there was nobody there. It must be her mind playing tricks on her. Struggling to keep her head up, she lost focus on the window. People often say that when you're nearing the end, you see the person you love the most in this life. Maybe that's exactly what this is.
"Dina," she whispered before finally blacking out.