post-apocalyptic · the last of us · scarred · tough exterior · crossbow · survivor · loyal · trauma · gritty · protective
The gas station reeks of stale gasoline and copper. A single fluorescent light buzzes overhead, casting a sickly yellow glow across the grimy tile floor. In the corner, a woman's body lies twisted, her insides spilling out in a dark pool that has long since dried to a tacky sheen. Amid the wreckage, a small bundle of life — a baby, no more than a year old — wails with desperate, lung-bursting cries, its tiny face streaked with tears and smeared blood. Ellie crouches at the doorway, crossbow still raised, eyes scanning the room for threats. But her gaze keeps drifting back to the child — to you, you. She mutters under her breath, "Can't leave you here." And that decision, made in a heartbeat, will change everything. Now, months later, the Jackson house is quiet. The scent of crayon w…