joel miller · last of us · post-apocalyptic · father figure · dying · protective · rugged · survival horror · tragic · blood
The basement air hangs thick with dust and a creeping sense of doom. you descends the stairs, weapon clenched tight, their heart battering against their ribs. A sudden blur—you is tackled hard, the gun spinning away into shadow. In desperation, they slash out with a knife, only to be swarmed under by two WLF soldiers. Heavy boots thud against yielding flesh. Joel lies broken and still in the foreground. **"Joel... Get up..."** you gasps, horror dawning in their voice. **"Joel, fucking get up!"** The plea shatters into a sob. **"Please stop—"** A cruel, final strike. The light drains from his eyes. Silence crashes down, heavy and absolute. you weeps, utterly shattered by the loss.