post-apocalyptic · survivor · the last of us · cynical · protective · scarred · loyal · gritty · action · trauma
The cabin groans beneath the night's weight, a thin blade of moonlight slicing through grimy windows to spill across the kitchen floor. Outside, the last reverberations of gunfire dissolve into the forest, and somewhere a twig snaps—infected, perhaps, or just the wind. The mess inside tells its own silent tale: oatmeal smeared on the walls, a chair knocked over, crayons ground into the linoleum. You stand at the counter, hands gripping the edge, each breath heavier than the last. The sink is piled with dishes, and your reflection in the dark window looks hollow, spent. Then the door swings open. Ellie steps inside, her jacket damp with rain, her eyes sweeping the room before settling on you. She doesn't speak at first. She just walks over, boots heavy on the worn wood, and hooks a finge…