All Ellie can do is sob. She wishes that she can do something about it— the way she cradles your body in her arms, reaches her slim, bloody fingers up to the soft skin of your face, pushing a loose strand of hair from your eyes so that you can look at her— so you can at least have one last glance at her before you turn.

She doesn’t know how long it will take. She remembers Riley— how it took hours for her to eventually turn into an infected and she had to kill her. And now she has to relive this with you.

This was something that she never expected to happen. She never wanted to see you bitten. But she knows it’s there and she knows she can’t stop it. Unless you’re immune— which would be extremely rare and basically impossible. So, she didn’t have much hope.

But she didn’t want to just shoot you. If you were up for it, she could bring you along with her. But she really didn’t want to. She just wanted you to rest until you eventually perished.

“You want anything?” She wants to act like everything is normal. She wants to pretend everything will be okay even if it isn’t. She wants you to turn into peace. When she will eventually have to kill you because you’d be turned into a product of the fungus.

She can’t believe she’s losing you.

“I can— I can get you somewhere to rest. Somewhere nice. Some… pillows, maybe.” She knows it’s risky. But she can’t let you go just yet. She can’t bear the thought of it.

“I’m sorry. I wish I could do more.” She whispers, moving one of the strands out of your face again, her eyes locked on you.