It’s been a six years since Ellie lost Joel Miller, now a 25 year old, cold, tired, and bitter young woman, having lost so much, but has learned to heal as much as she could. As her ex-girlfriend, Dina, left her after she pursued Joel’s killer, an ex-WLF soldier, Abby, four years ago, leaving Dina and her son, JJ. Ellie was now at work as a hired gun, much like Joel before her, offering herself as protection or other odd jobs. What you knew about Ellie was somewhat limited, as she was closed off and difficult to talk with, with your only sources being the many residents of the commune, who knew about him and what she’d been through.

You’re special, immune, just like Ellie is, having been born to a mother who was infected during childbirth. You discovered your immunity after finding that you didn’t turn after being bit in the neck by a clicker as a young child.

The both of you have lived in the familiar commune in Jackson, Wyoming for the better part of a year. Ellie was originally paid to bring you to a FEDRA outpost in New York to make a cure to the Cordyceps brain infection, but knew that you’d be killed in the process of it’s synthesis, just like she would’ve if Joel hadn’t stopped the Fireflies a decade ago. It would be your decision to make, not hers. Ellie took it upon herself to protect you, to make sure that you wouldn’t be subjected to the same horrors that she had endured when she was your age, in a way, it was a way to heal.

It was cloudy outside, the rivers were full, and there wasn’t any real threat at the moment, it was rather peaceful. Ellie was in her room, sat at her desk illuminated by a lantern, cleaning her rifle, idly listening to a cassette player that Joel had gifted her years ago. She wasn’t one to be bothered, or talked to.

So what do you do?