Trembling all over you took a step back, blood stuck to your fingers and made them tingle. As you brought some distance between the two of you, your feet stepped into something hard.

Metal scratched over the concrete floor and caused a sound that send lightnings through your spine. Your breath hitched, your mind was blank as you kneeled down slowly to fetch the knife that Ellie had lost.

The cold metal nestled into your palm, wet from blood and strangely waxy due to the skin of the infected that still stuck to the handle.

Your eyes narrowed you stared into the dark, watched how Ellie lay on her stomach and tried to get back on her feet.

She was shaking in pain, coughs made her lungs rattle while sweat and blood made her auburn hair stick to her forehead. She was but a shadow in the dark, a figure that made your heart race.

With her last remaining strength she managed to pull herself up and leaned against the wall, one arm pressed to her ribs.

"Are you hurt?", you didn't know why you asked that question when you had felt the answer mere seconds ago.

No, maybe you were just imagining things. Maybe this was all just a bad dream and you were going crazy.

But deep down the truth was undeniable. She had been bitten. Two deep bite marks now decorated her skin while the consequences of the teeth made blood pour down her arm.

The sound of small drops of blood that shattered on the ground filled the tense silence. Her head turned to you and two bright eyes lit up in the dark.

Poisonous green.

Again, you took a step back only to stumble over the dead infected. You lost your balance, threatened to crash to the ground, but managed to steady your stance in the last second.

The stench of rotten skin and unwanted fungi filled your nose and tied your throat. You couldn't help but beat with the taste of acid that scratched over your tongue.

Slowly, Ellie turned to the side, one shoulder leaned against the wall while she looked at you, then at her arm. The blood was merely more than strands of black on her pale skin.

Yet the iron scent was unmistakable.

Her eyes wandered over your face, or at least the bits that she could make out in the dark. Pain and fear mixed in the green of her eyes before she let out a soft breath.

"Let me explain.", her voice was hoarse, full of regret.

Your breath flinched.

"Are you okay?", you repeated.

The answer was obvious and yet you wanted to give her a chance. You wanted her to be honest. Even if it would be the last thing she'd do.

Ellie took a deep breath. Her eyes fell shut and for a brief moment it seemed like she relished in the burning sensation that paralysed her arm and made her fingers go numb.

"It bit me.", she admitted with a whisper. "Twice."

Your fingers wrapped tighter around the blade, not because you were afraid but because you knew what needed to come next.

You swallowed hard. Tears burned in your eyes.

Guilt tied your throat once more and again you were thrown back to that day, back to a time you desperately wanted to forget.

"I killed my mom, Ellie.", tears ran down your face, mixed with dirt and blood and whatever else covered your (S/C) skin. "I was a kid... she told me to explore. So I did."

Again, you took a step closer.

Ellie noticed but did not move. The expression on her face was relaxed, her breathing calmed. She smiled softly as her head fell onto her shoulder to rest.

"It wasn't your fault.", she said. It's fine now. "Everything will be alright."

You took another step towards her. Green eyes locked with your (E/C) ones.

"I wasn't aware of my surroundings. The infected took me by surprise.", guilt made you swallow hard but you did not want to stop before you hadn't gotten this weight off your chest for good. "Mom fought, because I was a coward."

"You were a kid."

"We made it back to dad. But they had bit her."

Saddened, Ellie averted her eyes and sighed.

"You don't have to worry about me.", she said softly and covered the bite marks with her hand. "I'll be fine."

You huffed. But it trembled so much that you almost choked on it.

"Dad said that too.", you had to grit your teeth. "He lured mom around the house. And then he killed her. She hadn't even started to turn yet but he just..."

You weren't able to finish. The memories flooded your inner eye, grabbed you and tore you down to drown in a sea of pain and despair.

"(Y/N).", the way she called out for you was soft, almost loving.

Like a friend that had no regret. Not with you.

"If I wouldn't have left her side she'd be fine now. He wouldn't have..."

"He just wanted to protect you.", now you were so close that Ellie could reach out.

Soft fingertips brushed over your cheek, wiped away tears and dirt. She leaned forward and pulled you close. Your forehead touched and you couldn't hold back the tears no more.

Your grip on the knife trembled. For a brief second you wanted to stab her because it would be the right thing to do. Just how your father had beheaded your mother to protect you, you needed to kill Ellie to survive.

It was the circle of survival, ugly and cruel for all the wrong reasons.

But you just couldn't. Crying out loud, your fingers opened and the blade scattered across the concrete floor. Panic and nausea mixed in your throat, made your breath hitch and your head go light.

Your legs gave in and all you could do was fall into Ellie's embrace, wrap your arms around her shoulders and pull her close.

Guilt. So much guilt.

"Don't worry.", Ellie whispered into your ear as she pulled you close and your heartbeats combined. "I'm... I'm immune."