The Last of Us: Part Fourteen

[Jessica Reed]

Once again we re-join our intrepid duo as they carefully navigate their way around rusty debris, making sure they don’t fall or injure themselves in the process. In front of them lays a large section of the tunnel which appears to be completely under water, although at the end of the tunnel is daylight. Roberto stands by the edge of the water, hands on his hips as Jessica hangs about as far back as she can.

Roberto Verona: By my calculations we’re stuck.

Jessica Reed: Maybe you’re wrong.

Roberto Verona: I’m not.

Jessica Reed: You’ve been wrong before.

Roberto Verona: Well I’m not wrong this time, either we go straight ahead or we sit here and slowly starve to death.

Jessica Reed: We could let your starve to death and then I use your bloated corpse to float across to the exit over there.

Roberto Verona: And then what?

Jessica Reed: I… erm… I haven’t thought any further ahead.

Roberto rolls his eyes.

Roberto Verona: You agreed to face your fear, Jess. I’m not becoming a impromptu flotation device to help you avoid it.

Jessica Reed: I know, I know it’s just… what if I drown?

Roberto Verona: I won’t let you drown.

Jessica Reed: But what if you get swept away?

Roberto Verona: There isn’t a current in stagnant water, Jess. It’s a tunnel not the ocean.

Jessica Reed: Yeah, but what if…

Roberto looks at her puzzled as she suddenly stops mid-sentence, darting her head around.

Roberto Verona: Jess?

Jessica Reed: Can you hear that?

Roberto Verona: What?

Jess raises a finger as the pair stand silently by the water’s edge and gradually we can hear the sound of concrete groaning under the weight of something. As the pair remain motionless suddenly a huge crash can be heard as a portion of the wall behind them collapses and the sound of rushing water erupts into the tunnel as tons of it begins to stream through the open gap. Jessica yelps as Roberto grabs her hand quickly.

Roberto Verona: No more games, Jess. Come on.

Before she can protest Roberto leaps into the water, pulling her with him by the hand. Jess screams as she thrashes around as Roberto tries to keep the pair afloat.

Roberto Verona: For the love of God, settle down! We can’t waste time!

Jessica Reed: I swear if you got my DS wet I am going to kill you!

Roberto shakes his head and begins to swim as best he can with Jess grasps to his back as the waves begin to crash towards them faster and faster.

Jessica Reed: We’re not going to make it!

Roberto Verona: Hold on!

Roberto wades forwards, navigating past floating debris as best he can as Jess splashes anxiously behind her trying, in her own way, to push them both forward but the water is gaining on them at a much quicker rate than they can manage.

Roberto Verona: Do you trust me?

Jessica Reed: After you pulled me into this!? No!

Roberto Verona: Jess, I am being serious.

Jessica groans reluctantly.

Jessica Reed: Fine! Yes, I do.

Roberto Verona: Then grab hold of me and do not let go, no matter what!

Jessica Reed: OK just… don’t get touchy feely.

Roberto pulls Jessica tight to him and takes a deep breath just as the first wave hits them both, sending them hurtling forwards and underneath the water line. Cars fly past the pair as the weight of the water pushes the previously static debris flooding forwards along with them both. Both of them cling on tightly as they desperately try to ride out the power of the wave but gradually, try as they might, they both slowly begin to lose consciousness. As they do so they are both fortuitously washed onto the opposite embankment as the water laps around them, but neither of them seem to move. Minutes pass they lay relatively motionless until suddenly Roberto begins to cough, water flowing out of his lips as he heaves and slowly turns around, trying to find his bearings. As he does so he looks for Jess but as he locks his eyes on her, he soon finds the barrel of a gun pointed at his face.

Roberto Verona: What the…

Just as he regains consciousness Verona is struck on the side of the head, blacking out again immediately as we just see two men grab Jess under the arms and begin to drag her away.

Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother standing here, in front of this camera, to profess to you all how innocent I am. Quite honestly, as each week goes by it just seems like I am digging myself into a deeper and deeper Sarlak pit and we all know you don’t escape that. Well, unless you’re Boba Fett, aka a few hundred pounds of pure awesome.

I’m never going to change my tune, because I know deep down I am not the one who is portraying me as some untouchable demi-Goddess, but I am starting to question if it’s even worth wasting my breath on?

Will any of you ever believe me?

It’s like the past 6 months never happened all of a sudden. Now, I know I am pretty naïve about this whole business, but I get the whole flip flop guys and gals go on with the whole being naughty or nice. It’s pretty easy to fall into the trap of thinking I am pulling some sort of elaborate scam to fool you all into thinking I’m this poor ickle Jessy who is going to throw some poor girl off a bridge through 90 tables out of nowhere or something.

All I know is that it’s never going to happen, but I aren’t even sure I can convince a single one of you I am genuine at this stage.

I never asked Mr de Montfort to treat me like a special case of the golden girl, I can’t help the fact that I keep winning either unless people expect me to just lay down limply to let them have their day. The fact that the “streak” continues with the damp squibs I keep having fed to me is as much an annoyance to me as it is you, it makes me so mad that in an effort to make me look good I am made to feel like I am just showing up every week with another win already etched in my column.

Some people may be delighted with racking up victories in matches where there was never a contest to begin with, but I’m a little fussier than that.

I want to be seen to be earning everything I have worked hard for, not just have it handed to me. I have tried really hard to live my dream but it is quite rapidly becoming a living nightmare I am seem completely unable to awake from, I’m half expecting an interference from Freddy Krueger at any minute now. All I ever wanted has quickly turned sour and whilst many girls think I am sipping from the golden goblet, the nectar isn’t as sweet as they assume.

This week I am going up against one of the biggest tag teams in female wrestling’s history and I should be totally psyched for this, but at the back of my mind is a sense of dread. Rayne is awesome and whichever girl she has by her side is also one of the best this business has ever seen, but yet I have a nagging feeling…

What has Simon got planned for this week? Custard pies and acrobats? Is he going to tie them both up on train tracks whilst twirling his moustache? Are they going to be forced to compete whilst hogtied? I never really know these days.

All I know is that what you could potentially call a dream match is going to descend into a total farce that will eclipse Episode II of Star Wars.

I’m deadly serious, there won’t even be Samuel L. Jackson to save this trainwreck.

I am teaming up with a girl who has been super inspiring and done so well, by rights this should be a stellar match with the two “best” girls in the federation against the veterans, everybody should be really pumped for this, but ultimately we all know, deep down, you wouldn’t be getting a return for your money.

Although as the “face” of the Diamond’s division maybe I shouldn’t be saying that.

I should be stood here dancing around in all my super cool merchandise, smiling away and trotting out some silliness about how you should like soooo tune in this week to see me tackle the Busy Bees with Attitude alongside my super-duper gal pal Ashley Mastrangelo.

Yeah, not going to happen.

I respect every woman in this division, whether she’s just strapping up her boots or if she’s been here since day dot. We are supremely talented and deserve to be treated with the respect we have earned. Every one wants to praise the performances of guys like Spike Kane or Rob Diamond, and as awesome as they may be, when it comes to us girls...

It’s kinda like a pat on the head and a cookie with our milk.

We are patronised at every turn and always cast in the shadows of the dudes just cos we have bazingas and they have dongles and now, we’re not even equal amongst our own gender. Simon has waltzed in and created a hierarchy that shouldn’t exist. I’m not saying some girls are not more talented than others, but the fact that opportunities seem to be handed out based on marketability…

It’s just plain wrong.

Ashley, you’re fantastic, I want to see you keep doing what you’re doing and help me put on a show, we’re the two girls lucky enough to be able to say we represent the others as their champions, but with that burden comes a responsibility. Simon wants to make me into a symbol of whatever twisted idea he has for us all, so I beg you.

Use your position to represent us in the way I always wanted to be able to.

You have the talent, you have the power, so make use of it. Somebody is going to have to do something and right now… I am totally tainted. Anything I say is going to get twisted by the other girls because even now week after week more of them buy into this whole idea that I am out for myself. You need to be the girl who stands up for us, before it’s too late.

This week, like every week, I will strap up my boots, walk down to that ring and do my very best to be as entertaining as possible and if I win, cool, if I don’t, nevermind. I love this business, going out there every week is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I don’t want see my dream taken away from me to prove a point to somebody.

I’m the same girl I’ve always been.

I just hope someday, you’ll believe me.

Gradually, slowly but surely, Roberto begins to open his eyes, though he soon winces at the bright artificial lamp which is pointed almost directly at him. Clutching the side of his head where he was struck he slowly sits up but as he does he realises his other hand is cuffed to a rail beside him. As he gets up he look around immediately for Jess, but the only two people in the room are Katherine Lockheart and a armed guard who looks at him sternly.

Katherine Lockheart: Nice to see you back in the land of the living.

Roberto Verona: Where am I?

Katherine Lockheart: The Diamond’s Headquarters, exactly where we agreed.

Roberto Verona: Where is Jess?

Katherine smiles.

Katherine Lockheart: She’s safe.

Roberto Verona: With all due respect, that doesn’t answer my question.

Katherine Lockheart: She’s no longer your concern, Roberto. Just like we agreed, you get her here safely and I promise to look after her.

Roberto Verona: This isn’t what I want…

Katherine Lockheart: What you want is no longer relevant. You couldn’t wait to palm her off onto us before, I don’t care if you’ve had an epiphany in the meantime, she’s too important to be let out of our sights again.

Roberto Verona: Gee, you’re just the life of the party, aren’t you.

Katherine laughs.

Katherine Lockheart: She’s in the safest place on earth, what more do you want? We have hundreds of well-armed men at our disposal, we’ve secured the building to ensure no infected can possibly break the parameter. There’s nowhere else she could be that would protect her more.

Roberto holds his head again, grimacing.

Roberto Verona: So, when can I see her?

Katherine Lockheart: You can’t.

Roberto looks at her in puzzlement.

Roberto Verona: Why the hell not?

Katherine Lockheart: She thinks you’re dead.

Roberto Verona: Why the fuck would she think that!?

Katherine Lockheart: Because we told her that.

Roberto tries to lunge forward, but is yanked back by the cuffs on his wrist as Katherine raises a hand to tell the guard to stand down.

Roberto Verona: I don’t understand…

Katherine Lockheart: She wanted to leave.

Roberto Verona: Why?

Katherine sighs.

Katherine Lockheart: She wanted to be with you, Roberto. I don’t know what you’ve done over the past few months but that girl doesn’t want to leave your side but quite frankly, the future of the human race trumps your newly found bond.

Roberto Verona: So you tricked her?

Katherine Lockheart: We persuaded her to stay. If you don’t exist, then she has nobody to run away with.

Roberto Verona: You monsters!

Katherine Lockheart: Please, Mr Verona. We’ve placed the agreed sum in your bag and refreshed your supplies, you’re free to return back to where you came with enough credits to live out the rest of your days. Jess will be safe and she will save us all, isn’t that a noble cause?

Roberto Verona: Perhaps…

Katherine Lockheart: Then we have nothing more to say to one another. Gilkes, make sure he is escorted from the building.

The armed guard nods at Lockheart, who turns to leave the room as the former uncuffs Roberto.

Roberto Verona: I don’t suppose you gave me any weapons.

Gilkes: Nice try smart ass, we left your weapons in a safe location not far from the facility.

Roberto Verona: It was worth a try I suppose…

Gilkes: Come on, get your things and get move.

Roberto grabs the rucksack and flings it over his should before lifting himself from the bed and walking, at gunpoint, out of the little door. As the pair begin to walk down a corridor they turn a corner and Roberto freezes in his tracks. Through a window we can see a motionless Jess, dressed in surgical gear, being wheeled down a corridor opposite the pair.

Roberto Verona: What the hell is going on here? What are you doing to her!?

Gilkes: That’s none of your concern.

Roberto Verona: She never woke up, did she?

Gilkes: Keep moving.

Roberto Verona: You bastards!

Suddenly Roberto turns and lunges at Gilkes, taking him by surprise. As he turns to point his gun Verona pushes his arm away and cracks him straight across the jaw. Gilkes tries to recover but Roberto wrenches the sidearm from his belt and immediately pulls the trigger, sending the guard crashing to the floor lifelessly. Roberto looks across again to see where they are taking Jess before leaning down to grab the machine gun before rushing in the same direction as the scene fades to black.