The Last of Us: Part One

[Jessica Reed]

A high pitched repetitive beep cuts through the darkness as an alarm erupts into life by the head of Jessica Reed who is sprawled across her bed, a collection wrestling attires strewn across the floor as she opens her eyes and looks up.

Jessica Reed: Oh man, what time is it?

Jessica rolls over and see’s the digital clock glowing back with 7:47 PM. She rubs her eyes and yawns again before she sits herself up.

Jessica Reed: Damn, I really shouldn’t drink so much hot chocolate…

Jessica stretches as she climbs out of her bed and slips on her Pikachu slippers before staggering unenergetically towards her door, yawning again as she opens it and looks out into the corridor.

Jessica Reed: Hey, guys?

No answer.

Jessica Reed: Hannah? Berto?

No answer.

Jessica Reed: Where are you guys?

Muffled noises from a distance creep down the corridor.

Jessica Reed: Oh gross, if you two are doing it I swear…

Jessica creeps down the corridor to the pair’s bedroom and slowly reaches for the handle.

Jessica Reed: I am coming in guys, please cover up…

Jessica closes her eyes and opens the room… but there is no response. Opening them slowly she sees that the TV is on but nobody is in there.

Jessica Reed: Damn, where’d they go? G-guys!? Seriously? This isn’t funny…

She tentatively walks down the corridor to the living room, but still there is absolutely nobody to be seen. Jessica’s heart begins to pound in her chest as she walks into the living room, flipping on the light switch as her eyes take a few moments to become accustomed to the glare of the bulb.

Jessica Reed: Something’s wrong, I can sense it…

Jessica stumbles into the living room, using the couch to support her when suddenly the door flings open causing her to leap in the air, screaming, before launching herself over the couch where she peers over shaking.

Roberto Verona: Shit, who left a light on?

Suddenly Hannah races in after him, slamming the door shut behind her. Jess’ eyes widen as she looks at her sister covered in blood.

Hannah Reed: Where’s Jess?

Roberto Verona: By my reckoning, she’ll be behind the couch judging by that slipper over there.

Sure enough, one of Jess’ slippers was discarded in the sudden launce from the floor and she slowly pokes her head out over the couch.

Jessica Reed: What… what happened to you guys?

Roberto Verona: Are you dressed?

Jessica Reed: Yes…why wouldn’t I be?

Roberto Verona: Then get on some shoes, we need to get out of here.

Jessica Reed: Wait, why? And why is Hannah covered in so much blood?

Hannah Reed: We don’t have any time to explain, just get ready; we have to leave, right now!

Jessica stands up and walks around the couch before suddenly stopping.

Jessica Reed: Wait… you finally killed Dad, didn’t you?

Roberto and Hannah look at each other uneasily before turning back to Jess.

Hannah Reed: I don’t want to talk about it…

Jessica Reed: Hey, I was just joking…

Suddenly Verona pushes his way through to two girls.

Roberto Verona: Shit, there’s one trying to get through the balcony windows, get back you two.

Jessica Reed: There’s what trying to get through the windows?

Jessica peers across the room, her eyes still adjusting to the light where she can see Bernard de Montfort climbing up onto the balcony of the house, his clothes torn and tattered.

Jessica Reed: Oh man, he looks terrible…

Hannah Reed: That’s how he always dresses, but that isn’t the problem…

Suddenly there is an almighty smash as Bernard crashes through the glass, startling Jess who cowers behind Hannah. Roberto grabs his replica NCW World Heavyweight Championship and stands between him and the two girls.

Roberto Verona: I am warning you Bernard, stay back…

Bernard takes a few steps forward, his eyes full of rage as he froths at the mouth.

Roberto Verona: I swear…

Suddenly he lets out a guttural scream and lunges forward as Jessica screams, crouching and shutting her eyes.

Wow, it finally happened! I’ve been waiting so long for this…

Me and Eternity get to be besties! O.M.G. I am so excited! I mean, she did sorta go all stiff when I hugged her last week and I don’t think she was too happy about me walking in on her trying on some sort of lingerie but I mean it’s ok.

I haven’t like lost any hair or grown any unsightly warts or anything so I can assume I totally don’t need to go Salem on her. Although that Black Cat did say hello to me this morning, maybe…

Ah, I am just getting paranoid.

This is so awesome! I so wanna see your magic tricks, Eternity, but you gotta show me how to do some of those things. I mean if I can learn how to master the black arts It’ll so spice up my Barbosa costume and the lightening could really add the missing touches to my Gandalf…

But I guess we’ll have to get the whole “wrestling” dealy out of the way first, what a drag huh?

Oh heck, who am I kidding, it’s going to be so cool! The Gothic Mage and the Cosplayer joining forces to vanquish evil, or, erm, do it’s bidding as we take on the almighty challenge of…

Erm, Ashley and Amber. Well, that sort of stole my thunder. Shoot.

So, Amber, that was pretty cool what you had to say about me being the best and all, and I don’t like to brag but it’s so frickin’ awesome to be in that final four! Wow, when I came here I was just happy to have a contract and stuff and now I am two matches away from being the first ever Diamond’s champion?

Eee! I am so hyped, I’ve not needed any Coke at all this week. I can feel the rush of success, I mean, I hope it’s not as fattening?

Listen, I’m sorry you’re so bummed out at not being in the Heiress to the Throne tournament and all that, but you know, you could have shook your tushy with a little more enthusiasm if you were so desperate and all, but hey, it’s cool, who am I to criticise the costume choices of my opponents?

And besides, if you and Ashley over there decide to share that opportunity to face up with Tara I mean technically you could be the next Heiress to the Throne with that really sweet Ruby Championship.

So maybe the whole dignity route really has paid off for you, I mean you’ve been so impressive inside that ring. The way you hurt those other girls, I mean, I don’t like to speak ill of the dead…

What, you mean they aren’t dead, but when they were eliminated I thought they were, you know…

Muted laughter.

Hey, stop that!

Anyways, you’ve done so well Amber and it’s nice to see another girl just do her thing, that’s why I love Eternity so much, she just turns up and spooks the crap out of everyone and has a little, well…she said not to call it fun, she said “a necessary act in the perpetuation of the grandiose evil” or something but, you know.

Same difference.

I mean I know I can’t really root for you this week because I’ve been told wishing my opponents good luck all the time comes across as a little weird so I guess I’ll have to say, erm, not hard feelings?

Wait, still too soft? Oh man, but I like Amber!

Well this sucks, everyone is telling you I’ve gotta say I am going to enjoy beating you this Monday but I mean that’d be a lie, I just wanna put on a good show and really prove to everyone that I deserve my spot. I don’t wanna hurt you or anything.

Yes I know it’s a violent sport! I didn’t get this bruise on my elbow making daisy chains! Oh no wait, maybe that one was from daisy chains but the one on my knee was totally from kneeing Emma in the face, which, by the way, I am really sorry about!

Ok, ok I’ll stop apologising! So what’s next? Ashley?

She said what?

Oh, well gee, that just wasn’t very nice Ashley. I mean I may be a little less clued up on this whole business then somebody with years of experience, but that’s pretty hurtful to call me stupid. I mean, what is this? Some kind of contest where we have to constantly belittle one another because admitting that maybe just maybe not being horrible is a positive character trait?

Noises from off camera

What? Seriously? So I just have to be a total bitch for the sake of it? Just insult people for no discernible reason?

That seems a little fake, doesn’t it? Since when has “fake” and “wrestling” ever been bed pals?

Even though you want to be mean Ashley and question my intelligence I’m not going try and create some sort of drama where there isn’t any. I mean, I’m not so stupid that I haven’t seen right through the whole fact you’ve got so little to say about me because I’ve given you zero ammunition to just butcher me for everyone’s amusement.

Or you know the bit where you said you wouldn’t do what everyone else does and say you’re going to win, but then close on that exact point hoping that we’ve all got really short attention spans and…

Ooooh! Look, a butterfly! O.M.G. Did you see that!?

Damn it! Focus Jess… you can do this. Where was I? Oh yeah!

You just skipped on right past little ole Jess here and tore into my lovely partner Eternity because she’s as nutty as a Squirrels stash when she was at her most vulnerable. Cos picking on the mentally ill is totally cool. Not.

Wow, real mature, Ashley.

I mean, I get it, you girls all struggle to really run me down because it’s like shooting a puppy and there’s only so much you can do with a nice girl who like to have a little fun playing dress up without sounding unreasonably vindictive but then it just goes to show what we all already know.

Nobody really see’s me as a threat.

I mean I get it, honestly I do, I am just here to live my dream and have a little fun without taking everything so super seriously all the time like a big grumble bear, but is that honestly such a bad thing?

I go out there every single week and unlike the rest of you I don’t get super upset if I don’t pull off the perfect moonsault or if I look a little silly out there because I just enjoy myself and live in the moment. I don’t obsess over whether I will be champion or if I am being made to look stupid by some big meanie pants.

I just strap on my boots, skip down that ramp and have myself a good time.

And hey, it seems to be working, doesn’t it? I mean, I don’t spend my whole week bitching about everyone and getting all hung up on being the best, I just enjoy myself. I just fly through the air, slap a few hands, get groped by a few guys at ringside…

Hey wait…

Well anyway, the point is, perhaps ya’ll need to stop looking at me with some sort of pity and start learning a thing or two from me. Maybe it is about time you start to live in the now, enjoy the adventure and just hold on tight for the ride.

Perhaps the reality is that there are no monsters, I mean except all those serial killers and Sharknado’s out there, and maybe there’s no goodies and baddies, but I’ve been on top for weeks and even though it’s been a little bumpy, I’ve enjoyed every second of-

Oh come on guys, stop laughing, you’re upsetting my rhythm!

Hey wait, did Ashley wink at me? You don’t think that means? She, you know… 

Has eye sight problems?

Because I’m not cool with beating up a blind girl.

We re-join the trio inside Verona’ car as they speed down the highway, the sound of explosions can be heard in the distance as he breathes rapidly, clearly panicked. Jessica is sat in the rear, still clearly in shock at what happened.

Jessica Reed: You just… left him there…

Roberto Verona: He was going to hurt you both.

Jessica Reed: I don’t understand how you knocked him down so easily.

Roberto Verona: Haven’t you learned anything? Title shots to the face are instantly more powerful than anything else in professional wrestling?

Jessica shrugs and looks out of the windows, buildings are ablaze as people run to and fro, screaming at the top of their lungs as they bang on the car. Verona, however, just keeps driving.

Jessica Reed: Aren’t you going to help those people?

Roberto Verona: We can’t stop for anybody, didn’t you see Bernard? There’s others like him…

Hannah Reed: Just, do as he asks, Jess…

Jess leans forward and places a hand on Hannah’s shoulder.

Jessica Reed: Are you ok, sis?

Hannah smiles.

Hannah Reed: I’ll be fine, just listen to Roberto for me, ok?

Jessica Reed: Sure…

Suddenly Jess is flung back into the car as Verona swerves around an over turned vehicle. She looks out and sees a man on fire, screaming as he runs from the wreckage, seemingly followed by a female figure who is giggling.

Jessica Reed: Shit…wait, was that Eternity?

Before she can really check Roberto swerve against sending her back across the back seat before suddenly the grind to a halt.

Roberto Verona: Fuck… looks like we’re going no further. Hannah….Hannah!

Hannah suddenly jerks up, though she’s looking visibly in poor shape.

Hannah Reed: Yeah…sorry.

Roberto Verona: We need to go.

Hannah Reed: Sure…

Roberto unbuckles his seat belt and turns to look at Jess.

Roberto Verona: Are you ready? I’ll need your help with Hannah.

Jessica nods and pushes the door open, following Roberto who rushes round to the side where Hannah is, opening the door as he picks her up, her arms dropping limply to the side.

Jessica Reed: Is she ok?

Roberto Verona: I don’t know…

Suddenly screams can be heard as people start running towards the pair. Jessica looks around to see that they’re just by the side of a road, with a large wooded ravine by the side of them. Roberto looks around horridly before nodding down at the ravine.

Roberto Verona: Come on, we need to get out of here.

Roberto climbs over the road side barrier and Jess quickly follows him as they descend into the forest. Verona runs as quickly as they can as Jess just follows him as best she can in her rather makeshift attire, the branches cutting at her arms before they suddenly come to a standstill. Jess looks up and see a man with a machine gun pointed right at the trio.

Roberto Verona: Please! We need help! She’s not infected!

Soldier: Stay where you are!

Jessica Reed: Infected

Roberto Verona: I swear to you!

Soldier: Don’t move!

Suddenly his radio kicks into life as he begins to converse with the man on the other end.

Soldier: Sir… there’s three civilians and one of them doesn’t look too good…no I can’t see if she’s been bitten…but sir…roger that…

Roberto’s eyes suddenly widen.

Roberto Verona: No… Jessica get down!

Before Jess can even move the soldier opens fire as Roberto hits the deck and she instinctively throws herself on the ground. The gunfire suddenly stops after a few moments and Jess begins to crawl out from behind a bush to see Roberto cradling Hannah who is laid on the floor.

Roberto Verona: Hannah… please… wake up…