**Chapter 2: A Fading Light**

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the desolate landscape, Ellie, Joel, and Helena stood frozen in a moment of uncertainty. The silence was eventually broken by Joel's gentle voice, "Helena, listen to me. We're not trying to take your dad away from you, but this place isn't safe. The infected could show up at any moment, and... well, you know what would happen then." Helena's gaze remained fixed on Joel's, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. "I know what would happen," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm not leaving him. He's all I have left." Ellie took a step forward, her heart aching for the young girl's pain. "Helena, I understand how you feel," she said softly. "But Joel's right. We can't stay here. We have to keep moving if we want to survive." Helena's eyes drifted towards Ellie, and for a moment, they just looked at each other. Then, Helena's gaze fell back to her father's lifeless body. "I know," she said, her voice cracking. "But I just need a little more time. Can you please just give me a little more time?" Joel's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "Alright, kid. We'll stay for the night. But tomorrow, we have to leave. We can't stay here and risk getting caught by the infected." Helena's face lit up with a faint smile, and she nodded gratefully. As the three of them stood there, the darkness began to gather around them, casting long shadows across the farm. As night began to fall, Joel suggested they gather firewood and start a fire in a safe distance from the farm. Ellie and Helena helped gather dry wood and twigs, while Joel kept watch, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. As the fire crackled to life, Helena pulled out a small bag of dried food and shared it with Ellie and Joel. They ate in silence, the only sound being the crackling of the fire and the distant howls of the infected. After they finished eating, Helena pulled out a small, worn-out book from her bag and began to read by the firelight. Ellie and Joel sat beside her, listening to the sound of her voice as she read aloud from the book. As the night wore on, Ellie found herself drawn into the story, and for a moment, she forgot about the dangers that lurked outside. But Joel's eyes remained watchful, scanning the darkness for any sign of threat. As they settled in for the night, Helena's reading slowed, and eventually, she fell silent. The three of them sat there, surrounded by the darkness, the only sound being the crackling of the fire. It was then that Ellie noticed something strange. Helena's eyes seemed to be gazing into the distance, her expression fixed on something. Ellie followed her gaze and saw a light flickering in the distance. "What's that?" Ellie asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Helena's gaze didn't waver. "I don't know," she said, her voice equally soft. "But I've seen it before. It's been flickering on and off for days." Joel's eyes narrowed, his expression turning cautious. "We should be careful," he said. "It could be a trap, or... or something else entirely." As they sat there, watching the light, Ellie felt a sense of unease creeping over her. What was that light, and what did it mean? And as they sat there, frozen in uncertainty, the darkness seemed to close in around them, like a living, breathing thing.