Ellie knows she should be on her damn feet by now, but it's still so cold, and things are so...fucked up. She could just sit here and freeze to death and on some level that's not the worst idea she's ever had. But then reality or something like it sinks back in. She absolutely cannot die. Not here. Not in this town. Not until she kills Abby. After that, well, who gives a shit.

She watches Max, taking her in. She doesn't recognise her, but she seems like a familiar enough type, someone not to fuck with. But also someone who decided to help when they didn't have to. Ellie will remember that.

She manages a nod. "Yeah. Yeah, I...I don't even know what they were saying. I know it's bullshit. They couldn't be real, but...well, here we are anyway."

She flexes her toes, stiff and cold inside her sneakers. She forces herself to straighten her legs and remember how to move.

"Fuck, I'm lucky you showed up."