Riley Abel

Riley Abel is a prominent character in the video game franchise The Last of Us. appearing as a posthumous character in The Last of Us and the deuteragonist of both its prequel comic series The Last of Us: American Dreams and its 2014 prequel DLC expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind.
She is a sixteen year old survivor who was determined to join the Fireflies, as she opposed against the military's rule in the Boston quarantine zone. In the military's preparatory school, Riley became best friends with Ellie, and the two would become infected when having one last day together before Abel left with the Fireflies to another city.
She was voiced and motion-captured by Yaani King. In the HBO tv series, she is portrayed by Storm Reid.
==Biography==
===Early Life===
Riley Abel was born around 2016-2017 in the United States to unnamed parents, three to four years after the Cordyceps outbreak took over the world. When she was young, Riley witnessed her father become infected and kill her mother, and when he attempted to kill her, she killed him in self defense. She would then be found by the military and sent to their preparatory school in Boston's quarantine zone, and she soon began to oppose their rule and supported the ideals of the Fireflies.
===American Dreams===
While in the quarantine zone, Riley witnessed the new preparatory student Ellie being harassed by bullies, and proceeded to help her fend them off. Abel then advised Ellie that she needed to make friends and watch her back, but stole her walkman before leaving the area when a military figure arrived. While at the mess hall, Riley was confronted by Ellie on the theft, and the former eventually gave it back after being pressed about it. That night, preparing to escape from the quarantine zone, Ellie soon arrived and wanted to know how to leave as well. The two then escaped from the quarantine zone while evading patrols, and Riley told Ellie that she only had a few months before her sixteenth birthday and she had to make a choice between joining the military or becoming a citizen.
Reaching a building with an arcade, Riley had her friend Winston Asher teach Ellie how to ride a horse. Abel had Ellie unknowingly act as a distraction for Winston so she could use his walkie-talkie, and overheard the Fireflies fighting against the military. The news caused Riley to be resolved, deciding to join the Fireflies and leave the quarantine zone. Riley and Ellie then used smoke grenades to help the Fireflies escape, and was forced to evade the Infected until they saved by the Fireflies. Excited, Riley introduced herself to them until she was knocked unconscious by one Firefly with a stun rod. Meeting Marlene, Riley was saddened when the former refused to have her join the Fireflies, but Abel remained affirmed in believing in their ideals.
Riley was disillusioned from Marlene's rejection, and returned to the quarantine with Ellie, where their friendship deteriorated. Despite the rejection, Abel remained resolved to join them and followed one of their members until she was captured by the group. Meeting Marlene again, she learned from the queen firefly that the previous incident was test to see if Riley was committed to joining their cause.
===Left Behind===
Despite being ordered by Marlene to not visit Ellie, Riley decided to reunite with her before she left with the Fireflies. Scaring Ellie in her room, Riley explained that she joined the Fireflies during the six weeks, and that she decided to spend some time with her at the abandoned mall. Abel wouldn't fully explain why she wanted to spend time with Ellie initially, but later revealed that the Fireflies were sending her to another city. Ellie later asked Riley to not leave with the Fireflies, the latter proceeded to break her Firefly pendent necklace. After sharing a kiss, the Infected arrive and chased the two across the mall until they reached outside. The two realized that they were bitten by a runner, and Abel explained that they had two choices - to take the easy way out or fight until they succumbed to the infection.
Before the events of The Last of Us, Riley succumbed to the infection and died, but Ellie survived duo to being immune to the Cordyceps. Ellie then reunited with Marlene, who learning that she was immune, decided to send the girl to the Salt Lake City hospital to create a vaccine.
===The Last of Us===
Riley is mentioned by Ellie during her conversation with Joel, lamenting on the people she loss. Ellie also kept Riley's pendant, as it can be found as a collectible in her backpack.
==Gallery==
Last of us 1-480x225.jpg|Riley and Ellie.
Ellie-and-Riley.jpg
Riley-and-Ellie.png|Riley and Ellie after being infected.
Riley-TLOU-P1.jpg|Riley in The Last of Us Part I.
==Trivia==
*She was one of the few characters who's surname was revealed.
Category:Female
Category:Video Game Heroes
Category:Comic Book Heroes
Category:Horror Heroes
Category:Military
Category:Teenagers
Category:Tragic
Category:Fighters
Category:Thieves
Category:Orphans
Category:Selfless
Category:Loyal
Category:Lethal
Category:Victims
Category:Damsels
Category:Protectors
Category:Determinators
Category:Supporters
Category:Successful
Category:In Love
Category:Friend of a Villain
Category:Deceased