The elevator banks were a death trap, that much was obvious right from the start. It was sheer dumb luck that anyone would survive a trip on them, so of course Joel and Ellie kept away from them as much as they possibly could, only getting close when it was necessary to scope out the area, or to potentially lay an ambush.

That ding really was like a siren call, though, and Joel kept low, peering around a corner to see if anyone else was about. Sure enough, there was someone fool enough to make a run for them. Joel tugged on Ellie's sleeve to make her aware, and possibly to ask: friend or foe?