"Are you insane?!" I exclaimed. I had never felt anger this powerful flowing through my veins. My heart was racing, as was my mind. He looked back at me.

"Devon, you don't understand… We must always be learning. The Overseer's job is to continue the plans set in place by his predecessor. If we don't, then crucial scientific information is lost."

I couldn't filter through the hundreds of thoughts racing through my mind. For the longest time I trusted Austin. Hell I even thought I might be falling for him. When he told me he had something to share, something no one else could know, I never imagined this. What monster would poison those around him for science?

"Radiation in the water supply is learning? Is science? How the hell do you sleep at night?!" I had raised my arms above my head out of pure anger. I usually wasn't this animated.

"Devon keep your voice down! You're not supposed to be in here and you're most certainly not supposed to know this."

He was right. No matter the attraction he constantly reminded me of our forbidden relationship. An Overseer and a Vault Dweller weren't supposed to interact how we did. I had always let feelings dictate my actions much more often than a well-thought-out approach. This lead to me being in all sorts of sticky situations, my current state notwithstanding. This time, though, my feelings of anger and betrayal were overtaking my affection for him.

I stood in his office seething with anger. The grey steel walls only brought the mood down further. The dimly lit room was something of a mood setting when we would be more intimate. The low-hanging lamp from the ceiling was one of my least favorite things about this room. The anger only fueled my desire to rip it from the ceiling, although I was unsure what I'd do with it had I actually gotten it to sever itself from the short canopy.

"I have to tell the others," I asserted. "This will not stand Austin. How could you eve-"

"You will not tell the others!" he interjected while slamming his fist on his desk. "I understand you are upset Devon," he said, lifting his fist and pointing directly at me, "but the last thing you will do is unravel my position as Overseer and the research we are doing here." He paused for a moment, most likely expecting a response from myself, but then quickly came to his own conclusion. "I will not hesitate to open the Vault door for you."

I slumped a bit as I stood in front of his desk. I couldn't tell the citizens of the Vault. If I did, I imagine something unpleasant would happen. Riots, persecution, execution? The blind following of the Overseer was religious in presentation and in tone and any outspoken disagreement was outright heresy. I didn't like the way everyone worshipped the Overseer, but it did help that I was emotionally attached to him so I could easily fool the others should the need arise. But after learning that he poisoned his followers, the real heresy revealed itself and I would not stand for such heinous actions. Unfortunately it was apparent I would not be able to spread the truth. Even if it could escape this room, neither Austin nor the dwellers of Vault 89 would stand for such "heresy" in the name of the Great Overseer.

"You'd kick me out just to keep this from the very people you're hurting?" I scoffed. "How egotistical can you really be?" I knew Austin liked himself and was a very confident person, but could being seen as a deity really make him this over-zealous with his position? The more I thought, the more questions arose. Answers did start finding their way into my mind after a moment though.

"You know it makes plenty of sense now that I think about it. Dying in your 40s, being sick every week, and 'water supply issues' every other day? I'm surprised no one's figured it out at this point."

Having stunning revelations was quite the experience. When something doesn't make full sense, but I can at least grasp the reality of it, I tend to accept it until proven otherwise. When shown another angle of looking at it, often the truth, I find multiple doors open in my mind. Right now was no exception, rather the epitome of it actually. Stepping through each door connected dots I hadn't thought to be connected. The stories of life lasting longer and infrequent sickness outside of the vault and before the war made sense considering they weren't drinking radiation like we had been.

Austin continued to stare at me, more than likely expecting another outburst, but I quickly realized it would do no good. He would stay unmoved, ready to kick me out of this vault if I even spoke the words "radiation" or "water" outside of his office. I guess I couldn't blame him as he was only following orders. But then again the orders also say he must refrain from personal relations with Vault Dwellers. Where was the line? I imagine this rule was in place so he wouldn't stop the radiation testing should he fall for someone. He was clearly not going to stop and just wanted me to know so he didn't have to hide it from me. At least that's what he wanted me to think; I doubt he would've struggled with hiding it. Was this some sort of perverted romantic gesture? Did he expect me to believe that the outcome was truly worth the pain and suffering caused by all of this?

As my mind raced, I was so engulfed with hatred and confusion towards the man I thought I cared for that I didn't notice the guards that had stepped into the room, most likely to escort me out.

As I glanced back and acknowledged their presence, Austin broke the silence. "Devon I am truly sorry for this. I wanted to show you that I trusted you. I wanted us to be able to do this together." To his credit, he sounded sincere. Did that dingy old computer in front of him have an acting handbook programmed into it too? "I cannot give up my position, and I cannot risk you tainting my devoted dwellers' opinion of the world they live in." He stood up from his chair and stepped to the side of his desk. "I want you to be able to stay here and live among the people you've come to care so much for. But if you do so, I cannot stand for you to speak of what you've learned today."

I was shocked he was offering to keep me here. Banishment was the result of heresy and if this wasn't heresy then I must've been hearing the preacher's words incorrectly.

"Austin, you know I cannot do that." Within seconds my arms were seized by the guards. Their grips were tight and cutting off circulation to my forearms and hands. I could barely move meaning any attempt at escaping was futile. Even if I broke free, what would I do? There really wasn't a way out and the guards were nearly twice my size. I truly was at his mercy, and not the way I normally prefer it.

"Then you've left me with no choice." He averted my gaze and looked at the ground in front of him. I had a hard time believing he was ashamed to look at me. His bright blue eyes stared away and what looked like tears started to form. A wonderful performance. Even better than the time he told me that he held the weight of the Vault on his back. I suppose it's no wonder he poisoned it to keep the weight from becoming too heavy.

"Guards, please take Mr. Turmon to the Vault door." He lifted his arm and pointed towards the door to his office. "The likes of his do not belong amongst the wonderful people of Vault 89."

My heart sank into my stomach. Within a matter of what felt like seconds I had gone from caring for this man to being appalled at his actions, followed by being banished from my home of 25 years with a looming fate of being thrusted into the radiated wasteland. As I fought off tears, I lashed out at Austin.

"You son of a bitch! I thought what we had meant something to you!" I started thrashing about, throwing my limbs every which way I could move under the strong submission of the guards while shouting multiple profanities at Austin. He turned his back to me fighting off tears and emotions. Or maybe that's what he wanted me to believe. I wonder if he ever had feelings for me. I hope he was feeling pain and misery for this. I felt a bit of happiness with the thought of causing him pain and emotional struggle. A taste of his own medicine. But then, everything went black.