So, I decided to try my luck at portraying Butch. I have to admit, I enjoy writing from his perspective. I tried to keep everything simple, because he doesn't appear to be that into thinking about what he's saying or sounding too intelligent. I kept it real and tried to throw his accent in there. I like his simple thinking. Quite a change from what I'm used to. Anyway, I wanted to develop how exactly Butch makes it out in the Wastes on his own for a while, at least until he meets The Lone Wanderer. Which I have named Lillian because I simply adore that name. I'm not sure if I want the two to meet up in Rivet City or somewhere else. I guess I'll try to play around with that for a while before it's set in stone. So I guess I'm not really going along the original story line but I won't stray from it too far. As of now, this is the first chapter and I tried to make it as long as possible. I plan to write more on this story and hope that I did a decent job for my first time walking in Butch DeLoria's shoes :) If I didn't, well I gave it my damned best shot. Any who, lots of cursing and boozing and Butch-ness. Grammatical errors are plentiful because I was trying to be like Butch and not care about my grammar. My muse for this was from Hoobastanks: The Reason because... well, you'll find out later I guess. I rated it M for later chapters. Comments and criticism are welcomed and appreciated.

Updated: 7.20.15 (With the news of Fallout 4 I decided to bring my attention back to this since I lost touch with it all those years ago..)

[~]

You'd think a Tunnel Snake 'd be able to handle something simple like walking out of a vault. Man, that shit wasn't as simple as I had expected it to be. Now, I ain't never expected much from the outside, on account of we never really heard much about it in our sheltered little lives. But being out here in this dirty wasteland was nothin' like what I had been preparing for…

So, a few weeks ago I made a few dents in the air filtration system to ease my way out into the outside, y'know with one of the old baseball bats I found lyin' around. It was real simple to destroy the whole thing. Just a few smacks around it, and some around the computer thing controlling it. I was even gonna go as far as taking my toothpick and taking a few of the bolts out, but after I gave the filtration system a good smack in the side that little bitch was screaming like my mother when she's outta liquor. I guess it wasn't a real smart idea on my part, but I've never been much of a thinker, and instant gratification was everything to me.

The vault evacuated, which pissed Amata off to no end. Stupid little daddy's girl must've still been tickled about her coming back and makin' everything worse then before she left. So she kicked some ass? So she completely destroyed the other Overseer? Man was destined to die soon, and I'm thinking that if she hadn't come when she did Butch'd have to get down there and get him while he was sleeping or somethin'.

I had to hand it to her though, after all those years of torturing the kid I guess she really did come through for us. Never would've expected it from her though… always following Amata around like they were attached at the hip. I watched though as she got older, Amata started to become just like her father, and she wasn't having any of that. It pissed her off something fierce. I guess that's why she killed Amata's father the first time she left, but again, I wasn't about to complain. I had enough of that man's shit to last me a lifetime and I wasn't about to get all teary-eyed for some asshole that loved to have everything in perfect order. Tunnel Snakes don't roll that way.

When the vault doors finally screeched open, the smoke from the filtration system started to haul ass towards the outside. Now, I had never been outside before in my entire life, but I had always dreamed of gettin' out of the vault and living my life the way I wanted. I could feel something in the pit of my stomach wind up when I stared down that long tunnel. It must've been adrenaline or something, but whatever it was I liked it. The smoke burned my nose on its way in, but after a few seconds of running towards the Vault exit the air got a little cleaner the closer I got to it. Freedom from this can of shit was only a few steps away.

Well, most of us were running actually, so it only took me a few steps to get exactly what I wanted. In fact, it was probably less than a few steps. Instant gratification made all of this so worth it. Especially considering all it took to get here was a measly baseball bat and some smackin' around.

The few of us that ran out first were already on the ground and tearin' from the bright light of the outside. I never thought anything could actually burn your eyes out, but damn this was close. I had my fists balled up in there for a good few minutes. Then I heard Amata's snotty voice yell between the screams and heaves of everyone that was left. Leave it to her to ruin the moment. My moment of freedom.

"Everyone stay calm. We need to stick together." She started, but I was NOT about to follow her to the ends of the earth, no sir. She might've been a smart ass since day one but I knew that she was just like her father and always had somethin' stuck up her ass. No way in hell was I stayin' around to "stick together". Besides, it wasn't like I had much to stay for. Almost everyone was dead already…

"I ain't stickin' around here. You're on your own Amata." I said while I started fixing myself up and gathering what I had packed up the night before all of my destruction. I had some meager supplies, but I wasn't too concerned about that. My father's pistol was strapped to my waist, and I was thankful that at least my Ma had done something right by savin' it. I popped the collar on my Tunnel Snakes jacket and took one last look at all the faces I'd be leaving behind forever. Most of them would probably be dead by tomorrow, but hell, it wasn't like I was about to do anything.

The Butch-man wasn't a heroic person. All I cared about now was getting myself far away from this fuckin' place.

At least I listened real good when I was little. Back when my Pa was alive. His adventure stories about him out in the wastes were always my favorite bedtime stories. At least I'd have those to help me out here. After he died, and Ma went completely insane, I put them to the back of my mind for a while. Since, y'know, I had bigger problems to face. Dealing with an alcoholic mother wasn't easy, but I got through it with just a few bruises and glass wounds. Nothin' a Tunnel Snake can't handle. Shame the old man had to pass though. I bet if he were still alive things would've been different. I guess everything just toughened me up for the outside world. All Pa's stories were coming back now and as I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder I flipped the rest of them the bird and made my way to the only town I knew out here. Megaton. I knew it had to be legit 'cause I remembered her sayin' something about it when she stopped by for her little "chat" with Amata before she tore the vault into chaos.

Huh, I guess she really wasn't a little snot nosed brat anymore. But then again, she was just too easy to pick on. Ehhh, I wasn't gonna sit around and think about all the shit I'd done to her in the past. Maybe she'd forget about it like me and move on. Well, I hoped at least. I guess I'd cross that bridge whenever I got to it.

Amata was screaming at me to turn around, but I drowned her out much like I did for Brotch's lectures. In one ear, and out the other while I was stepping to the rhythm of my heartbeat. I didn't care if they followed me, I'll be damned if they did. I'd bet anyone ten bucks that Amata had them already lined up like ducks and was takin' control of them already. Just like her asshole father. She never cared about me. I was a nobody in her eyes anyway. Just some bully that picked on her every which way. She deserved it though; someone had to bring her down a notch. Always thinking she was high and mighty- my ass.

That bitch wouldn't be able to deal with all the things that I'd dealt with. I was certain of that. She had it nice and easy her entire life.

It had been at least a half hour since I left the vault, and I was startin' to get all itchy under my jumpsuit. What the hell was goin' on out here? The sun was already blazing on my back and I started sweating bullets by the time I made it to a road. Damn this place, maybe I should turn back-

Nope.

That's exactly what she'd want. I'd bet she'd have a stupid little "I told you so" face on too if she caught me wandering my way back there. Stupid Amata. Stupid vault. Stupid everything!

I guess there was no turning back now, and that was all right with me. I had never really been one to look behind me much anyway,since there was never anything to look back to. What doesn't kill ya, y'know?

Now like I said, I had never really been the thinkin' type, cause I was already destined to be a barber. So why bother pushing my luck? But, in my mind I was already weighing out my options. I guess my smartest choice would be to go to this 'Megaton' place and see what was up. If she was there, I'd… well, I'd get to that when I got to it, I guess. My second option wasn't really all that appealing. I definitely wasn't gonna to go and wander around now that I knew just how awful it was out here. Plus, I didn't have enough supplies for that. But still, even if it wasn't as nice as I had thought it would be out here, it was ten times better than being a little duck for Amata. At least I had that goin' for me. I was out on my own, doing whatever I felt like and taking as long as I wanted. No one was gonna tell me what to do ever again!

[~]

I kicked some dirt up with my boot as I started on the broken road. It was dusty and there were chunks missing out of some places but it still lead the way to the only thing I had to look forward to. There weren't many trees out here like I'd thought there would be. Actually there wasn't much of anything really. It was just bare, with a few black shrubs or rocks and bright as anything- like if you stared into one of the vault's light bulbs for too long. I didn't like it, so I'd definitely have to find me some shades. It was a little too hot for my liking, but every once in a while the wind would pick up and blow some not so muggy air in my direction. But along with that you also got a lot of dust and sand on ya, so I guess it wasn't all that great neither.

"Fan-fucking-tastic." I muttered to no one in particular while I wiped my face on my jacket sleeve. Stupid sand had blown right into my face and I could already taste it on my tongue. It had a weird tang to it though. Like that time I stuck my tongue on one of the batteries in Stanley's utility closet after Wally double dared me to. It didn't taste right, but I guess you weren't really supposed to taste sand.

I hacked a spitball at one of the rusted signs to try and rid my mouth of the weird taste. I'd just have to get used to it, along with the eerie silence around me. I bet if I screamed at the top of my lungs, no one'd be able to hear me. There was a sort of comfort in that for me though, since no one was up my ass now. It was all right.

I spotted a bunch of run down houses, or at least that's what I thought they were at one point and time. All that was left now were some broken down boards and rubble. It must've been a small town or somethin' and as much as I didn't want to admit it, it was kinda neat. I ain't never seen anything like this before- I mean actual wood houses? All I was used to were cold steel walls…

I heard a voice in the distance and I immediately got all paranoid and shit. Leave it to me to lose my cool already. I ducked behind some woodpiles of the house I was looting and already had my hand at my pistol. Whatever happens, just don't ask questions and shoot right? That's the way it was out here. So I took in a real deep breath and peeked over my hiding spot.

The voice sounded like it was coming closer so I took that opportunity to take the safety off my pistol. I had no idea how good of a shot I was, considering I hadn't really practiced much. That didn't matter now though, I was gonna get whatever it was no matter what. I crouched down to get a better look at things, and I'll be damned, it was a flying fucking helmet or something. I must've jumped five feet out of my freakin' boots but I closed my eyes real tight to pull myself together. No use freakin' out over a dumb floating… helmet monster… thing.

I tried to crawl my way out of the house and into the back yard, or what was left of it. The stitching of my pant leg got caught on a loose wooden stake and I cursed under my breath. "Fuck these stupid piece of shit jumpsuits." I made a mental note to get some new threads before I decided to go exploring again.

There was a rock formation ahead of me, so I gripped it up and pulled myself up on top of it, tryna' get a better view or somethin'. Survival instincts must be kicking in.

That damned floating thing was heading in the other direction, babbling on about America and presidents, so I took this opportunity to keep climbing up the rubble in hopes of getting somewhere safe. I kept climbing up 'till I eventually got to a flatter surface. I saw a big, brown metal sign in the distance and squinted real hard to read it. Someone painted Megaton on it really badly in yellow paint, but there was an arrow pointing straight ahead so I followed that sucker like my life depended on it. Actually, my life kinda' did at the moment.

[~]

I was only walking for about fifteen minutes when my eyes picked up a giant metal thing in the distance. It was like a giant pimple, sticking out of the damn earth out of nowhere. How in the hell did they even get that there anyway? Sheesh. There was another hunk of junk at the front, rambling in some fake cowboy accent. I could've sworn I heard 'em say Megaton a few times, so I took that as a sign and stepped right into that huge metal bastard.

It was a little bit cooler in here, I guess 'cause they were somewhat shielded from the sun. It felt kinda nice not to have the damn sun beating on my back now. I strolled right down some crude ass metal steps and someone tapped me on the shoulder. Real tall guy, with a sheriff hat on, and he didn't look too pleased. Fuck my life. Maybe I wasn't in Megaton after all…

"You another new comer, huh?" He asked me and I was watchin' as his crusty brown eyes inspected me. He probably didn't trust me.

"Yeah, what's it to ya?" I muttered, stuffing my hands in my pockets and fingering my knife. If this sucker wanted to dance I'd try my best to fight him off, though I knew there wasn't a snowflakes chance in hell for me. Especially after I eyed that piece he was carrying on his back. Manners should probably be appropriate now, considering I wasn't ready to get the blunt end of that gun just yet.

"What's it to me? I'm Lucas Simms, the sheriff around these parts, and you'll do yourself a favor by keeping that smart mouth of yours shut."

Ugh, another authority figure with a stick up their ass. Was the world just full of these people? Still, I nodded my head and apologized to the guy, I had to hand it to him at least. Patrolling a city this big deserves mad props. We started small talkin' after I apologized. I turned my manners up a notch and got him to point me in the direction of the local bar. At least that was some place to start lookin'.

"Thanks Simms." I said, waving my hand a little as I started walking in the direction he pointed me. He nodded at me and tipped his hat.

"You just stay out of trouble now. I don't wanna waste bullets on your sorry hide." He stated and I shrank back a little. Gulping, I looked once again at what he was carrying and sighed. Definitely didn't want to become Swiss cheese anytime soon. So I nodded again and faked a smile, "Roger that."

I took off for that bar faster than you can say Vault 101. My body was aching to get a drink in after what I'd been through to get here. All right, I'll admit it wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be, but it still wasn't too great neither. I was climbing up a metal hill and saw a sign a few steps away- "Moriarty's Saloon" it read in ugly white lettering. Jeez. You'd think people would be more creative out here. If that were my saloon, I'd have something classy. Like… Like.. Snake Pit. Or something cool like that, y'know? But whatever, I guess people weren't as creative as me.

I opened up the thick metal door. It took some effort, but eventually I used some upper body strength and was able to squeeze my way in. It was a little bit cooler in here, and I could already smell the booze and cigarette smoke. It all assaulted my nose at once, but I didn't really mind. Booze was like home to me, on account of my mother always having it on her breath.

I took up a stool by the bar and let my head droop down. The radio was blastin' in my ear and I was about to reach over and turn it down when I gotta glimpse of this guy in the back.

FUCK.

He looked real messed up. Like someone skinned him and then ate his skin, and then threw it back up and put it back on him. Maybe he got into a big fire fight or somethin' out here. The only way I could think of that would make someone's skin look like that was fire. Fuck, did that guy get burnt and live? Man, he was a trooper. Still, I felt kinda sorry for him, since he didn't seem to have much hair either. I don't know what I'd do if I looked like that. Plus, whatever had happened to him must've hurt like a fucking bitch.

He saw me eyeing him and quickly put his head down. Made me feel bad for starin' at him. He probably thought I was some creeper or something. Ugh, this was all new to me. Did everyone look like that out here or something? Was there fire everywhere? I started to get nervous. Ain't no way in hell I'd be fucking with fire. I wasn't about to look like that guy any time soon. Looking around I couldn't see anyone that had what he had goin' on with his skin. So I guess something bad must've happened to him to make him that way.

Damn. That sucks.

He walked over to me slowly, his head down. "You need somethin' smoothskin?"

"Smoothskin?" I asked him. My eyes crumpled together. Now, that was a name I ain't never heard before. I mean, I'd heard a lot of names being shout my way but this one was just weird. Maybe it's an insult or somethin'. But, I don't really think having smooth skin is an insult. Unless he's calling me a sissy or something. I wouldn't like him insulting my manliness.

His eyes met mine briefly, and then once again they were pointed at the floor. "You know. You've got smooth skin. Unlike me."

Oh, well that made sense. He was just comparing me to him then. So that was okay, though it made me feel a little more bad for the guy. I nodded my head and asked him for something strong. I needed some whiskey or something to burn down my throat. Needed somethin' to wake me up. After all I had a journey to go on. Had to find her.

"Thanks." I said as he handed me a shot of whiskey. Kicking my head back, I downed that sucker like it was nothing. He eyed me up.

"That jumpsuit. Where'd you get that at?" He asked me. His eyes started to form a thin line. I couldn't really tell if he was pissed off or not though because most of his face was chewed off.

"From my Vault. Vault 101. Y'know. It's like a few minutes right up the way." I answered him truthfully. Side's it wasn't like I was protecting anyone back there. I wouldn't care if someone hurt Amata, or any of them really. They were nothing to me now. All forgotten faces in a memory of dark tunnels. But then again, this guy didn't really look like the fighting type. Especially since he kept his head down way too much.

I watched his expression change. His eyes widened a lot and he put both his hands on the bar. "You mean the same one Lillian came out of? She had a suit on just like that the first time she walked in here." He asked.

Aahh, so someone did know about her. That was good to know I guess. At least she's keepin' herself known. I nodded my head and took another shot of the whiskey that he poured me. I'd have to stop soon 'cause I didn't really have anything to pay by.

"Y'know her?" I asked him, hoping he at least knew where she was so I could find her. Maybe her and I could start a gang together or something. Or she could at least teach me the ropes around here since she seemed to be gettin' along just fine and dandy out here on her own.

The skinned man nodded his head and started to pour me another shot, but I shook my hands at him.

"Nah man, I don't have that much on me. How much am I at now?" I asked him as I fingered my coat pocket on the inside of my Tunnel Snakes jacket.

"Ten caps."

"Caps? What the hell's a caps? All I got are these bills."

Now I felt pretty stupid. I figured it was a good idea to take some loot with me before I left, but I had no freakin' idea that they wouldn't be using pre-war money. Didn't everyone have them lying around somewhere? Wasn't that real money, or was that another lie I was taught to obey. Probably a lie.

"Just give me two of those." He told me as he pointed to the wad of money in my hands. I handed him the two dollars and was semi-satisfied. After all he said ten of those cap things, and I only gave him two bills. That's gotta be good. I mean I was no math magician or whatever, but two was less than ten and that satisfied me. I still had a few of them left so I tucked 'em back into my coat pocket.

"Say, what's your name anyway?" I asked him as he put the bills in the register. He looked over at me and shook his head.

"Gob."

"Gob? That's a weird name. Where'd you get a name like that?" That was a weird name. I ain't never heard of anyone naming their kid Gob. I gobbled up food. I gobbled down drinks. I wasn't about to name my kid Gobble. Or Gob. Or whatever.

"It's... never mind kid. Anyway, you hear from Lillian yet?" He stopped fidgeting with the cash register as he asked me this. I got a little suspicious on account of there was this gleam in his eye. The kind I got whenever I watched Susie Mack walk by, or really any girl for that matter. But, it wasn't like I was her boyfriend or nothin' so I just kept it to myself and shook my head 'no'.

"She came back into the Vault about a week or so ago. Messed stuff up real bad, but it's all good. I haven't seen her since Amata, the bitch, kicked her out for good."

I shook my head in distaste. Amata really shouldn't have done that at all. After all, she did save us. Even if she was the cause of some of it. She still had the balls to come back after she heard Amata's bitchin' and complaining. Maybe Lilly should've just ignored it. I would've.

Gob's eyes got sad. He looked down and sighed. "She was really upset after that whole thing. Came in here and told me the whole story. I don't think I had ever really heard her cry before that- well I mean I did after she lost her dad. But she always hid that from me. That kids usually tough when she gets back from wherever it is she goes to. I guessed that whatever happened up there must've been really bad to make her come back like that."

Wait a second- Lil's dad was gone? Aw, man if I had known that I wouldn't have acted like such an asshole and brought it up when she came back into the Vault.

Well fuck. This was all gettin' really confusing, fast. How come she tells all this stuff to Gob? Why didn't she tell any of us…

I didn't really need to ask myself that question, because I already knew the answer. Yeah, surprising I know. Me actually puttin' two and two together that fast. But, I guess I wouldn't have come back crying to the Vault. Since, y'know everyone blamed her dad for everything going wrong. Poor Lilly. Now I felt bad for her. I didn't normally feel bad for people either, cause y'know Tunnel Snakes aren't sissies like that.

"I didn't know her dad died. That blows. How long ago was she here last? Did she say where she was going?" I asked, eager now. I had inside info after all. Now it wouldn't be so hard to track her down myself.

Gob looked around quickly, then turned the radio up a notch and brought his head down closer to mine. Was it a secret or something?

"She's heading up to Underworld right now. Left a few days ago, but she should be back soon… I hope." He sighed and lurched backwards. Someone came out of a door on the side of the bar and Gob started to look real scared. I got scared too, cause I wasn't from around here and I thought something was going down. The guy who came out of the door stepped towards us and eyed Gob up with an evil look in his eyes. I decided I didn't really like this guy. He didn't look like someone you could trust. Like he just had that air about him that screamed asshole. Maybe it was from the way he was dressed or something, but as soon as he spoke I could tell he was a certified ass.

"What're ya doin' standing around 'ere ya filth? I asked ya one simple thing and ya can't even manage that? Idiot ya are Gob, I swear."

I didn't really like the way he was talking to this guy. I mean, I'm a complete stranger and all, but Gob didn't seem too bad. He was actually kinda nice once you got past his skin. To me, he didn't deserve to be talked at like that. It made me think of the Overseer. How he talked down to me all the time just cause I picked on his stupid daughter. Just cause I was a misfit in his stupid, perfect fuckin' world. Another reason for me to hate this bastard.

"Look, he was just telling me how much my shots cost. All right? He ain't doin' anything wrong." I spoke up, deciding for once in my life I should stick up for someone. Besides, Gob kinda reminded me of Paully. A little slow and quiet, but a Tunnel Snake nonetheless. I didn't like this guy creepin' up on my Paul of the wasteland. The guy glared at me from the corner of his eyes. His white eyebrows pulling together.

"Is that so?" He asked again, as if I didn't make it perfectly clear the first time. Did I need to spell it out for him or somethin'?

"Yeah, so lay off all right? He's just doin' his job."

The white eyebrowed man leered at me, but when he caught me lookin' back that leer turned into a crooked smile.

"Me apologies then, my friend. I gotta business ter run here. I can't be havin' slackers now, can I?" He looked down at Gob with that evil look in his eyes again. Gob cowered and stared down at the floor.

"Yeah yeah, I hear ya." Nope. I didn't like this guy. I didn't have many manners to speak of, and I wasn't about to waste them on this joker. He stomped back into that doorway and shut it. Gob relaxed and sighed, taking a step away from the bar and nodding his head at me.

"Thanks smoothskin."

"It's Butch. I don't like that smooth shit. That sounds like a name for a pus. You can call me Butch or Bad Ass. Your choice."

Gob smirked at me. Well it was a half smirk really since most of his cheek was torn up. He nodded his head and laughed a little and I was glad I at least made him not so scared like he was earlier. "Butch it is."

Maybe me and this Gob guy could be friends or something. He seemed pretty cool and not that bad of a guy. Besides, he reminded me of Paully, so that was high marks in my book. He knew where Lilly was too- something I didn't. It was nice to finally be on the inside of things. Maybe if I waited around here long enough I'd be able to catch up with her. If she made it back of course.

Hell, she'd make it back. She'd better.

I let Gob return to whatever it was he was doin' before I got here and decided to just sit at the bar stool and think. Yeah, I know I don't think much but everything seemed to be going real fast now and I wasn't sure what to think of it all. What if, when she got back, she didn't wanna speak to me? I wouldn't blame her of course; I was a real rat bastard to her back when we were kids. I picked on her all the time and started fights with her and Amata. She was always a goofy little thing though. It was like she was too smart for Amata but stuck around her anyways. Cause, y'know sometimes I'd watch her secretly.

Not like.. anything creepy like that, but just watched her when Amata wasn't around.

She liked to read a lot of dumb books, and I caught her this one time. She was picking a lock on one of the inaccessible doors down the hall from my house. I didn't think she could actually do that. She was all small and tiny, and doing something like that wasn't very girly.

I kept my eyes on her though. Especially after I saw her get that BB gun for her tenth birthday. Man was I pissed. How come I didn't get anything special like that? Oh, yeah. That was because my mom was a drunken idiot and didn't give two shits about me. That, and my dad was long gone. Along with all of our cash and nice things.

Lilly always had a way with getting what she wanted from everyone too. Every time she talked to someone it was like she had this power over them- they usually agreed with anythin' she said and did whatever she wanted. I wish I had a power like that, cause damn that would've got me far. She was a real sneaky little kid, but I guess that was what set her apart from everyone else in that fucking place. She was actually interesting and not the same like everyone else. I mean, after growing up with her all that time she still wasn't the same, but she never stopped being different. And, I knew for a fact once I saw her in the Vault a week ago that she had changed even more so. There was something different about her, but I couldn't really put my finger on it.

I didn't really have anyplace to stay so Gob pointed me to where the common house was when things started to get real dark. I thanked him and went on my way, tryin' my best to follow his directions. There were a lot of weird people in this town. Especially that guy in the pond. He was preachin' to some sort of bomb like he was in love with it.

I don't know, maybe people just go crazy out here.

Maybe people just go so crazy that they fall in love with bombs.

I knew that I didn't want to go crazy though. Especially if it would land me knee deep in a skanky pond and kissing the sides of some pre-war junk. I tried my best to blend in with everyone else. They were all dirty and sun tanned. I wasn't. I knew I smelled fresh and looked as pale as the moon compared to these people. I didn't care though. One more thing to set me apart from the rest.

The common house was loud and hot. I could hear several people snoring near me. There was no way in hell I would be able to sleep with all that, so I made my way up the flights of stairs until I was all alone. There were some wire bed frames in the corner, so I pushed them over to the farthest wall possible and picked up the dirty mattress from the floor. It was pretty gross looking, I'll admit, but at this point I really didn't give two shits. I was tired and there was a bed. That was all that really mattered.

As I was laying back in bed I started reminiscing about all the stories my dad had told me. Slowly, they started to put me to sleep. I closed my eyes with the vision of my dad whispering a story to me while I was in bed, back when I was real young. It made me smile. Maybe he'd be proud of me now, if he saw me out here like him.

My first night out in the wasteland wasn't too tough. But nothin' was too tough for a Tunnel Snake.