"Strongest wood around!"

"How was I supposed to know!"

Good thing I did not fall into the water or I would have fucked the guy when I swam back to his boat.

I took a step and a board underneath me broke. Luckily for me the hole was not that big so I did not fall through it. I pulled myself up and I made my way through the rickety pier to the boardwalk.

That guy Nicky is a really reliable source all right. He lied that he knew the area to get my caps and he almost got me killed with taking me to a pier that is literal falling a part. But lets not think about some dumb redneck, lets get to the task at hand.

Find my fucking package and get the hell out of here.

I then yelled across the pier, "You better wait for me!"

He yelled, "Hey, you paid me two hundred caps! A deal's a deal!"

"See ya!"

"Yeah see ya!"

I turned my back to that redneck and took a good look at this place called, Pilgrim's Landing. This place looks more like a theme park instead of a boardwalk. These building have interesting designs that I would see in books about theme parks. They each have different designs and colors that single them out from each other like exotic animals. This place even has lampposts that were stretched out through the boardwalk. I doubt they still work.

These buildings were not what I was expecting on an abandoned boardwalk. I mean whenever I past by a building, that was made before the Great War, they would hardly have any color on them. But these buildings had some color on them. The paint is chipping away but they have color that looked like it was brand new. No more than sixty years I guess.

I did not understand why until the wind picked up and blew something in my face. I quickly tore whatever was on face and I looked down at it. It looked like a worn piece of paper that had water stains all over it. Here's what is said:

Welcome to Point Lookout!

The most Haunted Place in the World!

A multitude of Confederate soldiers died here on these lands and some say their ghosts still haunt these parts.

If you are not into ghosts then you must check out the historical sights that Pilgrim's Landing has. We have the remains of Calvert Mansion, The Wheel of Wonder, and the very popular Pre-War Museum.

If you fancy going shopping then come on down to the House of Wares where you can buy whatever you like from jewelry, clothes, food, and any weapons of your choice.

Coming soon will be the Pre-War Diner, Pre-War Arcade, and a Safari.

Get out there and have an adventure of a lifetime!

Someone was trying to turn these ruins into some sort of attraction. Well that explains the new paint that these buildings have. I looked closer and it appears that someone was trying to repair the buildings as well. I see very few broken windows and doors; they seem like brand new.

I don't know exactly where I am supposed to pick up the package from but the guy did say one last thing before I left. "Go to the bank". I guess I need to look for it.

As I walked down the pier I didn't see a sign that says bank anywhere but I saw a large walkway towards my left so I decided to look down there.

Then right in front of me was a boxed in platform with the Ferris Wheel on it. There is a staircase that leads to the Ferris Wheel and next to the staircase was a sign that says "The Wheel of Wonder." I have never seen one in person and it looks awesome. I don't care if it looks so rusty and old it is just awesome. I saw something else to the staircase and I noticed another sign that is propped up on a stand. I went over there and I read the sign.

The Wheel of Wonder

This Ferris Wheel was well beloved by men, women, and children before the Great War. Now it is a scene that has witnessed a huge battle. There was this individual known only as the Vault Dweller who came from Vault 101 and traveled the Capital Wasteland. He ventured to Point Lookout and got into a gunfight with some Tribals. After all the hail of gunfire the Vault Dweller was left standing over the bodies of those Tribals.

Vault 101! I have not heard that name for a while. Not since my dad left my mom. He would always tell me about how my grandpa knew the Vault Dweller and didn't actual get along with that guy. I was also told that my grandparent left the vault too in order to try to make a living outside the vault. He spent most of his time at Rivet City and knocked up a lot of women and one of them had my dad.

Now my dad met my mom when they were hanging out at Canterbury Commons and they immediately became hooked with each other. They married and then they had me. To make a living my dad would work as a hair stylist and my mom worked at the diner serving people. Which was okay, until my dad said he was going to go to Paradise Falls to give a guy a haircut. Or that was what my mom told me. The point is he never came back.

Cry me a river, I'm over it.

The so called package is not here so I better continue my search. I stumbled about on another strange sight. I stumbled onto what I can guess was a shooting gallery involving wooden ducks. There was a sign that was hanging by one hinge; the other broke free from the sign. It said, "Panada's House of Wears." The strange sight was a busted up protectron unit. When I mean busted up I mean busted the fuck up. Someone or something ripped off the arms and legs of the robot and ripped open the chest and beat the yellow light head in. It doesn't look like anyone took anything from it just wanted to destroy it. Not to mention the robot looked like it was smashed a very long time ago. It was not recent.

Other than the robot there is scattered junk all over the place as if a hurricane came by. I went through a busted cash register but I did not find anything cool in it, not even money. There was not anything there at all, it was like someone took everything they needed and left the place empty. The package is definitely not here.

The sun looked like it was about to set so I needed to get the package very soon. I know it sounds dumb but I began to circle the building to find at least any door that said the bank. Then I noticed something that was pretty odd; I ran across a building that with the sign that says "Pre-War Museum". But it looked like it was placed on top of another sign. Could this be the bank that guy was talking about? Not even caring I went right in.

It does look like a bank on the inside; there are lines on the ground that make up a line towards the front cashier desk. And there is a lot of space in front of the cashier desk to move around in. It might have been the bank; except there are pedestals lining the walls of the bank with what I guess were the Pre-War artifacts.

The first artifact I took notice was what appears to be some sort of mirror that was found in the wreckage of the Calvert Mansion. There was place card that said that it came from the ruins of the Calvert Mansion. I gazed into the mirror and I began to take note of myself. A twenty-two year old man that has brown clean cut hair. I am wearing some old Pre-War outfit I found in some abandoned building in my travels. It involves a short-sleeved red-checkered button up shirt that has black pants that match well with a brown belt and dress shoes. I wanted to look nice when I am on this mission; I believed that if I looked nice then my client would give me a higher raise.

Don't worry even though I was wearing ill equip protection I have my trust worthy hunting rifle. Right before I ran away I took it from some guard, always be careful when you go out in the Capital Wasteland. After my dad left I was worried that my mom could not afford to pay for herself and me so I snuck out at night and stole a rifle off some guard. This bad boy could blast a head off of anything worse than a radscorpion.

I switched from the mirror and onto the next artifact. What can, I say I love to pry into people's business. The next artifact was a naked mannequin. It is standing in an upright posture with its arms at its side. Its once white surface has cracks covering the whole body like dried up desert. I did not understand what it's supposed to be until I read the place card:

Tribal Outfit

Here we have a sixty-year-old tribal outfit that was worn by a Tribal. A Tribal that was all ready dead when the body was discovered close by the "Wheel of Wonder" and was rumored to have been shot by the mysterious Vault Dweller. If you look closely you can see the stitchwork in the chest area of the outfit: that is the bullet that was possibly shot by our very Vault Dweller.

Looks like someone was very interested in this costume that they would go to all the trouble of stripping it off an innocent mannequin and leaving it naked. Boring lets move on to the next one.

The next one only had a pedestal. Curiosity got the better of me so I read the card:

The Blackwater Rifle

This rifle was found in an old abandoned Chinese Intelligence Bunker located somewhere in Point Lookout. It is boasted to be the most powerful lever action rifle known to exist in the Capital Wasteland.

Looks like someone wanted to get their hands on it. Moving on to the next one.

The next one is some sort of bulletin board that has old postcards and flyers. It only had four things though but they do seem pretty interesting. One of the postcards has a picture of a lighthouse with the quote, "Come Visit Point Lookout, MD." The next one has a picture of the Ferris Wheel with the words, "Come Ride the Amazing Wheel of Wonder! Only at Pilgrim's Landing Boardwalk!" The next postcard has the whole image of the Pier with the words, "Greetings From Point Lookout!" Then the last thing is an old flyer that has a picture of a yao guai, also known as a bear, balancing on a red ball with the words, "The Wonder Bear Ruzka." This is probably the most interesting thing that I have ever seen than the postcards. The card says:

Pre-War Postcards and Flyers

This board contains the very past of Point Lookout. If there is anyone that has any Pre-War flyers or postcards then feel free to post them on the board so everyone can see them.

To bad I don't have any of those things, but I would love to do it. Next one…

Holy Fucking Shit! What the hell is that thing?! It literally scared the shit out of me. It's some sort of clown head that has yellow teeth and eyes that are gleaming at me. That Polk-a-doted yellow hat and red nose does not make me feel better about looking at some creepy clown. The card says:

Pint-Sized Slasher Mask

This mask was found in one of the rooms located at the Homestead Hotel. It is believed to have been owned by the Pint-Sized Slasher, a child that killed people in the Pre-War Era suburban neighborhoods. We don't actual know how it got to Point Lookout. Some say the slasher came to Point Lookout to continue his evil deeds on the vacationers and residents, but died when the bombs fell. I guess you can say justice was served. What do you think? Do you believe this is the real mask? Or is it a copy?

I don't give a fuck if its real or not its scary as hell! Alright enough of looking, I need to find that package!

I steered away from it and went back to searching. I peeked around all the pedestals but I don't see anything out of ordinary that could be my package. But there was something that was strange, a smell. This smell smells like a wet Mole Rat that swam through raw sewage. I don't care about some lame smell; I care about getting my package, getting on my boat out of here and back at a bar where I am drinking tequilas.

There was nothing in the main room so the package must be in the back room. I walk up to the door that leads right behind the counter. But as I walked up to the door I notice that the strange smell is coming from behind the door. I am starting to get worried that there maybe something bad right behind the door. So to be extra cautious I unstrapped my hunting rifle from my back and got it ready for whatever is behind it. 3…2…1…0!

The door flies open and I look inside.

There is nothing there. There's just a table surrounded by four chairs and two file cabinets near the back wall. It is nothing more than a break room with brown paper on the table.

The table?

Paper?

That must be my package.

Or was there is just craps of paper all over the table as if something ripped the package a part and took whatever it was inside of it with them.

I am going to walk behind the table to see if they dropped the package…

What…in…God's…name…

There was no package behind the table but there is something there. He was naked. He had both of his arms and legs ripped off from the joints. His face was bashed in so I could not tell what he looked like. He appears to have recently come because I can see the white liquid surrounding his organ. But underneath his organ there appears to be more of the white liquid underneath but I am guessing that it did not belong to him. The most prominent feature of this exhibit was the blood that has formed a puddle around him, which matched his blue, rotten body.

I picked my feet up and I ran out of the museum. Outside I was able to breath in fresh air but it did nothing to stop my stomach contents from spilling out of my mouth.

I need to get out here!

Who or what the fuck raped that man and ripped both of his limps off?! I don't give a fuck about him or the package I need to get the fuck out of this hellhole!

I turned left and ran through the buildings dodging whatever is in my way. I don't care I just need to get the fuck out of here.

I made it to the pier! Now I need to get…

Where is the boat?

I walked towards the end of the pier where the boat was supposed to be but it's not there. I don't see any remains in the ocean. I don't see any boat in the horizon. I don't see a boat on another edge of the pier. I don't see anything at all.

Oh my god that son of a bitch! I started to jump up and down on the pier screaming with frustration. I cursed what word I know by heart and whatever nonsense word I could think of. I did not even notice that I would start a chain reaction.

I start to hear the pier creak underneath me, more violently than usual. Not going to waste another second. I turned around and began to run back to the boardwalk. Already the pier is falling with every step I take. I could feel the boards fall behind my feet as I run towards the pier. I don't feel like falling in the water anytime soon. I was close enough to the boardwalk and I took a leap of faith.

I land on the boardwalk and witness the pier falling into the water. The water finally settles and did not even leave any fingerprints of any existence of a pier. Like waves washing away footprints in the sand.

Now to be perfectly honest I went on my knees and balled like a baby. Who wouldn't anyway? You lost all your money. You saw a mutilated body. You could not complete your mission. And your get away vehicle disappeared leaving you on an abandoned swamp.

I sobbed for I don't know how many hours but the sun has set and I was plunged into darkness. Luckily the brightness from the moon was strong enough to pierce through the cloudy sky to illuminate my surroundings. So I am not actual in complete darkness.

I think I stopped crying for some reason. I don't know why maybe because I ran out of tears or maybe because I just want to give up and die like those Confederate soldiers who died here. I don't know why, but I need to find some sort of shelter for the night.

Wasn't that clown mask discovered at a hotel? Is it still standing after all these years? I need to find it and fast.

CLATTER!

That made me jump out of my skins. I did not know what made that sound but that scared the crap out of me. The scariest part is that it came from behind me. I quickly turned around and I see…nothing. There was nothing there.

I thought there was nothing there, until a medium sized red ball came out of the darkness and rolled ten feet away from me. A red ball came out of nowhere. The one question on my mind is how the hell did it move? My question was answered when I spot a set of pale eyes looking at me.

I knew I am fucked so I pushed my feet up from the ground and I began to run through the walkway I original ran down. I am running and running without looking back. I don't hear anything running up behind me but I could actual sense something is following me. Okay I did not look behind me but I am running forward how could I turn around and look back?

Then a large sign appeared out of nowhere. It looked like an old neon sign with the words "Free Breakfast" and "Homestead Hotel". I run through a gated fence and into a dirt square and not wasting time I approach the nearest door and turned the knob.

It won't open!

I could sense that thing closing in on me, so I grasped into my bag and pulled out a flat head screwdriver and a paper clip and got to work. I twirl the paper clip and it is taking forever to get this door open. I am even frantically moving the paper clip around hoping for success.

I am starting to believe that thing is really close to me that it could almost touch me until…

Click!

I burst through the door and closed it. I grabbed a nightstand and propped it up against it.

I immediately sat down on the bed and breathed in heavily. Taking heavy breaths while eyeing the door in case whatever it was would break through the door and rip me to pieces. So far there was no knock, no gunshot, no tackle, and no voice. I guess whoever was there is gone now.

This hotel room seems to be like all the other hotel rooms I have seen in my travels. A dirty queen sized bed surrounded by two nightstands, one of which I propped up against the door. There is a window to the left of the bed and to the right is what I guess is the bathroom with a dirty toilet and sink. In front of the bed was an old television set that did not show any pictures in ages.

I felt a grumble in my stomach so I opened up my bag to see what I could eat for dinner. I have two spans, one box of Fancy Lads Snack Cakes, two irradiated water bottles, and one box of Danny Boy Apples. I popped open the span and I wolfed it down followed by a few drinks from one irradiated water bottles.

Afterwards I stripped off my shirt and I lay down on the bed. But before I fell into Morpheus' arms I thought I saw those pale eyes peeking through the window at me.

All right so I kind of got confused about what tense I should put this story in. So I am asking you commenter if I should have the story in present tense or past tense. And I would really like some comments on what I need to work on. Thank you!