Short chapter today just to get things going. Yet again thank you for all the reviews and please let me know what you think as it goes on.
Stephanie repeatedly punched her fists against Charon once she had tackled him to the ground.
"FIGHT BACK !" She screamed.
Charon did nothing but try to grab her wrists to prevent the blows.
"FIGHT BACK !"
"Do it." Charon spoke and she punched in the jaw as hard as could.
The blows got weaker and Stephanie eventually weakly hit her fists against his chest as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I hate you." She whispered "so so much." Her head fell on his shoulders and she began to sob. "I hate you."
"I thought you were dead." Charon murmured to her clutching her head and waist towards him.
Stephanie pushed herself off of him and scurried to the far wall.
"No !" she screamed "You do not get to do that !"
Charon opened his mouth to speak as he rose from the floor but Stephanie interrupted.
"I waited for you." Her voice broke as she spoke quietly.
Charon's mouth closed with nothing he could say and he frowned with concern.
"I waited for so long. You always came before. Always." She ran her hands through her hair and grabbed two chunks while more tears fell.
"Stephy..." Charon groaned.
"Butch was saved ! No one came for me ! I was left behind. Do you know what it's like to be abused...raped...completely out of control of your actions, choices ...voice and having to wake up every morning to do it all again and knowing no one will ever come for you ?"
Anger rose in Charon as she spoke. He had failed her and they both knew it.
"We tried. We were told you wer..."
"NO ! I waited." Stephanie sobbed "and I gave up on you."
A hollow silence fell between them and Charon straightened up. Her words had torn him to shreds.
He took the silence to observe her. A red dress hung loosely over her and her once short brown hair fell down her back with dark blonde sun touched streaks. She was far skinnier than he had seen her before. Her bone structure was highlighted beneath her skin and her skin was now golden from sun exposure and painted with freckles. Her once active eyes looked dead and glazed over. Looking over her he noticed the biggest difference.
"Your pip boy."
Stephane lifted her left arm and stared at it blankly as if forgetting it was ever there and shrugged.
Charon clicked his left knuckle and gritted his teeth.
"I'm so sorry."
"I don't want your pity." Stephanie spat.
"Let me do something ? I can help you. Please."
"You can't do anything for me. Not anymore."
" I can give you your freedom."
Stephanie gave a loud haunting laugh that sent goosebumps across Charons arms.
"Freedom? I will never be free ! I can never get away with him !"
Stephanie almost crazily began to rock on the ground tugging her hair. Charon strode over to her and held her head in his hands.
"Why do you stay ? I know you. You could have left long ago ? What could he possibly have against you ?" Charon tried to catch her gaze but she wouldn't look at him.
"I can't tell you." She whispered to the ground.
"Why ?" Anger began to rise once more. Whatever Vulpes Inculta had done to Stephanie, the majority seemed to be mentally and she was suffering for it.
"He will hurt him." Stephanie's face became desperate and frantic and she clutched her arms around her stomach.
Charon became confused, just as the Brotherhood of Steel members watching the encounter on the screen were.
"He ? Who is he ?"
Stephanie gasped as she realised she had given away too much and gave a loud sob. Years of pressure squeezed down on her.
"He's my son." Stephanie cried "I have to save my son."
Charon stared horrified as did the Brotherhood of Steel.
"I can't let another one go." She whispered. With a faint smile she held her stomach and rubber her thumb against it.
Bedlam was created by the brotherhood of steel members, shouts were given across the room and scribes ran to terminals to collect more information.
The Brotherhood did more than just kidnap Vulpes Incultas wife, they had kidnapped his pregnant wife and the mother of his already born son.
The courier stood frozen.
"They've started a war."
