[Only read if you came from Chapter 20]

You Picked: Kill Benny

"Good."

Her fingers squeeze the handle of the knife and her teeth clench. Her grip on him didn't loosen.

Benny glances around, sweat forming on his hairline, his palms clammy. "Um...you gonna let me go? I-I...ah...I let you off that payment..."

"Hm." She was staring straight into his pupils like they were some piece of parchment holding his last confessions.

Then Benny understood; she's going to kill him, no matter what. She's probably killed dozens—no—hundreds before him. She's a wastelander, a wanderer. Life abandoned her the day she was born, just like it did all the rest, and now she's just a reflection of the apocalypse.

So Benny did what any desperate man would do: he yelled for help, but before he could even take a breath, she rammed her knee into his chest and slashed the knife across his throat. Blood speckled the wall and ran quickly into the sheets. Silence ensued. Dead silence. She stepped off his corpse, slid back into the dress, jerked the zipper up and wiped the blade off on his checkered suit that was crumpled up on the floor.

She strapped into her heels and slid the knife in the belt along her thigh, then left through the doors.

The man at the check-in desk had the night shift. Everything was usually quiet after 10 pm, even though they kept the casino lights on. It was just for safety measures, really.

He's tasting the tip of his cigarette when he hears the click-clacking of heels. It's sharp and powerful and quick, and it's coming closer. He sees a fuzzy shadow coming from the casino hall quickly focus into a woman. She has an overstuffed pack and a belt full of grenades and knives. Her white knuckles grip a spear. Her icy eyes are glaring at him.

"Shit." He reaches for his gun, "Shit, shit, shit." He aims, "Ma'am, civilians with weapons are not allowed on this premises—AGH!"

He gasps for air and the gun falls from his hand. His shaky fingers reach for the spear protruding from his throat. His eyes cloud over and blood runs onto the tile floor. He's still.

The woman looks him over, quickly loots the cash register, then continues her stoic strut out the casino doors.

To continue your story, go to Chapter 30