Oh boy, it's that part of the story.
Chapter 53: Can't Take It Back
Men in black power armor stepped out of the large... thing... along with a man in a tan overcoat. Something told me that these men weren't supposed to be here. I had to get to Dad. Something was very wrong.
I tripped over the traffic cones and hit the pipe floor. Pain shot through my head from the impact, but I bit the bullet and lifted myself up. I pushed through the other exit to the basement and carefully made my way down the half circle steps until the pipe evened out. I drew out my hunting rifle and held it tightly.
Gunshots echoed through the basement. It sounded like Charon's shotgun. I held my head down and peered out of the pipe. The armored men fell one by one, guns sliding across the floor and metal armor scraping against the concrete.
Charon stood in the center, breathing heavily. His back was facing me and I slipped down to the floor. He whipped around and my shoulder flared up in hot pain and a loud bang echoed through the basement. He just fucking shot me.
His gun dropped and he rushed towards me, catching me before I hit the ground. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"My bag. There's stimpaks in the front pocket," I mumbled through clenched teeth.
He nodded and reached around to the front pocket. It felt like hours before the healing effects caught up. I didn't even feel whenever he injected it.
He held my face and gave me a heart wrenching gaze. "Eleanor, I'm so sorry. I should have been paying more attention. I'm so fucking sorry."
I shook my head. "I shouldn't have been so quiet."
I glanced at my shattered shoulder and noticed the cross hatch skin mending together and covering the bone. After about two minutes, the pain subsided and my shoulder was as good as new. Save for the large scar that now donned the entirety of my shoulder and upper arm. The edges looked like spider legs reaching towards my chest and down my arm.
Charon ran a finger over the new flesh with a mournful frown. "I'm ruining you," he whispered.
My hand rested over his and pushed it away from my chest. He helped me silently. "I thought we've settled it that I am the one ruining myself. Forget about it. We have to get to my dad."
I slipped out of his grasp and hurried to the door. He yanked me back sharply, eliciting a startled yelp.
"There are more outside this door. You need to be more careful," he said in a hushed tone.
My lips thinned in a straight line and I nodded. "Gotcha."
The rifle in my hands was both reassuring and a little intimidating. I always dreaded having to fight. The wood was worn and oily under my fingers from age and Charon caring for it. I still never got around to learning how to clean my weapons myself.
I pushed the door open slowly and quietly. Charon cut in front of me to enter the ground level first. He signaled me to stay back for a moment. After several seconds, he reappeared to pull me out of the basement. We scouted the area and ran into a handful of the men in the black armor. Charon had managed to take care of most of them.
I had picked up a plasma rifle that I found on a downed soldier and stood mesmerized by the green glow. I turned it over in my hands and admired the weight and feel of it. Charon tugged me by the elbow and dragged me into the rotunda.
Madison Li stood at the top of the stairs, covering her mouth. I rushed up the stairs and pressed my face to the glass. Dad and one of the scientists were locked in the room with that man in trench coat and two of the soldiers.
"The Enclave," Li whispered. "I don't know how they found out about the project."
I slammed my fists on the glass to get Dad's attention. "Dad! What's going on?"
He stood, shocked to see me. His cool facade broke to show how scared he was for me to see this. These men were definitely not good people. He shook his head and looked at Charon. "Get her out of here."
Charon held me back from the glass but I shoved him away. "No, what's going on?"
The man in the trench coat gave me a murderous glare. He turned to the scientist and shot her, the left temple an explosion of red. She dropped and Li screamed. He tucked the gun back in his coat. "Hurry now, doctor. You don't want something to... happen to that precious daughter of yours. Give us the code to the purifier."
Dad swallowed and nodded, closing his eyes. He walked slowly to the central control and started pressing buttons. He was giving up his dream for good.
I banged on the glass louder and Charon yanked me back. "Dad, no! Don't you dare fucking turn this project over to them!"
"My patience is wearing thin, doctor. And your daughter is an animal. Control her," the man in the trench coat barked.
"Fuck you!" I spit out as Charon held me back.
My legs kicked in the air, connecting with the glass. The window shook loudly with every kick. Dad turned around to face me and mouthed. I'm so sorry, honey."
The rotunda vibrated with a loud crash. A wave of radioactive heat hit my face. My cheeks prickled and my legs slowly stopped kicking. Dad stumbled to the glass and leaned a hand on it for support. He could make it.
The strength returned and I kicked the glass with more force than before. Dad yelled at me but I couldn't hear over the adrenaline. I could get him out if I kicked hard enough.
Charon's arms tightened around me and I pulled us to the wall, far away from the window. My vision went red and I slammed my head back, connecting with his jaw. He dropped me and I ran to the window. The radiation was getting to me. I still had a chance to get him out.
"Eleanor, get out! Have your family with Charon. He cares about you... I Care about you! Get out of here before it's too late!" Dad screamed through the glass.
Tears were streaming down my face as I used all the force I could against the cracking glass. "Not without you!"
Large arms dragged me back and I bit down on one of them. They hissed, but didn't drop me. The radiation was draining my strength at this point. Only a few more kicks to the glass and I could get him out.
"Charon, I'm sorry for the things I said. Please get her out of here," Dad begged.
The person dragging me down the stairs spoke. "You were just doing your job. Sorry for being a dickhead."
Dad's body began slumping more to the ground. "I love you, Eleanor... Treat her well, son."
His body slid to the ground and I shrieked. I couldn't see or hear anything anymore. I was an abstract thing. No longer feeling human. "Daddy, no!"
I woke up in a hospital bed somewhere unfamiliar. Charon rushed to my side as soon as my eyes opened. I had a pounding headache and a sore throat. My shoulder had a deep, dull ache I could feel in the bone. I sat up but Charon eased me back down.
"Take it slow, Elle," he said. He sounded tired.
"What happened? Where are we?" My voice was hoarse. I couldn't remember why.
He sighed heavily and held my hand tightly. "The Enclave showed up at the purifier."
"What? I don't know who they are. Is everyone alr-" I paused, everything coming back to me. The bullet to the shoulder in the basement, the men in armor, the man in the trench coat, and Dad.
My breath caught in my throat at the memory of seeing Dad fall to the ground, dying right in front of me. And Charon pulling back. "I could have fucking saved him, you asshole!'
He pulled me to him and my fists pounded on his chest. My face was already stained with the tears I hated so much. "I can't fucking believe you! I could have saved him!"
He took the hits to the chest patiently. He had no reaction. I wanted a reaction. "Fuck you, Charon! I hate you!"
At that time, everything seemed to slow down. We both froze and the breath caught in my throat. His arms dropped to his sides limply and he stood up. I already regretted what I said. I could have said literally anything else. My anger quickly dissipated and was replaced with shame. He pushed away from me when I reached for him. Why the hell did I say that?
"Charon, I didn't mean it. I didn't mean any of it. You got me out of there. I may have been able to get him out of there, but I wouldn't have been able to drag him out. Charon, please talk to me," I begged.
His jaw pushed forward and his looked glassy. He shook his head and started for the door. I held onto his wrist tightly and he pulled away from my touch. "Don't... Mistress."
I fucked up. I fucked up so bad. I yanked the IV out of my arm and stumbled out of bed towards him. He didn't stop moving when I wrapped my arms around him waist from behind him. My feet couldn't keep up, so I just let him drag me behind him. "Charon, please. I didn't mean that. You know I didn't mean that. I love you so much. I was just pissed that you weren't reacting and I wanted to hurt you... I'm such a shitty person. I could have said anything, but I chose to say that without think and... I'm so stupid."
By now, we were in the courtyard. I had just now become aware that I was only in my underwear and a thin tank top. Dogmeat was running towards us from across the courtyard excitedly. Freddie was trailing behind him. Charon finally shook me off of him and I hit the ground.
"I have been sitting in that god damn room for four days waiting for you to wake up," he hissed. "I replaced your IV bag every three hours. I stayed by your side. I didn't eat or sleep for four days because I didn't want you to wake up alone and afraid. And then you wake up and you tell me fucking hate me. Yes Eleanor, you are a shitty person."
