Chapter 7: Hiding of Future
John only glared at Mike. "You are actually so far up your own ass, aren't you? Do you not realize that you both would be dead without me? I could have kept walking!"
Cat helped Mike onto his feet, saying, "I understand your doubt, dear. But he isn't lying. They would have choked me. If not for him. You would have been shot by Jeff, most likely. Just be happy we are both alive!"
Mike grumbled, using Cat as support. "I don't trust you, John. But if what she says is true. I suppose I should thank you. I want you out of our hair! The moment the storm is done!"
"Jeez, Mike. A "fuck you" would have been better. I'm not your enemy! But, I won't argue. You want me gone? I'll be gone."
Cat shook Mike in her grasp, trying to get some sense into him. "This is how you treat our savior, Mike? That Isn't cool at all. John, please, I insist. Come back to our home with us! We can feed you, give you a bed to lay your head on! It won't be luxurious, but it's the least we can do, right, Mike?" she shook him again for emphasis.
"You're out of your mind!" he shouted. "We can't take him to our home; look at him! We don't even know what he looks like!" he looked at John, then at the storm. It seemed to quiet down. "Why do you hide, John?"
He stood up, distancing himself from them both. "You don't want the answer to that. Neither of you do. Can we just leave it at that? I'm not looking to make friends, explain myself, or justify why I hide myself. You won't get better than that!"
Cat changed the subject quickly. "Look! The storm is calming down. We should move before it picks up again!"
She didn't even wait for either Mike or John to agree or disagree. She just started going up the steps. She was going to lead them, if they liked it or not.
"What about Jeff?" Mike questioned, with more curiosity than concern.
This prompted John to move past him, onto the steps, saying, "What about him?" haphazardly tossing the key to his cell behind himself. It landed nowhere near the cell. Jingling off one of the old shower rooms, a far distance away.
This action made Mike smile. He followed John, who was catching up with Cat. He was in no condition to be walking solo. He would manage it.
Mike himself was a smaller individual. Made him swift and agile. His speed was a prominent feature. Because of his smaller frame. He, himself, was rather average in looks. Shortly cut brown hair, his bloodied blue shirt, and black cargo pants. He didn't have any facial features; minus some patches of scruff here and there. He wasn't unkept, more of can't seem to grow good facial hair.
Cat seemed to be on the move before an entire argument broke out. She was speeding along the road. She did occasionally look back to see if they gave chase. John let Mike get ahead of him to catch up with Cat first.
He lingered behind. Making sure no one was following them. The dust storm was dissipating enough to where visibility wasn't completely gone. He could see the small town of Springvale from the school! It really wasn't all that far away.
Mike and Cat made some small talk, talking down the road. John trailed them. He was still cautious, despite the raiders being obsolete. There could be anything lurking! Not to mention if they sent out any groups before they attacked the school.
John noticed they were about to pass the building with that raider who had the wounded leg on the couch. "Hold on, you two. I want to check that building up there. I left an injured raider in here with an ultimatum. I want to see if they took it."
They both stood on the road. Mike looked around, nervous. Cat said, "Go ahead but, please. Make it fast. I don't want to be caught out here if things pick up again!"
With a nod, John peeked his way into the building. The interior was unchanged. Even that broken, rusty chair was still where he left it. He glanced his way into the living room, where the couch was, and… did not see the woman on the couch! She dragged herself out to the Med-X.
He felt… happy! This has completely defied his entire expectation. It wasn't so much that she probably survived, but that maybe, just maybe, she took his lesson in stride. He entered the room more and looked out the window where he threw the drug out.
Surely enough, it was gone. She did it. He'll probably never see her again. That was okay. Sometimes a mystery is the better outcome in life. He left the building and saw Mike and Cat still waiting. He tried to be quick. But it still surprised him that they waited.
"Okay, I am done. It seems she took my offer. She is away from here. Perhaps a changed person, probably not. We can move on, you two."
"Perfect, let's go!" Cat said enthusiastically. "What do you know about Springvale, and the Vault that is here, John?" she asked.
He considered for a moment, as the trio approached the ruins of the small town. "Not all that much. Aside from what I saw when I arrived, just beyond that cliff," he pointed off, past the road onto a massive formation of rocks."I watched from the top of there, while you two got hauled down the road. Then the dogs attacked. I taunted Jeff and made my way around. Looking for at least one of you."
"Funny you didn't notice the cave entrance up there. Then again, the storm." Mike said, shrugging.
Cat placed a hand on Mike's chest, stopping him, and elaborated. "John. That cave is where Vault 101 is. The legendary hero of the Wasteland came out of there. A long time ago. The Lone Wanderer walked down this same road. 30 years ago."
"Vaults, here? They are just everywhere then," he questioned. "Where are you two taking me, anyway?"
They looked at each other and gestured past the road, onto a dirt trail. "To our home, to Megaton!" Cat exclaimed.
End Chapter 7: