"You reap what you sow, Artyom. Force answers force, war breeds war, and death only brings death. To break this vicious circle one must do more than just act without any thought or doubt." – Khan, Metro 2033

~oOo~

On the way back to my brother, my mind kept turning over to what happened at Concord.

Once I arrived I almost figured out this new world bust by simply looking at the mess that lay before me. People, attacking each other for survival and it seemed that one side was winning. Until they decided to turn their guns on me. After that, the remaining people who were decent enough not to attack me briefly told me of the fate of this future before more of those so called…raiders descended down upon the town once more. The old woman I talked to was strange enough, mostly about her knowing something she should never have information about but the time to question her sanity wasn't at this moment.

The worse part…wasn't the fragmented minds of the humans but the thing that crept from the darkness of the underground sewer grate at the end of the street.

The hulking mass that roared like thunder and struck like lightning.

The power armor that I wore didn't help me much when the thing threw me against the wall, knocking off my helmet. It pounced, growling close to my face as I waited for the thing to rip my head off but nothing came. I closed my eyes tight waiting my death but when nothing happened I opened them to see the eyes peering down its snout to look at me. I could barely breathe as this thing sat on my chest, blocking my view from my gun or anyway of freeing myself. Dogmeat, the name of the dog I found was busy with a dying raider to come to my aid.

What was I going to do?

Have a staring contest with it?

The thing came closer, sniffing me as I held my breath. It was missing an eye; a large scar ran from the top brow to its cheek. Its horns were large and pointed downwards. Before I could look at it more however, a raider I missed did the stupid thing of firing at it, drawing its attention from me to its attacker. It got off me and I was freed. Dogmeat came to my side and together, advoiding the large hulking mass we took down the last remaining raiders.

When it came down to two I searched for the minigun I found on the roof but the thing was blocking it. It stood in front of it, growling low as it got into a pouncing position like it was getting ready to attack.

I raised my gun…but lowered it.

For some reason, when I looked into the monster's eyes, I couldn't bring myself to fire at it. I put my gun away and faced it fully, hushing Dogmeat who whimpered like this was a bad idea. Taking a breath, I lowered my head in a bow and waited. The thing growled before shaking its head. Looking up I noticed that thing was walking towards me but not in a threating manner.

Once it was standing before I waited a second before reaching up try and touch it. For some reason, for some crazy reason I feel like…this thing and I are the same. Same crazy screw up monster we were made to be. The thing allowed me to touch it before it suddenly pulled away from me, turning around and walking away.

I remained where I was for a minute before Preston, one of the survivors of some group, asked if I was alright. When I yelled back at him he told me to meet him in the main hall. I sighed before making my way back towards the building. Preston and the other survivors were talking about their next move, going to Sanctuary. I really didn't say much, kind of watching until Preston turned to me and asked if I wanted to go with them, that this place was safe for all who wanted a fresh start.

"My brother is actually there. We sort of…just arrived. It's not much, I took care of some large cockroaches but other than that it's safe." I told him and he gave me a look but didn't say anything. Marcy gave Preston attitude about his great idea so I told her that no one was keeping her here. If she really didn't like it here, then she could leave.

She was quiet after that.

"Alright then, let's move." Preston said and then we left the empty shell of the town hall that once was filled with people. I remember like it was yesterday…for it was yesterday when I saw people walking down the street, waiting for the end of the world or maybe a sudden victory where the world would have been fixed in a few days. But that never happened.

Just as we hit the bridge that led into the one white picked fenced community full of small families and retirees, I spotted my brother sitting on one of the picnic benches near the river. I told Preston to make himself at home and that I'll find him after I had a talk with my brother. The man gave me a smile before heading towards a house where a workbench had been set up. No doubt that is where they'll start to rebuild. I waved to Codsworth before sitting next to my brother, making sure the old bench could take both of our weights. By now the sun was setting, the sun turning into a shade of orange you always see at sunsets but a tint of purple and red bled through it. There was no noise, no traffic or the sound of late night fires in the backyards, no small chatter of familiar voices, and certainly no bright lights from the town or any cities near us.

"You're back." Adam said as he just stared into the horizon.

"Of course I came back. I always come back." I answered him.

"I know but this time…I wasn't certain if you would. I feared I lost you." He said and silent tears flowed freely from his eyes. Adam was always the one who cried. He cried at his wedding and when his son was born. He even cried when I turned twenty-one! I think he was just proud I made it that far rather than crying because I was an adult. I'll always be his baby sister.

"I met some…interesting people at Concord. There's an old woman who can see the future and past, a Minuteman, a mechanic, and a couple who really need a therapist." I chuckled and Adam cracked a smile. "See, nothing I can't handle. Sure, I had people shoot at me but then again, I'm used to that part." Adam took my hand and held it tight. "How are you feeling?"

"Cold. Hungry. Tired. I slept for an hour most but I really couldn't sleep. I kept seeing her face and…his. That man that took my son." Adam said, teeth clenched as he seethed about the man. I know that anger; I've felt it too.

"We'll find him. I promise you. But as of right now we have no leads and have no idea of the area around here. I suggest we stay with these people until we know about what had happened in the last 200 years we've been asleep." I told him.

"So it's really been 200 years?" He asked in disbelief.

"That's what I keep hearing." I said as I reached into my pocket to pull out his wife's ring. "I'm going to hang onto this for you until you ask for it back. I'll keep it safe for you." I said as I attached it to a small chain I found before I left concord. Adam looked at me but simply nodded his head in agreement. "Come on, let's go meet the others. The old lady isn't so bad, kind if weird but then again we're a weird family."

I took Adam's hand as we made our way back to the house across from Adam's. Preston shook my brothers' hand, introducing us to Sturges the mechanic, Mama Murphy, Marcy and Jun Long. Adam took a shine to Dogmeat as the animal almost knocked him to the ground. I asked Preston if there was anything for you to help them out with so he put us to work. Adam and Sturges went to install some water pumps while I helped the ladies plant some melons behind the house in one of the fenced off gardens. Dogmeat was quite helpful digging holes for the seeds and helping putting up poles for what they call tatos. Once the guys game back I was able to scrounge around from what I collected at Concord and inside the houses to help Sturges build a turret to place outside the house we moved all the mattresses into. Until we got more people to get this place up and running, we needed to stay as close as possible. Besides, I hardly doubt that my brother really needed to stay in his old house.

The others had gone to sleep so it was just the three of us, Preston, Adam, and myself all sitting around the makeshift fire pit in the center of the room. I was cleaning the weapons I had found, dividing things up so that Adam and I had equal of everything since Preston is sending us to help out this settlement who might be willing to join the Minutemen. I remember reading the minutemen back in history books when it was nothing but history. Now, it's actual real life. There's no history about it anymore. Preston was showing Adam the map on his pipboy, marking places of interest such as Diamond City where a detective is and making sure we stayed away from some place called the Glowing Sea to the southeast. Apparently that's not a fun place to be with all the radiation.

"Make sure you guys carry lots of rad-x and radaway. Most of the food out there is radiated so you want to stock up on as much purified water as possible; the last thing you want is to drink dirty water. Be careful how much food you intake and if possible, cook it." Preston said. Adam nodded as he petted Dogmeat who had his head on Adam's lap.

"And I'm guessing bottle caps are the new currency? I keep finding them everywhere." I asked as I finished up one of the guns.

"Yeah, they are. Spend them wisely, like on stims or ammo but I'm sure if you look carefully, you'll find weapons and armor out there." Preston said. Now that I was paying attention it's kind of weird seeing him without his hat on.

"We'll remember." Adam said. It wasn't until late, once I have packed everything, that my brother and I lay awake on the mattresses. Dogmeat was between us and I could tell that the dog was helping. His wife's necklace was heavy around my own but until Adam asked for it back, I'm going to carry that weight for him. Adam was staring up at the ceiling; the dark circles under his eyes didn't help the feeling I had in my gut so I reached over to flick his ear. He flinched and turned towards me. "What?"

"Close your eyes. Try and get some sleep at least. You'll be facing the things out there and I need you ready. Remember the feeling when we would sleep in those tents before a mission? Or whenever they needed us both?"

"Like I could forget."

"Remembers that feeling. You'll need that for what's out there. Trust me, there's more than humans to worry about." I told him, remembering the bugs but most importantly, the large hulking mass that I had a stare off with. I wonder if I will ever run into that thing again? Is there even more of them?

"I figured…" Adam sighed. "I'll try and get some sleep. Night Eve." With that he turned to his other side to sleep. I felt bad but I can't really baby him, not now anyways. This isn't home, this it's like it once was. It's better to face the truth now then die in denying the reality.

~oOo~

"You carry so much anger." Mama Murphy said as I packed my bag once last time, making sure everything was there.

"Oh, why do you say that?" I asked her.

"The way you talk to your brother and the way you treat yourself." She answered.

"Then how am I supposed to treat us? Like everything is peachy-keen?"

"Like the world isn't going to end if you don't take your medicine. Like you will slip into that darkness if you slip yourself. The darkness is only dark if you want it to be."

"I need my medicine. It keeps that thing in check."

"Or it makes you believe it does. But who does it control? The monster they made you or the woman who now holds the leash?"

"Adam holds the leash, I don't." I snapped at her and she chuckled.

"Of course, of course. They made have given him one but who is to that the leash can't be broken? Have a safe trip dearie." With that, Mama Murphy left me alone with my thoughts. I sighed and looked down at my hand what a vial sat. I was going to just take half, hoping it would be enough like the last time I only took half but even then, it was stretching it. I popped the top, downing half of it before putting it back in the case. I took a breath before slinging it on my back. I met up with my brother before waving to the others good-bye.

This isn't going to be easy but we have to start somewhere.

~oOo~