Chapter 16: Tunnel of Terrors
The gates of the metro screeched loudly. I walked toe to heel on the long crack in the pavement. I needed something to get my mind off the fact that Talon had just tried to kill me.
"What are you doing?" Charon scoffed.
I looked over my shoulder. The light shined behind him creating a perfect silhouette. I smiled up at him and returned to walking on the crack. "I'm walking along the line."
"You're going to get yourself hurt yet again." He grumbled.
"Loosen up a little. It's fun." I glanced at him again. "You should try it."
"That's ridiculous."
I spun around on my toes. He stopped abruptly to give me a confused stare.
"It's fun, Charon. Come on." I smiled again. His face relaxed a little. "Please, for me?"
He sighed loudly. "Fine."
He placed one foot in front of the other slowly on the crack. He raised his arms out for balance. He stumbled slightly. I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer.
"What are you doing, smoothskin?"
"Helping you out. You looked like you were about to fall."
"I can handle myself, Eleanor."
"That's not what I saw outside." I flashed a sly grin.
"That's because you went at him like a fucking crazy person." He pointed his finger in my face.
"I was just trying to help. He was going to throw that grenade at you." My shoulders sagged slightly.
"I don't need your help." He shook my hand off of his. He stormed past me. "I'm supposed to protect you but you keep doing bat shit insane things like that."
I stayed standing there facing the gate. "I just... wanted to help."
"Don't start that shit. That was incredibly stupid. How am I supposed to protect you when you keep literally fucking throwing yourself into dangerous situations." His footsteps were getting fainter.
"I'm sorry. I was just trying to help." My voice was barely a whisper. I glanced toward his direction. He was gone. "Charon?"
No answer.
"Charon?" I called out louder.
I ran into the concourse and searched around frantically. He was no where in sight. I leaned over the railing but it was too dark to see.
Big arms wrapped around me tightly. I screamed and bit down on their arm.
"Motherfucker!" They threw me down.
"Charon?"
"Why the fuck did you bite me?" He held his arm and glared at me.
"Why did you not answer me?" I matched his glare.
"You wanna know why? How did you feel when you didn't see me?"
"I felt scared and alone. I thought you were going to leave me."
"That's how I fucking feel every time you do something stupid." He let his arm go. His hands were flying in the air as he spoke. "Do you finally understand how that affects me? Do you even care about me? Am I just some fucking shield for you?"
A lump was forming in my throat. My own body betrayed me when I let out a choked sob.
"You're such an asshole!" I turned on my heel and ran down the stairs and into the train tunnels.
I ran until my legs burned. Until my chest felt like it would explode. I could hear his loud footsteps somewhere far behind me. I turned the upcoming corner into what looked like an equipment room. I squeezed in between the back wall and the side of a shelf. A metal box covered most of me. I pulled my feet in as close as I could. I held my breath as I heard him run past the room. Tears streamed down my face freely. I wiped them away quickly.
It seemed like an eternity before I felt I could come out from behind the shelf. I carefully pulled myself out of the small space. My footsteps were nearly silent. Nearly.
CLUNK.
Shit.
I dared to look down and saw a tin can rolling out of the doorway. A door opened abruptly down the tunnel. I was so fucked. Maybe if I ran back to the concourse, I could find another store room.
I took my chances and slid behind the door. I could see his shadow stop in front of the can. He growled and kicked it down the tunnel.
I held my breath again. I was certain he could hear my heartbeat. His shadow grew as he got closer into the room. I shut my eyes tightly. My shoulders shook as I began to cry again. When I opened my eyes again, Charon stood in front of me with an almost murderous look.
I gasped in surprise. I ducked and tried to run for it under his arm. He grabbed my collar and yanked me back. I coughed when he let go and grabbed my wrists. I looked around for any way out. I pushed off of him but he didn't budge.
"Charon! I'm sorry!" I twisted in his grasp. "Please don't hurt me!" I sobbed loudly.
He dropped me and his arms fell to his sides. I fell on my back and the air forced its way out of my lungs. I kicked the ground as I crawled away from him frantically. "Charon, please don't kill me!" I pleaded.
He knelt down and touched my arm. I flinched under his touch. He pulled his hand away quickly.
"You're scared of me." His voice was shaky.
I nodded quickly, I wiped at my face. I choked out a sob. "Please don't hurt me anymore, Charon. Please. I'm sorry I ran. You were really scaring me." I begged.
"Oh my god." He backed away from me in horror. He looked panicked as he stood up. He slid his hands over his face as he stumbled to the side of the tunnel wall.
I watched him closely from the ground. I sniffled and wiped my eye with my sleeve. He looked at me from in between his fingers. He punched the wall and I jumped.
He slammed the back of his head into the wall. He clenched his eyes close and hit the wall again. I crawled away towards the other wall.
"Charon, stop that." I pleaded.
He hit his head again even harder. Dust was falling behind him. The wall was dripping with blood.
"Charon. Stop!" He was scaring me even more than earlier.
He hit his head more frequently and with more momentum than the last with every hit. He wouldn't be able to go on for much longer. I struggled to climb to my feet and I cautiously moved toward him in his stupor.
Once I was within arms-length, he opened his eyes wide and stilled. I jumped back in surprise. I held my breath once again. When he didn't move, I reached for him.
"Charon?"
"What, Eleanor?" He rested his head back and slid down the wall to the floor.
"What the hell was that?"
He looked up at me with hope and shame. "I knew you wouldn't punish me, so I did it myself. I scared you, drove you off, hurt you. When you looked at me from the ground... when you were begging me not to kill you... I was a monster in your eyes." He rested his head in his hands. "I really am a monster. I can understand if you sold my contract. It is... for the best."
I sighed and sat down next to him. I laid my head on his arm. "I'm not going to sell your contract."
"I hurt you. I'm a monster." His voice was muffled. "Just put me down. Please."
"Look at me. Right now." I took his face in my hands. "I'm not going to sell the contract and I'm not going to kill you. You have my contract, too. What would I do without a contract holder?"
He shook his head. "I don't understand you at all."
"The day you understand me is the day I need to change things up a little." I giggled.
"I'm sorry I overreacted before. I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorry for chasing you. I'm so fucking sorry for hurting you. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's alright. I shouldn't have ignored your orders." I leaned against him.
"I just wanted you to understand how it made me feel when you willingly go into those situations. I didn't mean for it to turn into this."
"I forgive you if you forgive me for all the stupid shit I've done."
He looked over to me. His eyes gleamed in the light of my pipboy. They asked unspoken questions.
I climbed into his lap gently. I settled in and nuzzled into his neck. He hesitated before wrapping his arms around me tightly.
"Do you forgive me, Charon?" I closed my eyes as my lids grew heavy with sleep.
He pressed his cheek into the top of my head. He ran a hand through my hair tenderly. "I forgive you. Forgive me for everything I've done to you? And you need to stay up. Have you forgotten about your concussion?"
"I forgive you. And fine. I'm really tired though."
"I know." He nuzzled my messy hair. "I never knew hair could be this soft."
My cheeks warmed up. "I never knew you could be so gentle."
"We're both full of surprises I guess."
"Hey, Charon?"
"Yeah, smoothskin?"
"Sorry I bit you."
He chuckled. "I forgive you."