Chapter 12 - Life and Death
Marilyn heard a faint sound beyond the ringing, like it came from far away. From a far off tunnel. Shk, shk, shk. It was muffled, like she had cotton in her ears. But it continued steadily, over and over again. Even after the ringing dulled away, leaving only that rhythmic sound.
Click, click, click.
Marilyn felt tired, exhausted. Like she hadn't slept in a year. And she had a splitting headache, like her head was about to explode. It throbbed along with the sound.
Click, click, click.
"Nng…" Marilyn grunted quietly, wishing that sound would cease like the ringing had.
And it did. For a moment. As though it paused, considering her desires. But then the moment passed and the sound returned.
Click, click, click.
Grunting, Marilyn stirred slightly. That sound was going to be the end of her.
"...Stop that annoying clicking," She groaned weakly.
This time, the sound stopped abruptly and didn't return. She felt a wave of relief flood over her. She tried to sit up, but in doing so was overwhelmed with a wave of nausea. She barely had a moment to turn on her side and vomit on the ground.
"Ugh, what the hell…" She spat, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand.
"You kiss your mama with that mouth?"
Marilyn's eyes popped open instantaneously. She would know that voice anyway. Heaving slightly, she finally sat up. She was outside, laying in the grass. The orange lights of a small fire pit danced beside her. But the only thing she could look at was the person sitting on the other side of that pit.
"...Dick?" She whispered incredulously, "What… What are you doing out here?"
"Could ask you the same thing," He responded quietly, beginning to play with his flip lighter once more.
Click, click, click.
Marilyn watched the orange flames dance off of the silver metal before dragging her eyes back up to Dick's face. His expression was hard, brows furrowed. And no matter how long she stared, he refused to look up.
"...How am I still alive?" She asked, trying another approach.
"Beats me," Dick shrugged lightly, "I found you unconscious the other day."
"Other day?" Marilyn repeated, "How long was I out?"
Dick paused, raising his Pip-Boy.
"About a week," He answered, finally glancing over at her, "Happy Halloween, by the way."
As Marilyn brought a hand up to her head, feeling the scab at her left temple, Dick tossed some grass into the fire.
"Sometimes, at night, there's lights over that way," He nodded over his shoulder, "Think it's a town or something, but I dunno. Didn't wanna wander too far and leave you to get carried off by a… I dunno, bear or something. If there's even still bears out here."
Marilyn lowered her hand from the scab, looking over at Dick again. He just frowned and looked down at the fire pit, continuing to toss bits of grass into the flames.
"...Why'd you leave?" She asked quietly after a moment.
"Whaddya think, genius?" Dick scoffed, looking up at her.
Marilyn frowned, glancing aside. On the one hand, she was overjoyed to see Dick again. Being able to travel the wasteland, as the green man had called it, with him at her side was a dream come true. But on the other hand, she wasn't sure she wanted him to be out there. It was so dangerous, and even a trained scout like Greg had already been killed. Marilyn quickly looked back up.
"Greg–" She began, but Dick cut her off.
"Yeah, I saw," He nodded.
"It was the same guy," Marilyn said, pointing towards her temple, "The same one who shot me."
"He got somethin' against the Vault?" Dick furrowed his brow.
"I don't know, but I don't think so," Marilyn shook her head slightly, the gesture making her a bit woozy, "But I think he actually has something against… me?"
"Huh?"
"Well, not me specifically," Marilyn elaborated, "But my family."
Dick perked a brow.
"I mean, in the blood sense," Marilyn rubbed her neck, "I don't really understand myself, but he seems obsessed with my family's blood. Says it's some kind of key."
"A key?" Dick cocked his head to the side, "Like for a biometric lock? To what?"
"He called it the Elixir of Life," Marilyn shrugged, "I don't know what it is, but he said it would cure his sickness and let him take over the wasteland."
"Sickness?"
"Yeah," Marilyn nodded slightly, "He was all green, and his hair was falling out."
"Huh," Dick blinked, looking down as he tried to piece it together in his head.
"I think… I think this is why my grandpa had the results changed," Marilyn added thoughtfully.
"Whaddya mean?" Dick blinked.
"Oh, right… I never told you," She frowned, "I only just found out myself right before I left, but my grandpa told me he had Mr. Alden change the results of any of us who the G.O.A.T. would make into Scouts. Us Aldens, I mean."
"...Is that why you left?" Dick asked after a moment.
"I don't know, maybe?" Marilyn sighed, "I guess it was just the tipping point. I always wanted to leave. Well, I mean, I thought I did. But now, I… I don't know."
Marilyn rubbed her arm, looking away. The guilt began to seep into her, recalling what she'd done. Biting her lip, she glanced back at Dick, who was still watching her.
"Did you… see the body?" She asked him, so quietly that she was barely audible.
"You mean Greg?"
"No… not him…" Marilyn glanced down, unable to hold his gaze, "The other one."
"Oh, the big guy?" Dick nodded, "Yeah. That green guy shoot him too?"
"No," Marilyn frowned, swallowing hard.
Dick perked a brow in response.
"Then…?"
"I did," She confessed quietly.
"...Oh…" Dick blinked, looking down.
The two of them were quiet for a minute, the fire crackling between them.
"You obviously had a good reason," He said quietly, tossing some grass into the fire, "...I guess that kinda thing is inevitable out here."
"It… It isn't a good feeling… at all," Marilyn sniffled unsteadily, feeling tears begin to well.
Dick frowned over at her for a moment before standing. He slipped the lighter into his pocket before coming and sitting in the grass beside her.
"Hey, it's alright, Mari." He began gently, "You just did what you had to do, right? It was you or him."
Marilyn bit her lip, nodding slightly.
"They would've killed you," Dick pointed out, "Like they killed Greg."
Marilyn nodded again, hiccuping slightly as she tried to hold in the sobs that threatened to escape. Dick frowned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. Marilyn leaned into him, thankful for the familiar warmth.
"Heck, they still tried to," Dick continued, "You were in a pretty sorry state when I found you."
"Y-Yeah?" Marilyn sniffled, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Yeah, I dunno if you coulda lasted much longer," Dick nodded, "I'm glad I found you when I did."
"Me too," Marilyn closed her eyes, trying to damper the tears from falling, "If I had to… choose someone to be out here with me… I'd choose you."
"Oh yeah?" Dick chuckled.
"Yeah," Marilyn repeated quietly.
"Well, then I guess we both hit the jackpot then, huh?" He concluded while rubbing his thumb against her far shoulder.
Marilyn smiled, finding the gesture soothing. Her exhaustion was weighing on her heavily as it had been ever since she regained consciousness, but only then did she feel herself beginning to drift off. They sat like that for a quiet moment before Dick broke the silence.
"I want something in return, though," He told her, "For saving you."
"You do?" She mumbled sleepily, "What's that?"
"A promise," He responded quietly, "I want you to promise me something."
"Promise what?" She asked back even softer.
"Promise you won't leave me again," Dick whispered, tone anxious despite how quiet it was.
"Oh, is that all?" Marilyn chuckled faintly, nuzzling her cheek against him.
When Dick only waited, Marilyn chuckled again before giving a little nod.
"I promise," She agreed at last.
And though she was barely awake, she had no intention to break that promise.
