FO4 | Book 0: The Diaries of Anarchy ✔️

February 8, 2282

"Job's done," I said to the farmhand, cigarette perched between my lips and a glowing ghoul's severed head in my hand. 

"Ugh!" The farmhand turned his head away from the abomination I'd just brought him. "I believe you! Did you have to bring its head?!"

"I brought it for reassurance. You acted like you didn't think I was gonna get rid of your problem."

"I'm sorry, you just looked like you don't usually do this sort of thing." He took the promised amount of caps out of his pocket. "There you go. A hundred, not a cap less."

"Pleasure." I tossed the head to the side and shoved the caps in my pocket.

I had been back at mercenary work the day after I left Diamond City. I tried to huddle all the people together who left the city, but a lot of them went their separate ways. It had been a little over a month since they'd scattered to the winds.

I managed to get a lot of them to Goodneighbor, but it wasn't easy. We lost casualties in groups, so one-by-one was usually the way to go. The only problem with that was the amount of time multiple trips took through the ruins, and it put me in particular at a higher risk of death or injury.

I planned on the money I earned from killin' the glowin' feral to go to two sentient ghouls I had left in the ruins not far from the area. It took me an hour or two to walk back to them.

I found 'em sittin' on a pile of rubble, warmin' themselves by a fire. They were startled when I got close.

"It's just me," I reassured them.

"Oh. John. You gave us a fright," said the woman.

"Here's the caps I promised you. You sure you wanna go to Bunker Hill?"

"Honestly, we're not sure anymore." The man took the caps and set the small bag down beside him.

"Really? What's the plan now?"

The couple stared at each other for a while without speaking.

"You can stop taking care of us," said the woman, her black eyes resting on mine. "We thank you for all your help so far, but it's not needed anymore."

"Well, if you say so, but it's still a long way to Bunker Hill. Do either of you need anything else before I high-tail it outta here?"

"Maybe just... some ammo..."

"Sure thing. I probably have some ammo for your pistol." I went through my bag, found a few shells that I had salvaged, and gave 'em to him.

"Thank you. Now, please... leave us be."

I glanced between the two, unsure of their change of heart, but I didn't wanna press them. I got up, said my farewells, and walked down the path through the rubble.

I had gotten about fifty feet away before I heard two gunshots, one after the other. My heart sank into my stomach, and all of a sudden, I felt tired. So tired.