The New Dead World

Chapter 13: New Vegas Valley

Wren and I left the gated pool and hid behind a wall, peering around to see the front entrance of the Casino we just fell out of. The front entrance was barren, with no guard, no Freaks, and nobody in sight. Just as I was about to move, I felt cold fingers touch the back of my head.

"What are you doing?" I asked her, keeping my eyes around the corner of the wall.

"There's blood running down your neck," she said, then started to dig around in my hair.

"I feel like this could wait until we are safe," I said. "I feel fine."

"Saren, sweetie... you have a gash on the back of your head, about 4 inches," she said, annoyed.

"Sounds huge," I said, letting a slight smirk escape.

"Oh my god..." she said exasperated.

The sign to the underground garage, where the truck is being kept, is across the entrance.

"Ok, we are going to the truck, you get inside and lay on the floor. I'll cover you with a blanket," I said turning to her. Wren's face was shocked and filled with worry.

"No, I'm going—"

"No, you are not," I said sternly. "You are going to stay in the truck, and wait for me, I'm doing this by myself, it will be faster and safer that way."

She stared at me with wide worried eyes. "Fine." She gave in.

I took her hand and pulled her along, as we dashed past the glass door entrance. I took a glance inside, lights were flickering, bloody bodies strewn about the floor, and a few dozen fresh Freaks shuffling around.

We reached the downslope to the parking garage. It was a large tunnel that quickly went down into an byssal darkness.

"We are going in there?" she said, nervously.

"Are you scared?" I asked, and she nodded quickly.

"I don't think my legs can—"

I cut her off with a kiss, a deep kiss, and held it for a few seconds until her body loosened up.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Huh?" she said with a red face.

"Good enough," I nodded and ran down into the darkness.

Instantly, the dark took over. It was impossible to see anything in here. I started walking

slowly and using sounds to see if anything was alive.

It was quiet, all I could hear was Wren's heavy breathing, and the slight shuffle of our shoes.

"Hold onto me as tight as you can," I whispered.

"Like I was going to let go!" She angrily whispered.

Her hand was nearly crushing the bones in my hand, I moved her hand to my back, "Grab onto my bag, I need both hands," I said.

She let go, and I felt a slight tug on my backpack. We slowly inched forward, feeling the way with my hands.

Suddenly the lights shot on, and the whole garage instantly lit up. I quickly pulled Wren down behind a car, keeping my body over her. A group of men burst through a metal door, shooting an automatic gun. The echo of the garage amplified the noise to triple. Wren slapped her hands over her eyes, and I held my hands over hers, just for a bit more protection.