Vault

Demolished

"So vault 305? Thats not too far from here you know." Sheriff Hurley says over his mouthfull of soup. I take large greedy slurps of my own stew it tastes weird but its delicious. " Slow down man your going to get a stomach ache."

"Oh let the boy eat! You heard his story he hasnt eaten in days poor babe. Vault dwellers usually don't make it a week out in the dust but looks like we got a fighter." The lady who works at the diner says with a smile patting my shoulder and sliding more food toward me on the table.

"Thank you." I say stuffing more food in my mouth. I never caught her name which makes me feel bad considering shes so nice.

"Hayley if you keep giving him more food he may explode." Hurley laughs and the chef rolls her eyes. Hayley thats a nice name.

"I will just give you some for later." She says with a wink going back to the kitchen and I hear clattering.

" You know dweller there is quite a few things here. You could stay work here or at the general store, or even the bar and buy yourself a place you could be happy here. Were protected here by me and others of course. You dont have to run off to find the vault. Probably will be infested with mutants or raiders by now."

"I know and thank you for the idea but I have someone that I need to find. He saved me and I think he would like it here, I miss him and he saved my life I feel like I owe him." I say poking at the strangely coloured meat on my plate.

"Well who am I to stand in the way of love I suppose. But trust me kid there isn't much else out in the wasteland especially places like this." Hurley says leaning forward and pointing his fork to emphasize his point.

"I know but I mean this place just wouldn't make me happy until I have him here with me. The guilt of leaving him out there would eat me alive." The sheriff nods in understanding and then something flashes in his eyes.

"How you survive after you got separated? You look pretty banged up how are all those cuts not infected by now?" Andrew asks eyeing me suspiciously.

"I was a doctor in the vault. I just treated myself." I admit and I see Andy's eyes light up.

"We need a doctor here badly. If you stay we could set up a clinic and you could live there rent free as long as you treat our people. We could pay you even we havent had a doctor since Terry died a year ago." Exclaims the sheriff enthusiasticly a smile on his face.

" Thank you for the offer but I have to find Wentz first." I say pushing back from the table. I see the smile drop and a guilty look cross his face.

"Wentz? Did you say Wentz?" He says his face paling.

"Yes have you heard of him?" I say excited.

"Yes he came by here yesterday pleading to be let in. He said he was looking for someone. Sounded desperate but he was dressed like a raider, well cept his jacket. But we sent him away. He begged us to tell him if you were here." The sheriff looks down at his hands. "Im so sorry. If I would have known he wasnt a real raider he could have stayed. I was just so afraid he would hurt someone in here."

"Did he say where he was going?" I ask barely above a whisper my heart pounding in my ears. He's alive thank god, and he's looking for me.

"I think he said something about checking back at that vault?" I dont even wait to hear more I just cut him off.

"Which way do I go from here to get there." I push away from the table and gather my things.

"Its not far when you get outside turn right and continue that way until you reach a mountainous pile of rocks then turn left and then when you hit a small trail follow it and that should lead you back."

"Thank you so much." I say and rush out the door. "Ill come back soon with Wentz!" I holler and run up the trail to the doors.

I wait impatiently for them to roll open before running out. "Thank you for visiting Metroville." The robot says as I run past it.

Im going to find Wentz hopefully before the sun sets. I feel excitement bubble in my chest. I've missed him as crazy as that sounds. I didn't even correct the sheriff when he called it love. Its not, at least not yet but its a connection that I've never felt before.

I slow my run after a few minutes not being able to continue without dying of lack of oxygen. I continue at a brisk walk wanting to get there as soon as possible. If Wentz had left yesterday than he might have already left. The thought scratches at the back of my mind and makes me worry.

I continue anyway because if theres a will theres a way. Hopefully he will still be there. When I reach the rock mountain I turn left just like Hurley said too.

I continue excited hoping I am getting close. When I reach the small trail I feel butterflies in my stomach. The sun is just touching the horizon burning a orangey red. I climb up the trail and then follow its bends and dips until I reach the sheltered door of the vault.

I run toward it feeling a burst of energy and I feel my hopes slowly dropping when I don't see anyone in the last dwindling shards of daylight. I shiver slightly as the temperature begins to drop. I slowly walk to the entrance and peer inside. I cringe seeing the dead bodies still laying around the opening chew marks on their bodies from wildlife.

I walk back to the door and plop down on the ground outside. I sigh and draw my knees up to my chest. It was stupid to think that he would still be here after an entire day has passed.

I feel my eyelids droop as a wave of sleepyness washes over me. I yawn loudly and rub my eyes. This was a bad idea. I can't sleep out here in the open.

I debate for a minute and when the sun slips past the horizon and the temperature drops further I decide that sleeping in the vault wont be the worst thing.

I make my way inside and carefully avoid all the bodies and pools of dried blood that litter the once clean hallways.

I shuffle to my old room because it feels right to sleep there, plus its a bit isolated so less likely to be found and killed. Which is a bonus.

I open the door and freeze when I notice someone already in the room. I scream as they come toward me and start running away. I trip and almost fall down the stairs but I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around my middle and pull me back.

"Patrick?" They whisper and I squirm and rotate in the persons arms and gasp when I see their face in the dim lights.

"Wentz?"

A/n hey bros. So finally some updates for my people! Huzzah, so I was thinking of changing the cover for this story to something a bit nicer since its so plain. Let me know what you think and thanks for your reads, comments, and votes you bros are awesome.