Before Another Fallout Tale

Chapter -4

I recorded an update in my verbal diary in my Pipboy. I usually tried not to do it but I would always find time anyway.

"Amata died again," I whispered as the recording ended. "Nothing's really changed."

I laid down in my bed. Brian didn't see the blood but everyone else felt uneasy with me ignoring the bloodstains on me. I sighed and sat up.

The door opened and Timebomb poked his head in. "May I come in?"

I nodded and took my glasses off my nose to clean them before returning them to their spot. "What do you need?"

He sat down on Vahl's bed and moved nervously. "I'm sorry for your loss."

My head dropped. The shadow from my hair hid my eyes. Good. I didn't want him to see them. "What's done is done. Maybe she'll rest in peace with the raiders dead."

Timebomb shook his head. "No, Cywren. People don't go around shouting, 'eye for an eye.' No. I don't know Amata like you do but I'm sure murder wasn't something she enjoyed."

I sat silently for an uncomfortable amount of time. "Timebomb, where does your name originate from?"

He hesitated. "My parents were bomb makers. They wanted me to join their industry."

I didn't like that answer but I accepted it. I looked at the floor. "Have you ever loved someone so much, that you'd sacrifice everything for them?"

When Timebomb didn't answer, I said, "That's good. Because when you fail them, it destroys you." I felt a sob fighting in my throat and tears began to form under my eyes. "Amata and I were friends since before we could even walk. We treated each other like queens, defending one another, sharing with each other, even sacrificing our possessions to help." I let a few sobs slip. "She sacrificed the trust of her father to get me free from the vault. I... I sacrificed my time with her... so the people could trust her enough to lead them out of the vault. Now... now..."

More sobs wracked my body, but I didn't move my hands. I just let the tears roll off my face and onto the concrete floor of the TARDIS. Timebomb held me in his arms but that just broke me down. I cried for Amata, for the time we spent together, for the sacrifices we gave for each other.

For our friendship.

I wrapped my arms around Timebomb and squeezed him as I cried. I felt weak, exposed, broken. I wanted to stop but I couldn't.

Timebomb stroked my hair silently.

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A gunshot flared and a bullet hole appeared in my chest. I held my hands over my heart and fell back. A raider stood above me.

"Well, the great Cywren Caster has finally fallen. And her friends aren't around. I guess I'll have my fun." He pointed his assault rifle at me. "Let's start be wrecking that pretty body of yours."

He pulled the trigger and a spray of bullets started tearing my body to shreds. I wanted to scream but my throat was dry. When he was done. He grabbed my heart and tore it out. He held it in front of my face and began chuckling.

I screamed in horror and sat up. I stopped screaming. I was in my underwear in my bed, no bullet holes. I looked around. Vahl and Sarah did not wake up. I slipped out of bed and left the room. I got to the bathroom and washed my face.

"Having trouble sleeping?" Timebomb.

"Yeah," I said as I dried my face. I slipped my glasses back on. He wore a tank-top and shorts. "You?"

He shrugged. "I heard movement and decided to check it out."

I looked at him and felt myself heat up as the words slipped from my mouth. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

His face reddened and filled with surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Y-yes..."

He scratched the back of his head. "I guess so. You do seem to be having problems sleeping."

We walked into the men's bedroom and climbed into his bed. I curled up in front of him and felt my body getting hotter by the second. My heart pounded in my chest and burst my eardrums.

"G-goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I closed my eyes. I didn't dream.