Conquerors

Chapter 4

The train ride is long. I sit on the driver's seat. A crackly robotic voice gives a tour along the way, but I don't pay attention. I'm nervous to see what awaits at Nuka World.

It couldn't possibly be worse than what I'm leaving behind.

I feel a nudge against my leg. I peer down at the dog sitting beside me. I reach down, gently stroking his head.

"I think you'll like Nuka World." I tell him. "I wonder how much it's changed."

He rests his head against my thigh, looking up at me.

I peer out of the window, watching as the tops of buildings jut out of the fog.

"Welcome to Nuka World!" The voice says over the speakers. "On your right you can see-"

Suddenly the voice is cut off and I hear static. Then a male voice takes over.

"I didn't think you'd follow through and actually show up. I've been waiting for a fight. That's if you survive the gauntlet."

The train pulls into the station. It comes to a screeching halt, the sound of metal grinding making my ears sting. I wince.

The doors slowly slide open. I step off. The platform is covered in piles of trash.

"Attention all my favourite undesirables out there." The voice over the intercom booms. "In case you haven't noticed, looks like we got ourselves some fresh meat to run the gauntlet!"

In the distance I can hear cheers from many voices. There's no way I'm going to survive this.

I turn around and run back to the train, and into the drivers cabin. I push all of the buttons on the console, trying to get it running again. It slowly starts to move again, screeching against the tracks, but stops at the barricaded exit. It won't go any further.

"Oh, thought you could escape, bitch? Your only exit is through the gantlet, or through the grave!"

My reasoning for coming here was because I have nothing to lose. I might as well fight. I'll probably die but that seems favourable at this point.

I follow the large red arrows that have been crudely cut out of wood. I jog down a staircase, coming up to a room with some guns and armour. I find some metal pieces and put them on over my vault suit. I also put the extra guns in my backpack, keeping one out.

Maybe there is some hope after all. That hope is quickly squashed when I remember that I was a lawyer, not a solider. Nate would've known what to do.

I follow the path, going through a maze. I pass skeletons and dead bodies. The air is filled with the stench of rotting flesh and smoke.

I duck under a wood panel and find the exit.

I go up a stone staircase and find a set of three doors. I pause, my eyes darting between them. One of these doors has the exit. I'm afraid to see what's behind the other two.

The dog runs up to the doors. He sniffs each one carefully, before pausing at the door on the left. He nudges it with his nose and it slowly creaks open, revealing a clear path.

"You're such a good boy!" I tell him, running over to scratch his back. He pants happily.

We continue, coming to wood pieces loosely laid over a large opening in the floor. I take a cautious step on the edge of the wood. It shifts. I nibble my bottom lip nervously.

The dog takes a step back before sprinting to the other side, the boards barely moving. He yips from the other side.

I take a deep breath, clenching my shaking hands into fists so hard my nails dig into my palms. I sprint across the loose boards, feeling them slip underneath my boots. Some fall to the ground below, crashing against metal spikes. I shudder at the thought of landing on them.

I take a moment to kneel, waiting for my heart to stop racing. I take deep breaths, exhaling through my nose, calming myself.

The dog presses his cold nose against my cheek. I wrap my arms around his neck.

Running my fingers through his fur helps me to feel calm and grounded. I feel ready. I climb to my feet, swallowing my fear. I'm determined to survive and find what lies on the other side.

I am met with many more traps, mines, and turrets. I hide behind shelves and walls, making my way through the maze.

I soon find myself in daylight. I have to blink, letting my eyes adjust to the bright light. I smell a foul stench of decay, smoke, and stagnant water.

I peer above me. There's a metal grate keeping me in the maze. I duck around corners. I soon hear boots clanging against the metal and voices.

"Where is the fucking rat?" I hear a deep raspy voice mutter.

"Let's get her before Colter does."

I swallow hard. Who's Colter?

One sees me, laughing maniacally as he raises his machine gun. "Better run, rat," He shouts. "Before I turn your ass to Swiss cheese!"

I run as fast as I can, setting off grenade bouquets behind me as I go. I turn corner after corner, bullets whizzing past me.

I see a door ahead. I don't stop in time, my body smashing into the hard metal surface. I fall backwards, landing hard in the wet dirt. I quickly climb to my feet, bursting through the door. I close it after the dog.

I notice my hands feel sticky and I smell a thick metallic stench. I look down, gasping at the sight of blood on my hands. I'm too afraid to go back and see where it came from.

I check the dog just to be safe, finding him unscathed.

I walk through the dank, dusty hall, past broken down bumper cars. I come to a locker room full of weapons and armour. I put on a sturdier set.

"You there. If you want to even try to survive Colter, you'd better come here."

I stop, peering around the room.

"Who said that?" I respond, fear filling my stomach.

"On the wall. The intercom."

I spot the metal grate on the wall. I walk over.

"You've got my attention." I say.

"Alright. You're going to go into that arena and fight Colter. But the whole fight is rigged. There's only one way to beat him."

"And what's that?"

"Go to the locker by the window and check the bottom shelf."

I do as instructed, I kneeling down and peering into the bottom shelf. The sight makes my breath catch in my throat.