Chapter One

Roasted Molerat



I took a bite of the grisly meat and swallowed it without chewing. The less time in my mouth, the better. Still, it was food, so my stomach would appreciate what my tongue could not. I took another bite.

Ed sat down across from me and tore into his own slab of flesh with an irritatingly pleased look on his face. “How's the molerat, friend?” he spit, while obviously savoring the foul seared rat-leg.

“It's good.” I replied with exaggerated approval. He knew I hated it, but he liked that I complimented his cooking, anyway. He passed me a cup of dirty water, and continued eating, while he hummed happily. It always annoyed me a little that people like Ed could remain so cheerful, despite the surrounding misery of the world. I could barely remember what happiness felt like. It was so distant, lost in a haze of vague childhood memories. All I had now was a grim perseverance, to survive another day, and slowly make my way eastward.

I am looking for a man. A man that left numerous scars on my hollow soul. Will I find him? And if I find him, will I relish the screams that I will call from his tortured bones. Yes, I believe I will.

With that thought a feeling of peace washed over me, as I gazed into the night sky.

“Are you smiling, friend?” Ed's words brought me back from my deep thoughts. He sat there with his rot toothed grin, displayed gruesomely. “This is the first time I think I've seen you smile since you got here. You should do it more often, it suits you.”

“Well consider yourself blessed, Ed.” I returned a steely gaze. “Folks who see my smile, usually end up dead 10 seconds later.”

Genuine fear crept into the normally serene visage of the man across from me. I could see through his eyes, his mind calculating the odds of getting to the shotgun he thought he had hidden so well, under his sleeping skins; and then the dawning realization that he had no chance. Ed was no slouch when it came to survival in the wild. He was sharp and sly, but he was also no match for me. This understanding became apparent in that frozen moment in time.

“Eddy, friend,” I said reassuringly as I gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze, “I said you were blessed because you get to see me smile and still get to see tomorrow's sunrise.” I could feel his body slouch in relief as his fear dissolved into the cold night air. His semi toothy grin returned, and he took another bite of his roasted varmint, and hummed his favorite tune.

“It's just a shame you'll have to watch that sunrise alone. I need to get going. I've already spent too many days resting here.” With that I rose, and started to gather my gear. “I promise I'll be back some day and we can play some more gin, my friend.”

The promise felt empty. Chances were that I wouldn't be coming back. I would keep searching for my quarry, and even if I found him and survived the ordeal, I would probably not come back this way again. I liked Ed. He somehow made me hopeful of a content future. He was much older than me and had survived, more or less on his own, and he was happy with his existence. Could I find myself in his place in the years to come?

No.

I am not like Ed. My potential for happiness has long been stripped from me in the harshest ways conceivable. I am no longer a man, but a cold machine of vengeance, focused on the only purpose that drives me onward.

My hope faded.

“So long, Ed” I offered with a thankful slap to his back. “I've enjoyed your gracious hospitality more than you can imagine.”

“Goodbye, friend,” I could hear the sadness hidden under Ed's smiling words. “I hope to see you again soon, I could always use the company.”

At that moment, I realized Ed's musical happiness was conjured by my companionship, during my short stay. He really was a lonely old soul after all. Pity was an emotion just as forgotten as happiness, but it walked with me into the dark, that night, as I left Ed alone by his smoldering little fire.

I was only wandering for 30 minutes at most, when my heightened instincts pulled me out of heavy contemplation. I froze, cursing my inattentiveness. I was about to reach for my gun, when a large shadow dropped down from the ledge above me, and landed not three feet in front of me.

I could smell the foul stench of it's breath, and I could see the hungry eyes staring like two tiny red flames.

Yao Guai

It's low throaty growl would send the fear of death through the bones of most anyone. Most anyone, but me.

No

I had 'The Gift'

No spelling errors. It's a great read, kept my eyes on the page, so to speak. Keep going, you signed up for it now...Gotta keep doing it.



Seriously though, great start.

lol

Thanks lyc

I just wrote the second chapter....just finished now....it'll be up in a few

Flashback time

Chapter 2

The Gift



I was coming back from the lake with pride swelling my young thirteen year old ego. I had caught eight fish today, and they were all quite large. My father would praise my skills and mom would have more than enough fish for her delicious fillets. It seemed so easy. It always seemed easy when I was alone. I'd lie on the old rotted dock and stare down into the depths, watching their silver forms slide through the water around my hook. Alone, I had no one to talk to so I would talk to the fish, “Come on little guys, I know you're hungry. Come and get this tasty little worm. Mmmmm, he looks yummy, you know you want to take a bite.”

I always felt so convincing, because they couldn't resist after I teased them. They would all rush for the bait, and it was just like picking up old rusted cans by the road; so easy. My brother always accused me of stealing someones fish, because I never caught nearly as many when we went together or with dad. That always made me angry, because it was true. I guess I was just a better fisherman when I was alone, but it was so frustrating.

My walking thoughts were disturbed by some barking off in the distance. It looked like my dog, Beggar. I was sure of it. He ran off, down towards the south cliffs. Was he chasing something? The cliffs were off limits. Bad things happened down by the cliffs; people who went there, stayed there, and not in a good way. I should have ran home to tell dad, but he probably would just tell me to forget about Beggar; that he'd probably come back on his own. But I was afraid he wouldn't come back at all. Nothing came back from the cliffs.

I ran after him. I screamed his name, over and over but he kept running. I chased him for the longest time, until we finally arrived at the cliffs. Beggar ran off into a gap in the rocks, and I followed. It was dark in that crevice and it smelled awful, like blood and rotten meat. I then realized that I had broken the rules and was actually inside the cliffs. I felt stupid and scared, what was I thinking. Just then I heard some rocks falling and Beggar came flying out and jumped past me, running back to the entrance of the crevice. Once outside he turned and barked at me like I'd never seen him bark before. It was scary, like he was angry and wanted to kill. Then he stopped and yelped and ran towards home whimpering.

I felt relief, at first. But then I felt afraid again; so very very afraid. My skin tingled and my legs started to shake. I knew there was...something...there was something behind me, breathing.

I turned around slowly and into my view crept a beast. It towered above me, and it was awful; with fur covered in blood and grime and a smell so strong it made me gag. It looked like a giant dog, but it had paws bigger than my head and it's growl was so low but so loud. I began to cry.

Why didn't I just go get dad. I'm so stupid, and now I'm going to die in a really horrible way.

It came closer and opened it's huge jaws. The teeth were like huge knives that dripped with slime. Silently, I begged it with my tear filled eyes...

Please, I'm only a child. I'm a child. I just want my mother.

It froze. The way it stared at me changed. It wasn't as frightening, but I kept crying. Then it opened it's jaws again and it's giant fangs clamped down on my neck from behind. I wondered if it would be quick, and I held my eyes shut tight.

But that painful bite never came. It squeezed, but gently, and it picked me up and carried me off into the rocks, and then into a small cave. It placed me down beside three little versions of it. Were these it's babies? It was the mother and it was bringing me back as food for the babies! One of the young ones snapped at me, but the mother growled at it and nudged it away, then she left us alone. The three little creatures looked at me hungrily. My shaken mind found morbid humor....

I just peed myself guys...I probably won't even taste good. Don't eat me

They seemed to lose interest and started playing or fighting with each other.

I thought that maybe I could sneak away before the mother returned, but as soon as I moved, I heard her footsteps coming back. She was carrying something in her mouth. It was my fish. She sat down and carefully gave two fish to each of her babies and then she laid the last two down in front of me. She was feeding us. She was feeding me!

The babies started to eat, and she kept nudging the fish towards me. She was trying to get me to eat. I was still scared, so I picked up a fish and started to eat it. It was not good, but I ate anyway. She seemed satisfied and wandered off again. This time I didn't wait. I crept out of the cave, back down to the crevice and out. Then I ran home faster than I had ever run before.

But my mind was running even faster.

This doesn't make sense. Why didn't she eat me? Why did she treat me like her child?


......her child.

Chapter 3

Guai Me



It was like a switch. The Yao Guai stopped growling and sat down. I held out my hand, and he gave it a friendly lick. I gave his large grease matted head a friendly rub in return. “What are you doin' here boy? You lookin' for some food? Here, I got some for ya, I don't think I can handle any more of it anyway.” With that I pulled the cooked molerat meat from the bag Ed had given me and tossed it to the beast. He wasted no time, devouring the scraps hungrily.

I didn't understand it fully back in that cave when I was thirteen, but I realized then, that somehow I could share feelings with animals. It's why I was so good fishing alone, why Beggar seemed to be my dog more than anyone's, why the mother Yao Guai treated me like her cub. I could plant emotions or general feelings in their minds with my thoughts. I still, to this day, don't understand why, but I do understand how.

It's almost instinctual to me these days. It practically happens subconsciously. I can even 'hear' their feelings before I confront them, most times, unless I'm distracted or deep in thought like I was tonight. Luckily he didn't just pounce on me before I could react. Surprise is a minor flaw in my little talent. Another flaw is that it only works on simpler minds. It doesn't work with people; too much chaos and conflict in a persons mind, for that. Although sometimes I get the slightest sense of someone's emotion, and that's been useful on those occasions.

People. I thought of Ed. “You know what little buddy? You're gonna come with me for a while. How's that sound?” I hadn't gone that far yet and I didn't want this one to follow any molerat scent back to Ed's little home. I know Ed has killed a couple Guai before, but better safe than sorry. It's easy enough to convince the beasts that I'm an alpha or a parent and they'll follow, and even protect me if needed. Yeah, I'm not a good person to run into when I'm with some wilderness 'friends'.

It was good to have a Guai at my side, since I often traveled at night. He would sense those dangerous humans before I could. Eventually he would leave me if we strayed too far from his home territory, but for now he was a welcome bodyguard. I started walking through the brush and my new friend followed close behind, contentedly licking his chops.

Walking by moonlight was familiar to me. It gave me a feeling of peace and calm. It also helped keep me hidden from the many dangerous predators, who wandered the wastes, looking for victims. Victims to kill and loot, victims to enslave, or just victims to abuse and torture for simple sadistic amusemant. Lord knows there's more than enough evil and malice out here. Carelessness is the seed that bears the fruit of suffering.

It's not all bad. There are pockets of civility; small communities scattered amongst this realm of despair; even some areas that are fortified to such an extent, as to provide complete protection from the harmful ravages of the wastes...or at least the illusion of such safety. I no longer believe in the word 'safe'. It holds no true meaning to me. That was something else I lost years ago, when I was naive enough to believe my life, my home, and my family...were safe.

I was raised in one of those small pockets of prosperity that dot this world of pain and grief. I had a family. I had loving parents, a brother, a sister; I had my dog. I had a happy, almost carefree life for nineteen years of my youth. Then one day that illusion of tranquility dissolved into a nightmare of chaos and carnage....

Nice. Great read. It's like he has the Animal Friend perk. My only complaint would be that you put numbers instead of words. Like 13 instead of thirteen. It distracts me, draws me away from the rest of it. Of course that's just a personal thing, most people probably aren't bothered by that and it's still a great read.

Thanks yttrium. I liked your work also.

Yeah....I was basically trying to convey the animal friend perk in a natural sort of way. As for the numbers, I really didn't even think about words instead of numbers, actually...but I understand your point. This story is basically just stream of consciousness and on the fly. I just wrote it as it came and then posted it. It's not a more refined type of writing that I would proof alot more. There's alot of syntax and tense inconsistancies(I was/ I am). I'll probably clean it up some, though. Thanks for the comments

Chapter 4

Innocence Lost



Dad was out hunting with John, my brother. John was a better hunter, and he made sure to remind me of that every chance he got. It wasn't that he was a better shot. When target shooting, I had always been better than John. I was even better than dad, and actually, I was better than most folks in town. Mom always said it was because I was so calm and had such a steady hand. But that was just another thing John would tease me about, “If we ever need to defend ourselves against an army of rusty cans, I would feel safe knowin' my little bro was there to protect me.” It didn't bother me much, I knew it was because he envied my superior shooting skills.

He wasn't better at stalking prey either. I had an uncanny knack for moving through the wild, unseen and in total silence. I loved exploring the area around town, and had spent countless hours sneaking in the woods and nearby ruins. I had even gone down to the cliffs, once having determined to test my theories about my gift, and had built up enough courage to do so. I had spent countless hours there, observing the big cats and Yao Guai, meander through their daily routines. I was fascinated by how they hunted their prey...how they used the terrain to stalk and hide. I learned much from my creature friends, and they fully accepted my company, without concern or aggression.

No, my inferior hunting ability was not for lack of skill. I felt I could be the best hunter in the community if I chose to be. I simply didn't choose this. I had an affinity for the waste-boar and deer we hunted. I also did not like feeling their thoughts when a bullet struck them. I could sense the pain and confusion, and the pity and sorrow it brought was something I preferred not to experience. This is why I would purposely miss my target, or intentionally make noise 'by accident', until my dad decided it would be better if I didn't come along on the hunts. Thereafter, I spent my time tending to the Brahmin and crops, which was fine by me.

My mother didn't know about my excursions into the wild. No one did. At least not to the extent that I wandered far past the acceptable boundaries of what was designated as safe territory. She always made a point to warn of the dangerous creatures beyond the safe zone. But they never worried me, naturally. It was the others that worried me, and I was always very careful to keep an eye out for them. The tribals, the wandering gangs, the raiders. They were the things I respectfully feared. Luckily they weren't overly common, and I rarely encountered them. When I did run across a group of unsavory characters, I was always able to keep myself hidden.

The safe zone was our town and the immediate surrounding area. The town was acceptably fortified and the population was large enough to drive off any attacks that came our way. One such attack was just thwarted last week, when about a dozen raiders tried to sneak in for whatever reason. Our little militia, which included my father and brother, killed most of the raiders and drove the last few off. These occasional raids were actually a small boon to the community, as the dead bodies of the raiders usually offered a small cache of weapons and items, that could be used or traded.

After that confrontation, my brother had mocked me, as was his style. “Did you find a good hiding place, bro?” It wasn't mean-spirited, but it still annoyed the hell out of me. I respected my brother, partly because at twenty-four, he was five years my elder, and partly because he really was a good, strong protector, both of our family and the town. I just wish he gave me some sort of respect in return, but instead he seemed to just point out my flaws and weakness. Maybe he was right. Maybe I just simply wasn't cut out to be a fighter. Maybe I was meant to be a lover....yes I was definitely meant to be a lover.

My smile grew as a hand gently brushed my cheek. “I love you, Michael”

I gazed warmly down at Melanie. The soft moonlight seeping through the slats of the loft window painted silver stripes across her naked silhouette. Bending to kiss her, I savored the feel of her warm skin pressed to mine. “I love you more than life, Mel.”

She looked back into my eyes so deeply, it was as if she embraced my soul. I thought she was going to cry, but then she just laid her head on my chest and held me in a tight embrace. Melanie had been my closest friend since we were just children. We shared so much, growing up together, it seemed only natural that it would lead to something deeper.

Both my father and mother always explained how harsh the world was, and how raising a child was an incredibly large responsibility. They explained how it was best to wait till I was mature enough to handle starting a family in the wasteland, before taking any impulsive chances out of simple desire. They knew Mel and I were closer than just friends, and I understood their wisdom, and followed it....until this night. We simply couldn't wait any longer...we were starving for each other.

But there was no regret. There was no worry. This felt right and I was ready to be with Melanie completely. I was ready for a family, if that was to be the fruit of our bond tonight. I did love her...I had loved her for years. Yes, this felt right. It was the happiest and most content moment of my life. I held her close and kissed the top of her head.

Then, my life's one true moment of pure bliss was suddenly shattered by the sound of a violent explosion, followed by screams and a cacophony of gunfire.

My life was about to change, but not in the way I had planned.

Nice chapter. Not much I can say. I've always wondered, do you capitilize Yao Guai or is it okay to do yao guai. Seeing as it would be like saying black bear. But it does look more right as Yao Guai. Also this part




I don't know if anyone else thought so, but this confused me more than anything, because the whole time I thought your were reflecting on the past, and then this makes it seems like the present. Doesn't take much away from the reading though, still doing a great job.

Like you said....Yao Guai just looks right capitalized...I think the game is the reason I do it. I like it capitalized.

And yes....after reading it again, that scene transition is a little abrupt and confusing....I'm already thinking about how to fix it...should be done in a few.

fixed

thanks for the thoughts

Chapter 5

Pandemonium




I jumped up quickly to look through the window, already expecting to see what I knew was happening, but the magnitude of the event was not expected. “Holy ****!” came my screamed whisper.

“What! What's going on!?” Melanie still sat wide-eyed on the floor, in a mixture of confusion and fear.

“Raiders! A whole ****load of ******* raiders!” I was used to the raiders little sorties into town. They weren't common, but they happened enough. It was never something that really worried me, though, since they were always few in number and were easily handled. This was different. This was new, and it was something I hadn't expected.

There were dozens upon dozens of raiders rampaging through the streets. The flashes of muzzles filled the scene, matching the staccato of gunfire that assaulted, what was moments earlier, a calm quiet night. Two homes were already burning, as more flaming bottles were being hurled with destructive purpose. The wild dancing light of the fires and the blur of the heat, gave the disturbing image on the streets, a surreal dreamlike nature. The din of screams mixed with bloodthirsty yells completed the effect.

I watched in horror as people were dragged from their homes into the street to be shot or beaten cruelly. I sat stunned as my mind tried to correlate what was taking place outside. It all happened so fast and I couldn't understand how they had wreaked so much havoc so quickly. What happened to the patrols? Why wasn't the alarm sounded? How were so many raiders already in the center of town when it started? It didn't make sense to me. The raiders always seemed impulsive and rather stupid. This was anything but. It appeared planned....organized.

As I was trying to sort out the details, I suddenly felt Melanie's presence next to me. “Oh my god!” Her hands flew to her mouth and she began to tremble uncontrollably. “There's so many of them! Where did they all come from?”

She startled me out of my confused state, and I gathered my clothes and began throwing them on. Mel just sat transfixed, at the window. Once I was dressed, I moved to open the door/ladder in the floor of the loft, but Melanie had grabbed me from behind, “NO!” she squealed. “What are you doing?! You can't go down there!”

I looked back at her. Panic punctuated her tear stained face. I tried to shake free from her grip, “I have to go. I have to do something!”

But she held onto me tightly, “What are you going to do? Go down there and die?!” Her fearful eyes pleaded with me, “There's too many of them. Can't you see that? Please don't go and die. Don't leave me here...alone.”

She was right. I knew going downstairs to confront the chaos below would only result in my death. I had already decided it didn't matter. I needed to help my family and my community, even if it meant forfeiting my life in the process. That's what I had decided, that is, until Melanie's last words. I realized that I couldn't help anyone down there. It was pointless. But I could still help Melanie. I could still be there for her. No, I had to be there for her. I let go of the latch to the door and pulled her to me in a soothing embrace, “I won't leave you, Mel. I'm here, with you. I'll never leave you.”

I felt so weak at that moment; so helpless. Everyone I knew in my life was down there dying, while I hid in the attic of my house. I tried to tell myself it was for Mel, but that did little to ease the torture of hearing those wails of despair, while I did nothing.

Then there was a commotion in the house. I could hear scuffling and bumping through the loft door. I heard the scream of my sister. I heard my brother yelling. Then I heard multiple gunshots ring out, followed by the audible thud of bodies falling to the ground. I heard movement progress through the house, more yelling, more gunshots....and then silence.

The sounds from beyond the window seemed distant and muted. Mel lay in my arms sobbing, but she didn't seem real at that moment. I was alone in my mind. My sense of order had been destroyed, and I felt small and vulnerable, like a cornered hare, as the predator that was this wasteland, stood above me staring hungrily.

Fate had left me devastated and numb.

Chapter 6

Say hello to my little friend




I sat on the crest of the hill, chewing slowly on some brahmin jerky. Down below in the distance was some kind of shack. I couldn't make out too many details in the moonlight, but I could see there was some light down there, either a small fire or a torch. “Now who do you suppose is down there?” came my mix of words and chewed beef.

A snort and a whine was the reply from my left. I looked at my Guai companion lying on the ground and chuckled, “Food, you say? Yeah, maybe it is boy...maybe it is.” I took a sip from my canteen and packed my things away, “ I think it's time to crash that little party.” With that, the Guai stood up looking anxious. He really was hungry. I really couldn't give him any more of my rations, but I'd let him go off on his own soon enough. Then he could go find his food.

I carefully made my way down the embankment, with my friend close behind. When I reached the bottom, I approached the shack slowly, keeping an eye out for any nasty traps that might be lying in my path. No wires, no mines. So this structure probably wasn't home to anyone, but just a place to stop. As I got closer I could hear pvssyr coming from inside. I say inside but the structure barely had walls. It was just some sheets of metal and wood, thrown together to form a makeshift enclosure.

I glanced down at the Guai and he calmly laid down on the ground and kept silent. I crept closer still, till I could make out the conversation, then I froze, crouching. A dark figure came out from one of the gaps in the wall “I gotta take a leak.” He stood off to the side and got down to business.

I closed the distance like a panther and slipped behind him. The moonlight glinted on the blade of my knife as it slid through his throat with barely a sound. I lowered his gurgling body to the ground gently. I bet you didn't expect you'd 'leak' that much, did you? I wiped the blade on his shirt and sheathed it. It was replaced with the warm comfortable feel of my .44 automag.

Three silent steps and I was through the gap in the wall. The raider girl took the bullet to her forehead without a hint of protest. The remaining guy fell backwards off the crate he was sitting on, accidentally kicking the makeshift table, and sending jet dispensers flying everywhere, “What the f....”

“Shut up!” My words froze him on the spot. “You move, you die.”

I grabbed some wire that was lying on the ground and then shoved him face down to the floor. I bound his hands tightly. “Ow, you ****”

I did a quick scan of the room and gathered the jet and liquor. I took a pistol off the girl and grabbed a shotgun that was leaning against the wall. I put it all in a bag lying on the ground, that had some ammo in it. I sat the raider up against the wall and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his chest pocket. I lit one on the torch they had burning and took a deep drag. Then I placed it in his mouth and sat back. “I'm gonna ask you some questions and you're going to give me the right answers. We clear?”

He inhaled and nodded slightly. I reached for the remaining bottle of whiskey and took a sip. The liquid burned it's way to my stomach. I hadn't had any liquor for weeks. It was oddly refreshing the way it warmed me almost instantly. “I'm looking for a large group of raiders...practically an army. What can you tell me?”

He svcked on his cigarette, calmly. “Nuttin'. There's no raidahs like dat around here. There's nuttin' around here. A whole lotta nuttin'.”

“Ok” I brought the bottle to my lips, and finished what little was left. “Ok, how about a name? Malik? The Bloody Terror? Ring a bell?”

Just the slightest of pauses. The eyes widening ever so imperceptibly. “Who? Bloody what? Never heard o' da guy.”

The bottle shattered on the brick that had recently been a table leg, and the one long jagged shard that remained in my hand, sliced off his ear with gruesome ease. His scream pierced the desolate night and his subsequent cries revealed that which I had been seeking for what seemed like an eternity. “DC! DC! He has a base up in DC, east of here. We wuz part of his gang, but we ****ed up. He was gonna have us killed, or worse. We wuz runnin', somewhere, anywhere. I thought you wuz one of his guys here to kill us.”

I stood “Nope. He's the one I'm going to kill.”

The raider laughed, despite the blood pouring down his face. “What are you, stupid? You think you're gonna kill da boss?” I picked up my gun and wiped some blood off of it. “So now what? You gonna kill me, tough guy. Everybody dies, you lousy ****. You're gonna die real soon if you go lookin for Malik. Go ahead. Shoot me, you *****.”

“I'm not gonna kill you. You told me what I needed to know.” I saw a modicum of relief wash over his face. I picked up a piece of meat off of the ground, and sniffed it. It smelled rancid.

Nervously he spoke, “You hungry? Go 'head. You can have it. I ain't gonna eat it.”

I tossed the rotten meat into his lap, “No thanks, I'm not hungry. But that reminds me...my friend is.”

I picked up the bag I packed and left the little shack, his words following with tense curiousity, “What? What friend? What are you talkin' about you crazy ****?”

I glanced over into the darkness and secretly whispered a thought, “Food.”

I had walked about 100 yards when the bloodcurdling screams reached my ears.

Dawn was just over the horizon...and so was DC.

I'm looking forward to meeting you Malik

Nice. I liked the chapters, particularly the last one. But I do like the word pandemonium, it just slides off the tongue. Almost as fun as saying dulce et decorum est. But that never comes up in a conversation. I liked to say I care about what happens to the characters family and loved ones, but I really don't, so Chapter 5 was a little boring to me, but I understand it's importance. Chapter Six was really good, I could clearly picture how the raider confrontation went down. Also, you do realize that Bethesda censors any swear words, right? I'm just going to assume that you think the censor tag looks ugly and so you put asterisks instead.

Yeah chapter 5 was there for some basic character development. Just to give an idea of the main characters POV. If it was a novel I would've spent alot more time and effort creating the sympathy factor for his losses, but since it's more short fan fiction, I just wanted to touch on it for perspective. And yes...I don't like seeing the word [censored]. I'd rather just do it myself. It seems to maintain immersion better. I just hope Beth doesn't get too bothered by my occasional blue language...hard to write this kind of fiction without it.

Thanks again for the words Ytt

Oh yeah...chapter 5 was supposed to have an important link to the present, but it got long, so that bit will be in the next flashback.

Loved the ending of Chapter 6

Hey man, this was a good story, I hope your not giving up on it.

Just some life interruptions

Soon as I get some time I'll continue.