Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 18: One Good Neighbor

What on earth was that girl thinking, going off on her own with these people?! I fumed silently to myself, How could she be so damn foolish! I thought she had more sense than this...

At last, I spotted Ilya through a group of Watchmen, her smile a sight for sore eyes even as I stood seething. She waved happily as she hurried her way over to me, calling out to me by name.

"Oh Jacob, there you are! I was starting to worry..."

"Ilya! What do you think you're doing?" I whispered angrily as I pulled the girl aside, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Well! A very good morning to you too, sunshine!" She huffed as she crossed her arms, "I can't tell you how sorry I am that I thought you might like to sleep in after such a hard day, but you're right! I see now how very selfish that was of me!" She added with a roll of her eyes.

"Look, I know you were skeptical about this at first, and honestly so was I! But now that I've seen how serious he is about helping me, everything he's willing to commit to the cause, I've just been blown away! For the first time Jacob, we have a real shot here! We really might be able to get through Nuka World and find this thing! By the way, that reminds me. You need to come and see this, it's incredible!" Ilya said as she grabbed me by the hand and led me onto the stage, where a large spread of supplies sat upon the altar. Not only was the table laden with weapons galore, from pistols to shotguns, lasers to grenades, but it was stacked high with all kinds of food the likes of which I hadn't seen in months, maybe years. Even I couldn't help but be a little impressed with it all, though I'd certainly never admit it out loud.

"Oh, and check this out! We've got a detailed map of the full park layout, complete with known raider hideouts and settlements; food, water, and ammo to last us weeks; and, get this, he even managed to score me some Fancy Lads snack cakes! And they're not even irradiated, look!" She said as she held up the box with glee, "I told him they were my favorite as a kid... Looks like it's no more scrounging for us, eh 'Burnsie'?" She giggled playfully as my tempers began to flare.

"Dammit Ilya, did it ever occur to you that these people just might be dangerous?" I said as I grabbed her by the shoulders, "That Hancock might not be such a nice guy after all? They could have stolen you away in the night, never to be heard from again! You have to be more careful than this, Ilya!"

"Oh, stop it now Jacob, don't be so dramatic... Why, I'm perfectly fine!" she said as she pushed me away from her, "Besides, I don't think John would do something like that... He really isn't as bad as he seems, in fact, I'd say he's been nothing but helpful since we got here!"

"Ilya, you don't understand! They didn't just grab me for some kind of shakedown, hell, before you came on the scene, they were about to... Wait a minute, did you say 'John'? Who the hell is 'John'?" I stopped with a furrowed brow. We didn't know anyone by that name, no one I knew anyway. That was, unless...

"Why I do believe my ears are burning... Did someone say my name?" I heard the voice and spun around to see Hancock standing there, that smarmy yellow-toothed smile plastered wide over his ugly face. Nobody, and I mean nobody, called Hancock 'John'. Just what the hell was going on here?

"Well, well, well... I was wondering when you'd finally show up, Burnsie! So nice of you to join us after we'd already finished with all the hard work, but I suppose better late than never, eh? I know we wouldn't want to accidentally leave you behind... Now wouldn't that just be a cryin' shame?" Hancock said as he threw me a pack of supplies and I growled in return.

"And where exactly have you been?" I snapped back as I inspected the bag, "Letting your goons do the heavy lifting while you take all the credit, I presume?"