Freaky V and Kol

Liberty and Jack

Jack

Suzi and Tyler

Kol

Jack and Suzi

Liberty, Beer Pong Champ

It was Reclamation Eve, and the atrium diner was a buzz of activity. Maddox Kol’s group was huddled in the corner around the fortuneteller. Whether intentional or not, they positioned themselves in a tight rank, facing each other and forming a barrier to the rest of the room. Jack sat in front of the fortuneteller. His wife, Suzi sat close next to him. Jack was second to last to get his fortune read, and she was ready to go.

“Cards are destiny,” the fortuneteller said. Her voice was raspy, but in a way that made men want to listen. If Jack was skeptical, no one could tell. He leaned in as she pulled out the first card: The Gunslinger. “You will shoot with an eagle eye. The gun will be an extension of your will.”

“I can see that,” Tyler said. “You have the swagger to pull off a gunslinger thing.”

“The grownups are talking, kid,” Kol said with only a mild grin.

“Kol, call me a vault baby one more time, and I swear to God. At least I’ll be young enough to actually enjoy America after we rebuild it. How old are you, anyway?”

“Old enough to be your dad,” Kol answered straight faced.

“So old is what you’re saying. Got it. Old. Old guy.”

“I don’t think you’re old,” Liberty said. Her soft voice tended to sweeten when talking to or about Kol. Tyler raised his hand in the air as if to make a point but then shook his head and decided not to continue the argument. That choice made Suzi Smile. Suzi had seen Tyler make plenty of poor choices back when he was her student. Liberty, who graduated several years before Tyler, never caused problems. They were both favorites though. Every teacher has favorites, even when they say they don’t. These two were special.

The fortuneteller laid out the second card. “Fireproof,” she said. You will walk through the fires of Appalachia and not be burned.” Jack just looked at the two cards stoically, letting his imagination work internally.

“Those are way better than mine,” Tyler said. Suzi, sitting between Jack and Tyler, disagreed.

“You’re cards were amazing, Ty. Everyone is different. Now watch.” Tyler wasn’t particularly interested in being different from Jack, but he was excited to see the next card. He quickly glanced over to Liberty who was looking at Maddox, who was looking at the fortuneteller and waiting his turn.

“The Mysterious Stranger,” the fortuneteller said, as she placed the last card. She paused, pressed her lips together and tapped on the card. “You be careful out there, Jackie boy.”

“What does that mean?” Tyler asked. “What does that one mean?”

“All right, we’re out of here,” Suzi said as she squeezed Jack’s thigh. She started to get up as if to say everyone move and they did. “It’s our bedtime.” The fortuneteller picked up the cards and shuffled the deck, as Jack and Suzi made their way out.

“Jack,” Tyler called out, “tomorrow we change the world, man.” Jack answered with a nod.

“Goodnight guys,” Suzi said. Jack said goodnight too, but only in his head.

The fortuneteller’s name was Vanessa, but most called her V. The younger dwellers called her Freaky V. She answered to all three, but she liked Freaky V the best.

“Ok let’s break this party up,” Kol said as he took Jack’s spot in front of the fortuneteller. V and I need some private time. V pulled back her hood, and ran her fingers through her unwashed, platinum hair. “You hear him kittens. Off you go,” waving Liberty and Tyler off.

“That’s not fair,” Tyler protested. You got to see all of our cards.” Liberty pulled at Tyler’s arm as if to say let’s go, and Tyler once again ended his protest. Wherever she was going, that’s where Tyler wanted to be anyway. Liberty hooked her arm around Tyler’s and led him off and into the crowd as confetti rained down. The Overseer’s voice could be heard through the sound system, but it was barely audible over the cheers from a drunken soccer game taking place near the diner.

“To new beginnings Kol said, stopping V from placing his first card. V put down the deck and lifted her drink, rolling her eyes. “What do you think doll-face? We’re restarting the world. Interested in giving us another shot?”

“To new beginnings,” She said. “Now stop being a pussy, and get your fortune read already.”

Maddox Kol grinned a big grin.

“Ok, ok. Let’s see them.”

—

Jack walked Suzi back to the room. “So, gunslinger, huh? That’s pretty hot.”

“You’re pretty hot. Are you ready for all of this?”

“Yeah, you know, I am. I am. We’ve been stuck in here for 25 years. Wait. I shouldn’t say stuck. We’ve been safe in here for 25 years. It’s time,” she said.

“No I meant are you ready for all of this,” he said motioning to his body.

“Get in here, you goober,” Suzi said opening the door to the room. She was ready. One last night in the vault. They should make it special she thought. But they were both tired. The youngsters kept them up too late, and the wine didn’t help.