A/N. I'd like to send a shout-out and thank you to my buddy SentientSurfer, whose inspiring words and feedback have kept me staring at the keyboard even when my muses are on holiday. You ought to check out their stories; the novel is in my community, but there's a cute one-shot and an ultra-depressing short story on their page.

I know I've kept my few faithful readers in suspense for a while. I'll try to be more prompt in the future, but I'm a fickle writer. I appreciate all your feedback and faves; it's so nice that you guys like my work =)

Chapter Five

Jessica held her arm aloft, illuminating the hallway ahead of her. She squinted, heart fluttering anxiously. The living quarters had lost most of their emergency lighting; deep shadows added to the macabre atmosphere of the cold, empty Vault. Invisible eyes bored holes in her back. The silent walls amplified every sound; she jumped when Dogmeat nudged a tin can, heart leaping to her throat. With a deep breath, she forced herself to focus. The creepy atmosphere was making her flighty and irrational.

As they explored, Jessica's initial fear melted into curiosity. It looked as though the place had been abandoned for some time. Passing through the offices, she wondered at overturned tables and broken monitors. A soft hum greeted her ears at the top of more stairs. The ventilation system was still running. She proceeded with renewed vigor; there was likely to be a working faucet around somewhere.

The Vault was similar to 101, though some structural differences nearly got her lost. She wandered for several hours through labyrinthine corridors, pocketing an occasional trinket. She found little of actual use, though an active terminal drew her interest for a moment. What data remained intact was a note from the former Overseer, assuaging fears about a malfunction with the air system. She glanced over it briefly before turning away, bored. Jessica grinned as she caught sight of a first aid box, proceeding to smash the lock and loot its stash of bandages and Stim-Paks.

The dorm area was mostly intact. Jessica searched the hall frantically, on the watch for a particular door. When she found the bathroom, she forced herself to keep calm. She stepped into the white tiled room, looking with longing at rows of sinks and a shower set into one wall. She took a deep breath, running a hand over one of the faucets. Eyes closed, she turned the knob.

With a loud cough and splutter, rust-red water shot from the spigot. It choked for several agonizing moments before running smooth and clear. Jessica laughed aloud. She stuck her head into the sink and drank deeply, filling her belly with cool, clean water. When her shrunken stomach began to slosh, protruding like a basketball, she stood up and wiped her lips. She stood face to face with a mirror; Jessica stared at the girl, hardly believing her eyes.

It had been almost a month since she'd gotten a good look at herself. The polished metal sheets that usually passed for mirrors gave a vague and forgiving reflection. The woman looking back at her was a stranger.

Her ivory complexion was ruddy red, skin peeling off her lips, nose and forehead. Her eye sockets were dark and bruised, cheeks sunken. Out of morbid curiosity, Jessica opened her mouth and examined her teeth. With a groan, she put her hand over the reflection. She'd once though herself reasonably attractive. Now she was gaunt, bruised, and rad-burned; she could honestly call herself revolting.

Jessica turned away from the mirror and toward the shower. It also spluttered with disapproval, but soon ran clear. She grinned manically, throwing off her hat and untying her hair. When the water began to steam, she nearly cried. Clean water had been more than she was willing to hope for; clean, hot water was nothing short of a miracle.

Dogmeat paced the room, whining anxiously. As his mistress stripped off her weapons and armored suit, he began to bark insistently.

"Shut the hell up," Jessica snapped. She pulled off her boots and stepped under the spigot, allowing the water to run over her body. For the first few minutes, it burned her skin. She scrubbed furiously at caked dirt and sweat, doggedly ignoring several sores that began to bleed.

A shampoo dispenser on the wall still held several tablespoons of liquid. Jessica laughed uncontrollably as she scrubbed her scalp, tears of happiness mingling with the water on her face. She stood in the shower for the better part of an hour, using all the soap as she washed over and over. When her fingers and toes were puckered like raisins, she shut off the water with some regret. Jessica felt rejuvenated and light. When she took another look in the mirror, she could see some semblance of the doctor's daughter behind the bruises.

She shivered, dripping water on the floor. Jessica gathered up her clothes and weapons, keeping them as far from her skin as possible. She stepped back into the shadowy hall, making a beeline for one of the dorm rooms. The split dresser inside was still upright; two unmade beds sat against opposite walls. Jessica closed the door and deposited her gear. She opened the dresser; three clean Vault suits were folded neatly in the drawer. She pulled one out, and shoot it open.

The numbers 106 were stitched across the back. Jessica pulled it on, reveling at the feeling of soft, clean cloth. She threw the other suits in her bag, then sat on the edge of one of the beds. She checked her Pip-Boy; it marked the time at 7:46 P.M. She frowned, pondering her options.

"Getting late," she addressed the dog and empty room, "the Raiders are probably gone, but it'll be dark soon." Jessica shook her head, wet hair tickling her neck. "I guess we're staying the night." She lay out on the bed with a long sigh. No springs jabbed her back; it enveloped her tired body in a cloud of comfort.

She was picking up a strange taste. It tickled her nose, slightly astringent and slightly sweet. Jessica sneezed once. She was very comfortable; her body was getting heavy, sinking into the soft bed. The hum of generators and air circulation were familiar and comforting. When she closed her eyes, she could picture herself back in Vault 101, lying in her bedroom.

Dad would be out in the living area, leafing through a book or writing in one of his journals. Jessica could see his kind face behind her eyes. She vividly remembered the last time she saw him; he'd hesitated a moment before saying goodnight. She hadn't thought anything of it. She'd hugged him and shrugged off his sad little smile. A tear trickled down her cheek. She took a deep breath, noting that she was getting very sleepy.

The hum grew louder, filling her head with white noise and drowning out her thoughts. She could hear Dogmeat whining, scratching at the base of the door. She intended to tell him to be quiet. Instead, she found herself sitting across from Amata, sharing a plate of French Fries in the cafeteria.

"I don't see what the big deal is." Fifteen year old Jessica pushed a blob of ketchup into interesting designs. "We were only out two hours past curfew. Besides, it's not like there's anywhere to GO." She munched sullenly.

"It's all your fault." Amata glared at her companion. "I told you we should have gone back. Not only did my dad give me fifty thousand extra chores, I'm gonna have to listen to the 'responsibility' speech every night until I die." The olive skinned girl huffed. "I'm never listening to you again."

"Aw, come on," Jessica gave her a lopsided grin. "You have to admit, we had fun until we got caught."

"Yeah, because sneaking around in storage so you can smoke cigarettes is a real blast," Amata grumbled.

"Hey, you were smoking, too." Jessica folded her arms across her chest. "I only took the blame because I love you."

"That and your dad won't actually kill you for it." Amata sighed. "Thanks again for covering for me."

"I guess I kinda owed you," Jessica conceded. "How long you grounded?"

"Two months." Amata stared miserably at the table. "No sports, no vids, no friends. I'm going to lose my mind."

"We'll get through it," Jessica tried to cheer her up. "It's not forever-just almost."

"What about you?" Amata popped a fry into her mouth. "How mad was your dad?"

"He lectured me two hours straight about 'personal accountability', then ANOTHER hour about the dangers of smoking. Then he took away my vids and books." Jessica sighed. "I get them back in two months."

"House arrest?" Amata guessed. Jessica nodded glumly.

"School and chores. Otherwise I get to study and 'think about the consequences of my actions.'" Jessica wrinkled her nose. "Ok, you're right. This is gonna suck."

"Told you so," Amata grumbled. "At least you don't get the 'you're much too smart for this kind of childish nonsense' speech."

"You know my dad." Jessica shrugged. "It was more like 'I'm so disappointed, where did I go wrong, I thought I raised you better.'"

"Huh." Amata snorted. "Maybe they're not so different."

A shadow fell across the table. Both girls looked up, faces twisting into sneers. A tall teenage boy stood nearby, coiffed hair slicked back with grease. It glistened under the cafeteria lights. He offered them a condescending smile.

"Hey there, Daddy's Girls," Butch simpered. "I heard someone got in trouble. What, you get caught kissing in the generators?"

"Only in your wet dreams," Jessica spat back. Amata threw a hand over her mouth, face turning pink as she choked on giggles. The boy frowned, chomping furiously on his toothpick.

"I knew it." Butch sneered. "Not like you'd get in trouble anyway. Must be nice being Vault Princess." He gave Amata a long, unpleasant smirk. She trembled with rage.

"I'll have you know," Amata began heatedly, "I'm grounded for two months and don't get to leave the apartment except for school and chores!" She crushed an unsuspecting French fry into mush.

"Poor BABY," Butch cried with mock horror. "What happened, you get a B on the math quiz?"

Amata's face was turning purple. She stood up and stomped over to face Butch. She glared up at him, at least five inches shorter. The boy stared down, grinning at his accomplishment. Jessica groaned. He knew just how to goad her friend into hysterics.

"We HAPPENED to be out after curfew." Amata seethed. Her hands were clenched into trembling fists. "We were down in storage, drinking and smoking." She finished in a furious whisper, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard.

Butch threw back his head and roared with laughter.

"That's rich!" he howled. "Like I'd believe that in a million years. Daddy's Girl AND a liar! Wait till I tell the guys."

"She's NOT lying!" Jessica was on her feet, pulling Amata back by her Vault suit. The girl was a frightening shade of crimson; she looked ready to jump on Butch at any second. Tears sparkled in her eyes.

"We were so in storage," Jessica addressed Butch, pushing Amata behind her. "As a matter of fact," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "the cigarettes are still down there."

"So's the alcohol," Amata interjected, scrubbing her face angrily. "Me and Jessica were JUST about to ditch class to get them back."

"We were what now?" Jessica turned to her friend, telepathically screaming at her to shut up.

"Too bad you'll be in class," Amata continued, voice shaking. "It's gonna be AWESOME."

"You're both liars." Butch couldn't quite mask the intrigue in his voice. "You guys ain't got a full spine between you. I'll betcha three snack rations I see you both in class, fighting over who's gonna answer the questions."

"You're on," Amata snapped. "Come on, Jessica. Let's get away from this smelly asshole."

"Then you gotta take me with you." Butch smirked. "Otherwise I know you're lying. You'll just run to Daddy and have him give you a pass."

"Um-" Amata seemed to deflate, taking a step back. "It's our secret place," she fibbed lamely. "No smelly Tunnel Worms allowed."

"See? I knew it." Butch snorted. "Like the Princess would DARE break the rules."

"Just get the hell away from-" Jessica began, ready to accept defeat and plot their revenge.

"FINE," Amata shouted, making Jessica and Butch jump in surprise. "Meet us outside the maintenance corridors five minutes before class." She stuck her finger less than an inch from his face. "I'll show you who's a liar." She turned on her heel and stomped from the cafeteria, Jessica in hot pursuit.

"Amata, are you serious?" Jessica hissed. "If my dad finds out-if YOUR dad finds out-!"

"They won't find out." Amata stormed down the hallway, eyes snapping. "I'll show HIM who's a princess," she grumbled murderously.

"Brotch will call them!" Jessica jogged to keep up. "We'll get busted in ten minutes flat!"

"Not if he gets a letter from our dads excusing us from class," Amata retorted.

"WHY would our dads excuse us from class?" Jessica pressed.

"They should really change their mail passwords." The olive-skinned girl grinned dangerously. "I just need a computer."

Amata ducked into a computer laboratory, seating herself and typing furiously.

"Are you sure about this?" Jessica found herself flustered. She normally cajoled and coerced her friend into mischief, not the other way around. "We're already in hot water. If we get caught, we're going to be in SO much trouble."

"You wanna back out?" Amata snapped. "I already sent my letter. I don't need you to come."

"What'd it say?" Jessica stalled.

"Mr. Brotch," Amata dictated in an exaggerated baritone. "Please excuse my daughter Amata from class today. She has been confined to her quarters after a bout of insolence. Any homework should be delivered directly to her mailbox. The Overseer." Amata glared over her shoulder. "Sound enough like my dad?"

"Nice work with the mailbox," Jessica commended. "Your dad doesn't go through it?"

"I'll just have to get there first." Amata shrugged. "So you in, or are you going to class?"

"You know I can't leave you alone with that disgusting excuse for a boy. Besides, he'll probably bring his slimy little friends." Jessica sighed. "But I get to write my own letter."

"Here." Amata stood up, a wide grin on her face. "I already set it up for you."

Jessica rolled her eyes once. Her best friend knew her too well.

Dear Mr. Brotch, she began, I'm sorry to inform you that Jessica will not be in class today. She's caught a bug; nothing serious, but I don't want her spreading it to the other students. Please forward her homework to her mailbox.

Sincerely,

Dr. McGinnis

"Just once," Jessica shivered with excitement as she pressed 'Send', "I'd like to rub Butch's smug face in it."

Amata nodded. "Come on, we've gotta hurry."

They walked quickly down the hall, looking around furtively for anyone who might ask why they weren't going to class. Meeting no one of consequence, the girls halted outside the maintenance access corridor. Jessica checked the clock; lunch would be over in eight minutes.

"Where the hell is he?" Amata shifted her weight nervously. "Maybe you were right." She glanced around, a bundle of nerves. "It's not worth it. My dad will MURDER me if he finds out-"

"It's too late for that now." Jessica crossed her arms over her chest. "We sent the e-mail. If we show up, Brotch will just call our dads to find out what happened." She grabbed Amata by the shoulders, halting her mid-pace. "It'll be fine," Jessica tried to reassure her. "We'll grab the cigarettes and a bottle of beer, and Butch will have to pry his foot out of his fat mouth."

Amata took a deep breath. She was staring behind Jessica; a scowl settled over her features. Jessica wrinkled her nose as the strong, sweet scent of hair oil washed over her.

"Well, well." Butch wore a crooked grin as he sauntered up the hall. "You actually showed up! I didn't think you had it in you, Princess."

"Just you?" Amata gave him a withering stare. "I didn't think you went anywhere without your friends to back you up."

Butch scoffed.

"Like I said, I didn't think you'd show." He shrugged, chewing on his toothpick. "So let's go. Unless you're chicken."

"Ok, ok." Amata looked around furtively. The hallway was empty; she punched an access code into the door, and it slid open. The teenagers ducked quickly inside, shutting it behind them. A nervous giggle echoed through the empty corridor; Jessica clapped hand over her mouth, glancing sheepishly at Amata. Her friend was turning a sickly shade of gray.

"All right, where's the smokes?" Butch flicked back a greasy strand of hair.

"Shut up and follow me." Amata led the trio through the maze-like storage corridors, lined with numbered doors. A sense of foreboding built steadily in Jessica's stomach. She secretly envied Butch's nonchalant demeanor, willing her hands to quit shaking. She stayed close to Amata, drawing comfort and camaraderie from her friend. The Overseer's daughter looked as anxious as she felt.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Butch demanded impatiently after several long minutes. Amata threw him a withering stare.

"We're almost there. Keep your hair on." She passed several more doors, finally stopping and looking around furtively. "Ok, they're in here."

Butch shoved past her, pressing the door button repeatedly.

"It's locked." He stared at the girls accusingly. "What now, Princess?"

Amata was already fishing in her hair, producing a bobby pin and pulling it open with her teeth. She pushed past Butch with a frown, kneeling down and fidgeting with the lock mechanism. Butch snorted.

"You don't know how-" A quiet click rang through the hallway, and the door slid open with a hiss. Amata looked up in triumph.

"I'm sorry, I don't know how to WHAT?" She gave him a wide grin; Butch scowled, waving a hand dismissively.

"Anyone can do that," he grumbled.

"Uh huh. Whatever." The grin was still plastered over Amata's face as she stepped into the cubicle. Jessica followed on her heels; Butch hesitated, looking once over his shoulder. When the trio was inside, Jessica closed the door. She pulled a box from behind a pile of clutter, reaching inside and brandishing a red and white pack.

"Told you so," she lilted, pulling out one of the little cylinders and holding it carefully against her lips. She pulled a pack of matches out of her shoe, lighting the cigarette and choking down the urge to cough. Amata followed suit, immediately paling another shade. Butch rolled his eyes and lit one, taking a deep drag and exhaling through his nostrils with a hiss.

"So where's the booze?" He demanded, smoke tendrils swirling around his head. Jessica puffed delicately, buying a moment to think. She didn't know where any alcohol was. That fib had been entirely Amata's doing, and she wasn't sure how they were going to get out of it gracefully.

"Not here, duh." Amata coughed once. "That way, if someone finds the cigarettes, they don't get both."

"That's dumb as hell." Butch flicked his ash onto the floor. "Why don't you just hide 'em better?"

"How bout you find and hide your own damn beer?" Jessica demanded. "You're lucky we let you come at all."

"Whatever. Go get it, then." The boy took another deep drag. "Unless you're a liar."

"That's what you said last time," Jessica snapped, "and now you owe us both three snack rations."

"I don't owe you a damn thing until I get a beer," he retorted. "That was the deal. Smokes and booze."

"Amata, you remember where we hid it," Jessica addressed her friend, meeting the girl's shocked gaze. "We'll wait here. So he can't bring his disgusting friends and take it all." Amata glared daggers at her, hands clenched at her sides.

"Oh, right, I remember where we hid it," she growled. "Fine, FINE. I-I'll be right back."

Sending Jessica one last scathing stare of betrayal, Amata pounded on the door control. Jessica shrugged, giving her a look that read, 'This was all YOUR idea.' When she had vanished into the dim hallway, Jessica and Butch stared at one another before breaking the gaze and concentrating on the floor. The minutes passed slowly; Jessica stared at her Pip-Boy, sighing in frustration when ten minutes had gone by.

"Where the hell is she?" The girl demanded, glancing up at the door. Butch snuffed out his cigarette, giving her a look that managed to be bored, condescending and haughty all at once.

"Better go find her. She musta got lost trying to find the beer that AIN'T THERE." The boy sneered. Jessica swallowed.

"Come on," she grumbled, hoisting herself off the floor. "I'm not going by myself."

Butch grinned.

"Baby scared of the dark?" He simpered, resuming chomping on his toothpick. Jessica glared at him.

"Just come ON," she snapped. "We should get back soon, anyway. My dad will look for me." She didn't give him time to think up a witty remark about her relationship with her father, making her way quickly out the door. She could hear Butch's displeased grumbling behind her, refusing to look at him.

There was something wrong with the corridors. She couldn't remember any of the intersections; it was like the Vault belly had shifted around. She swallowed, standing in a T junction.

"Where are we?" She asked, finally turning toward Butch. The boy was gone.

"Butch? That's not funny. I know you're there." Her words echoed eerily. "Come out, you're not going to scare me!"

The silence was deafening. It pressed on her ears with a physical weight, making her heart pound faster.

"Butch?" There was a tremor in her voice. "Amata?" She began to run, staring wildly around for her companions. The hall was stretching out in front of her, impossibly long and narrow. Her legs grew heavy, as though she were trudging through hip-deep water.

She turned to go back, and found herself face to face with a solid wall.

"AMATA!" Jessica screamed. There were no longer any doors along the corridor. She panted, struggling to press on as the unseen force held her back. "BUTCH!"

Something invisible grabbed her ankle, and she fell hard.

Jessica woke up on the ground, surrounded by blackness. Panic immediately overtook all her senses. She screamed, flailing on the cold metal floor. She had no idea where she was or how she'd gotten there- the last thing Jessica remembered was the little dorm room. Now she was in a long, dark hallway, barefoot and unarmed.

She curled up against the wall, knees clutched to her chest. She gasped for breath, fighting back hyperventilation. In nothing but the thin Vault suit, she was freezing.

"Sleepwalking," she gasped aloud. "Must have been sleepwalking. I'm ok-" She tried to reassure herself. The words echoed menacingly around her.

"Oh my god, where am I?" She choked down a sob, trying to get her bearings. The labyrinthine Vault corridors ran miles underground. If she got lost, alone in the unfamiliar maze, there was a chance she would never find her way back out.

Automatically, she checked her Pip-Boy. The little computer informed her that it was just past eleven at night. Jessica took a shuddering breath; she hefted herself to her feet, cold metal floor burning their bottoms. Her head swam, and she steadied herself against the wall. The strange taste was filling her head. She took several deep breaths, trying to decide which way to go. There was nothing to indicate what direction she'd come, no dust in which to leave footprints.

Jessica began walking, arms wrapped around herself. She was in the laboratories; broken equipment and computers littered most of the adjoining rooms. Her natural inclination to scour them for valuable items was squashed by nerves.

'Gotta head upstairs. Labs are always in the lower level. Get back to the dorms, get my shit and get out.' Jessica found it unusually difficult to form the thought. The instant she'd finished, a wave of panic swept over her body. Images of the Wasteland and its bloodthirsty residents washed over her in a mosaic of blood, bullets and teeth. She sank to the floor, head between her knees as she sobbed uncontrollably.

The panic attack lasted for several minutes. When Jessica finally got ahold of herself, eyes puffy and nose dripping, she remained on the floor. Head in her hands, the girl sat and trembled.

"What the fuck is going on?" she pleaded wretchedly. Her voice echoed down the hallway.

You're safe now.

Jessica's head snapped up. Someone had whispered in her ear. She stared frantically around the dark, deserted corridor.

"Hello?" She demanded. "Is someone there?" She rose quickly to her feet, ignoring the rush of blood to her head. Jessica stumbled forward, heart pounding in her ears. She blinked, then rubbed her eyes; an indistinct shape moved in the darkness ahead.

"WHO THE FUCK IS THERE?" Jessica screamed. No longer mindful of the cold or her vulnerability, she staggered down the hall after the shape. It faded as she approached, ever just out of sight. Jessica was unaware of losing all other thoughts, but soon chased the phantom with single-minded determination. It lead her through the laboratories; she walked for more than an hour before it vanished.

Jessica stood dumbly, staring around at more unfamiliar corridors. She had no recollection of the trip. She remembered shouting; now she stood at another flight of stairs, leading deeper into the Vault's belly.

"Jesus fuck," she moaned, gripping her hair with both hands. She sank to her knees, then splayed back on the ground.

Downstairs. She wanted to go downstairs.

No, she didn't. Downstairs was the exact opposite of where she wanted to go.

Safe downstairs. Supplies downstairs. Storage-why hadn't she thought of it before?

Jessica clambered to her feet and stumbled down the stairs. It made perfect sense. Astounded by her own brilliance, she giggled manically.

"Dogmeat, I need you to find something for me," she slurred to the empty hall. "Find chems, boy! I need-I need Jet, I gotta-" She broke off, losing her train of thought. "I feel funny. Hey Dogmeat, does it taste kinda blue in here?"

Jessica reached the bottom of the stairwell, looking down another long hall. The lights shone bright and blue. The girl blinked several times, wondering when the generators had started working. She walked drunkenly down the corridor, catching herself on the walls when she stumbled. The rooms around her were clean and orderly, tables covered in humming equipment. Jessica swallowed hard. Something was very wrong, and her head refused to clear long enough to figure out what.

A figure stepped out of a doorway, face hidden in shadow. Salt-and-pepper hair was combed back neatly. His white lab coat glowed under the eerie blue light; a little yellow 101 peeped out from beneath the lapel. It took her brain several moments to recognize him. James turned without a word and began walking. Jessica cried out.

"Dad! DAD!" She screamed, lurching after him. James made no indication he'd heard, rounding a corner.

"Dad, it's me, Jessica," the girl sobbed. "Wait for me, Dad, PLEASE wait for me!" She came around the bend just in time to watch him step into an adjoining room. She staggered after him, gasping for breath between sobs. She caught herself in the doorframe with both arms; the room was empty. Several active computers sat humming on a table.

The room was plunged into darkness. Her Pip-Boy illuminated a small circle. The table lay on its side, two legs missing. The computers were on the floor, broken and derelict. A skeleton splayed across the ground.

Jessica was too shocked to scream. Her legs wobbled like jelly, and she fell to the floor. Little hiccupping sobs caught in her throat. She scuttled backwards into the hall; it was in equal ruin.

He was right there. She'd seen him, clear as day. The girl's eyes welled up, and she sobbed into her hands. She was cold, frightened, and fairly certain she was going insane. She sat and cried for several long minutes. Jessica had never felt so bitterly helpless and alone.

When she ran out of tears, the girl scrubbed her face miserably. Her head was a little clearer, allowing her to examine the situation. Something was wrong with her. She felt high. It was nothing like the euphoric, focused sensation brought on by Jet; her body was heavy, thoughts slow and disjointed.

"Dad's not here." She spoke aloud, forcing her thoughts to line up. "There's something wrong with this place and I need to get out of here."

The blind panic washed over her again. It was a little easier to control this time; Jessica pushed images of herself being tortured and eaten away, instead focusing on her breathing. She drew air in slowly and deliberately, letting it out with a soft huff. Cheek pressed against cold metal, she cried silently.

You like it here.

Jessica sobbed aloud, pressing her hands over her ears. The voice sounded like someone was speaking right next to her. She let out a wail of fear and frustration.

"Who are you?" She shrieked, slamming her fist into the floor. The wave of pain cleared out some of the cobwebs in her mind.

No one's here, she reminded herself forcibly. This is in your head. I have to get out of here, I've gotta find the way out.

"I'm-so sorry, baby."

Dad.

His voice echoed around her. It was strained and sad, sounding as though he were in a great deal of pain. The lights flickered overhead. When they flashed blue, Jessica could see a trail of blood leading down the hall.

"I didn't want-" A groan of agony ripped through Jessica's heart. "Help me, please help me."

"Just hold on, Daddy, please be ok," Jessica sobbed, scrambling to her feet. The lights were bright and steady again. She sprinted down the passage, falling several times without noticing. Her knees dripped blood down her legs, but she continued with single-minded determination. She knew he was down here. He was in trouble, and she had to help him.

"DADDY, WHERE ARE YOU?" She screamed in anguish, tears running freely down her cheeks. Someone moved in the distance. Half-blind, Jessica squinted to make them out; her mouth fell open in shock.

Butch Deloria sprinted toward her, fists raised and face twisted in a bestial snarl. Too stunned to move, she could only watch as he swung out, catching her square in the nose. A starburst of white-hot pain sent her reeling; she clutched her face, blood running freely through her fingers.

The light vanished. Butch was gone. A haggard, gaunt man swung erratically at her. He fell to his knees, clutching what remained of his hair and shrieking like an animal. Jessica managed to regain a portion of her wits, and took a few hesitant steps back. Gasping and grunting, the man rose to his feet; his face was a mess of half-healed cuts and bruises, one eye completely gone. He stared at her with a look of blind rage, gnashing his teeth furiously.

"Not the blue," he muttered, "oh god, not the blue-it's coming, it's coming for all of us! No one gets out of the blue!" With an inhuman shriek, he leapt for her. Jessica managed to side-step the attack, and the raving man splayed on the ground. He turned his head toward her, teeth bared and single eye rolling madly in its socket. Jessica backed into one of the rooms, looking around frantically for anything to use as a weapon.

The first object her fingers met was a fire extinguisher. Trembling, she pulled out the pin and aimed the hose in front of her. A second later, the man rounded the doorway. The girl let fire. He screamed again, stumbling backward and clawing at his face. Jessica's vision was red. She staggered after him, raising the canister and bringing the edge down on top of his skull. With a sickening crunch and spray of blood, he collapsed. Sobbing, Jessica slammed the fire extinguisher into his head again and again, finally sinking to the floor in a trembling heap.

A puddle of blood and gore spread across the ground. Jessica wretched, and puked violently. She pulled herself to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her body.

'Weapon. Need a better weapon.'

She searched the surrounding rooms, arming herself with a hammer she found in a toolbox. It wasn't much, but more reassuring than her bare fists.

She could barely think anymore. Sometimes, the Vault teemed with life. She passed by old friends, chatting amongst themselves as they went about their day to day. Other times, she was cold and alone, surrounded by darkness and decay. Each transition was more frightening than the last.

Finally, they stopped. Jessica blinked, staring down at her clean hands with trepidation. She was almost glowing beneath the iridescent lights. A trail of red disappeared around yet another corner. Jessica took a deep breath. She was almost overcome by a wash of relief.

Breathe in the blue.

"I like it here," she heard herself mutter. Jessica continued doggedly after the blood trail. The Vault corridors shifted around her as she walked. Impossibly long hallways turned into solid wall; she thought briefly about finding her way back, but immediately dismissed the idea.

Butch was in her way again. That rat bastard. She bared her teeth and screeched. With an answering battle wail, he ran for her.

Butch had gotten rusty. She side-stepped his first attack easily, taking a quick note of the baseball bat in his hands. That would be a nice thing to have. Butch stumbled, trying to recover his balance. Jessica buried the hammer claw in his shoulder blade. Butch let out another caterwaul, grasping feebly for the tool and dropping the bat. Jessica snatched it up, drew back, and delivered a swift blow to the back of his head.

A spray of something warm hit her face. She tasted copper. Butch lay on the ground, hands up in defeat. She spit, and continued after the trail of blood. It was the only other color in the bright blue light.

An occasional giant baseball floated down the corridor. Jessica approached the first one cautiously. It spun around with a wail, fanged mouth dripping black liquid. She smashed it into the wall with her bat. The ball continued to shriek until she'd broken it open, guts and thread spilling across the floor.

Four giant baseballs later, Jessica stood panting at a dead end. The trail led through solid wall. She pounded on the metal until her knuckles bled, then began to kick it.

Hello, honey.

Her head snapped up. James stood three feet from her. With a choking sob, she lunged for him. He vanished instantly. Jessica stared around wildly. James had reappeared in a classroom. She darted for the door, blocking it with her arms and legs. A quiet smile on his face, her father walked toward her, and disappeared again.

Jessica slammed her forehead into the doorframe, screaming in fury and anguish. A wave of dizziness threatened to knock her over. She stumbled back down the hallway, losing sight of the blood trail and her last shred of sanity. Demons rose from the shadows, grasping for her with razor sharp claws. She did her best to beat them back, but they were quick and strong. The shadow creatures ripped flesh from her body in long strips. Her blood pooled on the ground; sickening crunches and smacking filled her head as they devoured part of her arm. She screamed, swinging wildly as the thick smell of blood washed over her.

She caught one of the creatures in the chest. It shattered into thousands of pieces as the sound of breaking glass filled the air. The demons began to retreat toward the shadows, leaving her trembling and bleeding. A bright flash lit the darkness, briefly illuminating a mans' silhouette . White-hot pain stabbed through the girls' leg. She managed to stumble forward, swinging the bat furiously. A wolf creature appeared in front of her; another flash and deafening bang made her ears ring. The wolf leaped for her, fangs bared.

She'd lost the bat somehow. A ceaseless roar filled her head as she was knocked to the ground. The wolf had her pinned, jaws latched around her neck. Jessica's limbs flailed as she struggled to breathe. Her hand made contact with something long and heavy. Drawing back the wrench with the last of her strength, Jessica brought it down on the wolf's back. It yelped, releasing her throat and stumbling backward.

As blessed oxygen rushed into her lungs, some of the blackness faded. A man in a lab coat had almost reached the pistol he'd dropped. Jessica lunged for his knees, bringing the man to the ground. Grunting, he kicked her in the ribs as he flailed. She took a fistful of his hair, slamming his forehead into the floor. Momentarily stunned, he fell limp. She smashed him into the ground again and again, finally crawling away to dry heave in a corner. Every inch of her was shaking, body drained by pain and fear. She collapsed motionless. Blood pooled slowly on the ground beneath her.