Nate…

I stared at his bloodied, limp form, tears welling in my eyes.

"Hon, wake up! T-they took Shaun!"

You tried to save him…

Grasping onto his blue uniform, I shook him. When his chest didn't rise or fall, a desperate cry grew in my throat. "Goddamn it, Nate! P-please wake up!"

I couldn't do anything.

My vision was blurred, and snot, which I hurriedly wiped away, kept brushing the rise of my lips. I had sunk to the floor, pitifully grabbing at my husband's booted feet. I am unsure how long I had sat weeping in that spot.

The bald man, with a scar over his left eye... He took Shaun.

Nate was dead, and all I could do was walk out of that vault. I groped at the walls, still blinking away tears and wiping mucus from under my nose.

"Hello?"

No one replied. A nauseous silence filled the tunnels, only the hum of electricity could be faintly heard when ears were pressed to the walls.

I was startled, of course, when huge cockroaches ran at me from behind cupboards, desks, and from cracks in the ceiling. The pitter-patter of their movement echoed in the halls, and I yelped animatedly. As they neared, I attempted to hop over them.

To think I was afraid of spiders...

I quickly walked away from them, squeamish and shuddering. Then I froze.

I had forgotten so quickly. Not even five minutes past.

Gasping unsteadily for breath, I fell to the floor. I wailed; curdling, despaired noises burst from me. Turning back from where I came, I desperately wished to return to his body and hold it tightly.

Shaun's alive. He isn't.

Terribly saddened, I faced the stairway towards the vault door. I had to find Shaun. Shaun needed me, with his tiny little body most likely in the clutches—

It didn't matter. All that matters is Shaun.

Numerous bodies littered the floor, many decaying, many more already bare-boned. The scent was terrible, even more so the sight of the giant cockroaches feasting on the last remaining bits of the dead.

I hadn't realized I was gagging until the roaches charged at me. There were tens of them, and being afraid of bugs, I immediately panicked. Turning towards the huge door, I gracelessly tripped over a heavily clothed skeleton, which I shuffled away from on my knees.

My fingers brushed a heavy, metallic object, and taking a glance at it, I realized it was a handgun of some sort.

Nate used guns.

I grabbed it quickly, and aimed it at the nearing roaches. Blindly squeezing the trigger with tears in my eyes, I hoped I would kill one. The loud noise startled me, and I dropped the gun on my foot. I quickly leaned down, frantically grabbing for the gun. The roaches neared, and I, unable to aim in time, I kicked wildly at them. Odd, pained screeches rang in my ears, and I raised the gun to shoot once more.

This time I did not falter as heavily as the last, and killed a roach on the spot. The others stopped running toward me, and hurriedly fled back into their hiding spots. Sighing in relief, I dropped the handgun and rushed over to the door controls. A large red button lay under a protective seal, and by the looks of the empty hole to the left, it could be activated by using a key. In this large of a facility, it'd take me a definite while to find it. And I certainly didn't want to have to search the bodies strewn about.

Shoulders slumped, I slowly proceed towards the corpse of which I had unfortunately fallen over. Kneeling to the ground with reluctance, my hand lifts open one of the many pockets on the skeleton's coat, and reaches inward. I pull out…bottle caps? And a note, stating, 'DO NOT SPEND THESE ON POKER TONIGHT!'

"The War had rid us of the use of the common dollar, as they lost their value over time…"

Staring at the peculiar handful I had taken from the body, I continued to search the other pockets. The quick search was mostly fruitless, except for the few rounds I decided to take.

With awkward pats and looks around my bodysuit, I found I had no pockets to store my gathered materials. With a quick realization, and a strangled groan, I begin to lift the coat from the skeleton. I hear sickening cracks as I pull the coat upward, letting the bones fall on their own. The lower half of the body falls to the floor, parting from the original structure and rolls about. The arms stay in the sleeves, and the ribcage hangs loosely along with the fractured spine and skull. I shut my eyes and grab the end of a sleeve, wagging the coat around in hopes for the skeleton to fall out on its own.

Weak. A skeleton won't hurt you.

After taking the coat, I envelope myself in its warmth. It is several sizes too large for me, as it was most likely owned by a man. The sleeves cover up my hands and the whole of the coat falls below my bottom. Its dark, leathery exterior is contrasted by a soft, warm interior. Pockets line the breast and shoulder, both inside and out, providing space for ammunition and bottle caps I had found.

I had searched the next few bodies, becoming less and less sensitive to the fact that I was searching dead bodies. Coming across more bottle caps and a holster, I put the latter around my waist and pocket the caps. Once obtaining the holster, I decide to gather the handgun from the ground and place it at my hip. I take a round from my breast pocket and release the clip.

Nate taught me that.

The ammunition I had picked up seemed to fit the fire-arm, meaning that it was a ten millimeter pistol. The rounds had been marked with dark lettering, stating that they were, indeed, ten millimeter rounds.

This search was pointless in the end, I didn't find the key, I thought to myself. While walking towards a closed door, my foot brushed up against something. It looked like a large watch, covered in nobs and buttons, accompanied by a large screen in the center. Leaning down and grabbing it, I turn it on. I rub dust from the screen to see the lettering that appears clearer.

Joyous music suddenly blares from the device, now showing a smiling, blond character next to 'Vault Tech' in bold lettering.

"Hello, Vault Dweller! Welcome to your very own Vault Tech Pipboy!" the device sounds. "This helpful device can assist you in your daily activities serving in your vault. It will note your available and need-to-complete tasks, as well as give you directions to anywhere you—"

With a roll of my eyes, I watch the passing images with a blank stare, soon blocking out all audio.

Eventually, an image shows the vault door, as well as the door controls.

"—Just insert the cable into the space, with your Overseer's permission, and the release button should be available to you."

I smile, and quickly head over to the controls. Drawing the extendable cable into the hole, the lock over the red button retracts, leaving it open. With a deep breath I press down on the button.

The roar of rusty machinery cause my ears to ring, as the vault's door starts to be opened. The ground shakes, and I am forced to grab onto the control panel. Rolling to the right, the opening of the vault door reveals the elevator to the outside. Quickly stepping through the door, I press the arrowed button to call the elevator.

With a desperate plea for the elevator to work, I stare upwards, waiting for the platform to lower. Sparks fly, rusty gears grinding for the first time in… How long was I in that icebox?

Breaking me from my panic, the opening of the elevator door sends excitement into my system.

Shaun, I will find you.

The elevator brings me slowly up to the surface in a dark compartment, the only light coming from my Pipboy, now strapped to my wrist, under my heavy coat.

I left Nate down there. His body.

I drop down on the platform, banging my fist against the metal surface. With wails and teary cries, I call out to him. I didn't want to leave. I didn't say goodbye.

My cries were left unheard, as the roar of the elevator drowned me out. Suddenly, the elevator slowed even further, and light streamed onto me from above. I look up, shielding my eyes with an arm. The light was blindingly bright; I lost my sight within moments.

The elevator stopped moving.

A breeze blew my dark hair into my vision, which was still adjusting to the brighter surroundings. My breath caught in my throat as I heard the chirping of birds.

My eyes widened at the sight in front of me. I could see the entirety of Sanctuary Hills, and farther.

The War had destroyed everything.