A/N: My best work, so far, I think. Depending on how people like it, I might publish my other chapters. R&R. Squeee XD
A hand gently caressed her head, as white light filled her vision. She looked up at the man, Jack. "Thank you, mister. Thank you so very much." She turned, running into Rapture's tunnel system. She cast one last glance at the Big Daddy. "Bye, Mr. B."
--
Miranda woke, a sheen of sweat on her face. No… Rapture was past. This wasn't Rapture. She was probably five or six when she was there… she was nineteen now. She shivered, realizing she didn't have a blanket covering her.
The girl sat up, taking in the familiar features of her home. The red carpet, the blue walls… The picture of Jack, her savior.
Someone knocked on the door, and she groaned. The media had been trying to get her to talk about Rapture for a while. But no one was going to make her relive that hell.
Wearily, she trudged down to her door. She opened the door. A young man was standing there, probably only around nineteen or twenty. "Hey, you're Miranda, right?" She nodded. "My name is Zachary Heathe. I'm a reporter-"
She sighed exasperatedly. "Not another one!"
He smiled. "Hey, I know you've been bogged down by all the attempted interviews, but this is different. We're planning an expedition down to Rapture, and we were wondering if you'd come with as a guide."
Miranda froze. "Going… down… to Rapture…?"
A look of concern crossed his face. He stepped in, and said, "Are you okay, miss?"
She nodded, her face blank, and slumped onto him, feeling his arms surround her. "I don't want to," She whispered, her voice hoarse. "I don't want to… but you'd die without me."
They stood like that for a while, but Zach broke the silence by murmuring, "You don't have to go if you don't want to…"
Breaking away from his arms, she said, "No, it's okay. I'll go."
A hesitant smile lit up his face. "Thank you, Ms. Miranda, thank you so very much. And I'm sorry for making you remember this, have to go through it again."
She nodded. He handed her a card. "If you need anything, call me at this number. On the back is where you're meeting us."
His arms surrounded her again, pulling her in a friendly hug. "I'll see you later."
She looked up at him, into his eyes. She suddenly leaned forward, their lips touching for only a moment. She blushed, looking down. Zach was dazed. He whispered, "Good night, miss." He turned around, heading to his car.
Miranda went back to her bed, memorizing the boy's looks. Thick, black hair, pale, oddly violet eyes… She sighed. I just met him, like, five minutes ago… why did I kiss him?
She shook her head. Sleep. Sleep first.