Upper Atrium:

Rapture, Upper Atrium, 3:00pm

Upstairs of the Fort Frolic lies the Upper Atrium. There are many places to see here; First, and most notably, of them is the Fleet hall, where the citizens of Rapture could enjoy theatrical and musical arts. Inside it offered the citizens a chance to catch a drink of Ryan's Club Brand Ale or a bite of a chocolate-creme cake before the show started. The only other accessible place in the Upper Atrium is Cohen's collection. Hidden in the upper atrium is a hidey hole, this hidey hole however is different, not because of the outside design, but because of the inside.

Inside of the hidey hole was a room, it had a makeshift bed made out of hundreds of blankets, a simple nightstand next to it, through the room a few posters were placed on the walls, and scattered through the room were books of all sorts.

Sitting in the bed looking glum was Raptures one and only Little Brother. His name was Ryan, he was barely nine years old. His blond hair was a bit tangled and dirty, his dressing shirt is stained with dirt and blood, and his pants were stained and ripped a bit on the knee. His face was stained with tears. Right now he had no more tears to shed.

Getting up he walked over to the small television set and turned it on, hoping to find some distraction. It was black and white, the show on was the football game going on, the Ryan's Raiders versus the Sea bulls. You could hear the crowed cheer as the football went into the air and the players beat each other up for the ball.

"Danny Wilkins, a naturally gifted athlete whose remarkable abilities have secured a perfect record for Ryan's Raiders every season he's been on the team. Danny does not recall ever having lost at anything. Though he does recognize that he has on occasion been on a losing team, he argues that the loss itself has never been his fault. Losses on these occasions were invariably attributable to his teammates, and, furthermore, in every case, Danny was otherwise occupied breaking and setting various records of his own." said the sports narrator.

Ryan stared, once the show was over he turned off the TV. The sea bull's team won and they're going head to head with the Stingers in a final match. There was silence for a few minutes before a loud bang interrupted it.

Following the bangs was a loud whale like moan. Ryan sighted as he got up and entered a hole, outside he was greeted by a Rosie.

"Hello Hero" he said, the Big daddy moaned.

"I know, I know. We haven't seen each other for a while. I've just been depressed that's all." Ryan said. The Big Daddy moaned again, this time somehow managing to sound sympathetic.

"Yeah, I miss her a lot, I just wish I could have stopped the splicers and protected her." Ryan admitted as he got down, the Big Daddy Rosie helped him.

Once on the floor Ryan walked next to his protector. There was more reasons as to why Ryan didn't wanted to leave his hidey hole, it wasn't just depression, it was also that the streets has been getting far too dangerous, especially with the battle of Atlas against Andrew Ryan. It was getting out of hand to the point he couldn't tell who was a splicer, who was a person, who wants to harm him, and who doesn't.

It was a scary feeling to know that you're never safe.

Suddenly he bumped against something, or rather, somebody. "Oh, I am so sorry little boy, are you okay?" he heard a female voice say, the first and by far kindest words Ryan had heard in a long time. Looking up he saw it was a woman. She wasn't that old, his guess twenty five or maybe a little bit older.

She wore a cream color coat, a broad beaver trimmed hat covering her hair and a scarf and shades to cover her face. The Big Daddy which was with Ryan loaded the spear gun ready to fire.

"It's alright Hero. She's not armed." Ryan said, having already scanned her for weapons first thing, as was quickly becoming a habit. Getting up off the ground he noticed the Big Daddy lowered his gun, but kept an eye on the woman in case she tried anything.

The woman seemed surprised and asked "Little boy, what are you doing out here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing, not many people out here now a days." Ryan countered

"True." She admitted.

"Name's Ryan."

"My name is Diane McClintock." she said offering him her hand. Ryan took it, careful not to get her white satin gloves dirty.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm going to the Medical pavilion, I've got an appointment with Doctor Steinman." Diane explained.

"Steinman? that's a funny name." Ryan laughed.

"True, it is peculiar, then again, so is he." Diane smiled.

"Can we escort you? The streets aren't exactly safe." Ryan offered, he didn't want the nice lady to get hurt on her way.

"That's very sweet of you, I would like that." Diane said with a radiant smile.

"Alright. Lead the way." Diane went ahead, Ryan and his Rosie trailing a few feet behind her. Diane is really nice, Ryan liked her, she was like a mom. It took five minutes for them to reach the Medical pavilion

"Thank you for escorting me, not many people would go out of the way to help someone these days." Diane said.

"No problem." Ryan said proudly.

"Here, let me give you something." She said reaching for her purse, "It's okay, you don't have to give me anything." he said.

"Please, I insist." She insisted as she gave him two greenish gray colored papers. Taking them Ryan placed them in his pants pocket before saying thank you and leaving. Diane is nice, he hoped to see her again soon.

To Be Continued...