I do not own anything Fallout. I'm just a girl looking for inspiration. However, I do own my character Zelda.

Well hello Fallout Fanfiction readers! It's been a long time since I posted anything and on chance I got into the writing feeling. I wrote this in four long days and I am just exhausted. I know this was supposed to go out Sunday but I think it will justly said that I feel it was worth it to have the extra day to finish this up.

I hope you all like this. Especially since this is a rewritten version of my first version of, Some Folks Laugh. Now I'm going to say that from this chapter on I doubt they I will be writing in 5-6,000 word chapters. So hopefully I don't disappoint you all too much.

Please read and review. I'd really like tips and reviews on what I can improve on. Any grammar fails I missed. Who doesn't? So at this I leave you to read this lengthy first start on our journey. I'm actually satisfied with what I wrote...Thanks.

I'd say this is read best at 3/4 margin. Enjoy!


"Where we are going always reflects where we came from."


/Late February, 2248

At the news of Linda's pregnancy Joseph had talked, walked, and searched far and wide across the geography of Arizona for an experienced doctor. The task was as difficult as it sounded, but Joseph was a determined man with the right amount of caps to succeed. Joseph found Schleiden at the outskirts of a place called Kachina Village; his friend Herbert recommended the man in exchange for enough beer to have his stomach pumped.

Dr. Schleiden was a stout well dressed man. Middle age and balding. He lived modestly. A little extreme. The man had himself heavily guarded by a dozen men in leather with lead at their hips at all times. He was smart though when Joseph thought of it. Hell he and his tribe slaughtered the Red Tats for their medicine man. Talented physicians were equal to Before The War gold. The man was properly paranoid.

Their meeting was odd, with his wife offering sugary bread while five Mercs kept a keen eye on him. And gun. They concluded their business later that day. Dr. Schleiden and the same five Mercs would meet him two-thirds of the way to Flagstaff. Dr. Schleiden would examine his wife and give them a prognosis. He would repeat this six more times, the last nearing the due date where he would be in charge of the birth and care of any complications the baby could have.

He did not see Linda's robotic reactions to his enthusiasm, through his own blind excitement.

/September 7, 2248

Joseph stared amazed at the little bundle in his arms. He stared at its pink flushed skin and then he stared at its tuft of dark hair. He could feel the stupid shit eating grin plastered on his face as he held the slumbering child. He had held this being for only a minute and he already felt protectiveness flow through his body. It was a she, and she was his first-born. She was the beautiful thing that he and his wife had created nine months before, and as he watched her breath he could feel his eyes water.

But then the doctor he had searched far and wide for called him back with urgent news. He immediately worried for his wife. Would fate fuck him over and let his woman die even with the help of an actual doctor? "Your wife is having another baby," Schleiden gasped out to him before running back to where she screamed for the doctor.

He would never had guessed that she would be carrying two babies. Even Dr. Schleiden seemed surprised. Said it had been some time since he delivered a twin birth.

He carried his daughter to Linda's side, gently switching the arm holding her so he could grasp Linda's hand. She looked terrifying. Her hair matted to her forehead with old sweat. Her face was slick with new. He could feel her nails digging into his palms as she screamed unintelligible things at the ceiling.

The minutes ticked by and the harsh sounds of birth gave away at the sound of his second child's shriek for air. Everything around him blurred as he watched the doctor clean it, her he observed, off with priceless medical equipment. Only when the second wrapped bundle weighted his arm did he turn to their mother and handed them off ever so gingerly.

He whispered, "Names?"

Linda panted quickly, "The first is Zelda. After my friend." And then she begged, more morphine.

Joseph thought for a second. "My mother's name was Lenore, so I like that." He murmured.

Afterward, relief in her veins, Linda examined her children as her husband finally gave himself one hand to cry his happiness into.

At the door, only an aged, one-eyed Merc eyeballed the manner in which the woman held her children. Close enough for the two not to squirm but distanced to not feel their warmth.

/Mid Novemer, 2253

Momma looked about the same, hair still pretty through the apparant bed head. The color under her eyes was the only thing that looked any different. She sat at the kitchen table tiredly, sprawled in a wooden chair. Fingers circled a mug of coffee with steam rising out of it.

Zelda's child mind did not sense or see anger so, it decided, now would be a good time to talk about last night.

She entered the eating room quietly. She took short and close steps, but she wore an engulfing night-gown which exaggerated every move she made. The Pajamas were for a youth years older than she was. Daddy said she could grow into them. Inside her mind, she could not comprehend why Daddy thought she would be upset. They gave warmth when she was cold. That was what clothes did and as long as they did their purpose then she reasoned there was no reason to cry or pout.

Oh but now the dress was making her skin itch. Surely Momma will see her coming from across the room and realize who it is. She will jump up and scream and thrash around in anger over the girl who left her bedroom to get the mother who was supposed to give relief, especially when you woke up from nightmares.

By the time she shuffled beside her mother she had made herself frenzied with anxiety and fear over what the woman would do. Her tiny palms and neck were slick with sweat. Her heart pounded in her head. She wished to go outside and sink into the ground like water than face her mother.

Said mentioned woman sighed "What is it Lenore."

Zelda was caught off guard by the comment of her sister. She swerved her head side to side in search of the blonde. The girl was no where in sight. She looked up in bewilderment at Momma's squinting face. "It's me Zelda."

Momma took a sip of her coffee and glanced at her daughter. "Are you sick? You look feverish." She took another long sip. Both hands cradled the cup.

She waited expectantly for Momma to reach out and feel her forehead. The minute that passed felt like an hour before the child quickly murmured no. Her face felt even hotter afterward. She uncertainly grabbed Momma's soft pants. "Was that Daddy's friend?" She blurted out after Momma began looking at her hands questioningly.

The face of her mother displayed many emotions at that moment. The two dominant ones were mild astonishment which quickly morphed into skepticism. She suddenly got up from her chair with new-found energy and glared down at her curious, young daughter. Arms crossed her full breasts and in the next second she was squatting in front of Zelda. She spoke sweetly, grabbing Zelda's tiny shoulders. "Zelda, my darling, mommy thinks it's time to give you a talk."

Linda swooped her daughter in her arms and transversed through the kitchen door. Much to her daughter's surprise, she walked past their bedroom and continued on to her own. The room was the second largest in the house, next to the kitchen, and was sparsely decorated with furniture. The bed wasn't made. The comforter was dark blue and decorated with intricate swirls and lace. Zelda was entranced. When Momma placed her at the head of the bed she curled her toes at the softness. It was beautiful.

Momma sat next to her on the large bed. Two arms slithered around and pulled her into the soft form of Momma. For some reason, she couldn't remember the last time Momma held her this close. So she breathed in her scent; the smell of soap and something sweet. Instinctively her body squirmed closer to the warmth and she wanted to fall asleep right here. She didn't even bother thinking of holding this moment over Lenore's head. She just wanted this to last forever.

"Baby are you listening?" Momma whispered into her hair with the same sickly sweet voice. Zelda realized she did not like that voice. It reminded her of rattlesnakes. Poised and ready to kill. She curled closer, fighting the urge to pull away from the voice.

She stifled through her mother's chest,"Yes momma."

A hand stroked her bangs. "That man last night was mommy's friend, understand?"

The girl scrunched her face in concentration. That was Momma's friend? She hesitated before nodding.

"Now that man is mommy's friend. And mommy has lots of friends." Linda looked at her daughter expectantly. Feeling the motion through her breast she continued. "Mommy has a lot of friends. They like to visit her. But daddy can't know about them, alright?" Linda felt it again. "Daddy can't know of them because they're giving me his present. His surprise. You wouldn't want to have a surprise for you spoiled, would you?"

Actually, Zelda would, but she nodded anyway. Her thoughts wandered to what the present could possibly be. The guesses were interrupted when Momma pulled her face to hers and stared an uncomfortably intense stare. Her hands gripping Zelda's face a little too tightly.

"You can never mention mommy's friends. Ever. Understand?"

She whispered yes, watching her mother let go of her and lean back into the pillows. Mother's eyes turned empty as she stared at the wall and let out an exhausted breath. "Why don't you go play with your sister Zelda, darling. Mommy's feeling a little drained."

Unconsciously it irked her that Momma called her the wrong name. This time she did not correct her. As she was about to exit the bedroom, she turned back, nearly witnessing the crumbling facade of her mother, but her brain too undeveloped yet to understand. "Will you give Lenore the talk too?"

"Of course."

She left. Her five-year old brain swimming with uneasiness. Her body hungering for the maternal affection that from this day be denied from her.

/January 30, 2255

Zelda shifted under the covers. The yelling grew louder and then she woke up.

She sat up to yawn and rub the sleep from her eyes. It was still night. Half asleep, she finally became aware of the yelling outside the door. Looking around, she startled herself when she saw the silhouette of her sister peeking out it. She wiggled free from the entanglement of her covers and clumsily stalked to her sister's side. "What's happening?"

Lenore barely flinched at the sudden appearance of her sister. She glanced at up and hissed, "Daddy's home. He says we have to move and Mom doesn't want to. Hush and listen."

So Zelda did. She crouched next to Lenore and after some shuffling they both eased into a silence only interrupted by the soft whispers of their breathing.

She saw the outline of her father. He faced away from them and spoke in a hushed tone. "Lindy I ain't arguing with you we're takin' the kids and headin' West."

"You wait a goddamn second Jo! You can't just make a decision like that without me!" Mother screeched.

"Calm down Lindy! I have a good reason if ya let me tell you."

"What Jo? What could you know that would be a good reason to move our family to fucking Cali?"

"Lindy I'm askin' ya to lower ya voice one more time cause you're gonna' wake the girls if you keep acting hysterical."

"Hysterical? Hysterical! I'll show you fucking hysterical you ass!"

She heard stomping footsteps followed by Daddy asking where she was going. A door slammed shut so hard it shook their bedroom walls. Lenore looked at her and she nodded. As quietly as possible they slipped out of their room. They crept closer to the sounds of daddy pleading with mom. Then they peeped past the wall corner and saw Daddy. He was begging for Mom to come out, one hand rested on his hip while the other kept knocking. They could hear better at this spot.

"Baby ya gotta listen I ain't just sayin' this for shits n' giggles." He hesitated for what seemed like forever. Daddy sighed and said, "Caesar's makin' the rounds toward Flagstaff."

Zelda thought back for anything she knew on this man, See-ser. Nothing. The door opened and it caught both of them off guard as they ducked behind the wall.

"You're sure? Absolutely sure?" Mom said. She sounded scared.

They peeked again. His eyes were wide and it was from here that Zelda could see the circles under Daddy's eyes."Yup. My boys caught sight of 'em. Two of them escaped. They took the caravans and burned everything. Jack looks like hell."

Mom looked away in thought. When she looked up, she whispered, "How long do we have Jo?"

"I want to leave tomorrow morning. We'd be fine for a while but I won't take any chances."

"We can live in Vegas."

It looked like it surprised Daddy as much as it surprised them when Mom leapt at him suddenly and kissed him, ending any objection he might have had. He gradually lowered his arms around her waist. She having snaked her arms around his neck. Zelda could hear the sounds of their mouths as she and Lenore scurried back to their room. Both were eager to go and sleep after hearing the life changing news.

This, See-ser, Daddy spoke of him not too kindly. Maybe he was a bad guy. She remembered Jack. A gangly, long-limbed man with a square jaw who told really funny jokes. What was hell? And how could someone look like it? Her questions remained unanswered. Struggling to return to soothing dreams.

Eventually she fell asleep to the muffled moans of her parents love-making.

/January 31, 2255

The next morning the Feller family packed everything important that could fit on the backs of two brahmin. The children could not hold their excitement for travel, and their eventual disappointment when they were told to leave many of their things.

Joseph's friends Han and Tammy helped with packing and went with them as Mercs.

Linda made a gigantic fuss over having to leave her treasured bedspread. The family abandoned a home with memories and possessions for the scavengers to pick through.

/?, 2255

Months later, a Legionary Recruit explored the leftovers of a scavenged house for any possible people. Stepping over children's toys he began the tedious search. There was no food in the kitchen. The living room was empty side from a stained, spring spurting couch. He found a girl's dress concealed in the deepest corner of a closet. He smelled it.

Some hours later he was joined by another Recruit looking for news. He only remarked on a pretty comforter that he had found wrapped in plastic, cleverly hidden beneath a loose floorboard.

/August, 2256

Today, Daddy is coming home. Zelda's five-foot frame quivered beneath her bed with excitement. What might he be bringing back today. Food, of course, would be in his pack for them. What else had Mama asked for? They were running low on soap and toothpaste. And when she thought of it Mama needed more spending money for when the Caravans came 'round.

Eyes dilated as the bathroom light across from her turned on. There was one item, actually, that she knew, somehow knew in her mind a guarantee she would find in his pack. One that Mama had not mentioned. It was not the pretty dress that Sister had asked for. It was rectangular in shape. Usually an inch or two thick. The skin that wrapped around it varied with each one. But she particularly liked the leather ones, because they smelled like Daddy's big coat. It would be her early birthday present.

Her thoughts shifted to the figure sitting on the bathroom counter, staring at themself in the mirror. Small hands tightened into to equally small fists. She placed them under her chin in comfort. Lenore looked so stupid when she sat there. She just sat there. For hours some days. What good was it to just stare at oneself as if their mirrored self was going to start grinning and jump out? Lenore wasted her time. That was the kind of person Zelda had decided she was. She was the type of person who'd wake up, go to the bathroom, and stare at her reflection the whole day. No wonder Daddy prefered her over the blonde twin.

She scooted farther into the darkness of her bed's underbelly. Bland green bed sheets hung over the sides of the mattress. She was now completely concealed. She didn't really know why she liked to hide here. Maybe it was because when Mama told them to go to their rooms so she could spend time with her male friends, she felt safe. It also seemed to lessen the noises that came from outside her door during those times. The underneath of her bed was cozy now considering she had snuck the living room quilt beneath her haven.

Over the years, it naturally became the spot where she hid things or she herself was hidden. Several red and blue toy cars and her beige teddy bear lived here in fact. Lenore thought it disgusting to prefer sleeping on the floor, but Zelda usually ignored that cow's opinion. This was her safehouse. This was her playground. This was her substitute for a mother's loving, comforting embrace.

She had her nap under there and Daddy did not come that day.

/September 25, 2256

"Lenore why do you look in the mirror all day?" Zelda muttered quickly.

Zelda fidgeted with the ballet shoe on her bracelet. She had somehow convinced herself to waste precious time that could have been spent exploring as, 'Marine Z on her last mission', to instead and try speaking with her unmanageable sister. The conversation was already beginning terribly.

The other girl turned atop her polished wooden throne to stare down at the lowly peasant. She did not answer and turned back to her looking-glass, knowing full well that the silence would slice deeper than a sarcastic jab. Without a second thought to the girl who wanted friendship, Lenore continued primping.

The orange haired girl left the evil sister Queen. The embarrassment over how hurt she let herself be to her sister's cruel silence was shameful. Her tears muffled, and fell like desert rain.

/June, 2257

Blue eyes startled her.

She had, as usual, snuck off after dinner to go read under her bed. She held the ancient pocket flashlight in one hand. The other held a fantasy novel so big that she had to hold it to her chest so she didn't drop it. To her disappointment, the title was barely legible. The previous owner practically mutilated the poor cover with many sets of deep gashes. The only readable words were, "Pri and agon."

But Daddy was right. While the cover was a mess the inside was a godly white and dark, sharp letters serenaded her. From what he said it was the best book Daddy had ever found. The gift was heavenly.

As the night toiled on her eyes began to strain in their search for each sentence. She was just at the part where the villain was giving the hero the lecture of his life on how he was going to destroy him in a fiery explosion. On chance, she had decided to look up to check her surroundings. That was when the blue eyes appeared.

They immediately terrified Zelda. They were sudden and wild in their appearance, as if pushed to the edge of cliff and thrusted over in a rash decision. They, or rather she realized Lenore, continued their penetrating stare. The pounding in her chest was the only thing that betrayed her surprise.

She quickly whispered, "What!"

Now a curved nose centered itself between the eyes. Before she could think of trying to hide farther back a pair of fair eyebrows and pink lips joined the shadowed illusion of Lenore's face.

"What are you doing big sis?" The parted lips answered.

The flashlight she dropped had rolled a foot away, illuminating the opening in the sheets, and thus also her sister's pale face. Why was she curious? Immediately, she focused her attention on shielding her cranium from any of her sister's mind games. She was on the defensive.

"What's it to you?" Zelda asked carefully. She wondered if sis could see how angry she made her face be in the darkness. She welcomed it.

Lenore huffed. "Obviously I'm curious stupid."

The weather where they lived always felt dry, which in turn made the air really dry. Even in the house, the air was hot and stale from its travel. Now, under her bed both sisters were turning the confined space humid with their uneven breathing. Both felt the zaps of electric assassins, hostility dancing in the air, jump out and stab the other's face.

Zelda pushed the book toward her sister's hands.

"I'm reading. You should try it."

/December, 2258

"Zelda come in here and make the table for your mother."

Said girl ran into the kitchen, she was now ten, and her reddish-blonde hair bobbed up and down in its bun. Mom has yet to stick a syringe in herself. She even has that healthy glow, working around the kitchen with a youthful appearance. Today's good, she thought.

But Zelda knew her mother still viewed them as young children. Unable to put two and two together. She's was wrong though, at least in Zelda's case. It was a matter of time before the empty syringes in the bathroom made sense, with their cheesy label, Med-X. It had taken just a bit longer to decipher what the commercial name meant. Her mother's addiction to Chems was insatiable. Inwardly she cringed and her chest hurt when one of mom' friends came over. It always meant they would go to mom's room and either get high or have sex. And on occasion both. But she played the innocent. A bystander in the play of mother's life. She was ignorant to everything mother and on those times chose to escape outside, in the welcoming desert.

She set the last plate. There were five plates, but they always set four. Since there were four of them, she always wondered why they had the extra one. Maybe if one broke, but she doubted that. A deal on plates? She rested her hand on the edge and scratched it with her short nails, recalling a time when she believed such simple actions had the answers to everything. You just had to look. Ridiculous.

"Done yet my darling?"

"Yes mom."

"Oh goody why don't you be a doll and get your sister?" Mom pointed a spatula at her. "Daddy's comin' home tonight!" She crooned across the room.

She took her time searching, considering that there was only one place her sister could be. She thumbed her overall strap. Zelda had to admit she liked the feel of a dress. Loose and free and she liked the way it twirled when you spun in circles. Pants though, were much more comfortable when you were face first in dirt taking potshots at Molerats, or when you liked to hide on the roof and jump down to scare your sister.

The euphoria at being praised from Daddy was like nothing else, and she specifically remembered the time when they went hunting together for small game to practice on. She killed a gecko and skinned it. He had said that he would make her some gloves. For some reason, she associated pants with that memory.

There Lenore was sitting on the counter. Prodding at her skin for any blemishes that would hinder her appearance. She looked like a ghost compared to Zelda, acknowledging how much time the other girl spent outside, had developed a dark tan like their father.

Zelda could barely contain her excitement. "Dinner. Daddy'll be home too."

The green eyes flickered. "You know he's not coming. I can't believe you still get all excited when Mom announces the news."

She glared at her sister. "If I'd say so myself I'd think you had a problem with Daddy or somethin'." Zelda said.

Lenore twirled off the counter easily. She crossed her arms and stared back. "Not really. The man's a good enough father." She countered, "But I'm a realist big sis. I see patterns and I analyze. I call back the facts and you know what? Dad has never arrived when Mom said he would. I'd say myself that I'm good at judgin' character. The man comes and goes based on his own whims. Grow up and pay attention." With that, the blonde left her to her own stunned silence.

She watched her sister tread down the hall like some pre-war ballerina. Maybe she wasn't giving Lenore enough credit. Lenore obviously was much more aware than she let off. And that, for some reason or another, scared her.

They waited hours for man of the day to make himself known. Mom gave up and told them to eat the long gone cold meal of maize and Molerat steak. The maize was dry. The meat rubbery.

Mom would dismiss herself to meet some friends. She came home some time later. Falling halfway to her room where she fell asleep in the hall. There she dreamed of her body slick with sweat, her husband atop her with that half-grin of his nuzzled into her neck.

Lenore had her bath. She brushed her hair and once she curled in bed she held her hands together and prayed. To a being with no name, that she had only heard of from the dieing.

The disappointment of her father not appearing hurt, but Zelda also knew that he went really far and wide to sell his merchandise, so she had already prepared her mental fortitude for such a setback. Eventually she had settled on the metal sheet roof of their home. Coyotes howling into the night and the buzz of Bloatflies kept her dormant between awake and sleep. Yawning had nearly drifted her into a coma of better times and innocence, but Lenore's words clouded her thoughts.

This whole time, someone else was even more aware than she was.

/July 2262

Big leathery arms strangled the breath out of her. She in turn hugged tighter, rubbing her face into Daddy's chest. He smelled like sweat and cigarettes and she loved it. After a minute he let go and she struggled not to pout.

"Shut the door for me baby."

"Kay."

She did as she was told, shutting the door and deciding of her own that it would be a good idea to place the wood slab over as an extra measure of precaution.

"All of ya sit."

Daddy was tieing the bonds of the three people to the water pipe when the one of the girls refused to sit. She had brown hair and was the shortest of the three. Her face though was strong and she bore fiery, brown eyes at Daddy like knives. He was less than impressed. "I said sit girl."

She stared unwavering and solid. Zelda watched with interest as the minutes ticked by. After the air was thick with silence the girl's stance finally shook and she attempted to lunge at Zelda's father screaming, "Fuck you." Over and over.

Her Dad just chuckled to himself and instead of getting closer to the restrained animal he pulled out a device the size of a large deck of cards. Zelda already knew what this thing was. And for second, she almost felt bad for the girl who might have been her age. She should have just sit. With a flick of his thumb Daddy found the right button. He pressed it after tsking to himself and the girl fell screaming.

She convulsed on the ground as if having a seizure. Her hands pulling at the collar that controlled by one simple button was killing her. The man and woman next to her held each other as they were trying their hardest to further themself away from the one who spoke their thoughts. During this, Lenore walked in. She noted that her father was home and she gave him a hug. Then she left to get mother.

The pressure on the button lifted. The girl squirmed on the ground as the last of the convulsions ended. She panted and curled on her side, clutching her stomach in defeat.

"Now Nadena that's much better. See Zelda, this is how you treat defiance." Daddy stared at her seriously and pointed at the girl on the ground, "You remember this. You got family, my little Z, but other than them, you have nobody in this world. So you gotta make a living. Get your name out there."

He put the remote back in his coat pocket and sat on Mom's velvet red couch. He motioned for her to sit with him. She did. He cradled her to his chest and kissed her forehead. "I love you girly."

"I love you too Daddy."

"Remember the little things I teach you. Your Dad knows his stuff. The world out there," At this he motioned to the front door. "It's a shitty, shitty place. I don't mean to scare you though. I'm just trying to prepare you for the world outside our comely little shack. Alright girly?"

"Yup."

He rubbed her arm. "Trust no one. If you ever do anything do it for your self, ok? 'Cause that's how the world works. Everybody's out for themself and there's a saying that goes, If you can't beat 'em join 'em. So you might as well be on the winning team." He pinched her nose, which made her smile. "Who's the winning team?"

"Myself."

They both smiled at her answer. That was when Linda waltzed in to hug her husband, who got up to meet her halfway. They kissed as their teens exchanged mutual looks.

Zelda woke up. Her eyes were still closed though she could definitely tell something was different. Slowly she opened them, the darkness leaving her question unanswered. Why was she awake? She wiggled on her side to glance at Lenore in the bed next to her. She was sleeping soundly. As she lay in bed an unsettling feeling spiraled from her feet to the bottom of her stomach, where it rose to the tips of her neck and stayed. She felt uneasy.

She got up as the feeling made her spine shiver. Her feet swung themselves over the edge and she stood up. Take a few breaths. Calm down. Better get a glass of water and go back to bed. Zelda yawned and walked to the kitchen. The living room was the same. The two slaves slept huddled together. She grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with sink water. It tasted weird. Licking her lips she filled another glass and drank that one too. Then she filled the cup a third time and shuffled back to her room.

Glass rested on the night stand. Her body huddled into the warmth of covers and pillows. Minutes ticked by and something was wrong. She couldn't fall asleep and something in particular nagged her. She thought back and then it hit her.

Zelda nearly slid on the tile when she jumped out of bed. Her feet skidded and lead her to the living room. One. Two? Where was the other girl? Only one place, if they had not escaped, centered itself in her thoughts. Her body begged to run but she held her spot. Slowly she tiptoed down the hall. As she got closer to her parent's room, she could hear the soft exhales of them sleeping. But there was one set of breathing that was different from the others. Raspy and quick.

She had found Daddy's escaped slave.

She took a quick gulp of air, blowing it out gently. The slave girl stood rigidly, unmoving over Dad's side of the bed. It creeped Zelda out until she saw the knife grasped tightly in Nadena's hand. For a moment her mind went blank with the images of her parent's mutilated corpses. Until she saw Daddy's coat bent over the desk chair. It was on Daddy's side of the bed, right next to Nadena.

But inside the chest pocket of that coat was a device the exact size of a large deck of cards.

How was she going to get it? Only one plan seemed possible. She bit her lip and clung to the wall behind Nadena. Her feet were ghosts beneath her, edging closer and closer to the coat. She was within hands reach when Daddy sneezed and both the mouse and the cat jumped. Nadena went in for the kill.

Zelda sprang from her spot against the wall and grabbed the slave girl's hand. She could see the surprise and fear as their eyes met. That was the first time she would see the eye's of hate. Unbridled fury that turned to murder. And she was not Nadena.

She sucker punched the slave as hard as she could, causing her to fall, and struggled with the coat for the device. Her hand tore it from the pocket and pressed a button. Nothing happened. The other girl, having recovered, tripped Zelda with the back of her foot. Zelda tumbled beside her.

Almost immediately she looked for the knife, but it was missing from the slave's fisted hands. One of them made contact with her nose. The crunching noise frightened her more than the real pain. She struggled to breath. Every button was pushed. Still nothing happened. A moment before she was tired and anxious. Now her body granted sweet adrenaline.

She never got to use it though. Daddy seemed to appear out of no where. Pounding the girl's face in while she cursed and wailed in pain. Zelda didn't look away. Watched as a creature she had never seen her father be before became him at that moment. Fully and completely he beat the girl to death. It was only when her face smeared his hands and the tile did Daddy stop.

He gasped. Asking, "Girly you ok?"

"She tried to kill you and mom." Zelda muttered.

"Baby I asked if you're ok."

"I'm fine. My nose hurts."

He felt her face. "It's broken." His fingers smeared the girl on her.

"Why didn't the remote worked?" The question was killing her.

He deadpanned at this before saying oh and replying, "There's a side switch you press to turn the remote off. The collars still work. You do it so your pocket don't accidentally set off the buttons."

How dumb she was. That one piece of knowledge could have decided whether she died or not. Zelda held her face and sighed, ready to just tip over and cry. She remembered the girl was different. "That's not the one you punished earlier."

"Always be aware of the background characters in a play Zelda. They're the ones who get the best parts." He paused and looked at her, his eyes still wild with blood lust. Sweat dribbling from his temple. "This was just a small role in the big world out there. You still sure you want to leave in a few years?"

"Yeah Daddy."

"What in the fuck happened here Jo!" Mom finally woke up from her drug induced rest.


Were the Dates alright to begin these events with?