A/N: So this is a fallout story made completely from my imagination. I feel like Reighlee is very much a Mary-sue of sorts right now, but give her time, she's just been introduced into the wasteland and I know what I want her to be, I just haven't defined her yet. I appreciate any feedback from you lovely readers and would love to hear how you like or didn't like the story, I hope to make it a full story and I have so much planned for this one chapter and more planned for the story later on. I do not own fallout or any of the things mentioned in the story other than my completely made up characters. Reviews help me out so much! Thank you for your time! ^w^

One week prior.

"Reighlee! Stop!" My Mother Constance yelled grabbing my shoulder roughly, and pulling me up from the scene before me. I stared completely amazed at my own work, had I actually done this myself? Tears welled up in my eyes blocking my vision from what I was seeing, I never wanted this. "Reighlee, we need to do something about this... Quickly!"

Current

"I want you to tell me everything you recall from that night Reighlee." The voice came from a man named Trent, he was the overseer of the Vault, and an old friend of mine from school. Our old overseer had been killed a year ago while sleeping. Many people were accused, due to their history with the overseer, my Father being one of them. Trent had gotten an overseers score on the G.O.A.T exam, and was immediately considered for the position, landing him as the youngest overseer in our Vault at the age of eighteen.

"We've been talking for days Trent, I've tried remembering everything, and all I remember was waking up to my Father on the floor, with his blood on my hands." I said with my head in my hands. He just wasn't listening, no matter how many times I told him the same story.

"I think you know more than you're telling me! Look, Reighlee... I know it's hard, and I know what it's like to lose someone close to you bu-."

"Close to me?! That bastard had it coming, whether it was me or not, it's better that he's gone now." I sat back staring at him with a warning glare.

He was extremely surprised by what I had told him, seeing as he sat back as well.

"Reigh... You know what has to happen, unless you can convince the Vault to side with you, which with everyone having seen you right after the incident, is going to be hard."

"Trent... You don't understand, my mom needs me. She's sick, and I have to be here for her."

"I'm sorry, but rules are rules."

I couldn't believe this, the whole situation was like a huge pill I had to swallow. Nineteen years old, and I was already losing my life for killing my Father, out of self-defense for my Mother. I had to think of something, there had to be some way I could convince Trent to pass this one incident up. I felt tears welling up in my eyes just thinking of leaving my Mother alone in these cold walls when they executed me.

"Trent... Look in the rule book, there has to be another way to handle the situation, there always is..." A pause followed as I studied his face carefully. Trent was a red head, jock-type, intelligent, man. Although, for what intelligence he did have, he lacked common sense. He stared me in the eyes for what seemed like ages, I suspect it was only a few minutes however. Finally, he opened the drawer of his desk pulling out what looked like an instruction manual, it was blue and had the vault-tec symbol on the front. Trent scanned through the pages of the manual, keeping an intent watch on both me, and the book.

"Alright, page 301, section 3, paragraph 4. If an incident occurs in the Vault, and you are forced to take action, the person at fault will have a choice be executed, or the choice to be thrown into the wasteland and left to fend for themselves as punishment from the overseer. Note: All overseers retain the right to choose for said person, if no choice is made at least two weeks after the incident has occurred, or if the Vault as a whole votes the person a threat. Well there's your second choice Reigh... You have a week to choose, but if everyone votes you for execution, you may not get that choice, so I'd choose now." He gave me a dull stare.

I relaxed my back, astonished not only that my begging had worked, but that so many people had been dying because the old overseer hadn't been giving them the choice of possible life or certain death. I didn't even have to think about, I already knew my answer, besides, I could always return after everyone forgot about the incident.

"Oh, before you choose though, it says here, that once you leave you can never return, as you have been banished until the end of your days." He said turning the book around so I could see the paragraph he mentioned.

My jaw dropped. Never returning? That means I could never see my Mother again, not only would I be alone for the rest of my days, but I wouldn't be here to protect her. I mean there wasn't even a guarantee that there were people out there, the world could be completely dead, and I'd be one of them. I stared at Trent, searching for any type of emotion, there was nothing there; his lack of emotion made him a good overseer. I lowered my head, I had the option of possible death, or certain death.

"The choice is obvious, Trent. But I want you to promise, that either choice I make, I get to tell my Mother good-bye."

"You get ten minutes to gather anything you need, and say your good-byes." he said almost carelessly. "Ten, Reighlee."

I nodded, then stood up from my chair. I had ten minutes to get ready for my new life, then I'd meet Trent at the Vault door, and leave forever. I turned from the desk, hanging my head low, I never expected any of this to take place. I walked to the door, and into the hallway heading for my Mothers dorm room, I needed as much time as I could manage to spend with her.

The hallways of the Vault had always been the same, white, dull, cold, and lifeless walls. Every room had a window showing into experiment rooms, and some into dorm rooms. There was nobody in the hallways, so I took the opportunity to think to myself about everything that was about to change in my life. Tears fell from my eyes as I neared the room my Mother was waiting for me in, the second I walked through the door, she was at my side hugging me.

"What did Trent say? Is he calling off the trial? Does he know you did it?" She paused after the last question slapping her hand over her mouth.

"No... Mom, the trial has been called off..." She breathed a sigh of relief, but I couldn't let her get her hopes up like that. "Under one circumstance though. I... I have to leave the Vault, for the rest of my life."

Her face froze, almost like she had just caught news that the Vault was destined to blow up before her very eyes. She said nothing for a while, and finally took a breath, my time was running out.

"Oh... So then... What do you need me to do before you leave?" She was trying to be helpful, I could see that clearly, but she couldn't hide the tears in her eyes.

"Just some survival things, like a bag, water, maybe some food, a weapon." I named off simple things that we had in our room alone.

She nodded before getting up and gathering the first few things on my list throwing them into my bag, a gallon of water, dandy boy apples, and some cram. She handed me the small backpack with the things in it, before going to her drawer, and pulling out a .44 pistol.

"I always meant to use it on your Father if he got too rough, but you fixed that for me. It will get you a few miles off, go North, look for a town named Sycamore Springs... Someday I'll tell you about my past, for now I'll tell you that I have friends there, just mention my name, they'll help you..." She handed me the gun.

I couldn't believe this, my Mother had been outside the Vault before? That would explain perfectly well why I wasn't even close to being as smart as the other kids in the Vault, I was meant to be outside. I didn't ask questions, I only hugged her, embracing the last few moments I had left with her before Trent came around knocking on our door. I faced my fate now, and walked to the door putting the gun in my bag.

"Mom... Don't take shit from anyone... Or else I will comeback, even if I have to dig my way back in."

Trent pulled me out of the room, leaving my Mother to cry alone. I had to remember Sycamore Springs, I would be able to survive if I could find it. We walked down the hall in silence, not even looking at each other until we were at the Vault door. Trent turned to me and gave me a nod, regardless of our past, he was still overseer, and could show no special treatment or emotion. I noticed people gathering around the door to stare at me leaving, obviously they had never seen the doors open.

"Be careful, Reighlee." he whispered loud enough for only me to hear him.

I gave a slight nod in his direction before he turned the key, and pressed the button. There was a loud buzz, which was accompanied by the screeching of the steel door. I turned to see the door moving to the side, and with a deep breath, I walked outside Vault hearing the door immediately closing. With a loud crash, it sealed shut, that was it, I was officially alone. My heart raced as the sudden Adrenalin rush kicked in, I could see light outside a door that was near me. A wooden door would lead me to the new land I lived in, and whether or not it was good, was completely unknown to me. I pulled up my pip boy checking the compass on it, I needed to head North, that was my sure survival.