Finally, its been too long since I've been able to sit down and write this. I'm so very sorry I haven't been writing. But university applications, coursework and exams have taken up my life for the last few months. But it's time to start again.

The bathysphere halted abruptly as it reached Rapture. It was dark in the welcome area outside. Something was sparking in the distance, but she couldn't see through the grubby porthole of the little sea-craft. Gwendoline placed her fragile hands on the door and managed to push it open with a sickly creaking sound.

What she saw chilled her. Everything was in ruins. She had expected things to be run-down after the Civil War… but she had never imagined this. A leak no one had fixed was creating a large puddle in the corner, and the floor was littered with broken statues, bent bronze, rusting metal. And corpses.

She picked her way over the debris, and stopped by one of the corpses, bending down to study it with admittedly childish and morbid curiosity. It was hideously deformed to the point she couldn't even tell if it was male or female. It was covered in boils, and large, undulating sores… one of its hands was almost moulded around the rolling pin it held. She recoiled, shivering in disgust, and hurried on, suddenly missing her fur coat.

Without it, it was clear to see how little she had changed. She was a little bit taller, but still quite gangly. She hadn't really grown much in the chest department, much to her own ire. She'd wanted to be more the woman she felt Gamma deserved when she came back for him. She looked gaunt, tired, almost sickly. Leaving Gamma had turned her into a wreck. Education had been her only preoccupation during that time, as Mary-Lou, and her friends grew up and got married. Mary-Lou was now 22 and already had three children. Gwendoline hadn't gained any children, instead she gained a title: Doctor. Dr Gwendoline A. Hazelmere, PhD. And what had it brought her? All that work, for two letters in front of her name and three after it?

She scrambled over a fallen statue; an angel, her wings bent and rusted from neglect. She was nearing the Metro Station now. She squinted her dove-grey eyes at the grubby map in a corner. She was close to Siren Alley, according to this. Two realizations suddenly dawned on her. One was that she hadn't seen a single living thing since she'd arrived… and second that now she was here, she had no idea how she was going to find Gamma!

She knew he was alive. She could tell that much. Their bond had been strained… but hadn't broken. It was weak, faint… and dwindling. She had to find him. She'd lose him forever if she didn't…

'Gwendoline!'

She looked up, startled. No one was around. As far as she could tell, the station was deserted. Even the trams weren't working. But she swore she heard a voice. It wasn't Gamma, she'd never be able to forget his voice, but… it had sounded female. Like a young woman.

'Go…. Plaza Hedone…'

There it was again. It was definitely a girl's voice. It was like she was hearing it in her mind, like how Gamma spoke to her. She looked around at the run-down station. It looked like she'd be able to reach it on foot from here.

She cursed her poor choice of footwear as she headed down towards the Plaza, keeping herself hidden from view. She still hadn't seen anybody, but if something could cause the level of damage she'd seen in the station, she was pretty sure she didn't want to meet it.

The state of Siren Alley shocked her even more than the state of the welcome centre. She'd remembered the area, it had been one of the nicest areas in the whole of Rapture for the arts… she remembered taking Mary-Lou to an art show in the Little Eden Plaza once, going with Gamma for a walk… being held in his arms. She bit her lip, and carried on.

She didn't know what she was bothering to follow this voice. Was it some kind of trick? But it could be a potential ally, at the same time. She felt like she was being guided now. Like something… someone was sending her messages, directly to her subconscious..

She entered Plaza Hedone as if she knew exactly where she was going. She headed towards the orphanage… and broke into a run, pushing the doors open. She was now in the backseat of her own mind, being led by someone else.

She was flung back into her conscious as she entered a room lined with beds, collapsing, paint peeling like dead skin. Heaps of broken toys, half-open chests… A jar of fireflies sat on a desk in a corner, along with a piece of paper.

Cautiously, Gwendoline crept forwards, not daring herself to disturb the aged place. She picked up the paper. It was a picture of a poorly-drawn woman in a blue dress with short brown hair, holding hands with a big… thing in a diving suit. A girl and a Big Daddy. Her and Gamma. There were little love hearts drawn around them in red crayon. Her eyes narrowed. No one had known about her and Gamma besides Robbie…

'Gwendoline? Is that you?' The girl's voice again. 'Can you hear me?'

"Y…yes. Yes, who are you? Where are you?'

' I'm… quite far away. My name is Eleanor Lamb. I… I'm like you. My father is trying to find me, like you're trying to find Gamma.'

"You're a little sister, aren't you? Is that how you can talk to me?"

'That's right. Gwendoline, if you want to find Gamma, you have to hurry. He's been away from you for too long. You… might not be able to re-establish a connection if you don't find him in time… So we want to help you.'

"…We?"

There was a shuffling sound in the room. Gwendoline spun around hurriedly, and found herself looking down at a grubby little girl, with sickly skin, and a tattered yellow dress. She was pulling a little wagon with faded red paint covering it.

'You're… one of us Gwendoline. And we have to look after each other. I… only ask one thing in return. If you see my father, Delta, please help him to find me, before it's too late.'

The Little Sister giggled at her and pointed at the wagon, which was covered by a child's blanket.

"Please find daddy soon! He's really sad without you!" She said. Gwendoline stared down at the little girl, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She was so close… so very close.

'Gwendoline, you need to use the gift the Sister delivered to you to contact a man named 'Sinclair'. He can help you find Gamma.'

"Right. Thank you Eleanor… If I see your Father… I…I'll… help him as much as I can…"

No reply. The Little Sister reached up to her, giggling. Gwendoline hesitated, unsure as to what she should do… but reached down to pick the girl up, smiling, an oddly gentle expression on her face.

A piercing sound shattered the air around them. A lean, gangly shape darted into the room, and grabbed the little girl, pointing a needled gauntlet towards Gwendoline.