I lay on the grass, staring up at the perfect, bluest sky. It's the only place I can come and feel peaceful. The only place where no one watches every move I make. Here, out in the fields. I brush my hands over the blades of fresh grass, and smile as I inhale the smell of it. I come here almost all the time, when I can't stand the town anymore.

That town. They're insane. I've spend a goddamned week here, and I'm ready to go insane. If it wasn't for these fields, and the flowers that bloom here, and the amazing sense of peacefulness it offers, I'd have left forever ago. The people of this town…they don't ever believe a war happened. They say it's fiction, made up by the 'outsiders' to scare everyone. They told me that God did this to the earth for our sins. I play along with their nonsense, because I've noticed things.

When no one is looking, I often sneak into Tucker's office and swipe a book or two. A few pages into the first one I snatched, I realized they were history books. Recorded from as far back as a hundred years. Apparently, this town is old, really old. Which means it's inbred, and after hearing about the inbred people of Andale in the Capital Wasteland, I know they're not to be trusted. The town was founded by Tucker's family, he doubles as the Mayor. They took a bunch of religious freaks and rebuilt this place from the ground up. Since then it's been here, nestled between the hills of whatever area I'm in.

At first, I figured it was okay. I mean, stress like the war makes people act in different ways. I thought this was a security blanket, like one would do to a child. Shelter them from the dangers of the world and whatnot. But then I read further into the town's history. People…mysteriously disappear. Outsiders would often find this place, just like Jack and I had, and they would live here for a time. Only, they'd disappear. I read that one person, Annabelle, started asking questions. Questions that made the townsfolk uneasy. She soon died of 'natural causes'. After reading that, I felt my stomach knot up.

She wasn't the only one to ask questions, then mysteriously die, either. There's a bunch of people on record for it. What really happened to them, I have yet to find out. I just know, asking questions is not a good idea. For the town's sake, it is a nice place to live, if you can get past the creepiness of it all. I should warn Jack not to ask questions, but getting him alone…that's the hard part. Boys and girls who aren't married aren't allowed unsupervised. It's strange, and I don't like it, but I deal with it.

Just like I deal with the things I have to do. The girls have been training me on how to be a 'good wife'. Which, I mean I don't mind because it's fun and I learnt how to cook, but I mean it's just odd. They dressed me up in this pre-war garb, and even make me do my hair and clean my face. Hell, I even have to wear makeup. It's not so bad, though, to see how pretty I can be, but my feet hurt from the heels. I take them off whenever I come to the fields. I sit here, watching the clouds, reading. It's relaxing, peaceful. I'd really like to come out at night, but the town has a curfew. I don't know what happens if you break the curfew, but I sure as hell don't want to find out.

My gun is kept in my room, but I took all the bullets out of it. I'm smart, I know. I stashed the bullets inside my mattress once I learnt how to sew. They're kept in a small bag, tucked away right under my pillow, in case I need to cut it open for some reason. I'm very cautious around here, careful, cautious, and always thinking.

"Hi."

I hear a soft, familiar voice coo. Looking behind me, I notice one of the girls I live with, Susie, coming towards me. Susie is nice, with thick, long dark hair. Her and I have become kind of close. I sense sometimes she has the same questions and fears as I do, but won't express them. Every once in a while, when she talks, I feel like it's code for something. She comes and sits beside me in the grass just as a soft breeze passes through me.

"Hey."

I haven't really adapted to the ladylike slang everyone else here seems to have.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

I shrug, and light a cigarette. Surprisingly, a lot of the women here smoke. I guess they have to allow some comforts.

"Thinking. I come here to relax, to think."

Susie takes off her shoes, and runs her fingers through her thick bangs.

"You always come here. I see you sneaking off."

I smile at her, leaning back on my palms.

"Yeah well, it's the only place I find I can really relax in."

Susie looks at me, a spark in her eye and a smirk on her red lips.

"You know, Dez, some of the men in town have been talking about asking for your hand in marriage."

I burst out laughing. Shaking my head, I look at her as I inhale smoke.

"No. No way. I'm not the marrying type."

"What? But you have to marry! It's like…a sin not to."

"Naw. Not me. I don't…really like anyone here."

I look away, a bit saddened. My mind wanders to thoughts and memories of Charon. When I come here to think, it's usually about him. I thought by now…he'd have shown up. Susie nudges me with her elbow to get my attention back, and I look at her.

"You like someone else, don't you?"

"Huh?"

"Come on, Dez. We all know you come from the outside. So is there some outside boy? You waiting for him?"

I smirk, letting out a slight chuckle. She's right, in a certain way, I guess.

"Well…I mean…kind of."

Susie squeals, and begs me to spill the beans. Somehow I think I trust her enough to. I start to tell her about Charon. Just him, really, nothing of the events or the actions. I tell her how he made me feel, how I care about him, how he said he loved me and I was expecting him to come find me. I don't tell her, though, that he's a ghoul. I am very careful to leave that, and anything else to do with the world outside, alone.

"I'm sure he'll come for you."

Susie is optimistic, a bit too much for my liking, but hell each to their own. I shrug, stubbing out my third cigarette, and look up at the setting sun.

"Yeah, maybe. I mean, it's been a while."

"But you should still consider the other men in town. It's sweet you want to wait but…"

Susie's voice trails off, as she stares out into the distance. I follow her gaze, she looks at nothing. This place…this place is creepy, dangerous and spooky all at once. It keeps me up at night and I watch everything I say and every movement I make but…but it's beautiful. Out here, away from the town and everyone, in this field of green, green grass, I've never felt more at ease. The sun rises over the grassy knolls, and sets on the far side of town. It's beautiful, and I'd put up with anything in the world to just sit here forever. No threats, abundant food, warm sun, perfect. I swear I can hear a stream off in the distance, but I don't try to investigate. There's too many people watching me, and they'd think I was trying to leave. I don't want to think about what happens, to the people who try to leave this place.

"Are you hungry, Dez?"

Susie's voice causes me to look at her. Brushing a loose strand of hair out of my face, I inhale on my cigarette. Eventually, I know, I'm going to snap on these people. Although more mature, I am still Dezbe.

"What? No, no not hungry."

"You haven't eaten all day. Come on I'll show you how to bake a cake."

Susie stands, and offers me her hand. I don't do girlie things like prance merrily hand-in-hand into the kitchen. I'm a gun-toting maniac, not a baker of any sorts.

"Uh, no I'd rather stay here, thanks."

"Come on, you're going to need to learn before you get married."

"What happens if you don't marry here, anyways?"

Susie gets quiet. Her hand drops and she looks down at her feet.

"…You have until twenty-seven to marry…"

"And then…?"

"Reverend Tucker takes you in for a 'talk', but…you never come out."

A bolt of fear strikes through me for a quick instant. Never come out? Does that mean he kills them or…or banishes them? Hell I dare him to banish me. I'll come back here with a goddamned Fat Boy and really show him what post-apocalyptic looks like. I glance up at Susie, tears trail down her face.

"What you cryin' for?"

I ask, maybe a bit too harsh.

"They took my best friend three weeks ago…I didn't…get to say goodbye."

It doesn't bother me, as she cries. I've seen enough in my own life to know that you can't waste time on…on other people. Standing up, I nudge her with my elbow.

"Stop blubbering. I have some things to do in town, lets go."

Susie doesn't argue, but she follows me. We walk across the field, heading towards town. What business do I have? Business with Reverend Tucker. I plan on…shit I can't. I can't ask questions. Not yet, no. But maybe…just maybe…Jack knows some things I don't. If I can only get him alone…

We get back into town, and instantly I start seeking out Jack. He isn't too hard to find, he's where all the guys usually are, at the pub. I walk in, smoke hitting me, the smell of cheap liquor hitting me harder. I kind of fumble in the heels I have to wear, not my first choice in footwear.

Walking over to Jack, I tug on his arm. He looks down at me, a bit surprised.

"Dez? What are you doing in here?"

"I need to talk to you."

All eyes fall on me. Like I'm some sort of…well I don't know what but I don't like it. Jack looks around the bar nervously, and then nods. He slides off of his barstool, and I lead him through the doors. We're not supposed to be alone together, but fuck that. I have questions that I need answers to. Jack follows me past the town center, past the house I stay at, towards the outskirts of town where we first entered. I pull him behind a large tree, and cross my arms.

"Dez we could get in a lot of trouble for meeting like this…"

Jack tells me, glancing through some leaves and branches that cover us.

"Fuck that. Listen, do you have any idea what goes on here?"

To my surprise, Jack nods. He slowly looks at me, his face weighed down with regret, I think.

"You have to marry me, or someone Dez, or they'll…"

"What? Make me disappear? I dare them to try."

"Dez, you're forgetting you have no weapon. I'll be the first to admit, you're one dangerous being with a weapon, but here…Dez here you're just defenseless, just like me."

I cross my arms. If I'm anything, it's not 'defenseless'.

"Again, fuck that. I'm just as good without a weapon as I am with one. You, you've always been a pussy."

Jack stifles a laugh, and looks nervously through the leaves again.

"All play aside, Dezbe, you're outnumbered. Hell we're outnumbered."

"Numbers mean nothing."

"Are you seriously thinking of trying to escape? Dez they'll kill you."

"No. I'm banking on something else. I give it another week and if nothing, I still have my gun, and bullets. If anything I can get a few of 'em before going down."

"Dez, just play along. Marry someone, be happy, bake for fucks sake! Hell I don't care but don't be stupid."

I smirk at Jack, glaring at the town through the leaves.

"You don't know me very well, Jack. I don't 'play along' with anything I don't like."

"This time you have to. And wait a minute, what are you banking on?"

"Charon."

Jack's jaw drops and he slaps himself in the forehead.

"Dez…you didn't…you told him where we were going, didn't you? Oh why'd you do that, Dez?"

"I didn't."

"Oh thank god…I was thinking he'd know where to find you."

"I didn't tell him anything. I left him a map. He should have been here by now, but I'm thinking certain elements probably got in the way of him coming."

"You're shitting me."

I look at Jack stupidly. What? Why is he acting so surprised?

"What?"

I ask him, a bit defensive.

"Dez I thought you were over him…"

"What?"

"I thought…look Dez forget it, he's not coming."

Jack steps towards me, but I step back.

"No, tell me."

I demand, now curious.

"I just…thought you'd finally gotten over him…"

"…There's no easy answer to that, you know."

"I thought you and I could…"

I sigh. People aren't supposed to like me. This is one of the main reasons I had to get out of New Vegas. People started to like me, hell even love me. I can't deal with that. In my mind, there always has been, and for right now always will be, Charon.

"Jack, stop. Right now we need to make a plan…figure out how to get out of here and…"

"Shut up!"

He yells. It makes me jump a bit. To be honest I've never seen Jack mad, let alone yell. He grabs my wrist, and pulls me close to him.

"Goddamn you, Dezbe."

Without another word, he drags me from the trees and back to the town.

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

I yell, tugging at him. Jack ignores me, and everyone stares. It just makes me angrier, madder, I hate people staring.

"Jack stop it!"

I finally pull myself free of his grip, but not before Reverend Tucker comes out of the pub. He walks over to Jack and I, all business.

"What's going on here? Is there reason for your hands on an unmarried woman?"

Jack looks back at me as I rub my wrist. I see the anger in his eyes, the vengeance.

"She tried to escape."

"What? No I didn't! No fucking way!"

I yell, stomping my foot. Reverend Tucker, however, ignores me. He turns to Jack, seemingly concerned.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. I caught her. She tried to get me to go with her."

Tucker shakes his head in disapproval.

"I always knew letting outsiders in was a mistake…women especially. They often have rebellious minds. Dez, come with me."

"What? Hell no!"

He grabs my upper arm, and Jack grabs my other.

"Let me go!"

I yell, kicking, screaming, thrashing around as they drag me. I even play dead-weight, but it doesn't work. Jack and Tucker drag me inside the pub and all the men stare at me. Some of them have knowing smirks, and some are nodding in approval. A select few seem…saddened by it. I let my heels drag behind me as they take me to a room behind the bar. Inside the room is another, smaller room with bars. A cell. A fucking literal cell.

"In you go, Dez."

Tucker says, as he and Jack hoist me inside. Not without a fight I don't. As they lift me up, I start to kick, snarl, scream, thrash in any way possible. It's no help, they get me inside, and shut the barred door behind me. Hell at least I can say I tried, right? I turn and grab the bars, they're cold, the room smells of decay and rot. The walls are gray, concrete, with no windows. A dingy mat on the floor substitutes as a bed.

"What the fuck?"

I yell, trying to shake the door. It doesn't budge. Tucker nods at Jack, and he leaves. Leaving me alone with Tucker.

"You'll await in here until your trial."

"Trial? What fucking trial? I didn't do anything!"

Tucker shakes his head in front of me, pacing.

"Escape is a very serious crime here, Dezbe. We don't take it lightly."

"I didn't try to escape!"

"Jack says you did, and that's all the evidence I need. I knew you were bad news the second you stumbled in here. It was just a matter of time before you…well, before you acted up. Enjoy your stay, trial dates are known to be slow."

He ignores me screams as he walks out. I scream still, even after the door is shut. I yell and hit the hard walls, trying to annoy the hell out of everyone in the bar. Eventually, though, my voice goes hoarse, and I quiet down. I can't believe it. This situation, this place. Granted I've gotten myself out of worse, much worse, but the fear is still there. The fear of not knowing if I'll get out, if I'll die here, or if anyone will bother to even feed me.

Shaking my head, I keep my thoughts level. I have to stay calm, if I want any chance of escape. Looking at the lock on the door, I smile. It's simple, easy, I could pick it in a second. But…I have no bobby pins. Looking around the room, I find I don't even have a small rock to use as a slight weapon. All I have is the mat, and that doesn't look like it'll do much good.

"Well fuck me…"

I grumble as I sit down in the car corner, furthest from the door. This was supposed to be a trip of fun and freedom, not this. Not getting caught up in a cult town, and then tossed into a cell. I don't even have a radio to keep my mind busy. There's no signal out here, nothing, no music or anything. Sighing, I press my head against the wall. All I have to bank on now, is Charon.

Charon. Yeah. Like he'd ever fucking leave Lily's side. I actually need him right now, which is the ironic twist to it. The one real time I need him, I bet you ten bucks he's not going to show. And even if he does, they'll lie to him. If they don't kill him on sight, that is. I doubt anyone here has ever heard of a ghoul, let alone seen one. Shit. I guess just hoping he'll come won't be so bad. But then when he doesn't and in time I'm taken to trial, I'll feel pretty abandoned. I'll have to sit here, then, and use this free time as my advantage. I'll have to…make a plan, to get out. To do something to get out. If only…I had…something.