The Wasteland Life Guide

Chapter Three: I'm Getting There

I stood in my room, gazing at the clock on the wall intently. It read five to seven, soon I would have to meet Jericho at the entrance of Megaton and set foot for Rivet City. Although he was a bit silly, I didn't think he would give up the chance to shoot something. Even though he would join me, I didn't neglect to take my 10mm Silenced Pistol with me. The revolver could stay here, as I didn't really want to overuse it and damage its condition any further after that Silver incident. Not wanting to keep Jericho waiting, I grabbed a packet of cigarettes, my notepad and Jericho's Zippo lighter and headed towards Megaton's gates. Much to my dismay, he kept me waiting! I must have stood there for at least 15 minutes before he bumbled up the hill, out of breath and red in the face. I cast a look at the cigarette he held in his hand as he breathlessly greeted me; I could resist lighting one up now, noticing the state of him. Stifling laughter, I patted him on the shoulder, ignoring his deathly stare and pushed the gates of Megaton open, ready to head toward Rivet City. I knew it was silly and dangerous, and Flak had just left to go there, but maybe I could catch up with him and discuss his relationship with Shrapnel! Maybe I could even be there when he 'cured' his partner! It would be so sweet, like the ending of Romeo and Juliet, that old play from pre-war times. Although without the death. And heterosexuality.

-

Walking along the rocky terrain, I suddenly regretted acting on impulse. I looked up at the sky; it was getting dark, fast. I was so silly for coming out at evening! It would be 8p.m. soon, and the sky would be completely dark, with only the stars to keep me and Jericho company. Not that he was much of a partner, yet again. He hardly spoke to me at all, and the only noise that came from him was a 'hwooo' when he exhaled on his cigarette. I didn't even try to make conversation this time, just walked steadily along and took in the lovely sights of cars tipped over and buildings destroyed by the bombs. Occasionally we passed the odd dead body, but they were beyond even my help. As we continued along the land toward Rivet City, I could see Jericho was getting antsy at not being able to shoot anything, I just hoped he wouldn't fill me full of bullets out of boredom; it would probably hurt a lot! For a few seconds, anyway! As if God, or some other being had read my mind, bullets were suddenly being pelted toward us, hitting the ground and sending mud up into the air. The sound they made was unmistakable, but still shocking, none-the-less! Even so, these Raiders weren't half bad shots! Jericho kicked into action immediately, glad that he had something to kill. I remained cool, and ducked behind an overturned car that was nearby, pulling out my pistol. Looking through the car's windows, I could see Jericho unload lead through one of the female Raider's, tearing her body to pieces; a male Raider was sneaking up behind him, though! Not wasting a second, I rolled out from behind the car as I had seen Jericho do before and shot wildly with my eyes closed. Looking back on it, that was pretty stupid, but at least I managed to shoot the back of his right leg! Jericho, alarmed by the Raider's cry of pain, spun around quickly and shot him in the face mercilessly. Remind me never to get on his bad side! There was another male Raider nearby, who sounded like he held a bonesaw, or something similar; one of those awful sounding weapons, anyway. However, upon seeing his fellow Raiders being shot dead by Jericho, he must have ran away with his tail between his legs, because me and my partner certainly couldn't find him anywhere! I looked behind cars, walls, under barrels... until Jericho shouted at me to hurry up, that is. Not wanting to anger him, I holstered my weapon and continued along the way to Rivet City, following the map closely. It appeared we had to go through some old Metro Station; I did not like the sound of that at all! It was probably dark, damp and smelly.

As we walked along some shattered high-way road, I yawned loudly, and stretched my arms out wide. It had been a very long day, what with that Silver monster and now this. I really should have waited until tomorrow. Yet it was too late now, I would have to just continue. I turned around to see how Jericho was doing, since he didn't provide his usual lewd joke about my ass, but he wasn't there. Circling around on the high-way, I looked left and right wildly.

"Jericho?!" I called out. "Where are you? This isn't funny!"

He really wasn't the type to play this kind of joke. Sure, he would make rude comments, but he wouldn't just leave. Just when I thought I saw something in the distance, I felt pain on the back of my head, and then I crashed to the floor; someone had knocked me out. Landing on my front, all I heard as I passed out was:

"She ain't too bad, make use as.." and that was all.

-

I woke up in a strange room. Well, it wasn't exactly a room, it was more of a cell, with metal walls more suited to a shed than a room. The floor was of a muddy terrain, not something you would have found in the Ritz! I looked down, and found someone had changed me in my slumber. I was now wearing some tacky sleepwear! Something Nova would wear while on the game! It was red, lacy and flimsy, showing off my bruised legs and a whole lot of cleavage. I then felt the neck brace. Trembling with fear, like most situations I had found myself in recently, I realised what had happened; I must have been captured by slavers. This was certainly not a neck brace, it was a Slaver Collar thingy! Not daring to touch it, for fear it might explode, I stayed in the cell, not even going to see if the door was unlocked, as it was probably wasn't anyway. To my amusement, someone had left half a packet of cigarettes on the ground, alongside Jericho's Zippo. Ignoring the fact that I would be killing myself, I took a shaky hand to the packet and pulled a cigarette out, shoving it into my mouth and lighting it. For some funny reason, the thought that the Zippo belonged to Jericho made me feel a little better. Maybe because it was a small part of him, and it gave me a little courage, I don't know. I thought of him, and where he might be. Perhaps he was in the same place, as a slave?

I wondered what I would have to do in my new job as a slave. My outfit, though, left nothing to the imagination; I would probably be used for sex. I shut my eyes tightly and dragged heavily on the cigarette I held in my hand. Casting my mind back the Wasteland Survival Guide, I thought about psalms I was conjuring up to put in the book. One I was going to put in there was: "You've just got to put up with it!". How true it was now! I certainly couldn't ignore my own advice, for that would make me such a silly hypocrite. So, dragging on my cigarette again, I simply sat on the dirty ground and awaited for someone to enter my cell.

A few minutes after I had finished one of the cheap cigarettes, I slipped Jericho's Zippo into the lingerie's pockets and stood up and the door to the cell was unlocked. Swallowing my fear, I confronted my Slaver.

"Well, well." he said; I already hated his voice. It was funny sounding. "So this is what the boys brought in. Not bad, for a Wastelander."

"I can do more than just shag." I smiled. Bad move! He came up to me with a look of disgust and gave me the back of his hand around my face; it hurt, a lot! His slap sent me to the floor, the debris poking into my exposed legs. Grimacing, I didn't dare complain nor shout out in pain. I simply got up off the floor and brushed myself off. Not the best start...

"I'm Ymir. At the start of each day I'll give you some food, tell you who you're to... deal with and then take you back to bed. Understand?" he asked. Ymir? What a silly name! I nodded my head, simply glad the Zippo lighter hadn't fallen out of my pocket. "Good, then we're getting somewhere. You're first client is the big boss himself, Eulogy. Come." he ordered. I followed on after him, leaving the packet of cigarettes on the ground. In a place like this, I should imagine the booze, fags and other luxuries come in copious amounts. The place was as I imagined, just like the rest of the Wasteland. Various signs with Paradise Falls written on them were strewn about, half buried in the ground. As I gazed about, I saw guards posted high above the ground armed with sniper rifles; if I ever got the chance to escape it would certainly not be easy! I follow on after Ymir, not eager to meet Eulogy, bastard of the Slavers.

I entered inside Eulogy's room; it was pretty tacky. In the middle of the room was a massive love bed, shaped like a love heart and covered in a couple of thick sheets of various red hues. Would I have to sleep with him in that bed? Ew! I glanced around the room; empty whiskey bottles and cigarettes butts gave it a lived-in look. Other sex slaves who were dressed like I was littered the place, smoking cigarettes and talking with each other; I guessed they had been here a bit longer than I had. Ymir led me to a corner of the room where a man sat in a luxurious red armchair wearing a long sheepskin coat. It must have been Eulogy. The look of content on his face showed that he was doing all right for himself... I wanted nothing more than to wipe the grin off his face... if only I had my pistol! He was a tall man, with dark skin and a rough, unkindly face, withered by unknown amounts of alcohol and tobacco. His nostrils flared as he looked at me from the legs up; his eyes stopped on my breasts for a moment and then he signalled Ymir to go away. I knew what was coming...

"So, you're the knew girl. I'm Eulogy. Why don't you sit down?" he gestured me to sit down on a battered-looking fold out chair. I didn't dare refuse, so sat down on the cold metal.

"My name's..." I began, but was abruptly cut off by a wave of his hand.

"Your name was whatever. I don't care. You look like a... Avon to me. Your new name is Avon." he said, with no room for argument. I didn't protest, although I would have liked to. I would have liked to have stood up and screamed "No! My name is Moira! Avon is a shit name! It's just Nova backwards! And she is as backwards as they come!"

But I kept my lips sealed.

The conversation didn't go any further. Sending the other girls into another room, he led me to the lovebed. Cringing, I knew what would happen next. Taking my hand, he suddenly pushed me onto the bed and quickly lowered his trousers, a grin on his face. I simply shut my eyes and hoped it would be over with as soon as possible. A few seconds later, I felt his hand up in between my legs as he pulled my underwear down. As he threw it somewhere in the corner, he penetrated my flesh with his erection. I can tell you now: it hurt like hell. I really didn't want it to be like this, for me to be a sex slave and for a dirty pig to be my first, but I had to put up with it or die. After entering me, he got a slow rhythm going and then built up speed. I didn't enjoy it one bit, and failed to see any pleasure in sex at all. How Nova managed it was quite beyond me, she must have been desperate for caps. The deed seemed to have taken forever, but I heard him moan once, then twice, then I felt a warm liquid envelop my inner thigh. He collapsed on top of me, his full weight taking my breath away. I almost gagged at the smell of his disgusting breath; it smelt like a dead Brahmin soaked in whiskey and set ablaze with tobacco in a bonfire. I was just glad it was over after he pulled out.

He left no room for me to recover after this 'love making', and simply thanked me rudely. Pushing me out of the bed, he left me to find my underwear as he lit up a cigarette. Perhaps out of pity he chucked me one, but I daren't light it with the Zippo I hid on my clothes, just in case. So, hiding my disgust, I went over to him and took his box of matches, lighting it up and inhaling deeply. I thought of Jericho, and what he was doing, to take my mind off things. I wondered if he was out killing things, and not a slave like I was. I didn't hate Jericho, despite him sleeping with Nova. In fact, I didn't despise Nova as much as a did now, considering she had to go through this daily. I hoped with all my heart Jericho was safe... little did I know how wrong I was.

-

After leaving Eulogy's room, I was allowed to walk freely around Paradise Falls, to a degree. That is, I wasn't permitted near the entrance unless I wanted to be shot. Of this I was incredibly glad, because I certainly didn't want to be alone in that cell after 'making love' with that man. The place was pretty boring, the only places of interest were the gun shop and the bar, but I had no caps to spend. The other girls ignored me too, but I didn't know why. Perhaps it was because I was new? Wanting to know why I was a little outcast, I approached one girl who was on her own.

"What do you want?" she snapped at me. I was taken aback by her ferocity.

"Hi, my names M-." I stopped short, remembering my new name. I would't want to piss anyone off. "Avon. My name's Avon. And you are..?"

"What do you want?" she repeated. I couldn't understand her rudeness.

"I just wanted to chat, that's all." I smiled. She did not smile back.

"Listen, sweetie." she frowned. "I don't want to be seen talking to you." she stood up, and began to walk away.

"Hey, wait! Why not?"

"Because!" she turned around to face me. "Most of us were in our cell for a week before Eulogy saw us. You were in there for half an hour." she stuck her two fingers at me and walked away, leaving me a little shell shocked. I wanted to run up to her, slap her around the face and scream in her face: "Are you on Mentats?! Do you enjoy shagging that weirdo?!"

I failed to summon the courage.

-

Having seen everything there was to see, and seeing everything there that I couldn't buy, such as whiskey and wine, I decided to go back to my cell and smoke one of the cigarettes I had left there. I would have to preserve them though. Who knew when Eulogy would call on me again? I didn't really want to have sex with that pig again, but he might be decent enough to chuck me a cigarette like last time. Just as I was about to reach my cell door, I heard a ruckus behind me. My heart leapt in my stomach... it sounded like Jericho!

"Let go'a me, you bastard!" he cried, as I spun around. It was Jericho! He was being dragged along by two slavers towards a shack, dressed... very oddly. In fact, he was dressed like I was. Wearing purple, sexy lingerie designed for a woman, it was obvious he was now a sex slave, just like me! I raised my hand to my mouth so that I wouldn't completely burst out laughing, but it was a little funny. I suddenly remembered Eulogy though, and my ordeal, then felt very guilty. Jericho had fallen for the same fate as me, and now we were both in the same boat. Now, though, maybe we could team up and think of some way to escape? Heading into my cell, for there was nothing I could do for him now, I fell to my knees and scooped up the packet of cigarettes from the floor. Lighting one of them up with Jericho's lighter I inhaled with exaltation and held the Zippo to my breast, just happy that I wasn't alone.

-

A few days had passed since I saw Jericho in the lingerie, and I hadn't seen him since. The men were kept seperate from the women, but I had no idea who he was a slave for, since the other girls kept quiet. I remained quiet and kept my head down during my daily routine of sleeping with Eulogy; the other slaves there were obviously jealous that he used me so much, and that gave me a little confidence boost, but I failed to see why they were so envious. Eulogy was a filthy pig, not the most desirable of men, the other girls must have been insane! I really wanted to get out of this place, so decided to seek out Jericho... I doubted he was very happy. Walking around the compound, I found the entrance to the shack I saw Jericho enter a few days before. As it was the evening the area was moderately quiet, so I slipped in un-noticed; I saw Jericho lying on the floor, still wearing his sexy lingerie and half-asleep. I stumbled over to him and crashed on the floor, shaking him awake.

"Huh... what?" he slurred; he was drunk.

"Hey! Jericho! It's me!" I cried, throwing my arms around him.

"Oh, God." he sighed. "Can't I ever get away from you?" he laughed, weakly.

"Nope." I replied. "So you're here too."

"It looks like it." he replied, looking around the room. He lay on a dirty mattress, more than I got in my cell.

"So, go on, who's your 'boss'"?" I asked him, with a smile.

"Ymir. The fag likes a bloke in a women's clothing." he grunted, lighting up a cigarette. It seemed they kept him moderately happy.

"Well at least you haven't got Eulogy." I chuckled, thinking about the time he insisted I pretended to be some woman called Monroe.

"What are you doin' here?" he asked me. I wondered what I was doing here; was it just to see him again?

"Just to see if you're doing all right..." It was the truth. I was glad he was O.K., and was hoping he would suddenly burst forth with a valiant plan of escape.

"Well, babe." he began, "This is it for us. I hope you can get used to it. Now get lost, before someone sees us." he uttered, pushing me away. I felt desperately sorry for him, that he had lost that fighting spirit, and had given up so easily. But then again, I felt hopeless too. Paradise Falls was surrounded by snipers... escape would be near impossible, especially with these things around our necks.

"I understand.." I replied, standing up. "I'll be back again soon." I whispered, leaving him be.

-

Sitting in my cell, I wanted nothing more than to escape from this dingy place; I had really had more than enough. Only a few minutes before, Eulogy made me dress up like a school teacher and whip him senseless. Such weird things made me feel so silly! Feeling that I must do someting about my situation, I stood up from the ground and cast the cigarette I held in my hand away; I wouldn't be needing that now! I opened the door to my cell and walked over to the girl that had actually spoken to me the other day; she would talk to me more deeply this time, that's for sure!

"Hey, you!" I called, grabbing her by the arm and making sure no one was around.

"What do you want?" she grunted, pulling away.

"I want to get out of here."

"Don't we all." she laughed in my face.

"No, really. There's nothing stronger than human will, and I believe I can get out of here. You and the other girls isn't helping at all though, so I need information, and right now!" I cried, grabbing her arm.

"Or what?" she sneered, pulling away again and lighting up a cigarette.

"Or I'll tell Eulogy I caught you telling the other girls he has a small penis!" I threatened. She looked at me dis-believingly, but she knew the threat was genuine, and that Eulogy would believe me. After all, I was his favourite girl; he seemed to think I was loopy enough to do any crazy thing he wanted!

"Fine!" she spat out. "What do you want to know?"

I honestly didn't think it would be that easy, and quickly racked my brains to think of questions.

"When is it most quiet around here?"

"Well..." she started, a pensive look on her face. "I suppose when the Slavers are out looking for fresh meat."

"And when's that?"

"At the end of every month, so that would be the day after next."

The day after next... which would be I had to act fast. If I was going to slip out undetected, that would be the best time to do it.

"Are there any underground tunnels around here?" I continued.

"Well, there's the disused mine beneath Paradise Falls, but it's completely sealed off. Probably full of mutated beings." she laughed quietly. That seemed like the best place to sneak out of here; if there was a mine underneath Paradise Falls there had to be an entrance, no matter if it was sealed off. My plan to sneak out had begun.