Chapter 3

She waited on the side of the building at 12 in the morning. She hugged her waist, they were right, the desert is cold at night. She leaned against a rusting fridge that was oddly set up outside. She looked at her pipboy, the green light illuminating her face. It was 12:30 in the morning. Cress frowned. He lied to her. Clenching her fist, her blood began to run hot. He set her up. Just as she was about to storm off to Moriarty's Saloon, the ghoul ran into her.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there. I don't have that good of sight." He gave a small smile. "Sorry about being so late. Moriarty didn't go to bed at his usual time and I had to wait thirty more minutes to make sure he was sleeping."

Cress manage a small smile, "that's fine." She still was slightly upset that he had been late and made her wait in the cold weather.

The ghoul looked around then spoke quietly, "Your father came in looking for Moriarty, I overheard him talking about going to GNR studios. I'm not sure why, but he told Moriarty that he needed money for the trip. They got into the argument until your mother's name was brought into the conversation. Moriarty gave him the caps and your Father left."

Cress gave him a questioning look. "Do you have any idea where GNR studios is?"

The ghoul shook his head, letting out a sigh. "I do know where it is, but it's way too dangerous for a girl like you that's new to the waste." He looked at her with serious blue eyes, "There are ghouls that are basically like mindless zombies that will not hesitate to rip your heart out. Then there are Supermutants. Experiments gone wrong. It was supposed to make humans stronger, but ended up mutating their appearance. Soon the chemicals ate away at their brains and made them dumb, strong, and violent. Their all over the place in The DC ruins. Some are even out in the rural areas, so I'd be careful if you want to go poking around in some of the small town's ruins."

Cress frowned, how was she supposed to find her father if all these creatures are wanting to kill her? She need to find someone to teach her about the wastes. To teach her how to use a gun. How to survive. She looked at the ghoul who seemed to begging her silently not to go. She shook her head, "Do you know anyone who can help me in the waste, or teach me anything?"

The ghoul let out a slightly irritated sigh and shrugged his shoulders, a piece of rotten flesh falling to the ground. Cress fought back the urge to vomit. "I don't really know anyone. You could ask Jericho, he's an old raider, but…"He checked over Cress then shook his head, "With a goody-two-shoes like you, I doubt he'd want to help you." They started to walk back up to the saloon. He noticed her looking at the ground, a sad expression written on her face. "Listen kid, Moria knows some things about the waste, and maybe if you ask Billy Creel he may help you, but's all I know."

Suddenly Cress's eyes widened, "You traveled in the wastes for years. You have to know how to shoot a gun and learn how to find food."

The ghoul cut her off, "No, I'm not telling you anymore information. I'm sorry, but i need to go." They stopped at the saloons back door, "I need to get some rest for tomorrow. Good luck kid." He opened the door and walked in, leaving Cress alone in the dark.

Cress walked back into her new house, she waved at her robot, Mr. Wadsworth and dragged her feet up the metal staircase. Sitting down on the grimy bed she looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Slowly she drifted into a deep sleep.

There was a faint taste of blood was in her mouth, and she could hear the sounds of the vault alarms going off. The screams of a familiar voice filled her ears. Jonas? She tried to move her arms and legs, but nothing happened. All she saw was darkness as the sounds got louder. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. The screams were cut off as the sound of metal hitting flesh and cracking bone echoed in her head. Cress felt as if she was going to vomit. Her vision slowly came back as she saw Jonas's dead mangled body on the floor, surrounded by a red sticky liquid. She looked down to find a lead pipe in her hand, coated in her friend's blood. She let out a screech and dropped the pipe, in clicking on the ground. Tears filled Cress's eyes as she hugged herself. No...She didn't kill him. She never would do that. Vision blurry with tears she looked up, another man standing over Jonas's body. She blinked away the tears to get a better look at the man. She let out a small gasp.

"D-dad?"

The man didn't respond, he just looked at her, the red flashing light showing his grin. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Cress. Her grey eyes widened as she let out another screech.

Cress shot up in her bed, her hand pressed against her heart as it thumped against her chest. Remembering her dream, a new found anger flooded into her veins. She didn't kill Jonas, he father did. She slung her legs over the bed and started to get dressed. She needed answers, now.