Chapter 3: Escape!

I ran my hands along the smooth sand on the ground. The sun beat down on the back of my neck and warmed me up. I felt so cold. I squinted at the horizon. I was on the outside world. Outside the vault.

There was nothing in sight. No people, no plants, no animals, no buildings. Did the outside really look so alone and desolate?

I grabbed a handful of sand and let it fall through my fingers and back to the ground. I wiped my hands on my pants and stood up. I was walking but it looked like I was running at an absurd speed.

Suddenly, I was in front of a massive, metal structure. It was shaped like a football from the old world and had yellow bands painted down the sides. It was an undetonated bomb.

I ran my fingers across the cold surface. Despite the heat, the bomb and I were both cold. I slid a hand across the metal as I walked around the perimeter of the bomb. Once I reached the nose of the bomb, I noticed it got warmer.

Amata woke me up with a start. "Come on, get up! You have to get up!"

"What's going on? I'm trying to sleep." I slurred out. I wanted to know what was going to happen with the bomb. Why did I see it?

"You have to get up! The vault door is open and your dad left. My dad has gone crazy with power and he's ordered the guards to kill anyone on sight. They're going to kill you!" she whined hysterically.

"What do you mean my dad left? The door can't open." I said, more for my sake than her's.

"Well, it opened for him. They killed Jonas. I'm sorry, I know you guys were close. But you can't tell me you had no idea he was going to do this."

"Are you fucking accusing me of this?" my eyes narrowed. "You think I had any part of this?" I sat up in bed and braced myself. The world was sinning and my vision went blurry for a moment.

She seemed to back pedal. "Well, it's just... you seriously had no idea he was planning this?"

She's such a bitch.

"No. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get out of the vault." I picked up my BB gun and pellets, my baseball bat, and stimpaks. I put my ball cap and Butch's jacket on and headed out the door. There's nothing I wanted more than to get out of this place.

"Wait. You don't plan on going straight into that, do you?"

"Yep. Bye, I'll find the pass code when I get to the office."

The moment I stepped out of my room, I was spotted by security.

"Stop right there. Guys, there she is!"

I raised my gun and lowered it when I saw four rad roaches attack his legs. They must have gotten in through the vault door. I walked past as the man screamed in pain. It didn't take long until I ran into a frantic Butch.

"Ellie, you gotta help my ma. Rad roaches got in when the door opened and they're gonna kill her! You gotta save her." He begged.

"Calm down, I'll help. Lead the way." I followed him to his quarters and I could hear Mrs. Deloria crying for Butch.

I fired off 5 shots, narrowly missing the crouched woman. Three rad roaches lay at her feet and Butch grabbed me from behind and pulled me into a tight embrace. He kissed me like he meant it for the first time in months.

"Thank you so much, Ellie. I know you gotta get out of here. I wish I could come with you. I really do, but my ma really needs me." He looked sincere enough.

"I know you would. I have to go. I hope I get to see you again some day. To be honest, I'm so fucking scared. I don't know what's out there."

He took my face in his hands. "I believe in you. You'll be fine. If any of us can survive out there, it's you. God, I'm so sorry I was such an ass for all those years." His voice started cracking. "I want to make sure you get out of this shit hole safe and sound. I'll go with you to the entrance but I can't leave."

"Alright." I was on the verge of tears. "Let's go, then."

We quiet literally bumped into Officer Gomez. "Oh boy, are you two lucky it was me who ran into you. The others won't be so forgiving. You gotta get out of here quick. I didn't see a thing."

"I always knew you were one of the good guys, Officer Gomez." Butch replied.

"You guys are just kids. I need to do my job at protecting the vault."

"Bye, we have to go. Thanks for not killing us." I yelled as we ran for the upper levels.

We bounded up the stairs and slid to a stop when we heard a couple arguing about getting out of the vault. One ran at the guards and the other followed. A series of shots and screams, then silence ensued.

"Let's just run past the guards, we can do it. That door over there is jammed." I whispered. Butch nodded and stood at my left, blocking me from the guards and we ran. Shots rang out and I heard Butch yell and reach out for his arm.

We made it through the jammed door and up the stairs past rad roaches that Butch didn't even notice.

"Holy shit, are you okay?" I had no idea how to treat a bullet wound.

"I'm fine. Just keep going. Don't stop. Don't look back." I could hear the pain in his voice. Blood was dripping to the floor.

"Are you kidding me? There's a bullet in your fucking arm!" I needed to get a grip on this. I can't panic now. I'm almost out.

"It went all the way through. Forget it. The office is just down there." We ran past a window with a man pounding on the glass and calling guards.

We got to the office and I doubled over, it was too much. Jonas was at my feet with a battered face and a holodisk in his hand.

"I think I'm gonna throw up. Ellie, I'm so sorry. Wait here, I'll get the lock."

I pulled myself together long enough to wrench the holodisk out of his hand. "To my Eleanor" in Dad's handwriting. It barely registered when the door opened and Butch ran for the lockers. I pulled out the sheet with the password and a stimpak. He stabbed it in his arm and pushed down on the plunger.

"Take the password and open the stairs."

I did just that and I heard metal gliding over smooth metal, revealing stairs.

"Let's go." He pressed the red button on the opposite side of the room downstairs and I ran for the lever on the controls. Butch helped me pull it as Amata ran in, hair a mess.

"I can't believe you did it. Why's Butch with you?" she asked, barely audible over the screeching of the ancient metal gear opening to let in real sunlight. The doors behind her opened and guards poured in the entrance.

Butch grabbed me and ran down the stairs. Gunshots filled the room and he stopped briefly, kissed me deeply, and shoved me through the slim crack in between the gear and the wall. I almost tripped on a skeleton and turned to Butch through the crack. He was saying something. I got closer to hear. "What the hell are you doing? Get out of here! Be safe, I believe in you!" he screamed.

I ran to the wooden door at the end of the cave and looked back. The door was closing and I could see Butch on the ground. I swung open the door with tears in my eyes. I shielded my face from the sun. It was too bright here. I wanted to go back.

The door closed behind me and looked at my surroundings . I fell to the ground in a crying heap. How the fuck am I supposed to survive with no armor, friends, or real weapons?

I was covered in Butch's blood and outside dirt. I felt sick to my stomach. I was about to throw up, I could just feel it. I gagged once and then it just seemed to all come out.

I felt a little better after I stood up. I wiped my eyes with my arms and set out for the long journey ahead.

No more crying. Not out here.