I am Calista. I woke up in a cryogenic laboratory. I lost part of my memory. What I remember is pretty vague... I was in a peaceful suburb before the Bombs blew up. The pod opened up, I retrieved some clothes, a gun and a Pip-Boy from a corpse before exiting the Vault. I didn't know what the world has become but I hoped to start a new life in this devastated world. 

 

 

 

                 As I was about to follow the path to the ruins down the hills, two men came out of nowhere. It was an ambush! I couldn't reach my gun and was strangled until I passed out.

 

 

 

          When I opened up my eyes, something felt different. A heavy weight around my neck. What was that? A collar??? What the hell was going on? One of my kidnapper who was watching me decided to talk: 

"Alright girly, you have been collared. If you don't want your head to pop off, you'll do what I say and you'll live understand? Now strip off and give me all your stuff."
I didn't have a choice, I was forced to comply. The man threw me some tattred rags. 

"Here, put them on. We go upstairs now."

 

 

 

          Once upstairs, I was handcuffed. The other kidnapper spoke up:

"Listen up, you're our prisoner, you do whatever we tell you to do and you only talk if we tell you to. We have a long walk coming in."

"Where are we going? Can I have some shoes?"

"A rebellious girl? I'm going to fix this."

 

 

 

          The man with the hat pulled out a whip and started to hitting me with it. It was a bit painful but I had to be strong and not give up. 
"Take this vault dweller, I will teach some manners. No talking except if we ask a question. Do you get that?"
"Yes! YES! Please stop it burns!"

 

 

 

          "Next time it will be the collar that takes care of you. You better behave yourself."

"Okay okay... sir..."

I was helpless and had to follow their instructions. Outside, I could find a way to escape. The other kidnapper indicated that it was time to leave. 

 

 

 

          The sun was setting and we were crossing through a small town. I was between the two kidnappers, it was impossible to do anything. Hatman warned me:

"Listen kid, not having shoes is no excuse to slow down. And if you try to walk away, the collar explodes. You've been warned."

 

 

 

          The main street was guarded by small thugs. Hatman pulled out his minigun for them, to keep them in line. Museum of freedom... What about mine?

 

 

 

          We stopped in front of a house, I had to call for help to get the inhabitants out. 

"Please help me, there are thugs looking for me! Let me in, I beg you!"

"Looks like she passed the test with flying colors Cowboy. Let's go, it's getting dark."

 

 

 

          We stopped near the road. Kneeling in front of them, they lit a campfire. They gave me some dirty water and a can of food. I was exhausted, my skin chafed from the lashings and walking barefoot. The seated man spoke to me:

"Look girly, you behaved well earlier, that's why we fed you. Your next life won't be easy but if you make the right choices, you'll survive and be protected." 

"Is this your daily routine? Kidnapping people and enslaving them for their own safety?"

"This world is terrible, you can die in an instant. Between radiation, mutant animals or people worse than us, consider yourself lucky to have survived today."

"You are still criminals. One day it will be your turn."

"Ahah! We are survivors and you too will do what is in your best interest to survive. Come on, time for bed."

 

 

 

          The night was short, the weight of the collar and being handcuffed did not help. I was woken up by Hatman who wanted to show his authority:

"Come on slave! Get up! We have a long way to go."

 

 

 

               I woke up exhausted. The two kidnappers were talking about the way back to their base. I was still struggling to understand my condition. One day you're awake from a cryogenic lab and the next day you're going to be slave. Maybe this was the new world that was meant for me?

 

 

 

          We set off again. Fog covered the area. Hatman was still standing behind me, proud to escort his trophy. He taunted me:

"Another good day in the Commonwealth, right? At least for those who are still free."

I let it pass, I was still tired of all the events. 

 

 

 

          The road led south. Everything was completely unknown to me. I was just following. My hands and feet were sore. I had to keep going. No way I was going to have this collar blow my head off. 

 

 

 

          We were almost there. The factory overlooking the city was the slavers' base. The town seemed deserted, it was a perfect cover for these criminals. I had to prepare myself for what I was about to experience. 

 

 

 

          The kidnappers ordered me to get down on my knees. I had to repeat the test exercise from the day before, except that a real person was inside.

 

 

 

          "Please help! I escaped from slavers but they are still after me, please open!"

The two kidnappers were staring at me, I had to prove myself. 

 

 

 

          This was not a test. Another slave was well hidden in this house. Together we went to the doors of the slavers' den. Corvega... So this was the beginning of my new life?

 

 

 

          Once in the factory I was stripped naked and tied to a cross. The leader of the spoke with one of the kidnappers:

"We found that one. Vault Dweller. She's going to learn fast, she already knows how to behave."

"All right. New recruits are scarce, we'll try to preserve her. Hand me the tattoo gun."

 

 

 

          "Wait, wait. You don't have the right, I'm not an animal!"
"You belong to us. Let's make that clear to the other scum that populate this land. And especially to you. Don't let us down, Vault Slave."

I screamed in pain. Most of the other slavers laughed at me until I fainted.

 

 

 

          We hit the road again. The slavers were supposed to take us to our new home outside the city. That's where I would receive my training. Underneath my clothes, my skin was burning. 

 

 

 

          "Hurry up, this will be the beginning of your new life, slave. You better get used to it and fast."

Hatman had this talent for breaking the mood. I just had to think about how to get through this.

 

 

 

          At the exit of the city, under the highway, there was a small water point. Right next to it was my new home. An old shack that was spared from the wastelands. 

 

 

 

          Once inside, I was tied to a cross. The owner of the shack was talking with the kidnappers. He hoped he made a good investment in me. I had become his property. This discovering journey took me into a dark story... Could I overcome it?