When I came to my senses, I was undressed and tied up in a cage that was used for storage. A raider was posted, waiting for me to wake up. I felt an old sensation around my neck... 

 

 

 

          "The bitch is awake. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into, don't you? When the boss is back, expect to have a better collar than the one you're wearing. In the meantime, we'll move you somewhere else. Be good or we'll beat the shit out of you."

 

 

 

          They hung me up in one of the big rooms in the factory. The raiders were laughing at me, they were happy to have caught the bitch who had crossed their territory and was about to pay the ultimate price. Some of them were talking banging me until I died. Others wanted me to become a slave. The final decision was up to the guy I had come to execute. I was in a bad spot, but that wasn't going to stop me. 

 

 

 

          "The boss is back, take her to him. And bind her wrists, in case she stries anyting."

I was escorted by a raider into the factory. I knew the place, much less populated and less defended than I remembered. The rope that bound my hands didn't look very strong. I had to wait for the perfect opportunity.

 

 

 

            I walked into the main room, the one in which I had fought in a cage. My impressions were comfirmed, there were only a handful of raiders left. A dozen or so compared to the hundred or so that had flourished in the place a few months ago. I was getting close to my target, I had to think of an exit.

 

 

 

          "Well, what do we have here? A little pest who tought she could take care of us ? You vaguely remind me of one of our slaves who died a few months ago. Don't worry, you'll be joining our ranked very soon. But first, I need to set you up with a new shock collar so you'll behave properly."

I was running out of time. The thought of ending up with the same old collar... No, not this time for sure. 

 

 

 

          "Those handcrafted collars... Good thing we can disable them from this terminal..."

I had heard him whisper these words. He was too confident. No guard was watching me and I was in his blind spot. I put all the energy into getting out of these bonds. The gun he had placed near his desk would soon come in handy.

 

 

 

          When I broke free, I retrieved the loaded gun from the desk. The old master didn't hear me move, being barefoot had its advantages. All those days of suffering, being beaten and humiliated went through my mind in an instant. One thing kept me alive, freedom. The desire for revenge came later.

"Vaultmeat sends her regard you scumbag."

 

 

 

            I pulled the trigger. All those memories went away with the smoke from the gun. But I wasn't done yet. The whole factory had heard the shot and the raiders were alerted. I quicky disarmed the explosive on my collar from the terminal. Now I could fight and none of them were going to make it out alive.

 

 

 

          With the great hall cleared, I rushed up the stairs, eliminating every raider in my path. I had that adrenaline rush that burned through my body. I felt invincible, nothing was going to stop me. It was an even better feeling than the one that got me hooked on the Jet.

 

 

 

            I reached the main lobby. All these bodies behind me... Killed by a topless barefoot former slave who was mildly pissed off. They had chosen their path and they crossed mine. The main door was closed, I had to find another way out. The remaining raiders in the factory were not happy to hear this news.

 

 

 

            It had to happen. It was my last magazine and there were still other guys left in the factory. I was going to have to use my feet and my fists to find a new weapon... 

 

 

 

            I managed to pick up some kind of machete on the way out. One of the remaining raiders tried to slash me with her switchblade. Sorry dear, but my blade was bigger than yours.

 

 

 

            I spared no one. Even that raider who was sleeping the factory's rest area. He tried to get up and draw his gun, but failed.

 

 

 

            With the factory cleared, I headed for a ladder that led outside. I knew there would still be a few raiders, if they hadn't fled. 

 

 

 

            Outside, a new day was breaking over Lexington. The cool breeze on my skin was a small pleasure, the heat of the factory became unbearable and this while I wearing only jeans. The guard who was watching the trap door had no chance against me, he hadn't noticed me. 

 

 

 

            I picked up an assault rifle and continued my quest for revenge. The last survivors were trying to stop me, they should have run away.

 

 

 

            This guy tried to throw a molotov cocktail at me. He didn't think it would backfire. Fortunately for me, I didn't want to end up burned alive.

 

 

 

            I finished off the last living raider by bashing his skull with my rifle. That was the last section of the factory. Peace and quiet returned to normal.

 

 

 

            Everything was over. From there, I could admire the ruins of Boston. The landscape was magnificent. Two centuries later after the Bombs, the city was still standing. So many things to discover, so many places to explore. I was hoping not to end up in the same mess that introduced me to this Commonwealth. 

 

 

 

          From slave to survivor, I managed to make a name for myself in this world. I had come to take revenge for the atrocious life I had lived alongside them. Despite my capture in the factory, I persevered and succeeded. Maybe I was lucky, maybe my strenght of character made the difference, whatever. I was dirty, the adrenaline of my body left me. My feet were sore... But I still had one more thing to do. 

 

 

 

            I used the nearby toolbox to remove this collar from around my neck. No more slavery life, the closure was real. I had one more stop to make. One person from the gang was missing and I knew exactly where he was staying.

 

 

 

          The old shack was empty. No more slaves, no more pimps, no more customers. Apparently a fight had taken judged by the laser weapon marks on the walls. It looked like karma had struck the former master of the place. I decided to burn it down. No one was going to miss it. Maybe it was time to get out of here and find some decent clothes... 

 

 

 

BONUS SHOT

            

 

 

 

END OF ACT 1