Chapter 1 - Thorn Of A Rose

PART ONE



The world is covered by nuclear fallout after The Great War. Whole countries destroyed by their sovereign push for the Earths last resources. Life as it were collapsed under the fire, and new civilizations emerged from the dust, for a new world.



The Enclave, remnants of the prewar American Government, are trying to reform their nation. Survivors across the country side, both good and bad, are obstacles in their way. Impure, vile, and otherwise a threat to reclamation. They would enact several plans to rid those left.



The land so scarcely populated, you could travel days and not see another human. Wild, mutated beasts are more common, and chances the person you do see will likely kill you for their own survival. Its a cruel place to live, and a difficult one to grow up in.

It is the year 2237.





Chapter One

The Thorn of a Rose




     From the outskirts of Seattle you can see the orange, pulsing glow that illuminates the dark and heavy clouds that pass over. You can even hear the loud shouts, screams, and occasional gun shots after a sudden quake of thunder rolls through. The gloomy clouds that lie close above release their torrents of rain. In the city center nothing stops, the visible glow of fire and frightful noises grow.
     Within the bustling stadium lies the Seahawks Tribe encampment. At one end of the field a large structure is built upon the stands. A deck on top wraps all the way around, armed guards pacing it's perimeter. No windows on its walls, no indication as to what goes on inside, but the most noise can be heard echoing out. Housed inside the fortresses palace lies a harem. The leaders of this wild group of bandits, pirates and thieves take pleasure in their bountiful prizes. Just outside it's doors lies a court with a bonfire burning in the middle. A wide street leads down the center of the field, shacks and shanties bordering on the sidelines. In the street drunken thugs stumble about, chanting and singing as the rain pours down. An occasional fight would break out, and usually someone dies.  At the other end of the field, in the end zone, lies a row of steel cages. The Seahawks are notorious for abducting young women and men. The men forced into manual labor. The fairer women made prostitutes and servants, those most beautiful brought to the harem. A young girl cradles herself in the corner of her dark cell, the cold bars she leans against leave her shivering as she watches a puddle of mud build in the middle of her prison. 

     Suddenly a booming bolt of lightning arches over the stadium.
       CRACK! 
     For a brief second the cage is lit as bright as day as the girl scurries away from the conductive metal bars. The shackle around her ankle digs in as the heavy chain gets dragged along. She cuddles up in the black mucky center, alone and scared. Tears form in her eyes as she reminds herself how she ended up in this twisted hell.

     Elizabeth Rose grew up in a simple little settlement on the western border of Montana. With her mother they lived a happy life raising bison. Her father never returned from a trade excursion, sadly it was understood to be normal in this time. Her friend Sylvester would come by everyday and help her watch the herd. The pair were inseperable, and life in the wasteland couldn't have been any better for Elizabeth. She knew of dangers out in the wasteland, yaoi guai are found commonly in the woods nearby, she would carry a rifle when out in the fields, though she could never imagine needing to defend herself with it. Shed never seen anyone dangerous pass through, the mountains that bordered their small village must deter those with no business here. Until that frightful day came.
     After a usual day tending the herd, Elizabeth and Sylvester walked through the field to the setting sun. Reaching her home they stop and look each other in the eyes, as the yellow sky glows upon them. Sylvesters blonde hair shines in the light, dust floats by as he pats down his overalls. The kind boy waves goodbye to his friend, and places his hands in his pockets. Standing five foot one, the petite girl shoulders the rifle, her patched dress just as dusty. 


      She smiles then says, "Ill see you tomorrow Sylvester."

     In doing so he turns and walks home, another easy day down.

 

     Later that night, Elizabeth settled in on her bed. Her mother sat close by, brushing Elizabeths hair.

     "You have such lovely hair Lizzy," her mother flattered, "I wish my hair could be as curly and thick as yours." Elizabeth began to blush from the compliment.

     "My hair looks like it came from Lulu out there," she continued, speaking modestly.

     Elizabeth chuckled, Lulu is one of the hairy bisons outside, then turning to look at her mother Elizabeth replied, "You have nicer hair too, Mama." 

     Her mother smiled kindly.

     "Thank you sweetie." she said, then kissed elizabeth on the forehead. "Its time for bed, ill see you in the morning." Elizabeth laid down pulling the covers over her as her mother got up to blow out the light.

     "Good night momma." Elizabeth said.

     "Goodnight." she replied as she blew out the light.

     Elizabeth closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully. 

     At some point in the middle of the night, Elizabeth awoke to the sound of a loud, bleating grunt out her window. She knew it was one of the bisons but didnt know what could have caused the sound. Yaoi guai dont normally attack a heard of bison, the bison tend to sleep together. She steps out of bed and to the window, rubbing the sand from her eyes. As she gazes out, the dark silhouette of the herd is seen moving away from the woodline. Confused but also curious, Elizabeth throws on a coat and heads out back. Walking through the cool, dry field she looks up to see there is no moon in the sky. Despite how safe these parts were in the past, she couldn't help but feel anxious as she went to investigate the noise. 


     Thirty feet from the herd, she can make out they are huddled in a circle. They generally do this when they feel threatened, so Elizabeth started to look around the wood line as she moved in their direction. The herd was suddenly startled and began stampeding away. Alerted, the girl quickly turned, four feet in front of her an arrow pierced the ground, and two more hit after. Elizabeth ran back to her house, as fast as she could, to wake her mother. 

    "Wake up, wake up," Elizabeth was shaking her mother, "Mama wake up. Hurry!"


    Her mother rose up quickly, mothers intuition knows when something is wrong.

    "Whats wrong Lizzy?"

    "Theres people outside, theyre shootin at the herd." Elizabeth was frightened though her mother reassured her.

    "Go get your rifle, quickly." her mother said as she hurried out of bed, pulling a shotgun from underneath the mattress. Elizabeth ran to her room and grabbed the .22 caliber rifle and a bag with all her ammunition. It worked well for little pests that came through the field, she knew how to use it and suddenly was less afraid. Rushing, she accidently knocks over a handmade clay vase from her nightstand, the loud shatter could be heard throughout the house. Elizabeth shrieks, pauses, then turns quietly to look back out the window. The bison are no where to be seen, but now there are several small flames visible in the woods. 

     Elizabeths mother comes up quietly behind her and startles her once more, but her cry was muffled.

     Placing a hand over Elizabeths mouth and wrapping around her chest with the other, her mother stands behind her and looks out the window. Some of the flames begin to fly through the sky in their direction, the fire arrows fall short of the house, a hundred feet away. 

     "Shhh..." her mother says, "stay by my side, we need to warn the others."

     Elizabeth nods her head as her mother withdraws her hand. They head out and run down the path to the next house, which happens to be Sylvesters and his family. As they flee, fire arrows hit their home behind them, a couple windows break, and shadows form in front of them. Elizabeth slows down as she turns her head to see her home ablaze. 


     "Dont stop Elizabeth, hurry!"

     Three men come charging up to the house, spotting the two women. Full of fear, and starting to cry, Elizabeth turns her head back and runs full speed to catch up with her mother. Elizabeths mother looks back, her hand open to Elizabeth.

     "Grab my hand, let me carry you!" she says.

     Elizabeth reaches desperately, trying to run faster than her feet can carry her.

     "Momma wait!" she cries.

     A birage of fire arrows fall in front of them, in a staggered line all the way to sylvesters house and the other homes. Elizabeth trips on her feet and falls with such momentum that she slides headfirst across the ground.

     "Momma!" she shouts out, with an outreached arm.

     Picking herself up, her rifle still slung over her back but the ammo scattered all around. She looks behind her and sees the three men closing in. Nervously, she arms herself, cracks open the barrel of the rifle, loads a single round from off the ground, aims and fires. One of the three men flenches sideways but does not stop, she hit his shoulder, but the .22 doesn't pack enough punch. Elizabeth opens the rifl and the spent casing ejects, she digs through the dirt and finds another bullet. Loads it up and takes aim again, this time lower mass. The rifle goes off, a cloud of dirt kicks up in front of her persistent target, she missed. This time when she cracks the rifle the empty brass doesnt eject, the dirty cartridge jammed up inside. Instead of running she fumbles with the rifle, the three men now fifty feet away and moving fast. Elizabeth hesitates, she thinks of running but her body doesnt move. Thirty feet away and closing in quick. She looks up, panics, drops the rifle and turns to run.

     Before she even stands her mother comes to her side, the shotgun drawn on the three charging men.


     BOOM! Fire spits from the barrel, Elizabeth turns to see the closest man drop. Her mother walks towards the two remaining, as they slide to a stop.

     BOOM! BOOM! Two more shots drop the other two, they fall only twenty feet away. The mother turns towards her daughter. A loud crack echoes out, and just as quickly as she turns to look, she is pierced by a bullet through the chest. Elizabeth watches her mother fall onto her back, everything happened so slowly, she could see her mother look her in the eyes, her face ridden with pain and a tear falling down her cheek. Elizabeth dashes to her mother and grabs her tight, crying dearly.

     "Momma, no!" she sobbed the words through her tears.

     "Get up, please!"

     To her right the man that took the shot comes into the light. Elizabeth takes notice and weilds her mothers shotgun, aiming by the hip at the man. She fires, knocking herself backwards, completely missing the man. He charges up to her before she can aim another shot and smacks her across the face with the butt of his rifle, gashing open her check and knocking her out cold.

 

     When she came to later that night, she was locked in a cage, carried by four sickly looking men, who were cuffed around the  neck with a chain to the cage. There were a dozen of raiders leading the caravan west, one man behind her was barking orders at a line of men pulling a wagon of supplies, also chained. Back in the distance she could roughly see the blaze of the settlement she once lived. There was one boy in the line, it was Sylvester, he had survived only to be taken as a slave. Elizabeth shouted out to him.

    "Sylvester! You're alive!" Just as she did a raider close by beat at her cage.

    "Shut your mouth, bitch!" He shouted. Elizabeth identified the man as the same one who shot her mother, and beat her across the face. She reached to her cheek and felt the tender wound, the blood had dried up. Curling into a fetal position she lies there scared, hurt, and angry. The dark reality of her situation overshadows the soon dawning sun. 


 

     Elizabeth remembers vividly those moments as she lies there in her cell, weak and helpless, cold and wet. She closes her eyes and tries to oust this torment from her mind. Only a half hour later theres a beating on her cage.

     "Get up girl, boss is coming." the rough looking criminal unlocks the gate. Behind him a large, muscular man is walking their way.

     "Hes goin' to check you out real good," the guard continues as the cage is opened. Elizabeth scuddles back to the corner, no where to run to.

     "Get your ass back here girl, dont piss me off or I'll make your life hell!" he shouts to her.

     Elizabeth timidly stands up and walks towards the guard. He grabs ahold of her shoulder and pulls her forward, just outside the cage's open gate. The boss walks up in front of her, looking down to the filthy girl. Elizabeth tries to turn from the man.

     "Quit squirmin' and look at the boss!" the guard commands. Elizabeth turns her head up to the boss who stares eager at her teary face. Reaching out he grasps her chin and turns to analyze the scabbing flesh of her cheek, the skin around it bruised purple.

     "She was a bit feisty, i was told." the guard stated "Stolk had to knock her out, she shot at him with a shotgun!"

     "What a shame, looks like a pretty one." the boss said, releasing her chin and stepping back.

     "Pimp her at top dollar. If she causes any more trouble, make her cheap." he smirks deviously at the girl then says "Lets teach her some obedience and maybe once that scar heals she'll be ready for the big house.".

     The Boss turns away and walks back down the fiery path of this filthy fortress.

     The guard produces a collar from his belt, securing it around Elizabeths neck. He attaches a length of rope to it, then unlocks the shackle from her ankle. Keeping the line taught, he commands her to walk forward from the cage.


     "Takin' ya over to the nest," he says as they start their way towards the center of the field. "The men here love fresh meat." he chuckles, "Theres quite a few who go for the younger type, too."

      He laughes maliciously. 

      Elizabeth rather relieved to leave the cage, begins to feel adamant about here fate. She has no idea whats in store for her at The Nest. 

 

     Down the field next to the courtyard, nestled on the left, lied The Nest. A single floor structure larger than the other shacks neighboring it. Lanters hung from under its porch, and candles lined the inside of two bordered up windows with a red filter over the glass. Also inside the windows were some partial female mannequins with crudely drawn features and the phrases "Girls", "Sex", and "Rest at The Nest". Inside it was a dimly lit place, a narrow corridor led to the back of the building, with doors to small rooms on either side. A bell above the main entrance jingles as the cage guard steps inside, with Elizabeth in tow. A woman peeks from the end of the hall then paces to greet them.

     "Rick," the woman calls as she walks down the hall, "you must have a new gal, seeing you here."

     Elizabeth peeks from behind Rick the Guard to catch a glimpse of this woman. She was well older, somewhere in her 40s she presumed, healthy looking and considerably fair for that age.

     "Yes Madame, got this one in only a couple hours ago." he says as she approaches. The guard steps to the side and closes the door behind them. The madame looks sincerely at the girl.

     "Shes young, very cute though, and lovely hair." the madame strokes her hand through Elizabeth's hair despite being damp and dirty. 

     "What happened to your face?" She asks. Elizabeth doesnt reply, instead she starts to shiver.

     "She was hit by Stolk" Rick says, as he removes the collar from her neck.


      "What a shame," the madame condoles to her, "well thats all Rick, thank you. Ill get her cleaned up and have her ready tomorrow."

     Once the door closes behind him the madame asks "What is your name sweetie?"

     "Eli - Elizabeth" she replies.

     "Well Elizabeth lets take you to get cleaned up, and you must be hungry, am i right?"

     "Yes ma'am " Elizabeths mood lightens.

     "Call me Madame Envy, you'll be working for me, I'll explain everything to you later."

      They proceed down the hall together. 

 

     Despite the unfortunate circumstance, Elizabeth started to feel better that evening with Madame Envy. That is until she was explained the aspects of her job. They both were sitting at a table, Elizabeth freshly bathed and eating a simple meal the madame prepared. Having to explain to a young girl that you will be a prostitute was never easy for madame, especially when they still hold their innocence.

     "Is it good?" The madame asks, "Looks like you are enjoying it. Ive never been much of a cook."

     Elizabeth nods her head, followed by a smile.

     "They must have not feed you on your way here, where are you from?"

     Elizabeth swallows the food in her mouth, looks down to her plate, and pauses saying nothing.

     "Im sorry honey, i shouldnt have brought it up." The madame takes the plate and sets it away on a counter.

     "I understand how you may feel, Elizabeth." The madame looks Elizabeth in the eyes, she speaks compassionately. "I was kidnapped when I was close to your age, they brought me here and put me in the big house. I was very scared and knew nothing."

     Elizabeth acknowledged her by looking back, wiping a tear from her eye. The madame continues her story.

     "Luckily for me, Dietz, who is our leader now, fell in love with me back then. He is the son of the previous leader, I met him when he was fifteen. He took care of me then, but i could not serve just one man or risk a more cruel fate. He was bitter by this, and as he grew up and became more ruthless in his duties, i instead became a servent in his eyes."

     She pauses for a second, seeing if Elizabeth is comprehending the story, then proceeds.


     "So I spent twenty years in service to him. I had several children by him, and though he never showed it, I could feel that he still cared for me. Once he had taken his fathers position, I was placed here to manage. In a sence I've been given freedom, though I stay to help women such as yourself. It is unfortunate that this be all of our fates, but one woman can not take down an entire army." Madame then stands from the table and proceeds behind Elizabeth. "Let me take you to your room so you can rest, tomorrow we will go over everything."

     Elizabeth steps from the table and follows Madame to a small room, furnished only with a bed. Elizabeth quietly steps to the bed and looks back to Madame Envy.

     She asks "Will you tuck me in? Please?"

     "Certainly Lizzy." the Madame says sweetly.

     Elizabeth smiles and crawls in the bed. After the blanket is tucked around the madame steps out the room, locking the door behind her. From outside the room madame envy hears "Goodnight" softly spoken from inside.