Vault

Vault 305

Patrick's POV:

I wake up and blink at the blurry ceiling above me confused for a moment and then I hear it again the annoying two-tone chirp sounding over the intercom before the sing-song voice speaks up yet again.

"Good morning vault dwellers? It is another beautiful morning in vault three-o-five! Time to start your day the right way. Breakfast for rotation one will begin in fifteen minutes."

I groan and rub the sleep from my eyes. Every day at 8 Am the automated voice would play. Followed by some crappy music, the song rotates every day between one of three songs. I sit up and shuffle out of bed running a hand through my hair trying to flatten the crazy strands. I walk over to the wardrobe and sigh I reach in and pull out a fresh jumpsuit. Who doesn't love blue and yellow every day? The wardrobe it so plain it makes me cringe every time I pull open a drawer.

There is one thing I do have that no one else ever will, hidden underneath all the vault suits is a leather jacket that my father had given to me on my sixteenth birthday but told me that I should always keep it hidden. Which I mean then makes it pretty much useless to have. I walk to the bathroom and grab my glasses off of the sink counter and slide them up my nose looking at myself in the mirror.

I try to crack a smile at myself but it is no hope, I look pale and ashy my eyes get darker circles under them with each passing day. I wet my hands and use them to pat down my hair. It helps a bit to tame the strands but not by a lot. I shuffle back to my room and find my shoes I pull them on quickly and make my way toward the door.

I press the button to open the door, it slides open with ease and I walk out into the hallway. The sound of my shoes against the metal flooring echo off of the walls as I make my way down to the diner. I slide into one of the red fake leather booths, it squeaks loudly in protest and I cringe when one of the guards sitting on a stool close by gives me a look over his shoulder. Soon the automated robot hovers over about six plates in its various shapes and sizes of hand. It turns one of its large circular eyes toward me and smacks down a plate of eggs that look like yellow mush.

"Enjoy your meal sir," It says before hovering away. I poke at the food with my fork, the yellow substance jiggles like a plate of jello and I let out a loud sigh. I take a few bites and try not to barf it all back out onto the table. I pour salt on it praying it will help with the taste. It really doesn't.

I push the plate away and stand up and walk out. I hear the other dwellers whispering amoung themselves as I walk down the hall. I get lost in my own mind as I pass through the hallways that all look the same.

"Hey, Patrick!" I hear an all too familiar voice call out, the shrill tone echoing loudly off the walls. I let out yet another sigh. Allie. I turn and see her waving her arms wildly as if there is a bunch of other people in the hallway and I have no way of seeing her. She starts to make her way toward me. Great I really do not want to have to deal with her again. Why can't she get the message that I'm not interested?

"You look nice today. Did you do something with your hair?" She asks smiling. I just shrug I really do not want to be part of this conversation.

"Sorry to cut this short Allie its just I have to get to work." her smile fades but she nods in understanding.

"Of course, yeah I get it. I should ah... I mean like I do as well. Kids aren't going to teach themselves am I right?" She jokes and smiles at me, I do not return it, her smile drops and she looks down at her feet. "When do you get dinner? Perhaps we could have it together."

" I'm not sure probably around 7 again."

"Really? Me too!" I cringe as it is as if all the deflated excitement seems to rush back into her as the smile returns to her face I want to just claw my eyeballs out. " I will see you then Patrick." She turns and walks down the hall toward the classrooms. I walk the opposite way to the medical clinic.