Overgrown

The loudest sound Scarlett had ever heard awoke her from her nightmarish dreams. She bolted upright on her battered cot and wiped the sweat from her brow, the dream already fading quickly. She had slept in - again... Theo was going to kill her. The girl sighed and let her worn blanket fall to the ground as she allowed her bare feet to hit the dirt covered ground.

Quickly, Scar changed into one of the 3 pairs of clothing she owned. After tying her white-blonde hair into a ponytail she grabbed her knapsack that contained the remainder of her belongings and raced from the room.

The common room was empty, completely bare of people and their things. On the dirt-caked walls were hung scattered drawings from the few children that lived in the vaults as well as the postings of the numerous rules they were ordered to live by. She supposed that was one good thing about leaving the vault for the unknown world above.

***

"Alright everyone! Settle down!"

Theo's voice could be heard echoing down the chambers of the halls as Scarlett raced to join her people. The hallway transitioned from dirt to broken concrete as she passed into the main vault from the section previously added to make room for more Vault Dwellers.

She couldn't help but chuckle a little. Her brother had worked so hard to get to a position where he could lead the first group of Vault Dwellers out into the Overworld, it made her glad to see he had found his place. Now if she could only find her own...

***

The door to the entrance of the main vault - or rather the exit in this case - was held ajar by an old boot. Through this opening Scar was able to see that the Vault Door had already been cracked open.

Her eyes met her brothers and she saw him roll his eyes, obviously annoyed with her for being late to such a momentous occasion.

"The door will be open shortly, we all need to keep our patience. Get into your groups - prepare to leave!"

Scar winced as her brother’s shouts echoed around the room. However she didn't slow her pace. Her brother had convinced her to join him in the first group, and she was committed to that even though it scared the life out of her.

She approached her brother as he stepped off the stool he had stood on to address the restless crowd.

"Scar... way to make an entrance." He chastised and roughed up her hair with a good natured laugh.

She batted his hands away with a scowl. "Yeah, yeah, sorry Theo... I just... slept in."

His face fell. "Nightmares again?" Scarlett simply nodded her response.

Theo set a hand on each of her shoulders. "Scar - I promise there's nothing bad up there. It's ... freedom! Don't you want that?" He asked her, hands waving in the air like he saw some awesome future that Scarlette couldn't.

Theo had always been an idealist, even when they were children - even when their parents passed. Theo kept things light and fun for his younger sister, protecting her from the horrors of living underground with the last of mankind.

Scarlet nodded once again and played along. She wouldn't let her cloud of fear rain on her brother's brightest day.

"Y-yes. Of course I do."

"Alright then let's -"

Her brother was cut off by another screech. The Vault door opened wider this time and what looked like vines fell down onto the floor below. The sunlight that now streamed in burned her eyes and caused Scar to turn away. Theo however began to rush towards the door and help those there continue to push it open.

***

A few moments and several ear splitting scrapes later, the Vault door was open. Already Scar felt the sun burn her skin, but she had no time to ponder it. Theo had already organized the groups and took her to his side.

"We've earned this. After all we've been through.. me and you Scar. We're going to lead our people out of this wretched place."

***

The overworld was nothing like Scarlett had imagined. In the stories that were passed down to them, it was said the world had ended in flames. Where was the scorched land? The lakes of lava? Had the old Vault Masters really lied like Theo said - or were their ancestors just ... confused?

Their whole party stood in awe. The sunlight on leaves of overgrown trees, blades of grass as tall as she was, even the spider-like vines that seemed to consume everything was the most beautiful thing Scar had ever seen.

Theo turned to his sister and grinned giving her a nudge with his shoulder. "I told you it'd be worth it." All Scarlett could do was stand in awe.

Theo quickly had his attention elsewhere now. The rest of the vault began to go through the door and take in their new world. She saw that he allowed everyone ample time to gaze about, but she knew their adventure was still just beginning and her brother would be anxious to get started.

"Alright everyone, let's get moving. We need to find our new home!" As daunting as the task sounded Theo didn't seem to mind. He made it sound like they were all simply going out to lunch, not moving a vast group of people across an unknown world.

***

The groups moved rather clumsily through the overgrowth. Those in the groups ahead did their best to cut and move the greenery to make the path easier for those to come after, but it seemed like these vines were steadfast in their pursuit to block them.

Then something of a groan echoed from just up ahead along with the now familiar sound of overgrowth being torn away. She looked to Theo and immediately found herself hiding her small frame behind him. They had been out here all of thirty minutes and already she feared for her life.

***

"Everyone group up, keep your weapons out!" Theo shouted to his people before moving onward. Scarlett had always thought Theo was brave - but this just seemed reckless... maybe they should just turn back. She held out a hand to take his shoulder and stop him, but Theo was already out of reach. The group began to follow after as quietly as they could. After several long moments, the groaning stopped.

"See, it was probably nothi-"

A shriek cut off Theo's statement. The woman nearest the head of the group with the siblings stood frozen in fear, one finger raised to point beyond the trees.

Scarlet slowly pivoted on her foot to see what made her so afraid. Her heartbeat quickened and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

At first her eyes couldn't focus and there didn't seem to be anything there. All that was ahead was more trees, vines, and grass. Scar didn't get much more time to investigate before more people around her began to shout and back away. She shielded her eyes from the sunlight to help aid in seeing what had everyone so afraid.

And suddenly there they were. A small hoard of ... things. Her heart stopped beating for a second as she gazed at their lifeless eyes. They looked like they had been human once, but at the same time they were the most inhuman things Scarlett had ever seen.

Her feet froze as these mutants neared. Some dragged along vines like chains, others seemed to move much quicker.

As the hoard grew close she could see just how mutated they were. Some had extra limbs or features, some were missing a part of their body entirely. Many even seemed like they were held together by the vines alone.

Theo's voice woke her from her trance. "We need to get out of here!" He shouted turning the other direction from the monsters and hurrying people along.

All of them ran as quickly as they could, not knowing where they were going. Scarlett found herself wishing for the safety of the vault yet again. Even though they had been trapped underground with their own kind of monsters - those people were gone now. They could be safe there...

As Scarlett became lost in remembrances a vine caught her foot and she tumbled forward. Her chin hit the ground and a shooting pain went all over her body. She cried out and saw Theo whip around.

"Scarlett!" Her brother shouted before kneeling to haul her to her feet. A loud ringing sounded throughout her head as she grabbed onto her brother tightly, trying to regain her footing.

The two continued to shuffle forward until Scarlett was able to continue on her own. She made the mistake of looking back when she heard the groaning begin to become louder. The monsters were closing in on them.

***

Their flee was cut short by those in front of them halting suddenly.

"Hey! What's happening up there?!" Theo called out, shoving to the front and leaving Scar behind so he could take care of whatever was happening ahead.

There were more shouts, followed by chaos. Soon everyone was rushing around in every direction.

Scarlett was pushed down by a sporadic arm. Her elbows took the brunt of the fall this time, but that was the worst of her problems for only a moment. Through the gaps in the scattering people she saw more of those monsters now in front of them. They had to get out of there and it seemed Theo had had the same idea as well.

"Everyone follow me!" He shouted as loudly as he could over the other screams of fear.

The few that heard him began to dart to, and climb, what seemed to be the tallest tree Scarlett could imagine.

***

As she reached the tree, Scarlett climbed it desperately and didn’t dare look back till she made it safely to a high branch.

As Scar looked back below she saw a horrific sight. The monsters had begun tearing into her people below, those unlucky enough to have not made it to the tree.

Through tears the escaped girl found herself hugging onto the tree branch, trying to keep her eyes shut tightly so she didn't see the nightmare below. Though this did nothing to stop the sounds of flesh tearing. She knew this moment would never leave her mind, the screams of her friends and family would echo in her mind for ages.

***

"We have to help them!" Theo urged those in the tree them. However his cries fell on deaf ears. Scar followed his gaze and looked below and saw a young girl doing her best to climb the tree, but a monster was right on her tail.

Theo began to climb down ignoring his sisters' pleas to stop. She knew what was going through his head. He couldn't save the others, so he had to at least save this one girl.

Scarlett watched as the child began to desperately reach out for Theo's hand. Her brother smiled, apparently pleased he had reached the girl in time to snatch her from the grasp of the monstrous being. He had accomplished his task, then turned to climb up again.

The monster had reached the base of the tree and raised a hand. A hand with too many fingers to be natural now towards Theo. Scarlett's eyes widened in shock. With a quick yank her brother fell from the tree. No sound even escaped his lips before the monster was able to plunge his fist through Theo's chest.

***

Everything blurred. Scarlett felt her jaw slack and her eyes go dim. Her limbs held fast to the vines of the branch she clutched, but all other stimulus melted away.

Had she just seen her brother die?