The air in the dimly lit study smelled cloyingly sweet, a heavy mix of vanilla sugar and aerosol cream. Angel sat perched on the edge of her desk, her dark eyes tracking the doorway with hungry anticipation. Finally, she heard it--the rhythmic, sharp...

Lisa was the embodiment of Vault 45's mission: bubbly, optimistic, and spotlessly clean. As a graduate of the Vault-Tec Maid Initiative, she was trained to bring order to the chaos of the wasteland, one scrub brush at a time. Today, however, the wast...

Renee was the quintessential tomboy. She was the girl who would choose baggy shorts over skirts, gym shoes over heels, and hoodies over blouses. Her short, shoulder-length hair perfectly framed her independent, no-nonsense spirit. So it was incredibl...

The hum of the industrial refrigerators was the only sound left in the bakery. It was late--far later than Joe usually stayed--but inventory night was a beast that had to be tamed. Joe wiped a layer of flour from his forehead and clicked his pen, che...

Alex considered the local public library his sanctuary, his second home. A lanky young man with a slight build, soft features, and a preference for delicate blouses and oversized glasses, he was a fixture among the dusty stacks. He was also, tragical...

The main reading room of the Oakhaven Public Library was a sanctuary of hushed reverence. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating dust motes dancing over mahogany tables. Maggie sat immersed in the middle of a massive hardback, its p...

The air inside the abandoned Blackwood Manor hung thick and cold, smelling of damp plaster and decay. Leo shivered, pulling the drawstrings of his grey hoodie tight, but the chill had nothing to do with the temperature. It was the same familiar, simm...