Well, to say that today wasn't going as planned would be the understatement of the century. "Ya know," she started, pressing her spine against the cool confines of the metal infused door as the centaur closed in on her, "All I wanted this morning was to wake up, do some fucking task for Moira, and waltz my gorgeous ass back to Megaton to earn some caps. Pretty easy. Pretty straightforward."
The monster's mandible opened and poured forth a plethora of tentacles, glistening in the dimly lit air. Saliva oozed from the corners of its jaw, seeped along the grimy, dirt encrusted subway tunnel. It didn't bother with a reply. Then again, she never really thought it would.
"But instead? Instead I get to be buddy-buddy with you," she snarled, fingers curling into tight fists at her side. "I'm not saying that you aren't a catch, I'm sure you throw great house warming parties… but, to be frank with you, you really aren't my type, and you're coming on a bit strong. Real turn off, that is."
Door? Hello, door? Ellie to door? Anyone home? You going to open?
The door moaned, shuddered on its hinges… but so far? No luck.
"Fan-fucking-tastic. This team work think really isn't meshing well, is it? I want a new partner."
The device wasn't working, not yet. That meant she had time, and she wasn't the best staller when it came to life or death situations. But staying in her current 'deer in the headlights' pose wasn't doing her any favors either. Which meant she really only had one option: fight. Not a wonderful plan (if you could even call it that) but it was better than sitting there with her thumb wedged up her arse.
The centaur seemed to be along the same mindset as it reared its head back, snorting and sputtering as it unleashed a noxious cloud of poison and slime. Ellie cringed, side stepped, and hissed in a pain filled breath as the goop matted against her brown cloth coat, seared her left shoulder. Better than a full-on hit but, fuck. Radiation made her skin peel (okay, peel more than the norm for her), and brought with it a fresh sizzling, scorching sensation. Her eyes watered at the stench that poured from the beast's gaping jaw, as it choked out all other sensations, made her head swim with nausea. Her stomach heaved, and she began to regret the molerat stew she had eaten for lunch.
Nothing like the smell of a three hundred year old rotting corpse that was left out in the sun way too long drenched with a heaping dose of raw meat to wake you up.
"Sheesh, dude, toothpaste," she managed to bite out through parted lips, raising a hand to press it flush with her nose, inhaling the cured leather scent of her glove in a desperate attempt to clear her mind. The world danced around her vision, blurred around the edges. She blinked hard, squeezed her eyes shut momentarily. People had died on centaur gas alone… and she really wasn't interested in adding to that tally.
Being too close for ranged combat, she unleashed her brass knuckles. Shoving off the wall, she launched forwards, landing a blow or two against the flank of her adversary. It shrieked, cried out in agony as blood began to cake her fingers. It was like tar, sticky and thick as it coated her palms. Bath, going to need a bath.
She gasped, shifting back as it attempted to swipe at her knee caps. One of the many arms that the centaur used to move about with swung for her in a mad dash to knock her off balance. "No, no," she whispered, stumbling to the side several steps before regaining composure, arms outstretched. "Pay attention," she chastised herself, eyes flashing with anger. Using the momentum, she pivoted on her heel and whipped her leg around with her, the synthetics laced with her muscle gifting the action with an extra boost of strength and agility beyond that of a normal ghoul. Her foot connected with one of the centaur's elbows; her lips curled up into a grin of pure satisfaction as she heard the fragile bone fracture under the pressure.
The resounding howl was deafening, careening off the sides of the tunnel system in attack all of its own. She winced, jamming her hands against her ears, nose wrinkled. "Fuck, are you serious?"
But when the centaur turned to meet her gaze… any further witty comment died on her tongue.
Play time was over.
It lunged at her, arms and legs swinging haphazardly, no longer trying to aim as its focus switched gears to simply doing as much damage as possible. Adrenaline spiked through her system in return, giving her a much needed burst of energy. Her heart rate galloped into overdrive as she dodged and weaved, bobbed out of the way of the blows. Her breath was frantic, frenzied and coming in quick puffs, her face pale, drained of color.
She yelped as one of the monster's feet succeeded to collide with her hip, sending her sprawling to the tunnel floor in a pile. The base of her skull ricocheted off the cement, made a sickening snap. Heavy clouds loomed over her eyes, the light dimming. Her head throbbed, pounded like the thunder in a radiation storm. Her breath lodged itself in her lungs, too terrified to venture out of her safety body. Every movement, even the tiniest twinge of her fingertip resulted in a wave of pure unadulterated torture, leaving her dizzy and lightheaded. Prying her eyes open only allowed her to witness her doom beginning to crawl towards her.
If she didn't react, she was going to be this thing's next victim. And she doubted it would finish her off in the painless kind of way either.
Dong her best to blatantly ignore the way her brain adamantly pleaded her not to proceed, she flipped onto her stomach and scrambled on hands and knees away from the centaur and further away from the Tower entrance. She had only managed to make it a few mere feet before gnarled fingers gripped at her ankle and dragged her back. The rough, jagged edges of the concrete burrowed into the soft skin of her abdomen, tore at the fabric that protected her and formed her armor. She wiggled and kicked, hands outstretched towards everything and anything as she was pulled against her will towards the monster.
Fuck, no, no, no!
She felt its grip move to her calf, her knee, her thigh, sharp razor-like nails clawing at her, piercing through her pants. It hurt, it burned beyond imaginable as acid eased into her flesh. "I said… you weren't… my… type," she repeated, voice lacking any sort of confidence as she twisted around, back to the ground. Terror was beginning to sink in, beginning to take over.
Oh Gods, and the sounds the centaur made as its prey moved closer and closer. Guttural, grating, groans, smacking jaws, the slap of the tentacles planting against the tunnel walls. It gagged on its on spit, coughing and spitting splatters of it down on her, drenching her coat.
She swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat. She had to switch gears…
Raising her booted foot she rocketed her heel downwards, her target the brittle and fairly breakable bony wrist that belonged to the hand fastened around her leg.
It was pulverized, rendered to powder on contact. The shock jarred her own senses but not enough that she couldn't squirm free.
The centaur cradled its mangled limb, growling and writhing in the process. She scampered onto her feet, fists in front of her in a defensive stance. "Can't keep this up," she warned herself. "Not by yourself." Too bad she didn't have any friends… ha, what were those again?
The beast swiveled towards her, pulling itself together to continue the fight.
"Okay, self, what's the plan? What are we doing?" she muttered, steel eyes flickering back and forth. Makeshift weapon, defensible cover, cute and cuddly teddy bear, something! There had to be something!
Nothing. Absolutely fucking nothing.
Nothing but the damn open door.
She blinked.
Wait.
Open.
"It's open?"
Without pausing, without hesitation, she raced for it, booted feet thudding heavily against the concrete as she dove for the door. She stumbled as she passed through the threshold, tripping over the metal ledge that separated the tunnel from the tower. Her feet knotted up underneath her, her shoulder connected with the wall along with the side of her face.
But that didn't stop her. Not when the centaur was right on her heels, tentacles already clinging to the framework.
Hurtling off of the plaster, she sprinted down the adjoining corridor, fingers grazing the floral patterned wallpaper as she passed, gaining speed. Get to a safe spot, use a stimpack. Get to a safe spot, use a stimpack.
And judging off of how close the centaur sounded, here was not said safe spot.
The hallway opened up into a larger room. She just barely made out a counter of sorts with a man seated behind it as she entered. "Hi!" she greeted, offering a half-assed decent-ish attempt at a wave. 'Security' was just legible above the desk as she sped past it, gripping the corner with her hand and vaulting out of the room as quickly as she had arrived. "Bye!"
"What the-" she heard the man proclaim but she was already at a set of stairs before she could make out the rest, losing his voice as her heart pounded in her ears. Sorry pal, flee now, chitchat later.
Flying up the stairwell two steps at a time, Ellie shoved through the door at the top, sent it crashing against the railing…. And came to a halt in a lobby.
She sucked in greedy lungful after lungful of cool air, hands planted firmly against her knees as she bent over, eyes closed. Sweat trickled over her brow and she raised a hand to brush it off. "Jesus…" she whispered, peering behind her.
The centaur wasn't pursuing her… she was in the clear… for now.
"Okay, time to juice up," she grasped the bag on her back, hand moving to the zipper and….
Thin air. She was groping thin air.
"Bag? Bag?!" Her head snapped from side to side, gaze scanning her person. What… what the fuckity fuck? "Where-" Her eyes widened, realization dawned on her.
Subway tunnel. By the entryway. She hadn't picked it up.
She had left it behind.
Dumbass
"No!" Fuck, everything was in there! Her caps, her personal belongings, her extra clothes, her gear, and, most importantly, her goddamned stimpacks.
"Okay, no, this is fine. Everything is going to be fine," she began, running her fingers through her disheveled black hair. "There's gotta be a doctor, right? Fancy schmancy place this? Has to have a doc. Has to."
Everything ached. Her shoulder was the worst, having taken the brunt of the centaur's first attack. The sensitive skin there still sizzled, her flesh red and inflamed. She was acutely aware of the amount of blood trickling down from the pincer holes in her calf and thigh marring the otherwise glossy tiled floor. Not to mention the indescribable goo that stuck to her jacket, or the smell wafting off of her. She was a hot mess… Better begin the search.
Ellie started forwards, steps uncoordinated and unsure as she moved to the left side of the lobby. Gentle music played in the background, a smooth jazz saxophone drawling out a solo of notes. The air was scented heavily, smelling of roses and tulips, the AC clearly on as it dried her sweat dampened skin. Chandeliers overhead were draped in crystals, twinkled in the lamplight. Twin grand staircases wound their red carpeted way up to the second level where a balcony overlooked the entire first floor. Potted plants ranging from vivid colorful flowers to tangling verdant vines to full on blooming blossom trees were pocketed along the sides of the foyer. Had she the mind for it, she would say Tempenny Tower was beautiful.
But she didn't, so she gave literally no shits. None.
She pushed open the wooden paneled door to a shop labeled 'Boutique le Chic', clearly not a physician's office by any means but at least someone inside could give her directions to one. The shelves within were crammed full with odds and ends: empty dusty bottles, prewar clothes that had been scrubbed clean, boxes of bobby pins, ridiculously old BlanCo Mac, and crates of ammo to name a few. There were a few pedestrians littered throughout the rows of merchandise, focus trained onto the items. Each and every single person was clad in formal wear, men wore suits and ties while ladies adorned prim skirts with ruffles and all.
Smug. That's what she was feeling right now. These people were going to be smug.
"Almost wish the centaur would have trailed me up here," she commented under her breath. "But then I really couldn't ask for help, now could I?"
"Excuse me, how can I assist you?" called the woman from behind the register, as if on cue.
With a sigh of relief, Ellie began to turn towards the woman. "Yeah, hey. If you could please point me towards a doct-"
"Oh my god!"
Ellie bit the inside of her cheek, refraining from rolling her eyes. "The shock will pass, I assure you."
"You're a ghoul!" her perfectly red lipsticked lips were formed into a pout of surprise, batting mascara lashed eyes wide.
"Wow, amazing, you can see. Good job. Want a gold star? Now, about that doc-"
"We don't do service with your kind," she seethed, jabbing an accusing finger at Ellie's chest.
Called it. "Swell. Can you tell me who does?"
"No one here. You aren't welcome at Tempenny Tower. Leave before I call security!" By now they had attracted the attention of everyone in the Boutique. Their faces were paling, expressions mirroring that of the woman behind the counter.
"You can't be serious. I knew you guys were racist but don't ya think this is taking it a little bit too far?" Ellie switched her weight to her other foot. "All I want is some stimpacks and I'll be on my way."
"We don't. Do service. With ghouls. Leave." Each word was carefully articulated, venom beginning to ooze into her tone.
And the way everyone was closing in made the comfort level ratchet to zero.
"Kay, fine. I get it."
Ellie shoved away from the register and ducked back out into the lobby. "Prissy uptight ass wipes. Should have known better." And this, folks, is why friends weren't something she had. Not when most people in the Wasteland reacted to her as if she had three heads and was there to abduct their children and sell them to Satan.
"It's really not that far, maybe I can make it back to Megaton before I bleed out…" Ellie began to mentally calculate her route. "I'll just have to avoid any raiders, scorps, deathclaws, and ferals along the way. How hard could that be?" Ah, sarcasm.
She was halfway to the main exit when a bout of commotion caught her attention.
"It's getting away!"
"There's a horde of them!"
"Clear the lobby!"
"CENTAUR ATTACK!"
Oh, for fucks sake.
Sure enough, the door she had bashed through earlier was now open once more. A rally of guards donning some heavy duty looking armor and rifles sprinted into the lobby… followed quickly by a pack of extremely aggressive centaurs.
"I knew there was more than one," she whispered to herself.
Mass chaos ensued. Panicked screams bellowed from the balcony overhead as one of the guards, likely the head chief, started to bark commands to his lower ranking officers. Glass vases broke, shattered shards skittered across the marbled tiles. The ear splitting sound of gunfire ripped through the air, echoed off of the walls and pummeled her eardrums with a deafening roar. The gargled groans of the centaurs as they unleashed a volley of their own attacks in response was enough to send her into sensory overload.
And while a very small minuscule part of her mind told her that this was her fault and that she should assist with the defense of the tower… a much larger more rationale part of her brain cooed 'impeccable getaway option'. And seeing as she generally favored survival, she was vouching for option number two.
And nothing but a lonely little door stood between her and freedom.
She outstretched her hand for the golden inlayed handle when one voice cut through the rest. "That's her! That's the ghoul!" She recognized that voice… the security officer from downstairs.
"She tried to harass my customers!" the woman from the Boutique added as she made her way to the grand staircase, pointing accusingly at Ellie.
Seriously?!
"Stop right there!"
Uhm… "No?"
She twisted the handle and flung the large ornate door open, took a step outside, welcomed the unreasonably overheated air, and-
Firm hands clamped around her wrist and pulled her back in. "You're coming with me," sneered the officer that decided he was responsible for her capture.
"I'm leaving," she insisted, jabbing her chin towards the front gate. "Like, right now. I get it. You don't like ghouls. Made that super clear."
"You caused this attack."
"You can't prove that," she countered.
"Doesn't matter. You're a ghoul, that's reason enough to apprehend you."
"Come again? Right now? Aren't there slightly more important things you could be doing?" She began to pull and twist, planting her feet.
"Knock her out if you have to!" someone directed.
"What?" she gaped. What was WRONG with these people?
But before she could react, she felt a fist connect with the back of her head. She saw stars dance before her eyes. She watched as the ground toppled towards her face, her knees knocked out from underneath her.
And the world went black.