Chapter 8
The screech of metal bending sounded horribly loud in the dead silent Metro Tunnel. Rachel stoped dead in her tracks, instinctively dropping to one knee. She'd only been in the tunnel for a few minutes but already no light from outside penetrated.
She heard the echo of footsteps and then groaned as she recognized the quick patter and click of sharp claws on old concert.
She turned and sure enough, Claws was running in her direction, nose up like he was following her scent. Suddenly she realized he was. Deathclaws didn't have great eyesight on the best day.
When he was even with her she saw his shape turn sharply and he smacked into her, the force knocking her on her ass.
He nosed her elbow and inhaled deeply, giving a little yip that echoed off the walls. She had an insane moment where she thought the yip sounded prideful.
"shh," she hissed, hearing a grunt from further down in the tunnel.
"Claws. No. Go-" a hiss from the darkness cut her off and the unmistakable sound of a feral ghoul hit her ears.
Rachel turned to face the direction of the sound, her breath caught when she heard it hiss louder, and then the frantic patter of its charging feet. She brought her gun up the fired, the shots illuminating the tunnel like a strobe light.
The fell to the ground after three bullets embedded in its foul body. Rachel didn't have time to celebrate because the echo of gunfire brought the others. They were always in packs…or swarms might be the better word.
Knowing her rifle would be hard to aim and to slow to reload in the darkness she stuck with her SMG. The strobe light from her gun giving her a horrible view of the four other feral ghouls charging her way.
Claw was pressed tightly to the back of her legs, shriving with fear.Top of the food chain my ass, Rachel thought while grinding her teeth together.
Three fell before getting within arm's reach of her, the four charged past it fallen counterparts and swiped viciously at her with both hands.
She cried out as three of its filthy fingers caught her throat; she stumbled back, falling over her deathclaw. Her SMG went skittering across the floor and she scrambled after it, the feral advancing. Rachel looked up at the monster, reaching back desperately for her weapon.
Claws was suddenly there between her the newest threat to her life, sinking his teeth into the feral's ankle. It screeched and Rachel used it's distraction to lung for her gun. She rolled and aimed while still on her back, sending four rounds into its head with a snarl of her own.
The corpse crumpled onto the floor and Claws shook it's leg.
Rachel laid her gun over her stomach, panting lightly.
"Nice of you to jump in," she told the deathclaw with exasperation, "I was starting to think you were going to run away from one lone ghoul,"
Claws looked at her and then sniffed the Feral, he sneezed and Rachel laughed, getting to her feet. "You know, maybe we can make this work, since you seem dead set of fallowing me around anyway. I mean, if you can keep me from getting eaten, that could be helpful."
Claws was still looking over the ghoul, and when he licked the monsters bloody ankle she snapped her fingers, "Hey," she snapped, "Don't eat that."
He snorted but fell into place at her heel when she started walking. Rachel shook her head, how had she managed this.
Darkness had settled over the capital wasteland and the golden eyed scavenger was glad for small favors as they exited the metro.
Rachel scanned the mall and checked her Pipboy, Underworld was right up ahead. There didn't seem to be any dangers lurking close by so she holstered her gun, taking a breath of cool fresh air.
A soft gurgle noise brought her attention down to Claws and she bit her lower lip. There was no way in hell she could bring him into Underworld. She looked around and spotted a rusted dumpster set against the wall of the closet building.
Lifting the lid she was happy to find it empty. She paused for a moment and then picked him up. He looked at her with his little head cocked but made no move to free himself. She let out the breath she'd been holding and set the little beast inside the relativesafety of the dumpster.
He seemed confused so she put her finger to her lips, hushing him. Rachel dug in her pack and pulled out her blanket, making Claws a nest. Next she gave him a little bowl of water and the last of her mole rat meat.
"I'll be back in the morning," she whispered, "I promise,"
Claws settled into the blanket and she closed the lid, waiting for a few second to see if he was going to freak out. He seemed to be fine.
With a sigh of relief she slung her pack over her shoulder and turned towards Underworld.
In only a couple minutes she was standing in front of the building, a female century coming towards her.
"What do you want tourist?" she rasped,
"I'm here to deliver a letter," Rachel told the woman, "To Carol."
The ghoul lowered her gun and then slung it over her shoulder. She nodded and lit a cigarette. "Go ahead in Tourist,"
Rachel nodded and opened the doors. Her eye widen when she saw the skeleton of a massive animal on the right side of the room, and another creature with a long nose covered in fur on the left.
The crowd of people around a ghoul on a platform was the second thing to get her attention. He seemed to be selling Aqua Pura, saying it could cure ghoulisum, bring back skin and hair. Rachel thought it sound a little to good to be true.
She touched the nearest ghouls shoulder and when he turned to look at her she asked politely, "Excuse me, do you know where I can find a woman named Carol? Of Carol's Place?"
He nodded and gave her directions. She thanked him quietly and let him get back to the show. Rachel headed through a second pair of doors and stopped to marvel at the city of ghouls.
She took the steps on the left and entered yet another pair of doors, stopping just inside a bar. The door was still held open by her hand and she glanced at the sign. The Ninth Circle.
She shrugged and let the door close behind her, thinking a quick drink to wet her parched throat would be a good idea.
A ghoul in a suit greeted her with an oily smiled as she stepped up to the bar. "Don't you look absolutely…miserable." He told her and she got the feeling he was trying to sound concerned. "Pull up a stool, lay down a few caps and tell uncle Ahzrukhal all about it."
Rachel lifted one sleek eyebrow. "Scotch," she told him, laying her caps on the bar.
He poured the drink and she took it, leaving the bar in favor for a table in the corner where she could see most of the room. The only other person near the chair she'd zeroed in on was a massive ghoul leaning against the wall.
She eyed him and his own grey blue eyes stared back but he didn't say that she couldn't sit where she'd intended. She pulled out the chair and sat, leaning back with the big man on her right and the door on her left. Rachel sipped her scotch and glanced at him. She could feel his presence pressing on her as if it were a physical thing.
This was an alpha male, she could sense it as clearly as she could see the cracks in the wall or smell the lingering cigarette smoke in the air. Ferocity surged off from him, making the air around him buzz like it was electrified and even with his armor on she could see the bulge of hard muscles.
She nodded in his direction, show her respect for the other wasteland survivalist and after what seemed like a full minute he gave the slightest nod back.
Charon wasn't usually interested by the patrons in the bar unless they were causing trouble, but the little smoothskin sitting next to him was different. He kept his face stone but he gave her credit for entering his space, most strangers stayed clear of him. Most of the people who knew him did too, he was fine with that.
He'd seen her when she'd walked in, like he saw everybody, gauging the possible treat level they could be. She was thin, short, but he didn't miss the sleek muscle peeking out under worn but well cared for armor. Neither had he missed her equally well cared for weapons, or the thin scratches on her pale throat that told of a recent fight.
Her red hair and strange golden eyes reminded him of a good campfire, it was the most he'd thought of anyone in a positive way in over a hundred years.
Charon realized he was still watching her when she nodded in his direction. That was a surprise too, being under Ahzrukhal's thumb like he was Charon hadn't had anyone show him respect without fear in a very long time. Grudgingly he nodded back and then forced his gaze back over the sullen patrons on The Ninth Circle.
Rachel felt his eyes leave her and she sipped her Scotch. The liquid burning down her throat in a pleasant way. She glanced over her shoulder, up at the big ghoul that was dominating the room.
"So, come here often?" she asked, having nothing better to do.
His eyes flicked down to her like he was surprised she was had spoken and he growled, "Talk to Ahzrukhal,"
"I already did," Rachel sneered. "He seems like a creeper, I'd rather talk to you." she cocked one sleek eyebrow.
This time the ghoul didn't answer, he just stared ahead. She wanted to believe that there had been a flicker of amusement in his milky eyes but she couldn't be sure.
Rachel sighed, downing the rest of her scotch and standing. She wondered what was turning him off to a simple conversation with her but she let it go for now. She still had a job to do. She could come back later and try again. She liked a challenge.
