15. Encounter: Hancock and Nora take a day trip to Salem.
One never knew what they'd encounter out in the wasteland. Hancock kept himself low as he followed Nora through the ruins of an old Salem museum. She told him it was something about witchcraft, but Hancock had a hard time believing a devil or demon could force humans to do awful things to their fellow man. Man would use any excuse to kick others while they were down. So far, the only thing odd about the museum was the fact that the front door had been barred, so they had to go through the cellar, and something above them was eating. Loudly.
Nora nearly shrieked when a body fell through a hole in the floor above. Hancock saw the shadow first and had jumped up to cover her mouth in time to avoid being detected by whatever was making the floor rumble above. They stood still for a moment. One of his arms was around her midsection, the other wrapped around her to cover her mouth. Both her hands were on his arm holding her face, nails digging into the sleeve of his frock. Her back was flush with his chest and Hancock wondered briefly what she would do if he tilted her head back and buried his face in her neck. He was sure she could feel his heart thumping through their clothes.
She let out a long breath through her nose, he felt it on his hand and released her so she wouldn't feel the shiver creeping up his back.
She gave him a signal to wait and crept up the stairs despite him shaking his head no and whispering protests and warnings. She reached the first floor and Hancock settled back in a corner letting out a slew of creative curses under his breath.
Supposedly something valuable was in the museum, but Hancock thought the only thing of value here was Nora's life-which she was throwing away by heading towards the big, scary noises!
All was silent for a moment and Hancock leaned forward to peek up the stairs. Normally he followed Nora's instructions when she told him to wait, but something in the stale air didn't feel right.
Then Nora screamed and Hancock bolted up the stairs two at a time, heart dropping to his stomach as he grabbed the stair banister, and whipped himself through a door. Nora had something clutched to her chest as she weaved between decayed walls. A tall alpha, albino Deathclaw chased her around, turning with pinpoint precision around corners, tongue flicking out as though ready to devour Nora.
"I told you to stay put!" Nora screamed over the roar of the Deathclaw. She bumped into a collection of mannequins and nearly fell to her knees.
"What the hell?!" Was all Hancock could spit out, he pulled out his shotgun. Nora pushed herself upward, catching herself as the Deathclaw's jaws snapped down where she had just been standing.
"Don't shoot! The whole building will come down!" As if to prove her point Nora jumped off a pile of debris and ran away from the Deathclaw which slammed into the wall causing the whole building to shake. Dust fell from the ceiling, this whole place was a death trap!
"Then let's get the fuck outta here!" Hancock ran back to the door, holding the doorknob tight with one hand and waving Nora over with the other. He prayed to every God that she could find a burst of speed, the Deathclaw getting closer with every turn. Nora ran over, dodging the swipe of the Deathclaws deadly claws. The Deathclaw reached out to swipe at them but Hancock threw the door shut and hurriedly pushed Nora down the stairs. He was grateful the thing was too big to fit down the stairs, but he wouldn't put it past the creature to try. As they ran through the underbelly of the museum Hancock could hear wood splintering and feel the heat of the Deathclaw's breath on his back. He dared a glance behind him and saw the creature trying to rip up the floorboards.
Nora threw open the cellar doors and threw herself on the ground outside, she turned over and helped Hancock slam the door shut with her feet. "That's it. No more mysterious fetch quests unless we know what we're getting into." Hancock panted.
"Agreed." Nora held up a pristine Deathclaw egg. Hancock would murder the ass wipe who gave them this job. He groaned as he helped her stand up. They stood chest to chest, the only thing separating them was the egg still clutched in her arms. For a moment neither of them moved.
Nora's face broke into a smile and she snorted once before bursting into laughter. "We almost died!"
"Is this that 'high on life' bull that Sheffield goes on about?" Hancock was still trying to catch his breath. Nora nodded through her giggles, Hancock smiled.
"I don't think I'll be returning this to Wellingham." Nora smiled fondly at the egg and the tension in Hancock's shoulders melted away.