He awoke. It was sudden and as he stood up he groaned from the pain he felt in his now very swollen face. Tripping over his dizziness he grabbed onto the back of the seat inwardly thanking the inanimate object for being there. His vision was blurred and his head was groggy as he slowly worked his mind back to what he deemed to be working condition. The room was quiet, more so than he would of liked missing the slight clink of glasses and slurred words of the drunk ghouls happily drinking themselves to death. Something was wrong and something in his chest told him something happened to Ahzrukhal which made his heart stutter with what felt like happiness. His mind however told him to look for his employer and make sure he was alright because that was his job. Fortunately he didn't have to search long for his employer was still unconscious and laying on what looked to be a broken bottle, blood pouring down his face. He felt the corners of his lips turn up as he stared at his employer, hoping he wouldn't wake up anytime soon so he could assess the damage without being beaten for he was sure Ahzrukhal would be pissed when he woke. He knew who did it too. That girl. He instinctively grabbed the side of his face where she put her gentle hands and caressed his rough skin. He was cleaned and bandaged, he took note. He had dreamed of her too. Touching him in places he hadn't been touched or touched himself for nearly 65 years.
He felt the tightening in his pants but pushed it aside as he walked over to his employer embarrassingly sprawled upon the floor. He gently nudged Ahzrukhal but he didn't stir and he nearly prayed he would never wake up. Maybe he would bleed out slowly or his wounds would get infected and Charon could watch as he slowly died of natural causes and stupidity. That way Charon didn't break the contract of murdering him himself. He smiled sourly and brought his attention to the white box next to his feet. Inside was a half used bottle of liquor and a stimpack he assumed was empty as he touched the small bump that formed on his neck from the overzealous jab she inflicted on him. He chucked before lifting his eyes to the bar to see where she got the supplies. He nearly froze, wide eyed as he stared at the now open fridge and open safe. Running faster than he had in the 40 years he'd been stuck in The Ninth Circle not being able to, he made his way to the safe and felt his heart lurch into his throat as he stared at the emptiness that also seemed to crawl around him.
She leaned into herself on the bed gasping for air as she had her hands on her forehead. She didn't even bother responding to Carol's confused question when she ran into the closet and slamming the door rattling the supply rack just on the outside. She heard Greta cursing loudly as she caught anything that fell from the rack. Putting it back on the shelf she banged on the closet door for Mandy to be more careful next time.
She needed something to calm herself down. She was going to hyperventilate and die in this suffocating closet if she didn't calm down although it seemed much better than dying by the hand of a ghoul she worked so hard to take care of. She remembered grabbing everything that was left in the safe, everything including the drugs Ahzrukhal sold to willing clients. She grabbed her bag that was sitting by the door and began rummaging through it to find something that would calm her down. She wasn't a drug user but she knew things were not in her favor this time around so getting a little high while being torn apart seemed to make the idea almost pleasurable if it was Charon doing it. She gave herself a small slap on the face for getting turned on by it and continued her search through her bag.
She found what she wanted and tore it out of the bag, taking the lid off and shoving it in her mouth she pressed down on the jet and felt her lungs fill with the chemicals that caused her to cough uncontrollably. She dropped to her knees holding her chest as the bag fell beside her. She felt tears in her eyes as she began to calm down and grab at her bag. She grabbed it too forcefully and it regurgitated all of its contents on the floor, including a very old, very torn piece of paper. She eyed it curiously wondering how it got there. She never picked up documents because they were completely useless in the wastes. The only document she ever owned was the deed to her home in Megaton that was safely kept away in the compartment of her loving robot butler so seeing this piece of paper was very foreign to her. She gently picked it up not wanted to tear it as it seemed very old and read each word carefully. Words jumped at her and her heartbeat quickened and became deafening in her ears.
"His...Contract..?" Was all she muttered as her shocked expression turned to one of complete and utter horror at what she had just stolen. She sat there on the floor contract in hand, CHARON'S contract in hand as she read over the words over and over again. Tears began to fall as she moved her body in the fetal position swaying slightly continuing to read not feeling the thumps of boots, or the light that touched her damp face when her door swung open or the rough hands that forced her up and over his shoulder digging into her skin and her stomach finally gave out over his backside as he made his way back the bar.
He stood there paralyzed in fear at what this girl had done. She stole his contract. Why would she do that? Did she mean to? What's going to happen now? Questions circled in his mind as he slowly sank to the floor. This had never happened before, no one willing stole his contract because no one had the guts to and although he didn't like the thought of her having his contract, it was better than Ahzrukhal having his contract. He heard Ahzrukhal groan as he watching his hand shoot up to his head and swipe the blood from his eyes.
"Charon. God dammit where the fuck are you? Help me the fuck up!" Ahzrukhal said wincing as he got into a sitting position.
This didn't change anything did it? He still belonged to Ahzrukhal whether he liked it or not, just because someone stole it didn't mean the contract obligations changed as Ahzrukhal was it's rightful owner. She had to buy it, or Ahzrukhal had to die in which Charon's contract would become his to sell to whoever asked. A sour taste formed in his mouth at the realization of still being a slave as he got up and slowly grabbing a nearby towel and made his way to his employer. He knelt down and grabbed Ahzrukhal's arm pulling him up and handing him the towel in which Ahzrukhal took harshly and made his way to the bathroom muttering something Charon couldn't understand. Even though he was still a slave a slow calming sensation of normality crept its way that burned his insides at the though of this all being normal. To him though, being a slave was.
Ahzrukhal exited the bathroom pointing one disgustingly long finger at Charon.
"Bring that Bitch to me, ALIVE. I'm going to make her scream." He didn't even smile as he looked at his now messy and empty bar.
"And don't forget to bring your contract back to me." He said bitterly walking towards the destruction.
Charon felt his feet glide him towards the door and he was on his way to the smooth-skins room. Without hesitation he walked straight there and through the door he could hear her weeping. She must have known this was coming. His heart began to throb and he didn't understand why. He clutched his chest and became angry as if it wasn't ok for his heart to beat rapidly without his permission. He hesitated for a second before opening the door and eyeing around the room before they fell down to the girl crying and swaying with his contract in her small hand the other grasping her pant leg for dear life turning her knuckles white, eyes practically bulging out, blood shot and raking over it in horror. She barely looked up at him when he grabbed her arms and hoisted her over his shoulder noting the smell of jet in the air and how large her pupils had become. He stepped through the doorway and as the light hit her face she vomited all over his back. He grumbled but continued walking towards Ahzrukhal.
When he reached The Ninth Circle the doors were closed and lights were turned off to signal he was closed to everyone. Everyone except the vaulty. He knew what was about to happen and part of him was becoming sick as her weight suddenly began to feel very heavy against his shoulders. Why was he feeling guilt? She stole his contract! Pushing all the feelings his heart was telling him about turned back and hiding her somewhere safe from the mad man, his brain forced his hand on the doorknob and turned it and reluctantly shoved through the opening.