His hand slid smoothly over the silk floral design that rolled up the front the black vest. The silk was a dark red, giving it a striking appearance. Next to it was a dark button up shirt with maroon buttons. And a pair of stiff black jeans that had been hand pressed and looked as if they'd never seen a day of wear. Accompanying it was a pair of black leather cowboy boots, the same red floral design rolling up them. Silver spurs attached to the back.
He put the clothes on, tightening his gun-belt to his waist and tying the strings attached to the holsters around his legs. He was pleasantly surprised to see his old leather duster had been patched up. It looked more like brown leather patch-work now then anything else, though.
They'd given him all the clothes he needed, he thought to himself as he slid the black felt cowboy hat off the table and put it on his head. But reaching up pulled the gunshot wound in his side, and he groaned in pain, putting a hand over it. He could feel the gauze underneath his shirt crinkling at his touch, and the wound igniting with fire and pins and needles.
He was never much of one for medicine. Med-X would stop the pain, but he'd feel a little light headed for an hour or so afterwords. Stimpacks would help heal the wound, but he already owed Alison and the town so much. He wouldn't want to deprive them of vital medicine. He sighed, leaning against the table with his free hand and bowing his head.
He knew they'd used a lot of supplies to keep him alive. And he'd burned up a lot of their time just existing. Knowing himself was exhausting, and he couldn't imagine how Alison or the others felt. Perhaps always on edge. But regardless, there was a source of guilt there. He considered possibilities for a moment, then reached a solid conclusion. More like an excuse, however. He was promised a tour of the town, so he would talk to her during this walk.
He picked himself back up and lifted his hand off the wound, taking a deep breath and defying the pain until it dulled. He took one step, and heard the spurs make a metallic 'ting' against the tile floor. He stopped, feeling the chime resonate through him. An old familiar sound that threatened to pull him back to the past once more. But to the best of his ability, he shook the feeling and the chill off, then continued his pace out of the hospital room.
Hot and dry air hit his body upon exiting the doctor's office. Alison was leaning against the wall next to the door with her arms crossed, and he hadn't noticed. He was to awe struck with the bustling town that moved ever constant before him.
People of all variety went on their way, doing their own business. Pre-war buildings stood defiant among survivor shacks made of tin and wood. The streets of dirt stretched on for a good pace, buildings all lining the edges of it. It was then he realized the town was much bigger then he originally thought.
"Surprised?" Alison asked, stepping forward and to his side with her arms still crossed. He didn't answer, just kept looking around and taking it all in. It was good enough for her. "We've done what we can and got by. Just last year we finally finished those walls." She said snd reached an arm out, pointing to the large metal and wood walls that circled the whole town.
"What was this place? Before you took over, I mean." He asked, looking at the walls with an impressed gaze.
"Nothing more then a few buildings, really. It was a small town, had a doctors office, a grocery store, a post office, few houses. I guess they were planning on making it bigger, because we found blueprints and billboards advertising 'A gem of the sands.' The blueprints are how we knew the water was down there." She looked over at him and smiled, tugging on his shirt sleeve. "Come on, I'll give you the two-cap tour."
He followed closely at her side, looking around like a tourist. A stranger in a strange land. Everyone here had lives, daily routines that they were carrying out. Oblivious to him, but ever aware of every bit of darkness that existed outside of those walls. "How many people live here?"
He asked as he followed her around a corner and saw the grocery store at the far end of the street. Nothing had been paved yet, no walkways or roads. Just dirt paths. "Last time we counted, around three hundred and fifty. Not as much as the other cities, but we get by."
She pointed straight ahead at the store. "We sell literally everything there. Guns, ammo, food, clothing, scrap. Back room is used as an armory too." He nodded, once again impressed that they truly thought of everything. They turned to the left at the end of the street. "You said something about other cities?" he asked as they did so.
"Yeah," she said rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand. "West from here-you completely passed it on your way in I reckon- is the bigger city of us three. Rolinsville. And way to the north is a town about the same size as us, Silver Ridge. I'd avoid Silver Ridge if you plan on leavin', they govern hard out there."
It was then he remembered that he had asked when he could leave. He thought about apologizing, but didn't see a lot of reason to. "Yeah, about that." He muttered, drawing her curiosity once more. "I figure I'm still, somewhat, hurt. And I had of used a good chunk of your supplies, medicine, time, food. There's got to be a way I can repay the town. Repay you."
She looked at him with concern and worry, like someone does when they care what happens. "You're hurt. Elias." She said softly. "And besides, it's not that big of a-."
"I've been hurt for a long time, Alison." He didn't mean to say it, and not in that tone. It just came out. Now there was a look of understanding in her eyes, like she knew exactly what he meant. It made him question more about her past. "I'm forty two years old, I can take care of myself. And it is a big deal to me. I'd have died if you didn't act when you did."
He was so stern with his words, she thought. So formal and solid. He was a 'yes ma'am, no ma'am' type of guy. Ridged and still nervous. His hand rested on the old, cracked and browned leather holster on his hip. She shook her head, truly not wanting him to risk himself in such a state. Just after waking up, and four days prior having been shot.
He knew that his attitude wasn't cutting it. He'd been this way for so long. He knew all too well how to threaten and get angry. Could do it on the drop of a hat, and often times couldn't control the temper that boiled his blood. But being civil. Friendly and nice and caring. It was harder then killing a man. And that thought scared him.
But he had to do it. He had to drop his guard and act human for once. Show her that he was human. "Please." he said softly, and in much less of a rough voice. "I ain't leavin'...not until I make it right. Please."
His tone as struck her into a surprised state. She hadn't expected such a rough man to let his guard down like that. And without his walls to keep people out, she saw something in his black eyes. She saw an ocean of pain that just kept rising. It never went down. The tide never subsided. He needed this, or she'd be adding to that ocean. So she nodded gently, and slid her hand softly down the side of his, pulling him forward as she walked back and towards the gates of the city. The feeling of her touch made him shiver again.
As they approached, the gate's opened on a counter-weight system. A motor each sputtered at the top of the two platforms on either side of the fence. Elias guessed the motors ran the heavy counter-weight system. A reverse of the switch would activate a pully, drag the other weight back up and close the doors. But right now, they were groaning open.
The oddly familiar sound of hooves caught Elias' attention, and he saw a man in leather armor and a raggedy hat riding a leather-skinned strider. Such a creature Elias hadn't seen in years. The thundering hooves slowed to a mere trot as the Strider hissed and shook it's head.
"Carter!" Alison shouted at the rider, getting the ghoul's attention. He looked over at her and raised a hand, then trotted the strider over in her direction. He stopped in-front of the two and slid off the saddle, but kept his hold on the reins. Strider's were notorious for bailing on their riders the moment they were free. "Did you see anyone out there?"
The ghoul shook his head and sighed. "I tracked the footprints all the way up to Scorpion Gulch but lost them in the canyon. Whole place makes what's left of my skin crawl." He looked over at Elias, then straightened his poster.
Alison looked at her traveling companion then pointed her thumb over at the ghoul. "This is Carter Jones, my runner and one of the only people I can trust. Carter, this is Elias Booker. A legend in the flesh."
Carter nodded his head at Elias, knowing the smooth-skins didn't exactly like to shake a ghouls hand. But to his surprise, Elias' hand came out to meet his. Carter looked at it with surprise for a moment then reached out and gripped it firmly, shaking it. "Pleasure to meet ya, Carter." Elias stated in a gruff tone.
"Pleasure's all mine, Mr. Booker." He looked over at Alison and sighed. "I just came in to get a bite and some bearings, I'm going to head back out and see if I can track the little spit-fucks through the canyon."
Elias looked at the two then asked with a small bit of enthusiasm. "You need some help? I'm more then willing."
"Actually," Alison pipped a little louder then both of them, drawing their attention. "I've got a better waste of our time. Carter, you know that hospital to the west? The abandoned one?"
"Yeah, Unitex." he replied laying a hand on the strider's neck, calming it as it whinnied and huffed.
"Yeah, that's the one." Alison replied. "I want you to take Elias out there and scavenge that place, we haven't really had the chance to."
Carter raised a brow and looked over at Elias, just as the man in black and red looked at him aswell. "You up for it?" He asked, adjusting the strap across his chest and, in doing so, adjusting the Chinese Assault-rifle on his back.
Elias gave a sure nod. "Absolutely. You happen to have another Strider or am I hoofing it?" He asked, gently touching his side. Alison looked at him and had another sinking feeling of worry settle in.
"There's on the in stables next to the gate. Tell the guard to help you get it saddled, it's a bitch-and-a-half." Carter said, pulling on the reins and moving his Strider to the right and out of Elias' way. His spurs chimed against the dirt ground as he made his way to the stables, leaving Carter and Alison behind.
Alison watched him walk away, unable to shake the feeling of worry. "Maybe I should go with you guys." She muttered and looked at Carter who shook his head disapprovingly.
"You belong here, Ali." He stated, watching her sight and lean her head back. He could tell she was stressed about the whole situation. "How long has it been sense you've ridden out?"
She suddenly clinched her jaw and looked at him, fire in her eyes. "You know damned well how long."
"Exactly." Carter snapped back. "I'm not letting that happen again. You won't survive next time, do you understand me?"
His words were cutting, driving into her gut and making it sink further. The old wound had a ping of phantom pain and she sighed a shaky breath, letting her frustration out with it. Carter's shoulders relaxed and he nodded, turning and pulling the reins of the Strider with him.
She was left there, staring at the ground. Feeling like a child who wasn't able to go with the big kids. That was the defining feeling of her life. Feeling less important then everything else. Feeling held back. She couldn't dwell on it though. If she couldn't stop, then she knew there was a bottle of jack in her desk waiting for her caress.
The two Strider's kicked up dirt and sand as they galloped alongside each-other. "It's just up here!" Carter shouted over the thundering noise of the galloping. Elias couldn't see any landmarks for a hospital around. Only dunes of sand and dust-devils. They rode up the side of one of these dunes, the strider's slowing to a crawl as they reached the top.
Once there, Elias saw a totally different picture. Below in a valley of dune's stood a large structure, sand pressed up all around the outside of it and swept across the roof. Upon further investigation, a solid chunk of the roof had collapsed. Years of wear and tear no doubt. "I found this place while I was out on a run." Carter said, staring down at it like he wasn't to sure if they should be heading towards it. "You sure you're up for this? All kinds of critters and varmints live out this way. Gecko's and Nightstalker's. Radscorpions. Probably run into a few Feral Ghouls in there as well, they seek out dark structures to shelter in."
"Hmm." Elias grunted and pulled the reins back, steadying his strider who wanted go forward and down the dune. "All kinds of things seek dark shelter, Mr. Jones. I'm sure we can handle a few Feral's and some Gecko's, though."
Carter whipped the reins and his strider began the decent down the sloped Dune. Elias spurred the hing leg of his strider, and it did the same. Sand fell gently down the hill around their hooves as they descended. "Don't call me Mr. Jones, by the way." Carter chimed up, drawing Elias' attention. "Carter works just fine."
He nodded and chuckled. "Then I expect the same with Elias. No more Mr. Booker shit." He looked back over at Carter and inhaled the deep arid air. "And is that my hat? 'Cause it sure as hell seems like it is."
Carter glanced over at Elias, then back at the building. "Wondering when you'd notice." He mumbled to himself, but allowing Elias to still hear. "Yeah, sorry. I kinda misplaced mine and...I'll give it back."
He reached up to grab it off his head when Elias suddenly replied with a strong "No." Carter looked over at him to see he was still focused straight ahead. "No, it looks better on you then it does on me. Keep it. I got a new one anyway."
Carter gave it a moment then tipped his ragged leather cow-boy hat and looked straight ahead as well. Elias smirked and spurred the strider harder, causing it to hiss and trot faster down the hill.
Their hooves hit pavement under the sand, causing a unique clacking sound as they approached the building. The front doors were blown wide open, the glass long shattered. Not much could be seen past the reception desk so far, but they could both tell it was in a bad way. They hitched the strider's to a nearby-burned-out-car, then approached the door.
Elias' hand was now resting further up his holster, more on the grip of the revolver. Carter swung the Assault-rifle forward and pressed it's weathered and cracked stock to his shoulder, aiming it at the door. He glanced at Elias, noticing he was fiddling with the device on his wrist. "What are you doing?"
He finished, then put his hand back on his gun, looking over at Carter. "Turning on the sensors in this thing. It'll vibrate when it detects movement."
"Won't it do that when I move?"
"Probably." He sighed and slowly moved forward with Carter, the Pip-boy vibrating once to let him know Carter was moving too. "It's only to a certain range though, so I should know when you get close or further away."
"Alright then." Carter stated at the doorway. "You got that walkie-talkie I gave you and it's on, so we should stay in contact. Try to be as quiet as you can, just in-case there is a nest of Gecko's or some-such-shit. Room to room, clear the cabinets and first-aid boxes."
Elias raised his brow and slowly looked over at Carter who glanced at him three or four times. "Sorry...used to running with rookies. Alright, let's do this. I'll take the left."
Elias moved forward with Carter into the building. The faint smell of mold caught their nostrils and choked them for a second, making their breaths shallow until they got used to the scent. Carter broke off to the left and went around the reception-desk as Elias took the right and did the same.
Carter found his way into the waiting room. Sand was pressed up against the window and giving him next to no light. He slowly and gently pushed forward, his gun at the ready in-case anything decided to jump out of the seats that surrounded him.
He gave the room a quick right to left glance, and that's when he noticed it. The bones. Skeletons sitting in the seats, clutching to remnants of whatever bygone item they were holding when the bombs hit. He lowered his gun as he looked to his left and ahead. His eyes trained on a small skeleton, huddled into a ball on a seat. He knew it was a child, holding it's legs and resting it's head on it's knees. Radiation probably killed it. But the sight still made his heart sink.
Elias carefully passed through a doorway and into a hallway. The sound of newspaper and debris crunching lightly under his step. The hallway was long and somewhat narrow, with about a dozen rooms on each side. He sighed gently and moved forward, his pipboy casting a faint light from it's screen.
A sudden spark from a downed electric cable startled him and flashed a bright blue light in the hallway, along with shooting sparks from it's severed end. He bowed his head and sighed yet again, this time more aggravated and heavily. His Walkie-Talkie buzzed. "Found a fuze box in a storage closet, flipped some switches. Got anything on your end?" he whispered.
Elias grabbed the device off his belt and held down the button, whispering into it. "Yeah, a fuckin' heartattack from a downed power-cable. There's a lot of rooms over here, I'll be here for a while."
It buzzed again, Carter's whispering but still rough voice replying. "We're on opposite hallways, but I see where they meet up at the end. Watch your back, this place stinks of feral's and some kind of shit."
He clipped the walkie-talkie back onto his gun-belt and moved forward, taking the room on the right. It was an out-patient room. He knew it's design from a medical book he read years ago. They put patients who were about to leave the hospital in this room. Kind of like a prep-station.
He began searching the glass-windowed cabinets and drawers for anything useful. Old latex gloves, doctor's masks, stethiscope's. Nothing that was needed. He shuffled along side the cabinets, his foot accidentally kicking a glass bottle and knocking it over, causing a loud glass clank and rolling sound against the cracked tile.
He looked down with a cringe and watched it roll until it stopped. Hitting a skeletal foot. It was the first time he noticed it in the room. A skeleton sitting on the floor in the corner, a bottle in it's hand and an empty canister of Jet in the other. He tried to find a reason to care that this man killed himself most likely, but he couldn't. All he could think was that he was spared a lifetime of agony.
Carter heard the bottle and shook his head. He knew it was more then likely an accident, but it still bothered him. He grabbed the stimpacks-of which there were three- and med-x out from a first-aid kit on the wall, then closed it's lid.
The closing of the lid swung up a whiff of feral shit, causing him to groan in disgust and bat it away from his nose cavity. The smell was unquestionably rank, suggesting it had been fermenting in the hot building for a while. He exited the room and moved down his hallway, hearing that power cord from Elias' end spark. He gripped the rifle tight in his hands as he turned and entered another room, finding it empty of life and just as trashed.
Elias left his room, closing the flap on an empty leather satchel he'd swiped off the skeleton. He'd be able to store more supplied in it then his pockets. Atleast Carter had a utility belt, he thought.
He cringed as the power-cable sparked again, but kept moving. Turning to his right once again and grasped the brass handle of the doorknob, seeing that the door ahead of him on the same side was opened. He turned the knob and pushed the groaning door open.
Looking up from the knob and was greeted with a slim skeleton wrapped in rough leather skin that sagged over it's bones, acting as if it were melted as well as rotted. It let out a raspy, hoarse scream and out-stretched an arm. Elias mumbled 'Shit!' and quickly drew his revolver, barely taking aim before firing and blowing it's head in two with a single shot. Already congealed blood splattered the counter and wall behind it. The body hit the floor with a limp thud and the shot's echo resonating throughout the building.
Carter cringed at the sound, sending him on an immediate edge. He swiped the walkie-talkie from his his bandolier and whispered a yell into it. "What the hell was that!?"
Elias could tell from his tone he was panicked and not pleased at the sudden and extremely loud noise. He grabbed his device just as the downed power cable sparked. "Found a feral." He looked over at the dead body and sighed. "He wasn't happy to see me. Sorry, it was reactionary."
The radio buzzed for a second, and he could imagine Carter silently cursing him. "Well," He finally came through in a whisper. "Atleast we know there's feral's. Keep your eyes and ears open, I hear movement down the hall."
'Great' Elias thought to himself, adjusting the satchel on his side. He glanced at the body as he moved over to his left, laying his gun on the counter to reach up and open a glass paneled cabinet. Inside was small cache of mixed bottles. He grabbed the largest white one upfront and began reading.
Suddenly his Pip-boy vibrated, letting him know something was near. And from a short distance down the hall, a tin-can was kicked causing the noise to bounce down towards him. The walkie-talkie buzzed and Carter mumbled. "God-damned-feral's." There was silence afterwords, but Elias managed a scoffing chuckle. Finding it amusing that a ghoul was damning the more feral ghouls.
He shoved the bottle of pills in his bag, causing it to rattle a little. Reaching back up he grabbed another bottle and began reading. They were some kind pain-killer he was sure. As he read the power cable sparked again, illuminating the hall and the wall to his right. But this time, when it did, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. A shadow.
His eyes lifted slowly up off the bottle, not sure if what he had seen was real. His heartbeat was frantic but slow, and he could suddenly feel the tension in the air. His hand holding the bottle of pills was lightly shaking, and his breaths were shaky and deep. Somewhere in his unconscious, it had put the pieces together before he did.
He just as slowly turned his head to his right, staring at the wall as if he were expecting it to suddenly move. His hands went to work without him, quickly and quietly stuffing the bottle of pills in the satchel and picking his gun up off the counter. He knew that if were a raider or mutant that there was a flipped over gurney behind him he could use for cover.
The wait felt infinite as he stared at that wall. His thumb was tempted to pull back the hammer on his revolver, but something was keeping him from doing it. The same something that was keeping him from moving. Almost like a paralyzing fear, despite not clearly having saw anything.
He wanted total silence. He wanted to hear nothing except his own thoughts, as this abandoned building should be. But close to him, almost right up against him, he could swear he heard a light scraping noise. Like knives cutting at the tiled floor.
Suddenly the power cable sparked again. This time, it cast the clear outlined shadow on the wall. The shadow was massive, and it only depicted the head and shoulders. It's shoulder's were lightly bumpy and strongly muscular. And it's angular face seemed comprised of a short snout, slight over-bite, no nose. And two long, sharp horns that pointed forward from the back of it's head.
Elias nearly gasped, his knees buckling and causing him to quickly and damn near fall into cover behind the gurney. He pressed his back up against it and listened to the sound of what he now knew was sharp claws on the tiled ground. There was a breathy and primal hiss as it entered the room, much like that of an alligator when it hisses. But this was no alligator.
It had to duck it's head and move it's massive arms closer to it's chest just to fit through the doorway. Once it was through, it stood and deeply breathed in the air. Long and bony quill like spikes protruded from it's hunched back, scrapping against the top of the doorway frame.
It's skin was scaly and brown mixed with a little grey. It's dark eyes looked about the room out from under it's protruding brow. It's strong jaw opened, interlocking teeth separating and meshing back together when it closed it's mouth. The two slits on it's face flicked open as it breathed in the scent of a fresh kill. It looked down at the corpse of the feral and growled such a deep and guttural growl that it felt as if it shook the room.
Elias held his breath as he felt the creature's gaze in his direction. He couldn't help the rate of his heart, it was pounding out of his chest. He heard it move further into the room, turning towards the corpse and the gurney. It's long and thick tale swung across the ground as it entered the room. It slammed into the cabinets to it's left, causing it to turn and hiss with a growl. A strange noise, like something sharp being dragged across skin or leather. Elias knew that was it's twelve inch razor sharp claws protruding from the tips of it's fingers.
This was the only chance he had. Quickly, quietly and low to the ground he crawled out of the room. The power-cable sparked next to him upon exiting and nearly giving him a heart attack. He crawled into the adjacent too, pressing his back to the wall next to the door.
The Death-claw grabbed the edge of the gurney he had been hiding behind and flung it like it was a toy. It smashed into the doorway, falling to the ground on it's side once more, blocking entry and exit unless you climbed over it. Elias knew two things. The Deathclaw wouldn't be coming out that door. And it smelled him in the air. It was merely playing cat and mouse.
He looked down at his hands to find them shaking. His heart was racing and pumping adrenaline and an intoxicating fear through his whole body. He'd seen these nightmares at work before, and knew those claws and teeth weren't just show. They cleave through power-armor in a single blow. And they weren't stupid either.
Elias slowly grabbed the walkie-talkie from his gun belt and brought it up right against his mouth with a shaky hand. He turned the volume down to one and pressed the button. "Carter," his voice was below even a whisper. "get to the front door. Now. Don't reply to me, don't make noise. Just get to the door. Now."
He had to hope Carter heard his words clear enough. And that he was alive to hear them at all. Elias could still hear the massive deathclaw rummaging around in the room across from him. Unsure of how close it was to the other exit and his nerves having him a shaking and fearful mess, he didn't want to move. But he didn't have much of a choice. He wasn't a match against a Deathclaw without a serious advantage or more firepower. And it was sure to smell him out eventually. He had to move, and he had to do it now.
He peered cautiously and carefully around the corner of the door-frame. He saw only a empty, dim and trashed hallway. The power cable suddenly sparked again and made him jump back, his heart lurching into his throat and threatening to choke him.
Once he knew it had only been a spark, and still heard the death-claw tearing into what was presumably the corpse of the dead ghoul, he knew his chance was now or never. He quickly took the spurs off his boots and just as quickly crouch-walked his way out of the room and to the right down the hallway. He knew it wasn't far until he was in the lobby once again.
The relief he felt when he reached the thresh-hold of the hallway was palpable. He knew that he was almost home free. Just out of the lobby and he'd be safe. Once he reached the entryway to the lobby though, his stomach sank. And it froze him in his tracks. Something wasn't right. He could feel it in the air, feel it crawling over his skin. He knew something wasn't right, and he had to get out fast.
He stood and took one step forward when the power-cable sparked again. It illuminated the ground and wall in-front of him, casting his shadow across the ground. He turned to his side as he walked, glancing over his shoulder. Then froze in place once more. Suddenly he couldn't feel his heart beating. He couldn't breathe, but he wasn't choking. His blood ran cold like ice in his veins. The hulking Deathclaw was standing directly behind the power-cable.
He could see it more clearly then he'd have liked. The power cable hung down to it's knee's, and sparked once more. The burst of light illuminated the entire beast. He saw it's muddy skin color and rough, bumpy hide. He even saw white line's on it's body that he knew were old scars. It's breathing was stead, it's massive clawed hands were hanging at it's sides, and it's dark eyes were trained right on Elias.
He had to think quickly. Run and shoot, hope he could hit it in something vital and be faster then it. Which was almost a death sentence. Or find some way to slow it down. Carter had turned on the power, that meant some of the automated system's in the hospital were running. Perhaps even including the magnetized metal doors that required a key-card to open. The hallway in-front of him had such doors. If he could get them closed then, just maybe, they'd seal and give him a chance to escape. Or they wouldn't work after centuries of decay and the Deathclaw would merely knock them open.
He knew the worst part about this would be the dash forward, towards death it's self. He glanced at the door on his right side, and it's as if the Deathclaw noticed it. A slow gutteral growl echoed out from down the hallway towards Elias. It shook threw his body, and brought his heart back with a heavy beat.
Time seemed to drag on, Elias unsure if he was ever going to make himself do this. He kept telling himself that as soon as the power-cable sparked again, he was going to run forward and close the doors. And that wait made everything seem that much longer. Until it didn't.
Suddenly the power-cable sparked again, and out of instinct Elias had dashed forward. But so had the Deathclaw. With a deep grunt upon take-off, it's clawed feet fug into the ground and propelled it forward in large strides. Elias' only saving grace was that he was closer to the doors then the Deathclaw was to him.
He grabbed the edges of the doors and and paused them both closed, just as the beast had reached him. He heard a low buzz from the door, signaling that the magnets had taken hold. 'It worked!' he thought to himself, still in a panic. 'It fucking worked!'
The Deathclaw slammed into the doors, denting one of them and causing dust to fall from the ceiling. It roared in anger and slammed into them again. Elias wasn't waiting any longer, he turned around and ran, only looking back at the doors for a second before looking ahead where he was going, and running straight into Carter.
Carter grunted and rebounded against the edge of the reception desk, his wits knocked out of him. Elias had grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door. Another roar and bang, the doors now bent at the top. Carter wasn't even going to ask until they were hours away from this building. He regained his senses and ran with Elias, out into the sandy wastes.
Carter swore that was the fastest he's ever gotten on a strider before, and the fastest he's ever seen anyone else get on one. Their hooves kicked up sand as they road as quickly as they could back up the dune. For thirty minuets there was no talking, no other sound other then them trying to make their strider's go faster. Elias knew the capabilities of a Deathclaw, and knew he wanted to be far outside of it's territory so not to be hunted by it.
Carter looked over at Elias who had his and clenched to his side, holding the stitched up gunshot wound. The adrenaline was wearing off, and he was feeling all those suddenly jerking movement's he had to make. Especially the impact with Carter.
"What the hell was behind that door!?" Carter shouted over to Elias.
He glanced at the ghoul then straight ahead at the rocky flatland ahead. "A Deathclaw!" He shouted back. "You didn't tell me that was Deathclaw territory!"
"I didn't know it was! I've never seen one this faraway from The Crypts!" He paused, trying to even recall the last time he saw one. His memory drew a blank, and he wasn't sure if it was from the adrenaline or from old age. "I'm amazed those doors held."
"He was weak from hunger." Elias replied. "And even so, those doors were coming down by the time we were leaving. Trust me, that's as lucky as we're going to get."
Carter scoffed. "That's more then luck, that's divine providence from god."
Elias didn't know if was joking or not. He didn't think he was, but he still didn't find it worth arguing about. They both couldn't wait to see Prosperous Springs on the horizon, the sun beating down on it. It was encounters like that, that reminded them of how nightmarish and random the waste's were.
A deathclaw, this far outside of their normal territory. Carter didn't know how he was going to explain that one to Alison, then figured he may just let Elias do the talking. Though they both didn't truly know what to say about that. Elias wanted to drink away this memory so it didn't summon more. But he also knew that a few bottle of pills and some other goods weren't going to replace what he'd used up. He would have to keep working at repaying her.
And honestly...that was fine with him.