Chapter 11: Contractor
I walked up the stairs to the Ninth Circle. The smell of smoke and liquor hit me like a brick. A sleazy looking ghoul in a suit was staring at my chest. I folded my arms and sat down at a table.
I fiddled with my Pipboy to switch through all the new notes I picked up over the days. I looked up to see a huge ghoul glaring at me from his seat across to me.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. I'll move if you want." I stood up and walked to the counter to take a seat.
"Welcome to the Ninth Circle. I'm Ahzrukahl. How... may I help you?" The ghoul drew his words out slowly. If any ghoul were to be considered a zombie, it would be him. His suit was a torn mess and it was stained all to hell. He reeked of a mix of decaying carcass and moldy book.
"I'd like a bottle of vodka."
"A... whole bottle?" When he smiled, I could see a mouthful of rotten teeth. He was disgusting.
"Yeah, how much?"
"For a pretty thing like you, twelve caps."
"I will pay regular price for this bottle and no less." I was almost certain that he'd think that giving me a discount meant I "owe him".
"Feisty. I like that." He breathed in deeply, "twenty caps."
I handed him the caps to get him to just stop fucking talking to me. He slid the bottle across the bartop. I popped the top off and chugged a quarter of the bottle. Both the ghoul from the corner table and the one behind the counter stared at me. Was it frowned upon here or just impressive?
My guess was impressive because Ahzrukhal turned his head and muttered "holy shit."
"I have some business matters to discuss." I didn't want to talk to him anymore but I didn't come all the way here for nothing.
He leaned on the counter to get closer. His breath smelled like swamp water.
"And what might that 'business' be?" He raised what was left of his eyebrow. He was absolutely putrid.
"I want Charon's contract." The ghoul in the corner shifted. I could only assume that was Charon.
"Oh my, it won't come at a cheap price. He's my body guard. I can't just sell it without a backup plan."
I could already feel the gaping hole in my pocket. "How much for the contract?"
"I'd say... uh, one thousand." He was scratching his chin, pieces of skin flaking off onto the filthy bar.
"Pretty steep. Eight hundred."
"I need you to understand that with Charon gone, I'll need a new employee to fill in his position."
"And eight hundred sounds like more than enough for a body guard."
"Nine hundred."
"Eight fifty. That's my final offer."
He looked like he was going to take it, but only because he'd been caught. "Fine. Take the fucking contract."
It took around twenty minutes to count out all the caps. The bar was covered with them. Ahzrukahl was practically drooling on himself at the sight.
I pushed the caps over to him with as much force as I could without flinging them all over the room. He handed me the contract.
"Why don't you do the honor of telling him yourself?"
I turned around to see Charon staring at me with his arms crossed.
"I think he already knows. Charon, welcome to the club." I waved the rolled up paper in the air.
He unfolded his arms and met my side.
"Well Charon, it's been a good..." I heard Charon cock his gun.
I looked over in time for the left side of my face to get blood spattered on my face and down to my neck.
"We can go now, Mrs." He sounded angry, yet still pleased.
"Oh my god, it's in my mouth."
"I apologize." He said not-so-sincerely.
"It's... fine. And please don't call me Mrs. It makes me feel old. Just call me whatever you want."
"What is your name?"
"I'm Eleanor, nice to meet you." I shook his hand.
"I shall call you by your name, then."
"That's fine. Do you guys have showers here?"
"They're in the front. I'll show you."
"Thank you so much."
After the shower, I got dressed in cleaner armor I picked off of a raider in Anacostia. It was made of metal and excruciatingly heavy.
"Are you ready to go?"
"I'm as ready as you are."
"Let's head out then."