Finally home

Chapter 1

Hazel awoke from her slumber very suddenly, knowing something had awoken her but not being able to put her finger on what. She then heard the knocking on the door. She could tell it was nighttime from the moonlight draping through the curtains. Wondering who could be knocking at this time, she got up and wrapped a robe around herself and went cautiously to the door. She placed her ear to the door. Silence. Then a bang that nearly knocked her over.

Nick? Hazel was unsure why he wouldn't have taken his key with him but surely he would be the only one to be trying to get in at this time. She slowly opened the door and a man came tumbling in, clutching his side, disorientated, mumbling Nicks name.

Hazel quickly shut the door as the man collapsed on the floor face first. For a moment she stood there, unsure what to do, she didn't even know what job Nick had gone to do, let alone where he was. She leant down and rolled the man onto his back and gasped. His skin was all burnt, like broken leather, his nose and ears practically non existent, what was this "thing?"

She stood there for a few seconds taking in the sight that lay before her when she looked down to his torso and saw blood. Her maternal instinct kicked in and she peeled his jacket away from his wound. There was a lot of blood. She ran to a cupboard in the kitchen and got a first aid kit out, injecting the man with a stimpak before anything. She then cut his shirt away from him and revealed an awful wound, like 4 daggers had scraped from his stomach to his ribs. You could see the flesh glistening in the candlelight, but it didn't look to be too deep, that was something.

Hazel was then very glad to have the basic medical knowledge she had gained from her time in hospital, she cleaned the wound with alcohol, silently praying the man didn't awake from the pain, and began to stitch him up. Luckily the wound wasn't deep enough to penetrate further than skin. 8 stitches in each slice, it took over an hour to get him fully patched up. Finally she was done and wrapped the mysterious stranger in a blanket and put a pillow beneath his head. She hoped Nick would return soon, this man clearly knew him but what if he is dangerous? She can't fight.

She sat with the man, making sure he was still breathing. She must have dozed off because when she opened her eyes the day light was beginning to seep in. The man started to grumble and awaken, Hazel jumped up and grabbed a butter knife from the kitchen side.

"Wha-ah fuck" the man said, clutching his side. He turned and looked at you, standing there holding the knife above him, clearly terrified. "Where the hell am I?" He said. You didn't reply. "What are you gonna do, butter me to death?" Still to no reply. He looked around at the house, taking it in like a picture. "Where's Nick?" "How do you know Nick?!" You snapped at him, nearly biting his head off. "He's an old friend, like, really old friend." He smirked slightly in the corner of his mouth. "Did he patch me up?" "...no, I did." You said, slowly lowering the knife. "Why? Do I know you?" He said, grimacing to try and get into a sitting position.

"I doubt it, but you needed help, so I helped. You were saying Nicks name so I knew you knew him." You said, putting the knife back on the table. "Well..thanks. You did a good job, you a doctor?" He asked curiously, studying his wound. "No, but I have some experience.." you trailed off, not really wanting to say anything more on the matter.

"Is Nick around?" He asked, suddenly with more concern in his voice. "No, I don't know where he is, why?" You said, aware of his concern. "My friends are still out there, we were attacked by a fucking death claw of all things, bastard came out of the sewers right by our feet. I mean, I'm a damn good fighter but a death claw? I ain't that good. Damn thing slashed me before I could pull my gun, my crew started shouting and leading it away. I knew we were close to diamond city and I knew Nicky would help me so I snuck in through the gap in the wall. Don't remember a lot after that." His gaze met yours, and he tried to stand only to fall back down and swear in pain. "A death claw did that?! I've heard things about them and not many get to see them and live. And what gap in the wall?! There's no gaps, the wall is safe..."   "ah so you've been fed the bullshit too then?" He started. "About the wall being safe? About how amazing diamond city is? Tell me, do you know about all the innocent ghouls they slaughtered? How they killed as many as they could and banished the rest? Didn't teach you about that in school did they. I know about that damn gap in the wall because that's how I got them out."

"That's not true, they wouldn't do that." You said in a small voice, not wanting to believe him. "This place saved my life." You said defensively.  "Yeah, and what a life you have, trapped like a pig in a pen, unable to fend for yourself when one day it all goes to shit." He managed to pull himself to his feet and get steady. "I've got to go, my crew is out there and I have to help them, I'll be fine, I always am. Tell Nicky Hancock came by." He opened the door to leave but turned back to look at you. "What's your name kid?" He asked.  "..Hazel" you said, still dazed about what he'd just said to you. "Hazel, pretty name, thank you for helping me, appreciate it." And just like that he was gone as abruptly as he came.  Hancock. You felt as though you knew the name. Who was this man?