FO4 | Book 0: The Diaries of Anarchy ✔️

June 23, 2255

Delivering packages outside the wall didn't seem too difficult. Jack had another employee of his — his name was Alex — to show me the ropes. Alex was a real good guy. He had a good head on his shoulders, he was funny, and he was good at what he did. He even showed me how to use my new shotgun. 

The shotgun was intimidatin' at first. I wasn't used to the kickback, and it made my arm sore for the first few tries. Alex told me I needed to start liftin' weights.

He was a tall guy with a dark brown complexion and short hair shaved close to his head. He usually wore leather armor and combat boots. He told me I needed to get some armor, too — swore that it would save my life one day. Said in all the years that he'd been workin' for Jack, he found armor to be the most useful thing that'd keep him alive in a hostile situation.

The first time I walked out of the gates, I was nervous. The last time I ventured out here, I was younger, injured, and angry at the world. I had to remind myself that I wasn't as ignorant as I was back then, and I had a professional with me.

This was my sixth time traveling outside of Diamond City, and I was startin' to get used to it. In fact, I was beginnin' to enjoy the freedom. We only had two packages to deliver near Hangman's Alley, which wasn't far from Diamond City. It was supposed to be a quick hour-long job.

"You ever thought about bein' a caravan guard?" I asked. "Heard that pays better."

"Yeah, I've thought about it. It's not exactly something I want to invest my time in, though. Some of those caravans are shady, and they get targeted by raiders and Gunners often. I prefer just delivering the packages and letters. This way you're less of a target. Sure, the pay isn't as good, but nothing's worth your life."

"Hm. I guess you're right. And why do they call this settlement 'Hangman's Alley?' Doesn't exactly sound inviting to settlers lookin' for a place to settle down."

"You don't wanna know."

I gave him a stout nod, supposin' I didn't.

We walked across the broken asphalt roads and dead grass, weaving through broken-down cars, crooked signposts, and pieces of debris from the crumbling buildings and houses. The weather was holdin' up, and it was hotter than the devil's asshole out here.

We had almost reached Hangman's Alley.

"The difference between Diamond City and other settlements is the Wall. The Wall protects the city better than anything out here. If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have been able to build a school, a church, a post office, anything."

"Why can't people just build walls of their own out here?"

"The way the wall is built around Diamond City — it's unique. It's prewar. It was built with heavy machinery that isn't available today. So building something like that is damn near impossible these days."

"I see."

He chuckled. "Yep, and that's why —"

Suddenly, a bullet pierced right through his forehead. He stared at me, expressionless, before falling to his knees and dropping the packages on the pavement.

My heart dropped into my gut, and a cold sweat overtook me. I held my shotgun at the ready, hands shakin' like leaves in the breeze.

"A-Alex?" I stuttered quietly, but he was long gone.

Shit, shit, shit!

"Whoa, there, young fella," said a voice from behind a dead tree.

I aimed my gun on them. "Who are you, fucker?! Get your ass out here now!" My voice squeaked.