Toxic [C.H]

Chapter 1: The Ghoul

My eyes were met with intense sunlight.

I put my arm up to try and cover the rays but it still was strong. The wind blew and I felt some dirt hit my face.

I started to step out from the vault door. The heat was blistering compared to my vault. It was cutting through my vault tec one piece. This was definitely something I wasn't used to.

As I walked further, I noticed some bones along the sand. I crouched down to look at it further.

"These are human." I grabbed a stick nearby and pushed the bone to the side exposing some maggots.

"Ew, what the fuck." I threw the stick and stood back up, backing away. I looked around with my hands on my hips.

"Okay, seems easy right?" There was nothing but a desert. Nothing in sight for miles. Just me, some dead guys scattered around and my will to get my father back.

I began to walk the path down, passing some empty ammo boxes. The wind blew my hair into my face as I looked at my pip boy. There was some heavy radiation nearby.

Looking back at the vault door, it was now so out of reach. I felt scared but motivated. There was no other way and I'm willing to risk it all. Tugging on my backpack strings, I looked forward.

I wasn't going to come back without my father.

——————————

"Ha! Look at that!" I said to myself smiling. There was a huge rundown store in front of me. I've walked for miles and I haven't come across anything yet but this. I was excited to go in and see what I could find.

I quickly jogged over to the entrance, pushing my way inside through the jammed door.

Inside everything was tossed around and it looks like someone was here already. I walked down the aisles looking at all the empty cans and blood stains on the floor.

There was a smell of something rotting so I covered my nose. I turned the corner and was greeted by a dead body with its head chopped off.

"Oh my god!" I yelped then immediately covering my mouth. The person had a backpack and a flask thrown over its body. I bent down and took the flask, shaking it.

There was still something in there.

I opened the backpack and found lots of vials. I took my backpack off and started to stuff the vials in my bag.

Continuing to look through the dead individuals bag I found a first aid kid and some knives. Stuffing those in my backpack as well along with the flask.

I zipped up my bag and stood back up to explore more of the area.

Then I heard a noise...

"No fucking vials anywhere, can't find shit..." I heard a man's voice say from the other side of the store. My eyes went wide and I placed my hand on my gun that was attached to the side of my right hip.

I started to slowly move around to see who the voice was coming from.

"Fuck!" The voice said. I continued to walk down the aisle cautiously.

There was a noise of crackling under my feet when I took a step. I immediately looked down and I stepped on a crumpled up piece of a large poster.

"No.." I whispered to myself, closing my eyes. Hoping whoever else was here didn't hear it.

"Who's in here!?" The man shouted, I could tell he had a little drawl to his voice. "Better to show yourself."

I didn't move.

"It's better you find me rather than the other way around..." He said. "... 'Cause if I get to ya first it won't end well."

Finally, I built up the courage to say something.

"I mean no harm!" I shouted, still not moving. "Please, I'm just passing through..."

I heard footsteps coming closer but I couldn't tell where they were coming from. Finally, I started walking again. I took my gun out the holster and pointed it forward as I walked.

The silence was killing me. Why didn't he respond?

I looked back and there was no one behind me. Reaching the end of the aisle, I turned and the end of my pistol met with the end of another.

It was a tall man with melted skin. He wore a long tattered coat and a cowboy hat. His nose was completely gone and I shuttered at the sight of him. My eyes were wide and my breaths were rapid.

"There's no such thing as 'just passing through' up here sweetheart." He said, a small grin formed as his yellow teeth peeked through. "I suggest you put the gun down."

I shook my head no, not saying a word.

The man aimed to something behind me and shot. I heard the bullet fly right past my left ear. The light above at the end of the aisle started flickering.

"I said put... the gun... down." He snarled, his eyes looking feral.

My heart was beating fast and my gun was still pointed at him. I started to slowly lower my gun. I threw it to the ground and put my hands up.

"Please, sir I just-" I began to say but was immediately cut off.

"The bag. Toss it." He said, motioning over to my backpack. I took it off hesitantly, then tossed it towards him. The man caught it and immediately started sifting through my bag.

"Ohhh, sweet glory..." He smiled, pulling a handful of vials out of my bag. He started stuffing them in his pockets.

"Hey! Those are mine!" I said starting to walk towards him. "I found those!"

"Well, they're mine now darlin'." He snapped, pointing his gun at me again making me stop in my tracks. I huffed with anger.

"You know stealing is wrong."

"Then I don't wanna be right." The man took the flask out my bag too then threw it to the ground. He opened it and started to drink it.

"And now you're stealing my water, great." I crossed my arms.

"Radiation water. You don't want it anyways."

"Well, it's something..."

"Drink that and you'll end up like me. Don't drink it and you'll be better off dead." The man said as he walked closer to me. His pistol pointed towards me again.

"By the looks of it you won't survive out here long anyways Vaultie." He had a leather bag draped over his shoulder. The man fixed it a bit as he looked me I and down.

"Don't call me that." I stared angrily into his sunken eyes.

"I do what I please up here."

"It's Anna." Saying as I continued to stare.

The man kicked my bag back over to my feet.

"Pick it up, let's go." He said. I picked my bag up and slung it over my back. He placed his foot over my gun that was still on the floor. The man holstered his gun and pulled out a rope from under his coat.

He grabbed my hands and started to tie them together.

"Hey, get off of me!" I struggled but I was too weak compared to him. He managed to tie my hands and have me on a leash. He started to walk away, pulling me with him. I staggered from his forceful tug.

"You're gonna bring in some hefty caps sweetheart." He chuckled. "Isn't this just my lucky day." He turned back to smile at me as he led me through the door. My eyes went wide.

"No please! I have to find my father, you can't do this!" I struggled again but he gave another forced tug.

"Oh, that I can." His low drawl sent a shiver down my spine.

He's going to kill me.