He woke up at 6 in the morning, the dim light of the bedside lamp illuminating the room, his hand pressed to his head as a migraine threatened to rip his skull in two. "I swear it's either my blood pressure trying to keep me asleep or my brain trying to explode itself," Jeremiah Lyons whispered to himself, just loudly enough to wake the sleeping form beside him.

"Jer?" she whispered in the dark, grasping the blanket tightly in her fingers.

Jeremiah looked over at her. "I'm okay. My head is just killing me." He laid back down on the bed he shared with his best-friend-turned-honorary-little sister, Aryndel. "Don't worry about me," he murmured, placing his hand gently on top of hers, "I'm just glad you're here with me." His expression changed to one of concern as he noticed how tightly she was holding the blanket. "Are you okay? You're clutching that blanket as though your life depends on it."

Aryndel released the blanket suddenly and stared at the ceiling. "I'm fine," she whispered, but the pained expression on her face told Jeremiah that she really wasn't fine. "Just nightmares."

Jer was amazed that every morning she would say the same thing, "just nightmares," as though it was no big deal. "Sis, do you want to talk about it? You know I hate seeing you like this. I just want to talk for a bit before we go out and see what's new in the city." He squeezed her hand softly. "I know the city isn't getting any safer or better, but we have to stay till we can get enough money to return to the surface. I just don't want these nightmares to keep plaguing you, especially since the waking world is no longer a safe haven anymore."

Aryndel turned to face him, a resolute expression now taking the place of the pain before. "No," she said firmly, "Let's just go, please. You are neither our father nor my bodyguard, and I'm fine. A few bad dreams won't change that." She sat up and maneuvered herself to sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall blankly. "I know we can't go yet, but we have to keep trying."

Sitting up again, Jeremiah knew he wouldn't change her mind. "Forgive me," he said calmly. "I shouldn't have pried. Let's get the day started." Quickly trying to push back the questions he wished to ask her he knew it was best to let it be. He stood up and headed toward the door into the small kitchen. "Sis, I love you. Now, would you like some coffee?" He knew Aryn could never resist her morning coffee.

"Yes please!" she exclaimed as she followed him into the kitchen.

He started up the coffer machine and turned to his little sister. "And how would you like your coffee?" he asked. Of course he knew her answer full well. After two years of living together, there are certain things a person begins to know instinctively about the other. Though, he always asked to humor himself, expecting a funny remark from his sister.

"Black, like my soul," Aryn answered, giggling almost childishly. Jeremiah grinned, as he always did when she gave him what he expected.

As immature as she could be sometimes, Aryn never failed to bring a smile to Jeremiah's face. "Of course," he replied, chuckling. "Well for someone with a soul as black as your coffee, you sure do love me a lot."

The coffee machine whirred to life, beginning its daily routine.

Jer turned to go back to the bedroom. "While the coffee is brewing, I'm going to go shave."

Aryn's eyes grew wide in horror and she threw her arms around his neck. "Oh please don't," she begged, "Don't ever shave your beard off. You aren't you without it."

He smiled, nestling his head into her shoulder. "I was only joking, trying to scare you a bit. My beard isn't going anywhere as long as you like it." He looked her right in the eyes. "I love you."

Aryn stared back, locking eye contact as she whispered her reply. "I love your beard…and I love you. I love your beard and you."

He hugged her and sighed. "Aryndel, let's just get this day over with. I already miss laying down and talking with you, so we might as well work the day away so that it can come sooner." Jer leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "By the way, we'll be getting off work earlier today so that way we can celebrate today properly."

"Celebrate?" Aryn looked puzzled. "What are we celebrating?"

"Why, our two-year anniversary of having come to Rapture, of course. Two years of being with the most important person in my life every single day. Tonight, we'll celebrate at Kashmir, the newest restaurant in Rapture." He picked up the newspaper lying on the kitchen table and held it up for Aryn to examine. "I hear there will be live music and the creator of Rapture himself, Andrew Ryan, will be there tonight."

Aryn looked confused and disoriented. "Two years…of course. How could I forget? Jeremiah, has something happened to me in the past few days? I'm afraid that I seem to have gaping holes in my memory, events and even whole days that I can't remember."

"I'm not sure, but I've noticed it too," Jer admitted, running his hand through her hair. "We might check with a doctor I know of. He's very good and just recently came from the surface. His name is Dr. Pettifog, and I'm sure he would know something."

Her expression was worried, but Jer's suggestion seemed to calm Aryn down. "Thank you," she murmured. "I just don't want to forget a single memory of a day I have spent with you."

"We'll get it fixed," he promised, ruffling her hair lovingly. "You can trust me on this."

The coffee machine dinged.

"Coffee's done," Jer remarked. "Let's drink up and deliver some newspapers so that way we can get to the doctor quicker. And then to the restaurant to see all the people there."

Aryn yawned, grabbing a cup and filling it with the coffee. "It's nothing, I'm sure it's probably just because I haven't had my coffee yet." She took a drink and gasped. "Ow!" she shrieked. "I didn't realize it was going to be that hot!"

Jer burst into laughter and took the cup away, opening the icebox and putting an ice cube into the boiling hot liquid before handing the cup back. "Here, this might help."

Aryn's face was dubious. "Shouldn't I remember how hot our coffee machine makes coffee? That doesn't seem like something I'd be likely to forget. Would it?"

A perplexed look spread across Jeremiah's face as he contemplated the question. "No, it isn't. Aryndel, we are going to get this solved. If you want, we can run down to the doctor now and I can call in and explain to the boss that we can't come in today. I know he'll understand the situation. I don't want this to get worse."

Aryn's face fell. "No, I can wait. Let's get to work and get it done now, before I forget that too."

Jeremiah quickly grabbed his clothes and put them on hastily. He wore a worn down and dirty looking white button up shirt with black suit pants. The pants had a hole that had been slightly patched in them and were obviously handed down. He also wore a pair of black shoes that were dull and the material was only classifiable as trash. Dawning a gray messenger cap and rolling up his sleeves, he exited the restroom. Aryndel then entered upon Jeremiah's exit and quickly changed into a dirty white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over the shirt was a gray vest and she had on gray pants and black shoes that were in poor condition.

"Okay, let's go," Jer said, moving into the bedroom and opening up his nightstand. "Just have to get my gun. Can't be too cautious these days." He picked up his Makarov pistol and his pocketknife. "You remember to stay by me and not stray too far from the team, right? I don't want something to happen to you, especially while we are on today."

"I remember, although I wish you didn't have a reason to carry it. Makes me nervous," Aryndel replied, scowling.

"I know, I hate having to carry it too, but it's where Rapture is right now. Look, after today's package delivery, we won't have to worry about working again. The boss will pay us well and we will be able to head to the surface and create a new start somewhere else." He put the gun in its holster and clipped the knife to his belt. "One more day. That's all it is. One more day." He took Aryn's face in his hands. "I love you, little sister. I just want you to be safe. I'll search the globe and fight it off to make sure you are safe and happy. I love you."

"Jer, what will happen once we reach the surface?" Aryn asked, her eyes wide with anxiety. "We don't anywhere to go or anyone we can find. Everyone we knew before coming here to Rapture has failed to contact us in two years, Jer. Alexander, Jotham, Tristan, Rachel, Lizzie, Montgomery, they could be dead. They're probably dead. Where do we go when our friends are gone?" Tears had started to form in her eyes, but Jer pulled her into a fierce embrace.

"Anywhere. I promise we will find a way. Trust me. I know it'll be rough once we hit the surface, but it's the best chance we have. I do know one thing though, if our friends are still out there, we'll find them. We'll all make a new life, one where we can be safe forever."

"Then let's go," Aryn whispered. "One more day. Just one more day and we can go forever. Lead the way, brother." Then she leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "I love you."

"I love you too," Jer replied, opening the door and stepping aside to make room. "After you, sis."

Aryn grinned mischievously and bolted out the door, leaving Jeremiah to lock the door hurriedly and sprint after her.

"No fair!" he shouted. "I'm calling b***!"

"Catch me if you can!" Aryn shouted back, laughing gleefully.

"Goddammit!" she heard Jer cry out as he began to run out of breath. "Damn this body!"

She stopped and waited for him to catch up and walk alongside her. "I'm sorry, Jer," she apologized. "I wasn't thinking. Let's not run anymore."

Jer bent over to pant for a moment. "It's okay. I needed the exercise anyway. We can speed walk," he offered.

"Fine with me." Aryn shivered. "Is it just me or is it cold?"

"Oh, I see why." Jer stopped to look just across the hall. "Dam plasmid factories. They think that using all of these taxes to fund their genetic alterations will make us the new 'superior' humans. Though I'll admit that the powers can help, all of the damn splicers keep getting the powers and destroying what little is left of this utopia we once had." He began to walk away quickly, beckoning Aryndel to follow him. "Let's go, I'd rather not stay here and wait around for splicers to show up."

Aryn nodded. "I agree, let's get out of here."

Thanks for reading the first chapter of the story, stay tuned for the next installment and please rate and review!