Once he finally evacuated himself from the building, and hit the parking lot pavement, Randy continued to run several city blocks. He kept up his panicked pace until it felt as though his lungs were ablaze and unable to take in anymore air. Hunched over leaning against a brick building wall Randy took in his surroundings. The streets around him still seemed devoid of any life. He was unable to take in much sound as his ears were ringing due to his current physical exertion. The bag was far heavier than he remembered, and he felt a bit uneasy running with two loaded firearms.
After a, not nearly long enough moment, of catching his breath Randy slowly pushed himself forward at a more manageable walking pace. As his hearing slowly started to return to him, as his heartrate settled, he surprisingly became more on edge. He could now make out odd sounds in the distance, but he wasn't really sure what direction they were coming from. One was almost like a low constant hum, while another came off as scraping, but it almost rhythmic.
As the male squirrel continued cautiously down the street the unwelcoming scraping noise started to pick up in volume. Randy's trek came to a halt as he readjusted his grip on his shot gun and he uneasily scanned the area around him. His current path was the most direct rout to Sandy's place, but he could make his way to the next street over threw a dimly lit ally, and then double back to the current street after a few blocks. As uninviting as the dark ally was, it seemed far more welcoming than whatever was making that unearthly sound.
Starting down the long alleyway Randy pressed one of the lights on that he had strapped to his packs shoulder harness. It did a fairly good job at lighting his way even if it only worked up to 10 feet in front of him. Large dumpsters hid parts of the path in front of him, so he made sure to take extra precaution while approaching them. Halfway to his intended detour Randy had so far only come across garbage and graffiti. Typical Chicago city life he though to himself. The thought made him smile, almost as if he was reassuring himself that this ally is just a safe as it would be any day, or at least not as dangerous as his imagination was telling him it could be.
Unfortunately, his calming mood wasn't giving much life as wild clambering started to radiate from one of the dumpsters behind him. Randy's head quickly snapped back to look at the cause of the commotion to find one of the first bins he'd passed now laying on it's side with some primitive canine like creature convulsing out of it. The thing was too far away for him to make out very well, but he had no intention of staying around to find out more about it. By the time Randy turned his attention in front of him he had already broke out into a full-on run. Fast trotting approached him, and he knew there was no way he'd out run it.
Pumping the shotguns grip Randy pivoted on his heel and then shot towards his attacker. The blast fired off a bit faster than Randy had anticipated cause the man to fall on his back and landing hard on his tail. "Fuck!" He screamed while pumping the grip again. The beast must have taken little damage as it still made its way towards him, only now at a much slower pace with an almost taunting swagger.
Randy had to fight his urge to shoot at the beast again. It was too far away still. He didn't want to let the thing get on top of him but the shotguns damage would be far stronger at close range. "1… 2… 3…" Right before Randy pulled the trigger again, he was able to make out some of thing's snout. It almost looked as if it had been skinned. The shot came ringing out causing the monster to fly backwards a bit and land on it's side. Randy got ready to take another shot as he watched the thing twitch before trying to find it footing. "God Damn!" Randy cursed as he too struggled to his feet.
The once quite surroundings were now coming to life on the main streets. Foots steps and rustling could be heard. "I'm fucked! I'm FUCKED!" Randy reeled in his mind as he started failed at opening a few different back entry doors.
Randy could see the shadows starting to enter the ally from both sides. He couldn't make out what happened to the skinned monster he had just shot at, but that was no longer his main concern. "I'm fucked!" Randy screamed While fumbling to reload the gun in his hands. He may be fucked but that didn't mean he was going down without a fight.
A door maybe 20 feet behind him opened and a figure came out into the dark what hold open his only hope for escape. "Well get your ass in here already!" An older masculine voice demanded.
Randy gladly heading the man's order and ran through the metal door into the dark building. He was able to make out the dishwasher area of a restaurant's kitchen by means of his light. He turned to find a buck, probably in his late 50's, baring the door.
"Turn that damn light off! Sit down and shut the hell up 'til I say otherwise!" The older man snapped.
Randy did as he was told. Sitting in the darkness and listening to the strange sounds echoing through the ally. Both men continued to sit mute as they waiting for the ally to fall silent once again.
Hours had gone by, and had it not been for the pure terror the young squirrel was feeling he might have been able to fall asleep. He was grateful he was still on edge as he had no idea who this other man was. Even if he did save his life it might not have been for Randy's benefit for all he knew. Difficult times can bring out the worst in people. He might be indebted to the old buck, but he still had priorities, those being his family.