A light suddenly flashed into Randy face causing him to flinch. "Stay put while I get the lights."

Randy sat and watched as the other man made his way to the other end of the room and heard the flipping of a few switches. A low hum immitted from the ceiling before several fluorescent lights came to life.

"Stay down!" The buck commanded. After a few more minutes passed he finally signaled for Randy to stand.

"Uh… thanks." He started while keeping a close eye on the man that just saved his life.

"What the hell were you thinking, boy?!" The old man came up and pushed Randy's chest causing him to fall back into the large dishwasher behind him. Randy tightened his grip on the shotgun caused the other man to shake his head in disbelief while turning his back to him. "You could have gotta us both killed."

"I was trying ta avoid getting killed." He snapped back in defense.

"What the hell are you doing on the streets?" The elder man turned back towards the squirrel. "Why aren't you staying put like the city ordered?"

"I've never been good at following orders. I just woke up today and everything was…" He trailed off briefly while looking at his feet still not fully able to take in all that was happening. "Well…. Everything was like this." The squirrel gave out a light sigh. "I just need ta find my sister."

"Boy, this shit went down 3 days ago." The buck looked questioningly at Randy.

"No." He disagreed. "I feel asleep after the bad traffic last night and woke up to this. There is no way this-" Randy motioned uneasily around him with his hand. "-has been going on 3 days."

"Guess you're a sound sleeper, boy." The man sarcastically laughed under this breath.

"My name isn't boy. It's Randy." He stared down his savor. "Ain't no way I could have slept that long."

"Well, Randy…" His name coming out of his hosts lips held a touch of not so hidden irritation. "It wouldn't be the craziest thing I've witnessed in the past few days."

"None of this makes any sense." Randy shook his head in disbelief.

"They world hasn't made much sense to me for the last 20 years. Just seems we suddenly dropped straight into hell instead of going about the usual slow decline." The buck peered into the dinner area briefly before looking back at his guest.

"Ya ain't gonna start preaching at me are ya?" Randy rolled his eyes while loosening his grip on the firearm in his hands.

"Don't imagine I have much right to." A moment of silence passed between the two before the buck spoke again. "Your sister really so helpless she needs the likes of you to take care of her?"

Randy laughed and set the shotgun down on the stainless streel counter leading to the dishwasher. "More likely I need her protection." His grin quickly disappeared. "She got some little ones though. I just wanna help her anyway I can."

"Seems to me the best thing you could do is not lead an assortment of hells creatures to her doorstep, as you so kindly did to me."

"You didn't have to let me in." Randy snapped.

"I told you I had no right to preach to you, and that is because I have a lot of things in my life I need to make up for before my impending demise. Thought helping your dumbass out would at least put one good deed on my record for the year."

Randy leaned ageist the cold stainless steel rim of the counter top as he attempted to understand his new found companion. "Thank you."

The buck nodded his acceptance of Randy's gratitude.

"What's yer name?" Randy questioned.

"Joseph."

"I feel I'm in yer debit Joseph. Anything I can do before I leave ta make us even."

"Well I don't know about even, but you could help me move most of this food into the office there, as I plan to wait things out in there a bit. You're welcome to take any leftovers with you." Joseph motioned his hand to an open doorway behind him.

"Doubt I'll be able to carry much, but that'll just leave more for you." Randy then took his pack off and sat it next to his gun as he walked towards the pantry with the other man.

"You best take more than you likely can carry if you're looking to help your sister and her litter." The old man suggested.

"Litters." Randy corrected.

"You'll need a lot of food and even more luck then."

The two set to work on setting up Josephs hiding space. After the buck made them a bountiful dinner, as the gas was still working, Randy was shocked to see that the sun had already started to set again.

"It's best you wait until the morning to head out again anyway." Joseph stated after reading the concern on Randy's face.

"I know it's just…." The young man cleaned the last of the food off his plate and then looked at his host. "I need to get to them as fast as I can. If anything were to happen, I don't think I could handle it."

"So you're selfish?" Joseph noted.

"Excuse me?!" Randy started to rage as he tossed his plate on the counter next to him.

"You're concern for them sounds to be only for your own comfort. At least that is how you just put it." The old buck smiled as he finished up the last of his plate. "Don't hold others accountable for your happiness or you'll never be happy. Now get some sleep boy."

Before Randy had time to argue the buck had already made his way into his new living space, and leaving Randy out in the, now dark kitchen, alone.

"Fuck you too." Randy muttered under his breath as curled up on the floor after moving his pack and gun down next to him. It took almost no time at all before Randy lost his senses and fell into the depths of himself.

After Randy fell into a deep sleep, but to his dismay his mind was full of dark reminders from his past to assault him with.

Dean, Randy's father, was standing above the 15-year-old Randy. The boy cowered near the couch, as his father read off his grades to him. "How on Earth are ya getting all F's with yer sister helping ya? How dumb are ya, boy?" Dean started to take off his belt, so Randy knew full well the beating he was about to get.

"I don't know." He muttered right before his father hit him multiple times across the back.

"You're worthless…." Dean barely spit out before putting his belt back on.

"I know…" Randy mutter as he had a hundred times before. Next to his sister he was nothing.

"Get out of my sight!" his father demanded as Randy fled to his room.

Sandy was away for a week at some camp college thing. Their father usually was less harsh on Randy when she was around, but once she took her leave… he became a punching bag. Randy knew he was nothing next to Sandy, and still struggled to even be a normal student. Still his parents didn't make an attempt to help him, but just put him down. How could they have a perfect child only to be cursed with his… struggling self.

Randy knew his place from the time he was very young. He was the disappointment. His parents didn't love him, but only acknowledged him for Sandy's sake. Everything was about Sandy…. And he hated her for it. But that wasn't the total truth…. He lover her far more than he could ever admit. Despite how much anger he held towards her… It wasn't her fault after all, and when it came down to it… she was the only one that really loved him.

Randy cuddled up in his bed as he pushed his tears away. Thoughts of his sister came through clear as day. Her happy smile… her welcoming hug…. Randy couldn't help himself. He started enjoying himself to the image of his loving sister. "Yes!" He lightly moaned as he imagined her in a way, he knew he shouldn't'.

She was his darkest secret. He knew it was wrong, and he had no right, but…. She was the only thing that had kept him alive since he could remember.