Captain Rayford Steele, no longer dignified and haughty, curled up in a ball on his bed, rocking and sobbing. What an idiot. He'd been such a cocky, self-centered moron. And now Irene and Raymie were gone.

Not necessarily lost. He knew exactly where they were. Irene had frequently preached her Christian beliefs to him. Jesus Christ had come to rapture his church. And now Rayford Steele was among one of billions to be left behind.

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Lisa finally pried herself away from Jackson and dragged herself up to lean on the couch.

"You okay?" Lisa was shocked at the expressive concern in his voice. She nodded but still felt slightly entranced.

"I'm as good as can be expected."

"But that's not exactly ok, is it?" Jackson replied, irony lacing into his raspy low voice.

"No, its not," Lisa wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve. A tight knob had begun to form in her stomach.

"So do you think he died instantly, in that fire?" he mused, not rudely but more as if pointing out that he probably did to Lisa.

"He didn't die in that fire."

"I thought you said..."

"The house burned, Jackson. He wasn't in it."

"I'm lost," Jackson threw up his hands. "I thought he died, in that house, during the fi-"

"My dad was a Christian."

Jackson blinked. "That's fantastic for him, Leese. What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"It has everythingto do with it!" she cried, intensely focusing her eyes on his. "The reason the house burned was because my dad disappeared. And do you now why he disappeared?"

Jackson shrugged. "I don't know. The guys in the whirlybird were talking aliens or nuclear reactions..."

"No!" she gripped his wrist. "My dad used to talk about it. Its Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ raptured his church, Jackson!"

Jackson ripped away from Lisa and stood up, distancing them. "If that's what gives you comfort, fine. But I'm not buying it."

"I'm not using it as a security blanket, Jackson," Lisa turned her head in disgust. "Its just the only solution that makes the most sense."

"So God took all the good people," Jackson hissed sarcastically. "That idea still has some serious holes, Leese. You're not a bad person. Why are you still here?"

Lisa deflated. "I...I don't know."

"So the master admits it," Jackson rolled his eyes coldly as Rayford stumbled back downstairs.

"Hey," he croaked. He looked a mess, his dress shirt untucked and wrinkled, his short hair tousled.

"Hi," Lisa murmured. Jackson excused himself to use the phone. Lisa scowled. Just when he'd begun to change, the damn insensitivity resurfaced again.

"Did you get in touch with your people?" Rayford leaned on the stair rail.

"Yeah. I..." tears formed in her eyes. She swallowed hard. "I'm alone. I lost my parents and a close friend."

Lines of angst crossed his face. "I'm sorry to hear that. My wife and son vanished as well. My daughter is still here though."

"That's good," Lisa encouraged, but his expression suggested otherwise. "So do you know why..."

"I have a hunch," he pulled his jacket off the coatrack.

"Where are you going?" Lisa stood alongside him.

"To find some answers," he replied fiercely. "You coming?"

Lisa glanced at Jackson's back to her in the hallway. Screw him. Nothing he could do to stop her now.

"Yeah," she followed him out the door without telling Jackson. "I'm coming."

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Chloe finally arrived at her house after a short plane ride. She didn't see her father's car and grew worried. Running to the house and flinging open the door, she cried, "Mom! Dad! Raymie!"

A thin man in a suit entered the foyer through the kitchen.

"Who are you?" she yelped. The man frowned. "Why are you in my house?"

"Your house?" he scowled. "Are you related to the guy who lives here?"

"I'm his daughter," her hands snaked behind her back for an umbrella. "Who are you?"

"Friend, I guess," he shrugged coldly. "Where's Lisa?"

"Who's Lisa?"

"We're staying here," the man snapped.

"How do I know you're not a looter?"

"Do I look like a looter?"

"What's my dad's name?"

"Ray...Raymond...something..." Chloe didn't hesitate to swing the makeshift weapon at him. He growled and yanked it away, then grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Listen," he yelled. "I've had enough of being physically assaulted within the past year. I'm starting to get pissed off, little girl, and if you don't believe me just wait until your fucking father gets home and ask him." He released her sharply and saw the tears in her eyes.

"I'm not a little girl," she grumbled. "I'm twenty."

"Fine."

"But is he...he didn't disappear?" she said hopefully. The man shook his head, his long brown hair flapping in his face.

"No. He's helping out my girlfriend and I until we can get a flight into Miami. Who, by the way, both left without telling me." Chloe eyed him, her suspicions ebbing away. But the guy was still weird, and slightly spooky.

"My mom and brother aren't here, then?"

"I don't think so. Your...dad, right? Went upstairs, for like half an hour, then came back downstairs all sad-like," he shrugged uncomfortably. "Sorry."

Chloe felt her stomach twist but hammered out introductions with the man Jackson Rippner. Then she turned on her heel and ran upstairs, hoping her initial instinct on the man was wrong.