Notes:

The entrance building exited out into a common street, roads going off in all sorts of directions. It was peaceful. People out and about to the tune of birds singing. Nobody was paying attention to him but it still felt like all eyes were on him. They knew. They had to know. He already smelled of fresh blood. He was nothing, he was..

An ache from his hand brought him back to reality, and he looked up at the sky to avoid Mrs Roderick noticing his spiral. The sky felt fake. More then usual at least.

Before the creatures had become such a noticeable problem, Sam had walked by this place occasionally. It used to have a proper gate that residents would drive through on their own, but they'd replaced it with a building and bought out a parking lot just outside the original property to house their cars in. He remembered it because it had caused a bit of controversy among other people in the city.

Human intervention on entry had been deemed appropriate none the less, after one of the creatures had gotten a hold of an access card.

"Now, Mr. Jameson," Mrs Roderick spoke suddenly and sharply. "I'm sure it's been a long day for you too, but I hate being bothered and I'd like to be on my way as quickly as possible." She shuffled past him like he wasn't even there. Maybe in a way, he wasn't. She'd probably done this song and dance plenty now. Just some new security guard here to die. She could be the world's most compassionate person and still be resigned to it.

"Of course, ma'am."

"Our community is depending on you to keep us safe. I hope you know this."

"I do."

Her silence to that was audible. Then she made a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'll be handing you off to one of our maintenance people. She should be getting off her break just about now."

"Sounds good." was all Sam could speak in his defense. Getting to his new place would be nice. Fully furnished, they had said. He really just needed to fall into bed and scream into a pillow about now.

Sam followed her silently as she lead him to a little park area. It was sparsely populated but Mrs Roderick seemed to know exactly where they were going. They zeroed in on a girl on bench, who seemed rather enthusiastic with the steak and eggs she was digging into.

"Hadrieynn!" Mrs Roderick called, her voice shrill. Sam flinched slightly.

That flop of hair quickly stood up, barely keeping a hold on her food. "Present!" Hadrieynn didn't look all that old, with overalls definitely were too big for her. Although she was still taller than Sam. Not that being taller than Sam was hard, as he'd caped off puberty just barely making it to 5'3.

"Help Mister Jameson here get settled into his apartment."

Hadrieynn's chipper attitude dropped as she finally noticed Sam. "He the new security guard?"

"Correct."

The girl's shoulders slumped. "You ever feel like when we get a new security guard, it's just like, when a fox kills your chicken so you just get new ones, you know? Instead of building a better fence? Or doing better background checks?"

"Regardless, you still have to show him around. Good day." Mrs Roderick did something that wasn't quite a bow but definitely was the end of it, and stalked off towards presumably to a better day.

Which left Sam alone with this new person in a new place. Hadrieynn kicked her boots a little against the ground, grumbling a bit, before looking at Sam. Sam averted his gaze.

"Look, let me be frank, dude." Hadrieynn Frank pinched the bridge of her his nose, smile straining. "I'm sure you're a great guy, but you'll probably be dead in a week, so I'm really sorry if none of us seem... welcoming. Everyone before you has either been killed and-slash-or eaten."

"I don't make friends anyways." Sam figured that would lighten some of the load.

Frank nodded along. "I don't blame you. When just anyone could be out to get you, making new friends seems risky. Especially when they'll be dead in a week. Sorry." Frank looked mournfully at his interrupted food. "I'll take you to your place, it's not far."

Sam followed, and listened, and prayed.

The complex was rows of houses and apartments against that artificial feeling sky. Sam spotted some businesses, a grocery store, a rec center, and two churches right across from each other. For much of anything else the residents would have to leave the pearly gates and intermingle with the peasants in the rest of the world.

From all the active construction, Sam figured that wouldn't be a problem in a few years. The complex probably had just enough money to transport materials, and pay the increased power and wear and tear bills their hubris took, so nothing would really ever stop them.

Sam didn't want to let it show that he was rather anxious as he was led to his new apartment. It was ground floor, with a little patio area. Close to the grocery store. One he had to actually spend money at. To his dismay, his brother had said no shoplifting while he was living here. Disappointing, but he could work with this, probably. Not paying rent would already free up a lot.

Frank handed Sam the keys to the door and he let himself into the unit; basic, lifeless-

Noisy

Sam immediately rushed to the sounds of distress. Had they really- they had. All of the dread in his body was replaced with rage. They'd just left the animal carriers stacked in a corner, when he'd specifically stated in his delivery instructions the cats were to be let out! Sam kneeled in front of the cages, and released the locks on all six in rapid succession, hissing to himself. He stepped back with a growl as the cats slowly peeked their heads out.

"I swear, they never read the damned delivery instructions." Sam spoke more to himself, checking a box to see if... yup, there was a container of fish, lopsided but luckily the water hadn't leaked too much. A few of the fish gave a tiny angry tail flick, but seemed to have survived the trip. He corrected the other fish containers, noticing Frank was still there.

"Do you have anything important to do?"

Frank tilted his head to the side, studying him. "...no?"

"Okay, you can start filling my tank with water while I make sure they didn't break anything. Actually, lets make sure the tank isn't cracked before doing that." After a brief pause, Sam heard the front door shut and footsteps remaining in the room. Sam stood up, surveying the room as one of the cats took a cautious step out of her carrier. "You know what, we should move the fish tank first."

"Um...how about near the patio doors? More light and all."

"Good idea."

That was when one of his cats, Miss Jay, rubbed up against his leg and wigged her butt to state her current displeasure. Sam picked her up. "I know its scary, but mommy's broke and needs this job."

Miss Jay tucked her head into his shoulder, and he looked to see how the others were doing. Pandora had already disappeared; Boxcutter was standing on top of one of the boxes and letting his displeasure known with a sudden shriek; Corndog and Names were both taking a chance on the outside of their carriers; And Alwyn....

Sam crouched down, and keeping one hand on Miss Jay to support her, reached a curled hand towards the carrier. Alwyn looked terrified, ears bent back and eyes barely anything more then a glassy black. Alwyn was his most recent cat, only adopted a month and a half ago. The circumstances had not been ideal, and if he hadn't had to move so soon after the feline had already had to get settled before, he wouldn't have.

There was some hope, as Alwyn closed his eyes and pressed his head against Sam's hand. Sam scritched him behind the ear softly, and then let him be. He'd come out of the carrier when he was ready.

"This is a lotta cats..." Frank commented, sounding a little dazed. "None of the previous security guards had pets." Frank did a side step as Corndog did a little sniffing movement towards him, presumably zeroing in on Frank’s unfinished food. Sam could admire his priorities.

"Well, I couldn't leave them behind."

"Guess you must like animals."

"Of course. I even used to work at a vet's office."

"How'd you end up here then?"

Sam glanced at Alwyn. "...it...wasn't worth it."

Nothing ever was.

• Previous Chapter