They should've been nicer to us.

Mabel stepped out of the Vending machine, and saw her brother at the door. She gasped, tensing up, and stepped back into the stairway. She tried to pull the vending machine quietly back into place.

“I can’t just forget about you. You’re my family. That’s important.” She could feel tears brimming up. “It sounds like you’re just giving up.”

“I have given up, Mabel.” He sighed, turning to face her. “...You need to leave this place. He might kill you.” Ford took in a deep breath, before descending into the darkness of the rubble, a final sentence ringing in the eerie silence of the basement. “...Just like he killed me.”

Mabel nodded. “I’ll call him in the morning.” she said. “Are- are you going to be okay? Is there anything I can do to help?” She felt guilty about the idea of leaving.

He finally stood up, creaking slightly. “...I haven’t been okay for four years. But I’ll manage.” He heaved another sigh, before heading back into the wreckage. “...There isn’t. I’m sorry, Mabel. It would just be better to forget about us.”

“They were buried.” she said, remembering the funeral. “I guess I could stay with Shermie… “ She didn’t like her Grandfather all that much.

“...You could. That would be the... best choice.” He stopped for a moment. “Or you could...” He sighed, shaking his head. “...Nevermind. Far too dangerous. Just. Try and see if Shermie will take you.”