OCTOBER 1^st

The leaves crackle underneath Jaime’s feet as he walks around an old abandoned house.  The night is clear, and light from the moon streams down at him.

He comes to a cracked patio.  Weeds grow at varying heights in and around the cement.  Trees block every view behind him.

Jaime opens a creaky storm door.  He jiggles the knob of the wooden door.  An orange flyer sticks to the face of the door, condemning it.

The wood splinters and frays around the frame.  The knob seems loose when Jaime handles it.  With one hard, determined effort, Jaime lays his shoulder into the door and it gives easily.  It slams backward and hinges completely open.

Jaime steps in and shuts it behind him.  The storm door creaks closed.  The wooden door bounces partly open.

Jaime takes just a single step inside, then stops.  He hears nothing.

He swings his bag to his front, unzips it, and reaches inside.  He pulls an object out and suddenly the house is illuminated.

Jaime keeps the flashlight in front of him and continues through the kitchen.  Jaime comes to a closed door in between the living room and the kitchen.  He opens the door and reveals a set of wooden stairs leading down.

Jaime steps on the final stair and it CRACKS loudly underneath his weight.  It echoes through the house.  He stumbles but regains his balance on the concrete floor.  In front of him is an eight-foot concrete wall with extensive cracking.

He turns the corner and sees an empty basement.  Spiderwebs reflect the light.  The only item present is an old wooden rocking chair.

Jaime moves towards it.  He wrecks a few webs and clears the seat of dust before he sits.  His hand swats at his pants to clean them.

Jaime puts the light between his legs, facing outward.  The same wall is lit, exposing again the poor condition of the foundation.  Jaime sets the bag down in front of him, on the floor.

He unzips the backpack and takes out his handgun.  He reaches in the bag with his opposite hand and fishes out a single, silver hollow-point bullet.

Jaime locks the slide of the weapon back and carefully slips the bullet into the chamber.  He eases the slide forward.

He presses the muzzle against his temple.

He places his finger on the trigger.

He closes his eyes.

He takes a deep breath…then exhales forcefully.

JAIME: I am the way into the city of woe.

BANG!

The light on the wall moves up and down wildly, then continues that pattern, but slows.

Josh stands at the bottom of the stairs.

He drops his stick and runs away.