Once Adept - Introduction

Each footstep emits a glossy crush to the atmosphere, a timely rustle to the mud and broken bottles that seem placed next to the alley's curbs. An unhurried walk through a dim back alley taking far too long to reach a destination. The smog laden night pressed against the darkened city blocks shows the bobbing shadow of a trench coat stretched over the shoulders of a man. His hands tucked deep into his pockets, his back hunched over so as to see the glimmering shine reflected off his pointy shoes. Shaggy jet black hair hangs down over his sunken eyes. The rainfall has died down yet still visible are each last lamenting drop resounding in the murky puddles.

      Beyond the lane of creaking warehouses lining the alley the inaudible sounds of vehicles rumble through grave over-passes, all the sounds of a busy city in its prime cut short to a muffle of remembrance. Through the broken windows and barb wire the lights blink and flicker in hues of yellow-green and red, reinforcing the sickening grunge effect the alley seems to be drenched in. One lone, rusted staircase bolted to the side of a chop shop hints at a lingering and yet inviting commodity to the soaked biped soul. He wraps his knuckles around the hand rail lifting himself up to the first steep metal grate and slowly moves up the steps. The rain water drips off with each foot fall sinking below on to the small patch of weeds and debris. He climbs up three flights to a flat landing leading onto a wide expanse of tar and sky. As the rain begins to pick back up, coating the moon with an eerie film, he leans in under a scaffold jetting off the side of a tin building. A lofty shack on the top of a downtown warehouse overlooking the seaweed river, everything's cold and glistening in the pre-dawn October morning.

      He slides his key into the door knob and gives it a heavy sigh as he turns the key. The tall, gray door swings back to reveal a small room with a light bulb hanging down some 40 feet from the ceiling. He put his hand, still wet, on the chain hanging further down yet he hesitated to pull. He knew what was there from memory. The same winding, metal staircase leading up to the top floor luxury office turned run down apartment where he would spend the rest of the night alone. Taking his hand from the chain, he slid forward and started up the stairs as they spun around, circling for the sky.

      The door leading in was very old and like everything else rusted and abused. There was no window or peephole; he hadn't had a visitor since he moved there. Inside, the floor expanded out quite far. He had found himself quite a nice place, especially for the amount of rent he was paying. It was by the river in the run-down warehouses, they were pretty much just trying to get rid of it. He filled the place with old furnishing, worn but still worth their comfort. The dark cherry wood floors were scattered with sofas and rugs. The walls lined with bookcases and abstract artwork. The windows faced out over the city, he could see everything from up here. The bustling city buzzing along, but he didn't care to look.

      He took off his over coat and threw it over the back off a chair next to the door. The rain water dripped off on to a heavily worn part of the floor where the varnish was being eaten away. He turned around and as always locked the door to keep the city outside. He felt safe here of course. This is his own solitary empire. He walked down the main hall toward the back of the building stopping once to remove his watch and wallet placing them in their respected spots on an end table. As he went he turned on a few lamps which gave off an old yellow glow filling the apartment with instant alluring remedy. Slowly, he was slipping back into a state of ease and all the unwanted, superficial vestige of the world was melting away.

      He made his way to the opposite side of the building. A trail of water drifted down the hall behind him creating little puddles full of his world. Each small orb illuminated and reflected the deep tonal items he surrounded himself with. Standing with his back to the edge of an inviting bed he unbuttoned his shirt and fell backwards with weightless security. Arms out hanging over the sides he let the silence creep in. The ceiling was the only thing in view. This was when he’d relax enough to let his mind flow freely over the events from the day. He closed his eyes and left the living world to swim within his thoughts.