burnt to a crisp

Jed was no where in sight. I started wandering back to the apartment building. Vampire? That doesn't make any sense. None at all. But... It's the only explanation I can think of for his survival. Only something inhuman could survive a thirteen story fall onto a cardboard box on the hard cement.
But a vampire?
//
A piece of burning wood, maybe from the mosque down the street, appeared in my hand. I don't remember getting it. But it was there.
//
I was in front of Ethan now. Vampire. The torch thrusting at him in my hand. I was shouting at him, but I don't know what I was saying. Vampire. I must be calling him a vampire. I don't know though; I can't hear it. He flinches every time the torch gets close to him, but he stays still on the spot. Vampire. Only a vampire wouldn't flinch at that. I don't believe it, but I've come to accept it. He's unnatural.
//
Edna is next to me. I think. The light flashes in her eyes as I jerk the torch towards Ethan's face. She flinches a little when I start screaming louder. I'm sorry Edna. She looks back and forth between me and that... thing. Her lips move, but I can barely hear her over my own screaming. The only word I caught from her was "vampire" over and over again. "Vampire." She probably didn't even say it...
//
Back at the apartment. I couldn't stand to see all the people out there in the streets. Moving towards the library. Strange really, you don't think that people would go to a library in a time of such terror. What with vampires roaming the streets...
Vampire.
I've come to terms with my tenants being freaks. Maybe I should become more of a freak myself. Speaking of tenants though, I wonder where that Edith E. Evans woman has gone to. Her rent is way past due...

What was I thinking?

"It's good to see you again, Mr. Day," Ethan said as he opened the door to his apartment, leaning on its frame. How is this man standing in front of me? I swear to god he jumped off the roof of the building. 13 stories! And yet here he is, standing in front of me, sneering. I felt the blood drain from my face. I tried to speak, but it was hard to speak to a ghost. A man who should not be alive right now.
"Ethan... You... You..." But I can't even think of what to say to him. You fell from a building, and yet you're standing here! You ghost! You monster! You're wrong. This doesn't make sense.
I stared at him blankly, trying to make a single comprehensible sentence.
"Is there something wrong, Mr. Day?"
Is there something wrong?! FUCK YES there's something wrong. You're dead! You must be dead. You fell 13 stories!
I stood there in silence. Utter silence. There was nothing I could say to this dead man. I felt the fear emanating from my body as I stared at him and he just smirked back.
Finally some words fell out of my mouth: "What is this, Criss Angel Mindfreak?"
A smile crept across his face. "Excuse me?"
More nonsense fell out of my mouth: "Am I being Punk'd or something?"
"I don't follow..."
I stood there for another minute, sure my heartbeat was audible to everyone miles around. And he just stood there staring back at me. I can't even explain to him what I was trying to ask. I can't even explain it to myself...
And then he shut the door in my face.
//
I can't believe what I asked him. Criss Angel? Punk'd? What was I thinking?
I wasn't thinking. How the hell COULD I think clearly when staring death in the face?
//
My dreams all night consisted of falling. I fell. Ethan fell. My mother fell. And all the other six tenants fell. All to their deaths. Well, everyone but Ethan that is.
I tossed and turned. How could he have survived that? He can't be human. There's no way in hell. But what could have survived that fall?
Just as it was about to come to me, a loud knock rang out on my door and startled me from my sleep, if you could call it that. I grudgingly went to the door and opened it to find Edna. I noticed her eye was swollen and bruised but I couldn't concentrate on her enough to even make eye contact. I was still wondering how Ethan could have survived that fall. 13 stories.
"What." It came out sounding bestial. "Get to work; I haven't heard anything in days. I don't want you leaving the building 'til you figure out what all is going on in this shit hole." Maybe she can figure out what Ethan is and finally be some help to me. I slammed the door in her face, again distracted by thoughts of Ethan.
//
Up on the roof, I looked over the side which Ethan had jumped from. Some bums were down there fixing up their cardboard homes. Maybe I should ask them what happened...
//
I locked the door to the roof on the way down.
//
The first bum I found when I got downstairs was sitting under his makeshift home with a mangy dog.
"Hey. Umm, Mister? I..... I was wondering if you would be able to help me with something..."
He looked at me confusedly, but answered pleasantly enough: "Uh, sure. What is it?"
"Well, I was wondering if you were down here a couple of nights ago when a guy jumped from the roof?" That question sounded stupid.
"Sure was. Man landed on my house too! Not a scratch on him though. Just stood up and started laughing... Weird, really..."
What the hell?
"I.... That..... Ok. Umm, would you mind going down to Jorri Rae's with me? I feel like I need to talk this over with someone..."
"Uh, I don't really have the money for that though..."
"Don't worry man, it's on me."
His eyes lit up a little, and his dog raised its head. Questions started piling up in my brain, just like the books that Edith E. Evans piles up on the shelves every day.
//
On the way there we passed Altan and I bought Jedadiah (the bum had introduced himself and his dog by now) a cup of coffee.
//
We got down to Jorri Rae's just as rain started pouring down. We sat down at the small table and I ordered us both some waffles.
We started talking about what happened. He explained how he didn't understand it. Didn't understand how a man could jump from the roof of a thirteen story building and live. Lighting stuck nearby and the image of Ethan falling from the roof flashed in my mind.
Vampire.
That's what it was. That's what escaped my dream when Edna woke me up.
But they don't exist.
No.
...No....
I was about to suggest this to Jedadiah, when the sight of the local whores walking by the window caught my attention. Kandi was leading the pack with a big bottle of booze in hand. I pointed this out to Jedadiah and he too looked out the window at the "whore-parade." They were all heading out behind the library. That doesn't make sense... I suggested we follow them, but when we got outside he got away from me in the forming crowd.

I can't believe... number seven.

Come to the roof at sundown. There's something you should see.
That's all the note said that I found pushed under my door when I came home from going to Maria's Panderia for some bread. I could tell from the note that it was Ethan. I've seen his handwriting on the check he gives me for rent. "Good, now maybe he can let me know why he's always on my roof every night."
//
Sunset.
I walked up the narrow stairs to the roof access door and pushed it open with little effort. There was Ethan, perched on the edge of the roof, his back to me, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
"I see you got my note."
"What the hell is this?"
"You didn't read the note? How rude."
"Of course I read the note!" I fished it out of my pocket, crumpled and torn on the edge now. "Come to the roof at sundown. There's something you should see. So, what? What should I see, besides you trespassing on my roof? What I should do is call the cops." I thought of Rocco Statone and knew he wouldn't be too much help - always busy chasing down little Braxton for his lemonade. Poor kid.
Ethan got up slowly and turned toward me. "Call them. Tell them you have another jumper."
I felt the blood run from my face. Another. Not another. There have been so many already. Each one of them came up here, sat on the edge, and thought about it for days on end. They always jumped in the end. I always assumed they were just depressed, I mean, how could they not be in this neighborhood. But this being the seventh... Seven is too many to link to just ordinary depression.
"Is this the third, fourth?" Ethan asked, a smile on his face.
"Seventh." Seventh. How could it be seven...
"Seven..." Ethan threw his still lit cigarette over the side of the building and watched it fall the thirteen stories to the bottom. "That's a pretty big number. One or two, they could have been depressed, touched in the head. Three, four, five, maybe even six, you can dismiss that. That's average for these parts. But seven? Someone's bound to get suspicious, don't you think?"
I can't believe what he is saying. Seven. A big lump formed in my throat and I tried to swallow it. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ethan smiled, touched his head, and bowed. He raised his arms and looked me straight in the eyes. "Goodbye, Mr. Day." His body fell backwards and off the roof; I lunged after him, but i knew it was no good. So I just watched, mouth open, as his body disappeared past the ledge of the roof. I fell to my knees, and dug my hands deep into the gravel of the roof top.
"Fuck!" This is the seventh one. The seventh. How the fuck do I explain this? What just happened? He is seventh.
I waited on the roof. Waited to hear the final scream or the crunch of human bones hitting hard concrete thirteen stories below. Neither came. All I heard was the pounding of my heart in my ears and the sound of a distant trumpet blowing a long single note. I wondered what the world was coming to. A man can jump from a roof while people ride carnival rides down the street. Screams of horror erupted from my throat while screams of joy come from the garish rides at the carnival. I don't understand what's wrong with this world.
I exhaled, having held my breath since the jump. I let the gravel slide through my stiff fingers and stood. I turned and walked slowly to the open door that leads to the narrow stairwell.
Seven. Not number seven.
//
Next morning. I can't believe he was number seven. I figured I would go down to console the macaroni kid (I should really learn his name. I think it was something like Saul I think... Sam maybe? I think that's it.) I got downstairs and was about to knock on the door of apartment 115, I heard some talking through the door. It was Ethan. Ethan. Number seven. What the fuck is going on here? He definitely jumped off the roof last night. There's no way I just dreamed that. I reached in my pocket, the same pants I was wearing yesterday (I was too freaked out to change clothes). I felt around for the note, but found nothing.
What the hell is going on here?
As soon as I took a breath, the talking stopped. I heard Sam, "Ethan? Why won't you just answer my-"
What the hell just happened?

He's out there somewhere

Shit. I don't even know how he got away. Edna told me he was on the roof top, walking around tonight, but he was no where to be seen when I got up there.
//
Edna came down to my room and knocked on the door, telling me that Ethan was on the roof again and I had to come on and get up there to catch him in the act. We ran up the stairs, I following on her heels, as she had her keys at the ready (she made me leave my apartment too quick for me to grab mine.) I threw open the door when I got there, but Ethan was nowhere in sight on the roof. I checked the shadowy edges of the air conditioning unit, but I couldn't find the bastard.
"I thought you said he was up here."
Edna shrugged. "He was."
"What the hell was he doing this time?"
She shrugged again. "Couldn't tell."
"Next time you catch him up here, call me, don't leave to get me. Just wait up here and watch, make sure that little shit doesn't move... Got it?"
I closed the door with a bang, and walked down the steps. I don't know what that idiot was doing on the roof at this time of night, but I'm gonna find out. One way or another, I'll find out.

I hear happy sounds. I don't get it.

What are these sounds I hear outside today? Sounds like... music playing. I can see that it's a carnival. Lights. Colors. Smiles. Something unexpected in this town. Maybe I should go check it out later. I need to send Edna Nox around though to check for leaks (and any good news) in the apartments though. I also need to go by Altan's apartment to make sure he knows that he owes rent. Poor man. I know he is trying his hardest to make it through, but I can't just let people go around not paying rent; that would make me look bad.
//
Since it wasn't raining out I decided to take a walk. I needed to get out of that building, I was getting claustrophobic. I walked around back and noticed a box of creamer on the ground. I looked up to try to find out where it came from, but all the windows on this side of the building were closed now. I kicked it once and kept walking, passing by a homeless man looking vainly at himself in a puddle from the previous day's rain (that was weird...) while his dog rested contentedly on a broken down cardboard box.
//
I took a stop in at Jorri Rae's to grab a bite to eat before heading to the carnival. Not too crowded this afternoon, but the service was still somehow a bit slow.
//
Crossed the street and went past the library to get to the back parking-lot where the carnival was. As I wandered around between the booths and rides I couldn't help but notice how happy some of the people were. Apparently you can buy happiness. As well as the chance to laugh at the "freaks" in the little trailers parked here. I saw a guy walking by with an animal mask on. Must have left the "freak show" to take a break and grab some of the rotten carnival food. Weird thing was, it looked like he was carrying a bat. Maybe it's just an extra arm they glued on him to bring in the cash. I thought I saw a handful of tenants (the new girl, Alex - and I think she was hanging out with Ethan's new roommate, that macaroni guy, whatever his name is; if she was, that kind of ruins my gay theory a little) tonight, enjoying themselves on the rides. Maybe I'll try one of them out.
//
I tried out the Ferris wheel - it seemed the most tame of the rides. I stopped by the fortune teller on the way out, but she just shook her head at me, and lit a new cigarette, so I headed home, having had enough of the carnival for the evening.

I woke up this morning to the loud sound of a minaret speaker outside. It was raining. Drizzling really, but the outlook for the day's weather didn't look so good. I saw Altan Yilmaz walking along the sidewalk , pushing his coffee cart, picked up a quarter and chased him down so I could grab a cup. It tasted a bit watery, but it's better than having to make it myself. Maybe I'll go visit Dave and pick up some meat for dinner.
//
You know, there isn't much to do in this town... I just look out my window, talk to Edna J. Knox about the tenants and eat my food in my apartment; occasionally, I visit the antiques store across the street. I usually don't partake in their wares, but it's lonely around here.
//
Later. It's raining harder now, some sleet too. I don't look forward to the leaks that will probably happen in some of the other apartments; I don't want to have to fix them (I thought that was supposed to be Edna's job, but she isn't actually that handy with a wrench, or spackle for that matter). I wonder what Ethan is doing down the hall with that new guy Sam - it's gloomy out and Ethan seems most active on these days. I wonder if they're gay? I mean, Ethan has had tons of guys come to his apartment... don't always see them leave, but they stay for a while at a time.
//
People keep knocking on my door now. The power is out and they all want to know why. Hell if I know - I don't understand anything that happens in this dump of a town. Hopefully it will come back on soon though so I don't have to deal with these people all night. These people, this town... I don't know how we all came together to be what we are, but there's some underlying meaning to all of it. We're at the edge of hell and I can't figure out what brought us all here. For now though, I have to go explain to Edith Evans that it's not my fault her power blew.

Day 1

I really don't know why I'm here. Of all places I never thought I would end up in the slums. And I REALLY never thought I would end up superintendent of a run-down apartment building; coming when anyone calls. "Oh Mr. Day, my toilet is broken again. Come down and fix it." It's gonna be the death of me walking up and down these stairs (note to self: call a repairman to fix the elevator) and I'm only 37. You wouldn't think they'd ask me to be super, but I guess they had no other options really... Especially since everyone that moves here doesn't stay for more than a few years; I must be a real rarity- I've been here since I was 18 when I ran away from my mom's place. Whatever though, I hated that bitch, always bringing around guys, saying they were just friends but then going into her bedroom. The walls were paper thin mother - I could hear you fucking every single one of those guys in your room. Hope they paid you; I sure never got any of that money though.
//
There's a new guy that moved into an apartment downstairs today. Don't know where he came from or who he's staying with (after all, I sure as hell didn't get any calls asking for an apartment to rent recently.) I didn't really like the looks of him when I saw him walk up to our doorstep with tattered suitcases in both hands.
//
I checked down at the front desk after I was sure that this new guy was gone up into his room. His name is Sam Marconi (heh, little bit like Macaroni there, eh?) and he's staying with Ethan. Something about that Ethan kid gives me the creeps... always wandering around on the rooftop, especially at night... Maybe I should get some hidden cameras set up there soon.
//
Other than the new kid, today was an average day. Watched the guys go in and out of the antique store across the street, coming and going with nothing in hand. I've been here long enough to know why that is though. I might have to pay the antiques store a visit soon myself...