He was all alone. The empty hallways and silence was a constant reminder of that. But that was what he liked best about the job, being alone. He didn’t have to deal with anyone but Mr. Hanson and that was only rarely. No one was there to berate him, order him about or hover over his shoulders with unnerving scrutiny. He could work at his own pace and as long as he kept up his duties Mr. Hanson pretty much let him be. Mozart echoed down the hall as Michael pottered to the men’s restroom.

The smell was far worse than in the other lavatory. The lights flickered in there, too. It was stressful on the eyes. Tenants would start complaining about it soon. He’d change them the next night if he couldn’t get to them by the end of his current shift. As he wheeled his cart in, the sound of his music was amplified by the small space. He was stopped dead in his tracks. At the far corner of the room, crouching on the floor, was a naked, filth covered young man. Michael turned the music off. He could hear the man whimpering. He did not like this at all. He took a deep breath as he mustered up his nerve and called out, “Hello? Are you hurt?”

The man looked over his shoulder. He was weeping heavily, his eyes bloodshot and his face was streaked and flushed. “Help me,” he whispered through his sobs.

Michael stuttered, “What happened to you?”

“They hurt me.” And he pulled his arms out of the corner to show them to Michael. Both of them were slashed open from palm to elbow and the wounds were being held open by surgical clamps. The bones were exposed, tendons flexed and a steady crimson flow poured out. “Look what they did to me.”

Michael realized the filth on the floor ran with blood. His stomach heaved. His heart thundered inside him and his thoughts raced. What the hell was he supposed to do? Call the paramedics and the police! Yes, he had to call the authorities and then Mr. Hanson. What the hell was going on here? He was just about to tell the young man what he was going to go do when --

The lights went out!

The room was plunged into absolute darkness. Michael screamed.