Chapter 2
It was December; two years after Angel brought our "family" back together. I had been hard at work that week, making my films and doing my actual job as technician. I enjoyed this—sure, it wasn't what I pictured myself doing, but the pay was decent and the publicity was something. Plus, I loved the people that I worked with. The TV station wasn't a major one, not at all, so these people were just like me. We all had dreams bigger than this, and would spend hours talking about them together. I liked these people, though it felt like something was missing.
I had come home to my apartment a little after midnight. My film was running, and while I knew no one but my family and possibly the old crew was watching it, it still gave me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Right when I walked in, the phone began to ring. I raced over to it; such a change from my old "screening" days. I couldn't afford to do that anymore—each call could mean a bigger opportunity.
"Hello?" I breathed into the receiver.
"Mark?" A sharp, curt voice flowed into my ear. It sounded familiar...why couldn't I place it?
"Yeah?" I responded.
"It's Benny." Benny, damn. How could I have forgotten his voice? I used to strain my ears to listen for it as I snuck into the loft, trying not to run into him. Explaining to Benny why Roger and I didn't have our share of the rent each month got monotonous.
"Uh...hey Benny," I replied. "It's...it's been a while, man."
"Look Mark," Benny's voice had a different edge this time. "You need to come down here."
"Where's 'here?'" I asked.
"Saint Mary's." Benny paused. "It's Collins."
I flew.