Jack raced towards Sam’s apartment, dodging cars, people, and animals alike. He lived three blocks from her, but it felt like the distance was taking a life time.

Finally he came to her street, he could see the old building that held her apartment on the fourth floor. It stood tall and solid, against the newer building around it. It’s red brick was speckled with moss and vines—making it look like a true Emerald City dwelling.

He had been held up that day with school, and his fraternity house initiations for new members. Every month they invited new young men to try out for Alpha Delta Pi, putting them through grueling tests—but in reality just humiliating them. He knew it was immature and his focus should be on his classes but being able to put his fraternity house on his medical intern applications would help him in the future—so he just stuck with it.

He opened the main door to the building and walked through the lobby. It wasn’t anything fancy but there was a receptionist desk in front of the elevators—which happened to be out of order for the last four months, so Jack walked to the stairs. "Hey Jack." The lobby attendant waved as Jack walked past, "Hey Fred."

He walked up the four flights of stairs, reaching the top with a hop as he turned the corner down the hallway. He whistled as he walked towards the last door on the right, the last bit of sun shown through the small window at the end—casting sun rays through the grungy window.

He knocked on the door, even though he had his own key. He never felt completely comfortable using—unless it was an emergency.

"Sam, it’s me. Sorry I’m so late," He waited, when he heard nothing he knocked again, "Sam?"

Soon, he heard the locks give way, and the door opened.

"Hello Jack,"

It was not Sam, it was a man smiling at him. A good-looking man, tall and dark, every woman’s dream guy compared to him. He felt a bit insecure about his own appearance in that moment, his hair was unwashed, he hadn’t shaved, he was wearing torn blue jeans and his college sweatshirt that had seen better days.

"Um...who are you?" He raised his hand awkwardly, in what he hoped was a wave, but he had the distinct feeling he was just flopping his hand around— "How do you know my name?" He asked, confused.

"I’m an old friend of Samantha’s mother," He stuck his hand out for a shake, but when Jack only stared at it dumbly he squeezed it shut and brought it back down to his side.

"Where is Sam?" Jack tried to peer into the door, looking past the man for her. He was beginning to become suspicious, no one besides himself has ever been over at her place before.

"Indisposed I’m afraid," He looked over his shoulder, and chuckled albeit. "Showering. I’ll tell her you stopped by," He waved as he began to close the door, but Jack slapped his hand against it, keeping it from closing.

"Yeah...you tell her to call me," Jack squinted his eyes at him— "Nice suit by the way." He said before removing his hand from the door. Turning he started to walk back down the hall towards the stairs, pulling out his phone to dial Sam’s number. He checked her name into his dial pad and pressed the green call button, as he approached the stairs he brought the phone up to his ear and it began to ring. Three rings in he heard a "About time!" but the static on the other end was so bad he almost couldn’t make out her voice.

"Oh Jack?" The man called out from down the hall— he turned to look back at him, as Sam’s static voice berated him on the other end, "Watch the top step,"

Suddenly before Jack could react to the situation, he tripped— plummeting down the stairs, head first, and landing at the bottom with a thud.

"Sam," he whispered, trying to reach for his phone but before he could, everything went black.