It's a late night in Hollywood.
Petrichor fills the night sky, wafting the nostrils of any passerby.
Standing at a bus-stop is newcomer actress; Ciel Walker.
She clenches her briefcase of scripts tightly; her white knuckles apparent.
She's been working for a while now; around five months at least.
She's only gotten small roles up until now.
Now; she has the lead role in an upcoming short film for a festival.
She calls a cab and drives to the nearest train station.
After being kicked out by her Step-father for wanting to achieve a "Childish," dream, she rented out a basement flat, next to a train station.
Though; when a train passes things on her table and shelf wobble, the payment is low and it's as clean as it should be for living conditions.
She solemnly sits at her desk.
She closes her eyes.
"Cut," a sharp voice exclaimed.
It's raspy and has no sympathy in it.
"Walker, you need to get a grip. You're not a background character anymore, got it? You've got to put all you have into this role!"
He scrolled up the script in his hands in the cliche Director-like fashion. Whilst spewing criticism at her; speckles of saliva would land on her face.
Quite unpleasant, indeed.
"Walker, what are you doing in your trailer? It sounds like a torture flick in there! Hurry out,"
Ah, that.
She clutches her stomach.
That was right after her abortion.
After she was forced into bed by her old manager.
"Walker,"
"Walker,"
"Walker."
No matter what she did in the shoot, it was never right.
The one person she could keep care of, the one thing she could do right.
Had left months ago.
Had been murdered by her choices.
If her dreams and ambitions could take a train out of here; they would've left the train station a while ago.
She turns her head to her drawers and walks over.
She looks at the contents and reminisces.
"Hey Walker, you ever tried this?" An ex-coworker asked.
He held a syringe of liquid and a lighter.
She remembers what she had said;
"No, I wasn't planning to either."
"I promise, it'll make you feel great. At least try it once."
After hesitating, she declined once more.
"Let's make a bet, Walker."
She remembers looking up at the sky, on a warm night at the beach.
She shuffled closer to her coworker, was practically leaning on him.
He hands her the utensils and when the moon reached its peak; she was so high.
She felt, "High," as if she were floating on clouds. She had felt ecstasy and didn't want to let go.
She takes the familiar utensils out from her drawer.
With a spoon and a needle; she'd never have to leave the sky.
She sighed before inserting it into her arm.
It had all become too much.
So much.
An actress? Never.
This isn't so bad.
She can stop when she wants.
She's not hooked.
Or so she believes.
×
Finn Evans.
Ex-CEO of "Smitten," a lingerie company.
Eventually, the company went bankrupt and was bought by a higher, more successful one; and renamed.
It's a later night in Hollywood.
Humid weather, but floral scents could be smelt.
Since he lost practically everything; he took a cab back to his family home.
Though, it was home; he was practically alone.
Only his mother resides there. The only one who cares.
His wife, Maureen, left him, after he ran out on cash, for a successful doctor who had treated her for breast cancer.
He rustles his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the front door.
His mother is probably asleep at this hour.
He relocks the door once he enters and heads straight for the liquor cabinet.
He fishes out a bottle of whisky and stumbles onto the floor of his bedroom.
He stares at the bottle before popping the cap off and taking a large swig of its contents.
He lazily looks beside him, under his bed.
He reaches for a wooden box which stored a handgun.
He fiddles with it before taking another large swig of alcohol.
Across town; one large bang could be heard.
Blood leaks from his right thigh.
He never meant to shoot there.
But, with two more shots, in non-critical areas.
He would slowly bleed to death.
He just couldn't hang on anymore.
×
author's note
× This short-story comprised of two pieces is based off the Blacktop Manhattan song; "Hollywise," I suggest listening to it; as this story is so shitty compared to that song, aha. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless ×
