Everything Went Dark
Sweat was pouring down Landlord Clarke face as he stomped up the three flights of stairs to Max's apartment. The door was slightly opened, it was completely dark when he peeped through the crack. Something about it made him turned and walk away, but his anger quickly made him overcame his suspicion.
He knocked on the door frame.
Landlord Clarke: "Max! This is the landlord. We need to talk about this damn $20 you gave me for rent!"
His voice echoed through the apartment.
When no answer, landlord Clarke pushed the door open wider. It made a squeaky sound as he stepped into the dark apartment.
Landlord Clarke: "Hello, Max, I know you are here. I can hear you breathing?"
He moved further into the dark apartment.
Landlord Clarke: "Anybody here?"
Suddenly, the bright LED lights comes on.
"SURPRISE!"
The shout came from everywhere at once as half the tenants jumped from behind furniture, from the kitchen, from the bathroom, and even from inside the closet. Mrs. Rodriguez from 2B, the Wilson twins from 4C, Old Mr. Peterson from 1A – they were all there, grinning and holding party poppers.
Clarke's eyes and mouth were wide open. His grabbed his left arm suddenly. Then he fell to his knees as he clutched his chest, gasping.
The happiness in the room went to sadness on the tenants faces grins on the tenants' faces. As landlord Clarke staggered backward, collapsing against the wall and sliding to the floor.
Stacy Apt. 2C: "Oh my God!" (screamed dropping her plate) "Someone call 911!"
Max pushed through the crowd, phone already to his ear.
911 Emergency Dispatcher: 911 how may I help you?
Max: "Yes, we need an ambulance right away! Our landlord's having a heart attack!"
He knelt beside landlord Clarke, who was turning pale and sweating.
911 Emergency Dispatcher: "Sir, just hold on. Help is coming."
Landlord Clarke: "Why... surprise party?"
Max: "We all came together and wanted to show how much we appreciated you and all you do for us. The $20 was just to get you here. I was going to give you the full two years' back rent today. All of it. But he didn’t plan it to go like this."
Landlord Clarke: Thanks everyone.
With the loud ambulance sirens were approaching Landlord Clarke started blinking his eyes constantly trying to keep them open. The last thing he saw was Max putting an envelope in his shirt pocket then his eyes closed. Landlord Clarke was then rushed to the hospital emergency room.
To be continued... as Clarke fights for his life in the hospital.