Blood spurted from what felt like every part of his body.

‘I know you’re feeling like you’re lost’

Stumbling along the road towards the edge, tears fell softly down his cheeks. An image of him came to mind. His perfect chocolate eyes, red lips, pale smooth skin. But, suddenly, the face contorted into anger. Cruel words spilled from his mouth. Quickly he shook his head, ridding himself of the image. A sad smile graced his features as the cliff came into view. It would only be a matter of time now.

He broke into a run as the past flooded back to him like a tidal wave.

A month earlier

“How much?”

The raven-haired man had heard that more times than he could count. He sighed as this friend picked up a wealthy Korean business-type. It was a slow night, and the cops were everywhere.

“God, this street is fucking dead.” A brunette to his side remarked. Looking out, toad looked anything but. Families bustled about, lovers walked hand in hand, and shops lit the street. But, to someone of his profession, it was just that, a bunch of people…not customers. The kind they attracted didn’t want more attention, so had been lately steering clear of the street.

“It’s the goddamn strip mall. Been bringin all sorts down ‘ere.”

He merely nodded, not taking his eyes off the street. He couldn’t bear to look in some of the other’s eyes. They were so…dead, from years of having to work the streets just to pay for food. What scared him even more was that he knew unless he got out soon, he would turn out just like them.

“Hey, Mike, were going down to 7th. See if we don’t have more luck.”

He finally tore his eyes away from the happy families and turned to the two mean standing next to him leaning on the crick wall. Nearly shuddering at the hollow eyes, he addressed them.

“Yea, sure Rob. I’m gonna stick ‘round here. Brad should be back soon, then we’ll up with you and Phi at the flat, yea?” The brunette nodded.

“Sure.” He began to walk away, but turned and called out shortly to Mike.

“Oh, and Mike, do try and get someone. Rent’s due Monday.” The black haired man nodded, and resumed his place on the wall.

The flat, he of course meant was the one he shared with his four friends. Brad, Rob, Phi, and Joe. Out of all of them, Joe was the only one who didn’t turn tricks for a living. He said he’s rather hold down 3 jobs flipping burgers than lost control of his body for 100 bucks. As hard as he worked, he still never made nearly as much as the other guys. But, they respected him; so let him slide a little on the rent.

A dark black Mercedes pulled up next to Mike, and stopped. Ominously the tinted window rolled down and he saw this for what it was. A job and nothing more. Taking a deep breath, he sauntered to the care and sexily leaned on the window. A blonde man with black sunglasses sat inside, smoking.

Exhaling smoke out his nose, he snubbed it out. Slowly he removed his sunglasses and turned to look at Mike. He was taken aback by the simple yet angelic beauty of this blonde man. He seemed to float off to a place where he was no longer who he was, and he could go on dates like a normal person. Now days, the closest thing he got to a date was fucking in some 40 years old man’s bedroom while his wife and children were out shopping. It's always the ones you don’t expect. Two simple words pulled him back to reality.

“How much?”

He sighed. That’s all he’d ever be. Mike Shinoda-Hooker.