A quiet night at home for Damien. Sat on his couch in the living room of his second story apartment, he continues the nightly ritual of flipping through channels trying to find something interesting.

This has been standard for the last couple years since he moved out of his parent's house. With no close friends or family near his outings were rare. Paying the bills and occasionally gaming consumed most of his focus.

"I need to get out more." Damien thought to himself. Easier said than done. At work everyone was part of a clique and breaking in to one would be difficult. He's been trying for years and while the opportunity to get drinks or the occasional company activity occurred nothing to cement into a group presented itself. But he was content with the current situation. No late night calls or stress from coworkers was alright with him.

"Still, nothing happens here, I feel like I'm treading water and wasting my life away." He said to himself.

"Oh well, got to head to bed, early day tomorrow." He reluctantly stretched up and headed into his small bedroom, flipped off the light and was asleep right after his head hit the pillow.

"God what is that smell?!" He thought groggily. He peered at the clock through the darkness. 1:30 am.

"Smells like shit in here!" He croaked. A smell something like rotten eggs mixed with onions assaulted his nostrils. "I took out the trash, what's going on?" He thought.

Getting out of bed he sauntered into his living room. He couldn't see anything unusual so he walked over to the window to open it and get some relief in the early morning air.

Just as his fingers clasped the window he felt heat on his back and a painfully bright light...