We all know the story of the hero who wins. This is the story of the guy who didn't.

Johnny was a fucked up kid from the other side of the country, but he had stars in his eyes. After things back east didn't pan out, he set his sights on something bigger: the City of Angels. After an old acquaintance promised him a chance at a new life - a better life, Johnny hopped the first plane out. "Manifest destiny," he thought.

He extinguished his cigarette as they made their final approach. He marveled at the twisting, intertwining freeway ramps and the sea of tarmac below him. "This is it," he thought, "This is where my future begins."

An old, familiar face greeted him. "Johnny!" he shouted, embracing him. "Welcome to Paradise!" They jump in the old friend's brand new VW Cabriolet. "I never put the top up because it never rains! This is Los Angeles, baby!"

As they drove up the coast, Johnny stared up at the towering palm trees arching over the streets; he sat, mouth agape, drinking in the beautiful women who seemingly flooded every inch of the town. "What did I tell ya, kid? Paradise." His friend continued to tell him of an opportunity he had coming up - a "real simple job. We bring the drugs; they bring the money, and BOOM... we're rich." Except he didn't tell Johnny there wouldn't be any drugs. Not real ones, anyway.

Later that night, they met their buyers. Something didn't seem right though. Johnny tried to speak up, but was quickly snapped at and silenced, "Shut the fuck up, Johnny and go stand back over there!" The buyers' liaison found this funny; he threw his head back and let out a hoarse guffaw, his gold front tooth catching a glint of light from the street lamps. He stared menacingly at the two as he pulled a switchblade from his pocket, flicked it open, and stabbed the wrapped plastic bundle, pulling out a small mound of powder. He drew it to his nose and snorted, and then looked back at Johnny and his friend, confused. His eyes quickly rolled back into his head as he fell to his knees, foam beginning to escape his mouth. Johnny's friend grabbed the bag full of money and shouted, "Run! Run Johnny!" And then... it was over.

Johnny never got the chance to run away, nor did his friend. Instead, they were cut down almost instantly. Johnny didn't realize it at first. He looked puzzledly at his hand as he pressed it to his chest and pulled it back covered in red. He fell to the ground and wondered if Los Angeles always had fireworks shows at night.