Valerie's Descent

Chapter One

Valerie Tanner tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear as she stared up at the apartment building. He really expects me to live here? The whole thing could collapse at any moment. The structure held an ancient air to it, as if someone had forgotten it needed demolished decades ago. The red brick building held a rusty fire escape on the east side, which seemed to be barely hanging on, and it appeared as if no one had washed several of the windows since they first erected the building, probably in the 1800s by the style of it. Time had stained the concrete steps leading up to the front door with mildew and cigarette butts, and what landscape existed around the building seemed withered or completely dead. The entire framework seemed depressing, too depressing for a new start to her life.She glanced over at her brother, Jake, forcing a smile onto her face. “Seems cozy.”He stared at the building for a moment longer before turning to her and ma