One Month Earlier
Tenner slowed the black SUV at the city limit marker for Halifax before finally stopping at a green sign welcoming visitors to the coastal metropolis. Beyond the signboard, the dilapidated husk of the city appeared as a great dark shadow under the cloud-filled sky. Houses with their windows smashed out lined the highway leading into the city. Cars of all models littered the highway like poisoned metallic corpses.
Tenner got out of the hybrid and pulled his winter coat closer around him. He gazed toward the flat mirror of the sea and watched seagulls coast across the sky. They were the only animals he’d seen in a while, and he took a moment to appreciate them.
After a few moments, he turned his attention to the Welcome to Halifax sign. He didn’t like the sign. It was behind the times. Tenner shook his head and proceeded to the back of his SUV. He popped the rear door and rummaged through his supplies. He stepped away from his ride, shaking the can of spray paint, and walked over to the sign. Tenner paused for a moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek, before spray painting the necessary adjustment. Once finished, he took a step back and inspected his work.
There, he thought. That’s more like it.
Welcome to Hellifax.
He smirked at his own wit. The new wording meant everything to him. The old town was about to meet the new mayor.
Thoughts whirling and expectations high, he got aboard his vehicle and drove deep into the gloomy halls of the downtown area.
Intent on raising hell.