Late in the night of amusement and wonder on the outside boardwalks, Santa Carla being one of the few filled with teenagers who run along and enjoy their nights as the final days of summer count down in the late evenings of July, there had been a small rental store not far from the entertainment. It took on a rather different ambiance than the rowdy outside, being bathed in the soft, flickering glow of fluorescent lights that cast long shadows across the aisles. The gentle hum of the air conditioning provides a soothing backdrop to the occasional shuffle of feet as the few remaining customers browse through the eclectic selection of VHS tapes and DVDs

The shelves were lined up with rows upon rows of movie titles that seemed to stretch endlessly whilst the scent of popcorn mingles with the faint aroma of old papers and plastics that lingered within the air of the rather quiet store.

At the counter, Max Lawrence stands, his silhouette outlined against the warm glow of the cash register. His expression is one of quiet contemplation as he absentmindedly flips through a stack of returned tapes, his fingers tracing the worn edges with practiced ease. There was a sudden noise of a bell coming from the door that was usually opened, now closed for customers to be acknowledged when they walked in. He lifted his head from the stack of returned tapes, gazing over at the customer who had just walked in with a slight stride. "Good evening. Welcome to the rental store." He says with a faint smile, welcoming the person who had entered with a nod.