The story begins with Johnny lamenting his decision to pick up the manuscripts. We are introduced to him as well as the situation he has found himself, holed up in a hotel room with blood that is both his own and someone else's, as well as his own vomit. A while ago, while he is couch hopping, he ends up on Lude's couch, and he tells him of the old man in his apartment complex that told him he's going to die soon. Johnny doesn't think much of it. Until Zampanò actually dies.

Lude helps with the situation after noticing that Zampanò doesn't exit to go to the courtyard, of which he is known for going out to like clockwork. With the estimated worth of the things in the apartment being less than 300 dollars, it is scheduled to be taken by a charity.

That is, until Lude notices something in the apartment. There are several things that are off. First off, where the old man was found dead, there are four gouges in the floor. Like Claw Marks. Secondly, there is a large manuscript, strewn across notes, papers, illegible, legible, written, typed, etc. The entire place is also boarded up as much as possible, with the smell of being lived in for so many years lingering in the air.

Johnny takes the manuscripts, though he is now living in an apartment of his own and has an apprenticeship at a Tattoo Shop.

He gravely regrets this. He warns the reader about continuing, that one may read it, go about their life, only to come back, and realize things weren't quite how they seem. To look through and keep realizing and end up writing as he has, perhaps on the book, on papers, maybe even napkins. But they will write, and the consequences can not be understated.