"I have an idea", he said.

The first in a series of story beginnings.

I enjoy writing the beginnings of stories... but I haven't had a single one of them find an end yet.

Lance looked about the group furtively, his eyes darting first to Jake then to Amy, seeking silent approval for the news he was about to lay on the group. A small nod from each of them gave him the go-ahead.

He continued. "We've been sitting in the shadows for just a little too long, and it's time to look for the light again. Tomorrow night, we're going to enter Hell's Waterslide in the Smithson water treatment plant."

Lance paused for effect. The Smithson plant had been closed a few months ago, and signalled the end of Under the City Now!'s (Lance's urban exploration group) exploration. Razor wire and security guards had been guarding the site since last August, when two teenage boys died while exploring the site after hours. At the time, there was a lot of media coverage, characterizing the boys - paragons of the community, according to reporters - as victims of a growing menace to the community.

The media had pounced on UTCN at the time. Urban exploration, already a controversial activity, was driven deeper underground by all the bad press. Because he was the only public face of UTCN, Lance was the focus of many attacks by the press. Was he aware that what they did might be illegal? Did they know that the two boys would be alive today if UTCN hadn't required them to 'prove' themselves? How could he sleep at night? UTCN went into silent running.

Lance, Jake and Amy had known the boys. They were mischevious little fucks who had been harrassing UTCN to become members. UTCN had taken them out on a small, safe expedition, but they were wildly inexperienced and obnoxiously loud. Jake told them that they weren't ready to become members, and that they should try again in a couple years.

Hell's Waterslide was the boys' attempt to 'prove themselves' to UTCN, and they went in completely unprepared: media reports described them wearing slick nylon track pants and Converse. A small pen flashlight was found near their bodies. Reports didn't say much more than that, but Lance knew the scene encountered by the morning crew. Two crumpled bodies at the bottom of a 150' shaft. The result of two stupid, obnoxious, and undisciplined would-be explorers, who didn't plan out their sortie or respect the building they were exploring.

The other members finally noticed the new face in the group.

"I've invited Chad here to come with us to document the expedition. He's a reporter from the campus paper, and has agreed to full anonimity for members who don't want to be identified. I trust him."