5 Freedom (1/2)

I became obsessed with being free, making my way without the interference of others. I left my aunt's home shortly after I recovered and spent a huge chunk of my father's savings and insurance money on renting an apartment and preparing to attend college. I build my body strength, learned to fight, rock climb, and skateboard. I wanted to run as fast as the wind, nothing stopping me.

Exploring desolate places with local groups and urban runners became a favorite pastime. I enjoyed how anxious it made me feel—the daughter of a detective breaking laws and trespassing and disregarding traffic. The more I made these trips without getting caught, the more invincible I felt. Nothing could stop me ever again; I had all the power to control my life.

The conference had gone without a hitch. At the end of the trip, Professor Singh had a high opinion of me and assured me that if any of his colleagues needed help with translations in languages I knew, he could direct them to me. It was not an idea that I wanted to entertain.

Yet, the conference and constant need to be present around Professor Singh and listen to him speak about criminal psychology had left me drained. I needed some fresh air and what better way to be thrilled than to tag along with a group of fame-seeking urban explorers trespassing abandoned shopping malls late at night?

The leader of the group was Lucas, a Youtuber known for his overnight videos and overall scary content, while the others were friends he had made while exploring or people he knew. I had met him and his group while I was being touristy a year or so ago, and asked if I could tag along. After producing my ID and ensuring them that I would not be holding them back, they let me join. Though they were a rowdy bunch that got spooked easily, they didn't mind me silently exploring and sometimes going out of the planned path to explore further. Usually, I would turn Lucas down if he invited me over on a weekday, but I figured that after getting a couple of hours of sleep in the flight, I needed to cleanse my fatigue and tumulus thoughts by putting my body through strenuous tasks.

”Evie, could you help out the new girl cross the fence?” One of the older members came up to me and asked. The new girl was a scared little bird who jumped every time someone looked in our general direction, thinking that we would get caught by the local authorities. It had never happened to me before, and not because these people were discreet or anything.

”Don't worry. I'll see that she doesn't fall behind.” The girl was passive aggressive, to say the least, but it was obvious that Lucas wanted to engage in a sexual relationship with her. It also seemed that she wanted to look tough so that she could impress him. It wasn't amusing as I could see how tiresome the night would be if the girl was useless at physical activities.

Usually, abandoned buildings were blocked off so that homeless people can't enter, but people always found a way in, and these routes were usually pretty difficult to find and enter through if you weren't experienced.

”Suzy, right?” I asked politely, hoping she would accept my helping hand. It would be difficult though.

”Yes. You?” Yup. This girl will not listen to a word I say. Her tone was acidic and I wondered exactly who she thought I was.

”Evie Lewis, student. You are a vlogger, I hear. I'm not keen on Youtube, so I will ask for your forgiveness for my ignorance.”

'Appease the beast. Appease the beast.'

”Let me begin by saying that I don't need your help-”