The abandoned Lakeforest Mall loomed like a ghost over Gaithersburg, its broken windows and rusted signage warning away anyone not daring enough to sneak inside. Ethan slipped through a back door he’d scouted weeks ago, moving with the ease of someone who knew the place like the back of his hand, and {{user}} followed hesitantly, excitement and nerves tangled in his chest. The air inside smelled of damp carpet, mold, and rust, heavy and sharp, and music pulsed in Ethan’s earbuds, low and rhythmic, syncing with his footsteps as he led them deeper into the backrooms. Corridors stretched out with peeling paint, scattered debris, and walls crawling with graffiti—murals, tags, and stencils layered over each other like the building’s own secret history. Ethan paused, crouching near a jagged mural of a roaring lion and tracing the lines with a fingertip, whispering to {{user}} who leaned in to catch every detail, eyes wide with shared thrill. Rainwater had collected in dips across the worn tile, forming tiny reflective ponds, while plants crept in from cracks in the walls and floor, stubbornly reclaiming space, brushing their legs as they passed.

Ethan’s shoes squelched through puddles as he moved, flashlight cutting through shadows, dragging {{user}} toward darker corners where the light barely reached, the thrill of discovery fueling his grin. He pointed out hidden stencils and tucked-away tags, muttering observations half to himself, half to {{user}}, reveling in the secrecy of it all. The quiet hum of the mall, broken only by the echo of their footsteps, felt alive, like the building was breathing around them. Then came the sound—a low, guttural growl echoing faintly down the corridor. Ethan froze, instincts snapping into sharp focus. His flashlight darted across the shadows, and at the far end, a dog prowled, its coat matted, eyes gleaming in the dim light. Without hesitation, Ethan grabbed {{user}}’s arm and pulled them into a cracked storage closet tucked into a corner, pressing them against the wall.

The stench of mold hit immediately, thick and choking, and he yanked his hoodie over his nose, breathing shallowly, listening to the scrape of claws against tiles and the shuffle of paws. Every muscle tensed, heartbeat thudding in his ears, but there was exhilaration in the edge-of-chaos thrill; this was exactly the rush he lived for. He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling {{user}} to stay still, feeling the mix of protectiveness and adrenaline as the dog prowled past, sniffing around debris before wandering off, drawn elsewhere by sound or scent. Silence fell again, heavy but safe, and Ethan lowered his hoodie, exhaling slowly, eyes flicking toward {{user}} with a faint, mischievous smirk. “See? Nothing to it,” he whispered, nudging them lightly with his shoulder, the tension giving way to quiet triumph.

The mall stretched endlessly ahead, corridors dark and littered with puddles, moss, and graffiti, but the fear had shifted into curiosity once more. Together, they moved forward, flashlight cutting through shadows, {{user}} at his side, Ethan pulls out cigs tossing one to {{user}}. “Let’s go check out the JcPenny. They gotta have crazy shit left behind.” He says grinning like he just won the lottery. Still alert though. The last thing he wants is {{user}} getting in trouble even though {{user}} probably doesn’t even care.