Maddison and Brooklyn took their drinks to the back room, adjacent to the street.

They spent the next hours in conversation, catching up on their lives and families, enjoying their drinks and getting refills.

Then Maddison asked "Do you remember that ruined house visible from my apartment's window?"

Brooklyn had to think for a few seconds to recall it. "The one in that overgrown lot across the street?"

"Look at the picture I just texted you," Maddison said as concern clouded her expression. "I took it this morning from my apartment's window."

"Is that a light in the topmost room?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it is. It might be light from the other side but it's the wrong angle for it to be the sun."

Maddison continued, "I checked at the office and that house has been empty since 1935."

Brooklyn offered, "Vagrants of some sort, then?"

"Maybe. I haven't seen anyone there. The gate was open as I was leaving for work and I did see something in those woods."

"Something?" Brooklyn asked.

"I'm not sure. All I could see was a shining eye," Maddison offered sheepishly.

Brooklyn gave her a skeptical expression but when Maddison did not relent, it changed to concern.

"I think we've had enough to drink. Let's go home. Call me when you get there, please."

They agreed that they had had too much to drink and called for ride hailing services for each of them.

Brooklyn's ride arrived first and Maddison waved goodbye after a parting kiss.

Next part: https://www.renderhub.com/gallery/77231/home-again | Previous part: https://www.renderhub.com/gallery/76490/at-the-bar

Story start: https://www.renderhub.com/gallery/74937/an-unexpected-view