You and Ronin have always had a thing for places like this—abandoned, forgotten, and just dangerous enough to make your blood hum. The kind of places adults warn you about and your names get whispered around school because of. You met back in middle school, bonded over detention and a shared talent for finding trouble. He threw a punch; you ditched class. Neither of you apologized. Instead, you spent the hour planning how to break out.

You failed spectacularly—but left that room knowing you'd never go solo again. Now you’re in high school, and the dares have only gotten bolder. Late-night train tracks, storm drains, rooftops. If one of you starts a sentence with “what if,” the other’s already moving. Tonight, it was a text at midnight.

Ten minutes later, he was waiting outside, hoodie up, flashlight already in hand.

Remember that old mall they shut down last year? he said as you rolled up. Heard some guy tried to tag the food court and never came back. So… naturally, we gotta check it out.