take th
at f
me tense and buzzing. My throat was tight. My chest felt thin. I wasn't sure if
ward me like a peace offering. Her voice had that calm, clipped steadiness I recognized from custo
he said again, more gently thi
tched at the e
ow, I ste
ass - cautious, aware. She didn't look around, didn't comment on the
ed her in, then hovered j
nything. We sat across from each other - two strange
idn't ope
ched me
one ankle. She looked like someone who didn't plan
aid. "Just to explain what's been hap
something like a n
tarte
ks. That kind of thing. About three weeks ago, someone flagged a stream circulating on the dark side of the
ned. "He's bee
t it wasn't acted or consented. He kept watching long enough to realiz
d pulled out a short document - no
was routed through masked IPs, encrypted layers, offshore s
pa
is apa
ds cle
ldn't
d. "Found your name. Found the leaseholder - Jade E
er. "How is th
des clauses that refer to remote 'maintenance monitoring,' vague references to 'se
any of that,
ned. "Most tenants wo
tched between us
I finally said. "Why d
hesi
wrong. And... he believes he can offer something
down at t
ped the cov
down the streams. All of them. Permanently. He'll personally ensure the footag
new there w
new place. A new lease. All equipment handled legally, safely, monitore
rt stu
l surveillan
ional. You can walk away. But... if you want everything gone - the vi
d suddenly it looked less like p
even kn
"He doesn't want
ours
ressed do
the room. To scream. To burn the whole apartment
didn't
ugh the panic and the rage and the ache
t freedom.
t what I had
be that was enough
.
t freedom.
t what I had
be that was enough
stood, smoothed down her coat, and le
n the back page," she said quietly.
behind her, and for
than before. Like it knew
e light outside turned or
idn't open it. I just held it, fingers brush
, hours later, I placed it on the coffee
d there
ing m