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“You live here?”

Abbi smiled curiously as she watched Eddus unlock a metal door on the corner of a three-story building, using the keypad on the wall next to it.

They’d walked several blocks into an area known as the shipping district, for its industrial warehouses that acted as the shipping and receiving hub for much of the city. It consisted of one of two main streets, which led into the district and was joined by smaller side streets that led to various other businesses and warehouses.

Street lamps illuminated the sidewalk, usually one or two per building they passed, depending on the size of that structure. Most of the buildings were closed for the night. They were dark, save for light peering out of one or two windows with a security guard inside.

The building Eddus had taken her to was at the end of a street that made a ninety-degree turn, becoming another street, and carrying on further into the district. It was a warehouse, and rather large. Its ground floor had several large metal roll-up doors with bays in front of each, to give trucks access to back up to them for loading and offloading. Above it, the second and third floors had rows of darkened windows. Abbi peered up at the building and then glanced at Eddus.

“Up there,” Eddus told her, pointing up the side of the building. The door unlocked, and he opened it, smiled nervously, as he held it open for his guest. He lived here, so it only occurred to him right then how this setting may seem strange to her. “I live on the third floor.”

Abbi was quiet as she followed him into a small foyer. As they entered, the foyer was instantly lit as the overhead fluorescent lights, attached to motion sensors, came on. The room was small, with a bare concrete floor and walls that were painted an industrial green. The walls were peeling in places. The only thing in the room was an elevator, directly across from where they’d entered.

Eddus pressed the button on the wall next to the lift and gave Abbi what he hoped was a reassuring smile. She nodded, looking around. A few moments later, the elevator slid open, and they stepped in. Eddus depressed a translucent button on the panel, which glowed upon being pushed. The only other button was an emergency stop pull-button. Abbi looked amused, glancing in his direction as they waited in silence until the doors slid open again.

As they stepped out of the lift, again, lights came on, illuminating another small foyer, much like the one they’d entered through. It had the same bare concrete floor and industrial green walls. It was also empty, except for a mat, which lay in front of a closed door to the left of the lift.

Using another keypad, Eddus opened it for his guest and followed her in, down a short, dimly lit passage with crème colored walls. They stepped into a large, dark area. The only light was from a fixture above a closed door about halfway down a long wall to their right.

Looking around the dark area they’d entered, Abbi’s eyes adjusted. She could not make out much, except that it seemed to be a very large and open space. It could even have been an empty room. Across from the door, several paces away, she could just make out a table with stools around it.

Touching Abbi’s shoulder, Eddus led her along the wall to their right. They passed a metal sliding door, to another door just past it, with a small mat in front of it. Eddus opened it for Abbi. Turning on the light as they entered, he closed it behind them and watched as Abbi looked around. She wore a little smile and a look of mild interest as she took in the surroundings.

“This is my place,” Eddus said.

They stood in a lounge area with a high, pressed ceiling. The lounge opened into a kitchen roughly the same size as the lounge. Sparsely furnished, the place was well lit by a chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, as well as wall lighting. It was nicely painted and trimmed in a dark red wood, giving the room a comfortable feel. The only furniture was a small antique desk in the lounge’s corner and a large wooden bookcase that stood against the wall. In front of the bookcase, on an area rug, was an armchair and a small side table with a floor lamp beside them. In the kitchen was a table with a chair on either side of it. Along the wall between the two areas, there was a hallway.

Eddus took his guest by the hand and led her to the armchair. After she was seated, he pulled the chair at the desk out, turned it, and sat down facing her.

“It’s not much, but it’s home,” he said with a smile. He studied her expression as she looked up and around her, and then to him.

“I like it,” Abbi said simply, her eyes smiling.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Eddus glanced around the large, open room.

“I don’t have many guests,” he said. “I spend most of my time in my art studio.”

“Back there?” Tilting her head, Abbi glanced in the direction of the hallway.

Eddus looked at the opening in the wall that bisected the sections of the flat for a moment. He shook his head quickly.

“No, the studio is next door. I’ll show it to you,” he told her, pointing to the other wall.

Abbi nodded, remembering the metal sliding door they’d passed as they came to the door of the flat.

Eddus looked again at the hallway.

“That leads to the other rooms in the flat. The bedrooms and the bathroom.” He paused for a moment as something occurred to him. “Are you tired? You know, I have no idea what time it is, but I do have a spare bedroom made up that you can sleep in.”

Abbi lowered her gaze in thought, as though she were considering what he’d just said. She nodded slowly and then looked up at Eddus.

“I don’t want to be any trouble, Eddus Brandt,” she said, an almost worried tone in her voice. “I can make my way back home pretty quickly.”

For a moment, Eddus said nothing, his eyes resting on the young lady as she looked down again.

“It’s the middle of the night.” Eddus blinked, startled, as Abbi quickly looked up at him. “It’s no trouble. I promise. There really is a spare bedroom already made up. Really, it’s the least I can do.”

Abbi didn’t say anything. She tilted her head slightly and then gave a single nod.

The two of them walked down the hallway. The first door they passed, on the right, Abbi deduced was Eddus’ bedroom from what she glimpsed as they walked by. The next one they came to, which Eddus opened, was on the other side of the hallway. There were two others further down the passage, one on each side.

Turning on the light, Eddus stepped inside the room he’d just opened. Inside it was a bed with a small side table next to it. There was a small closet opposite the bed. A chest of drawers and a small desk were the only other pieces of furniture in the room.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll get you a shirt you can sleep in,” Eddus said, “if that’s not too-”

“I would like that.” Abbi had followed him in, looking around the small, tidy room. She smiled as her gaze stopped on the bed, and she glanced up at Eddus.

“The bathroom is just next door,” Eddus quickly stepped past the tiny young woman to the door, feeling that it was improper for him to be in the bedroom with her. “I’ll go get that shirt for you.”