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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/False-Cow-9158 on 2024-11-06 01:25:10+00:00.

I had been homeless for 2 years when I found the “Shady Acre” Apartments complex. Before that I had been sleeping under roadways and behind dumpsters which were some of the lowest points in my life. Having found the mostly completed apartments being abandoned before they were officially completed was like hitting the jackpot for someone like me. Tucked away in a cleared lot nestled against the woods on the slower part of town, the Shady Acres acres were a complex for newer families and lower income individuals but somehow it found itself never being finally completed. The walls were not painted and the flooring were not installed but aside from the minor features, the place was practically livable. Of course the electric wasn’t working alongside the water and plumbing but as the saying goes, “Beggars can’t be choosers”. I peaked my head inside as I entered the first floor. Tools,materials and odds and ends still layed strewn about as if someone was going to come back to finish the job or at least clean up their mess but it appeared that no one ever did. I grabbed a sizable pipe laying on the ground just in case. Homeless people, if startled can and will turn violent very quickly. I did a brief inspection of the main floor, peaking my head inside of ways to confirm that I was alone in a substantially sized building but sure enough, I couldnt find anyone else. 

As I inspected the main floor I found a stairway. A metal door once stood in the way but now layed on the ground. It was clear that someone damaged it with some type of tool in order to keep it open.

I went to the stairway and looked inside. The natural light provide by the sun aided by the many open windows could only spill over so much. Inside was a set of stairs going but both upwards and down below. I didnt have a flashlight but what little natural sun entered the stairway was just enough to give me the courage to explore upwards. Giving off just enough light to give me courage to see the second floor. I went up the metal stairs quietly so as to not alarm anyone else to my presence here. The second floor was nearly identical to the first. I walked down the halls gripping the pipe, ready to defend myself from an unknown attacker. Again, much like the first floor, I didnt see anyone However I did find troubling signs of people having lived here at one point. I saw an old mattress littered with trash and old cigarettes. Clothes tossed in a pile in the corner of the room. Several dark stains covered the floor and one splattered on the wall next to the head of the mattress. My heart sank. It was more than likely something sinister had been committed here. I was going to turn to leave but alongside the disheartening evidence of someone being here, I found a flashlight and an old pistol. I took both and checked the gun to see 3 bullets remaining in the cylinders.  

I was going to leave but seeing now that I had a gun and a flashlight, this changes things. The flashlight worked perfectly, emitting a strong blue led light on the stained wall when I clicked it on. I still kept the pipe with me as a back up but the pistol was now gripped firmly in my right hand. The second floor had bits and pieces of trash here and there but nothing as concerning than what was in that one room. I entered the stairwell with my flashlight guiding me. Unlike the first two floors the third floor had an actual door standing at the entrance. Lucky for me, the handle turned slowly and granted me access. A quick inspection of the door revealed a marvelous find. This door could be locked from the inside. If this floor was clear, this would be a magnificent set up. I could lock the door and prevent any vagrants much like myself coming up here and killing me in my sleep. All I would have to do is verify that the floor was clear and I would be all set. 

The third floor had varied greatly from the first 2. No bits of drywall on the floor or discarded nails laying haphazardly. There still wasnt electricity but nothing my new flashlight couldnt handle. The floor was unfinished but oddly clean as if it was getting prepped for carpet or new flooring before this place shut down. I cleared each room slowly, making sure to check every closet and cupboard before finally letting my guard down. I went back to the stairway and locked the door to prevent anyone else from coming up. I picked a room facing the parking lot that way I could look out and see if anyone was coming. 

I spent the rest of the day in my new found home. The flashlight and gun were an amazing find but that unsettling sight of the blood stained floor and walls was something that still concerned me. Maybe it was something else, perhaps someone spilled something and it just looked bad? I thought to myself trying to not freak myself out so much. The thought also crept into my mind about how I yet to inspected the basement and what horrors lurked down there. For being homeless, I was fairly paranoid. I made myself a game plan for tomorrow that I would go out and find cheap furniture and food to fill my barebone apartment. It would take several trips but well worth the effort. 

Night time and boredom eventually found me. I sat in the corner of the room trying to get comfortable and let sleep carry me into tomorrow but it was difficult. Sure enough I managed to fall asleep but staying asleep was another story. I woke up in the middle of the night, I didnt have anything to check the time with but it was several hours before the sun would be rising. I got up feeling the urge to go to the bathroom. This complex didnt have running water so I would have to go outside to relieve myself. I grabbed the gun and flashlight and walked over to the stariway and unlocked the door. I went down the 2 flights of stairs and walked out back to go to the bathroom. The back of the complex was as neglected as the complex itself. Tall weeds filled the field that stretched out to the dark trees. Moonlight was scarce and a cool chill breezed over me as I went to the bathroom. I glanced at the complex as I did my business. Anxiety had yet to find me as I was still sleepy. I could hear cars off in the distance from the nearby highway but no animal life could be heard. It was probably too cold for them, I thought as I pulled my pants up and made my way inside. I entered the hollow shell of the first floor. 

Stealth was not my main concern seeing as that sleep was my only goal. I entered the stairway, ready to ascend back up to my room of safety when I stopped. For the briefest of moments, I could have sworn I heard what sounded like mumbling down below. My flashlight was on but I didnt dare shine it down into the basement. In fact, a moment curiosity washed over me as I turned my light off and listened in the stairway. I gripped the gun as I stepped over to the stairs that led downwards. My suspicions were confirmed as I felt my way down a step or two to hear more clearly the rambling of someone down here. I paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. Whoever was down here sounded as if they were speaking and no one else was responding. Perhaps a mentally ill person took shelter down here. 

I walked back up the stairs silently as the soft mumblings of whoever was down there slowly faded beneath the stairs. I was fairly fit and mentally strong so having an interaction with anyone would be more likely in my favor. I made it to the third floor and the sound was no longer existent. It was clear that the distance between us had enough cushion to drown out the sounds from either of us which was relieving. I made sure to lock the door to the stairway before heading back to my room. Although the realization I wasnt alone in this building was brief and honestly quite harmless, it made finding sleep all the more difficult. I dont know if I slept much that night but I woke up feeling very tired. 

I got up and glance out the window to see the complex parking lot empty and the sun beaming over the distant trees. I unlocked the stairway door and went down the stairs and outside. I spent the day in town getting things ready for my new place. The local thrift store had a cheap air mattress that I purchased but it didnt come with a pump. I loaded up with other essentials like huge gallon sized jugs of water and food that was easy to make or didnt require power. After making a trip or two back to the empty complex, my room was decent enough for me to not have to worry about it for a week or so. The only thing I wasn’t able to work out was the bath room situation which would require me to go down the sets of stairs and out back facing the woods. 

I was going to go in the basement later that day but got caught up doing other things and by the time I was available the sun had set. This wouldnt affect the actual lighting of the basement obviously but I didnt want to face whatever was down there and come up to a pitch black night. Besides, whoever was down there didnt seem aware of me or my setup and that was enough comfort for me to leave that problem to another day. I made sure to use the bathroom around back before going back up to my room. I didnt want to have to make the hike in the middle of the night again. While I was using the restroom, I peered out into the woods several hundred yards away. I wasnt sure how long I would be able to keep up the abandoned apartment situation so I briefly considered checking out the woods as a back up if I were to be found out. 

Again that …

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