Chapter Text
Explaining where you lived was a...delicate task, to put it lightly. People around you already called you 'weird' for wanting to live literally in the middle of nowhere.
More often than not, you said that you lived in a farmhouse in the forest. Calling at a 'farmhouse' made people too interested in the house itself to ask further questions. You dared not call it a cabin in the woods, because even though no one said anything, you could tell they were already making the murder associations.
It hadn't been your first choice of house. It was old, for a start, and it didn't even have locks on the windows. The room plan was all over the place: living room next to the kitchen, a front door that was pretty much useless, and an office that could have been split into two rooms. But it was yours, so you weren't going to complain.
When you had officially moved in and got yourself settled, the first person you called was your best friend.
'So,' you began. 'How's my security rating? Does it officially meet your standards?'
'Well,' Socks said, 'it's not bad. Away from people, check. Lots of good locks—none of that technology shit—check. Uhh, what else? I can't remember.'
'That was pretty much it, I think. Locks and no people.'
'How's the house itself? Is it nice?'
'Really nice, yeah! Got all my stuff set up in the office, so even if my mattress is on the floor I can still pay the mortgage,' you joked. 'Seriously, though, it's amazing. I wake up, it's quiet, and I don't have to worry about random noises.'
'Hell yeah. Just what you wanted. I gotta say, though, it's a bit weird that no one else even looked at the house. A house like that for that cheap? You'd have to be mental to pass that up.'
'I'm not complaining,' you replied with a shrug. 'Not my problem if no one else wanted it.'
'True, I wouldn't complain either, but...don't you think it's dodgy?' When you laughed, Socks added, 'Hey, I'm just worried about you! God forbid I show care for my friend.'
'Don't worry, I know you're worried. I'll be fine, though! What's the worst that could happen?'
'I don't know, maybe a repeat of uni?!'
'Nah, that won't happen. What're they gonna do, steal my work stuff?'
'Ha-ha, very funny. When does work start, by the way?'
'Whenever next Monday is. I've got everything downloaded so it's just waiting.'
'I'm so jealous,' Socks said with a sad groan. 'I'd kill for the chance to work from home...guess I can't really take the servers home with me. Not sure the bus drivers would approve.'
'Probably not. And also that might be theft.'
'Tch, how boring'
Your journey outside was made bearable by the cool breeze. The sun was high in the sky, joined by large clouds that morphed into shapes the longer you gazed up at them.
The trees around you reached up and up, creating a roof of leaves and branches that thickened the further you walked, blocking out the sun's rays.
The forest around you was alive with colour. Summer was underway, and the vivid leaves stood out brightly against the dark wood and dirt, and the flowers that were dotted around added splashes of colour to the mainly green landscape. It was a sight you were sure you'd never grow tired of, occasionally snapping a few pictures on your phone with a self-satisfied nod. Autumn would begin soon, and you wanted to document the change in the forest as much as possible.
Your daily walk was your mandatory 'go outside and touch grass' break before you started your other job for the rest of the afternoon: transcribing old documents that no one else in the company could read. If someone had trouble reading someone's handwriting, they sent it to you and paid you per page.
Quick and easy cash.
As you turned a corner, your phone already unlocked and ready to take another picture of the scenery, you suddenly froze. Was...someone watching you? You could've sworn that a pair of eyes were locked onto the back of your neck like a sniper's mark.
Time to go home.