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Post by swapgo on Aug 11, 2023 18:16:34 GMT
"I don't think I have to explain why you're here, Mr. Dimitri".
Death is the turbulence of life, and so it has proven to be to Roman Dimitri. His one parent, a hardworking man working 12 hours a day in the middle of nowhere, not rich enough to provide all that he wanted for his son, but apparently just enough to be mugged and killed in the dead of night. Whether the lad had the time to go through all the stages of grief concerned not the person before him, Ms. Mills looked like a trustworthy practicioner of the law, perhaps too much, one could imagine the kind of people that confided in her, she didn't look empathetic the first time he met her, and she sure didn't look like she did now. "Time stops for no one, let alone me, or the tax agencies. It appears that your father has left you with quite an abundant debt on the property you call home. After some thorough background checks, property assessments, and some simple substraction here and there...", Mills tapped on a calculator on her desk, it was clearly theatrical, even if Dimitri couldn't see the screen from here. "I'm here to reassure you that there is no need to worry, for you will not be saddled with the debt for your house". She tapped a pen with her desk, smiling towards Dimitri with some vague attempt at reassurance.
"We'll merely reclaim it"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 11, 2023 19:09:45 GMT
Roman Dimitri was 23 now. Having just gotten a major in business and a minor in economics, the news of his Father's death had shattered his world. Ms.Mills herself had been the first person he spoke with when he had returned to his hometown where he his father still welcomed him with open arms....... Had welcomed him.
It was like getting shell shocked each time he reminded himself that his father had passed. Now, standing in this office, with Ms.Mills before him, stating that his Father had a crippling amount of debt to his name, and that he was going to lose the only place he could return to? Right after finishing college at that!
Roman tried to keep his temper under control. He had tried to keep a lot of his emotions under control. Hell, he hadn't even finished setting up the funeral, much less getting a casket for his old man, his eyes deep with shadows from staying up these past few nights unable to get much sleep. "What... - what do you mean debt? I know he didn't take out a loan or funds for my college tuition, that was fully paid by the state. He wasn't someone who gambled, or even did anything.... If it's medical debts, then I'm sure we can make a payment plan or something.... What about his life insurance? His Will?" Roman asked, quickly going from attempted calm to frustratedly agitated as he furrowed his brow.
"Is it the land? He just finished paying it off before I went to college four years ago. He's even got receipts from the bank." He pulled out the briefcase that he had filled with various documents. His father had kept meticulous care to keep records of his payments in this old thing. He had to almost wrestle it out of the Police station as they had attempted to claim it was vital evidence. He even had to ask Ms.Mills for help on that part. Opening it up, Roman attempted to find the contracts that stated everything was paid in full. It had been his father's dream to own that house. His mother's dream actually........
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Post by swapgo on Aug 11, 2023 19:35:16 GMT
"Did you find your father an entrepreneur, Mr. Dimitri?".
Mills leaned forward, and halted Dmitri's rumagging by pinning one of the papers with her pen, dragging it aside with dexterous use of its clip. It was the property deed, and indeed, it was paid in full, signed by the bank and leased by Atlas. "I did not, he seemed like an incredibly humble, grounded man, who lived his life in the slow lane. Couldn't be me", the woman picked up the piece of paper, placing her pen under the property number, while riffling through her own archives without a care in the world. "So it was much to my surprise that he reached to me again, for another loan. A refurbishing contract for his gas station, it seems like he wished to expand the family business, leave you with something more tangible than just lodging", she picked a piece of paper, flicking it to make wavy noises before sliding it across the table. "And would you believe what the collateral was?", there it was, a loan for the groundwork of an ambitious stateside mall, for a ludicrous amount of cash, endorsed by his own home.
"We contacted the bank, the money there is gone, however, there is no record of a final transaction with Atlas, as such, it isn't there to be repaid, which leaves us where we are here", Mills leaned back, she had once justified her cold demeanor with how 'efficiency is the best smile', it wasn't helping at the moment. "If it is of any solace, that place is still yours. Surely there's some space for one person"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 11, 2023 20:36:06 GMT
Roman saw the attorney dexterously and accurately collect the deed and paperwork to his Father's land, as well as explain what had happened. "I know that he handled refurbishing contracts." Roman stated, as he held back the desire to snatch the papers away from Ms.Mills. Still, her placing it down showed a few things he took notice of. Specifically the name Atlas, and how the deed had been leased by whoever Atlas was.
Roman also took note of the Property Number for his dad's home. He would commit it to memory and write it down in his phone with the Note app. It wasn't until Ms.Mills mentioned his father approaching her and whoever "US" was. That was when Roman's face furrowed in confusion. Why had his father gone to this person? He didn't have much time to address the question before Mills explained the fact that he did technically own something. Showing the Loan contract, Roman scanned it, before taking note that the final transaction had never occurred on record....
Concern filled his mind. He scanned the inside of his father's briefcase, finding a new deed. His expression became a bit relaxed as he looked at the fact he did have something..... Only for his face to sink again when he realized what it was for. Ms.Mills words cemented this. He had only one thing left.
A Mall.
More specifically a Mall that Roman knew all too well. It was an abandoned Mall. When Roman had been a kid, he had remembered watching that mall and seeing it with wonder.... However, as time passed and the housing market crashed, it turned out the owner of the Mall had not paid his dues. Roman remembered watching it slowly degrade over time, graffiti, vandalization, and general lack of maintenance from anyone had turned it into a shadow of the busy and basically cultural center of the town that it had been. Now supermarkets and other franchises attended to the general needs of everyone and dominated the economy. Cheap prices as they were, with anything you could need in one central location.
Ms.Mills smile began to grind on his gears, as he took a look at the contract for the Loan, and double checking the signatures.
He didn't know Ms.Mills, and was skeptical of there being no final transaction. He wanted to make sure his father's signature was his own.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 11, 2023 20:51:45 GMT
As Mills saw the skepticism of the boy, she coyly handed him a magnifying glass, lens first of course. There were no signs of forgery, this was his father signature, a transaction made with the bank as to be invested through Atlas. Mills then slid another document on top of the glass, it didn't require it, it was merely a print-out of his father's transactions history, facilitated by both the authorities and the bank. The money was received, and then withdrawn, rather than what the contract stipulated. "Did any of us really know your father, I wonder". Mills probed, figuring the kid had no clue of this development.
"it seems to me like he tangled with the wrong crowd, the business end of business. I'm doing you a favor by collecting and asking no more questions, kid. A derelict mall is still wider than three windowless walls and metal bars".
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 11, 2023 21:21:43 GMT
Roman went from skeptical to irritated when Mills handed him a magnifying glass to scan the signature. It didn't help that he was tired, and perhaps a bit hungry from skipping breakfast. Of course, Ms.Mills own reaction and comment didn't help his mood. Placing the loan contract down, he slid it back slowly while looking at the woman with a dark expression as she seemed to imply that he could be arrested.
"And what grounds are you implying that I would be arrested and found guilty of Ms.Mills?" he said almost daring her so as he placed his phone on the desk, clearly recording the events spoken here. He wouldn't leave things be, and clarified that while he did not major in Law, the two practices of Law and Business stood side by side often enough to warrant the need to understand basics.
"As far as I know, this is my first time hearing about any of this. My father didn't even handle his last loan with you directly Ms.Mills.. Indeed, the last loan was with his Grandfather's friend, a man close to his Dad's age, Marcus Henry. The man had been close friends with his father, and if it hadn't been for Marcus talking down his boss a handful of times to give his Dad a day to make up the late payments, then Roman and his Dad wouldn't have the house...... Have Had......
Grim determination etched on his face, Roman continued. "As far as I am concerned, my father's actions since spring break... Nearly a full year ago... Were not unusual in any ways. He wasn't a substance abuser, nor did he even drink.... Not after the accident involving my Mother's death with a DUI driver when I was barely a year old from what I was told. So.... Unless you have a legal reason to have said that Ms.Mills, I suggest you not attempt to impede my scrutiny of the situation, unless you prefer a class action lawsuit."
It was a simple clear message. "Now..... I presume you happen to have my father's will and life insurance, right?"
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Post by swapgo on Aug 11, 2023 21:55:28 GMT
"Why, vagrancy, of course".
Mills did not bend, once again using her pen to deftly squeeze out documents from the seemingly disorderly stack of papers, ushering his father's will, a predictable affair, it did indeed bestow Roman with all accountable possessions of real estate, however, the contract signed for the loan would immediately declare insolvency in the case of perceived inability of fullfillment, Roman was legally unable to saddle the debt, it would be too high of a risk for the Atlas for a business freshman to try and finish the project. "You seem unafraid Roman, and I congratulate that, however, the same can't be said for Sodara", she peeled the document away and quickly underlined sentences of the insurance document, undisclosed personal information, and involvement in criminal, illegal[...]. "The case is still warm, and given the mystery surrounding where the funds ended up, Sodara is in legal right to refuse payment on these grounds. It seems silly, but I didn't review this document for your father, so it is untouchable", she elaborated. "You could get a PI to dig around the case, but there's no guarantee that they'll find something to absolve your father of, at the very least, breach of contract, let alone in time to appeal for insurance.". Her tone grew scathing, as if she had seen this bravado a hundred times before. She claimed she left special victims cases because the money was on contract law, but perhaps her heart grew to be to stony for the task.
"I do not mean to impede you, I've handled people like you, cases like this, nothing I say will stop you from trying at least once, but it is always my hope that there will be a day when you'll reflect on these words, just one day before you follow, in his, footsteps", she accentuated, almost as if deliberately leaning onto the recording, before sitting back upright. "Time isn't Money, Roman, and we each lack one of them"
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 11, 2023 22:46:55 GMT
Roman froze on that last part. Vagrancy. Somehow, the idea of being legally homeless had not occurred to him. If anything, her words had shaken him down to the core, making him realize the reality of his situation.
Of course, her further actions immediately continued this trend. The fact that unless he could absolutely prove that his father's murder wasn't linked to illegal activity, he couldn't even attempt to do anything about it.... Which meant that anything related to his life insurance would be null and void in terms of compensation. In short, he knew that they would perform the usual business of dodging payout like most insurance companies did if there was any sort of doubt. What's more, with Atlas's involvement, it'd be clear that the withdrawal of the money as opposed to performing the transaction was definitely a questionable action.
The determination he showed faded as soon as it had set in. Reality being harsh and cold, Roman realized that he couldn't even give his father a proper funeral. Hell, he couldn't even preserve his father's body in a funeral home at this rate. Looking at the insurance, he noticed that his father had already gotten a dividend for a Direct Cremation....
Roman's eyes felt like they were burning as he realized that he was about to cry, but quickly looked away, blinking a bit before closing his eyes and nodding towards Mills. "My apologies then. I..... Perhaps this has been a bit too much for me. Denial is a part of the grieving process after all.......". Lifting his head, he refused to show how distraught he was. This person wouldn't care, and neither would anyone else. "If that is all, I suppose I should take my leave then.... Is there anything else?" Roman asked as he hovered his hand over the end recording button.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 11, 2023 23:13:22 GMT
"Everything that ought to be said today has been. You have my schedule", Mills dismissed him, letting the kid fend for himself.
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 11, 2023 23:48:51 GMT
Roman nodded, before walking out of the office.
The rest of the day seemed like a blur. From going to collect his old things and whatever else the collection people took, to the simple final goodbye to his father before he left the funeral home with a small urn. The only thing that hadn't been taken was a car he had saved up for after his second year. He wouldn't be exposed to the elements, but with summer fast approaching, and no refrigeration or means to shower, it wasn't likely for him to get very far.
At least he had somewhere he could park. While the Mall likely wasn't a residential property, he could still likely look up business laws in relations to see if he could do something. That was even IF the building was up to code and habitable. Roman drove to the only thing he had left from his father.
As he turned into the parking lot of the Mall, Roman felt like he was looking at some desolate and perhaps even uncanny place. He had read about things like this. Creepy pastas or even mentions of backrooms caught his mind as he looked at the massive building. It was a reflection of older times... And of memories that finally made the tears Roman had been holding back flow, as he hugged the urn, apologizing that he hadn't been there when his father needed him. Roman cried and cried, until he fell asleep in his car.
He woke up in the early mornings of the next day, the urn still in his grip as he felt his throat parched. Taking a can of tea, he opened it with a snap before downing it, and ate a honey bun. Looking at the Mall, he noticed that despite it's weathered and abandoned exterior, he saw no evidence of vagrant occupation. Which was a bit confusing to him to be honest. Searching his father's briefcase, Roman pulled out a set of keys. These had been in the case, but Roman had no idea as to what they were for. This was likely the case, as he started up his car, and moved it closer to the front, before placing a clear sign on the front as he wrote down that thr car was owned by the Property's Owner. He figured he'd still get a ticket, or worse get towed if no one regarded it..... Free lawsuit on his end he figured.
Approaching the doors, he noticed that newspaper covered the windows, likely to discourage people from breaking the glass. He wasn't exactly sure why things like this was done with an empty mall, as he unlocked the doors to the building and stepped in.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 12, 2023 0:02:42 GMT
There was a strange atmosphere around the mall, that suddenly went to silence as the keys opened the door, perhaps it would give the boy enough pause to notice the date of some of these newspapers, ranging from years to a staggering three days ago.
The mall's hallways were in surprisingly clean shape. Sure, the lights were off, and some pieces were missing here and there, but it was surprisingly bereft of dust. The abandoned locales were all open, the grates being either up or half shut. All of them were also picked clean, but not in the way you would expect from some rampant looting. Every shelf was still in place, one could tell shoe stores from snack bars from banks just from looking at the outlay of the place, but there was nothing that wasn't bolted to the floor left, not even cobwebs. The trashcans were empty, the emergency doors were thrown open, there wasn't a single corner of the mall not laid bare.
Noises reveberated from the empty hall, too heavy to be rats, but not heavy enough to be squatters, perhaps some large hounds had made this place their home?
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 13, 2023 1:40:46 GMT
Roman stepped in without paying much attention to the papers themselves as he stepped in. The environment immediately reminded him of the abandoned warehouse or facility vibes that analog horror stories of the "backrooms" came to his mind. "Great..... It could be wors-" he began before immediately hearing the sound of something large moving through the building. Rats didn't sound like that. Maybe racoons or something, but even then they would need to be pretty big racoons.
Scratching his head, Roman decided that if he was going to check things he needed to at least get a flashlight and something to drive any rogue animals away. "Had to open my trap huh....." he said, before exiting the building to collect a few things. His father had taught him what he should always need for hos car, so he went to his trunk before pulling out a storm flashlight, the torch being powered by several large square batteries. He also took a tire iron with him, and a bottle of pepper spray. If worse came to worse, he at least had something he could defend himself or scare off dogs with.
As he approached the doors again, Roman paused, suddenly noticing something strange as he made sure to adjust his grip. Some of the newspaper were old, but some were from three days ago. He took a look at the paper, wondering what it had, and if perhaps his father had placed the papers on the window. If so, it didn't make sense if it was from three days ago, as his father died five days ago now.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 13, 2023 2:36:54 GMT
The papers were just regular newspaper, detailing some political blunders here and some baseball team finally breaking their losing streak there, however, as he ruminated outside, he could hear the humming coming from the building resumed. It was quite hard to describe, as they were far off echos of the empty, accoustically unsound mall, however, they weren't a consistent droning noise, or a rhythmic beat of some derelict machine. Most importantly, it would quickly cease once the door opened once more, suggesting it was paying attention to him.
There would be silence, up until he turned on his torch, prompting a sharp skid somewhere deep into the inner hallways, as well as rumblings on the second floor.
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Time
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Post by Time on Aug 13, 2023 2:55:03 GMT
Roman saw the news being just that, news. Usual daily and honestly boring news at that. Still, it was now that he noticed how odd the situation was with the sudden humming he heard. Initially he assumed it was the hum of electricity, maybe even a old fluorescent tube, but he dismissed it as he realized that it seemed more like an acustic or choir like humming. Cautiously he opened the doors again, only for the humming to abruptly end. Looking at the building, he shook his head. Perhaps it was just his imagination, or the accumulated stress that he was feeling at the moment. Stepping back in, he quickly turned on the torch, only to jump and look up, moving the beam towards where the sudden skidding came from.
"Hello?! Who's there!". Roman exclaimed, his nerves now alive and more sensitive to stimuli as his flight or fight response activated due to the sudden noise and rumbling. "If anyone's there, show yourself! This is private property, and I have a right to press charges if I feel like it, so if you don't want to get into legal trouble, I suggest you make it clear who you are and prepare to vacate the area!".
Roman stared towards where the sound had come from, torch in one hand, tire iron in the other as he squinted in an attempt to see what made that sound as he tentatively stepped forward.
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Post by swapgo on Aug 13, 2023 3:08:41 GMT
There was no reply to the litigious threat, though there was still a shifting presence about the empty halls.
Should Roman press forward, he would find a group of items on the floor; a file nail, some nail polish, and opened eyelash extensions, presumably all items that you'd find on the same place. The file nail was odly worn, but not in the way one would expect from overuse, it was rugged through the thin end, as if someone attempted to use it as a knife. The mall would rumble every time he swung his torch for vision, as if something was peering at him, but would not return the favor. A blur of some earthly color could be seen dashing into a nearby store, a shoe shop. Not that one could tell by the merchandise, as all of its shelves and wall hangers were picked clean, but everything was still in place.
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