Chapter 2My Vacant House Was Occupied – By Strangers

I reached into my bag and slowly pulled out the property deed, opening it to the first page and pointing at the owner’s name. There, in bold letters, it clearly said Darren Hawkins.

The neighbors around us started murmuring louder.

“Wait, so it’s not her house?”

“She’s been lying about owning this place all along?”

“I thought so. How could that old hag afford a house in this nice neighborhood when she collects trash all day?”

Hearing the gossip, Gloria’s face flushed red with anger. She lunged at me, trying to snatch the deed from my hands.

I swiftly raised my arm, holding the deed out of her reach with a smirk.

“Aren’t you the one who couldn’t even stand up a minute ago? Looks like a miracle recovery to me.”

Realizing her mistake, she scowled, pushing me roughly.

“I’ve lived here for three years! This house is mine! Who knows where you crawled out from!”

I nearly laughed out loud. “So by your logic, if someone lives in a house for three years, it automatically becomes theirs?”

“That’s right! If I’m living here, it’s my house!” she shouted.

The commotion had finally drawn the attention of Travis Pittman, the security guard. He arrived, looking completely uninterested in the truth.

“What’s going on here? Why’s there so much yelling?”

Gloria’s eyes lit up again as she pointed at me and wailed, “Thank God you’re here! This guy is trying to break into my house, saying it’s his! You’ve got to help me!”

Without asking any questions, Travis shielded her and glared at me.

“How’d you get in here? Do you even know where you are? You can’t just harass residents like this!”

I’ve dealt with unreasonable people, but this was a new level.

I shoved the deed in Travis’s face. “Check again. I am the owner of this house.”

When Travis saw the property deed, his expression faltered. Realizing the other neighbors were watching, he tried to snatch the deed from me.

But after Gloria’s attempt, I wasn’t about to let anyone grab it. I quickly stepped back.

“What do you think you’re doing? I’ll hold it while you look,” I said.

Angered, Travis barked, “How do I know if this deed is even real? You probably forged it, trying to steal the house! Get lost!”

He moved to shove me, while Gloria used the distraction to unlock the door with her key. The door swung open, and an overpowering stench hit me so hard I nearly vomited.

Through the crack in the door, I saw mountains of garbage piled high. A rat squealed as it darted out through the opening.

“Ugh!” I recoiled.

In the chaos, Gloria slipped inside and slammed the door shut. I started pounding on it, but Travis blocked me, tapping his nightstick threateningly.

“Better leave now, or I’ll drag you out myself.”

Feeling defeated and with no help from the locksmith, I left, my frustration boiling.