The afternoon sun was low as she padded up to the boundary of the all but abandoned car park. Serah had brought her here once to show her the view and help clear her head. Lightning was greatful for that because after that day she had visited the place with Serah and on her own many times. Daily, at this point. Five levels, just high enough. The place was closed off for the most part, rusted chains and weathered boards decorated the structure in an effort to keep people away. Lightning knew better. Knew the route that would lead her to a secluded stairwell at the buildings rear. Where in all her visits she had never come across another soul, it made the place feel fractured off from the rest of reality. Her home away from home.
Lightning inhaled deeply, feeling her lungs fill and expand before letting the air go in a long whooshing exhale. She gave herself a small nod and thrust herself forward from the ball of her foot. The gap between her and the building closed swiftly and within moments she was rounding its corner, feet thudding over concrete and earth alike. By the time she reached the rear of the car park she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Over the crumbling wall she leapt, one, two, three strides up a rocky incline. A quick duck beneath the broken chain link fence and then she placed her first foot fall onto the haggard concrete stairs. The soles of her shoes scraped the loose grit from the steps surface as she ran higher, taking two at a time as she ignored the decayed handrail. When Lightning started on the last set her lungs were burning and her legs were beginning to cramp, but she ignored the nuisances knowing her goal was within sight. As she broke from the stairwells high walls onto the car parks flat surface she could see the familiar tree tops across the lot. She ran free, not slowing her pace. Past the concrete pillars that marked various sections, past the long broken down parking meters. Thud, the sound echoed as her feet hit the ground over and over. Thud, the wind ripped over her skin in a cooling wave. Thud, her eyes stung with tears that she refused to let fall. Thud, she was nearing the end now, the broken space in the railings was almost within reach. Lightning closed her eyes and mounted the lots edge in one sure bound.
And there she froze, like always. Like the concrete gripped her feet. Her lungs gulped in air, fighting to live. Lightning scoffed to herself, even her body was against her. She teetered on the edge, arms stretched to her sides waiting for the wind to push her or her head to go dizzy, but it was no use. Every day was the same. She sighed in irritation and relaxed her limbs.