I had the idea that I could look around on Google Maps and find something that would inspire a fic, but I wanted something more random than just clicking around. I found a website called , which gives you random locations, so I began looking through random locations and came across this abandoned building in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, FFN isn't letting me post the URL but it is available via the same fic on AO3.
He had asked her to come alone to this place on the outskirts of an unfamiliar town, in an unfamiliar country. Nina knew that she could trust him, but she didn't feel the same way about this area and she hadn't left her car yet. What was so important about these abandoned buildings?
She parked up in a way that allowed for a quick escape, before looking around at her surroundings. For a moment, she wondered if she had got lost somewhere in the woods. Tracing her route back to her hotel, she concluded that she hadn't. He had been very precise in his directions, and she had been very precise in following them.
The empty windows looking down at her would be perfect for anyone who wanted to observe the scene. The road in both directions was soon swallowed by the trees. Everything was still and silent, which could be both for and against her. The area was not ideal, but she had rarely found anywhere with complete safety.
A pair of black metal gates stood in front of the larger building, which had some windows boarded up. There could still be people behind them, waiting for some signal if this was a trap. She couldn't see any sign of the original purpose of the building, but guessed that it was once a house.
Close to her car stood a one-storey building. Graffiti decorated the front wall. Three more windows, all lacking glass, alternated with two empty doorways. The building stood on a stone ledge, whilst the roof was flat tile. She had no idea what it was once used for.
Deciding that it would be better to stand indoors, she left her car and walked into the smaller building. Inside, she found more graffiti on most of the walls. Decaying litter almost carpeted much of the stone floor. In one corner was a worn-out mattress, a pile of yellowing newspapers on top. Not too far from that, a pile of cans and bottles.
She stood as close to the middle window as she dared, careful not to expose her head. From where she stood, she could see and hear anyone approaching the smaller building. The only problem was the larger building next to it. For all she knew, despite her trust in him, he now had his people in place. There was no reason to suspect betrayal, but the paranoia wasn't going away any time soon. Betray enough people and you end up feeling like even your shadow wants to stab you in the back.
Noise from an approaching vehicle caught her attention. It was coming from the west, so she knew it couldn't be him. A few seconds later, a van appeared. She stood still and hoped that the driver would not be too curious about her car.
As soon as the van drove out of sight and sound, she checked her watch. Despite the precise directions, he had not given a precise time for the meeting. That meant she could be waiting for hours, but that was okay. Patience was something she could count on if she needed to.
The uneasy silence fell once more, but she would not have to wait much longer. Another vehicle approached, this time coming from the east. As a black car came into view, she smiled as she noticed the driver. It was her friend and soon, she would know why this place was so important.
She stayed in position as he parked up, expecting him to come inside the building. Instead, he climbed out of his car and waved her over. Was this not the actual meeting point? His directions had been so specific that she was sure this place meant something to him.
Deciding to trust him, she left the little building and walked over to him. He was busy gazing at the big building, as if he had fond memories of it. "What is this place?"
He turned and smiled. "Used to be the home of a dear friend of mine."
So she had guessed right, and her paranoia began to lessen. Unless she had done something against this friend, she was not in danger here.
She glanced over at the black gates and wondered how long it had been since someone called the place home. "Anyone I knew?"
"Nah, it's been decades since I last heard of him," he replied. "He was looking after something for me, I hope it's still there."
That piqued her interest. The meeting must be about this something if he was showing himself in clear daylight. "What is this something?"
He didn't answer the question, but instead began walking towards the house.
Nina followed him, her curiosity growing with each step. "Why do you need me here?"
Pushing open one of the gates, he headed over to the front door and pulled out a key before turning to face her. "I want you to have it, if it's still here," he replied as if it had been obvious.
As they made their way inside, she wondered what it was. It was valuable to him, and it had stayed hidden for decades even as the house fell apart around it. If it was still there, that was. For all either of them knew, his friend could have taken it with him wherever he went. "Why me?"
"You saved my life once and I want to pay you back," he replied as he looked around the room.
So that was what this was about? He was exaggerating a little, it wasn't as if she had been trying to save his life for his sake. Him dying of his wounds that day would have cost her too much, and she had thought he had always known that. Still, it had felt good to save a life even if her main intention was selfish.
Noticing the silence, she spoke. "Did your friend ever tell you where he hid it?"
He shook his head. "At least we don't have as many rooms to search as I thought," he replied as he gazed up a large hole. Through it, he could see straight through to the clear blue sky.
Noticing a small room, Nina walked inside. There was no furniture in here, not even wallpaper on the walls. The floorboards threatened to cave in with the slightest contact. Above her, the ceiling was intact, whilst the window still had glass.
Crouching down, she examined the floorboards. Despite their creaking fury at her presence, none of them seemed to be hiding any secrets.
"In here!"
Standing up, she walked back into the first room. He was stood in the doorway of a room across from her, and she could tell that he had found the mystery item.
Crossing over, she walked into the room with him. Inside, she noticed a rectangular hole in the floor close to the door. On a nearby table, along with a small floorboard and a lot of dust, stood an ornate wooden box.
"Lucky I brought a lock pick," he spoke as he approached the box and began working on the large padlock that secured it.
Nina examined the box as he worked. Unlike the plain sides, the lid had intricate carvings. They were abstract patterns, depicting nothing in particular.
A soft clunk caught her attention as the padlock fell to the floor, before he looked at her and gestured at the box. "Open it."
Nina looked at him and then at the box. Soon she would know what the mystery item was, if it was still there. All she knew was that it was valuable and he was willing to give it to her. Yet she couldn't help feeling that he would regret it. His friend had kept it for years and he had remembered the exact address. He was also risking everything by exposing himself. After all, several countries were very interested in talking to him. "You're sure?"
He nodded. "I'm sure."
Walking over to the box, she took hold of the lid and examined the abstract carvings before beginning to open it. The box was stiff and it took some effort to get it open but when she did, her eyes widened.
This was the item? This was what he was willing to give her for saving his life, even though he had to know she had done it for herself? She realised there and then that he trusted her, that he considered her a true friend. Her earlier thoughts of possible betrayal had been baseless.
"Good, I knew I could trust him."
Nina reached inside the box and picked up one of the several gold ingots. She was no expert, but there had to be almost a million dollars of the precious metal.
"Don't worry about getting it out of the country, I have contacts," he spoke, now stood next to her.
She looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
They closed the box, before he glanced at the door. There had been no noise outside since they had entered the house, but that didn't mean nobody was there.
Each taking a side of the box, they carried it close to the front door, before placing it down on the floor. Looking out of the window, they found nobody outside before picking up the box and carrying it to his car.
He opened the back door before they slid the box onto the seat, before closing it. "It's been good to see you again, Nina, I hope we can meet again soon."
"We will," she replied with a nod. She had no idea where he was hiding, but they could arrange something with ease. Their next meeting would have to be somewhere a little comfier and not in the middle of nowhere.
Once they had both climbed into their cars, they took a look around. Nobody in sight or sound, everything seemed to be going fine. Their presence would go undetected, leaving behind no sign of the meeting.
She waited for the sound of his car to vanish before setting off in the opposite direction. As she headed straight for the airport, her mind was on the ingots. Soon they would be in a bank vault halfway across the world, as long as his contacts were trustworthy enough.
As for herself, she would be leaving the country by the end of the day. Her cover identity, an American looking to invest in real estate, had worked so far. Knowing all too well that things could go wrong in an instant, she wasn't going to stick around.