#earthrunes

Looks like a total of 35 units. Making it on the smaller side of a complex. Several names listed... both Janitor and Super rooms listed. Looks to be separate.

Can you tell from looking what apartments had evictions?He wonders.

Some have blank slots for names.. that might be a clue or it could be laziness.

Adam frowns, makes an effort to remember the missing-name-numbers, and goes in search of those apartments. He also remembers the super and janitor apartments.

He heads to room 13, the nearest room missing a name in the slot

He walks confidently, with every right to be there.

And he hears crying?

He slows, listening.... Where....?

Behind the door to room #13.

He hesitates. Is there anythi g visible on the outside of the apartment?

The door seems not completely closed, theree's no way to look through a crack or anything, but it's not completely closed to. There is a bright slip of paper on it that says 'VACANT' despite the tears in there.

Adam frowns, and taps on the door frame.

"Can you give us one damn minute before you throw us out? We're still packing"

"Uh, I'm not evicting you. I mean, I'm not with them."

There's a pause, then a door opens and he sees a woman who looks to be about his mom's age. Of mixed Asian and Caucasian heritage, the woman is dressed in clothes meant for traveling. "I'm sorry... who are you then?"

"I was, uh, visiting someone and I was walking past and I heard..... is everything ok?"

"No, no, I'm afraid it is not," She looks at the suit cases on the furniture

"There's been a lot of evictions recently. " With sympathy.

"You heard ? yeah, the new owner is a real piece of work" She says "COVID has half of us struggling to make ends meet, and he raises rent."

"Is that even legal?"

"By the time the authorities get to it, the damage will be done" She says "Waht can we do? Hard to afford a lawyer when you can barely make rent and pay for two ... clothing, food, car repair, God forbid you have medical costs come up"

Adam seems a bit lost, but "You guys... have a place you're going to go?"

"There's a shelter... " She shrugs

"Who owns this place? I mean... who's doing this?!?" Exasperation, outrage, honor!

"Nothing anyone can do about it" She says. Looking a bit gray and wan as she admits it.

"Hey.... I mean, you don't know that, right? Maybe someone can. Maybe this could help someone you don't even know. Don't know yet. Maybe?"

"Who are you again?" She asks

"Oh, I'm sorry. My bad! I'm Adam. Uh, Adam Thomas."

"Lesley O'Connel" she says "Look, Adam, you seem a nice young man. But I'm a grown woman. And I'm not able to Karen my way out of this, what makes you think you can?"

"I don't know." Sadly. "But I want to try. Not... not, 'karen' but...... I want to try."

"Mom? who's this?" A voice behind him the hallway

"This is Adam" Lesley O'Connel says "he's got a bump on the head and thinks he's superman, but he's well intentioned"

Adam turns and looks, a bit on guard.

Close to Adam's age is a girl with bright green eyes, straight dark brown hair, and a colorful facemask.

"Oh. Hey. Hi." He breathes from behind his own mask.

"Hi, Adam. I'm Minerva." A look at him "Somehow I thought Superman would be taller."

Adam put a hand on his stomach and focuses.

"You okay?" She looks at his gesture

Nope. Mortal. And this place is gray daba dee doobie dahhh

"Minera is a beautiful name." He offers. "I'm ok. Uh. Is there some way I can help you?"

"You could lug out the suitcase for mom" Minerva says

"Minerva!" Her mother protests

"He offered!" Minerva shoots back

"We are plenty healthy we can carry our own things" Lesley snorts at her daughter

"I'll help....."

"We can't afford to pay you" Lesley says

"Mom!" Minerva's turn to be embarrassed

"Just being honest" Her mother says

"No, miss, I'm not looking for payment. I mean, maybe I can't do anything. But.... I can try."

"Just carry" Minerva says "And thanks"