Her apartment complex

There it was, the multi-building complex right in front of her. It was like water in the desert. Except that Lucy's dessert was extremely wet.

She stamped through the water on the sidewalk. Stepping over the curb into the cold water, she pushed past the rushing water to reach the keypad for the gate. The little glowing overhang above the pad did little to block the wind and spray it carried, but Lucy was glad to have some respite.

As her fingers stretched for the keys, the familiar noise of sloshing water and headlights in her peripheral vision made Lucy panic. She dove back into the rain to avoid being seen. Her body braced against the back of the small brick enclosure.

The car rolled up to the gate as it slowly slid open — the privilege of having a car and a working clicker. It had only just rolled through the gate as it closed behind, which brought a dire realization to her mind.

There was no way Lucy would be able to run through the water fast enough to make it through. That only left two meager options. She had to go over or under it. And over didn't seem possible in these conditions.

There was a slim gap under the gate, not that it was visible through the rushing water. It wouldn't be easy, but had anything today been easy? Lucy wrapped her towel tighter as she approached the gate. Crouching down, she breathed hard before taking one deep breath.

The **** of the rushing water was surprisingly strong once Lucy was flat on the ground. The freezing water demolished her senses, so she relied on her firm grip on the gate to get her through. It only took seconds for Lucy to resurface, but her lungs ached as if she swam for hours.

She sat on the curb nearby to catch her breath. The rain was a pleasant reminder that she was still alive but also made clear that something was amiss. The sweeping river in the parking lot had stolen the towel that boosted Lucy's confidence. She mourned her loss but was so close to the end.

Lucy sneaked alongside cars until she found her building. She felt pulled toward it; not even the lit stairwell made her hesitate.

She climbed the stairs slowly. The wind pulled at her but couldn't shake her from the safety rails. Once she reached the top, she reached for the lanyard around her neck and grabbed nothing.

Lucy looked down in horror. Her keys were gone, lost somewhere in her journey. With no spare key and no way to call the building manager, her thoughts went to the balcony of her apartment. It was a ridiculous thought. She was panicked and irrational.

The balcony would have been dangerous to reach on a typical day. Lucy had already forgone stupidity as she braced herself against the outside rail. She had no idea how far the balcony was, but it was far... too far to reach without jumping.

The top of the railing was so close if she could just stretch a little farther. With only one foot and hand holding her down, it wasn't surprising that a gust of wind threw her into the air, away from firm ground.

The feeling was magical as Lucy floated through the air for a split second. Reality came crashing back in as she caught the bottom of her balcony. Her naked body slapped into the siding. Lucy clawed her way up the balcony rails with more adrenaline coursing through her than in her entire life.

Lucy still felt invincible when she opened the balcony door. The apartment was lit only with a couple of lamps, but the scene in front of her was confusing. Party decorations adorned the room. A few empty beer cans and disposable cups lay around. Cassy did have the extra key, but she's not the type to throw a party like this.

Some pieces started coming together as Lucy noticed the sizeable welcome sign and a few household items she didn't own. It looked like a housewarming party.

Lucy walked out of her kitchen and nearly crashed into the groggy Cassy. Cassy was more than a little drunk, wearing nothing more than her panties.

Quickly sobering up at the sight, Cassy began speaking, "Where the hell were you? I've been trying to call you all-" A damp hand cut her off as Lucy noticed someone sleeping on the couch in the living room.

Lucy pointed, "My phone is at work. I have so many more questions..." she trailed off.

The adrenaline finally fading, Lucy nearly knocked Cassy over as she collapsed. Cassy kindly dragged the knocked-out Lucy to her bed and tucked her in. Lucy's long day ended at last.