He returns to the old, boarded up home like a moth is drawn to the flame.
From a psychological perspective, perhaps he kept going back to the old, boarded-up home (& inhabitating it) during the last few months to avoid the reality of his current life elsewhere which he may feel is abysmal....
and yet....
There is no comfort in the old boarded up home because he had no solace there. Yes, he had dreams of a bright future then but there were events of anger and pain caused about by others there. A childhood robbed by those who should’ve protected him as a child? It triggers him and he was too small to protect himself and others then but he can now. He becomes filled with PTSD-like rage/anger/disassociation. And if he is recreationally using drugs/alcohol, it will make things worse. It boils up & overflows but he cannot put those emotions into words as he has been firmly instructed to “tell no one”.
All of the above is purely moo and speculation but I strongly feel the boarded up house holds the key to a story of anger and abuse; victim hood and vendettas. He felt compelled to go back to the old home but instead of feeling comfort, it triggered unresolved and unaddressed traumas. Ones he could never talk about but were broiling under the surface. He tries to juggle the concept of remaining loyal and quiet about the offender versus finding a way to acquiesce while having limited “tools” and resources to do so.
This does not justify what he did, of course.
I wonder if he can verbalize anything to LE so we can learn how to prevent these occurrences? Or will he continue to have flattened emotions and shut down while he broils inside as he has always done?