3.
Third day, no change. I did do some exploring today. I decided to go for a walk this morning when no one showed up to work here, yet again. I visited the old Lakeside Amusement Park. I thought it was deserted, but someone's supplying power. I visited the "Borley Haunted House." It was hilarious.
I found one of my father's photos in the Fortune House. I think he'd visited there. But, the psychic room didn't even offer a psychic, just more emptiness. What is going on with you, dad? The picture of Toluca Lake just had, "Little Baroness Sign," written on it, dad's handwriting. I walked for hours trying to figure out what that meant. Was it a place to eat? A bar? A ride?
Eventually, I found a historical marker on the docks that explained the ship had sunk in 1918. For some strange reason, I kept seeing the word "Hannah," in my head, but I can't explain why. I don't know anybody named Hannah. In school, I liked Monica. Frankie liked Ella. But, I can't recall anyone named Hannah. I don't really know what happened to Monica after graduation, it all seems so hazy. Sometimes it's hard to believe three months have even passed.
The ever-present mist outside is the softest fog, it's hard to explain. The lights drifted out across the lapping water. I wish dad could've been there. I didn't understand why he wrote that on his picture. It was a picture of me when I was a kid. Someone had carved, "313," in the post. They could've been more specific. Was it the time? The date, the month and day? It could be an address, but there was no street name. It will come to me.
I am so bored. I wish I could talk to another person. I tried my hand on the piano in the restaurant, but I can't play. The only real music I've came across is that damned music box in the lobby. There is something awfully strange here. The doors are open, but no one ever comes to work. Sometimes, the room doors are open, but you never see guests.
I don't have to worry about access with the key, thankfully. If I had to wait on someone, I think I would've starved to death, by now. I can go anywhere, now. Maybe there's something in town. I'm a little afraid to explore very far. When I stepped out of my car, after I crashed it, I could've sworn I saw a thing. A creature. A monster. I don't know what it was. I just remember it had no head. Actually, there was something akin to ahead on top of it, but it looked like a muddy plastic film had been stretched across a human body. I could see beneath it in spots and it was like peering through skin on a body.
I passed out. When I woke, it was gone. The sun had also gone and this thick, white fog was everywhere. I don't know how long I was out. I waited for two hours for someone to pass me after I woke, but there weren't any other cars on the road. No travelers. No cops.
This has really made me think of things. I remembered when mom disappeared. I'm just reliving that again with my last parent. Dad acted strange for a long time when she vanished. It wasn't emotional; he didn't break down or anything. It was just distant. Maybe that was his way of dealing with it. I guess everyone's different. He was frigid for around a year. For a time, I thought he was suspicious. I hate to say that now. Look at things. I shouldn't have felt that way about him. My suspicions were brief, he was soon back to his old self. He seldom talked about her, though. I wish I could've heard more about her before he was gone. I didn't get to tell him goodbye, either.
The two situations are almost identical, only I didn't have the protective embrace of a loving parent to find security in this time. Dad told me he came home, found the door wide open and mom was gone. He looked all around. I was at school when it was first discovered. I thought it was just like any other day. Mom watched me get on the bus, same as always. I never dreamed that was the last time. I never dreamed she would leave without saying goodbye. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She wore those comfortable stretchy pants and a huge tee-shirt, her choice clothing at home. She said you'd never have a home unless you felt comfortable enough to be yourself in it.
Who could've taken her? Why did they take her? We live in the tiny town of Ashfield. I mean it's not exactly New York City or anything. People just don't disappear for no reason. She had no enemies, no one wanted her dead or anything. I didn't understand it then and I don't understand it now.
This place is very strange. I can't stay in this hotel forever. I'm starting to feel incredibly isolated from the world. I need to get out. I need to at least try to find someone else.