Chapter 3: Check In
Dan had finished saying his goodbyes to his apartment, and silently slipped into the back seat of Chris' and Elise's car. After shutting the car door, Dan immediately rested his chin on his arm, looking out the window. Mr. Mumbles was sitting in the sill watching as they finally started to move away from all that was familiar.
Chris looked back at Dan in the rear view mirror. It was almost hard to read Dan's expression for once. It seemed like a combination of anger, sadness, and confusion all at once. Chris was pretty sure Dan was incapable of feeling sad. Dan hadn't even cried at his grandmother's funeral, or when his parents had split. Chris wasn't sure what he could say at the moment, but he felt obligated to say something.
"So we're finally heading out, huh? I just know you'll like it there Dan! Elise and I visited there a couple weeks ago, and it seemed really nice." Chris stated with as much enthusiasm as he could muster up.
When no reply or even a sarcastic remark came from Dan, Chris knew something was eating at him.
"Dan...is something wrong?" Chris asked.
Dan had picked out the worried tone in Chris' voice, and decided he'd say something to make the big lug feel better.
"Everything's fine. I'm just tired; didn't sleep too well last night." Dan mumbled in response.
"Oh, okay then." Chris smiled sheepishly as he merged onto the freeway.
An awkward silence ensued for about ten minutes; but it had felt like hours to the three friends. Elise, finally unable to stand the silence, decided the radio would probably be a good idea at the moment. It was good for breaking the silence at least.
"Is there any particular station you like Dan? Chris?" Elise inquired of them as she pressed the power button.
"I'm fine with anything really." Chris responded in a bored manner.
"Same here." Dan mumbled.
"Okay then, let's see what's playing." Elise twisted the dial, changing it from the irritating static to a station just getting ready to play some music.
Look at how you turned on me
You ran away and left me here with nothing to see
I'm a man so turn around and say it to me
Don't you think I've got something to say
Look at how you turned on me-
Elise abruptly clicked the radio off.
"I think that's enough music for now." She stated with a nervous smile.
The next few hours of the drive were spent utterly devoid of sound. Dan had just stared out the window the entirety of the trip. Dan had just started to nod off a bit when there was a sudden excited squealing sound from Chris.
"This is the exit!" Chris exclaimed.
"Why should I care if we've reached the exit!?" Dan yelled.
"I just thought you might want to know that we're ten, maybe fifteen minutes from our destination." Chris countered.
Dan returned his sleepy gaze out the window, noting that there was nothing for miles around. There was dirt, a few shrubs scattered here and there, and lots of rocks as far as the eye could see. Dan could have sworn he'd even seen a vulture flying overhead a few moments earlier.
"Here we are! Dan doesn't this place look great!?" Elise enunciated.
Dan pressed his face and hands against the glass of the window to try and get a better look at the building. Dan got a surprise when the window was suddenly rolled down.
"Watch it Chris, are you trying to peel my precious skin off!?" Dan exclaimed.
"Dan, I don't think that-" Chris began when he was so rudely shushed by Dan.
Dan stuck his head out the window and took in the sight that lay directly before him. The building was surrounded by a brick wall topped off with barbed wire, and was a very dark gray stone, nothing real nice to look at, but there was one thing that stood out. The windows were tinted a light lavender hue.
Where have I seen this lavender tone before? Dan tried to remember, but he simply couldn't. Perhaps he would be able to figure it out later.
Once they'd driven through the security gate with the guard's permission, Dan's jaw almost dropped. The front of the building had a few rose bushes, and one large, very much alive, oak tree to the left of the building. It was a tad odd; suspicious even. They were in the middle of a desert, and there was green grass, flowers, the whole nine yards. There was even a tiny stream flowing through the spacious property.
Chris pulled the car up in front of the large steps that adorned the front of the building, leading up to a pair of, gray, opaque metal doors.
Real inviting. Dan thought to himself as he stepped out of the car.
Chris had popped the trunk, and pulled out Dan's duffel. Elise and Chris positioned themselves on either side of Dan as they began to mount the steps.
"I really think you'll like it here Dan." Chris commented with glee.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just hurry up and get this over with." Dan shot back grumpily.
A few moments later they'd reached the rather uninviting doorway. Elise knocked firmly against the cold metal. In a split second a rather muscular man wearing a lavender polo, tucked into white slacks paired with a black belt, opened the door. He had platinum blonde hair, and violet eyes.
"Dan, I presume?" The strapping young man asked.
"Yes, this is Dan right here." Chris gestured to his small friend.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Elias. If you would kindly bring your things inside the building Dan, we'd love to get you settled in." Elias stated bluntly.
"Are we not allowed to come in then?" Chris wondered.
"No, I apologize for any inconvenience, but Dan is the only one that may enter the building." Elias answered almost mechanically.
Chris handed Elias Dan's bag, and held his arms open wide.
"No." Dan bluntly stated as he shook his head.
"No hugs Chris!"
"Come on Dan, you're going to be gone awhile. Don't you want a nice big hug before we leave?" Chris smiled, making the gap in his teeth show.
"Ugh, fine! But only because I know you won't be able to get on without me there." Dan begrudgingly stepped forward.
Chris wrapped his arms tightly around Dan's abdomen, squeezing hard.
"Oof, are you trying to suffocate me?" Dan scowled.
Dan didn't want to admit it, but he was glad to receive the hug. Elise gave him a small hug as well, and then they took their leave. Dan stood in place until they had driven out of sight.
Well Dan...welcome to hell. Dan thought as a grimace replaced the smirk he'd had on his face.
"Shall we?" Elias chimed in.
"Yeah." Dan replied.
Dan stepped inside the bland building. It didn't look at all like he had been expecting.
~Author's Note:
Okay, so I am basically on a roll today with inspiration. I only hope that it turned out how everyone hoped it would. Sorry to be so mean as to leave at such a cliff hanger moment.
By the way, I absolutely adored the Elias idea. I will give a shout out to those that can guess correctly who runs this fine establishment. :) State who you think it is in the reviews.
P.S. Sorry about any grammar errors. It's really early in the morning =_=
