Hellboy's brow arched up as he looked at the seedy looking motel. There was only one rusty car in the lot, near the office, which he figured, was the owner's. The string of bungalows were a chipped and faded brown, with torn screen doors.
"So, are there any good restaurants around here?" Liz asked with a smile.
"Not for you folks," the old owner said.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. We don't like you people snooping around our town, especially from that 'Ghost Bureau' or whatever you call it."
"How did you...?" Liz asked, furrowing her brow.
"Us 'yokels' know more than you think, Ms. Sherman. Y'all need to mind your own business. Here's your room key," he said, sliding a key with a little wooden plank hanging on it. "Wally! Escort this woman and her 'fiance' to their room."
A young boy of about 12 walked out from in back. Liz looked at him and he gave her a big toothy grin. She grinned back. The old man slapped the boy on the back of his head.
"Now, get!"
Liz and the boy walked out to the car.
"So, you is folks from the Bureau?"
"You got it, Wally. Now, don't mind my friend in the car, he's a big fella with sunburn," Liz said. She motioned for Hellboy to get out. He put his sunglasses on and stepped out, his hooves digging into the old crumbling asphalt. Wally stood in awe.
"Howdy," Hellboy said.
"H-Hi. I'm Wally," the boy said, "You're big."
"Yeah, I know. I'm Hellboy. I'm still going to need your help with these bags. Think you can handle it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good boy."
Liz could see that Hellboy had already taken a liking to Wally. She watched as they picked up the bags and chatted on the way to the bungalow, with her following close behind.
They got inside and set down the bags.
"Thanks, Wally," Hellboy said and gave him a $5 bill.
"Aw, thanks, mister!" he said and trotted out the door back to the office.
Hellboy opened the dresser drawer, looking for a phone book. Instead, he found a Gideon Bible. He opened it up. There we no words on the pages. The whole book was blank.
"Huh," he said, "Weird."
"What?" Liz said from the bathroom where she was washing her face.
"This whole Bible is blank."
"That is weird.
"Oh, well. Let's get a pizza and check out that cemetery," Hellboy said, picking up the phone. Liz was too hungry to object.