Chapter 5: The Next Day
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A loud honking outside finally stirred July out of her slumber. She yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. In the middle of the night she had somehow moved herself underneath the blankets and was now wrapped up tightly in them. Uncurling from them, she sat up and something hit the floor. She looked down and saw the album. She picked it up and looked at the cover, gently tracing the silver inscription before setting it aside and standing up.
Padding softly to the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her jet-black hair that hung to the middle of her back was in tangles. Her face was pale and her eyes were red rimmed and slightly puffy from crying. Wetting a rag with cold water, July patted her face with it for a few minutes and then looked back at her reflection. Her sky blue eyes weren't as red and puffy as before. She decided to say forget it and take a hot shower anyways. It would make her feel better and hopefully untangle her hair.
Fifteen minutes later she was standing next to the window in a pair of cutoff shorts and a gray tank top combing out her hair, wincing as she hit a tangle. Slowly working it out with patience, she looked outside. The street was busy with traffic and the buildings stretched down the street as far as she could see. Opening the window, a delicious aroma entered the room and her stomach rumbled in response.
With her hair now tangle free, she piled it up into a messy bun, packed up all of her belongings and checked out of the hotel, stopping at its attached diner for breakfast.
The sun was shining and it was quickly heating up outside. Collecting her 'baby' from the hotel's garage, she merged into traffic in search of Arnold Lewis, who hopefully had some answers.
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tbc…