ACT II:
I could never go back. I could never go back to the place I once to call home. Home is supposed to be comforting and cozy. That place was neither.
The uncomfortable thoughts running through my head were starting to make me feel real uneasy and fidgety. I wasn't sure how much longer I could drive for.
I pulled over to an old inn that had a 'For Sale' sign up. With only fifty bucks in my pocket, I would die of starvation, thirst or maybe even from the crazy New England weather in a matter of weeks. I had no place to stay, no job, and wouldn't be making it to college in the fall as I was now a runaway, dropping out of high school. What had my life come to?
I got out of what used to be my mother's red Honda Civic. This place was desperate for guests I imagined, so it was most likely in my price range. I grabbed my duffel bag from the passenger seat. From the outside the place looked almost deserted. Inside was no better.
I approached the front desk. A stressed-out, middle-aged woman was working.
"May I help you?"
"Hi. Can I have a room?"
The woman eyed me carefully as if she knew me. But I probably wasn't hard to guess. Why I was running away is something she'd never get.
"You'll probably be one of our last guests," she explained, sadly.
"Aw, that's a shame."
The inn was nice yes, but strange indeed.
I paid for one night, then she rang the service bell. Hotels actually have that? Weird.
An old, bellman came forward and took my duffel bag.
The woman handed him a room key. "Sherwin, can you show this young lady to her room?"
The man nodded. "Pack light, I see."
"Yeah," I muttered, a bit embarrassed.
"Makes my job easier," he smiled.
The bellman lead me up to the second floor.
"What are you doing at he Pierpoint Inn? Don't get much business around here."
I hadn't thought of what to tell people who would ask me. Where was I going? I wasn't sure. I didn't know.
"I'm on my way to visit some family," I spitted out, pausing between almost every word. That didn't seem suspicious.
"Where you coming from?"
"Mass."
"Long drive by yourself," he stated, almost more like it was a question.
"Yes, very," I agreed.
The bellman stopped at a door. "Here's your room." He opened up the door then gave me the key.
"Thank you." I pulled out a couple of dollars and tipped the old man.
"Thank you," he echoed.
The room made sense why the place was going out of business. The wallpaper was curling on the edges and the room was full of creepy, little antiques. I sat on the bed and it sank right down. I might as well sleep on the floor.
I took my laptop out of my bag and clicked on my 'recent history', pulling up my search about the Winchesters. Why don't I go visit some family? One problem with that though. I didn't know where any of them were. The most recent activity was from St. Louis. I could start there. But that was so far away and that meant lots of driving. I had just got my license five months ago. Was I ready for a road trip? People were probably looking for me back at home. Maybe not. I was always kind of an outsider. I didn't have many friends.
But man, when the next person walked into that house they were in for a surprise. Would they think it was me? I look guilty! Dammit, dammit, dammit.
A walk was needed to calm me down. I got up and started to wander around the hotel, trying to take my mind off what I had experienced back in Farbrook.
A man dressed up in a suit was checking in at the front desk. The woman was signing paper after paper.
I pretended to look at old, black and white pictures hanging on the wall as I listened to the conversation.
"I've been meaning to ask. What sort of renovations are you planning?" the woman asked.
The man seemed uncomfortable. "They never told you?"
"Told me what?"
"Ms. Thompson," the business man said slowly, "We plan on demolishing the hotel."
That put a damper on Ms. Thompson's mood. "Oh. I see. Excuse me."
I turned around. They were two new guests arriving. Both men. And one looked like...nuh uh.
I whipped out my phone from my back pocket and entered what I had searched on the computer.
"May I help you?" Ms. Thompson asked.
"Yes, we'd like a room for a couple of nights," the one who I swore was dead explained.
A little girl dashed through the two men, accidentally bumping into the taller one.
I looked down at my phone then back up. Oh crap.