Pine Ridge | 18+

3

August woke up early the next morning, the sun barely rising over the trees. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, the papers he took from the room the night before sliding off his body and onto the floor. He grumbled and got out of bed, grabbing his hair tie and putting his hair up. "No more staying up late to read papers..." He fixed his clothes and went outside, covering his eyes from the sunlight that crept through the trees. he closed the door behind him and started to head to the lobby. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the man from last night still behind the counter.

"Morning, you sleep well?" August walked over, pulling some money from his wallet. "Mhm, just peachy..." He put the money on the counter, a bigger amount than what he needed to pay. "I need to rent the room out for the next few days, if possible." The man chuckled and took the money. "We aren't exactly a flourishing business, so there isn't anyone to compete with for the room. Stay as long as you need."

"Thanks, I'll do just that..." He turned and left the lobby, shivering as he walked across the parking lot, slick with ice and slush. "Gotta get me a coat..." 

Somewhat surprisingly, Maribeth was standing on the balcony, almost in the same spot as the night before. She was underdressed for how cold it was, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. August looked up at her as he stood outside of his car, grabbing his keys from his pocket. "Little cold for casual wear, isn't it?" She looked down at him. "I think it feels fine out here." August shook his head and unlocked his car door. "That's called hypothermia, you should probably go inside."

She just shook her head. "Not now, I'm admiring the view." August turned and looked towards the trees. She wasn't wrong; the view was beautiful, almost ethereal. The sun began to rise over the mountains in the distance, the sunlight bouncing off the snow and making it shine. It looked like a painting you'd see in a museum or something of the sort. August leaned against the car, crushing some snow as he did. Mary looked down at him, clasping her hands together.

"Isn't it just divine?"

"It's nice, Mary... But you shouldn't risk a cold just because it's pretty out here." He got in his car and started it, the heater kicking on as he did. He looked up at her a final time before backing out of the parking lot and driving down the road toward town. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as the car passed a worn sign that read "Welcome to Pine Ridge!" in faded text. Just up ahead, streetlights came into view as August's car started to slow down as he crossed over a bridge. On the other side of the bridge were two sheriff patrol cars, a few of them standing by them as the others walked into the forest. August pulled up to them and rolled his window down.

"Morning, officer." One of them turned to look at him. "Sherrif Burton, thank you. What are you doing up so early, son?" August shifted in his seat and leaned out the window. "Looking for someone in Pine Ridge... I'd say it looks like you're doing the same." The sheriff looked back into the forest as the others disappeared into the brambles. "Mhm, two little girls named Lily and Victoria. Went missing earlier yesterday. We assume they ran off into the woods and got hurt. Victoria's sister was really upset and filed the report almost instantly once she realized she was gone, Lily's father did the same." August looked deeper into the forest, the trees looming over the road and almost hypnotizing him. "Sister?"

"Yeah, her name's Rylen Ekstrom. She's been taking care of Victoria for a while now, basically became her mother, since her parents are always working." He looked back into the forest. "Why don't you take yourself to the diner, get yourself a coffee or something so you'll get out of our hair." August sat back in his seat and shifted gear. "Understood, you have a good rest of your day." He drove back down the road before the sheriff could get another word in. He drove into town soon enough, the streets nearly empty.