Pine Ridge | 18+

6

August sat in the coffee shop, completely indulged in his book. A week had passed since he and the others had the run-in with the Wendigo. Nobody felt the same since, and it was apparent. Rylen and Emilio were shaken up, clearly not wanting any part in any more monster stuff, and Sheriff Burton hadn't come out of his office since that night.

August kept writing, hearing the sound of someone's heels clicking toward him. He looked up at saw Rylen holding a pot of coffee. "Need any more?" August nodded and slid the mug over, letting her fill it up. He looked at her arms, seeing they were cut and bruised from tripping and running into branches. "You doing okay?" She nodded. "I'm fine..." August glanced up at her then back at her arm. "You sure? I can always patch you if you need-"

"I said I'm fine, August. I mean it..." August sighed and looked past her, seeing the diner was oddly empty. "Do you need a break?" Rylen looked up at him. "I really shouldn't..." He closed his book and set it next to him in the booth. "Rylen, you know you need a break." She huffed, looking back at the counter before walking away. August shook his head and huffed, picking up his mug and taking a drink before hearing Rylen walk back over and sit down. "You're right..."

He looked back at her, putting his mug down. "How've you been holding up?" She shrugged, looking out at the snow. "No clue, found out that monsters exist just a few days ago, and I still haven't found Victoria..." August sighed. "Look, Rylen, I know you don't want to admit it but... do you think that maybe she's... gone?" She glared at him, putting her hands on the table. "She's not dead, August. Shut up." He put his hands up, relaxing back into the booth. "Whatever helps you sleep at night..." She huffed and continued to look out the window.

"You aren't helping. At all." She glared sternly at him, before looking out the window again. "I don't wanna sound like that guy, Rylen, but I'm being truthful here. It's been a week already, and there's still no sign of her or the other girl." Rylen looked at him again, shifting so she was facing him fully. "Fuck you." He just sat up in the booth. "Rylen, I'm serious. I'm sorry that Victoria hasn't been found yet, but I just saying that... you need to look at the bigger picture here. I'm sorry, but she could be dead."

She opened her mouth to say something, but just grumbled and looked to the side. She angrily got up and grabbed a napkin, writing something down on it before setting it on the table. "Why the abrupt exit?" Rylen looked over her shoulder before walking off. "I'm tired of listening to you speak. Go bother someone else." August watched her before grabbing the napkin and turning it over. Written in pen was an address and a name, Emilio's address. August huffed and got up, grabbing his book. "That's the last person I want to talk to..."

He grumbled, putting the napkin in his pocket as he got up. He put some money on the table before walking out to his car, sliding in, and starting it. He turned his heater on and backed out of the parking lot. "How does she expect me to find his address? I barely have service out here, so I doubt I could use my GPS." He huffed and tried it anyway, seeing it still worked. "Oh... never mind-" He sighed, his only chance at not going over now slipped away as he put Emilio's address in and made his way over. 

                                                                    ***

Burton snored quietly at his desk, his arms lying taut on his desk as he laid his head down on them. He hadn't been sleeping properly ever since the night in the woods, he'd just been staying up as long as he could to research anything he could find on Wendigos. He couldn't believe after all these years, he'd finally figured out what took Lauren. He was going to put a stop to this.

The gentle thud of someone's knuckles on his desk woke him, startling him as he jolted up in his seat. "Christ, Jasmine..." He rubbed his face, the analyst he worked with a few days ago was standing by his desk.