Emotional Killer

The Pigs

* Topaz POV*

The crisp, cold air feels nice on my skin. Gentle whispers from the trees and wind. I can feel the drumming of my heart, the adrenaline still running through my body.

Maybe, I should head back? If I don't get back before midnight, Mom's gonna worry about me. But, staying out can't be that bad. It's a new place, she should expect it. The forest here seems to go on forever. Plenty of creatures lurk here.

Though, this pine forest ain't the best. It masks too much for my liking, but that's being nitpicky.

SHIT! I promised Ambi hugs! She's gonna chew me out next morning. I should mentally prepare myself for a child's scorn. I have to act serious! Maybe, if I bring her something she'll excuse me for tonight? Also, she went off a disappeared, so that's a good excuse.

Eh, might as well go back. Get some sleep, actually might get in breakfast before she realizes.

The walk home is as quiet as I'd expect. Some scuttling around, whistle of the breeze, and even an owl. The hotel's door isn't locked up, that's nice. Still remember the time I broke in at Texas, nearly got shot.

Front desk empty, rooms silent, and the bliss of midnight hotels. Wait, what room our we? Something with a three, right? I go up the stairs and stand in front of the door with a three on it. Smells like a library, papers, books, and something... sweet?

Definitely not our room. I walk down the corridor a bit, until I'm facing the thirteen door. A smell of artificial forest comes through, definitely Mom. I open the door, feeling as though something is missing.

My eyes instantly reach Mom's figure in the bed. My gaze shifts to the next bed, empty. Then the third came into view, empty. That shouldn't be... I turn to the bathroom, open and empty.

Where's Amber? "Sweetheart, where are you?" There's no response from my call. "Amber, where are you?" My breathing gets more frantic. She isn't here, why isn't she here?

That's when it hits me, her light scent of chocolate. I wonder how she did it, but she smells like chocolate. Maybe, cause last Halloween, I swear she ate her weight in candy. But, it's always been with her. I should ask her.

But, she ain't here. Ambi isn't one to wander off, usually. Something must of caught her attention. I'm not surprised, with what she sees I'd be all over the place. Even without her ability, I can tell somethings wrong with this hotel, or this place.

With a small town, you'd expect some life. At least some people here and there, but it's like a ghost town. Even if you see somebody, their skittish. Something probably happened, something horrible with this reaction.

I'm not finding out anytime soon. People are weird, but this place's people are weirder. I don't need any more awkward conversations, people staring, or them questioning me.

Ambi must of went outside, with her dislike of buildings, claustrophobia. She probably went outside after not being able to sleep. I should've been here, she wouldn't have decided on her little expedition.

I walk back out to the front of the hotel. Ambi can't disappear with a trance, but I still feel anxious. She gets herself into more trouble than I do, and that's a feat. I look around, easily spotting her footprints in the soft soil. I forgot she convinced me to carve hearts into the ball of her shoes. 'If somebody sees them, their day will get better!', that's what convinced me.

And the footprints lead into the forest. I swear if she got lured by some weird person. Following the tracks are easy, she sticks to some unseen path.

Following them lead to a small opening. First thing I notice, is that there's a lot of dirt ruffled and moved. Second, there's two different footprints. One much larger than Amber's. Finally, that Ambi's lead back, and mystery person's lead farther in the forest. But, mystery person's come back and follow Amber's.