Howling Hours

Chapter Three: Inn Crowd

It didn't take Sophie long to realize that she was in a truly small town. Nothing was open clearly, but still at 2AM she drove around the town, taking in the buildings and businesses. Among them was a pub she drove passed called 'The Howling Dig,' two cars were parked out front of it, but as it was closed, she thought maybe they'd just taken a designated driver home. A small convenience store was located at the end of the block, and between them a Exxon gas station, completed with a small parking lot and four pumps. Two on either side of two columns.

A restaurant called 'Bites' and a garage with a mechanic shop were on the next block. The town part was small, a few shopping places, maybe three places to eat, a post office, a salon. A couple other buildings that looked possibly empty including one with a greenhouse. She realized she had at least four hours before anything in the town would even open, and she needed to figure out what to do until then.

She was unsure of why, but she didn't want to just drive around and risk someone seeing her. She didn't want to perceived as weird or odd. Sure, she knew chances were low to none of someone actually seeing her and wondering 'what the hell' but it made enough sense to her to keep her from just continuing to drive around.

Not to mention, her cars rattling had seemed to become worse within the last couple of hours, but as per usual, she didn't take much notice. However, after making minimal stops on the way from her previous dodgy motel to here, she hadn't really thought much about the gas in her tank. It was already almost empty. Even worse than being perceived as a freak? Getting stranded on the side of the road and having people think she's helpless and an idiot.

Deciding on the least terrible plan, she thought back to the Inn she drove past when she first entered the Oceanside town. She turned around and drove back towards where she entered town, pulling into the dimly lit Inn parking lot, and then shutting off her cars engine.

She hit the automatic lock on the door twice before grabbing her only blanket, a dark blue weighted blanket the therapist demand she at least try. It hadn't helped her anxiety, but it sure was warm. Throwing it over herself she locked the doors again, than once more before covering her head with the blanket, and dozing off to sleep. It was once again a near dreamless sleep, but right before slumber took her she swore she could hear wolves howling.

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For the first time in a long while, she woke up peacefully. There was no throwing herself forward and glancing around her surroundings, no feeling sick to her stomach. Light shined softly into her car in a beautiful way, near indescribable that light and the feeling it gave her.

She heard birds chirping. No, they were singing.

She heard cars driving, not honking, but just cruising along on their morning commute. And dogs, she heard them barking in the distance.

Mundane sounds sure, but she felt like this was the first time she'd ever heard any of them. A small smile formed on her lips, no teeth peeking out, but the corners of her chapped lips turned up, and she flicked her tongue out wetting them. She threw the blanket off of, and reached her hand up to grab her key necklace. Gently holding it before taking in a soft breath. The little smile didn't falter as she opened her car door, closing it shut, making sure she locked it twice before shutting the door.

The air was a little wet, but that didn't matter, because God, she could hear the ocean. The actual ocean and waves hitting the shore. It was faint, but she could hear it. And she could smell it to! It was amazing, the ocean was alive, the wind blowing was soft and it lent her more of the ocean smell, and also blew through the trees, creating an amazing sound like a symphony to her ears. It was beautiful, life felt beautiful. It was her first breath of fresh air since the incident.