Author's Note: Please read the previous chapter if you're up to date. The latest chapter for today is actually Chapter 17 instead of Chapter 18. If you're a new reader, then no need.
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Luck nodded and began walking in the direction the old woman had pointed.
She was heading the opposite way, so she couldn't guide him directly, but with the road being straight and flanked by thick trees, he figured spotting a motel wouldn't be too difficult.
The crunch of gravel under his shoes was the only sound breaking the silence.
He got an urge to look behind him, and there, in the distance, he saw the old woman.
She was still standing by the side of the taxi, watching him.
'Maybe she's just concerned about me,' Luck thought, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease.
He gave a small smile, even though he knew she was too far away to see it.
Then, he faced forward again, but something in the back of his mind itched. His anxiety grew stronger, but he shrugged it off and kept walking.
What he didn't see—and perhaps was better off not knowing—was that behind him, the old woman, along with the taxi, was fading away, dissolving into the forest like a mist.
By the time he was a few more steps down the road, they had vanished completely, leaving no trace they'd ever been there.
After walking for what felt like 20 minutes, Luck began to wonder if there was really a motel at all.
She had said it was just a short walk, but now he was starting to question her sense of distance.
'Maybe what counts as a 'short walk' for someone in the mountains isn't the same for someone from the city, ' he thought, his legs growing heavy with every step.
He glanced around, hoping for any sign of the motel—a light, a building, anything—but there was nothing.
Until—
In the corner of his eye, he spotted a structure, large enough that it was hard to miss.
It was two floors high, with railings along the sides and what looked like a convenience store at the front.
"That's it!" he exclaimed, adrenaline surging through his body as he forced himself to run toward it.
Well, with his body, "running" was a bit of an exaggeration—fast walking was more accurate.
But it didn't matter. The sight of the motel filled him with hope, and he hurried as best he could.
When he finally reached it, he was breathless but determined. He stood outside for a moment, taking in the building up close.
It was old, the paint peeling from the walls, and the metal railings were rusty, as though they'd weathered years of neglect.
The convenience store looked empty, its windows grimy and unkempt as if they hadn't been cleaned in ages
Before he could step onto the motel, there was a short set of stairs he needed to climb. The building was raised a few inches off the ground, likely to avoid flooding.
He hurried to the large store window, pressing his face against the cold glass and squinting to see inside.
His breath fogged it, and he wiped it away with his hand, leaning in closer, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone.
But the store was empty, and the counter looked like it hadn't welcomed a customer in ages.
Dusty chairs lingered in the corner, and an old vending machine flickered weakly, half its lights burnt out.
Luck's heart sank a little. The place appeared abandoned, but it couldn't be, could it?
The old woman had insisted it was here.
Someone had to be inside. He refused to believe he'd walked all this way only to find himself alone again.
Stepping back from the window, he took a deep breath.
His gaze landed on a small brass bell perched on the counter inside what appeared to be a small lobby for guests.
'Maybe the staff was just in the back. All I needed to do was get their attention.'
He pushed open the creaky door and stepped inside, musty air enveloping him at once.
It smelled old, like damp wood and stale cigarettes, but that didn't concern him right now.
What mattered was finding a person.
He approached the counter, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. His eyes scanned the room, but it remained quiet, still devoid of life.
Leaning over the counter, he reached for the doorbell.
DING!
DING!