𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 ➢ ꜱᴛɪʟᴇꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟɪɴꜱᴋɪ

Ch. 6 - MOTEL CALIFORNIA

They walk up to the vending machine where Boyd stood and watches as Boyd slowly and methodically depress each button, choosing the candy bar under number 201. "Hey! That was the same thing I was gonna get." Stiles said and Boyd didn't say anything as he watches the coils unwind to release the candy bar, but at the last moment, it sticks.

"Oh, hang on... You know what? I got a patented method for this, don't worry-" Stiles says and reaches up for the top of the vending machine to swing it forward. All of the sudden Boyd punches a fist right through the plexiglass. Shards falling aside, Boyd calmly plucks the candy bar from
the steel coils. Then he turns and walks away, leaving a shocked Stiles and Odette watching after him.

Stiles turns back to the vending machine before pulling a candy bar out, then pulling a few more things out while cautiously glancing around. "Why dont you just take all of it?" Odette teased making him smile at her before handing her a couple candy bars making her chuckle.

They walked away but right as they got to the stairs, Lydia, carrying towels. came out and grabbed Odette's arm, "Come with me." She said making Odette look at Stiles for a second before following Lydia to the front desk.

Dropping the stack of towels onto the front desk, Lydia leans across the counter to the desk clerk, an older woman turned toward a TV. "Excuse me? The card on the dresser says we have a non-smoking room, but somehow all our towels reek of nicotine." Lydia said making the lady turn around revealing a permanent tracheostomy tube in her throat, "Sorry about that, sweethearts." She said.

Now trying to look at anything but the Desk Clerk's throat as she grabs the towels, Lydia's eyes dart to the walls,
noticing something odd. "What's that? That number?" Lydia asked making Odette follow her gaze at the wall that had a frame with the numbers "198" inside, "It's kind of an inside thing for the motel. My husband insists on keeping it up." The lady said making Odette furrow her brows.

"What do you mean?" She asked, "It's a little bit morbid, to be honest... You sure you want to know?" The lady asked and Lydia nodded. "Tell us." She said and the lady leaned in closer, "We're not gonna make the top of anyone's list when it comes to customer satisfaction..."

"Obviously."

"But we are number one in California when it comes to one disturbing little detail- since opening, more than any other motel in California, we have the most guest suicides." She said making the girl's eyes widen as they glanced at each other, "One hundred and ninety-eight?" Odette asked and the lady smiled.

"And counting!"

⊚

"How many?" Allison asked she got dressed while Lydia sat on one of the bed with Odette standing next to her, "One hundred and ninety-eight. And we're talking forty years. On average, that's... four-point-nine-five a year, which is... actually expected. But who commemorates that with a framed number? Who does that? Who?"

"All suicides?" Allison asked and Lydia nodded, "Yes- hanging, throat cutting, pill popping, both barrels of a shotgun in the mouth suicides. I dont know about you but me, I-" Lydia stressed.

"Which... which one do you want?" A voice says making Lydia stop. Then cocks her head slightly to listen, Odette doing the same as she had heard the same thing. "Did you hear that?" Lydia asked making Allison look at her confused. "Hear what?" Allison asked while Odette nodded, "I heard it."

"I don't know. The smaller one, I guess..."

"It's okay. Smaller's better-- there's less kick." A man said and Odette and Lydia slowly turn to the vent over the bed. "I'll chamber the round." He said as Lydia climbed onto the bed, Odette doing the same. "All right, so.."