The Way Back Home's

Snacks

Farrell hears foreign voices as night falls. The sound came from the wind. The wind brought a blizzard. The snowflakes smashed into the window tirelessly. They create noise and a gripping atmosphere. The silence of the night changed due to bad weather. Faintly, he could also hear the sounds of animals. A kind of wolf howl.

Haunted by his bad taste, Farrell opened his eyes. The room is still in darkness. The curtains that he left open showed the harshness of the storm that was visiting. They hit the glass repeatedly. Farrell thought maybe he should have closed the wooden shutters too, making sure the glass didn't break. The friendly voice has long since disappeared. From the corner where he was lying, his eyes could only see the darkness mixed with snow-white. No clouds, no moonlight. There was only a pile of gray snow in the distance.

Suddenly, his mind was reminded of the sunny weather on the other side of the inn. The large dining room, which he had been approaching for a while, looked so peaceful. The weather was friendly, the sun was shining softly, the spotless snow stuck to the outside side of the window. It feels very comfortable compared to tonight's condition. Maybe Milo and Libby can sleep well even in the storm, but not with him.

Just then, Farrell realized something else again. She's alone. Farrell blinked away the drowsiness. He was trying to see more clearly in the dark. But he didn't see his brothers there. Milo was supposed to be in the bed next to him, but the bed was empty. Her blanket was blurred without people. Libby also slept in a big bed. Just like Milo's bed, no one was there. Still in disbelief, he turned on the lamp sitting next to his desk.

The light shaded the room. His eyes are not deceiving. There was no one there but him. Even if there's Toto in Libby's bed. In confusion, he tried to listen to another voice in the middle of the storm. Like the sound of the bathroom. Maybe they're in the bathroom. In fact, there was no sound other than the sound of the storm.

Farrell got out of bed. As soon as he put away the blanket, a chill attacked him. Hurriedly, he picked up the jacket and covered the neck with a scarf. Encouraged by curiosity and anxiety, Farrell leaves the room. At that time, the clock showed at two in the morning.

The hotel hallway is the same as before. The hallway is filled with yellow light. He found that the window at the end of the hallway was now tightly closed. Not only that window, he also found other windows in the same condition. Wooden shutters cover the window glass. Although he could not look outside, Farrell could still hear the roar of the wind. They seem to want to force their way inside.

At least the main door of the inn on the first floor was not so. The wooden door was still open while the glass door was hit by a blizzard. Fortunately the glass door was quite thick and there was also a wooden frame around it. The snow had already started to pile up on the terrace. I don't know how long the storm has lasted and will last. In his little heart, Farrell hoped the storm would subside soon. Anxiety approached him again. It felt the same when he drove here.

“Can I help?” The employee behind the reception desk approached Farrell who went down to the lobby.

“I'm just looking for my sister,” she said as she glanced at the employee's name. Still same as last day,‘Emily’.

“Teen boys and little girls, Milo and Libby, right? I haven't seen them since dinner. Are they not in the room?” Emily asked back.

“Maybe they're looking for a snack. Milo does it often,” said Farrell, half aimed at him. It's the second time they've disappeared today without talking to him.

“Do I need to ask the help of other staff to find them?”

Farrell shook his head. “Ngak. I'm sure they'll be back soon.”

“Actually, the restaurant has been closed since ten. But, you can still order food to be delivered to the room. Tell me or other staff if you need anything.”

“OK. Thank you—”

Not finished talking, from the corner of his eyes, Farrell saw the figure of Milo. His sister opened the door of the restaurant and just got out of there. That place is closed. The room was also pitch-black without a single speck of light. Behind him, Libby walked slowly with my eyes.

Milo stopped without even looking at him. “The streets are looking for interesting things,” he said short and flat. His eyes glared far ahead as if he did not want to see his brother.

“It's interesting in the middle of the night like this?” connect Farrell. “Together Libby?”

“Who knows the thing only appears midnight.” Milo still didn't look at him. His gaze tended to be empty, leading to the sitting room ahead there.

“Middle of the night? What do you mean?”

“You should have helped us find him.”

“I don't understand your words at all.” Farrell folds his hand to the front of the chest, “Milo! Libby! Are you sleeping while walking?”

As soon as his name was called, Milo gasped. He yawned and turned to Farrell. “Hah? Whahuh? Oho! Where are we? A lobby? Last....So I went out of the room... For what yes?” Milo scratched the back of his head, yawned again, then turned to Libby. “Hey, we were out of the room for what?”

“Hah?” Libby turned to him while rubbing her eyes. “I'm sleepy.”

“What is chocolate?” Farrell noticed a hint of brown stains on his sister's mouth.

Libby rubbed it with the back of her hand. The stain moves there along with a sticky taste and sweet smell. “Taste so.”

“It was like a former chocolate maple bar this afternoon,” Milo said. “What were we out to eat that, huh? Looking for an evening snack?”

“What does not include stealing? Besides, if you want, Remy brought it to the room and there's more. I told you about that. Why don't you just take that?” Farrell's ruffled waist now.

“We just ate without permission instead of really stealing. Besides, this is our family inn.” Milo spoke so casually. When she saw her brother ready to argue, she immediately added, “But, you were right too. Why don't I spend what's in the room first, huh?”

Emily comes along, “Maybe you're tired from the long journey. I think it's better if you guys go back to your room and rest. The weather was pretty bad tonight and it was very cold. Don't let you catch a cold or get the flu. No one wants to get sick on vacation.”

Farrell sighed and nodded. “Yes right, we are tired. Let's sleep!”

Milo and Libby go up the stairs first. Farrell took the time to thank me before returning. As he climbed the stairs, Farrell was sure to hear the sound of the wolf behind the roar of the storm.