Chapter Text
Cinder frowned at the building ahead of her. Why her girlfriend had come here she hadn’t the slightest clue, but all the trails she’d followed, double, and triple checked led here.
Still, despite knowing this was likely the place she lingered across the road under her umbrella.
Her taxi had driven off almost as soon as he’d handed over her change, and no matter what she offered no one was talking about what was so special about the hotel.
All her research turned up was little more than basic blueprints, and very matter of fact information, owners, and the like.
The hotel was sprawling, or at least it had been at one point, encompassing nearly an entire city block. Now however? Most of it was condemned with only the main office area, and a small number of guest rooms still in use.
Why they bothered she didn’t know, but it was their choice.
Something was off about it, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Her amber eyes did their best to make out the small parking lot out front. A large range of vehicles sat in their place.
All makes, and models seem accounted for, from old enough to be a collector’s piece to some newer than the cheap used car she still used to this day.
Deciding there was nothing to be gained from standing around across the road at least, she noticed how devoid the road was of traffic before crossing.
The street sign said Main in faded lettering, and she frowned. Some main street if this was a star attraction in town.
She prowled around the edges of the property, careful to avoid actually climbing, or interacting with anything that could for some reason still have an alarm tied to it.
Unfortunately, the street wasn’t well lit, and none of the scant few holes in the wooden fence showed much beyond dark shapes she couldn’t identify, likely benches, a garden, pool, or the like, all more than likely in disrepair.
After a handful of minutes she was near the front again, and began prowling the parking lot for clues, and hopefully her girlfriend’s car.
After nearly a half hour of careful searching she found it. Snuggled up in the back in the space closest to the building, and a window.
Finding it locked, she quickly used her own copy of the key to open it before sliding in, and closing the door.
She took a few moments to relish in the sounds of gentle rain on the windshield, and the almost rhythmic pitter patter on the roof as she breathed in her girlfriend’s, soon to be fiance if she had her way, scent.
She…missed her. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, doing her best not to damage Winter’s property as the storm started to intensify with brief flashes of lightning, and thunder cracking in the distance.
It was weak, it was pathetic, and yet…she missed her. She hadn’t even felt this way about another person before. Not even her own family , and any relationships she’d had before had been nothing more than flings for physical relief.
Something about the Atlas native called to her, and like a siren song she found herself unable to stay away.
She’d never needed anyone like she did Winter. She somehow calmed the anger inside her, all the hate she’d felt just sort of…fell away when she was near.
She was a constant reassuring balm to her soul, and without her presence she felt herself little by little sliding into her more destructive habits, which is why it was imperative she find out what had happened to her before too much longer.
That thought in mind she popped the glove box, and noted the firearm Winter kept for safety was gone. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
On one hand it meant she was protected, but the fact that Winter thought she might need it said quite a lot to Cinder as well. It was why she carried her own as well.
A few maps of the area that didn’t reveal anything she didn’t know were put back into the now closed compartment. The center console didn’t yield anything except a pack of gum she took with her on a whim. They were dating so what was Winter’s was hers right?
Besides, it was fireball flavored so it was basically only something she could enjoy anyway since any spice stronger than flour was too hot for Winter to handle.
Another quick search revealed nothing important, so she stepped back out into the rain with her umbrella, making sure to lock the car as she went around to the boot of the trunk.
She frowned at the pair of street lights that kept flicking near the parking lot entrance. Were they wanting to get sued for an accident? At least the single light over the doors was going strong, but it didn’t do her much good this far out.
Unlocking the trunk she opened it hoping to find anything that might be useful. Sadly, it appeared to be mostly empty, save for a small notebook she instantly picked up.
This was one of Winter’s work journals! She normally had more so this had likely been left behind on accident, but it could still prove invaluable.
She put it inside her trench coat not wanting the rain to ruin the pages as she closed the trunk. The journal would hopefully have some insight into what was going on, and she had no worry about it being outdated since Winter went through a new set for every job she took.
If there was a P.I who documented more, she’d yet to meet them. She turned around, and swore loudly at seeing Winter behind her in the window staring blankly at her, and yet somehow Cinder knew she was supremely upset.
“H-holy shit, babe. What the? Why are? Ok, just open that window for me, or something,” Cinder requested as Winter continued to stare at her as she tried to get her breathing under control.
“Ok, look I have no idea what I did, but can I get a hint? Is it the gum? Did you see that?” Cinder asked as she briefly used her hand to wipe the water out of her eyes.
In the single heartbeat her eyes had been closed, Winter had somehow vanished! Steeling her nerves just in case her girlfriend was feeling childish, which did happen sometimes, and would pop up from below the window, she carefully made her way over, and tried to open it.
No luck. Locked. She frowned as she looked into the window barely able to make anything out in the dark room.
The only thing for sure she could say was that Winter didn’t appear to be there at all, and the door was closed, which meant…either the lack of sleep was catching up with her, or…well probably just that.
With no other option, and the rain not showing any sign of letting up, she started making her way to the front of the building even as she cast a few more backward glances toward the darkened window.
Had she looked back toward the window just before she’d turned the corner she’d have seen a figure at the window watching her every move, and whatever it was, was most definitely not Winter Schnee.
Finally managing to make it under the awning of the business, she folded up her umbrella, and made sure she still had her wallet with her since it looked like she’d be stuck here for at least the night.
She blinked feeling a strange sense of vertigo come from nowhere as she put a hand on the brick wall to take a deep breath.
After a few moments it subsided, and she stood back up. She really needed to get some sleep. Seeing things, and dizzy spells? When had she eaten last?
She shook her head, and cursed herself for not picking up a late night coffee, or something loaded with caffeine to avoid this.
No time to worry about that now however. Now that she was out of the rain she tried calling Winter’s phone one more time.
As the rings continued the pit in her stomach deepened before she hung up right before the voicemail came on.
She wasn’t strong enough to hear an echo of her girlfriend without breaking down right now, especially after her little jump scare a few minutes ago.
On a whim she called the hotel, and let it ring. After almost half a minute when she was about to hang up, someone picked up the line to her great surprise.
“ Thank you for calling the-” the voice paused to yawn, which, fair, considering the late hour, “ Chasm Hotel. Were you inquiring about a potential vacancy, or looking to book a venue?”
“Yeah, hey I’m looking for my girlfriend, and I might want a room for the night at least. I’m actually right outside the front doors now,” Cinder answered.
“ Wonderful. While I can’t give away guest information there’s no rule against you finding them wandering around the hotel on your own. You’re in luck, we have a few rooms left. We’ve been rather full up recently.”
“Weird,” Cinder responded with no attempt at sounding convincing.
The voice chuckled. “ Very good. Would you like to come in from the rain, and actually reserve the room, or did you want to sleep in the parking lot?”
“How did you know that?” Cinder demanded in a hiss.
“ Ma’am, despite appearances, we do have the best security system money can buy. It detected movement as soon as you started skulking around the parking lot.”
“Oh,” Cinder said, sounding embarrassed at being caught. “Yeah I’ll…be right in. Sorry about that.”
The man merely chuckled as he hung up the phone, and Cinder followed suit as she cast a final glance at the rain soaked pavement behind her before she opened the door, and blessedly cool air assaulted her senses.
A short hallway greeted her with a line of benches on either side for guests, or staff to rest on, and amusingly enough a payphone completed the charming scene.
Something about it was entirely quaint, and for a brief moment she almost forgot why she was here before she shook her head, and continued on her way.
A fairly nice looking desk waited for her around the corner, but was empty. Strange, hadn’t she just been talking to someone on the phone? Or had they picked up from an office somewhere?
The desk was polished, and looked to have been in recent use with a spread of papers on it, and sets of keys hanging up behind it.
A glance to the side showed a wall full of small boxes for what she assumed was mail. Huh, she hadn’t known it was one of those types of places.
She looked down each open hallway, and saw nothing out of place, but also no one either. Where was the front desk staff?
She peered at the desk more closely, and felt her eyes widen. A guestbook! She was just getting ready to reach for it, and see if she could hopefully find Winter’s entry when she heard footsteps, and withdrew her hand although she did make a mental note to steal a look at it if she didn’t find her wayward girlfriend very soon.
“Apologies for the wait. One of the guests…well his dinner didn’t agree with him,” the man apologized as he stepped up behind the desk.
Cinder wrinkled her nose, but hey, it happened. She’d worked enough dead end jobs to know you were expected to drop everything on a moment’s notice to clean stuff like that.
“Sorry to hear that,” Cinder commiserated with the man who shook his head full of gray hair as he adjusted his glasses.
“That’s quite alright. Normally my wife would deal with that during the night shift, but she’s taken a bit ill you see. Did you have any luggage, or anything I should send for?”
“Just what’s on me…I didn’t get your name,” Cinder said pointedly as she stared at where a name tag should be.
“Apologies, I’m David Ozpin, I run the hotel with my wife, but we fill in from time to time when needed. We don’t have any name tags however. I keep meaning to get one, but something always distracts me.”
“Cinder Fall.”
“Very good. Do you know how long you’ll be staying? Or would you like to settle up at the end?”
“I really don’t know,” Cinder admitted as she looked around. “What are your rates like, for, everything I guess?”
“Well we pride ourselves on our top of the line rooms, and cleanliness so the best rooms run six dollars a night, or for the more economy minded we have a few rooms that are rather comfortable at four. If you want to add room service, cleaning, and meals in the dining area or your room then an additional dollar a day.”
Cinder blinked at that.
Ozpin misinterpreted her reaction as he apologized. “I do apologize for the price, but as I said we pride ourselves on being top of the line.”
“No, I just…you’re serious? Seven bucks a night for the best, and everything altogether? No hidden fees, or surprises?” Cinder asked suspiciously.
“None whatsoever. You can enjoy all our amenities as well for the fee. We merely ask that if you smoke you do so in the designated areas outside in the back, or front.”
“What does that include?” Cinder asked.
“Assuming you pay for the full package it would be: meals, access to the pool, and recreational hall which includes a bar, pool hall, and a few card tables as well as my wife's attempt to lure in customers with a small fashion boutique run by a woman only slightly younger than you I believe.
Your room will have a television, phone, and air conditioning of course, with its own bathroom, and everything you would expect,” Ozpin rattled off on his fingers.
“You know if you want my opinion that seems awfully cheap for seven bucks,” Cinder said as Ozpin raised a questioning eyebrow at her before his eyes widened as she slapped a hundred dollar bill down on the counter.
“Should be good for two weeks with that, right?” Cinder asked, not at all bothered by the cost. If he wanted to continue underselling the hotel well…it was no wonder they had to keep closing parts of it if it was that cheap.
Still, she’d take advantage of it to help find Winter, and two weeks should give her plenty of time in the city to narrow down her search. She did have more money if she needed it. She assumed it would cost her nearly at least thirty a night so this was a bargain.
She would definitely be making sure she checked the bed for any little visitors before she went to sleep though.
“You are correct. Let me get your room key,” Ozpin remarked as he set two single bills on the counter as change which Cinder shoved into her pocket without ceremony.
“Here we are. Room Four Forty Nine. The key will open your door and your post box should you receive any mail while you stay with us,” Ozpin explained, handing the key over.
“Thanks,” Cinder said casually as she looked around, and saw a clock. Damn it was late. Almost late enough to be early.
“If you would sign here,” Ozpin asked as he turned the guest book toward her.
Cinder felt her eyes widen before she glowered at the man who merely smiled back. Of course he’d turned the page so she couldn’t see anyone else's name.
She WOULD find a way to get access to this book. Winter had shown her way too many good tricks not to. Not to mention her own…colorful past had given her a few options to work with.
“I can have Hazel show you to your room if you like,” Ozpin offered as she shook her head.
“I know I went to public school, but unless the floors are out of order I should be good,” Cinder joked.
“As you say. We hope you enjoy your stay in the Chasm, Miss Fall,” Ozpin smiled as he took the book, set it below the counter, and pointed toward the elevator sign.
“Thanks. Can you have whoever would normally be by my room in the morning, not do that tomorrow? I’d like to get some sleep. I’m kinda running on empty.”
“Of course. Pleasant dreams,” Ozpin remarked as he took a seat behind the counter as she left, and unfolded a newspaper to read.
Cinder yawned as she called the elevator. It had been a long day. Night too. As much as she wanted to knock on every door to try, and find Winter that would not be a good idea.
The odds that she’d get the right room before she got kicked out were not in her favor, and it would be more likely to locate her at the coffee bar than anywhere else.
The doors dinged open, and she was almost bowled over by a pair of young women as they rushed past her.
“Sorry,” the dark skinned one apologized over her shoulder, and Cinder was struck by the both of them having piercing silver eyes.
“I know I saw her, Maria. She was on this floor. I think…”
“ Joya , it is nearly four in the morning. I love you, but I am about to throw you out a window.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I was just excited we’d get to see her again.”
“I know, Ruby. I promise we’ll find her. It’s why we’re here after all,” Maria placated the other woman, as the doors to the elevator cut off the rest of their conversation.
Well at least she wasn’t the only guest in the place.
She went to push the button only to blink. She was…way too tired. Where was the fourth floor button?
One, two, three…five. The shit was this? She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, and rubbed her hands over her face. She was clearly delusional.
She opened her eyes, and blinked. Oh, there it was. With a press of the number four she was on her way.
After an uneventful elevator ride she spent a few minutes walking down the hall. Seeing a vending machine in the hallway brought a quirk to her lips. It was quaint in a way.
She might take a look after she woke up if the breakfast was shit. For the price of a dollar she was willing to give it some leeway, but she drew the line at edible.
If it wasn't? She knew candy had her back, or she’d go into town and get something.
She opened a small closet, and frowned. She really should have brought more with her. Still, she hung her trench coat inside along with her umbrella.
She did a quick check for cameras however, and even using a chair to check the top shelf, and tapping the walls for false backs turned up nothing, which was a pleasant surprise.
Honestly for the price she was almost expecting to be harvested for her organs…she was putting a chair in front of the door before she went to bed. Actually, she would do it now.
Chair in place, she made a quick inspection of the bed, and found it looked honest to god clean.
Did he, and his wife really run the place at a loss like that? Oh well.
Stripping down to her panties she did a final check to make sure Winter’s journal was still in place on the small desk in the room. After that, all the doors to her room and bathroom were locked, and her gun was hidden after being unloaded.
She was asleep before she hit the pillow.
Her bathroom door slowly creaked open, just a crack. Oddly enough, when the lightning illuminated the bathroom nothing appeared to be there, or at least that would be the case if anyone had been awake to see it.