THE INN

Chapter: 12 When Someone Wants To Talk

Stiles asked Skye to repeat what she just said. He wanted to make sure that he heard her correctly. Based on the look on Skye's face, the chances of Gloria's friend Amanda being some other woman who didn't burn down her own house were less. She must have done some research, she couldn't have stated something like this just like that. Knowing that Gloria and Amanda were friends definitely gave Stiles a push to move forward and find out the truth, but in some way, it was a major setback for him, too. He would've been more relieved if Skye had some logical explanation for everything that has been going on with him for the past few days.

'Stiles?' Skye called.

'Stiles? You listening to me? 'She called him again.

Stiles pressed his hand against his forehand. 'Yeah, I can hear you. Sorry, you were saying?'

'Maybe she could help us.'

Stiles was aware that Skye was giving her full attention to the matter. She was observing his each and every expression thoroughly.

'Should we go and talk to her?' he asked.

'We can try. I have talked to her a couple of times before, she is very nice.'

Stiles snorted. 'I think there is something wrong with me then.'

'Why so? What's wrong?'

'She has never been nice to me. She is like an angry teacher and- and I'm the naughty kid who keeps bugging his teacher.'

'You live in this imaginary world where you think everybody's out there to annoy you. To get back at you. News flash, not everybody gives a damn about you. They are too busy to care for us.'

Stiles said nothing, concentrating on the last piece of apple that Rick saved for him.

They ate the rest of their dinner in silence. The murmurings of other people were just noise for them. Stiles thought about what if Amanda really did kill her family and she was back? What could be the possible connection between the killings then and people going missing now? Then the thought of Gloria being friends with Amanda occurred to him. How does that one feel being a friend to a murderer? People don't just kill for without any reason. They are not born as murderers. They live a life just like any other person. What could have been the reason behind Amanda taking such drastic measures to end her life as well as family? One by one Stiles was surrounded by hundreds of questions, he desperately needed the answers to.

Thinking about a little less serious topic, Stiles' mind wandered to Gloria. He could not picture her as a person who could be friends with someone for so long.

'If I can have friends, so could anybody,' his conscience gave him an answer.

After Stiles and Skye were done eating, Stiles called Rick to get the bill.

'Don't worry, Rick's gonna add the bill to my account. You can pay me your half.'

'Very well.'

Stiles handed Skye his share of the bill. Skye kept looking back at the counter to keep a check on Gloria. She was waiting for an opportunity where she and Stiles can talk to Gloria alone.

Skye suggested that they should make a plan on how to approach Gloria. Who's going to take the lead and who is going to back the other one? After debating for more than five minutes like high school students who stands outside the teacher's room to decide who is going to knock first, they settled on the conclusion to go together and just wait for their turns and speak after one of them doesn't talk for more than five seconds.

Gloria was standing in her usual spot, behind the counter. She was wiping the counter with a brown cloth. Stiles noticed the change in the colour of the glass display stand. They both stood there, giving each other weird looks. Two grownups afraid of talking to a woman.

'Talk,' Skye narrowed her eyes. 'Now.'

'You're the one with all the information. You were the first to know that they were friends. On the other I-I know nothing.' he whispered.

'You were the one that girl tried to drown, not me.' Skye pressed her hand to his shoulder.

Unaware of the fact that they stopped whispering a minute ago, Gloria interrupted them in between. 'You two sure argue like a couple.'

Stiles' face turned reddish pink. 'We-'

Before he could say anything further, Skye said, 'He is not my type, at all.'

'Actually, the thing is,' Skye said. 'We were wondering if you could talk to us for a minute or two about...'

'I know why you two are here,' Leaving the cloth hanging from the rack, Gloria untied the knot of her apron from behind. 'Follow me.'

Stiles and Skye exchanged looks and followed Gloria behind the white plastic curtain leading to the kitchen. There was a tiny blue colour slide lock door at the end of the kitchen. Unlocking the door, Gloria led them to a room.

The room was quiet similar to the rooms at the Silverton's inn. The wall in front of the couch was painted steel grey. The rest of the three walls were painted in a lighter shade of grey. The cushions on the couch were covered in the red velvet cloth. One of the wheels of the trolley which had an old television set lying on the top of it was broken. Only two out of wall hanging lights shaped in the form of a flower vase were working.

Gloria made some space for the three of them to sit by throwing the clothes in the basket. Gloria settled on a chair lying beside the three seater couch. She signalled them to take their seats. Stiles and Skye looked way more nervous in comparison to Gloria's calm and composed face. She didn't look the woman they were afraid to talk to a few minutes ago.

Gloria broke the uncomfortable silence by talking first. 'If I'm not wrong you two want to know about Amanda, right?'

Stiles and Skye looked at each other and then at Gloria.

Gloria continued. 'You don't have to be so surprised. You guys need to understand the meaning of the word, 'whispering'. The very first time I saw you, Stiles, I knew that you were looking for something. You are in a search of something. Something that you lost a long time ago. You won't rest until and unless you get it. Let me tell you one thing, child, never stop looking for what you want, and never ever give up till you find what you need. You are here in the hope to find answers, but you need to find out the questions first. That's not good for a professional, you know.'

'Enough about me. Tell us about her. Tell us about your friend Amanda.' Stiles demanded an answer.