Six hours before 'The Parents'

Arlo had a bad feeling, a bad gut feeling to be specific, she feared for what they would encounter on their way to trying to find Owen Klum before something horrible happened to him. They could only hope and she could only pray that his life wasn't on the line because of his parent's disgusting habit. No one should trade the life of their child by any means no matter the amount of money or the level of danger. She was just as devastated as Cillian was when he told her what they told him. He couldn't image what kind of monsters would do this, but clearly, he could, and they were the images of Mr. and Mrs. Klum.

They had gotten so far from home that turning back now seemed pointless, but Taro was tired and they needed rest. "There's a motel coming up. We should stop for the night." Cillian suggested.

Seven hours had passed and it was now 4 am and they were far from where they had to be. "He's right Taro, if we keep on driving all night, we'll be too tired and I rather us stop at night than during the day, we're easier to spot. Three missing teens, I mean come on."

She scoffed. "I get it, I get it. Okay, but just for a few hours. Then Cillian drives." Taro declares.

"Okay, I'm fine with that." He agreed.

She pulls off the main road and parked in an empty lot as they got their bags and locked the car before they began for the small area where they'd have to rent a room for the night. Arlo grabbed Taro's elbow before she had a chance to reach for the door handle. "Wait, you go in alone. Cillian might get noticed."

"Do I really have to go along?"

She looked back at Cillian, who was going through his phone, "I'll go with you." they began to move, but once Cillian saw them, he looked up and then stopped them. "Hold on." Cillian dug into his bag and took out his wallet and handed them a few hundred-dollar bills. "Hopefully you can get two rooms."

She blinked up at him while he held out the money. "I did have a job and since our house is fully paid, I saved most of my money. Look, just take it." she finally reached out and took the money then pocketed it. It was at least three hundred but it might most likely be enough for two rooms maybe four. They gave him a thumbs up and walked towards the check-in office. "I'm nervous Lo."

"Me too Ro." She reached for her best friend's hand then sighed as they got to the door. She let it go once they were inside and then fished around her purse for the fake ID's that they used whenever they went out to the local 18 and above clubs during summer. It said that they were eighteen, which wasn't far from the trust, they were both seventeen, so a one-year difference really wasn't that extreme.

Taro spoke up, seeing how reserved Arlo was who seemed to fall back as they walked up to the front desk. "Goodnight, we want to rent a single room with two separate beds and a single room with one bed, please."

The young woman who was working the desk and had up her hoodie looked over at the girls, observing their faces then nodded once. She looked back to her computer as she checked her computer for the available rooms. "I got one room. It's a double bed available for $95 for twenty-four hours."

The girls shared a look then looked back towards the green-haired woman and nodded. "You want it?"

"Yes, I want, and that's all you have right?"

"The night is unusually busy, so yes that's the only room I can offer you right now, I've been told to do that so I'll do you one good and take off five dollars, so it's $90 now."

"Thank you, I appreciate it." She moved to take out her purse and handed her a hundred dollar bill along with her ID. "Thanks, give me a minute." She tapped away at her keyboard then she stopped and stood up and took a key off the wall. "Here, B212. Keep it clean please, the last tenant was just trash, had to buy all new things for the room."

"Umm, okay. Thank you." she took her ID and change back, happy to have at least gotten a big enough room for the three of them. They turned and left the office and walked back to the car. Cillian was sitting on the hood of the car, with a hoodie on, and the hood over his head. He looked up when the girls came in and smiled when Taro showed him the key. "Perfect. Only one room though." Arlo sighed when she asked him and nodded. "Sorry, but that's all that they had. At least it's a double bed. Taro and I can share a bed and you can get the other one."

"Are you sure? I mean I can sleep on the couch or chair."

Taro waved her hands infront of his face. "Dude, no. Stop it, Arlo and I have been friends since we were kids, so don't worry about it, we'll be fine. You can take the other bed." He opened his mouth to speak, but she rose an eyebrow and he closed it back. "Great, so come on. Let's get settled in."

"I'll get the bags," he offered, "and no I don't need any help." He said, knowing that the girls would have suggested that they carry their own bags. They made their way for the room that they'd be spending the night in with Taro in and Arlo in the lead, their arms hooked together. Once they got to their room door they got inside, switched on the lights and nodded as the scanned the newly furbished space that the young woman spoke of. "It's nicer than I thought it would be Arlo voiced.

"Well, for the record the girl did tell us that it was fixed up well after the last tenant. I guess it wasn't a lie. Come on. It's late and we need something to eat, maybe take out?" Taro suggested as she picked up a few delivery pamphlets from the tv stand. "Chinese, Pizza, Thai or... what is this, oh, it's the tv guide." She laughed and put it down then looked at the beds and jumped on the one right infront of the television as Cillian dropped the bags by the room door.

"Chinese please."

Arlo... same... or pizza. I don't mind." Arlo called from her mini-tour of the bathroom. "It's beautiful here. I approve of this shower."

Taro rolled over on the bed and opened the pamphlet for the Chinese place and looked for the number. "Arlo, pan-fried dumplings, spring rolls, and pork fried rice, right?"

"Yes please!" She jotted that down in her phone then rose her head in Cillian's direction who was moving the bags into the closet. "Cee-Cee, what do you want?".

"Umm, pork fried rice, chicken and broccoli,"

"Ew, but okay."

"Don't judge me, oh and spring rolls as well." She chuckled. "I'll get orange chicken, some fries and pan-fried dumplings as well." She picked up the phone and dialed the number as she started to make their orders. Arlo left the restroom, happy to have finally relieved herself. She stepped out and saw Cillian looking through his phone while he sat on the second bed. "Hey Cillian, are you okay?" he met her eyes, and the lack of color in his eyes made a pang shoot through her heart. "Talk to me." He glanced back at Taro then stood up. "Not around her." He whispered. She nodded and began for the door.