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Sally?
Sally, where did you go?
She was gone again. Sally was always disappearing no matter how closely an eye Seek kept on her she always managed to somehow slip away. They had turned their back on her for quite literally less than a second and somehow in that time she was nowhere to be found. It would be impressive if it weren’t so stress inducing. The hotel wasn’t exactly safe for someone so young. It wasn’t just that the other entities didn’t know how to handle children but the hotel itself was unstable, always changing. They would have to find her before she hurt herself. The library would be a good start.
Sally had shown up out of the blue. No one was quite sure how she had gotten in but according to her she jumped in through a window. The other entities didn’t know how to handle children and had been much too rough with her, which had incentivised Seek to keep an eye on her. Sally seemed to think the way they tossed her around was fun, of course one can always expect a child human or entity to find enjoyment in things that could injure or kill them.
Upon entering the library Seek was astounded by the amount of activity going on in the normally quiet room. Figure was seated next to Sally who was drawing on a book with multiple colors of crayons gripped in one hand. Figure had a ribbon bow taped to their head, it seemed very happy with this predicament. Figure turned its head vaguely in Seek’s direction, Sally on the other hand was much too busy chatting to notice.
“And when I go home I’mma bring grampy lotsa stuff, then he can sell it in his shop, and I’ll tell papa all about you guys and-”
Are you two having fun?
Sally’s head jerked up from the book.
“Oh Howdy Mr. Seek!” She dropped her handful of crayons and stood up, brushing off her dress. “I’m havin’ lotsa fun, I wanted to hang out with Figure ‘fore I go home.”
Go home?
“Yeah see I gotta get home so grampy and papa don’t worry about me.”
How far away is your home?
“Oh way far away I wandered for three miles or more ‘fore I got to the hotel.” Sally giggled.
Three miles? It was a wonder she hadn’t been mauled to death by a bear, and she planned to try and trek back by herself? Oh no that wasn’t happening in a million years.
How about I take you home.
Sally considered the suggestion for a second before shaking her head.
“I can make it home myself, since you have trouble in the rain.”
Seek sighed Alright let me rephrase, I’m going to take you home Sally, I’m not allowing you to walk three miles by yourself in the dark.
Sally seemed very confused by this.
“Well alright but I don’t see why,” then she smiled “But I guess it’d be fun to introduce you to grampy and papa.”
Yes, that would be a good idea. Seek had a few choice words for Sally’s Family about allowing their child to run off.
“Bye bye Figure, I’ll come visit you again soon!” Sally patted Figure’s head before skipping over and grabbing Seek’s hand. Figure slowly raised a hand and waved.
“B… ye…”
***
Entering the green house Seek and Sally were greeted by Eyes. She had been staring at the garden boxes but at the sound of Sally’s shoes clicking against the cobble stone she looked up at them.
“Hello, what are you doing here?”
“Mrs. Seek’s takin’ me home, I’mma introduce them to my grampy and my papa!” Sally chattered excitedly. Eyes expression crinkled into an amused one.
“That sounds nice.”
“You wanna come too? You should I bet we’d have lotsa fun and maybe Grampy can make us food!” Sally flapped her hands, bouncing lightly on her toes.
“I think I’d like to stay here, but you two have fun, please stay safe.” Eyes murmured
Sally gave Eyes a thumbs up before running over the big double doors.
Do you need anything before I go? Seek inquired. Eyes hesitated for a moment, the purple mist curling around them in an almost fearful way.
“Would you be willing to just spend some time with me later?”
Of course.
Eye’s seemed both relieved and pleased.
“Seeek, can we go now, please?” Sally whined. Seek nodded and walked over to join her by the double doors. Sally giggled bouncing on her toes, before running straight into the door, but instead of crashing into it, it rippled around her like water. So that was how she kept disappearing. Well if it could be avoided there was no need to disturb the vine growth. Seek slid quickly underneath the crack of the door. They had never really bothered checking this area of the green house. Sally stood next to a padlocked locked door. The door in question had a strange golden glow about it, it was the familiar glow of an architect's light but Seek only knew of two architects none of which were golden. How curious…
“I don’t have a key but I bet if we ask really nicely the golden light will open the door for us!” Sally said, flapping her hands.
I’m sure it’s worth a shot.
*You don’t belong here*
What?
*this place isn’t for you*
You’re an architect.
*I try not to get involved*
I just want to take Sally back to her family.
*... okay*
“Seeek! Seek! Come on, the door is open, Seeeeeeek.”
Sally’s whining cut through the haze. When had they zoned out?
Ah, sorry Sally, I’m coming.
It had been a long time since Seek had actually left the grounds of the Hotel. At least thirty years, they weren’t sure they liked it. Sally skipped ahead of them down the path. She would chase and scatter crows whenever she noticed them.
Sally please stay close.
“I am close!” Sally giggled.
I don’t want you getting hurt Sally.
“I won’t get hurt!”
Seek sighed, she sounded so sure of herself, maybe they could place a bit more confidence in her.
Well at least stay where I can see you.
“Okie dokie.” she giggled
It must have been nearly an hour the two of them spent walking, Sally chattered the whole time about her family.
“Papa’s really strong, which makes sense. He spends all day gardening, but he’s really shy, never talks, just makes sounds. Grampy says that it's called ‘nonverbal’ makes it hard to understand him sometimes but I still love my papa!”
Seek listened contentedly, it was clear Sally loved her family very deeply though perhaps they were a bit too lenient with her letting her wander off into the woods. A sharp crack cut through the conversation, something had stepped on a dry twig. Their head jerked to the sound but all they saw was a stone pillar nestled among the trees. That pillar wasn’t there before, that was for sure. Sally looked back too but she seemed panicked by it, she scrambled back and clung desperately to Seek’s leg.
What’s wrong sally?
“The Pillarmen.” she whispered shakily “they’re scary, they move when you ain’t lookin and sneak up behind you.”
Pillarmen?
“And then they eat ya.”
Seek stiffened slightly. So this forest wasn’t just full of bears and wild animals; there were entities here too.
I won’t let that happen
They scooped up Sally gently and continued walking. If this “pillarman” as she called it wanted to follow them it could, and if it tried anything, they’d kill it. Sally didn’t complain about being carried, she watched over Seek’s shoulder.
“It’s followin’ us, I don’t think it knows I’m watchin’ it.” she mumbled
It’s not going to hurt you, I won’t let that happen.
“Okay, I trust ya.”
The sound of stone scratching against dirt filled the air as they walked, the creature continued to follow them, but there was a caution to the way it walked, it had no idea whether they were food or not. A strange calm fell over the group as their new “companion” seemingly came to the conclusion that they weren’t something it wanted to eat, but it kept following them. Perhaps it was curious about the two.
Over the hill they caught a glance of light. It was at this point that the creature following them slowed down significantly, almost fearfully.
“That’s Grampy's shop!” Sally squealed excitedly. Ah finally, gods she really had wandered a long way. Seek carefully made their way down the hill holding Sally so as not to drop her. The grass around this area was much better kept than the forest around. However the moment Seek stepped onto the manicured grass a fierce roar filled his ears. It was the sound of a very angry man yelling, and charging at them was a large bulky entity. He wore a straw hat and carried a very large, very sharp scythe. Seek bristled defensively completely ready to tear this entity limb from limb.
“Papa!” Sally jumped out of Seek’s arms and ran over to the man. The entity stopped dead in his tracks. When he realized that it was indeed sally he dropped the scythe and scooped her up in a tight hug. He then proceeded to fix her with a worried glare.
“Sorry papa.” she said a little too quickly, “but it’s okay mr. Seek walked me back!”
The entity’s gaze fell onto Seek, it was slightly suspicious but also somewhat grateful. Very slowly he walked over and extended a bulky gloved hand to Seek. Seek took it looking quietly down at his arm. It was clear that it had once been covered in flesh but all that remained now were bones covered in vines. This entity had been through a lot, but whether it was the fault of humans or another entity Seek couldn’t tell. Suddenly self conscious about the analysis the entity retracted his arm.
You’re Sally’s father?
He nodded once.
May I know your name?
The entity seemed slightly embarrassed but slowly lifted one hand and began to finger spell his name.
S-U-N-N-Y
Sunny?
He nodded once.
“Doesn’t papa have the coolest name!” Sally giggled. Sunny pulled his hat down over his eyes.
“Papa papa! Can we take Mrs. Seek to meet Grampy?” Sally squealed a bit too loudly. Sunny considered this for a long moment, staring at Seek then at Sally then back at Seek, then finally he nodded once and turned on his heel. He picked up his scythe in one hand and sally in the other, then started walking clearly expecting Seek to follow. Seek did follow, they probably could have easily out paced Sunny if they wanted. He was a burly fellow but somewhat slow from the looks of it. He led them onto a trail and pointed once at a hand painted sign labeled ‘stay off the grass’. Seek acknowledged it and continued to follow him. They walked in silence for about twenty minutes, until Seek noticed the faint sound of someone tuning a banjo. Sunny pushed open a gate the path leading down to a cabin where a very old entity sat. The entity was leaning comfortably in a hand carved rocking chair, tuning an old banjo. He carried himself with a sort of jovial wisdom Seek had never before encountered. As soon as Sally saw him she squirmed out of Sunny’s arms and scrambled over to him.
“Grampy!!!” she squealed. Grampy laughed a kind raspy laugh and wrapped her up in a tight hug.
“Ah there’s my princess, I knew you’d find your way back eventually!”
After a moment he spoke again
“Shoulda known you’d show up eventually.” he said, directly to Seek.
Pardon?
“You’ve been all over the world haven’t ya, where’s there’s an entity yer sure to show up at some point.” the entity’s eyes crinkled into a knowing, but friendly look. “Thaks for lookin’ after princess for us, Sunny’s been worried sick, good to know she was in such capable hands.”
He then glared down at Sally.
“Speakin of which, I oughta woop yer ass for wandering off like that Princess.”
Sally’s eyes widened, and immediately she gave Grampy the saddest, most pathetic look she could muster. What a manipulative little genius she was because it clearly worked. Grampy sighed and stroked her hair softly.
“Alright ya little rat, you win this time.”
Sally grinned.
Grampy looked up, fixing Seek with a sudden strange stare.
“You gotta a red glow about ya, I suppose I should ask if there’s any need to be worried?”
Seek balked, how on earth did he catch that, but then it came to them, this old man, was surrounded by a gentle golden light. He was just as much an architect’s vessel as Seek was.
No, there’s…no need to worry.
Grampy stared for a while before nodding.
“Alrighty, I believe ya.” Eventually after a long pause, he continued. “Why don’t ya stay for dinner.”
Again there was that strange jovial wisdom in his voice that made it impossible to say no.
I’d like that, very much.