As the night started to wrap up, people started to leave, and he stared back down at his phone, seeing if the reply from Sarah had come through. Feeling it vibrate, he looked down at the response, only a thumbs up.
Seething in annoyance at the no help he was receiving from her, Norbert put his phone back in his pocket. Staring around the table, Norbert saw that Francesco was getting more and more nervous as the night continued until now, looking almost as if he was going to die from a heart attack at any moment,
Norbert looked to his wife, asking, "Do you know where the old Arnott's building is?:
After several seconds of silence, her face lit up. "Oh, that old building. I wouldn't go there; it's mostly run down now. It's the only type near here at all. I'm happy that it's gone, to be honest. If you continue down the hill, you will see the remains outside of town; you can't miss it."
Norbert nodded as he pulled his chair out. Picking up Obsius, having passed out from the food coma she had given herself. Holding the bird in his hand, Norbert left the building with a wave, others calling for him to have a lovely trip in town.
Standing outside, backpack on his shoulder, Norbert looked around the town, the street he was on. People were still milling about, not wanting to leave after the long night and say goodbye to friends and family after the time spent connecting.
Breathing deeply in once more, the cool night air filling his nostrils, Norbert headed down the street, repeating the instructions he heard before about getting to his place for the night. Walking down, following the street lights as he went on the cobblestone path, taking a right near the alleyway, petting the black cat standing over the crates and hopping over Miss Bonetti's fence, Norbert could see the bright sign ahead of him.
"Well, that looks like the place, and at least the lights are on. Let's head inside." Norbert said to someone, unsure if it was Obsius or himself. He was heading inside before he started questioning his sanity or if he had finally lost it, all those positions and elixirs addling with his brain, the first signs of too much.
But instead, Norbert just walked forward, looking both ways on the quiet street, the habit forming as he opened the wooden door, the bell on top ringing, sounding his entrance to everyone inside.
He looked around the stone interior and saw someone wave to him from behind the wooden desk to the side of the entrance room. Heading over, Norbert placed his bag down as he started to pull out his passport. "Single room under Norbert?" He asked the man behind the desk.
The squat man wearing a black jumper pushed up the glasses on his face as he began clicking on the keyboard. Norbert was happy that the man knew English, not wanting to learn another language besides what he needed for Morenas.
As Norbert hummed to himself waiting, the man finally finished, going over to the drawers on the side and handing the key over to Norbert.
"Here is your room key, room three; head up the stairs and on the right. Breakfast is served here, but I recommend going to the bakery across the road, next to Miss Boentti's. They have the best croissants in town." The receptionist said.
Norbert pointed to the name tag on the jumper. "Thanks, Luca, and did I hear that right, being croissants, the French food?" Norbert asked, wanting to clarify what he had just heard.
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"You did hear me right; the croissants are to die for," Luca said, sitting back at the desk. Norbert stepped away with his backpack, seeing the conversation was over.
Heading up the stairs next to the desk, Norbert went up the wooden steps, one at a time, hearing each creek as his hand went over the fence, feeling the smooth lines as he made his way up to the first floor.
Looking up and seeing he could go higher, Norbert went to the right, seeing that his room was here and room number four on the opposite side of his. Staring at the wooden door, an eyehole showing, allowing those who knock to be seen before entering.
Norbert knocked on the door. "I'm back." Chuckling at his stupidity, he placed the key into the lock, twisting it and hearing a thunk as the door unlocked. Holding the metal handle, green from time and use, Norbert swung the door inwards, looking at the room he would call his for the near future.
As Norbert entered the room, seeing only a single bed, a cabinet and a bathroom heading through a door on the left. As he walked forward, a window showed the street he entered from; gazing down, he watched the empty street, having a sense of déjà vu with the window from his time back in Bursting Barrel.
Walking back to the door and locking it, Norbert placed his backpack down, placing Obsius on the pillow, allowing the bird to rest before they ventured into the night. Undressed, Norbert went and showered himself, wanting to get the flight grime off his body, having not showered in over a day now, and the smell of his body was starting to get to him.
In the bathroom, Norbert turned over to the shower, white tiled walls surrounding him; passing the mirror, Norbert nodded, confirming he would need to shave the stubble off his cheeks, having forgotten during his adventures in the jungle.
Nodding to shave after the shower, Norbert turned it on, hearing the waterfall and steam escaping from the shower head. He held his hand underneath, feeling warm enough, groaning in anticipation of having a proper shower and not needing to dunk himself in a lake.
Finished with his shower and shaven, Norbert headed out of the bathroom, heading over to his backpack, past the clothes he was wearing before and opening it up; he examined the clothes he had bought for the night. The leather, expensive to have so quickly, smoothly went over his body; he wore dark jeans, a leather jacket with a hood and gloves.
The last piece was the mask he took, the less expensive one he brought. The light had died from it but still stuck to his face. Putting on the sneakers and socks rolled up, Norbert looked at himself in the mirror. He was laughing at what he saw.
Norbert placed it back on like a person trying to go for a cool guy look but failing miserably, taking the mask off and wiping the tears forming. Norbert looked down at the bed, Obsius still sleeping on the pillow.
Leaning over the bird, Norbert put his head down next to the bird as he whispered, "Come on, wake up. We have a business to do. Whoever is in the building isn't going to wait all night." Norbert said to the bird.
Obsius not reacting at all, Norbert gently shook the bird, not wanting to annoy her when she woke up, the pain that it could bring him if he did. Gently, over several minutes, the bird alighted from the food coma it put itself in.
As the bird awoke, he got on the pillow and ruffled their feathers before looking up to Norbert, giving a quick chip before flipping and landing on his head.
"Oh really, you weren't asleep at all. Ok, whatever you say." Norbert said back, not believing the bird's words, not being asleep, my ass.
Looking out the room, thinking he wouldn't need any knives or daggers, having packed nothing, slipping his phone, wallet and passport into his pants pockets, Norbert picked the last thing he needed, the key.
Picking it up from the dresser, Norbert opened the door, noting where everything was. Closing the door behind him, locking the door, the thunk resounded out of the hallway as Norbert looked around the empty building, hoping not to wake anyone up at this hour.
The lights in the hallway were still on as Norbert walked down the hall, looking down the stairs at the empty foyer. Walking down, each one still creaking under his feet as Norbert made his way to the bottom. Feet on the stone, the sneakers he was wearing plodding along on the floor.
As they left the hotel, the door closed behind him, having been kept unlocked even at night. As he stepped out onto the street, fog formed on his breath as he made his way down the hill, pulling his gloves up and ensuring they fit correctly.
Nodding with his head, he whispered to Obsius, "Best if you had a look around, see what you can spot." Receiving a chirp in reply and a flutter of wings, the bird took off.