Meanwhile, Dakota rode in her Renegade car toward a big hotel. She pulled over to a parking lot and got out of the vehicle, cautiously inspecting her surroundings. It was nighttime, and the surroundings had a relaxed vibe.
Sunny Horizon Resort and Spa, the large sign above the building, read.
Is this the place Tommy's staying in? She thought to herself. I hope I’m not too late. I better hurry!
She entered the hotel, only to find tons of people crowding the lobby, looking to be students in a state of unrest and panic. A counselor that wore a yellow-green hat stood on a box in front of everyone, trying to calm them down.
“Now everybody, calm down, please. We’ll figure things out!” He exclaimed, raising his arms.
“What should we do?” One citizen asked in a panicked state.
“I’m scared. What will happen to us? Will anything bad happen to us?” Another questioned.
“I’m not sure...” A third muttered.
Dakota stepped further into the lobby and made her way past the bystanders. She worked her way through the busy crowd of people in the lobby to get to the counselor and speak with him face to face.
“Um, excuse me? What’s going on here?” She looked up and asked. “Have you seen my nephew?”
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"Hi, it's nice to see you here, Miss Europe.” The counselor greeted, extending his hand in greeting. She shook his hand gently in response.
“I received that call on the phone. Do you have any idea what happened?” Dakota asked.
“Well, your kid and his friend went off to someplace, and they haven’t been back since, even though we told them to meet back here before dark.”
“That’s horrible!” She gasped in shock. “Did you check everywhere for them?”
“They must’ve gotten lost or something. We’re doing all that we can, so...”
“Why didn’t you watch them more carefully?” Dakota grabbed the man by the shirt collar and shook him violently. The crowd gasped, watching the scene unfold. “Why didn’t you keep a better eye on those two!?” She let the counselor go and stormed off to the main entrance, getting through the crowd in her way. “I got to go find my baby and nothing will—”
“Wait!” The counselor shouted after her. “Where will you look? Do you have any idea where they could be?”
Dakota froze in place before she got to the door. As the words lingered around in her head, she looked down on the ground with her head hung low. She had no idea what to do at this moment. Dakota wanted to help find her nephew, but didn’t know where he could be. She didn’t want to sit back and do nothing while the closest she had to a family might be in danger.
“Wait, we haven’t checked everywhere just yet.” A voice called out.
Dakota and the counselor glanced around the lobby, wondering who had spoken those words. Finally, a woman stepped up to reveal herself to the two, as the area fell silent, and people stepped aside. She adjusted her glasses and moved a black curl that seemed out of place from her hair before continuing where she had left off.
“I had just thought about it, but I know one place they could be in. I highly doubt any of you checked there...”
“Well, can you tell us where it is, then?” The counselor asked.
“Does anyone have a map? I feel it’d be better if I showed you myself.”
“Oh, ok, then. Thanks for the help, Miss?”
“Call me, Anita, now let's get moving. Time is of the essence here.”