Division-10

Track 1. The White Whale in Room 403

Originally posted: May 7, 2020

Summary: Doppo’s boss asks him to deliver an important folder to an important someone staying in the hotel next door. It’s a simple request, really. One he’s heard about a dozen times now.

Content warning(s): unreality

Author's note: This was my first attempt writing horror/suspense. I don't know if I was successful, but I had a lot of fun writing it. ^w^

-x-

The clock on the wall read 9:37.

Doppo rubbed his tired eyes and squinted.

The second hand wasn’t moving. Was it broken?

His boss seemed to materialize out of thin air, waving a folder around in his hand.

“Could you take this next door?”

It’s a simple request, really. One he’s heard about a dozen times now.

The next building over was a hotel. One typically used by other business types, or colleagues of his boss. Basically anyone too high on the ladder for Doppo to know by name, and most of the time, to even see.

“Yeah.” He took the folder from his boss and gave it a once over. It didn’t have a name on it. “What room are they in?”

“Room 403.”

This struck him as odd, and his brows furrowed involuntarily, but he knew better than to question a direct order from his boss. He’d been scolded more than enough times this week, and had apologized even more.

Not that it mattered anyway. The rooms were empty. The rooms were always empty. And while Doppo didn’t think much of it at the time, simply leaving important folders and documents with the friendly woman at the desk (if sliding them under the door wasn’t an option), it did seem like a strange coincidence.

He nodded and hurried downstairs without another word. He passed by a coworker on his way out, a newbie whose name he couldn’t quite remember, and they acknowledged him. He waved back, hoping they would understand why he didn’t stop to chat.

The sweltering heat was the first thing to hit him as he stepped outside. It was only May, but the heat rose from the asphalt and crawled up his entire body. He shivered. If he spent too much time in this heat, he worried the sweat from his hands might soak through the folder.

He tucked the folder between his shirt and jacket, hoping it would create a makeshift barrier until he could safely make it to the hotel lobby.

The second thing to hit him was the realization that, despite it being a decent Thursday morning, the streets were empty.

Not a single person was walking down the sidewalk, something that was almost impossible to not see. No one walking in to or out of the numerous buildings that lined the street. No cars on the road. Nothing. The only noise around him was the low hum of the concrete jungle, and the quiet, distinct sound of people talking in the distance.

Doppo took a few steps away from his office building, looked around again, and decided that the noise he was hearing must be coming from an open window somewhere.