𝐍𝐎 𝐔𝐒𝐄 - James Patrick March

16

There was two things that Jazmine had in mind. One being that today was Devil's day. She remembered Hazel telling her about it, but it's not like she had to do anything about it because she wasn't a maid anymore. Not only that, she didn't want to be in the room with a bunch of dead serial killers who celebrated the lives they took, she'd rather much stay out.

And the second thing on her mind was the white light she kept seeing in her dreams recently. It was weird, but it felt refreshing and welcoming.

Even when she was awake, she could sometimes see it when she focused hard enough on remembering what it looked like. She was getting closer and she couldn't help but tell Liz about this light she's been seeing. Jazmine hadn't told anyone because she thought it was nothing but once it continued to happen every time she fell asleep. After talking about it, they had finally came to conclusion.

"I think you've found your purpose." Liz spoke, Jazmine's eyes widened. "Wha—how?!" She asked, growing excited. "If you're seeing a bright white light in your dream that's gotta mean something." Liz shrugged and Jazmine smiled. "If only I knew what was causing it...shit, a guest." Jazmine train of thought changed once noticed a man with shaggy brown hair. They hadn't had a guest in a while, or what it seemed like.

"I'm here for devils night." He spoke calmly. This made Jazmine perk up, she wanted to be nosey. "This place is never going to have peace." Jazmine sighed as she rubbed her forehead in a stressful manner.

"Name?" Iris asked, unamused. "Richard." He spoke, Jazmine rolled her eyes, turning back to Liz. "I feel like this is a bad night for Alex to come." Jazmine said. "I can't cancel since I never got his phone number." She added, Liz sighed. "After all this time?" Liz chuckled and Jazmine held back her laugh. "Hey! It's not my fault I forgot."

Even though she did forget, it wasn't like she was busy or had anything better to do. So she was able to sit there with Liz at the bar while she stayed to wait on Alex.

But Alex had never showed up. It was way past the time he'd usually come. "Maybe he just forgot. I hope." Liz said, which made Jazmine turn around to look at Liz. "You hope? Why would you hope, did something happen?" The woman rushed to conclusions, her mind went wandering. "I didn't want to tell you this because I know you'll freak out." Liz started, making nerves rumbling in the brown woman's stomach.

"About what, Liz?" Jazmine asked. "Monday night..I saw James speaking with Alex. When you left, Alex stayed for one last drink. He was asking me if what were you interested in. Once he reached the door James stopped him. I tried hearing what they were saying to each other, but I couldn't hear." Liz explained, feeling guilty as she spoke. It hurt watching Jazmine's face grow with worry. Liz felt like she had betrayed her only close friend. "How could you hide this from me? You know how James is." Jazmine whispered harshly as her eyes watered. "They were only talking—I'm sorry." Liz reached forward to hold Jazmine's shoulder but Jazmine pulled back and exited from behind the bar.

Her breathing grew heavy as she walked towards this exit. "Jazmine!" Liz called, watching as Jazmine exited the place but only to appear back to the entrance. "Fuck! Liz! Everything was going so well! How come you didn't tell me sooner?" Jazmine cried. Liz was now exiting from behind the bar, walking quickly over to Jazmine.

Liz pulled the younger woman into a hug. "Because I hoped that he was going to show up like nothing ever happened." Liz admitted.

"It was a pleasure having you, Richard."

Jazmine instantly pulled away from Liz's hug after hearing the man's familiar voice. He stood a couple feet from Jazmine and Liz as Richard started exiting the hotel.

Jazmine felt her anger arise as the man turned around, keeping a smirk on her face. "James, what the hell did you do!?" Jazmine said, speed walking over to the man. James was taken aback by her approach, and hearing his first name come so angrily from her mouth.

He liked it.

"I'm afraid that I don't know what you're talking about, my dear." He spoke. "Don't 'my dear' me. You did something to make Alex not come today. What did you say." She asked, her eyes glaring at him. "I didn't say anything to him. I don't even know anyone named Alex." James lied through his teeth. Jazmine didn't find him funny nor cute in the moment.

She just raised her hand and slapped him. Liz and Iris stood there shocked, once they made eye contact, they both knew it was time for them to leave the lobby. So that's exactly what the two did.

"You're such a jerk! I finally had something good going on and you ruined it. You ruin everything! You've ruined parts of life that I want back, and while im trying to get it back, you're only trying to bring me down." Jazmine spoke.

James held the side of his face, watching as Jazmine finally snapped at him.

"I've always wished you the best, Jazmine." He spoke, licking his lips as he straighten out his suit. The woman laughed dryly. "When? I've never felt like you have—maybe for the first three months of being here..but it all went downhill from there. Come on, be honest with me. You've only viewed me as your maid, just someone to clear up your mess. After you fired me, we haven't spoken. So tell me, James, do you really wish me the best? Do you even care about me?" She questioned, still staring into his eyes.

The man only stared at her, like she was crazy. He didn't know how to answer the question.

He could only replay the words he had said to Alex Monday night.

"Who are you?" Alex asked. "It doesn't matter. Just know that Jazmine will no longer be at this hotel. She flies back home tomorrow night. She just didn't have the heart to tell you, so she sent me." James spoke. Alex had doubt in his eyes. Doubt that James could see clearly. "I can always get her to write a message to you, maybe give her your number." James added, smiling. "Why is she leaving—why wouldn't she want to tell me?" Alex asked worriedly. James only cocked his head before answering. "She's I bought her a ticket to Europe. She's going far away to a hospital that'll help with her allergy." James wasn't stupid, he had been listening when no one knew he was. "She'll be back in a few months. So, you can leave your number." James said whilst handing him a pen and notepad. Alex couldn't wrap his head around the information he was given. So he just did what was suggested, and wrote his number down.

James took the notepad back and nodded. "Thank you, I'll be giving this to Jazmine." James lied through his teeth. "Thank you, I appreciate it." Alex said as he awkwardly left the hotel.

James looked down at the notepad seeing an extra note added. James only ripped the paper into small pieces and threw it away.

At first he was thinking of killing Alex. But then if Alex were to roam around the hotel, Jazmine would know.

So the only thing James could do was make him stay away, but the easy way. He hated that he had to do it the easy way, but at least Alex was gone.

"That's what I thought." Jazmine said, feeling disappointed. She wanted him to say yes, she wanted to hear that he cared. But he said nothing. Jazmine only walked away.

When she got in bed that night, she felt cold. It wasn't warm like it used to be. When she fell asleep, it was nothing but a dark abyss.

A/N: I promise I'm not trying to torture you, things are going to get good soon😭!