ROSE

Chapter Nine - Mystifying

Emily screamed loudly before the lights in the hotel suddenly went out. She screamed even louder waking up Lucy and Kimberly. Trapped in darkness; they could barely see anything.

Lucy was annoyed, she yelled at Emily, "What is wrong with you?! Must you disturb our sleep? First it was the rat infestation and now it's you."

Kimberly felt for her phone on the table, which she used as a flashlight.

"Relax, Emily, what happened?" Kimberly asked calmly.

Emily elucidated, "A woman clothed in a bloody dress was standing here! It was a ghost."

Lucy was furious, "For goodness' sake. You are obviously hallucinating. I don't blame you because your mind is engraved with fear. Soon, your fear will rub off on us."

"I am not lying. I heard footsteps and when I turned to the sound I saw a woman standing beside the bed. It was terrifying. And the blood was..." she paused and spoke quickly, "Point the light to the floor, you will see a paddle of blood."

Lucy snatched the phone from Kimberly's hand and, reluctantly flashed the light to the floor. "Oh goodness me, you are right, Emily. Oh! The blood is really horrifying. I would also scream and disturb my friends." Lucy was being sarcastic because there was no blood on the floor.

"This can't be... I heard someone flip the light switch, I heard the footsteps and I promise that I saw a ghost standing here. I-I saw the blood dripping from her hand before the lights went out," insisted Emily.

Thereafter, the lights turned back on.
"Is everything alright in there?!" Thomas yelled outside the girls bedroom.

Lucy rolled out of bed to open the door for Thomas. "Yes," she replied. "Apparently, Emily claimed to have seen a ghost."

"What happened to the lights?" asked Kimberly.

"That beats me," replied Thomas. "Patrick was down in the basement fixing the power supply. He sent me up here to check on you."

"Don't worry, we are fine," assured Lucy. Thomas walked away.

Kimberly wrapped her hands around Emily like a baby and later tucked her in. Lucy couldn't sleep with the light on, but Emily retorted that she wouldn't dare sleep in darkness after what had happened. Lucy didn't like the idea, but agreed to it because she guessed it would complicate the situation if she opposed.

*****

When it was dawn, Emily was the first one to wake up. She actually wasn't in a deep sleep; her ears were on high alert the entire night for any strange sounds. Now that it was morning, she was happy that she would be going back home. She peeped under the bed before putting her foot on the floor.

Kimberly later woke up and lastly Lucy. They both checked on Emily before brushing their teeth and bathing in cold water. Lucy headed out to meet with the boys who were sun bathing near the pool.

Meanwhile, Emily was folding her clothes and packing them back in her suitcase as well as Kimberly. Emily felt bad for Kimberly she attempted discouraging her:

"You know that you really don't have to come with me. I will be fine." But Kimberly opposed, "I promised you that if your condition escalated, I would have to accompany you back home. I don't intend to break the promise anytime soon."

Kimberly continued, "I will go and try to find reception outside, I will also inform everyone that we won't be with them for longer." She walked out.

Kimberly almost bumped into Patrick at the main entrance to the hotel.
"Sorry," apologized Patrick.