Tales of Gloomsdale #3: Awake at Sunrise

Chapter Thirteen

"Dawn? Jake?" I relaxed as I heard Jason's meek voice.

"Come in, Jace," Jake called.

As Jason opened the door, Jake suddenly leapt forward and threw his arms around his twin brother. Jason froze in surprise, staring at me over Jake's shoulder incredulously. I just smiled.

"Good. You two are finally together," I said. "And you won't wander out of sight again, will you?"

Jason pulled away. "Jake, what's gotten into you? Weren't you sleeping?"

"He woke up," I quickly explained.

Jake opened his mouth to further explain to his twin when Jason interrupted. "I came to tell you. Mom says we're leaving."

"Really?" I asked hopefully. "Right now?"

"Please tell me we're leaving right now," Jake added.

Jason nodded. "Well, she couldn't find the receptionist, but..."

"Forget about that," I insisted. "We won't ever find her again. She's long gone."

"Huh? What does that mean?" Jason demanded.

"Listen, Jace," Jake started. "There's something I need to tell you as well..."

I caught his eye and shook my head warningly at him. I doubted Jason would believe it. He would probably assume it was another story Jake made up to scare him.

Jake noticed and nodded reluctantly. He might tell his brother the truth later, but not right now. "I, uh... I'm sorry I made fun of you and fought with you so much. I was being a jerk." Jason gaped in shock. "And I'm definitely sorry that I left the hotel room this morning, without listening to you and Dawn."

"Who are you and what have you done with Jake?" Jason demanded. "Did some impostor take you over?"

Jake and I exchanged looks. Then we burst out laughing while Jason stared at us in confusion. Awkward, nervous laughter.

The hotel was much less ominous as we made our way down. It was still dark after sunset, but the icy chill that plagued the hallways had disappeared. So had the shadows that lurked at the corners and trailed behind me.

"Jason, what have I told you about running off?" Mom scolded. "Bad enough that you and your brother fight all the time—"

"Mom, it's fine," I spoke up. "I know they won't be getting into fights or wandering off anytime soon. Right, you two?" They both nodded in agreement.

"Definitely not," Jake hurriedly agreed, while Jason still looked slightly unsure. "Mom, have I ever told you that I love you?"

Mom stared at us in suspicion, clearly thinking Jake was trying . "Well... I love you too, honey."

"I can't find the receptionist anywhere," Dad muttered while approaching us. "I don't think we can check out."

"Let's just leave!" I insisted while Jake tugged at Mom's arm and she gently pushed him away. "We won't find anybody else anywhere in this hotel. They're all gone."

Mom stared at me. "How can you be so sure, Dawn?"

"I'm sure, too," Jake added.

Dad took off his jacket. "Is it just me, or is it a lot warmer in here than it was when the sun was up?"

"It is," Mom admitted. "I don't feel like I'm locked in a fridge anymore."

I noticed, too. I didn't feel the chill seeping through my skin, didn't see the shadows shifting and flickering over the ground. The hotel was empty, in more ways than one. All of the tortured ghosts haunting this place had left, along with their killer, the Dreamtaker. Freed of their empty existence.

"Let's go," I insisted, putting my arm around both of my brothers. "Nobody else is in this place anymore, and they'll never return again. And I'm glad."

"Well, if you're so sure," Mom said. "I want to get out of here as soon as possible, too. Something about it gives me the creeps. I did a little research about this place, and while it was a little difficult finding information, you know what I did find out?" She shuddered, brushing back her blonde hair. "All of the people who worked here – the receptionist, the waiters, the maids, the chef, even some of the guests – they all passed away years ago. From a plague or something. It's no wonder it's so empty. I wouldn't want to stay here if I knew beforehand."

Jake and I nodded in agreement while Dad and Jason gasped in shock. "That's why we need to get out of here," I said.

I was never more relieved when we stepped outside the hotel, out into the open air. Jake went running to the car straight away, but I remained outside for a moment and gazed up at the sky. The first stars glistened in the wide darkness, casting the grassy fields and long road stretching below in dim light. Somehow, it seemed brighter than the hotel in broad daylight.

I imagined each star was one of the Dreamtaker's victims, who were now free in the sky instead of trapped in the hotel. I thought about my friend Natalie who was probably at summer camp by now, telling ghost stories by the campfire under the same sky. She and her family didn't know how lucky they were to avoid what my brother and I had been through.

"Dawn, what are you waiting for? Are you coming?" Dad called from the car. I was more than happy to run over.

I glanced back as we drove away, watching as Sunrise Hotel gradually became smaller. Soon it was a speck in the distance, as small as one of the stars. It looked dreary compared to everything else illuminated by the glistening sky, but I was relieved with the knowledge that the place was now completely empty. I desperately hoped it would stay that way for a long time.

I had expected to never be able to get to sleep after everything I had been through, but to my surprise, I felt myself drifting off. Even my little brothers' voices and parents arguing weren't enough to keep me awake. They faded into the background as I dozed off, feeling a strange kind of peace overtake me that I rarely felt in sleep. Despite all that had happened, I slept more peacefully than I had in a long time.