Whispers in the Void

1

I was in an isolated but welcoming and pleasant town. I checked into a hotel where the staff was very kind; they helped me navigate the town and offered assistance with open arms. I took my key from the reception and went to the second floor where my room was. I stood in front of the door for a moment, feeling a strange sensation. I sensed a shiver down my spine, could feel my heart beating strongly, and my eyes became blurry. Finally, I opened the door, and a sweet fragrance hit me. I settled into the room and went out to the balcony to smoke. It was a calm and starry night; I spent an hour there, admiring the scenery and contemplating the minor issues that needed solving. It got late, and I decided to go downstairs to grab a bite. Someone greeted me with fantastic news – dinner was already prepared and ready to be served. I ate and returned to my room.

On the second night, I went downstairs earlier and got stuck. The same feeling, a shattering fear engulfed me when I noticed there was no one around – neither the reception boy nor the lovely ladies from the restaurant. There was a suffocating silence. I tried to check the time, thinking I had come down late at night, but it was only 7 in the evening. The lights were off, but the moonlight made the room slightly more discernible. A strong and short sound made me jump and turn around. Before I could fully turn, something inside me told me to run, and I sprinted towards the exit. The door was locked; I tried to break it, seeing a shadow approaching me. I managed to destroy a part of the door enough to pass through, but on the other side, an absolute void awaited me. From the threatening shadow emerged a tall man. I looked into his eyes, and suddenly, I felt no fear.

"I know what you are," I said. With a cold gaze, he replies: "Do you?"