Through The Eyes of Our Horror

Chapter Thirteen: The Hotel

For years, Wesley toiled away as a housekeeper, hopping from one establishment to another in search of his rightful place. Despite the lack of prestige in his chosen profession, he found solace in the lessons learned from his countless failures. After all, it was the experience that truly mattered, or so he believed. Presently, he had been employed at his current job for a little over a year. The staff, seemingly kind-hearted and considerate, initially struck him as overly pleasant.

Their every action revolved around the well-being of the employees, for they understood that by nurturing their workforce, the establishment would flourish and maintain its position at the pinnacle of success. Incentives were offered for weekend work, and bi-monthly bonuses were bestowed upon those who displayed unwavering loyalty. However, there was one unsettling predicament that plagued the hotel, a secret known to all. It was haunted, and this knowledge hung heavy in the air, casting an eerie shadow over the premises.

As an eternal optimist with an unwavering positive outlook on life, Wesley chose to embrace the situation with hope and resilience. Little did he know that his unwavering optimism would soon be put to the ultimate test, as the haunting presence within the hotel began to reveal its true nature. As the night houseman, Wesley embraced his solitary duty, fully aware of the eerie presence that lurked within the dimly lit halls. Unlike his oblivious colleagues, he possessed the cursed ability to perceive the ethereal entities that roamed the premises after sundown. It was a perilous task, fraught with danger, yet Wesley found solace in its simplicity.

He was the sole individual in the establishment who possessed the necessary skills to perform this enigmatic role. Arriving at the building well before twilight descended, Wesley was greeted by the refreshing gust of air conditioning that cascaded from the entrance. A profound sigh escaped his lips, a testament to the relief he felt as the cool breeze alleviated the perspiration that had accumulated on his brow. Stepping through the door and into the main lobby, he exchanged a warm smile with the front desk representatives.

"Hey, Wes!" Sarah greeted, her smile illuminating the room as she waved. "It's still scorching out there, isn't it?"

Wesley chuckled softly, leaning over the counter. "That would be an understatement," he replied. "How many floors do we have to tend to tonight?"

Sarah's smile wavered slightly, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "All of them," she answered hesitantly. "Which means..."

"I understand," Wesley interjected, his voice laced with reassurance. "The hotel is fully booked, and tonight promises to be exceptionally eventful. Just remember to secure the exits," he reminded her as Sarah handed him his keyring.

Sarah's beauty was undeniable, but it wasn't the conventional kind that most girls possessed. Her cheeks were plush and rosy, complementing her large, hauntingly dark brown eyes. No matter the circumstances, Sarah always wore a smile on her face, even in moments of fear or sorrow, and that, Wesley, was what made her truly beautiful. As he entered the breakroom, Wesley took a seat at the table, enveloped by an eerie silence, broken only by the relentless ticking of the clock on the wall.

"You know, we can always try to recruit a second houseman," the manager Jarrod sneered from the breakroom doorway.

"It's fine," Wesley forced a smile, his voice trembling. "I really don't mind."

But the truth was, he only had the delusion, no, the desperate hope to keep doing his job because he was heavily medicated. Antipsychotics, anxiety medication... but was it all still enough? The hotel had never been full-booked since he started, and the shadows whispered sinister secrets in his mind.

Jarrod scoffed. "If you say so. I'll be here 'til sundown if you need anything," he muttered, before retreating to his office, leaving Wesley alone with his crumbling sanity.