Tales Of The Squeaker ~ Fifty thriller stories in one book

Tale Nine: Secrets Revealed

Rain pounded Joanna and Samantha's windscreen as they parked in the parking area of the ancient Ranian hotel. The sign, worn and barely legible, read "The Whispering Grounds Inn." They had been driving for hours, and the prospect of a comfortable accommodation was a welcome relief.

"Are you sure about this place?" Samantha enquired, staring at Joanna. "It looks like something out of a horror movie."

Joanna chuckled. Come on, Sam. It's only an old hotel. Furthermore, it's the only place with vacancies for miles.

They entered the lobby, the smell of old wood and moisture permeating the air. Mrs. Trevor, the receptionist, greeted them with a smile. "Welcome to Whispering Groundnuts. Room two is ready for you."

Samantha lifted her eyebrow. "Room 2? Seriously?"

Mrs. Trevor's smile never faltered. "It is our most requested room. "Don't worry, it's just superstition."

(Number 2 was a common superstition in their town)

The room was charming, with floral wallpaper and creaky floors. Joanna and Samantha unpacked their bags, chuckling at the old rotary phone on the bedside table.

But as the days passed, strange things happened. The curtains waved even when the windows were shut. Samantha overheard whispers in the corridor at night, even though no one was around. And Joanna swears she spotted a mysterious figure standing near the closet.

"Maybe we should switch rooms," Samantha offered one morning. "This place gives me the creeps."

Joanna hesitated. "I am curious. Let us stay a bit longer."

On the fifth day, Joanna found a loose floorboard near the window. She pried it open, revealing a concealed chamber. Inside, she discovered a stack of yellowed letters wrapped with a ribbon.

Samantha read one aloud. "My lovely Karolyn, I worry for our lives. The whispers become stronger each night. "The room contains secrets," Joanna interrupted. "Karolyn? Wasn't that Mrs. Trevor's name?

Samantha nodded. "And listen to this: 'The curse of Room 2 will consume us all.'"

They dug deeper and pieced together the history. The inn had served as a sanctuary during the Salem witch trials. Room 2 was where alleged witches were imprisoned before their trial. What about the whispers? The spirits of the wrongfully accused.

Samantha shuddered. "But why?"

Joanna's eyes widened. "Because they hid a powerful artefact. "The key to their freedom."

They returned to the concealed chamber and discovered an ancient pendant. Joanna stroked it, and memories flooded his head. She noticed Karolyn, desperate and afraid, sealing the pendant away.

"It's a portal," Joanna muttered. "A gateway to another world."

Mrs Trevor confronted them. "You have uncovered the truth. The pendant provides access to the spiritual realm. But it requires a sacrifice—life for life."

Samantha hesitated. "What do we do?"

Joanna knew. "We're going to utilise the pendant to rescue the captive spirits. But one of us must remain behind.

Samantha's eyes flooded with tears. "Jo, no."

She hugged her hard and emotionally, telling her, "Remember me, Sam."

As the portal opened, Joanna walked through, leaving Samantha behind. The whispering stopped, and the room became silent.

Samantha went home, tormented by recollections. She created an Instagram account and shared Room 2's narrative. Followers flocked in, intrigued by the mystery. But Samantha knew the truth: the sacrifice that had spared many lives.

She would murmur to the breeze every night, " I will never forget  Joanna."

The Whispering Groundnuts Inn still survives, with its secrets in Room 2. Visitors seek answers, unknowingly aware of the cost they may face.

Reader, beware. Some mysteries are best left alone.

The End

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