𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧 - by Sophie Watson

Chapter 1, booking in.

The place looked fine. It had  beautiful plants in the main office, and bright spotlights. The people here were nice; but maybe a bit too nice.
To Alex it didn't mean anything, he didn't care if they were too nice or whatever. He just wants a place to stay for the weekend with his friends.

He walked up to the counter, where a lovely lady stood, smiling at him.
" hello, sir. Booking in today?" She asked in a high pitched voice.
" indeed, just for the weekend" he said calmly.
She nodded, and tapped a few keys on her computer.
" okay, and your name?" She looked at the computer then to him again.

" Alex, Alex xeri" he said, looking around waiting for how long this will take.
" and how do you spell that?"
He rolled his eyes.
"x-e-r-i" he yawned.
" thank you, your room number is 40, on floor 501. Here's your keycard!" The woman gave him the key card and waved him goodbye.
" thank you, lady" Alex politely said even though he was annoyed, and quickly rushed to the elevator.

" finally." He said, feeling relaxed.
The elevator pinged, and as Alex was about to get out, he realised it wasn't his floor.
Alex sighed.
Someone else got on, an old lady slowly stepping in the elevator.
" you got to be kidding" he said under his breath.
" what floor, ma'am." He asked.
" that would be floor 334" she croaked.
He pressed the button and the elevator went rushing upwards. It pinged again, and the old lady thanked him then slowly crept out. 

Some other people got on, two woman and a man.
He sighed, " what floor?" He asked.
The man replied: " floor 281 sir" and thanked him. Alex pressed the button then looked to the two woman.
" floor 501 please!" One of them said.
Alex laughed " same floor as me" he pressed it again then looked to the other woman
" oh I'm going to reception" she said.
" alright" he pressed it and waited.
The elevator took longer this time, as it was going down.

It
Alex looked at his watch. His friends would be in the room by now.
Suddenly it pinged. This man huddled by them and walked out.
" thank you" he said and walked down the corridors .
Now it was only Alex and the two girls.
He yawned and looked at the buttons.
Only one more stop to go until he can get off the elevator.
The elevator went rushing down, and finally made its stop.

One of the woman walked out and walked to the counter, where Alex had just been with the weird smiling lady.
It was now only him and another girl.
The elevator slowly went upward.
" what room have you got?" She asked.
" I've got room 40" he said.
" ive got room 12" she smiled.
He smiled back awkwardly.
The elevator finally made its final ping of the day, and the doors opened.
" it was nice chatting to you, I never got your name, by the way." She said.
" my name is Alex, yours?"
" Clara" she smiled and waved goodbye as they went opposite directions to their rooms.

Once he was at room 40, he whipped out his keycard and fiddled around with it until it worked in the slot. Once it beeped, the door opened creaky and slowly.
" finally" he stretched and looked through the room. He could see three figures in the dark.
" what the.." he turned the light on to find it was only his friends- mason, maxy and iris.
Alex looked confused. " where's jinx?" He asked.
" we think she's arriving late," iris said.
Alex nodded.
" how about we make sleeping arrangements first. As it's already getting dark." Mason asked.
" sure" Alex replied.

" so, obviously iris can sleep with jinx when she gets here on that double bed over there, and then maxy can sleep on the single bed on that side since I feel like it would be awkward sleeping with you and such and then then that would mean-" masons voice slowly disappeared.
" wait- that would mean I have to sleep with mason" Alex said.
"I guess we'll have to make it work, right?" Mason asked, sweating.
" I suppose so" Alex said, awkwardly looking at mason.
" anyway, I'm going to unpack." Mason said and so did the others.
Alex rummaged through his bag and suitcase until he found his toothbrush.
" I'll go brush my teeth, and we can plan what to do tomorrow." He said.
The others agreed.

Alex went over to the hotel bathroom, which was pretty nice. It had the same spotlights as reception, and it had a beautiful atmosphere, but after Alex had brushed his teeth he could smell something DREADFUL. He walked over to the main room, about to ask what the smell was but once he saw their faces, it was obvious they were about to ask the same thing.
" what is that awful smell!" Iris screamed.
" tomorrow I'll buy some room spray" Mason told them, then got into bed.
" it is rank though" maxy said.

Just as they had all got into bed they could hear someone at the door. Freaked out Mason hid under the covers near Alex.
Alex looked down and went red.
The door opened and once Mason had crept out, he could see it was only jinx.
She got in and put her bags down, and waved hi to everyone. She breathed it in and almost gagged.
" what is that horrid smell?! They ought to fix this place up" she said.
" it's okay jinx, Mason is gonna buy some room spray tomorrow" iris said.
" no darling, it's alright. I brought some just in case" she pulled it out one of her bags and sprayed it enough for the smell to be gone temporarily.

Jinx quickly went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and change clothes then got to bed.
" we'll talk to reception tomorrow about this." She said and kissed Iris goodnight.
" goodnight, everyone" Alex whispered.
" goodnight" Mason said.
" goodnight!" Maxy added.
Jinx was already fast asleep, iris almost asleep too.  Alex looked over to maxy, who looked like was already asleep but he wasn't sure. He then looked to Mason, who was beside him. He was asleep.
" okay, I'll just try sleep. Even if it is with Mason, I can do it" he whispered under his breath and laid  down into the soft, silky covers.
Soon his eyes began to close, until a huge bang interrupted his sleep....