And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 13 Hayes

I can almost feel the stress in the shelter as I scan the room, desperate for a familiar face. I catch sight of Sophie, Jordan, and Jake huddled together in a corner, their expressions taut with worry.

I rush over, relief flooding me as they turn toward me.

"Hayes! Thank god you're here!" Sophie's voice shakes slightly.

"Have you seen Noah?" I ask, breathless.

Jordan shakes his head. "Not since the evacuation started. We thought he might be with you."

Just then, an anonymous source—a woman wearing a worn jacket—approaches us. Her eyes dart around before she leans in close.

"Listen," she whispers, urgency dripping from her words. "The eruption? It never happened. They're lying to everyone."

I freeze, processing her statement. A wave of anger surges through me.

"What do you mean? Why would they lie?" I demand.

"I don't know all the details," she replies, glancing over her shoulder as if someone might overhear. "But there are whispers about something darker going on at that hotel. Just... be careful."

Sophie grabs my arm tightly. "Hayes, if they're hiding something, we need to find out what it is—especially if it's connected to Noah."

I nod sharply and turn to Emiko, who stands nearby with a concerned expression on her face.

"Emiko," I call out, motioning for her to join us. She approaches slowly, a cautious look in her eyes.

"What is it?" she asks softly.

"There's been no eruption," I explain quickly. "We need you to investigate further into what's happening at the hotel. There has to be a reason behind this deception."

"I'll do what I can," she replies firmly. "I think we ought to return to the hotel to search for any clues."

Jordan leans in closer, his voice low but intense. "And we need to find Noah before he gets caught up in whatever mess this is."

Sophie bites her lip nervously while Jake scans the room again.

"We'll figure this out together," I assure them, though doubt lingers in my mind like an unwanted guest.

Emiko slips into the crowd, signaling for us to trail behind her. Just as I glance at Sophie, Jake and Jordan, there faces a mix of worry and determination.

"Let's follow her," I suggest, urgency lacing my tone. "We can't wait around here."

Sophie nods. "Right. We need to stick together."

As we weave through the bustling shelter, I catch snippets of conversations filled with fear and confusion.

We reach the entrance just as Emiko steps outside. She pauses to check her surroundings before motioning for us to follow her into the dimly lit street.

"Stay close," she instructs quietly, her eyes scanning for any potential threats.

We tread lightly down a narrow alleyway that feels foreign under my feet. The night air hangs heavy with tension as we navigate the maze of Kyoto streets, avoiding crowds and keeping to the shadows.

"I've heard rumors," Emiko begins, leading us toward a side entrance of the hotel that isn't crowded with people. "There are secrets in that building—things they don't want anyone to know. I have been suspecting something isn't right since I started working here."

"What kind of secrets?" I ask.

Emiko glances back at us, her expression serious. "people have gone missing in the past. Some claim it's linked to... something sinister. That's the reason I decided to apply for the job when I came across the listing."