𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐊𝐘

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓

        The old hotel building loomed over us, its brick façade weathered by time and the elements. March glanced up, a shiver running down her spine. "This should be the place..." she murmured. An elderly voice called out to us. Standing by the entrance was an elderly woman with a kind smile.

"Oh, you must be Oleg's guests? You may call this old woman Gertie. Welcome to the Goethe Grand Hotel." The older woman called out, her voice warm and inviting. March flinched at the name. Even Caelus seemed unsure he'd heard the woman correctly.

"Goethe...?" Gertie, the woman, grinned. A slight chuckle escapes her lips.

"Yep, you've probably seen that stylish Goethe Hotel above ground, right?" She questions and March shivers.

"Uhh, not the most pleasant memories of that place..." She winces. Gertie chuckled knowingly.

"That's the above-ground branch of the Grand Hotel. A few hundred years ago, one ancestor of the Goethe family was ambitious, and sought to build something big from nothin'. He eventually realized his dream and opened a hotel branch in the most expensive area on the surface." March nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"People with big dreams have big determination," she mused and Gertie smiles at her. She then reaches for some room keys.

"Oleg wants me to take good care of y'all. Here's your keys. You'll be stayin' in our most spacious guest rooms." We each reach for a key. March glances down at her key before looking back over at Caelus, Dan Heng and I.

"Time to rest again, I hope there aren't any surprises this time." March states, placing her hands on her hips.

"That Oleg... he seems sincere," She continued. "What do you guys think?"

"I think he's a good person," Caelus replied, and I couldn't help but agree. Especially after my conversation with the man.

"I believe so as well, Caelus. When I spoke with him back in the mines, he seemed like a reasonable man." I agreed with grey-haired male. Dan Heng, however, remained silent.

"Don't you have something cool to say, like 'Appearances can be deceiving'?" March teased.

"I don't try to disagree," Dan Heng replied, his tone serious. "But if you ask for my opinion, it's better to be safe than sorry." March groans, knowing Dan Heng's somewhat right.

"Fine, we'll keep our guards up. Our last hotel experience was eventful, to say the least." She proclaims. Dan Heng thinks to himself for a moment before speaking what's on his mind.

"One of us should keep watch tonight." He suggests.

"K-keep watch? Are we space cowboys now?" March asks, trying to lighten the mood. "I guess this is the cosmic wild west."

"Anyone else sleepy...?" She pretends to yawn, her eyes fluttering closed.

"March looks the most awake." Caelus teases the pinkette. She gasps in mock offense.

"N-no! I don't!" March protested, feigning another yawn. "Besides, I've never pulled an all-nighter before! Do you know how bad it is for your skin?" I chuckle at her, shaking my head at her antics to try and get out of keeping watch.

"If it's really such a pain, I can easily do it." I called out. Caelus frowns in my direction.

"You should rest too though, (Y/N). What if what happened after the Herta Space Station happens again?" He asks me and I find myself returning his frown.