Im not fond of this chapter so might edit this some day a bit or even delete it.
⚠️ Tw: fainting, claustrophobia
Word count: ~1200
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The Sturniolo triplets, fresh from a thrilling collaboration with Sam and Colby, found themselves drawn into the world of the supernatural. Their latest adventure led them to the infamous Holloway Hotel, rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the country. The stories of ghostly apparitions and eerie occurrences were too enticing to resist.
"Okay, guys, this is it," Matt said, excitement and a hint of bravado in his voice as they stood in the dimly lit lobby of the hotel. "We're going to get some real paranormal activity here."
Nick and Chris exchanged glances, both intrigued and slightly apprehensive. The air was thick with anticipation and the faint scent of dust and age.
"I want to try and go alone in this elevator. Maybe it's more likely to catch something if there's only one" Matt started a sentence and was cut off before he could add anything else to it.
"Are you sure about this, Matt?" Nick asked, eyeing the old elevator that creaked ominously as it descended to their floor.
"Yeah, man. I just want to see if anything happens," Matt replied, holding up a ghost activity meter he'd borrowed from Sam and Colby. "I'll go up alone and see if I can catch something."
Chris frowned slightly. "Just be careful, okay? And don't turn off your phone."
Matt shook his head with a grin. "No phone, just this," he said, waving the meter. "I'll be back before you know it."
Both Nick and Chris shared a concerned glance, knowing this wasn't gonna end well.
With a reassuring nod, Matt stepped into the elevator, the doors closing with a metallic thud. The old lift jolted slightly as it began its ascent. For the first few minutes, everything was quiet, the only sound the low hum of the elevator motor.
But then, without warning, the elevator shuddered to a stop. The lights flickered once, twice, and then went out completely, plunging Matt into darkness. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he was frozen, his mind struggling to process what had happened.
The silence was oppressive, the darkness absolute. Matt's heart began to pound, the walls of the elevator seeming to close in around him. He was acutely aware of his claustrophobia, a fear he rarely had to confront but which now rose up with a vengeance.
"Okay, stay calm," he whispered to himself, though his voice sounded unnaturally loud in the confined space. "It's just a glitch."
But the rational part of his mind was quickly overshadowed by panic. He felt his chest tighten, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. The air seemed to grow thin, and he fought the rising tide of fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
"HELP ME!" He banged on the elevator doors, his fists striking the metal with a hollow clang. "Hey! Can anyone hear me? I NEED TO GET OUT" he shouted, his voice echoing in the darkness. But there was no response, only the oppressive silence pressing in on him.
Matt's mind raced, each second stretching into eternity. He tried to focus on the ghost meter, but its dim light was little comfort. The panic clawed at him, relentless and consuming. His thoughts spiraled, each one more frantic than the last.
And then, just as he felt himself teetering on the edge of consciousness, he sensed something—a touch on his shoulder, light and reassuring. He flinched, his heart skipping a beat, but before he could react further, he heard familiar voices.
"Matt, it's us," Nick's voice came, steady and calming. "Matt?" he repeated as he didn't get a response. With renewed urgency, they pried the elevator doors open and helped Matt out.
Matt's eyes fluttered open, the dim light of the ghost meter casting small eerie shadows on the walls. He could hear Nick and Chris's voices, but they seemed distant, almost as if they were coming from another world. His head throbbed, and he struggled to piece together what had happened.
"Matt, can you hear us?" Chris's voice was closer now, filled with concern.
Matt tried to speak, but his throat was dry, and his voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "Yeah... I'm here."
Nick's face appeared above him, relief washing over his features. "Thank goodness. You scared us, man."
Matt managed a weak smile. "Sorry- what happened?"
"You passed out," Chris explained, helping him sit up. "We found you just in time. The elevator was stuck, and you were out cold."
Matt nodded, the memories slowly coming back. "How did I get out- doesn't matter. I felt something... a touch on my shoulder. Did you guys...?"
Nick and Chris exchanged glances. "We didn't touch you," Nick said slowly. "We were trying to get the elevator doors open when we heard you shouting."
A chill ran down Matt's spine. "Then who...?"
Before they could ponder the question further, a soft, almost imperceptible whisper echoed through the elevator shaft. The triplets froze, their eyes widening in unison.
"Did you hear that?" Chris asked, his voice matching the tone of a whisper.
Nick nodded, his grip tightening on Matt's arm. "Yeah. We need to get out of here."
The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering lights casting long shadows that seemed to dance and twist. The air was thick with an unexplainable tension, and every creak and groan of the old hotel seemed amplified.
As they made their way back to the lobby, the ghost meter in Matt's hand began to beep softly, the lights flickering in response to some unseen presence. The triplets exchanged uneasy glances but pressed on, determined to leave the haunted hotel behind.
The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly, each step echoing ominously in the silence. The air grew colder, and the sense of being watched intensified.
"Almost there," Nick muttered, his eyes darting around nervously.
Just as they reached the lobby, the ghost meter's beeping reached a fever pitch. The lights flickered violently before going out completely, plunging them into darkness. The triplets froze, their breaths shallow and rapid.
"Stay close," Chris whispered, his voice barely audible.
A sudden, chilling laugh echoed through the lobby, sending shivers down their spines. The triplets huddled together, their eyes straining to see in the darkness. The ghost meter's light provided little comfort, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"Who's there?" Matt called out, his voice trembling.
"We need to get out of here," Nick said urgently, pulling his brothers towards the front doors.
As they walked away from the Holloway Hotel, the triplets couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The night was eerily quiet, and the shadows seemed to move with a life of their own. They quickened their pace, eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the haunted hotel.
But as they turned the corner, Matt glanced back one last time. In the window of the lobby, he thought he saw a figure watching them, a faint, ghostly smile on its face. He shivered and hurried to catch up with his brothers, determined to leave the haunting behind.
Yet, deep down, he knew that the Holloway Hotel had left its mark on them, a chilling reminder of the supernatural forces that lurked just beyond the veil of the ordinary world.
