Chapter 1 (English version)

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*Disclaimer
I am writing this story in my native language and then through the help of translating devices (chatGPT and or Deepl/Google Translate) I upload the English version. Idk why but I thought I should try publishing in English too but since I am not a native language speaker  I need a little bit of a help. I just wanted to make things clear because I write this story myself and I would absolutely hate it if anyone thought that I used AI to write. I do not - the story is written only by me and I use translation device to (well) translate because I am lazy and don't trust my English grammar enough. 
Anyway - to the story!

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She closed the folder labeled "INVOICES" and stretched in the leather chair, fighting off a wave of fatigue. Midnight struck; Sunday had arrived, and at this hour, she didn't expect any more guests. Jagoda had eagerly taken the night shift, hoping that Saturday evening would pass quickly with a flood of hotel check-ins – and she was right. The first half of her shift was so busy she hadn't even had a moment to sit. She moved constantly behind the reception desk, handing out registration cards, taking cash or credit card payments, answering calls, and informing guests about the hotel's key amenities. Yes, the breakfast option was already included in the price, so there was no need to add it separately. No, the pool would only open at nine. Yes, they could absolutely request an extra towel; she'd bring it over in a moment, no problem!

She glanced at the computer screen, the blue light irritating her eyes. She rubbed them, ignoring her glasses lying nearby. Leaning closer to the monitor, she checked for any potential changes in the schedule. She saw nothing. The program used by the reception staff contained all the necessary information about the hotel and, most importantly, the travelers – their upcoming arrivals and departures. She didn't see any new names that could appear at any moment. Just in case, she scrolled through the electronic log, double-checking she hadn't missed any rooms, then opened her email. Nothing. The inbox was silent, proving that, for now, Jagoda could turn her attention to other equally important tasks.

And so she decided to do just that.

She rose from the leather chair, holding onto the counter. She had been sitting in an uncomfortable position, and as she straightened up, she felt a numbness in her lower body. Her legs were starting to protest. If she was already struggling to stand, how would she last until morning? It could be tough, and on top of that, she was starting to feel a faint buzzing in her head. She knew what that meant. It was a strange but familiar sensation; it spread inside like alcohol, soaking into the soft tissue of her brain and hitting the edges of her skull in waves. The buzz was making way for the impending pain – specifically, a migraine. She could feel it. She sighed deeply; her voice echoed against the white walls of the reception, which absorbed her displeasure without objection. She'd go for a pill to her room – maybe even two – then come back to finish her round... no – the other way around. The round first, then the pill – in that order.

She adjusted her white shirt, placed a note reading "Be right back" on the counter, and stepped into the corridor.

Her gaze wandered toward the glass double doors, where rain was pouring down in torrents. The doors opened automatically, so there was no way to lock them, but she didn't need to worry about that. No one in their right mind would be out at this hour in such weather, and they certainly wouldn't come here. The hotel where she worked was in the middle of nowhere, difficult to reach without a car, and she hadn't seen any nearby. She left the doors alone and continued on her way.

Her dark, thick-heeled shoes made almost no sound as she walked along the marble floor. The black-and-white marble tiles absorbed sound with the same fervor that they devoured the light from the lamps hanging from the ceiling. The lighting was dispersed – so faint in some places that the edges of the room, near the corridor entrances, were in half-darkness. This wasn't good for her eyes. She had to squint to see what lay ahead of her: the lobby.

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