Is This Safe?

Chapter 13

"Do you have any explanation for this?"

The manager instantly wheeled his chair around to face us.
"You said you've experienced this before, right?"
I swallow hard to regain my composure.

"Yeah, we all have, but--can you replay the footage for me?"
I asked him wondering if he saw the spirit exit out of the room.

"Yeah, sure thing."
He answers rewinding the footage.
"Tell me when to stop."

"There."
I tell him just as John entered the room.
"See that white figure that just exited the room when John entered?"

"Where?"
The manager replayed the footage again as he looked closer.

"Follow my finger."
I tell him as I drift my finger across the glass screen.
"See that figure dart quickly out of the room?"

"Incredible!"
The manager mouthed then exclaimed afterward.
"What in the world is that thing?"

"That--I believe is a spirit."
I say with much confidence as I can, but deep down, I'm terrified. I can't even look at the reactions of my own friends! What were they thinking? It was such a shame I had such a knowledge for the supernatural, but then I couldn't even remember how to do my own Geometry!

"A spirit?"
The manager asked in disbelief.
"But--those aren't real. Ghosts, spirits, and demons? They aren't real."

"I'm afraid, sir--that they are more than real. According to what happened to us in the past summer, you probably would hardly believe what happened."
I answer glumly making him do a double take at what I was saying.

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Well, what else do you think that is?"
I ask him firmly pointing at the camera screen.
"Shall we watch it again?"

"No need."
The manager answered me.
"You can though leave this security room and let us professionals do our job."

Tightening my jaw, I give him a quick nod.
"Fine. if that's what you want then. Do your job."
Ann follows behind me but has to fetch Ann and Maggie who were still frozen in fear.

"Jenn, what is going on?"
Chelsea asked still hugging her arms. She still wasn't in full recovery of the boat accident so I felt really bad for her since this must be really hard on her.
"I thought this wasn't going to happen again. You promised!"

She was right. I did promise before we had even left.
"Yeah, and you told me this was in the past too."
Maggie added and she was right too. I had told her that earlier the past evening.

"Well--"
I tried to explain myself, but they were so right. They were never going on another trip with me ever again. I knew that for a fact.
"How am I supposed to know this would happen? I don't know everything."
Maggie and Chelsea just shook their heads when I turn my attention to a little boy that was crying. His parents were talking rapidly with Steven maybe even reasoning him with something. Curious, I decided to find out what when the parents burst into tears. Maybe I could help.
"Stay here."
I tell my friends when they start to follow me.

"Hey, is something wrong?"
I ask the parents when I approach them.

"Yes, our daughter is missing. She was right with us, but she might have gotten scared and ran back up when we all came down the stairs. We can't find her anywhere and the hotel staff haven't seen her either!"
The father exclaimed as he tried his best to comfort his wife and son.

"I'll find her."
I volunteered.

"Will you?"
The mother asked.
"But isn't it dangerous?"

"Nah, I'll be fine. I'll find your daughter. Do you think she would have gone back to your room?"
I ask.

"Yes, maybe, she might have gotten back for her doll. It's always been her favorite since she was given it for Christmas when she was very little."
The mother continued.
"We were in room 207."

"Ah, so these are the twins Colin was talking about."
I thought to myself.
"What's your name?"
I bend down to meet the little boy's level.

"Robert."
He wiped his red puffy eyes with the sleeves of his dinosaur pajamas.
"Please find my sister, please."
His desperate pleas broke my heart.

"Don't worry, buddy."
I assured him as I stood up.
"I'll find her."

Looking around, I open the door to the stairwell and sneaked inside. I hope no security guards were lurking around. Much to my surprise, the second floor was desolate of any human activity.
"Okay, so I'm looking for a little girl."
I thought to myself.
"I'm such an idiot. I forgot to ask what her name was. How could I forget? Now I'm going to be going around calling 'little girl'".

My socks creating a soft echo, I walk past the halls several times, but there was no sign of a little girl anywhere.
I even knocked on their room door, but no one answered. Looking right and left, there was a strange vibe as if someone was watching me, but after all, there was a spirit that roamed this hall earlier. What if it never left?
Opening the door to their room, the light was still on probably because of their curiosity during the whole mishap. Their beds were in a mess and there was luggage everywhere. They must be staying awhile. Searching for a doll, I looked at the bed that was more than likely the twin's, but there were no toys. Maybe the little girl had grabbed the doll before then? Maybe she was already downstairs? The thing is, I would have seen her though.

Closing the door to their room, I rest my back on the side of the wall to think when all of a sudden I hear a door slam shut.
Alert, chills run down my spine as the palms of my hands grow sweaty. Wiping them on the walls, I slowly lean forward to see if anyone had exited a room, but there was not a soul.

"Little girl?"

I call out.
"Is that you? I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help find you because your mommy, daddy, and brother miss you a lot. Don't be afraid."
I pause, but I don't hear a thing.

Exposing myself, I start to walk back to the stairwell in case anything worse would happen. I didn't really want to put myself in danger even though I was a little late for that.
The lights began to flicker on and off when I had neared the door to the stairwell so I froze in fear in what I hoped would not be what I expected.

"Little girl?"
I ask.
"Are you playing games with me?"

As soon as the words flew out of my mouth, an overwhelming feeling came over me. It all made sense now. How could I have been so ignorant to all the facts.

Turning around, I fear what I see, but the fear of not knowing haunted me even more.

"Little girl."
I whisper as I turn around. Down the hall as the lights continued to flicker off and and on, was a little girl. Dressed in a long drooping white dress. Dark hair in two long braids.
With a doll in one hand and dark blood trickling down her slender arms and beady eyes, she lifted her head and released a high pitch giggle from her thin red lips.

"Remember me?"