Riptides, Raspberries, and Really Cute Boys

#2-The Windy Manner Motel

Riptides, Raspberries, and Really Cute Boys-The Windy Manner Motel

"So she hung herself," the little girl whispered, flinging her arms out to the side in a semi-dramatic finish. I sighed.

"Is that true?" I demanded of her, glancing around wearily. I hadn't wanted ghost stories when I pulled off of I-83 into the parking lot of The Windy Manner motel, but it seemed as if I didn't have another choice.

"Of course it's true," the girl huffed. She seemed to be about nine, and she was the only person behind the counter inside. She fingered one of her matted brown pigtails and looked up at me expectantly.

"Well in that case, I guess I won't be staying here," I said, slinging my purse over my shoulder and turning around.

"Wait," the girl yelled, jumping off of the stool that she was on behind the counter and stumbling over her own feet. "Please don't go. It's not really true," she whispered. "I thought ghosts were good-good tourist attractions," she spit out.

"I came here for a place to sleep, not for ghosts. Do your parents know that you've been telling ghost stories?" I asked her. She shook her head violently.

"P-please don't tell them," she said. "They'd never forgive me." I nodded slightly and pulled out my cell phone. I pushed a button, and it lit up with the time: 1:47 AM. The glow of my phone was the only light aside from the dim desk lamp on the front counter. I sighed. It was too late to continue driving home, and this was the only motel that I had seen for miles.

"Can I get a room for the night?" I asked the little girl. Her eyes widened, and she grinned.

"Of course," she said running back around the counter. I was hesitant to pay her-as she was only a child-but it was late, and I didn't ask where her parents were. She handed me a room key with the number three on it. "Room three is just around the corner on the right," the little girl said. I'll bring you some fresh towels in a minute." I thanked her and headed back the hallway. It was dark, but I was not truly surprised.

Suddenly my phone lit up with a new text message. "R u stopping 4 the nite?" It was from my dad. I smiled and sent back a short reply confirming that I was in fact staying at a motel. I was heading to my parent's cabin in northern PA. They had left a few days earlier, but I had to work, so I promised them I would be up later. I was excited to say the least. I hadn't had a vacation in awhile, and it was well needed.

Arriving at room three, I stuck the key in the lock and tried to jiggle it open. It was stuck. I huffed, and tried once again. This time it worked, and the door swung open. I stepped in, threw my purse on a chair, and flopped into bed without even turning on a light.

Just as I was shutting my eyes, a light tap sounded on my door. It startled me, but I realized that it was only the little girl from earlier. I opened the door, and the little girl thrust a stack of towels into my hand. There were still no lights, so I only saw the outline of the little girl. I gulped. "Thank you," I told her.

"Have a nice night," the little girl said, and she turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the dark room.

When I awoke later that morning, it still looked like it had earlier. It was pitch dark. I rolled out of bed, used the bathroom, and grabbed my purse. I wanted to get to the cabin as soon as I possibly could. I rushed down the hallway and into the main room. It looked the same as it had the first time, even though it was nine o'clock in the morning.

The little girl was no where to be found, so I placed the room key on the front counter and walked out the door. As I left, a chill went through me. I shivered and glanced around. There was no one in sight. The little girl's story rang through my mind again, but I pushed it away as I got into my car.

I started the car, rolled down the windows to feel a breeze, and pulled away from The Windy Manor motel. As I pulled back onto the main road, I glanced in my rearview mirror, only to see an endless forest where the dark motel had been two minutes before.