Paradise Among Metal

Chapter 6

"You're doing what?!" The hotel owner said, slamming his fist down onto the table. Mara grabbed her water glass to stop it from falling off the table.

"We're going to Paradise," Emerson replied, running his fingers through his hair. It was a frequent habit of his. "No matter if you like it or not."

"It's impossible! You'll never get there! No one ever has gotten there!"

"You don't know that," Mara said, "Maybe someone has made it and the reason no one knows is because they're there and they don't want to come back."

The hotel owner opened his mouth to reply.

"You just don't have much hope that someone's made it," Mara continued, glaring into the hotel owner's eyes. "You're afraid to hope, aren't you? You're afraid that your spirits will be crushed if you find out you can't leave."

The hotel owner shut his mouth.

Jacob smirked, his mouth full of cardboard waffles, the staple breakfast food of Metal City.

"You got him, Mara."

The hotel owner studied his plate of cardboard waffles, at loss for words. Mara and the two boys watched him, waiting for him to say something.

After a moment, he lifted his head, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Alright, Mara, I am afraid. I am afraid of getting my hopes up. But it's not just that." He took a deep breath. "I'm afraid of loneliness. I've seen the loneliness and despair of the people here. When I arrived here, I promised myself to be above those soulless people. I promised myself to be a good person, despite my flaws. As soon as I promised myself that, I looked down and noticed that I was made of shades of brown, rather than the black and white tones of the typical Metal person. Ever since, I've built this hotel, trying to offer a place for the ones who haven't given in to the eternal gloom of Metal. It's reassuring how people come by, even though this is the land of the damned. Only people who have at least a scrap of hope come by, since they're the only ones here that can see some color. Everytime someone comes, I always hope that they stay to keep me company."

The hotel owner sighed. For a moment, he seemed to lose his color.

"But they always leave me, looking for Paradise."

The three teenagers were silent. The hotel owner looked so sad, staring down into his water glass and cardboard waffles.

Mara reached out and patted the hotel owner's back, feeling awkward.

"I'm sorry."

The man sighed, looking up at her.

"It's alright. I'll get over it eventually. I know everyone will leave, eventually. Nothing's permanent, except for our damnation, it seems."

"Hey," Jacob began, sipping his water. "I know this is kind of cliché and all of that, but I promise to you that if we make it to Paradise, we'll come back. We'll come back and take you to Paradise to us." He cast a sideways glance at Emerson and Mara. "Right, guys?"

"Right." Mara said, nodding. Emerson also gave a small nod, touching his hair.

The hotel owner perked up.

"Really? You'll come back for me?"

"Who wouldn't come back for you?" Emerson replied. "You're the kindest dude in this entire city. You deserve Paradise."

The hotel owner sprang out of his chair, smiling.

"Thank you! Oh my gosh!"

For a moment, he seemed to glow with color and...life. He went around the table, shaking the teenagers' hands with enthusiasm.