No Vacancy

Chapter {3}

Peyton P.O.V.

We pull up to the old hotel, me and Ariana both take out our cameras and start taking photos.

'What is this place?" She asks.

I shrug. "It burned down in the 60s. Not that much damage was done but no one wanted to rebuild it."

"Why not? It seems like it would have been really nice." She says walking up to the door frame and running her hand along it.

"People said it was haunted." I keep taking photos.

Ariana spins around. "What? Haunted? Why did we come to a haunted building?"

I look at her confused. "It's not really a big deal, I don't think it's actually haunted."

Ariana runs her hand through her hair and breathes fast. "There is no way I am going into some creepy haunted hotel!"

"Hey." I rush over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry okay?" I move my hand. "I'm here and if a ghost eats anyone it will be me." I give a smile.

She sighs. "Fine."

We both walk in side by side, as the floor creak under us. I see an old mirror covered in dust, I take a photo. I then spot velvet couches, old clocks, and dirty rugs. I snap even more pictures.

"This is awesome. Ari takes pictures of everything."

She turns to look at me. "Ari?"

I gulp. "I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd mind I-"

"No look." She points behind me. "It says Ari on the wall." Concern spreads across her face.

I turn around there is a black and white picture of a young lady, underneath the picture it says her name was "Ari".

"What does this mean?" I ask her.

She shakes her head. "I don't know I'm leaving!" She turns but I grab her arm.

"It just a coincidence, okay?" I smile at her.

She pouts. "Let's just take a few more photos and leave, please."

I nod. "Sounds good."

We travel around the room for a bit I take pictures of old room keys sitting by the telephone, they're way cool. I walk over to where Ariana is standing reading old newspapers and taking photos.

"Look how cool these are." I hold up a room key with the number 24.

Ariana smiles. "That's actually really cool, 24 is my lucky number."

I hold out the key to her. "Then keep it." I smile.

"Thanks." She says genuinely.

We continue to walk in and out rooms until we see a staircase leading into the basement. I take a picture.

"This is wicked let's check it out." I start going down the stairs using my phone as a flashlight.

"No way." Ari says stepping back away from the stairs.

"I promise we'll be in and out. And I don't want to leave you here alone."

She crosses her arms. "You think I need you to protect me?"

I shake my head. "No I just know you don't want to be left alone."

She frowns. "I'm being forced to come downstairs?"

I shrug. "Please?"

She looks around. "No one is around for at least 3 blocks. If we die, no one will know."

I look at her pleadingly.

"Fine I'll go." She finally says. "But let me walk in front so I can hold the flashlight."