Garnet

Chapter 1 - The Megg Falls Hotel

   "Hi, I'm Elijah Michaelson. I'm here for check in."

   "Of course, Mr. Michaelson. Of course." The woman at the front desk had never seen such a peculiar man before. Even though the weather outside was exceptionally chilly for this time of year, the man who stood before her wore a Hawaiian shirt and very, very short khaki shorts. Upon his head was a large, weaved hat that seemed to made of some sort of grass. "Now, your room is not quite ready yet, sir, but if you'd just wait a couple more minutes, I'm sure everything will be up and running for you."

   "Okay, thank you very much," Elijah said.

   "No problem," the woman said kindly. "Have a wonderful day and enjoy your stay at the Megg Falls Hotel."

   Elijah backed away from the desk, making sure to take a brochure about a local aquarium, and made his way to one of the many dark brown armchairs that scattered the lobby. He was in Megg Falls on a business trip.  A client had called his office in Los Angeles and asked for the biggest fish tank in town.  So, of course, Elijah had to come down and inspect the client's home, see where they wanted the fish tank and how they wanted it designed, send a report back to his L.A. office, make sure the guys there were working on the tank, then get it shipped back to Megg Falls with all the different pieces, assemble it inside the client's home, get paid, and leave.   Rinse and repeat.

   But, Elijah liked the trips.  It was his little way to see the world. Or the country, at least.  The different places he went always excited Elijah.  One time, he had seen the country's largest water park on the way to one of his clients' homes! Of course he didn't go in, but he liked to admire it from the outside. He has visited all corners of the country, from Maine to Alaska to California to Florida.  Elijah had seen it all.  

   When he had first started his business, he had never expected it to take off like it did.  Just after a couple local builds, he started to get calls from Nevada and Oregon.  Soon after that, people from the Midwest and Southeast were calling, all wanting a fish tank from Below the Waterline Fish Tank Emporium.  He expanded his office from a small, dinky one to a much larger one with an attached warehouse in Los Angeles.  He hired a lot more designers, builders, and shippers, and was able to take a large salary for himself.  Elijah Michaelson was living like a king.

   "Mr. Michaelson," the woman from the front desk called.  "Your room is ready."

   Elijah hopped out of his seat and rushed to the desk.  "Thank you," he said slowly.

   "My pleasure.  Here is your room key."  She handed him the key, smiling.  "And your brochure about the hotel."  She handed him that, also.  "We hope you enjoy your stay!"

   Elijah turned around and examined the room key.  At the top, it read: Room 738.  Elijah picked up his bags and headed for the elevator, which was across the lobby.  Once inside the elevator, he tapped the big circle with 7 in the middle and took him all the way up to the top floor.  He stepped out of the elevator and down the hall until he made it to his room.  He slid his key into the slot above the door handle, waited for the little light to turn green, heard a click, and then opened his door.  

   Inside was a single King-sized bed, a large desk, a dresser with a TV on top, a small refrigerator, and another brown armchair.  He walked in and set his bags down, with a sigh of relief.  Then, he collapsed on the fluffy bed and let out another sigh.  He had finally made it.  The plane ride had been rough. Turbulence struck the plane often, and Elijah, who had already hated flying in the first place, felt like he was having panic attacks every time the plane shook.  But, he had made it to Megg Falls and that's all that mattered.  Tomorrow he would have to meet with his client, but today was his relaxing afternoon.

   Elijah flipped open the brochure the lady had given him.  It said the hotel was built in 1908 and that construction took over fifteen years to complete.  The pool was built later in 1974.  Oh, good, Elijah thought.  They have a pool.  He got up and walked over to his suitcases.  After pulling out his bathing suit and changing into them, he walked back down into the lobby, grabbed a map of the hotel, and started walking towards the pool.

   Elijah had enjoyed his afternoon at the pool.  He did not know that a couple miles away a family was getting murdered, in similar fashion to the Opale Massacre 18 years before.