Midnight Survivor

Chapter 9: Sweet Escape

I had been walking along the streets for what felt like hours, asking strangers for directions to the hotel, going in circles repeatedly, until I was finally standing just outside of the doors.

The hotel leaned over me, as if it was daring me to come inside. I stood there for what felt like an hour before placing my fingertips on the handle, contemplating what to do.

What if it was all a trap? What if Oliver just wanted me to come back so he could walk all over me again? Or what if Helen was waiting for me inside, waiting to beat me to a pulp for causing their divorce.

I pushed the door open slowly, peeking my head around the corner. Everything looked the same, the usual couple sitting at the cushions, no one else to be found. But it was eerily quiet.

I stepped in and walked quickly over to the front desk. Sure enough, Elisa was no where to be found. I slid my hand behind the counter, feeling for a key to the back room. Nothing.

I glanced over my shoulder before hopping over the counter and starting to dig around the desk. I pulled open the top drawer only to find it filled to the brim with keys.

Sighing, I plunged my hand into the mess and started digging around for a key that looked different from the others.

Just as I had done that, I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. I ducked quickly under the counter and tucked myself in tight, holding my breath.

"Are you sure she won't get out?"

"I'm sure."

Oliver and Helen's voices bellowed through the empty hotel, their footsteps ringing in my ears as the sound grew closer and closer.

I heard a loud bang just above my head, their footsteps had stopped. When I glanced up I could see one of Helen's long painted nails looming over the edge of the table.

"You really think she's gonna come back? You told her she was irrelevant. She's probably gonna find a way to get home and cry to her mother!"

"She will. I know she will. She-"

"Oh would you shut up. I don't need to hear all of your 'I love her so much' bullshit. As long as you're still fucking me, that's all I want to hear about."

I glanced up again, scowling at the table like an idiot. Stupid bitch. I know Oliver wouldn't mess around with her while with me.

Oliver's voice became louder with rage, "She means more to me than you ever did! You're just jealous that she's younger and more beautiful than you are!"

I heard a smack. Surely Helen had backhanded him.

The only following sounds I heard were her heels clicking along the floor with Oliver's hard shoes pounding after her, yelling at her that she was worthless. Then the front door slammed.

I let out my breath slowly. My hands were shaking as I gradually crawled out from under the counter, peeking over the edge to make sure no one was there, before rummaging for the keys again.

Finally, at the very back of the drawer, was a very large rusted key that read on it "BR1". Back Room 1.

I quickly shut the drawer and ran over to the door, pushing the key in it quickly before pulling the door open and shutting it behind myself.

I rested my hands gently on the door, letting out a loud breath before allowing myself to relax.

"So you came back."

I tensed up, turning around slightly. Maddi stood there before me, her arms crossed with a very stern look on her face.

I kept my eyes on her as I turned around, keeping my hand on the door knob, ready to run, "Yeah, I got a call from Elisa."