i hired a hitman on myself // joshler [✓]

XVIII

after a gas station stop, two more cans of red bull, and an hour and a half drive later, we ended up at a new and better looking motel.

the exterior looked a lot cleaner, and the parking lot looked more full, so i assumed this meant the place was more of a better fit for where i needed to stay.

it was still pretty early, 8:16 a.m. to be exact, but i was feeling more awake than before. as soon as i parked, i took all my stuff from the car and headed inside.

i was met by another woman receptionist, but she thankfully wasn't jenna. she had brown hair and these big blue eyes, and she lightly smiled as i approached the desk.

"welcome to the athens motel! i'm sarah, how many nights would you like to stay?" she asked in a rather chipper tone despite it being still early in the morning.

"hi, um-- i would like to stay for two to three nights." i informed her, she nodded and began typing something on the computer.

"okay and what's your name, sir?" she asked me, and i made sure to take down this moment mentally for future reference.

"josh dun." i sighed, she nodded and typed some more, and i couldn't help but feel weird about everything. this girl probably had nothing to do with my situation and yet i still have trouble trusting her.

i heard the sound of a message notification going off from behind the lobby desk, the girl, sarah, looked down from her computer to which i assume she looked at the message.

she immediately got a looked of discontent, "well mr.dun, we have a room but since the motel is full at the minute, i would ask if you could share a room for the night with someone else?"

i was confused, and a weird feeling arose from the depths of my stomach all the way to my now rapidly beating heart,
"s-share a room?" i was desperate for clarification.

"yes, but this person is only staying for tonight, so you'd have the other two nights to yourself," she explained, "does that work?"

something about this wasn't right, and i knew it too, but in a way, i had nothing to lose. sharing a room with a stranger should really be the least of my concerns at this point.

i hesitated, but did respond, "sure, it's not a problem." she smiled and typed some more on the computer.

"i'll cut your cost in half," sarah sweetened the deal, "you only pay 150$." i nodded, taking out the money in cash and paying her upfront.

after taking the money, sarah smiled, "thank you! the person you're sharing the room with has the only key," so you shouldn't have to worry about a key."

i nodded again, thanking her and taking my things to the elevator. i got in alone and went to the floor she instructed me to, the second floor, and the room at the far end of the hall.

the doors to the elevator closed, and i set my stuff down as it was going up, expecting ashley to say something. there was no word from her, which was really odd.

i was expecting her to tell me how stupid i was for taking the offer of sharing a room, but there was nothing but silence from her end of the line.

i took my phone from my pocket to check, and the call was still going, but ashley was still silent. i looked down at the phone,
"hey ashley? you there?"

there was nothing.

i repeated myself, still hearing silence from her end of the ongoing call. she wasn't extremely talkative during the car ride either towards the middle-end of it either, but i didn't question it much.

i just assume she was tired from it being so early,

the elevator stopped and i took my stuff and hastily made my way down the hall of the second floor, staring at the room number that was on the door, it was room 21.

once i got to the door, my heart rate was increasing again. something about his room was worrying me. whether it was just the tension i've had this whole time or it was whatever was on the other side.

i put one of my bags down and knocked on the door twice, and was anxiously awaiting a response. the door was unlocked and cracked open a bit, but it wasn't fully opened i couldn't see anyone from the other side.

i picked my bags up and pushed the door open with my side and walked in to find an empty small common room.

confused, i shut the door behind me and placed my bags down. this motel room was bigger, it had two bedrooms that were accessible down the small hall.

i slowly walked around the common room and the kitchen. i couldn't see anyone, but i knew someone was in the room with me.

i took out my phone to try and get a hold of ashley, the silence of the room was deadly, it didn't sit well in my stomach for some odd reason. i knew something wasn't right.

after being distracted from my phone for an unknown amount of time, i was snapped out of it when a non-familiar spoke from the other side of the small living room.

"you know, it's common courtesy to introduce yourself to your new roomie."