Hotel Nigh

Chapter 21

The Preparation

Melina and I kept to ourselves until dinner.

We stayed in my room, frequently listening to Gerald's mutterings from the room next door, and trying to figure out if we would possibly need any of Melina's items from which she needed to sell to occupants of the hotel. Frankly, I couldn't even concoct a reason to which we'd need to utilise a pillowcase. The others such as nail varnish remover or a light bulb or glue seemed somewhat appropriate. Somewhat.

The storm was still raging on just as ferociously as it had been for the past day. It was mere background noise like how in movies you get some music in the monumental parts such as when the boy confesses all to the girl or something heart-breaking happens. It's all the same. Just as cliché as the previous scene.

Films and books have that aspect that deviates them away from realisms. But this was current. This was happening right now. Everything about this was real, and I was just endeavouring to solve it so it could cease. I didn't want someone else murdered by the same person who murdered my brother. A stop needed to be put on this as soon as possible, and especially before the storm ends. The murderer could flee at any moment, and I would be lost without answers for the unforeseeable future.

When it was time for dinner, we met Danny by the door who greeted us rather dismally. "Hey," he said, with a lot more disdain than the usual enthusiasm. "Table for two."

"Are you okay?" I asked, as he began leading us to a table in the corner.

He nodded sombrely. "Yeah, I am. It's just Mr. Perry is getting on everyone's last nerve, including mine, because of all these murders. He said that if one more murder is committed then we've all lost our jobs. Rose doesn't believe it for one second, but Elliot said if there is another murder, we'll lose our jobs anyway because of the lack of business so no one will want to stay here and Mr. Perry won't be able to afford to pay us."

"But surely everyone has something they could fall back on or even find another job in another hotel. Mr. Perry would at least write good recommendations."

Grumbling a reply, Danny made sure to keep it as incomprehensible as possible, because neither Melina nor I understood him. Still, we sat down and Danny began announcing what was on the menu. Guess he's had awhile to memorise it. Then again, I bet Rose was determined to drill it into his head just to prove to Mr. Perry that he needs every one of his staff members.

Hilda and Little Jenny didn't show up once during the time Melina and I were at dinner. Miles came and ate. So did Gerald, though fleetingly as he rushed back to his room quicker than Melina and I. However, Betty was nowhere to be found, and I wondered if there was more to her than meets the eye.

After dinner, we squandered away time in my room. Melina shared some more childhood stories and so did I. She declared her endless nightmare she kept experiencing and her wildest fantasies she always wanted to live.

By the time we were ready to go, I realised Melina always wished she was blonde, would grow up to be a teacher (a fantasy), that she virtually breathed volleyball throughout high school and even now occasionally, and that she always wanted a tattoo of a the moon as a crescent on the inside of her wrist but when it came to her appointment, she chickened out and her parents were so proud of that decision that they let her and some friends go on a short holiday in a neighbouring town unaccompanied by adults.

"Right, so we've got glue, light bulbs, nail varnish remover and... pillowcases." We'd stashed each of these things in our pockets. I had the pillowcases folded tightly in my back pocket and a light bulb in each of my front jean pockets. Then Melina had the glue and nail varnish remover in her pockets.

"Do you think we'll need the pillowcases?"

"Who knows," I said. "But I can sure as hell guarantee that we won't need a stapler."

Melina frowned. "I was meant to be selling these, but oh well."

Now was not the time to argue back against her.

"Are you ready to go?"

She patted her pockets which contained the glue and nail varnish remover before nodding firmly. "I think so. Everyone should be asleep by now. I'm pretty sure I can hear Gerald snoring from the room next door." She gestured with her thumb to the room to the right of me in which was the room Gerald occupied.

We wandered out into the corridor cautiously, on the lookout for anyone loitering in the night. It must have been about midnight, maybe about eleven. Melina and I got caught up in trying to know one another more than focusing on the time. Now every time I looked at her, I felt like wanting to reach out and hold her hand or even kiss her. I had to keep swallowing down the urges to do so. But I didn't want to stop looking at her.

Melina nudged me with two fingers, and when I turned to her, about to ask, "What?" she held the same two fingers up to her lips. Be quiet. I nodded.

At the stairs, Melina reached round at the top to peer downstairs. She nodded as if to say it was clear, so together we carefully ambled down the stairs. Luckily there were no creaky steps we had to elude, which was astonishing when you look at the rest of the hotel. You'd think there would be some flaw with the stairs, especially when it's so common in horror films/stories.

But before we could even make it to the ground floor, someone was approaching us. In their hands they carried an exceptionally vast number of unhealthy snacks from the vending machine. I didn't even get chance to look at their face before Melina spoke up.

"Betty," she gasped.