Ray's Adventure

4

It was a long day. Despite leaving the room around 12, it had already felt like late afternoon when he walked around the streets, trying to find his place in the thinner crowds. He had played his bass in different locations throughout the day and earned some more money, although it wasn't as much as last night.

He'd stopped in a café for lunch, and it made his stomach sink as soon as he remembered he just upright left his job as a barista without saying anything. He brushed it off and tried not to worry about it, since he convinced himself he wouldn't return.

When he approached the barista in the coffee shop and ordered, she smiled at him and started getting his sandwich, but she had also asked him where he was staying. He had tried to tell her about the whole weird hotel of Clairvoyance, but it was as if something pressed on his throat every time he tried to say it, making him sound like he was choking on something. She handed him his lunch and stared at him confused, but slowly told him to have a nice day, and Ray hurriedly left the store while coughing out a faint "Thank you!"

He was pondering why he couldn't tell anyone about the hotel without gasping for air shortly afterwards, and how it had disappeared. Of course he didn't lose it, he had only just stepped outside when it vanished. He wondered if anyone else could see it, but he couldn't ask, so he felt helpless.

While the sun was setting again, he had noticed more people come out dressed formally again. He'd started to assume there was some kind of ballroom or theater that hosted shows and events every night. He found his fountain and started playing again, a few leftovers from his sandwich in his mouth as he strummed.

He kept eyeing the Spire nervously. How perfectly it aligned itself in the middle of the street made it look like it was a part of the concrete roads, jutting out into space. It was so strange to look at, how it broke the scenery of the sunset, and how the reds and violets seemed warped around it's smooth edges. He didn't even realize that people were throwing loose change in his opened bass case, and he was playing a tune that sounded reminiscently eerie. Snapping out of his trance, he kept his head lowered to his bass, trying not to look or think about it.

But every time he looked away, he thought of Riley. He was trying so hard not to think about her or miss her at all, but it was almost impossible. Was she really the light of his life? He stopped playing for a moment and looked up at the sky, which was darkening by the second. He could see a few stars start to appear, and they looked down upon him, he felt, in shame. He believed that the stars had feelings too. He'd disappointed them. They knew he'd disappointed Riley.

He played for a while again, getting as much money as he possibly could, until he noticed the streets were mostly empty. Everyone must've cleared out by then, so he counted the money in his case again, setting bass down on the ledge of the fountain. Pulling out a couple singles and loose change, he ended up grabbing something he'd never expected to hold in his life. It was a one hundred dollar bill, and it seemed as if it was carried around in somebody's pocket like it was a casual single. He counted up the rest of his money hurriedly, his hands shaking. His allowance came to about one hundred and twenty dough, plus any change.

He couldn't believe it. His entire body was shaking now, he was about to start screaming with joy. He'd had a lot of money before, sure, but just casually playing his bass and managing to get as much as he did made him think he could actually quit his job entirely and become a one man band. Remy and the Bass. Sounded good in his head, maybe not so much in effect.

He packed his bass back in its case, and accidentally knocked his bag over, and it landed on the ground with a loud clang. It was only now, he realized, when he looked up from the noise that he noticed he was the only one outside. His heart sunk fast, and he quickly grabbed his things and started running down the street, having no other idea what to do. He made sure the money was stuffed in his pocket, and then slowed down. He turned to his right and saw the hotel- he was relieved, somewhat, but the unsettling vibe it has given him came back in an instant. He had realized it was in a completely different place than last night.

Was it the same? He wasn't sure. He had almost hoped he lost it, but of course he couldn't leave without his phone. He glanced at the Spire in the distance, which was now just a tall, looming shadow, casting the darkness over the streets. He slowly made his way into the hotel.

The same lady as before smiled at him at the desk, and he couldn't tell if it was just him or what, but her eyes seemed to be giving off slight luminescence. Ray approached the stairwell without saying hello, but she cleared his throat and he turned slowly, looking at her nervously. He held the bass tightly in his hand, looking for words. "Hey..?"

She shrugged. "I figured you were going to the casino tonight." She said, slowly. That damned smile could never fade from her face, he swore to himself. "Why don't you go down?" She gestured to the elevators.

Remy sighed. "I'm not into gambling, but thanks for the offer." He opened the door, but something wouldn't let him take the first step. He wasn't sure whether it was his mentality holding him back or if it was some other force. He lowered his free hand, shutting the door, looking at the lady with wide, confused eyes.

She stood up slowly, her fake, long eyelashes fluttering. "The only way you can stay here is if you gamble. It doesn't have to be much, so much as a penny can get you up those stairs." The smile she wore was suddenly more twisted, he could see it in her eyes. His hand loosened on his bass, and he nodded slowly.

"What about my stuff..?" Remy asked slowly, staying as close to the stairwell as he possibly could. The lady shrugged, taking a step out from behind the counter, and Ray saw it as a threat.

"Take it down with you, hon." She winked. Remy hesitated before moving toward the elevators, and pressing the down button on the wall. His hand was already nervously shaking before the doors even opened. He could feel her gaze on the back of his neck the entire time before the doors opened and he stepped inside, terrified. He pressed his back against the elevator and watched the lady give him some kind of death glare, still with a small smile on her face. He watched her until the doors closed, and he stood there, shaking.

He'd forgotten for a moment that he was supposed to press the button on the elevator. He slowly opened his eyes (which were clenched shut) and he reached out, scanning the list of buttons on the wall. He saw one titled "Basement" and he pushed it, the button glowing a soft blue after he touched it. It was like magic, all the other buttons had turned yellow when he pressed them. This one was different.

He set the bass down, the long strap supposed to go on his back falling to the ground. He took his bag off as well and set it down, pressing himself up against the wall with his arms stretched wide, standing in a t-pose. It took the elevator a second before it jolted suddenly and started descending. Ray sat down fast, keeping his back pressed extremely hard against the wall. The elevator suddenly stopped again, and he thought it was over. He started to stand up, reaching for the button to open the door, but the elevator suddenly dropped again, fast.

Ray screamed and fell on the floor, smashing his face into the ground. He lifted his head off the floor, still screaming, tears starting to run down his face. The elevator suddenly stopped again, making him bounce on the floor for a second before lying still.

The doors of the elevators opened up slowly, and loud noise filled his ears. He sat up slowly, tears still running down his face. He wiped his eyes slowly with his hand, and blood appeared on his palm. He figured his nose was bleeding, but he stood up and grabbed his bass and bag slowly, walking out into the casino. He already looked like a wreck, blood streaming over his lip as well as tears watering it down, but he tensed his shoulders and went through with it.

He didn't need to spend everything, just a penny. He knew he would be fine. After all, what could be the worst that could happen?