hotel california (l.h) ☽

1.0

" on a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair

the warm smell of colitas rising up through the air."

 

☾scarlett☽

i sighed, gripping the leather steering wheel tightly as the dark desert stretched out all around me. i checked the clock, seeing it was just past nine o'clock. the police would surely be notified by now.

* two hours earlier *

looking down at the gun in my hand, i realised i was shaking. in fact, my whole body was. i hated doing this, threatening other people's lives so i could continue mine. i adjusted the black bandanna on my face, making sure it reached just on the bridge of my nose, sufficiently covering a large amount of my face. i scanned the small gas station's parking lot, making sure there weren't any unneccesary witnesses. i decided it was now or never, sprinting to the front of the store, and flinging the door open. hair flying and eyes searching for the cashier's desk. there wasn't anyone in the store except a pale, lanky boy who looked absolutely terrified. i mean, i would too, i guess. a gun toting female with a bandanna on with hair that looked like a rat's nest may be a bit unnerving. i then spoke. "hand over the money." he did quickly, and his gaze never left the gun that i secretly never planned using in my hand. for christ sake, it wasn't even loaded! i grabbed the sack of money out of his hands, and turned to the door.

"were you going to shoot me?"

i didn't even turn around as i replied.

"not unless i had to."

i took the liberty of filling up my old mint-colored convertible before speeding down some unknown road. all i knew was that it was away from that gas station.

* present *

and now here i was, surrounded by darkness and racing down some unknown stretch of desert road in california, the only thing cutting through the darkness being my headlights, and the soft sound of the neighbourhood floating from the car speakers. the gun, bandanna, and money lay forgotten in the passenger seat, the thin fabric of the bandanna floating around quietly from the wind that had filtered through the windshield. i wanted to collapse with exhaustion even though my head was spinning. i came to the utter realization that i would either by some miracle find a hotel or inn to say at through the night or freeze my ass off in my car. the desert was extreme, i knew from gorwing up in it my entire life. it could be extremely hot, then turn into a freaking tundra at night. i continued driving, looking up at the waning moon that hung directly in front of me, high in the sky. then, something odd happened. i saw everything turn a little more high definition, like someone had turned up the contrast of my vision. it felt different, and i shook it off as a sympton of my extreme exhaustion. i then saw a glow come from the right side of the road, and that added to my puzzlement. i could have sworn that there wasn't anything there when i had been looking at the moon. i was too tired to question anything, and pulled to the side of the road. the building looked like an extremely fancy hotel, and in pink neon it read on the front, "Hotel California". i took the money and gun with me when i got out, grabbing a few bills so i could pay for at least a night at this mystery like hotel. i hid the rest of it with the gun in the trunk, locking the car and stepping out to cross the road and opened the door of the building.

it was extremely fancy, with gilded mirrors and expensive vases with flowers spilling out of them. there was a desk in the front, where a boy who looked about seventeen sat, with dark hair and surprisingly contrasted pale skin sat, chin in his hands. i cleared my throat and he looked up, eyebrows raised in an element of surprise. "how much for a night?" i tried to ask as nonchalantly as a could, seeing this boy was looking at me like i belonged in a zoo. "how did you get here?" he asked, and i shrugged. "i just drove? isn't that how anyone else gets to most places?" the boy mumbled something under his breath. "fine. it's free, don't ask. if you need anything, ask for michael," the boy said, michael apparently, and dug out a room key and tossed it to me. i looked at him strangely, and he just gestured to the stairs to the right of the room. i started up them. "enjoy your stay," he said in an odd tone, almost mockingly. "everyone does." i shook my head. way too much weirdness for one day. i found my room easily, and it was just as gorgeous as the rest of the building. there was also a bucket of ice with pink champagne. i guess the owner didn't really care if their guests were underage? i mean, it doesn't really matter, i was seventeen, old enough in my mind. but alcohol was the last thing on my mind as i climbed into the plush bed, turning off the lights and closing my eyes, too tired to question anything that had happened today.