The Crooked Man

Chapter 5

"... Ah... I... I'm sorry... I-I just came in and... And the piano looked nice, so I... Um..." She said.

It was just a girl playing the piano... She seems like the same age as mine or maybe a year younger...

"... S-Sorry I yelled at you. I'm not on staff for the hotel or anything."

"... Who are you, then?" She asked.

"I'm David. I'm sorta... Looking for a guy. What about you?"

"... I'm Sissi." She said.

"Huh... Sissi, then. What brings you here? It could be dangerous, you know..."

"... I stayed at this hotel once... But I forgot something important, so I came back to get it..." Sissi said.

"... I see. Did you find it?"

"No... I'm still looking. It's just this little box, decorated with rubies... But I'm not leaving until I find it." She said.

"Right... Well, again, sorry for shouting... I'll probably be here a while longer, so I could help you find it!"

"R-Really? That would be great...! Okay, please help!" She said.

"... Just do me a favor too, though... If you see a man... About my age, would you tell me?"

"... Okay... I... I'll be going, then. Um... David... You be careful too..." She said and left.

I continued investigating even further. I went to the room which is for "STAFF ONLY" near the registrar. There's wire around the doorknob. I uses the wire cutters to unlock the door.

I went inside the room and found a notebook on the table.

"O/X

Door in room 107 bathroom needs fixing."

There's a key in the page... The key to room 107. I saw another door and I don't know where it leads to. It has no doorknob. Then...

...? I hear something...

...Is somebody locked in there?! I should find some way to open it...

I went to room 107 to investigate. I went inside the bathroom and found a doorknob...

A doorknob... Oh yeah, that journal mention something about door repairs... Hm. Maybe it would work on that door without a knob. It's the same kind... I'll give it a shot.

I went back to the staff room to unlock the unknown room. I attached the doorknob and unlocked the door. It was also another part of the staff room, but it had a metal door on the ground. It must be leading down to the basement. The door won't open but it doesn't seem to have a lock. I don't know how to open it. Then I saw a loose tile on the side of the room.

...? This tile seems a little loose...

I stomped on the tile and the door opened...

It opened... Was there a mechanism in the floor? There's a ladder... And it goes down, where else. Maybe I should check this out...

Can't see a thing... I need a light.

Good thing I have a lighter.

In the basement, there were barrels, lamp oils and lots of boxes. Not much other stuff there, just storages. Then...

...! A figure crouches on the floor...

A-Are you okay?! Were you locked in here?!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

But it wasn't a person.

...?!... Wh... What...? A... are you... Okay...? Whoa!!... Ack...!!

It was a hideous person like monster.. Its head was crooked, really crooked...It had blood all over him wearing a long sleeved polo and had a very creepy smile... Its eyes were pure black.

Wa...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!

S-Stay back!! Don't come near me!!

I quickly ran and climbed up the ladder.. But the monster got a hold of my foot.

WAAAAAHHH!! Crap! Let go!! LET GO!!

I shaked off my foot as fast as I can to escape.. I shut the door close.

...(pant)...(Gasp)... (pant)... W-What was that... Its neck was... All crooked... Can't have been human...!!... Am I jist going nuts here...? That thing... It couldn't've been real... I must... Just be seeing things... I'm just so tired, is all... Urgh, I feel sick...

I wonder what Sissi's up to... Did she find what she came for?

I went to look for Sissi on the 2nd floor. Then I heard a loud scream..

W-Was that... Sissi?!

I went inside the room where I heard the noise. I found Sissi traped at the edge of the room because the floor colapsed...

"Sissi! W-What happened?!"

"I... I went to the window, and the floor gave away...!... Wh.. What should I do...?!" Sissi said.

"Sissi, jump over!! It's dangerous over there!!"

"Ah... N-No, I can't... I-I'm slipping... A-And I can't possibly jump that far!! A gap this big?!" She said.

"This is no time for pessimism!! It's going to crumble quick!! Hurry, I'll catch you!!"

"...Ack! Yaaaaaahhh!!!"

Sissi made the jump and I caught her real quick...

"... Th.. That was too close... Are you okay, Sissi? Are you hurt?... Sissi?"

She hugged me real tight and cried on my shoulder...

"... So scared... I was so... Scared...!... No more... I, I don't like the dark... Why... Why do I... I..." She said while sobbing.

"It's okay, Sissi... I'm sorry, I know you were scared... But it's fine now. Don't cry..."

She then moved back...

"Aah... I... I'm sorry... I-I was scared and confused..." She said while wiping her eyes.

"It's alright. I'm glad you're not hurt... Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, not yet... It wasn't in the room we stayed in... I wonder where it could be..." She said.

"It must be important if you're looking all alone. You can always just give up on it... It's not entirely safe here."

"I-I can't give up on it! I have to find it..."

"... What exactly is it? Sorry to ask, but I've just been wondering... Was it a present, or?"

"... It's a present from my boyfriend. It's the most important thing to me, after my own life..." She said after turning around.

"... Ah... I see. Sorry if I was rude... I'll keep looking for it too."

"You're looking for someone, right? I haven't met anyone yet, but... Can you tell me more about them?" She asked.

"... Er, well... I don't know that much either. Just that he's a man about my age..."

"Huh? You know that little about the person you're looking for?... Heehee... You're a strange guy, David." She said.

"I-I am not... There's just some things I want to ask... And I don't know how he looks because, um..."

"(... Strange. But very kind.) I would've been hurt badly if you weren't here... I'm really grateful to you for saving me. I should get going. Take care, David... I'll see you!"

She left to search what she came here for and I continued what I came here for?...

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