The Hotel Cortez - Do Not Disturb

Chapter 6

My heart raced, running through the halls. I could feel everything crumbling. The entire world shook with such force, I could barely even stand.
Everything was a blur, lights flashing on my pale face.
"Hello?" I called out, stumbling. "Is anyone there? Anyone at all?"
I found myself stood in front of a large open window. The cool air from outside hit my face, blowing my hair back. Everything felt so clear now. I took a step up onto the window ledge, my long white dress seemingly one with the wind.
I felt free. I'd been so trapped but finally I felt like there was a way out. Suddenly, as I leaned forward, a pair of arms wrapped around me, pulling me inside.
"Trust me, you don't want to die in here. Run. Run while you still can." A feminine voice sounded. Who?
I turned around to see my rescuer only to find no one there. My vision blurred once again as I trembled, walking down the corridor.
"I'm trapped." I sighed, falling to the floor.
"No, not yet you aren't." A voice spoke out from behind me and suddenly the whole world went black as I felt a sharp pain in my head.

When I awoke, everything was dark. I tried to move but I felt stuck. I was in some small ungodly space with no escape.
My heart pounded as claustrophobia hit me like a ton of bricks.
I screamed, pounding on the walls of my enclosure. It was like being inside a coffin. Dark, dank, trapped.
Tears streamed down my face as I continued trying to break free. This was worse than torture. This was hell.
My whole body shook as I yelled from the top of my lungs.
The muscles around my heart confined. I could feel every heavy beat of my heart as my chest felt like a knife was being driven into it. I couldn't breath. I couldn't think. I couldn't move. I fell silent.
As the world began to go dark once more, I heard a voice. "You can never leave." It whispered.

My eyes shot open. Was that a dream?
It must've been. My head ached so I stood up to grab a drink. I stumbled over to the tap, splashing my face with water. My eyes wandered up to the mirror. There was a bruise on my head. Had I fallen?
Could that dream have been real?

I walked downstairs in a nice black dress. My hair was done in curls and my makeup done like a legend.
"Liz, what are you afraid of?" I asked, sitting at the bar.
"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?" She shrugged, pouring me a drink. She always looked so damn classy. It was quite infuriating, honestly.
"I was just curious..." I sighed, stirring my drink absentmindedly.
"What are you afraid of?" she replied.
"I'm scared of being trapped. I've always been a free spirit, I'm scared of being caged like a bird."
"Are you okay?" she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I nodded with a smile on my face and tears in my red eyes.
It was just a dream... But why do I feel like it was more than that? Like it was an omen?
I could never leave now, could I?