Hotel California

A man, Franco Cortland, from Quebec Canada decided to travel across the country. Stopping in different states all over the U.S. and just enjoying his life as a 26-year-old single man. He didn't tell anyone he was leaving, not even his mom. Frantic calls and voicemails coming in every day from family and friends, but he ignores them all.

Franco's p.o.v

I was driving for what felt like hours, my car was low on gas and the sensor finally came on. I was still hours away from my reserved hotel. I pulled over to a local gas station, oddly there were no other places in site. I filled up my gas tank and went inside for some snacks and a drink. "Do you think hotel California is a good hotel? I need a place to stay." I asked the clerk. The clerk stopped bagging my items and her eyes widened. "Don't go." "Why?" "You're obviously not from around here." I shook my head no. "Just don't go, sleep in your car. Do anything but go there." I didn't say anything back, I paid the clerk and walked out. I did some quick research on the prices and for one day it's very cheap. Only $50. It was only a few miles away. I drove down a dark dirt road and down a hill my eyes met a huge hotel, lit up with huge lights. The lights flickered 'hotel California'. I parked my car off the side of the road and grabbed my bag. I noticed that there was no bellhop or no receptionist at the desk when I came in. the lobby was huge, and you could see all the floors going up and up. I walked up to the desk and still, no one came from the backroom. I rang the mission bell and a tall bald man in a dress with heavy makeup came out. "can I help you or are you just going to stand here all night?" he snapped at me. "Just a room for a night," I said back quietly. "$250." He said holding out his hand. "$250? It says $50 right here." "Don't ever trust the internet child, do you want a room or not?" I reached into my wallet and grabbed the money. "Here sir." "Liz." He snapped at me. I was waiting for 'Liz' to give me my key, so I looked around. The hotel was too run down for $250 a night. Everything was dusty and lights flickered like they haven't been changed in years. He had the room key in his hand and brought me to the elevator. "Floor 3." He said to me. He handed me the key and lit a candle. I was confused about why in 2019 you need a candle to see. The elevator doors opened, and the hallway was half-lit. It seemed like every light was burnt out or about to burn out. My room was the very last room at the end of the hallway, parked away in a dark corner. Every room we walked by, behind each door was a different sound. Sounds of screams and non-pleasure filled moans. He opened the door for me and shoved me inside. "There's a curfew here. Don't come out of your room no matter what." Liz said and left the room slamming the door behind him.

I sat my things down on my bed and roamed the small, cramped room. Everything had dust and stains on it. There was a loud knock at the door. A young girl was on the other side. "Welcome to the Hotel California!" she said. she was incredibly pretty. "would you like to come in?" I asked since I haven't had any action with a girl in months. "let's go to the lobby." she shrieked and grabbed my arm and lead me back down the dark hallway. "tiffany." men would say as we walked by each door, they'd moan and groan her name and they would follow her all over. I looked behind us and there was a huge group of men basically drooling for her. we got back down to the lobby and she dragged me over to the receptionist's desk. "can I have a dark wine?" she asked. "you know we haven't had that since 69." Liz said to her snotty. the loud lobby went silent after tiffany didn't get what she asked for. I could clearly hear all the sounds from 3 floors above. "we don't need this type of hospitality, let's go to my room." we got back onto the elevator once more. the small stack of candles rattled with every floor we went up. "aren't you going to light a candle?" I asked while she just ignored me. once the doors opened, I know why. this whole room had lights all over the place. all types of fluorescent, daylight, Christmas lights. there was a different mirror on each wall. I was so stunned, and I couldn't stop looking around. and on one wall, there was a saying painted on sloppily. "we are just prisoners of our own device." "what does that mean?" I asked her. "don't worry." she said picking up a bottle of champagne. she poured both of us a glass. "follow me." she said walking away towards a different elevator. we arrived at the roof of the building seconds later. there was like a secret room up there. a man sat in a chair in black clothing surrounded by absolute darkness. he was staring right through me. he did a simple nod, which confused me and suddenly I felt hands wrap around my throat. a felt a knife glide across my face. I quickly pushed away from whoever was behind me, and it was tiffany. I ran down the stairs back to the lobby hoping to leave. I was out of breath and crying. I just wanted to go back to my previous room to get my things and leave. I finally reached the lobby and Liz stopped me. "what's going on?" "a woman is chasing me!" Liz grabbed my shoulders as I tried to catch my breath. "you're ok, you probably just had a bad dream." once Liz said that, I felt calm. "thanks, but I've got to leave." her grip tightened on my shoulders. "wait." she smiled back at me. and I felt a set of hands wrap around my throat and slitting my throat.

I woke up in the hotels' bed, someone banging on the door. I go to open it and its tiffany. "you killed-" "shut up, there's new prey checking in now. get your things and start to ruin his life." she left before I could ask any questions. I could hear different sounds now, no more moaning and groaning. just sounds of killing and death. I ran to the bathroom to just hope this was some type of sick trick and there it was. my throat slit open with blood pouring out.