The Choosing [First 3 Chapters]

2. The Delmar Hotel

We reach our hotel, The Delmar, at 5 am. That leaves us 3 hours to sleep before we run a wedding-day marathon. Tomorrow's gonna be a Red Bull kinda day. I guess that's today technically. Whatever...

We drag our inebriated bodies through the lobby, a fresh, modern-tropical space, featuring white minimalist furnishings, bright tangerine, canary, and mint cushions, and a gorgeous Blanco Ibiza marble bar with apricot-padded stools to greet us on the left. Large white vases overflowing with lush palm trees bring vibrancy to the room. I could totally live here.

We stumble silently to our suites, too exhausted to think of anything but sleep. Kendra, Whitney, Nene and I are in one suite while Andrea has practically an apartment to herself that she and Josh will stay in for a week after the wedding. After which, they'll head to the port and sail off into the sunset to enjoy their honeymoon cruise to Europe. I'm heading into my suite with the girls when Andrea stops me.

"Stay with me tonight. I'm too nervous to go to bed. I need you to distract me. Please. You're my best friend and my maid of honor I need you." She pleads. **sigh**

"Alright. Just lemme get my stuff." I head over to my bed and open my suitcase. I grab my glasses, my contact case, saline solution, a big t-shirt, some boy shorts, and my cell charger, shove them in my purse, and head over to Andrea's room.

I knock on the door. No response. I knock again. Silence. "I'm at the door, " I text Andrea. Still nothing...must have fallen asleep. I take a few steps back towards my room when I pause. What was that? Was that a scream? I incline my head toward the door again. Nothing. Hmm I guess not. I start walking, but this time when I stop I'm positive I it's screaming.

"Andrea!" I pound on the door. A slur of muffled cries and stomping is my response. Ok ok, don't panic. I need help! I need to get in there! I try the door. It's locked. Of course, it's locked! Key, key, I need a key. I have a key! I was going to give it to Josh after the wedding. I dump out the contents of my purse and scramble around for the door key. Found it! Hang on Andrea. I open her door and rush inside. "Andrea!" I call. I don't see her. I quickly check every room as I call out her name, but she's not there. I head back into the main living area just as a couple from a neighboring room appear in the hall wearing a night robe and pajamas.

"Hey! What the hell's going on?" The male hollers angrily.

"I-I don't know! S-she told me to come to her, and I came and there was screaming and now I-" They come in from the hallway and abruptly stop. I notice them turning green as they stare down at my feet. I adjust my gaze and find myself standing in a thick pool of crimson. A foot-wide slash of blood paints the tile from the puddle I'm standing in to the balcony doors. I scream.

Shakily I begin to  follow the stain. A vice-like grip on my arm prevents me from moving any further. "I'm calling the police and my wife's called hotel security. You can't go out there."

"I-I have to" He backs me away from the doors as I hyperventilate.

Two armed security guards enter the room. They see the blood. "Stay back."

One of the guards makes his way to the glass balcony doors. He avoids the blood on the floor and draws his weapon. He carefully slides the drapes aside and opens the glass. He steps out onto the balcony for a moment and comes back inside.

"No one out there" he gives the other guard a grim expression.

"Security team Bravo to command. We need a grounds search for a missing female guest. Guest may be bleeding heavily. Over." He sends through his walkie talkie.

"Message received. Teams Alpha, and Delta responding now." A female voice buzzes.

"Can you tell us what happened?" The first guard turns to me.