Hotel Pathway

Part-1 (1/2)

I made a lot of messed up choices in life.
Not going into the details as it would be too boring.
I am 24 and unemployed, this should be enough to give you guys an idea of what I am talking about.
Desperate for a job I started applying for every post I could find, no job to small they say.

But for me 'Beggars don't choose' would be more applicable.

Anyways, I finally got a call from one of the places. They fixed a date for an interview. After the interview I am told that I could join from the next day itself.
I was hired to be the receptionist at a Highway side hotel from 12 am to 4:46 am. My shift ended at an weird time but I wasn't bothered by it.
I put on the best suit I had and reach the hotel at 11:30pm.

A bright neon bill sign read :

"Hotel Pathway : An experience for life times."

Weird slogan I thought. I walk through the automatic door and walk up the lobby to the reception. A young woman sat on the other side.
She greeted me with a board smile and said "How can I help you sir?"

I smiled back and said " Hi, I am Steve, I will be working the next shift."
Her smile disappeared and her face contorted with an expression of pity and disgust.
I was a bit shocked by this. "Excuse me?" Was all I could say. Without uttering another word.
She got out of the reception with a red hand bag and proceeded to walk out from the automated door.

I felt some what insulted but it was fine. We weren't needed to interact anyways. She did her job and I will do mine.

As I walk inside the reception I notice that my ID was resting on the lower hinge, right next to a big black box.

I wore my ID and tried opening the black box but want able to. I sit down on the high stool and notice that the reception was more of a room. As soon as i entered the door locked automatically. By the looks of it, I need to swipe my card to unlock it.

I hadn't noticed it before.

There was a clock right above the counter. It made a horrible ticking noise, was it because of the silence or was it really too damn loud.

Then suddenly as soon as the clock's hand reached 12. The box on the table started beeping.

I tried to make it stop but ended up opening it instead. Inside were a lot of keys. They looked like room keys but didn't have any key chain with room number.
I put the box aside and kept starring at the door. I knew there weren't going to be many people checking in at that hour but still I hoped for at least one guest to show up on my shift.
Then suddenly the top cover of the box flung at me. I jumped down from the stool, landing on the carpet.

Someone threw it at me!

That was my first chain of thought but then it hit me that I was all alone and the top was on the table right besides me. No.

It reacted to my ID. Like it had some kind of a magnetic pull to it.

I see that there was a note inside the covering of the box.
I take it out. It read.

Welcome to Hotel pathway. As the new recruit things might be a bit troublesome for you. The first day at work is always difficult.

This is a guide to help you complete your duties effectively while also keeping you out of harm's way during your shift.