Worlds Apart

Chapter 6

E N I G M A T I C • E N C O U N T E R S

Sep. 09 2020 04:36 CET

Room #04, The Port Inn

Owen stared blearily at the bare ceiling. It was too early to be awake — a quick glance at his wristwatch told him that in fact, no one with any intention of not dying from lack of sleep should be up at this hour — but he couldn't sleep either. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone here. Of course, Dai was here, too, and thank god for that — if he'd had to come here alone, he'd probably be worse than dead by now.

'Maybe I should just get out of bed,' he thought. But this place was creepy enough when everyone else was around, it'd be downright petrifying to be up alone and in the dark.

Thump.

Bolting upright, Owen grabbed his phone and his glasses from the bedside table, shoving them onto his face while he fumbled with his phone, trying to find the flashlight setting on the too-bright screen without burning his eyes out. He shined it in the general direction of what he presumed was the origin of the sound, peering into the room. The light guided him to the open bathroom door, and into the dark void that lay beyond it.

Bewildered, Owen tried to make sense of what he saw. The bathroom door was closed when they went to bed, he was sure of it. Was it caused by a draught in the middle of the night, then? It wasn't impossible, and it was very unlikely that the opening door was what he had heard. It sounded much more like a dead body hitting the ground.

Owen paused, then blanched at his thoughts. They were a bit too morbid (and much too relevant) considering the circumstances of him being here. It could just be someone in the neighbouring rooms moving around. Maybe they fell.

Content with his bizarre explanation, he settled back into bed, but kept his phone near him this time, poised to get up and investigate at a moment's notice. Just in case.

Within less than ten seconds, Owen heard another sound cut through the cold, still air.

Creeaak. Thud. Click.

Or rather, a series of consecutive sounds. He peeked over the blankets, switching the flashlight on. He found myself staring at the closed — and very likely locked, if that 'click' was anything to go by — bathroom door.

"Okay..." he whispered weakly. There was definitely no draught; he would have felt it being this close to the door. Blood pounding in his ears, Owen glanced over at Daisha, hoping futilely it was just her. Her blanket-clad figure rose and fell gently, a little sporadically maybe, but she was clearly asleep on the other side of the room. Even though he didn't think it was her, his heart still dropped to his stomach.

Oh, there was no way he was falling asleep now. Huddling up in the blankets felt like he was making it easier for someone or something to come and get him, so he couldn't possibly continue to stay here.

Maybe it would best if he got up, but... Owen glanced at the locked door. He would need to go in there. He slumped back down, groaning. Why do ghosts always have to show up in places of such necessity? Because right now, it was definitely necessary — he'd scared himself to the point that his bladder was worryingly full.

What was the worst that could happen if he didn't go? Do bladders rupture in a few hours? He just needed to wait until sunrise; it'll be better once it isn't so dark... Should he just switch the lights on? Should he wake Dai? Owen shook his head. No, she was exhausted, she needed the rest.

There was only one way: suck it up and go. He took a deep breath, readying himself. He rolled out from under the blankets, landed clumsily on his feet. He all but sprinted towards the door, and to his surprise, Owen discovered it was unlocked. 'Did I make it all up?' he thought, dazed. 'Was it a dream?'