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the-fiction-witch · 5 months

Text

Don't Open The Red Door

Media IRL X Horror Movie

Character Thomas Brodie Sangster

Couple None

Rating Spooky

The clock hands clicked over and the chimes began. Ave Maria rang out from the bells slightly echoed across the hall. The Main lobby of the Ophelia Hotel sat fairly vacant, the large glass double doors with stained purple and green glass around the doors in dancing vine shapes. A black and white checkerboard marble floor littered with impressive furniture and antiques most of which had dust covers and protective layers ready for the shutdown. Two large archways on either side one lead through to the restaurant and Bar, the other to the spa facilities and the hotel rooms. In the corner a large office with foggy glass and a large desk empty of a receptionist with the hotel logo on the desk. Signs up to direct people to various places, A large sign up on the desk with the hotel logo and some information about the winter closing.

Sat on one of these uncovered purple chairs sat the body of a young man no older than thirty, in well-pressed clothes and shined shoes a black pair of suit pants and a light blue button down, a folder on his lap often his fingers around the folder. He was a thin-built man with the sort of pale skin that makes any red seem aggressively apparent, a head of loose natural curls that didn't have much pattern or way about them almost like you could tell he'd spent the last two hours with wet hair and a comb attempting to style them and now dry this is what remained. His hair is the colour of a slightly dark milk tea darker at its root almost mimicking the darker Tapioca pearls often found at the bottom of Milk tea drinks.

The door to the office opened and a man with a grey suit and dark under eyes that showed a clear hangover. A Jaw that sat somewhere between a square and a diamond with fairly high cheekbones but not so high it would be something you'd notice about him. With chocolate eyes and a nervous frown.

He came through and set his hands on the desk "You must be Mr Sangster,"

The young man stood and fixed himself slightly "Yes Sir,"

"Perfect, Rodger Ashland nice to finally meet you in person," He said as he came around the desk and shook the man's hand clearly harder than Mr. Sangster expected his face for a moment read of panic before relaxing into a smile.

"Yes lovely to finally meet you, Mr Ashland."

"Rodger is fine, After all this time I think we can dispense with the formality,"

"Absolutely,"

"Thomas wasn't it?"

"Yes,"

"Good, Come on we'll sit in the bar." He said before he led Thomas deeper into the hotel, into a small bar with three large glass doors, they came through one and then had the left door that led to the restaurant and the right that led to the ballroom. A few souls working cleaning and tidying the place. Rodger sat down in a rounded green booth where some paperwork already sat and Thomas nervously slipped into the booth across from him and set his folder down. "Sorry I'm a little all over the place, everyone is. We had our big farewell to a summer party last night things got a little rowdy as they always do," he explained

"That's alright, I've heard tales of the farewell to summer parties here." Thomas chuckled

"We are well-fabled" he laughs "Now, Tell me about you."

"Me?"

"yes, I must have read through your paperwork a hundred times since we first spoke But I'd love to know about you give me the story, the tale of Thomas,"

"Ohh, Well. Not really much to tell I suppose." Thomas said nervously "I was born here on the island, both my parents worked off the island, and my grandmother looked after me most of the time. When I was older my parents moved us off the island did my schooling, got my grades, and was trying to do the office intern thing for a good while."

"And you moved back recently?"

"Yes, I'd been sort of running fast getting nowhere in the city for a while felt like a fresh start and just then my grandmother got sick so I came back to look after her."

"That's very sweet of you, she still?"

"No, She passed away this June,"

"I'm very sorry to hear that. What sort of thing do you spend your time doing, you have some hobbies?"

"Just basic work at the moment, but I really enjoy gardening, drawing and even baking sometimes."

"Sounds lovely, like you will find yourself some things to do while you're here."

"I'm sure I will"

"Now I know we've been over most of this but just for the sake of clarification" He explained "The hotel has two hundred and fifty rooms, one hundred of them are suites the majority, then we have seventy-five basic rooms and seventy-five of our grand rooms, We have the reception, ballroom, bar and restaurant and then the spa facilities downstairs. Then we have the kitchen, storage and the laundry." He explained "We also have the gardens. Ohh and the east tower but that's not relevant for you" He explained

"Okay, No problem"

"The official title is caretaker, key responsibilities just looking after the place and making sure the place is kept clean, and safe, we don't get any broken windows or mouldy showers. General upkeep while the place is empty. You're also security but we haven't had any issues in the last twenty years so I don't see why you would know but there is protocol for any issues"

"Yeah I don't imagine you get much trouble"

"We did discuss of course the... big issue"

"Yes."

"as I'm sure I don't need to tell you when that causeway turns to marsh you're on your own"

"Yes, I'm aware. October to late December usually right?"

"It depends of course on the weather if we have a very wet October then it'll be later if we have a drier October sometimes it's all sorted before Christmas. last year it was so wet the damn thing was closed up by September 12th and didn't open back up until days before we reopened in January" He laughs "Absoulate emergencies like you've cut your hand off. They do have a small boat at the ambulance bay that can get out to you but you are going to be on your own" He said

"I think honestly some time alone is just what I need"

"Good, A few years ago getting a caretaker in was a terror cabin fever and the like but you'll still have wifi, phone signal can be a bit buggy, especially with storms but that's true for most of the island as you know, It's why I always like hiring someone from the area you're already used to this sort of thing" He explained "So any questions for me before we get on?"

"Yes actually I did want to ask, why didn't the last caretaker want to come back this year? if you don't mind"

"No idea, He was a very... superstitious man always ranting and raving about things he marched off when I came to open up in January and not seen him since"

"Superstitious?"

"He thought the place was haunted"

"Haunted?"

"I think the cold nights just got to him, It makes sense it's a big old place, you're here alone all day and night makes sense you might start seeing things"

"Do you think it is?"

"What?"

"Haunted. I mean"

"I'm not superstitious." He said "But I'll let you into a little secret about this business," He said "Hotels are where a lot of people come to die"

"What?"

"Some people decide they don't want to be in the world anymore for whatever reason and demons they have. And quite a lot of those people come to places like this, and book themselves a few nights in a nice suite with a good view. They treat themselves to the fine beds, the big baths and all the amenities. They spend every penny knowing they can't take it with them, they'll up one night heavy with drink and end it all. safe in the peace that a maid will come round in the morning and their body will be taken care of rather than left rotting for god knows how long.

I've worked here for twenty years, and I cannot count how many lives ended here. just in the time I've worked here"

"I see."

"But is the place haunted? No, I don't think so. The place doesn't have some horrible history, or some kind of burial ground, anything like that"

"Never been one to believe in ghosts and ghouls"

"Good. I only live in town so any issues you'll be able to grab me."

"Perfect,"

"So? you're still happy?"

"Absolutely, So long as you feel like you trust me with the place I'm more than happy"

"Perfect, Let's get you up to your room" He explained

Rodger led Thomas down the corridor they had already walked back to the main lobby, he stopped at the front desk opening a drawer full of organized cards.

"We used to have a little bedroom back in this office here used to be the caretaker room that was back when we did proper shut down turn the water off, electricity all that sort of thing found it just wasn't worth it in the end. And we found caretakers sneaking up to stay in the rooms anyway" He chuckled "All the hotel room keys are cards now but a caretaker card will get you into any of the rooms so just leave the cards as they are. I would say take your own room card just then you know where you are" he explained "The caretaker card will get you anywhere you need," He said "I'll take you through the lift I will say when you're here alone you're best to use the staircase, the power often fluctuates and the lift is getting older now we wouldn't want you getting stuck"

"Makes sense, that's alright good to get my steps in"

"Good way to think of it course you know about the ground floor" he chuckled as he led Thomas through to the lift they waited patiently for a good few seconds until the doors opened revealing the small silver lift with purple and green carpet a sign at the back to advertise the closing. They both headed inside and silently headed up to the 1st floor, where the doors opened to a long corridor that looped around and back to the lift with the rooms scattered around a maid cart left by the lift the same carpet at the lift continued, a sign on the wall reading '1648-1720' "Seventy-five rooms on this floor all basic rooms nothing too exciting" He explained going to one of the green doors with a silver door knob and a plaque reading 1646 Rodger used the card to scan the door and opening the door revealing the basic room.

The room was small with no windows light cream walls, a wooden floor, a small desk built into the wall with a mirror over it, a purple love seat with a green textured cushion, two small wooden bedstands, and a wooden bed with green linins and a purple runner, a wooden chest of draws to the side One large light in the centre, a small bathroom at the bottom behind a cream door with a green tiled shower and a grey toilet and sink. "Very basic our cheapest rooms fifty eight of them all on this floor"

"They are very nice" He smiled "I'd be happy in one of these"

"Most usually are, come on Next floor is the double rooms," Rodger says heading up to the lift again Thomas followed until they reached the next floor all the same again with the sign '1721 - 1795', Rodger led Thomas across the hall to a Purple door with a silver handle and the sign reading '1723' he scanned the door and opened it up revealing the larger room, it had a large window looking out to the grounds, light cream walls, a wooden floor, a large wooden bed, with purple sheets and a green runner, wooden bedside tables on each side of the bed, A large green shaded light in the centre of the room, a large painting of grape fields behind the bed, two light sconces each above the tables, a green rug under the bed, a large vanity with a purple chair, two draws, a large oval mirror on a hinge to be adjusted, with a lamp on the side of the vanity, a large purple sofa with green pillows and a small tv, a small wardrobe and chest of draws, a door to a sizable bathroom with purple tiles, A impressive tub and shower combination, a toilet and two sinks. "grand room, higher cost for better stuff. Second floor and half the third floor seventy-five completely" Rodger explained

"This is very impressive."

"A few basic things are missing, the bath products and all that" he explained

"It's really nice" Thomas nodded

"Now up to the suites" He explained heading back to the lift, they went up to the fifth floor a corridor much the same as all the others a sign reading 1861-1897 Rodger led Thomas far further down the long corridor than the first few rooms down in fact to what seemed to be the very last room 1897 double doors painted dark green with a silver plague and doorknob but as Rodger unlocked it Thomas found his eyes wandering down the hall, The corridor looped of course as all the other floors had but there was an additional door no other floors had painted red with no information or signage.

"Everything alright?"

"Where does that door go?"

"Ohh that's to the east tower. We shut the place off far too dangerous but the boss is looking into renovations perhaps over next winter or even the next a lot of work to be done it'll be terribly expensive. You can ignore it"

"Fair enough sorry-"

"Don't worry about it." he says "Now this is your room"

He opened up the doors revealing an impressive room, wooden coat racks by the door, a small side table by the door with a shoe rack, a large four-post bed with purple sheets, a green runner, green and purple cushions, and even green curtains wrapped around the posts, a green and purple spiral rug under the bed, a painting of purple flowers over the bed, two large bedside tables with draws, two wall sconces over the tables, a large purple three seater sofa with green cushions, a green chair with a purple cushion, a stone electric fireplace, a large fluffy green rug, a large tv, a small wooden coffee table, A large metal frame light above the table, a wooden desk with a mirror and space for writing equipment, a wardrobe with many draws built into the wall, a door to a very large bathroom with green tiles, a large walk-in shower, a large sink with a hanging mirror, a toilet, a corner shower tub large enough for two with jets for bubble massage, and some bathroom storage.

"Whoa... this is impressive"

"This is the largest of our suites, you're home for the next few months," He says handing over the key card "Happy?"

"It almost seems a bit too much for me"

"well we like our caretakers to be comfortable, get yourself unpacked and settled we don't lock up till Monday so get what you need in"

"I will do, Thank you"

"No problem" he nods heading out and shutting the doors behind him leaving Thomas alone in the room.

He let out a sigh relaxing for a moment before jumping into the bed with a wide smile.

Thomas sat in his blue car well scratched with a few patches of hastily repaired rust, His focus was intense on the causeway between the Ophelia hotel and the rest of Totspur Island. The Causeway was merely a thin excuse for a road that only one car could pass at one time, the road edge was nothing but mud, moss and murky water. When bad storms come through or through most of the winter water would flood the causeway making it impassable and cutting off the Hotel from the rest of the island. "Ohh Shi-znick" He muttered quickly adjusting the steering wheel to make sure the wheels didn't go too far to either side. At last, he reached the stone bridge only just wide enough for the car, onto the main body of the island.

The main island was no bigger than your typical village, a few local shops, basic businesses and houses all littered the island. He drove through these small twisty roads before pulling up into a small car park beside the ferry ticket booth.

Thomas climbed out of the car and grabbed a leather messenger bag from the backseat. He made his way to the small old-fashioned shop front, with bright red wood being touched up by a man in grey overalls, The post office lettering perfectly painted on the glass. And the islands one post bost build into the stone. Thomas pushed the door open and headed inside the post office.

A small store with a dusty wooden floor, a few shelves of cards, boxes and random items. A red desk where a tall man stood. Jack Montgomery a man who stood at six feet fell with sculpted arms from years of carting bags of parcels back and forth with merky mossy green eyes and a short cut of chocolate hair. He wore a simple postman uniform and was making notes about some deliveries he had yet to make. He smiled as he saw Thomas the two had been friends since the days of childhood, Thomas cared for Jack much like one cares for a younger brother even though Jack was a good year older and fairly larger than Thomas, But Both of them knew when it came to matters of the mind Thomas would outway Jack ten fold mostly due to Thomass wealth of experiences when compared to Jack. As in all the years, they had known one another Jack had lived on Totspur island his whole life only travelling to the mainland to collect the post for Totspur residence and nothing else.

"Hey up! Mister Caretakers In" Jack laughed

"Word Travels fast" Thomas chuckled coming over to the desk

"Everyone knew you'd get the job."

"You did?"

"Course, You're the best man for the job up there"

"I'm sure I'll figure it out"

"What's to figure? just watching the places isn't it?"

"There's a bit more than that Jack."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find your groove with it."

"I hope so."

"You'll still be popping in I hope?"

"I will do, at least before the causeway closes me off"

"Just be careful you don't get cabin fever up there I know it seems like a big place but you'll find yourself walking in circles in no time days the causeway closes"

"I know, Kinda hoping to just lock myself away, get some good sleep"

"Don't spend all the time sleeping, Thomas."

"Why not?"

"You can sleep when you're dead." he says "Doesn't that place have a pool? sauna? gym? you could come back in January fit as a fairy boy"

"I highly doubt that" He laughs "I hope I have enough books"

"Ohh you do. Your last literary parcel nearly sunk the damn ferry"

"Sorry"

"Yeah you should be"

"You're always welcome to come up Jack if you get a free moment"

"I thought you weren't allowed visitors?"

"I'll bend the rules, It's only you."

"I'll have to take you up on that. But I want the grand dining room not stuck up in the kitchen"

"Deal" He chuckled "So? Can I have my Parcels?"

"Absolutely, you're taking up all the space in the store room."

Jack headed back into the store room for a few moments returning with two huge parcel bags almost overflowing with parcels "You sure did a lot of online shopping"

"I'm stuck in that hotel from now till January, got to make myself comfy"

"Fair enough, You're carting this to your car through"

"That's fair Jack" Thomas nods

Thomas drove his now very full car with all his postage items as well as a bunch of shopping from the mainland. He drove through the island finally arriving at a small cottage, with reclaimed stone walls, and a small white wooden conservatory. Thomas parked his car, climbed out grabbed a bundle of flowers and headed up to the house He unlocked the blue door and headed inside the sweet little house, everything wood with crotchet laid all over the place, He went through the house silently into the old-fashioned kitchen. He went to the sink and worked on the flowers, cutting the stems, taking off some of the looser leaves and making the flowers look as nice as possible. Once the flowers were nice he took them out into the sweet flowery garden that overlooked a sharp drop to the grey water around the island, he headed over to a stone statue of a ballerina with a gold plaque in its base reading

'Zelda Mayweather'

He smiled as he sat on the wooden bench across from the statue close enough as he sat he could arrange the flowers in front of the statue fixing them in the quiet with only the sounds of the gentle waves to interrupt. Until he settled himself back on the bench his eyes unable to leave the statue and the memories it evoked.

"Hi, Nana" He smiled "I got the job. I know I told you that already, But I start tomorrow. So... I'll be gone for a while. I'll come visit whenever I get a chance but you know what the causeway's like I could be gone for a while. But it's a really good job they pay me really well, and I get to live in the hotel with all the amenities, and they give me a check every month for my food half of which I have just gone and spent for this month. I didn't do all of it but I got a whole pallet of a bunch of stuff to keep me going." he explained "I... I'm really gonna miss you Nana."

He got up from his seat pressed a kiss to his fingertips and tapped the top bun of the ballerina

"I'll be good. I promise" He smiled before he wiped his eyes to prevent his tears, he headed inside locking the house up tightly making sure every door and window was locked up tight, the electricity off and everything ready to be left.

He headed out of the house locked the door going back to his car and drove off down the road again towards the causeway.

The room was utterly silent with the one exception of the small clock ticking away on the bedside table. There hadn't been an inch of movement in the room for many hours now, the hotel room sat just as it had so many days before but now with Thomass suitcase yet to be unpacked, a few items littered about where he had bought or collected them to bring them into the room. He lay in the bed almost unnoticeable having not even untucked the sheet from the bottom of the mattress, his head laid softly against the pillow a gentle wheeze in his nose on each intake of breath.

The sound of cheap bells erupted from the small clock, which quickly caused Thomas to stir sitting up and rubbing his eyes as he turned off the alarm. He got up fixing the bed behind him as he stood in his long blue and white stripe trousers and a long-sleeved white shirt. He wandered across the room and into the bathroom, He used the toilet and turned the shower on letting it heat up as he went to the sink grabbing his toothbrush and toothpaste and giving his teeth a firm scrub and clean. Once done He stripped off and climbed into the shower cleaning himself and his hair. Before drying off and getting dressed for the day into some black jeans and a light blue button down took his key in his pocket shutting and locking his room.

He stopped short a moment glancing at the one red door for a moment before finally heading away to the stairs, the large wooden spiral stairwell with stops at each floor dark wood with a green carpet and purple edges, A light hung from the top floor a large spiral of various lengths of wire with glittering orb shades on each end. He headed down and into the restaurant, a large wooden room with half-panelled walls, purple wallpaper, and windows overlooking the garden and the water, many tables littered the room the chairs all tied around the tables. He headed through the doors into a silver industrial kitchen where a few staff were cleaning and sorting ready for the hotel to be shut down, But they ignored Thomas as he went to the corridor with three large doors, each for an industrial fridge, freezer and pantry. He grabbed some bread and a couple of eggs he took them to the kitchen and made himself toast and scrambled eggs, taking them to the dining room and sitting by the window to eat his breakfast. Once finished he took the plate and washed it up in the sink. He headed through the hotel to the back deck where he sat on a small bench looking across the sweet garden full of vines, flowers, and water features.

Thomas smiled as he sat looking through the garden taking in the fresh air.

"Morning Thomas" Rodger smiled as he approached the deck

"Ohh Morning,"

"Sleep alright?"

"Amazing thanks, I see why people pay so much for those beds"

"They are worth their weight in gold after a bad day" he laughs "We are about ready to lock up if you're ready for us to go?"

"Yeah sure, if you guys are all done" he nods getting up and following Rodger back through the hotel now empty of any soul at all, with furniture covered or protected, the whole place set up ready for the winter. The few staff still here had gathered at the front climbing into a small van, with several seats.

"Okay, you've got all the rules, all the tasks, all the junk" He says

"Absolutely"

"Alright, Here's the keys." he laughs handing the front door keys over to Thomas "Don't burn the place down. Don't have any parties. and don't lose your damn mind"

"No problem" He laughs

"Alright any issues you have my email," Rodger says leaving to sit in the van helping everyone else in and heading off down the causeway.

Thomas gave them a wave before heading inside and using the key to lock the front door up tightly.

Leaving him alone in the Ophelia Hotel.

Thomas had woken in fact before the alarm had even sounded, he sat against his headboard rubbing his eyes. Once the alarm went off he quickly turned it off and exited the bed with vigour and headed to the bathroom to do his usual business and he gave his teeth a complete brush. Once the shower was heated up he stripped off and climbed under the refreshing water using a good puddle of body wash, a good squirt of shampoo and a fair dollop of conditioner. Once done he took a fresh towel and dried off before getting dressed into some loose blue shorts and a half-sleeve grey shirt. He dug around in his stuff for a moment grabbing a few items and holding them in his arms.

He shut his room locked it and headed down the stairs to the main lobby of the hotel, he walked through to the ballroom.

The ballroom was one of the largest rooms in the hotel with a polished wooden floor, half-wood walls and green and silver art deco scallop wallpaper, a beautiful silver chandelier with electronic candles, a stage at the end for a band with speakers littered around the room hidden by paint and style to make them invisible, all the small chairs stacked up on the corner covered for the winter. He went to the center of the room and put down his items, the first he unrolled revealing a blue spongy sticky Matt that immediately tried to return to its roll but Thomas quickly added his phone, a book and his water bottle to the corners trying to stop it from curling. He took the bottle with him to the kitchen, setting it on the countertop. He went to the fridge grabbed some fruit and some power in a large rub from the pantry and returned to the counter with them, he diced his fruit and added it to the blender with a few scoops of the powder letting it all mix as he returned the unused fruit and the power back to their places. By then his brown smoothie was done. He filled his bottle with the smoothie and returned the bottle to the corner of his mat. He then took this phone over to the back of the stage and set it up with the speakers. Soon enough sweet relaxing sounds of rain, waterfalls, gentle wind chime bells and soft supple flute began to play. He headed over to his mat and gave his body a stretch before he opened a small pink Yoga book sitting it in front of his mat.

The first page has instructions and images for the downward-facing dog which Thomas proceeded to move into with slight strain, his arm then came and flicked to the next page revealing instructions and images for a worrier pose which he slowly moved into almost falling over where he momentarily lost his balance, he then clicked to the next page with the instructions and images for mountain pose which he moved into. Thomas let out a slow breath and picked up his bottle having a sip immediately grimacing as he took it but forcing down a decent mouthful. He quickly put the bottle down and continued on with the pages proceeding through Straightforward bend, Low lunge, pyramid, triangle and Garland pose without too much trouble even if he was rickety and unbalanced, and there were a few times his body clicked and cracked. He moved into a tree pose even if he was never actually still unable to balance on his one leg.

“I am a tree. I am a tall, peaceful tree. Ohh shi-” He gasped as he lost balance and his body hit the floor and he hissed in pain, He then moved the pages and went to a plank then a cobra pose, then a bridge pose clearly enjoying himself a lot in that pose before ending with corpse pose and forcing down a little more of the smoothie.

Once he forced himself up rolling his mat and leaving it at the side of the hall with his book grabbing his phone and bottle heading out the hall and across the lobby.

Soon enough Thomas reached the spa side of the hotel with the same green and purple theming but a little more sparse and modern. A long corridor with dark green tiles with strips of purple times dotted through it, the corridor littered with purple wooden doors, And three glass doors, One to a gym, one to a sauna and the last to the pool. Thomas skipped the doors and headed straight into the gym switching the light on as he did revealing the textured black floor and ceiling with mirrored walls, the room littered with bikes, treadmills, and various weight machines.

Thomas headed over to a bike set up his headphones and climbed on. He sat cycling for a good thirty-five minutes or so often mouthing the words to his songs. Before jumping off and taking his phone and bottle with him he had another begrudging sip. He left the gym clicking off the light and headed into the sauna.

The room was covered from floor to ceiling with purple tiles, a raised square in the centre with coals behind glass, with a few wooden planks as seats, Thomas cracked the heat up and sat himself close to the electric fire that started up on the coals as soon as he turned on the temperature. Thomas relaxed there for a good few minutes sweat dripping down his head before he turned the place off and left moving into one of the small doors revealing a little changing room with a shower sink, toilet and lockers for people’s things who were using the spa area. He kicked off his clothes and had another shower just enough to get the sweat from his workout and the sauna. He got dressed back into the same clothes and headed to the kitchen making some toast and jam washing everything up as he ate it making sure to tip away the rest of his smoothie.

Thomas then did some smaller tasks doing some laundry, checking the rooms and doors making sure everything was still locked up doing all his duties for the day by the time he was done it was only half one in the afternoon so he grabbed a book and went out onto the porch for the rest of the afternoon, Only coming in to make a quick dinner and get himself up to his room unpacking a few more things before making his way to bed.

Thomas went through his days in this first week with his routine sticking to it like glue with only minor changes like what fruit went into his morning smoothie, which gym machine he went on and often how long he steamed in the sauna. He did his daily checks on the doors, windows, and rooms and did his daily tasks. Once finished for the day he went to his room and made sure to make the place clean even if he had made very little mess he still proceeded to clean the room as if he was expecting a royal visit, he set up his laptop on his desk and turned on the camera using it’s view in full screen to make sure he moved things out of the camera’s view, adding books to the table, making his bed with cushions, moving some clothes and items out of the view of the camera. He fixed his hair with some neon blue hair gel from a cheap plastic tub grabbed an intense handful and used it in the mirror to flatten his fluffy hair down into a flat, slimy style. The tips of his hair became crispy and the whole of his head looked thick with grease. He changed into a button-down shirt and slipped on a gold chain with a large cross. He let out a sigh and sat on his chair checking the time as he adjusted himself a little before shutting down the camera and making a call.

The Speakers played the dialling sound a good four times before it clicked and revealed the nicely decorated beige room with a woman sitting on a chair.

She sat in an ankle-length yellow dress with long white sleeves and a pronounced white collar. On the top collar of her left side sat a brooch of sparkling silver gems in the shape of an ichthys fish with a crucifix inside and some flowers down the side. A Chain around her neck leads to her dress. She had the same pale skin as Thomas, a light red head of upright pin curls, intense makeup and some bright pink lipstick.

“Hello Pumpkin!” She smiled widely

“Hi Mama” He smiled

“You see me?”

“Yeah, Yeah I see you. You see me okay?”

“Yes, I see you fine Pumpkin” she smiled

“Great,”

“Where are your glasses, Thomas?”

“Ohh there here. I was just cleaning them” he says grabbing a pair of thick black glasses from the side of his desk and slipping them on quickly

“Ahh, So how goes the new job?”

“Uhh yeah it's fine, been getting all my work done it's great”

“That’s lovely, Must be lovely all the time to sit with the bible and read. Just a shame you can’t visit for mass though”

“Yeah I’ll be okay though here on my own”

“I’m sure you will, It’s just a shame we all won’t get to see you” She explained

“So how are things with you?”

“Ohh it’s been so lovely pumpkin we’ve had so much work in the church lately, we had some sweet visitors from the local choir groups this week, and we got some fresh new carpeting” She explained listing various things without much relevance mostly about her work.

Thomas managed to have a break as she sipped her tea and he quickly took the chance to change the subject “So, How’s Martin?”

“He’s been working so hard lately, he did a lovely sermon yesterday, He’s been so busy with his school program work. And we’ve been planning a little getaway for our wedding anniversary”

“Ahh that sounds great where are you going to go?”

“We’re planning on going to Gabon on a three-week mission”

“Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“If you weren’t working you could come with us”

“It's okay I wouldn’t want to impost, I’m sure you two will have lots of fun and I’ve got enough work to do here” He said

“Ohh Hey kiddo” A voice chimed in as Martin Montgomery came into view in his washed-out jeans and black collar shirt “How’s the island?”

“It’s great thanks, getting all my work done”

“Good lad. Lord Loves a busy soul” he said

“Yeah, absolutely” Thomas nodded “I uhh I’ll have to run actually my laundry’s just finished downstairs”

“Of course, don’t forget your daily prayers and have a nice few days Thomas my love”

“I will mama, I’ll talk to you both soon”

“Bye kiddo” Martin waved

“Bye Pumpkin” she cooed

“Bye” He waved and soon enough the call rang off he quickly unplugged the camera, turned off his laptop and threw his glasses on the side letting out a deep sigh as he removed the chain from his neck sitting it back on the desk without much thought.

Thomas found himself walking in the gardens of the hotel, with his mug of tea in hand. The sky was a dusky darkness the sun having set below the horizon but still some light in the sky even if it was quickly disappearing, Thomas walked his shoes forcing sound from the gravel path. But as time went on the more worried Thomas seemed to get as he seemed to find himself going around the garden in circles, finding himself puzzled by the hedges, flowers and paths constantly finding himself back at the fountain in the centre of the garden. No matter what direction he took he seemed to keep finding his way back with no sign of the way back to the hotel's doors. The light getting dimmer by the minute with no lights in the garden at all. He began to get angry from the frustration and panic his walk got faster turning into a run trying to find his way out of the gardens but they seemed to loop around him as if the gardens themselves were changing to keep him there. He left his mug behind and tried desperately to trace his steps, to use the light still in the sky to find his way but always he ended up back at the fountain.

For a moment Thomas stopped to catch his breath on the edge of the fountain. The grey stone circle holding the mossy water, a tall podium in the centre where water would flood down if it had been running. On top of the podium were two stone statues one a man covered only with a sheet across his crotch, in the arms of a woman in a long hooded dress bringing thoughts of the famous pietà, yet in this, the male body was not dead fact the face read to be screaming out as if in agony and the woman who cradled him in her arms had sharp demonic teeth having bit his skin open. Thomas forced himself up and purposely headed off away from the fountain but no matter what way he went he always found himself back at the fountain panic now rushed through Thomas as he raced around the garden desperate to find his way, he saw the light of the hotel that he had left on and he sighed in relief making his way towards the doors.

But as soon as Thomas's foot stepped up on the wooden step a dark green vine wrapped around his ankle tightly forcing him to the floor

Thomas screamed trying to pull it off his ankle but the vine simply tightened and began to drag his body back towards the garden, Thomas screamed and kicked digging his nails into the dirt and gravel and trying desperately to crawl towards the hotel, but the vines were far too strong pulling him faster into the garden through the grass and flowers no matter how hard he tried to prevent it the vines only got tighter and stronger forcing him back to the fountain where more vines arrived breaking through the ground to wrap around his every appendage forcing him into the flowers and dirt trying to pull him underground

"ahhhhh-" Thomas screamed sitting up in bed and putting a hand to his racing chest as he gasped "It's fine. I'm fine. Everythings fine" he muttered to himself laying back down on his pillow trying to get back to sleep

but seconds later the alarm began to sound so He turned over and turned it off rubbing his eyes and trying to get his head on straight before he noticed the tent he had created in the covers

"Oh... not now you" he sighed to himself before forcing himself out of bed.

Thomas had woken to the alarm, it quickly rose him and he sat against his headboard rubbing his eyes. He turned it off and exited the bed with vigour, headed to the bathroom to do his usual business and he gave his teeth a complete brush. Once the shower was heated up he stripped off and climbed under the refreshing water using a good puddle of body wash, and a good squirt of shampoo and going without conditioner today as he did attempt to squeeze the thick conditioner from the bottle but decided against it before any reached his hand, Once done he took a fresh towel and dried off before getting dressed into his loose blue shorts and a half-sleeve white shirt. He grabbed his items all loaded into a bag and left the room in a smooth walk.

He headed down the stairs to the main lobby of the hotel, he walked through to the ballroom.

He unrolled his sticky Matt leaving it in its usual place, He took the bottle with him to the kitchen, setting it on the countertop. He went to the fridge grabbed only strawberries and some power in a large tub from the pantry and returned to the counter with them, he diced his strawberries fairly large still and added it to the blender with a few scoops of the powder letting it all mix as he returned what remained of his strawberries and the powder back to their places. By then his bright pink smoothie was done. He filled his bottle with the smoothie and returned the bottle to the corner of his mat. He then took this phone over to the back of the stage and set it up with the speakers. Soon enough sweet relaxing sounds of fire cracking, wind blowing, and gentle rain on glass began to play. He headed over to his mat and gave his body a stretch before he opened a small pink Yoga book sitting it in front of his mat.

The first page has instructions and images for the downward-facing dog which Thomas proceeded to move into, his arm then came and flicked to the next page revealing instructions and images for a worrier pose which he slowly moved into, he then flicked to the next page with the instructions and images for mountain pose which he moved into. Thomas let out a slow breath and picked up his bottle having a sip smiling as he swallowed a decent mouthful. He quickly put the bottle down and continued on with the pages proceeding through Straightforward bend, Low lunge, pyramid, triangle and Garland pose without too much trouble even if he was shaky and unbalanced, and there were a few times his body clicked and cracked. He moved into a tree pose even if he was never actually still unable to balance on his one leg.

"I am a tree. I am a tall, peaceful tree. " He gasped "I. Am. At. Peace." He then moved the pages and went to a plank then a cobra pose, then a bridge pose clearly enjoying himself a lot in that pose before ending with corpse pose and enjoying more of the smoothie.

Once he forced himself up rolling his mat and leaving it at the side of the hall with his book grabbing his phone and bottle heading out the hall and across the lobby.

Soon enough Thomas reached the spa side of the hotel with the same green and purple theming but a little more sparse and modern. A long corridor with dark green tiles with strips of purple times dotted through it, the corridor littered with purple wooden doors, And three glass doors, One to a gym, one to a sauna and the last to the pool. He sat in the sauna with his smoothie for a good while working up a fair sweat and drinking most of his smoothie but stopping at the bottom as most of what remained at the bottom was simply the strawberry juice, blended seeds and the powder. Thomas got up after a while and headed into one of the small shower rooms leaving his bag in the locker as he showered himself off changing into a pair of swim shorts and heading to the other side through to the pool.

The walls and floors purple tiles with green to line the pool and such like a large window overlooking the garden, The pool is a large rectangle with a half circle hot tub at one end, a railing down one side of the hot tub to petter lay and relax, as well as built-in stone stairs to get in and out of both the pools. Round globe-like lights hung high enough they wouldn't be an issue to any swimmers and some small lights below the water.

Thomas fiddled with some things before he walked into the water and began to swim, at first letting the water soothe him then starting to swim laps around the pool edge doing a good five times round before he climbed out and swapped to the hot tub turning on its roaring bubbles and gentle heat

"Uhhh that is nice" He cooed moving to only his head remained above water the bubbles often lapping at his chin as he allowed the warm water and bubbles to care for his every bone. Even at times he held his breath and sank below the water to fully enjoy the bubbles before popping back up when he needed more air.

He took a good breath and sunk below the bubbles letting his body relax, He pushed himself up just above the bubbles opening his eyes but Thomas jumped as he saw a woman.

She stood by the edge of the pool, barefoot, in a long sage green dress with a ruffled hem, a flat collar with the same ruffles and a large green ribbon a few tones darker than the dress with a bow at the small of her back, she was a larger woman filling the dress well, she had long black hair in waves and curls, with a green fabric tied as a headband and a black ribbon tied in a bow around her neck like a choaker, her skin deathly pale, and her hands clasped behind her back.

Thomas panicked, by the time he jumped from the water she was gone.

Thomas bolted out and down the corridor back to the main lobby he checked the lifts were still empty and shut off, so he bolted to the stairs looking up the spiral well not seeing a soul. He went back and checked each of the doors finding them all locked. He quickly got his clothes back on and grabbed his key card.

Thomas checked each and every room himself, the kitchen, the dining room, the library, the gym, the lobby, ballroom, and every single one of the hotel's bedrooms. And he found nothing.

No sign of anyone but himself, no books moved, no blankets pulled out, no curtains askew. No sign that anyone but himself had been here since the doors were locked.

He calmed down a little cleaning up the water from where he ran out of the pool, and he sat in the lobby's office checking cameras at the time he was in the pool, He watched them until he saw himself, no-one went through the lobby until he did, he saw no-one run out, no one went down the corridor until he ran out looking like a mad man on the camera. He even checked the pool camera watching himself swim, watching him bob in the hot tub and then climb out and run away like a creature possessed no one entered or exited the room, no woman was on the camera.

"I must be loosing my mind" he sighed

Thomas double-checked the cameras a lot, as he found himself unable to settle without checking every inch of the hotel on fast-forward for the last twenty-four hours camera by the camera just in case but he never saw anything of note. He locked his bedroom door and left a chair in front of it he barely got any sleep holding his phone in hand almost all night just in case he needed to call for help. Eventually, he forced himself to bed for the night.

He woke with his alarm and got on with his usual business doing his yoga and having a few minutes on the treadmill before he returned to do some dishes in the kitchen left from yesterday's panic, When His phone began to make its ring.

He took it from his pocket and saw 'Jack Montgomery'

"Hey, Jack."

"Hey man you okay?" he asked

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, How's you?"

"Ohh you know could be shitter" He laughed "I've got a couple of days without a post to deliver how about I come up and have a drink and dinner?"

"My my that does sound enticing, You going to take me dancing too?" He chuckled leaning on the kitchen counter side

"Don't be a dick Thomas"

"Sorry, yeah sure come up I'll make you dinner and we can have a drink in the bar"

"You mind I take a room for the night?"

"No no, no problem I'll make the bed in one of the grand rooms."

"Ohh very nice, right I'll see you in a bit"

"See you in a bit. Be careful on that causeway"

"I will Mum" he chuckled before hanging up

Thomas finished the dishes and sorted the place out making up a bed in the suite next to his own before heading down to unlock the front door as he saw Jack's car pull up.

"My my, living large these days aren't you Thomas?" He laughed "Mansion big enough for you?"

"Ohh you know, It's not full of playful bunnies But I'll do" he chuckled "Come on I'll show you around the place"

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