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The Hotel
You can only check out when you die

Angela Warren looked out her motel window. She sighed. It was night and a raging storm was outside howling. Her boyfriend, Charles, should have been back hours ago. They were staying at the motel to sightsee in the little town nearby, and Charles had left for the supermarket earlier. Maybe the storm stopped him? She wondered. They had checked in yesterday morning and were given this nice little room on the second floor. They had then gone to sleep. This morning they unpacked and secured a spot at the hotel in a nearby town. They could leave tomorrow morning. Then Charles had gone for groceries. He hadn’t been back. Angela sighed again. Where was he?

Arriana DaVere sat on her bed in her motel room, watching TV. She ate from a bowl of pot noodle. This is the life, she thought as she watched the pouring rain through her window. She was staying overnight here at the motel, one of those two story motor lodges with outside walkways. It looked nice, and her friend Chaz recommended it to her when she had left, Chaz was the friend in town she had came to visit. They would get breakfast tomorrow and then she would leave. It had been nice to see him. Fun, too. She grabbed her cell to call him. ”Shit” she exclaimed. “No service.” Ah, well, it could wait. Getting up, Arriana threw away her empty pot noodle tin in the wastebasket and got under her bedcovers. At least she could relax…

Madison Parker reached into the shower of her motel room. She grabbed the complimentary shampoo and conditioner and tossed them in the trash, then replaced them with her own shampoo and conditioner. Putting her makeup tin on the bathroom counter, she heard the motel room door open and close. That would be Charlie, her boyfriend, leaving to get gas. She left the bathroom and smiled. On the front table there was cocoa with a large For You note beneath it. She and Charlie had come here after driving all night yesterday. They saw the town today and then the storm started. They ate a nice dinner (Madison lost track of him at lunch, so that was nice) and now she was going to take a shower. She chugged the cocoa. Tasty.

Otis Ambrose sat on the bed, TV on, heart pounding, still damp. He had checked in about two hours ago in the storm. He had been driving and he had seen a hitchhiker. Otis had stopped to pick him up, but the man had buried an axe into the side of his truck. He peeled away and drove like mad and almost whizzed by the motel where he then checked in. He began to change into the dry clothes that were in his suitcase. He wished he could tell someone, but he had a grand theft auto charge from a long time ago, and he now hated policemen of all kinds. Otis was driving on a cross country trip, and had just seen more of the real world than he ever wanted to see again. At least he had to meet someone in town tomorrow. He had planned to meet them at a hotel about forty miles away, but that could wait. Sighing heavily, he put on an old T-shirt and boxers and got in bed. He could see three other lit rooms. Wonder what they were doing…

Angela lay back on the bed. Charles still hadn’t been back, and it was 10: 30. The thunder clapped and lightning flashed, illuminating a silhouette through her curtain. Charles? No the figure walked past her room. She sighed heavily. All alone. I might as well go to sleep, she thought. More thunder. A loud bang. Another lighting bolt briefly showed a person running away past her window. The clap of a swinging door in the wind. Startled, Angela tugged on her bathrobe, stepped outside, and screamed in horror.

Arriana’s eyes flickered. She yawned and glanced at the clock.10:30. She yawned again. A knock at the door jolted her. More knocks. “Coming!” She yelled. Going to the door, she noted with surprise and more than a little dismay that she was still in her jeans. Arriana opened the door. “What do you wa-argh!” She cried. The person standing there had just shot her in the stomach. The bullet grazed her side and Arriana fell and smacked her head on the doorframe hard. She fell out the door onto the walkway as they ran away. As her consciousness faded, she saw a door down the hall open. Help…she thought.

Madison’s eyes shot open. She was lying in the shower’s tub with water pouring over her. She saw the clock. 10: 30. She tried to remember. She had been feeling sleepy and must have passed out. She saw the cocoa mug shattered on the tile. The cocoa! Shakily she stumbled to the kitchenette and stopped. Madison realized she was still clothed as she scanned the counter. I must have fallen backwards after I turned on the water, she thought. Her eyes stopped in horror on an open bottle of sleep draught. Oh, God, She thought. She had to leave. She heard the door open and shut. Hidden from sight by a bit of the wall, Madison slowly reached for and grabbed the coffeemaker. The figure walked into the kitchenette. Madison clobbered the man with the coffeemaker and ran.

Otis looked at his clock.10: 30. He couldn’t sleep. Otis got out of bed and looked out his window. He noticed the room in the left section had the door wide open and the lights on. Otis yanked on his coat and ran to that room. What the- he thought as he ran. He wondered if anyone was in trouble. Reaching the door he stepped in and looked around. No one. The shower was on, but the door was open, so he could tell it wasn’t occupied. He walked into the kitchen and saw a woman raising a coffeemaker. Then everything went dark.

“Oh, my god…”Angela trailed off as she stood in front of Arriana. She slowly eased her up into her arms and went to take Arriana to her room. With equal parts horror and panic, Angela realized she had locked herself out. Wait! There was a light in one of the center rooms. They could help this girl. Her cell didn’t get service. She had figured that out when she had tried to call Charles earlier. Arriana's conscious slowly began to return. She looked up at Angela, and was out again.

Otis tried to open his eyes. It worked. The blow must have been superficial. He ran out the door. That woman had clobbered him with a cheap motel coffeemaker that now lay busted on the floor. As he looked he saw that she was banging on his door. Great. He noticed with shock that a woman carrying another woman was also running to the door of his room. What the hell? Wondered Otis. He rushed to his room. ‘Hey!” he yelled to them. They all turned. The dark haired one that hit him shrieked and pounded more on the door. The blonde carrying the Hispanic one finally reached the door as he did. “What the hell?” he asked the one that hit him. “I thought you were my boyfriend Charlie.” She stammered. “Some boyfriend he is…” said the other girl. “He drugged me and I passed out and almost drowned in my shower.” The dark haired girl said.” I’m Madison. “Otis.” said Otis. “And I now agree with …””Angela” said Angela. “I don’t know this girl but she’s been hurt. Let us in.’ Otis obliged and Angela dropped Arriana on the bed. “Oh, my god, I think she’s been shot! Call an ambulance!’” Thass’k I’m fine.” Arriana grimaced as she vainly tried to sit up. “Arriana. A man shot me at the door.” She whispered. “The bullet didn’t hurt, falling did.” Madison shivered as Otis quickly shut and locked his door. “You probably hit your head.” she said, worried. Angela ran for the phone. Disconnected. “Damn” she swore aloud. “C’mon Charles!” ”Charles?” Asked Arriana. “My boyfriend. He left for groceries and I haven’t seen him since.” Angela was noticeably worried. “Otis sat on the bed and sighed. “A hitchhiker attacked me coming here.” he breathed. “Axed my car. “What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.” An ethereal voice shouted. Everyone jumped and Madison shrieked. Otis ran to the door, unlocked it, and then whipped it open. No one was there, but on the door someone had written Charles, Charlie, and Chaz. They group studied the writing for about five seconds when Otis said “All the same name.” “Wait!” Madison had an epiphany. “That’s my boyfriend! Who are the other names?” Otis sighed. “They’re the same name!” he repeated. “Chaz is my friend I came here to see!” shouted Arriana hoarsely. “But Charles is my boyfriend!” reiterated Angela. Otis was the last epiphany, but the women set his mind in place. Slowly, he said “Charles is the half-brother I was to see tomorrow. He’s screwing with us all” Madison trembled with, not fear, but anger. “How could he!” She yelled. “I loved him and he tried to kill me!” Otis grabbed her carefully. “Madison, “he said “It’s over. We figured him out. Let’s call the police in the office.” Madison nodded and the group stepped out the door. A figure stepped up to them. It was Charles. “Oh,” He said, drawing a gun and putting it to Otis’s head. “I don’t think so.” His blond hair flew in the pounding gusts of wind. Madison gasped. Charles smiled at Otis. “Brother.” He turned the gun away at a person walking towards them in the courtyard and pulled the trigger. They fell to the ground. Arriana lunged at him when he turned away. “Jack-oof!” He whipped around and threw her off the second floor balcony down to the courtyard. Madison shrieked.

Angela had run away silently. She had to make it to the office. She got to the courtyard and ran across. Shit! Where was the office? Above her she saw Arriana fall. “Arriana!” she yelled. “No!” Arriana landed in a heap in front of the roses and got up, wounded and sprinting. Angela continued. Where’s the damn office?!? On the balcony Otis tackled Charles as Madison ran down the left wing. A gunshot rang out. Angela sprinted away. Another gunshot. Grass shot up next to her. She was the target! Angela tried to move, but a bang and a piercing pain stopped her. She fell to the ground, shot through the back. As the world spun and faded and the rain poured, she saw Madison bolt. Godspeed, Madison. Then she was out.

Arriana screamed as she fell. She hit the ground, splashing into a puddle in front of a rose bush. She sprinted off, only vaguely aware of her backwards ankle. There was a thud from above her on the balcony. The office should be clearly marked, she thought. It’s a hazard when you’re trying to escape from a psycho killer. She turned back. The balcony was empty. Damn. Where was Charles? Shots rang out. As Arriana gained her bearings, she saw Angela fall. She tried to run to her, but her ankle wouldn’t. She hid behind a fountain in the center of the court and exhaled. Lightning flashed, revealing Charles standing beside her. Before she could scream his gun went off into blackness.

Otis gasped. Brother… He hadn’t thought that his half-brother was this man. He was here to meet him before his trip, and now he was going to kill them all. Not if I have something to do with it. Otis tackled Charles and Charles promptly hit him and ran, firing down at the courtyard on his way. Lightning flashed and he was gone. Otis ran to follow Madison and saw a sigh that read SERVICE STAIRS. He ran down those and into a tunnel and arrived at the bottom of the pool. What the hell kind of service stairs were those!?! Is suicide a service!?! He swam rapidly to the top, to see Arriana being shot by his brother. She slumped over. Otis yelled, but it was drowned away in a thunderclap. Charles looked over at him, waved, and shot him. Otis tried to dodge it like in the movies, but bullets move faster than he thought, and it pierced his leg before he could flinch. Otis splashed back into the pool and slammed his head on the cement wall and floated to the surface unconscious.

Madison shrieked. Brother! Oh god, she had to go get help. She ran past them as Otis tackled Charles. Her feet clattered and slid as they hit the puddles. She skidded and splattered in a puddle as she turned to go down the left side. She heard gunshots and thunder, but neither stopped her. Thundering down the stairs, heart pounding, hair matted to her, she wondered how she got into this. More importantly, she thought. Where’s the office? Like the others, she had checked in via the booth in front. Wait! That would be near the office, you dumbass! She kept along the left side, hearing someone splash in the pool. Shit! She reached the booth after a few minutes. Frantically she looked for the office. Where was it!?! Madison turned and groaned inwardly. Of course. She saw it directly across the court. Well, here goes nothing. She raced over. At about half way, she was tackled. Charles snarled. “I saved you for last.” He hissed. “Oh yeah? Well keep saving!” Madison kicked him hard in the face with her high-heel and grabbed his gun. She fired it at him blindly, and then hurled it into the darkness. Sprinting towards the office door, she fell once or five times and finally got to it. “Heeellpp!” She pounded on it.” Help us!” A light went on in the office and upstairs. Suddenly, a crushing weight slammed her to the locked door. People yelled. “You thought I’d give up?” asked Charles in mock disappointment. “I’m appalled.” With this, he drew a dagger and plunged it into Madison’s chest. Blood stained her shirt and lips. She fell back and was caught. Someone had opened the door! As two men grabbed a willing Charles, Madison crashed to the office floor and faded into unconsciousness.

The police arrived five minutes after Madison’s rescue attempt. She had startled the owner by banging on the door and screaming. He had been up checking bills, and when he opened the door, she had fallen. He had looked up to see his janitors grabbing an armed man.

Oliver and Kevin Post, two of the three workers employed at the motel, had heard something outside from their room and went to check. They saw Madison get attacked and quickly seized the man, acting on impulse.

Alvin Galena, the third employee, was found dead in the courtyard by police. It is speculated that he saw the balcony fight and went to help, but was shot through the heart.

The service stairs Otis used were to unclog and clean the pool filters. They are now marked “Do not enter! Danger of death or other stuff!”

Otis and Charles were half-brothers with the same mother. They were going to meet again for the first time in eleven years. No one knew about the girls.

Charles had said that the attack was premeditated. Otis fell into place, but wasn’t part of the first plan. The homicidal hitchhiker was found to be unrelated, and was caught the next night when he tried his scheme on a woman who was a jiu-jitsu and karate teacher.

Madison Parker, Otis Ambrose. Arriana DaVere and Angela Warren were all found to be alive. They were immediately given medical care. Madison received treatment for a stab wound near the heart and minor head trauma, Arriana for a grazed hip, broken ankle, torn ligaments, and a gunshot wound to the chest, which ended up piercing her lung, Otis for water inhalation, chlorine poisoning, and a gunshot wound to the stomach, and Angela for a gunshot wound to the back and a slipped disk. They all gave testimonies that painted a perfect picture of the night’s events and put Charles Sauer behind bars forever.

Charles Sauer was executed on July 3RD for one count of first degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. Madison, Otis, Arriana, and Angela attended.

But now we’re ahead of ourselves…

Madison looked over the cityscape from the bench in the hospitals courtyard. The warm wind blew and a faint glow tinted the sky, signalling the start of sunset. She sighed. It was one week since that night. She was halfway through rehab, as were the others. At least that horrible man was jailed. That immoral bastard was unrepentant and actually happy, singing in his padded cell. The trial was soon, and Madison hoped they’d kill the rat. From across the court, Otis walked over to Madison and sat down. “It’s over, you know.” He said. Madison looked at him. “I know,” she said. “It was just so awful.” “It’s okay.” he soothed. She looked away and he pulled her head back and kissed her. They had grown closer to each other, as they were in the same group therapy, and subsequently lunch, group. Soon the closeness had changed into something neither wanted to focus on for a while. They sat in silence watching the sunset. Angela and Arriana exited the complex and, spotting the two, walked over. “Look at that sunset!” Arriana whistled. The others nodded. Angela hadn’t spoken a word since. She never would. Something about surgery complications and spinal cord interaction with the brain. She was undergoing sign-language classes. They stood there, watching the colors drench the sky as the day slowly ended. These four strangers were now bonded by trauma, horror, and a strange type of compassion for each other. Whatever happened, they would always be there for each other. And that, not the defeat of the evil, was the real victory.

THE END