O N E
“Come on, you wimps, it’s just a hotel.” Mady says as the group of girls park their bikes outside the dark building. “The pictures online don’t even look that bad. It’s not like anyone goes here anymore.” The blonde reasons, flipping a piece of hair off of her shoulder.
“I don’t know,” Jayna sighs, “this place looks a lot different than it did in the pictures. It looks.. Scarier. Are you sure this is a good idea?” Mady was already on the steps next to Brianna who was retying her hair.
“Come on, guys. It’ll be fine.” Brianna says, finished with her scrunchie. “Gabby, put your kickstand up, let’s go.” Lily hesitantly made her way to the landing where the other girls had gathered. Mady takes her camera out, putting it into the selfie-stick holster.
“Hey guys!” Mady says, holding the camera away from her so that more of the girls can be seen. “So, we are currently at Hotel Gambil, and, as you can see, it’s hella creepy.” Mady turns the camera to show the looming building before them. “The windows look so gothic, too. This place is probably so old.”
Mady stamps her foot lightly on the floor to check it and it creaks in response. “Can we just go in already, guys? Let’s just get this over with.” Lily complains, regretting her choice to even start their combined YouTube channel.
“Should we go in on a count of three?” Brianna asked, looking at the scared faces around her. “Or do you guys want to all hold hands?” She adds with a small chuckle.
“Lesbian.” Mady whispers into the circle, taking her friend’s hand anyway. Gabby turns the handle of the door and it immediately creaks open. The inside is too dark to see, so Jayna reaches for the nearest light switch. When Lily finally finds it, she flips it on.
The lights turn on slowly, one by one. The light they illuminate is barely enough to see by, and the girls squint as they look around. “The camera isn’t picking any of this up.” Mady says in annoyance, turning on the camera’s flashlight. “That should be better.” The camera shifts around the empty space before settling on Brianna. “Are you spooped, Bri?” Mady asks as the blue haired girl shields her eyes from the bright light.
“Yes, Man Lady, this is soo scary. Gabs, see if you can find another light switch somewhere.” Brianna begins to walk over to the ominous staircase, searching for any light switches further in the building. Mady is still mumbling to the camera when Lily pokes the fake flower vases.
The fabric covering the floor was littered with different prisms and shapes, all forming random patterns. The stairs were a dark blood red, looking almost like a red carpet. “Take a picture of me.” Jayna says happily, handing Gabby her phone. The hoodie-clad girl takes her phone and adds the flash, taking a quick photo of Jayna with her arms thrown up, a large smile on her face. “Thanks.”
Brianna finally finds another light switch, flipping it on as everyone else groans at the sudden change of lighting. “Sorry.” The girl winces, taking her phone out and informing her story that the girls were currently at the hotel. “Now would you guys like to venture?”
The rooms seem to get darker and darker as the group explores, some of them full of old garbage while some of them were actual hotel rooms. “I wouldn’t want to sleep here.” Lily says as she looks at the rotted out mattress in the room. The furniture was all painted white but had chipped over time, going back to its original oak wood. Tables and chairs were turned over in various rooms, but no other signs suggested that anyone had ever been in the hotel before.
“This place isn’t too sketchy, we’ve been to worse.” Jayna agrees, looking into the bathrooms. “Creepy and ominous, yeah, but not that bad.” Footsteps from outside echo through the hallway, making all five girls lift their heads. “Did you guys see someone else come in?”
“Maybe it’s just our minds playing tricks with us. We’re fine, guys.” Gabby says, looking back at the broken dresser before her.
The echoes seem to only get louder and louder, coming nearer and nearer. “You’re sure it’s just our imaginations?” Brianna breathes out, making her way next to Mady who was already about to exit the room. Camera in hand, they both walk out into the hallway, the other three girls not far behind. The footsteps stop, everything suddenly going completely silent.
“May I help you with your luggage?” Comes a voice from behind the girls, startling them as they turn with a jump. The flashlight on Mady’s camera reveals a man standing in the hall. Clad in ALDO dress shoes with a traditional butler uniform. His sleeves were slightly rolled up, his vest a dark red to match the stairs. “May I help you with your luggage?” He repeats, slower this time.
“I thought this place was abandoned.” Gabby whispers. The girls look among themselves, unsure what to say to the man.
“Who are you?” Mady eventually gets out, holding the camera close to her. “Do you work here?” When she doesn’t get a response, Mady continues to talk. “Sorry to intrude, sir, we’re just kids here to upload a video for our YouTube channel.”
When the man still doesn’t respond, Brianna gets frustrated with him. “Look, dude, we’re not here to start any trouble. If we’re a problem, we can go ahead and leave.”
“No. No problem at all. Stay.” Says the man, rolling his sleeves up even more. “Stay.” He then repeats, locking the door before the girls can even begin to walk towards it. The girls all look at each other in fear, wondering what to do now. “I’ll take you to your room.”
