by Willow Rose
One of the waiters from the restaurant came into the lobby carrying bottles of water. Emma took a couple and gave one to Line who drank greedily.
"So what do we do now?" Line whispered to Emma. "Do we just stay here in the lobby all night or should we go into the restaurant and get something to eat, or what?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know." She glanced at Preben. "We can't leave him here in case whoever did it returns to finish the job."
"Of course not," Line said without meaning it. She really didn't care what happened to that bastard, but could hardly say so out loud. She was getting hungrier now and could smell the food from the kitchen. She found a chair to sit on, but it wasn't very comfortable. It annoyed her to know that right next door in the Green Room she could sit down comfortably.
"Why don't we just transport him next door?" she asked.
"I'm afraid it will be too painful for him to be moved," Emma said.
Line growled.
So what if it is painful? The guy inflicted pain on all of us for years without caring. He's a sick bastard who no one will ever miss if he dies. If you only knew, Emma. If you only knew you, wouldn't be so eager to help him out.
She wanted to say something, but held it back. Emma wouldn't understand. She didn't know what Line knew. Meanwhile, Line's stomach was almost hurting with hunger.
"I have to go to the bathroom," she said and stood up.
"There’s one right down the hallway," Emma said and pointed.
"I'll use the one in the restaurant instead," Line said and started walking. "Be right back."
34
December 2013
SOREN WATCHED LINE LEAVE THE lobby through the door to The Yellow Room where they had enjoyed their lunch. Soren didn't feel hungry at all. He kept drinking to make sure he didn't feel anything. But it was getting harder and harder to drown out the fear and the sadness. The fact was, he still had no idea what he was going to do.
Soren looked at Preben and grinned. Then he stuck his hand inside his pocket and felt the knife.
Just do it, Soren. Finish him off. You've wanted to do this for so long. You've dreamt about it, haven't you? This is your one chance. You'll never get it back. Do it for Ida. You have nothing to lose. Nothing.
Preben was squirming on the mattress. "Give me a drink," he moaned and looked at Soren. "Give me something for the pain, please?"
I'll give you something for the pain, alright.
Soren grabbed the handle and was about to pull out the knife when suddenly he was interrupted by a scream and a thud coming from upstairs. Everybody in the lobby looked at one another. Except Preben who didn't seem to care and was still screaming for painkillers. Soren gave him his drink and he guzzled it down with a groan. Soren's eyes met Jacob's.
"What was that?" Emma asked.
She walked closer to the stairs and looked like she was listening. Her eyes were anxious. Soren felt his heart rate go up as well.
The two bell-boys looked at each other with fear.
Soren got up from his chair. "I'll go up and check," he said.
"You shouldn't go alone," Emma said, concerned.
"Of course not," Soren said with a grin. "I'll take Preben with me."
"Very funny," Preben groaned.
Soren turned his head and looked into Jacob's eyes. Jacob was shaking his head.
"Jacob can go with me," Soren said, feeling the handle of the knife between his fingers in the pocket of his pants.
Jacob looked at Soren like he was making up his mind. "Okay," he said and stood up. "I'll go with you."
Soren smiled from ear to ear while Jacob approached him. He put his hand on Jacob's shoulder.
"Hurry back," Emma said.
"Oh we will," Soren said as they walked closer to the stairs. "Probably won't take long."
Just as long as it will take to bleed to death from a stab wound.
Soren made room for Jacob on the stairs. "After you," he said.
"Let's just get this over with," Jacob said with a tired voice and walked up the first couple of steps.
Soren watched him closely as he moved. He scanned his back for the perfect spot, the one right between the shoulder blades where he was planning on stabbing him. If done right, he would die instantaneously. But Jacob was broad between the shoulders and very muscular. It was going to take all of Soren's strength to push the knife through.
Soren followed Jacob up the flight of stairs with his eyes fixated on his back imagining how he was going to do it and grinning at the thought of how wonderful it was going to feel. Finally, finally he would get his revenge. On both of them. Once he was done with Jacob he would move on to Preben. It was almost too easy.
Like it was meant to be. Like the universe or God or the devil or whoever reigned in this cruel world had planned it all for him.
35
December 2013
THEY REACHED THE END OF the stairs and started walking down the hallway, going from room to room, opening the doors to look inside, then closing them again. Jacob didn't care much about this clerk and, frankly, didn't care if they found him dead or alive. But he did care about Soren and still wanted to get rid of him. This was an excellent chance.
"Anything?" Soren asked when Jacob poked his head inside one of the rooms. They had borrowed a master key to all the rooms from one of the bell-boys downstairs and Jacob was the one holding it and opening all the doors. Soren was right behind him and it made him feel slightly uncomfortable. He didn't like the way Soren grinned when he turned his head and looked at him and he didn't like the look in his eyes either. Jacob couldn't wait to put his strong hands around his neck and just strangle him. Shut him up once and for all.
Jacob shook his head. "No. Let's try the next one."
They walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the next room. Jacob wondered when he should strike. He was going to be careful not to do it too early. He wanted them to reach further down the hallway so no one downstairs would hear it when he made his move. Jacob was way stronger than Soren so he wasn't expecting much of a struggle, but still didn't want to take any chances.
"Did she scream?" Soren suddenly asked as Jacob put the key in a new door. Jacob froze in the middle of swiping the key-card.
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "Don't go all weird on me now. I need your help with this."
"You know very well what and who I'm talking about," Soren said, sounding suddenly very sober.
Jacob swiped the card again, the door clicked and he opened it. He turned and looked at Soren. "Don't go there, Soren. Not now, okay?"
Jacob turned with the intention of walking into the room, but Soren stopped him by pulling his shoulder. He took the keycard out of his hand. "I want to know."
Jacob exhaled. "No you don't."
"Let me be the judge of that. I want to know what you did to her."
Jacob peeked inside the room. "Hello?" he said. No answer. The room didn't look like there had been anyone living there. He closed the door again, then turned to face Soren.
"What did you do to her?" Soren asked again. His lips were shivering as he spoke. His eyes blistering with hatred. "You tied her up in my own basement where she died of dehydration. But what did you do to her. Did you …" Soren was gritting his teeth. "Did you … rape her?"
Jacob really didn't want to have this conversation now and pushed Soren aside and started walking towards the next rooms. They were almost at the end of the hallway now and maybe far enough for him to do it there. So what if they heard something? He would just kill all of them if he had to. That was the best solution anyway.
"I'm not talking about this with you now," Jacob said harshly.
"Then when? For all these years I’ve been wondering. For every moment of my life ever since that day she was found, I have wondered what went on before you tied her down. What horror did you expose her to? The police said she had intercourse prior to being tied down but found no semen inside of her. Did you rape her using a condom so you
wouldn't leave DNA, huh?"
Jacob chuckled. "You really have a vivid imagination don't you?" He leaned over and pulled Soren's shirt. "If I were you I'd leave it, alright? It's all in the past. Let it stay there."
Jacob let go of Soren's shirt, then turned his back on him and started walking again. In front of him, there was a new door. It was much bigger than the others. A double door with hand carved wood.
"This must be the Honeymoon Suite, don't you think?" he said and studied the beautiful old door. This was the perfect place. He would make Soren go inside with him, then kill him when they were inside. "Give me the key-card please." He said and reached out his hand without looking at Soren.
Soren reached into his pocket, pulled out his knife, and planted in between Jacob’s shoulder blades. Jacob screamed and fell forward into the door. It wasn't locked and it opened to reveal a huge room behind it. Jacob fell onto the carpet with a loud bump. The pain in his back was excruciating, yet he managed to lift himself up on his knees and turn to look at Soren behind him.
"What the HELL?" Jacob yelled.
Soren seemed surprised that Jacob was still alive. He stared anxiously at him. "I hate you!" he yelled back. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. All of you. All of this! You've ruined my life!"
Then he turned around and ran. Jacob gritted his teeth in pain, then yelled after him:
"That's right, buddy. You better run. Once I get my hands on you, you're done! Do you hear me? You're done!"
36
September 2005
"WHAT'S THIS?"
Maria threw a newspaper on the table in front of Erik. He was sitting in his office, which had become his entire world, since he refused to go anywhere anymore, let alone let anyone see him.
Erik looked at the paper and the article Maria wanted him to see, then he pushed it away, grabbed the wheels of his chair and rolled away.
"Toothpaste," he said.
"Listen, Erik. I know this isn't easy for you. It is hard on all of us. Especially the girls since you refuse to see them. But to write your own obituary and run it in the paper, that's just sick, Erik. It's sick. I've had a ton of phone calls from all kinds of people this morning telling me how sorry they are for my loss. Not to mention all the flowers that keep coming and now fill our entire dining room downstairs. I have no idea what to do with them."
Erik didn't look at her. He stared at the curtains that hadn't been pulled aside in the office since he came home from the hospital. Maria had put his bed in there since he couldn't get up the stairs anymore, and it suited him well to be alone at night as well. He didn't want to see any of them ever again, but he depended on her help to get in and out of the chair. But not for long. He would find a way to make himself independent again, so she wouldn't have to stay with him out of pity. He wanted her to go. He wanted her to go out into the world and find herself a proper husband. One who could take care of her the way she deserved. She was still so beautiful and he was so ugly after the crash had severely disfigured his face. He wanted to tell her all this, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, he always ended up yelling at her. Mostly really bad words since they seemed to be the only ones he could say lately. That or random things like toothpaste or pencil. The worst part was that he had lost control over it. He had no idea what would come out of him next. And he could tell that his words hurt her. Even if she knew he couldn't control it, she was hurt by them. It was going to get better over the years, the doctor had told him, but he wasn't sure he was able to wait that long. He wasn't sure it was fair to Maria to have to wait for that. What if it never got better? Was she supposed to take this verbal abuse over and over again until he finally died and she got her life back? No, this was no life for her.
Erik had written a letter to her explaining all of this and now he handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked. It was funny how she still seemed to be expecting him to be able to explain himself or suddenly, somehow regain control of his brain.
"Toilet paper," he said.
Close enough when he wanted to say letter.
Maria tore the letter open and started reading. He observed her expression. She shook her head.
"You want me to go out and find another man?"
Erik shook his head, then grumbled something no one would be able to understand, let alone himself.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said and ripped the letter into pieces.
Erik couldn't tell her, but somewhere deep inside he was relieved. But it didn't last long. A few months later he realized that Maria had only pretended to not want to be with other men. Maybe to not hurt him. Maybe she had meant it, but later changed her mind. Either that or she had finally had enough of him and his yelling ugly things at her and calling her the most atrocious things. Since Erik wasn't able to perform in bed, he couldn't blame her, but it was hard for him to lie in his bed and listen to her having other men over, enjoying a glass of wine in front of the fireplace, and having sex on their couch while the children were sleeping upstairs. He really hadn't thought it would affect him like this, but it did. It hurt him badly and he tried to tell her by writing her another letter, but she just looked at him and tilted her head.
"You're the one who told me to do it, remember?"
He wrote her another note while she was standing next to him. I DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE. PLEASE STOP.
Maria shrugged. "So what are you going to do about it, huh? You're stuck to that chair and I'm the only one who can help you. I'm the only one who bothers with you even though you do nothing but yell at me and call me dirty names."
PLEASE LEAVE ME. I WANT A DIVORCE, he wrote.
Maria laughed, then took the piece of paper and rolled it up. "Oh no you don't," she said and stroked his head. "I'm staying here. You know as well as I do that if we get divorced, I get nothing. You made sure of that when you made me sign that prenup. I thought it didn't matter back then since you had nothing. But now you have everything and I helped you get it. I worked for this money too, sweetheart. I sacrificed everything for you. And even if I can't have the ending I was hoping for, I'm gonna take what I can get. I own part of this money as much as you do and I'm not turning my back on it. So this is how it is going to be from now on, buddy. I'm in charge and you answer to me."
Then she turned her back on him and walked out of the office, locking the door with the key behind her.
37
December 2013
I HEARD ANOTHER SCREAM COMING from up the stairs and it creeped me out. Line hadn't returned from the restroom yet and I was worried about her as well. Why was it taking her so long? Couldn't she find it?
Now that another scream sounded from upstairs I looked at Preben who still didn't seem to care, then at the bell-boys.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Who cares?" Preben yelled.
I took my phone out of my pocket once again and looked at it. Still no signal. The winds were howling outside and the gusts seemed to get stronger every minute now. To be frank, I really didn't know what to do next. Should I go up there and see what was going on? But that would mean leaving Preben and Line. Could I ask the bell-boys to go or maybe run into the kitchen and get someone else to do it?
Next thing I knew, I heard steps coming from upstairs. It sounded like someone was running. Then I heard what I thought sounded like Jacob's voice yelling something. Was he the one who had been screaming? Or was it Soren? I heard more steps running and yelling again. I looked at the bell-boys. They were both maybe around twenty years of age. Not big in size, but one of them at least seemed like he could protect me.
"You," I said and pointed at him.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I want you to come with me upstairs and see what is going on. What's you're name?"
"Jon."
"Jon you come with me." He got up and I was glad to see that he was bigger than he had appeared sitting down. I looked at the other guy. "What's your name?"
"Jesper."
"Jesper, you keep a
n eye on Preben Krogh here and make sure he is alright while we go upstairs and see what the heck is going on. Okay?"
Jesper nodded. "Sure."
"Follow me, Jon," I said and walked up the stairs.
We reached the end of the stairwell. I looked at Jon.
"It's kind of scary," he said. "The hallway reminds me all of a sudden of the one in The Shining. Remember that one? You know with Jack Nicholson? The scene with the boy who sees two girls standing at the end of the hallway?"
I didn't answer. Of course I remembered. Who could ever forget? I had seen that movie over and over again as a teenager and I had had the very same thought the first time I looked down the hallway with the carpet and flowery old wallpaper on the walls.
"Try not to think about it," I said and started walking. "Jacob? Soren?" I called again and again, but no one answered. I tried to listen for footsteps or anyone talking or screaming, but still nothing. I knocked on some doors and called their names again.
"There doesn't seem to be anyone here," Jon said. He seemed more confident now and walked with fierce steps in front of me. He pulled a couple of handles to rooms, but they didn't open.
"Hello?" he called out. "Is there anyone up here?"
"How far down did the trees hit?" I asked.
"That was much further. In the other wing. That section wasn't in use this weekend. I don't think there'll be anyone over there."
"Can you go through this wing to get to the other or do you need to go outside?" I asked and knocked on a door. "Hello? Is there anyone in there?"
No answer.
"You can go through at the end of the hallway. There is a fire door leading to the other wing. Only the staff uses it and you need a keycard."
"So someone could run out that way?"
"If they have the key, yes."
I wondered if Soren and Jacob could have gone through that door. They had a Master key that worked on all the rooms. I didn't know if it worked on that door as well.
