“That’s great, but we’re still in danger every second we spend in this hotel,” Justin said.
Asher nodded. “Even the spirits are becoming violent.”
“Serial killers and spirits,” Anna laughed. “What has our lives come to?”
Justin said, “The root to all this evil is the hotel. Mom, I know you don’t want to sell the place, but let’s be smart and stay somewhere else until this mess is cleared up.”
“We can’t neglect our responsibilities,” Anna replied. “We own this hotel and all the baggage that comes with it.”
“Staying here is suicide!” Justin barked.
Anna set her jaw. “Justin, I’m so tired of going back and forth with you about this place.”
“Open your eyes, Mom! People are going missing left and right. The police won’t help us. It's us versus the world,” Justin said.
“You called the police?” Anna asked.
“Not that I wanted to, but we noticed a pattern of disappearances.”
Asher added, “Names were carved in a secret passage near the elevator. All of them were victims. None of their descriptions matched the spirits we saw, meaning there have been more murders since the list was finished.”
Justin put his hand on Anna’s shoulder. “I know I can be uptight sometimes, but I’m really asking you to see things for what they are.”
“You called the police without telling me?” Anna asked.
“So what?” Justin replied.
Anna verbally lashed out. “Do you have any idea how that could’ve destroyed us? We are on a tightrope right now. One more scandal and we’re out on the streets. I can’t believe you guys would do that.”
Asher said, “They didn’t believe us.”
“I don’t care!” Anna shouted.
The fourteen-year-old lowered his gaze.
Anna sighed. “I sorry I raised my voice. If you two want to find another place to stay, go right ahead. I’ll front the bill for you.”
Asher asked, “You’re not coming with us?”
“I can’t,” Anna replied.
Justin grumbled. He cursed. “Fine. Stay. Come on, Asher. We’ll find a cheap motel a few miles from here. I’m going to pack my stuff.”
He power-walked to the stairs. He grabbed the railing and stepped up on the first step before noticing Asher wasn’t following him. Turning back, his mother and little brother hadn’t moved.
“Asher,” Justin barked.
“I can’t leave her, bro,” Asher said.
“If you don’t, she’ll stay,” Justin said.
Anna double-downed. “I’m not leaving either way. Come hell or high water, this hotel is a part of our family. Running away from issues isn’t going to fix them.”
Asher said, “Mom, if you’re staying, I’m staying.”
Anna eyed Justin. “Are you with us? Remember, you promised to work for me.”
Justin grumbled something to himself. Finally, he said, “Fine, I’ll stay and work days, but I’m not sleeping in this hotel past dark.”
“Fair enough,” Anna said. “Make sure you bring the car back in the morning.”
Asher checked the clock on his phone. “Oh man, I need to get to school.”
“I’ll take you,” Anna said. “Justin, work the counter while I’m gone.”
Anna drove Asher through town. She glanced over at him, noticing he didn’t have his handheld device. He watched the small town blur by through the window.
“It’s Halloween, you know,” Anna said.
“I don’t know if I like that creepy stuff anymore,” Asher replied.
Anna asked, “Tell me about these encounters you’ve been having.”
Asher shrugged. “They’re hard to explain. The spirits are on our side, but they’re forceful. One grabbed Justin and dragged him to the secret filming room to show us the video.”
“That really happened?” Anna asked, trying to make sense of everything.
Asher nodded.
“I’m, um, sorry it seems like I don’t care about it, but I just don’t have any frame of reference to deal with things like that,” Anna admitted.
“I don’t think anyone does,” Asher said.
Anna wondered if she should talk to Stephen about it. If both her boys were sincere about their experiences, she had to believe it was true. All that being said, how does a mortal confront something like that? She can’t imagine she could hurt the spirits or force them to leave. Just like with James, it was the lack of control that scared her more than the violence. She longed for order in her life. The hotel, as unstable as it was, seemed like the only chance at achieving that goal.
“How are you holding up?” Anna asked.
“Good, I guess,” Asher replied. “I feel like I gotta do more. Be better. Life is too short to be caught up on stupid stuff.”
His maturity surprised Anna. She said, “I’m proud of you.”
“Why?” Asher replied.
“You’re brave,” Anna said.
“No. I’m just too stupid to run away,” Asher said.
“I want to leave too,” Anna confessed.
“You don’t seem like it.”
“I know,” Anna replied.
She pulled up to the school. There was little traffic. Asher was running two minutes late. Anna told him to text her when he finished his final class. They hugged. Anna waited until she saw him go through the school’s front door.
On the drive back, her mind wandered. It had to be her own selfishness that kept them at Club Blue. She squeezed the steering wheel. She wondered if she was the real danger to her children’s safety.
Returning to the hotel, she headed to Stephen’s suite. The door was cracked open. Anna pushed on it. “Stephen? Are you here?”
She stepped inside. The suite was tidy. An envelope rested on the bed. Anna opened it, seeing a typed letter. She read it under her breath. “Thank you, Anna. My time at Club Blue was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s time for me to move on. I wish I could’ve said goodbye.”
A sudden cold chill filled the room. Anna shuddered. Stephen’s Bible and small suitcase were gone. He’d truly left. What if he called the cops? Anna thought. She knew she’d gone too far by telling him about James. Anna plopped on the corner of the mattress. She sniffled. She practiced breathing and reminded herself that she hardly knew the man. Perhaps the connection they shared was one-sided. Anna longed for a good friend she could trust. He had seemed like her savior. Tearing up the letter, she got up, tossed it in the little trash can, and returned to the lobby. She inquired about Stephen to Justin.
“I’ve not seen him,” her son replied. “Did he check out?”
“Yeah…” Anna’s voice trailed off.
Justin said, “Mom, what if…”
“We don’t know that,” Anna replied.
“I’m just saying,” Justin replied.
“Keep an eye out,” Anna replied. “If something else strange happens, call me and call the police.”
“What about a scandal?” Justin asked.
Anna hated flip-flopping in her opinions. She said, “We’ll try our best to avoid it. Come spring, we’re going to renovate this place. New name. New look. New everything.”
Justin smiled. “Cool.”
Anna doubled-checked the Halloween decorations. She walked from the ballroom to the bar, taking photos of all she’d done. The hotel fell empty and cold. The feeling of exploration and elegance was overshadowed by dread and superstition. She thought she heard a noise, but it was all in her head. Perhaps her children only saw the ghosts because they were young or because they were more open-minded than her. She was glad she didn’t have the encounters. Rapists, taxes, and other material issues were greater threats.
She walked into the bar. Soft piano music played through the speakers. She grabbed a beer bottle from the freezer and sat on the counter. She scrolled through the photos on her phone and tagged them on social media under the hashtag #HalloweenClubBlue and
#spookylowprices. She wondered if she could advertise the hotel to paranormal investigators. Even better, get a show on TV. After the word got out, she could change the brand. The new design would attract new guests while the old guests would be intrigued by what changed.
The door opened.
She glanced over, seeing Cameron step inside. His hair was recently cut, making him look more handsome. He was dressed in a sweater that had two buttons on the neck and dark pants. His shoes looked new as well.
Anna said, “Going somewhere special?”
Cameron sat next to her. He rested his forearm on the bar’s counter, leaning slightly. He faced her. “I heard you had a rough trip.”
“Who told you that?”
“Rumors travel fast around here,” Cameron said.
“I leave for a few days and suddenly everyone is best friends,” Anna remarked.
Cameron said, “I missed you.”
“That’s sweet of you,” Anna teased.
“I’m serious,” Cameron replied. “You left in such a hurry, I thought something bad might’ve happened.”
“Just life stuff. There’s nothing I can do about it now,” Anna said. “Oh, my boys said they talked to you about their theory.”
“Which one’s that?”
Anna glanced around, just to make sure no one was listening. “They believe there is a serial killer.”
Cameron looked disgusted. “Yeah. That.”
“Is there any proof?” Anna asked.
“A little,” Cameron replied. “People have gone missing over the past few decades. I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of it.”
“And?”
“I can’t say what I’ve found,” Cameron replied. “It’s nothing personal, but I can’t compromise the mission.”
“I just want to know if my family is in danger.”
“No,” Cameron said confidently.
“You sound sure of yourself,” Anna remarked.
Cameron gently took her hand that rested on the counter as well. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you and your boys.”
Anna said, “A number of guests have checked out without seeing me or leaving ways to reach them. Is there a chance they were taken?”
Cameron replied, “Maybe, but without evidence, there’s no way to be sure. ‘Sides, if there was a killer still around, why would he want to harm you? You’re beautiful, intelligent, and way too valuable.”
“Now is not the time to be flirting,” said Anna.
Cameron brushed his thumb on top of her hand. She didn’t stop him. “What about the rest of the missing people, like Rosy and Christophe? They were much more attractive than me.”
Cameron grinned at her, too lost in her eyes to answer her question. “I’d like us to get dinner together.”
Anna gently drew her hand away. She sipped her beer. “Is that why you got a fresh haircut and new shoes?”
“You got me,” Cameron said.
Anna replied, “I don’t know, Cameron. I’ve got a million things going right now.”
“How about I make it easy for you? I’ll call up a chef, get some fresh grouper and crab, and have him serve it to us in the ballroom.”
Anna laughed at him before realizing he was serious. “That’s a lot of extra work.”
“You only get to go on the first date once,” Cameron said.
Anna thought for a moment. At this point, any distraction from her stress would be welcome. “You better get some darn fine grouper if you’re going to be using my kitchen.”
“You can count on it. Will 8:30 pm be too late?”
“I’d actually prefer 9 pm.” Anna said.
“Perfect.” Cameron stood up. “I better get ready.”
Anna watched him walk out. The man had a V-shaped torso and was strong. She knew the dangers of hooking up with someone in law enforcement. Nevertheless, she was so over dwelling on James. She finished her photo tour of the hotel.
As night fell over Sebring, Justin packed a suitcase and asked to borrow Anna’s car. She wished he’d stay, but she understood the reasons behind his fears. She surrendered her keys. “Keep your phone on and be back tomorrow morning at 7 am sharp.”
“All right, Mom,” Justin said. He seemed guilty leaving her alone but still chose to do it anyway.
Anna stayed behind the counter for a few more hours. No new guests arrived. She headed upstairs around 8 pm and changed. She put on a slender, dark blue dress. She hummed to herself as she fixed her hair and make-up. She wore high heels that matched her outfit and admired her reflection in the mirror. She promised herself to let go of her problems for a night. No talk of killers. No talk of work. Just dinner and whatever came next. She didn’t plan on giving herself to Cameron.
She took her little black purse and slung it over one shoulder. She left her room, traveled down the hallway, and arrived at the internal balcony. She ran her hand across the railing as she looked down at the tables and chairs set throughout the room. The candles were lit on each tabletop, but the one nearest the dance floor had two tall candlesticks Anna didn’t recognize. There was a red tablecloth and a bottle of red wine resting in a nice bucket. Anna smirked. Cameron had gone overboard. It felt like she was stepping into a fantasy.
She walked down the left flank stairs. Gentle jazz music echoed off the walls.
Cameron stood from his seat as Anna descended the stairs. He wore a dress shirt, sports jacket, suit pants, and Oxford shoes. He looked at Anna like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Wow,” he said as she approached. “You look amazing.”
Anna shrugged.
Cameron met her halfway. Both of them stood on the dance floor.
“The chef is running a little behind,” Cameron said. “Hopefully he’ll have the food ready in the next twenty minutes.” He extended a hand. “A dance?”
Anna chuckled. “I didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”
“C’mon. Let’s enjoy the moment,” Cameron replied.
Anna took his hand. He put his other hand around her lower back. They swayed to the music.
“Any update on your investigation?” she asked.
“Is what you want to talk about?” Cameron asked.
“Not really,” Anna admitted.
Cameron spun her around.
Anna laughed. “When did you become such a dancer?”
“I took a class in college,” Cameron said.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“There was a girl I liked in there,” Cameron said.
Anna asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, when was the last time you were in a relationship?”
Cameron said, “Five, maybe six years ago. Work took up most of my time. I had a lot of, uh, partners, but nothing long-term. I’m at a point in my life where I’m after something with more substance.”
“I get it. I wasn’t interested in dating after James passed away,” Anna said.
“And yet here you are.”
“I think it’s time for a change,” Anna said.
The song slowed down. Anna danced a moment longer. They discussed their favorite books and movies. It was a simple, useless conversation just to fill in the silence. Anna couldn’t remember the last time she danced or when someone held her in an affectionate way. When there was nothing left to say, she rested her head on Cameron's shoulder and let him guide her.
For a moment, it seemed like they were only people in the world.
33
Unchained
Two hours earlier…
Seated on Raven’s bed, Asher held the girl’s cold hand. His backpack slouched on the floor. The corner of his Algebra textbook peeked out of the open zipper. The sunset cast an orange glow over the leafless trees outside and through the suite’s window.
Asher had gotten back from school and worked on his homework a little bit before seeing Raven. He hadn’t done much of anything since he got to her room, but it felt safer than being alone. He’d see the fac
eless man and naked fat guy at different places throughout the day. He kept telling himself that they were just a part of reality. It didn’t make the haunting any easier. The worst was when he was in the boy’s bathroom and the woman in the green dress stood on the other side of the stall. Her feet pointed into each other. Blood dripped on the floor from her various wounds. He didn’t want to tell anyone about the visitations. The whole situation freaked him out. The man who was scared is dead. The new man is not, he told himself, holding to true to his new identity. Video games, entertainment, and useless chatter didn’t mean anything to him now. He was after purpose and truth.
“Where’s your dad at?” Asher asked.
“He wanted to go somewhere else to write,” Raven replied. She sighed and fell back on the mattress.
“You okay?” Asher asked.
“Bored,” Raven said. “Very, very bored.”
“Maybe we can bowl tonight or something,” Asher suggested.
Raven groaned. “That’s a lame thing to do on Halloween. We should be watching a horror movie or something.”
I’m living in one, Asher thought. “Not a fan.”
Asher laid on his back next to her. Both of them stared at the dull ceiling.
Raven said, “Weren’t you going to dress up for Halloween?”
“No,” Asher said.
“That’s no fun,” Raven replied.
“I’m not the one who wears the same clothes every day,” Asher remarked.
Raven glanced down at her black shirt and black leggings. She frowned. “My dad doesn’t have the time to buy me an outfit. I’m trapped in this stupid hotel.”
“Why don’t you go to school?” Asher replied. “We can probably be in the same classes.”
“For one, I’m a sophomore. Two, public schools are just indoctrination centers. Look it up.”
“Why not go to a private school then?”
“Sure, and end up in some skull and bones cult that will turn me into a sociopathic killer.”
Asher’s eyes went wide.
Raven said, “That might be kind of cool actually.”
“Yeah… no,” Asher said.
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