"Young Miller… admit it, how did you know about this place?"A terrifying whisper pierced the silence, as Mason stood near the door. Jake, pale as a sheet, was staring at something just behind him."Your friend won't help you. He'll suffer just like you. Both of you will feel the vengeance you deserve."
Why were they the only ones hearing the whispers? Why were they the only ones seeing the apparitions?
"Jake…" Mason whispered, struggling to catch his breath. "Do you see it?"
"Yeah. Don't look to the side. She's standing right there. She's… terrifying."
The others looked at them with growing concern, especially Betty, who was particularly sensitive to ghost stories.
"She? What are you guys talking about?"
"A demonic woman. She's standing right next to Mason. You don't see her, do you?"
Daniel smirked mockingly."This just keeps getting better…"
Mason couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed the doorknob and ran out of the room. The others followed, leaving only Jake and Daniel behind. Jake stood frozen by the window, paralyzed by fear. The apparition turned her gaze toward him.
"What do you want? Why are you haunting us?" Jake's voice cracked, his expression on the verge of madness.
Daniel, amused, watched the whole scene unfold. He was enjoying seeing someone from the group feel as helpless as he had for years.
"I don't know how we ended up here, but I hope you all tear each other apart," he muttered and walked away.
Jake was certain he saw the ghost reaching out a pale, bony hand after Daniel. Her eyes glowed red.
"Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"
"Uncover the truth about this place, and we'll leave you alone. You have only one chance, Smith, to atone for your sins," she rasped.
Trembling, Jake remained curled up by the window, face to face with something that had long ceased to be human.How was he supposed to uncover the truth when they were completely cut off from the world?
***
Mason sat on the reception counter and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't understand why only he and Jake were seeing the ghosts. Even Noah hadn't noticed anything.
What was wrong with this place? Who was the ghost?
"Are you okay?" Nancy asked, sitting next to him. "Are you really seeing something we can't?"
He glanced sideways at her, running his hand through his hair again. He was clearly tense.
"You might think we're crazy, but we really are seeing them. I feel like I'm losing my mind."
She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. No one knew that she had secretly loved him for years. The more she tried to hide it, the stronger it grew.
She didn't want anyone to find out. Especially Noah. She knew he loved her. She didn't mean to hurt him.
"Do you have any idea who locked us in here?" she asked. "I know everyone took something on the yacht, but I swear I didn't."
"The yacht was mine. No outsiders had access to it. Only my employees."
"Are you sure they're loyal? What if someone bribed them?"
Mason furrowed his brow.
"I would rather not say anything in front of the others. But I don't trust anyone anymore. After what happened to Noah… something's not right. One of us might have planned this."
Those words made him look at the situation differently.
"You think it's Daniel?"
"I'm not ruling him out, but that would be too obvious. I'm looking more at Jennifer and Will. Will have been far too calm."
"Will? Why would he do this?"
"Jake's covering for him, but Will's the one who wrote that article about Noah. He wanted money and attention. Clearing Noah's name destroyed his reputation. People started calling him a liar."
"How do you know that?"
"I heard him talking to Jennifer."
***
Betty was walking down the corridor with Jennifer, clutching her hand tightly. Every sound made her jump. Suddenly, a loud thunderclap made her leap.
"I just want to go home… back to my little bed…" she whimpered.
"Maybe if you weren't such a bitch, you wouldn't be suffering so much now," Jennifer muttered.
"Don't start. I've got more dirt on you than you think."
Jennifer rolled her eyes.
"If that's true, then let me go. I can handle myself."
"You'd be the first to run!" Betty scoffed.
Jennifer ignored her and walked down the stairs. Betty stayed behind. Her heart pounded like a drum. She felt like someone was watching her.
A flash of lightning lit up the hallway. It was stifling and dark. Something fell in the corner. Betty shivered.
"I want out of here… please. Just clean clothes and a shower…" she whined.
Then the door next to her creaked open.
"I'm not going in there… unless it's over my dead body… or… possibly…" she added with terror.
The door opened wider. Inside, a painting hung on the wall. Another lightning flash lit up the face of a man.
Betty froze. She recognized that face.
She stepped inside.
The black-and-white portrait showed a young man in a 1970s suit. He was smiling, but his eyes… they were demonic.
She stumbled back, hitting the windowsill. She yanked the window open, gasping for air. The rain brought a moment of relief.
And then she saw it.
Outside, under a tree, Daniel had Will pinned against the trunk. His hands were around his neck.
"It's all your fault! You're worthless! You should've died!"
"Leave him alone!" Betty screamed.
Daniel looked up at her from below. His gaze was empty and menacing.
The window slammed shut with a crash, cracking from the force. Betty fell to the floor, screaming. Her scream echoed through the entire hotel.
The nightmare was only just beginning.