Rhodes's entire body trembled. The woman's apparition mentioned his name. She said it as if they were acquainted with one another. The doctor couldn't even look away, knowing the woman was aware of his gaze. When she retracted her hand from the hedge, Rhodes figured she would approach him. Fear washed over his paralysis, and he turned to face the receptionist.
The receptionist was unaware of what Rhodes saw. However, he caught her looking in the same direction he did. When she felt his gaze on her, she smiled.
"Most guests are drawn to the garden. Would you like to see it later after meeting the boss?" She kept a big smile on her lips, but her eyes didn't shine the same. The receptionist looked distressed and worried. He wouldn't be surprised if she heard about the woman in the garden.
"The hotel has already degraded. Are you looking for someone?"
Rhodes's heart pounded louder than usual. If he could control it, he would listen to it more than the female voice speaking to his ear. The woman from the garden must have walked to his side. In his peripheral vision, the hair and dirty dress touched his elbow.
Ghastly white hands held his elbow. The woman said, "Only a few remained. Are you wondering where we have all been? Who are looking for? I can take you to them."
"Dr Huxley? Is something wrong?" The receptionist frowned her brows lightly. Rhodes's gaze stuck to the counter, and his fingers discreetly trembled against the surface. "Dr Huxley? Can I get you anything?"
"Rhodes, let's walk. The flowers are gone, but I'll make them bloom! Do you want to see them?" The woman's head moved and obscured Rhodes's vision of the desk. She smiled, revealing the rotting bottom row of her teeth. "I'll take you to our favorite place. Come with me."
"Dr Huxley?" "Rhodes…!"
"Are you okay?" "Uncle?" "Come on!"
Rhodes closed his eyes and clawed at the desk. His action must have weirded out the receptionist and his cousin's daughter. However, the female spirit ignored it. Her tugging on his elbow grew stronger, and his arm shook as if someone held it.
"Rhodes! Why aren't you—?" The female spirit raised her voice, and it broke into a cacophony of sounds. It was as if a demon shrieked beside him. However, she quickly stopped… and vanished.
The doctor quickly turned to the side. The glass walls overlooking the garden lost the ominous presence as if the dream space was sealed in an instant. Whoever arrived made the female spirit run away.
The receptionist would ask Rhodes again. However, she moved out of his shadow and greeted the new guest who dropped by. Her professional smile returned. "Welcome to Faded Rose. Do you have a reservation, madam?"
"None. I came to see your manager."
Hearing the similar script, Rhodes flicked his gaze at the woman beside him. She stood at the same height as him, but the sound of her stilettos echoed before she got to her spot. The woman was past her fifties, but her makeup and innate beauty didn't dampen her attractiveness. Rhodes could imagine the kind of invincibility this woman's visuals had in her prime.
She faced Rhodes and smiled. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing." Rhodes didn't know this woman, but her eyes kept drawing him. It was as if he had seen them somewhere and probably on someone else.
"Mr Matthews is currently settling some matters. However, I believe he will meet Dr Huxley first, madam." The receptionist checked with the manager's secretary again. She gestured to the waiting lounge. "Can I get your name, madam? I'll let you know when Mr Matthews can speak with you."
The woman nodded and drew out a card. "I'll just come back when he has the time. Here's my card. He should call me soon. I don't like waiting for too long."
The receptionist received the card with both hands. After smiling at Rhodes again, the woman left. The sound of her stilettos was like a haunting sound that made people panic.
However, they had a different effect on Rhodes. More and more, he believed he knew that woman… or something close to that.
"Oh, my God…" Rhodes heard the receptionist gasp. He turned to her and watched her freeze while staring at the calling card. It was not his business, but Rhodes gently took the card from her loose grip. Even he was surprised to see her name.
Griselda van Iveren.
Frieda was at the side the entire time. She just stepped to Rhodes's side after he took the card. The woman wasn't shocked. Her brows furrowed, however. With a groan, she stepped back and placed her arms akimbo. "Iveren? What are they doing? Oh, wow… What if they are trying to buy the hotel? Oh, wow… Dad will not like this… Not at all!"
"Why not? Won't that mean the hotel will be saved?" The receptionist gasped at the words that came from the manager's daughter.
"Are you kidding me? They demolish everything they touch." Frieda scrunched her face. She waved her hand in a gesture toward the reception. "You know what? I'll call Dad. He'll drop everything to fetch us now. Can I have that card? I'll give it to him instead."
Rhodes's eyes narrowed. He glanced at the garden before pocketing the card. "I'll give it to him after we talk. Sorry, I'm not waiting for him. Can you take us to him now?"
His voice and aura changed. The receptionist flinched in fear before assenting with words. She quickly exited her station and walked Rhodes and Frieda to the elevator lobby. Her gaze would glance back and forth, wondering why it felt like another person assumed Rhodes's place. The bright aura surrounding the movie star dipped into a scary level. She even felt like an intolerant big boss ordered her.
As for Rhodes, he warily walked the hallways with a sharp gaze. He could sense multiple dream spaces on the first floor, but they kept vanishing. Was he losing them, or were the owners running away? It didn't matter. He needed to speak with Giles for today.
The elevator doors opened, and they were faced with another person inside. However, the receptionist didn't step inside. She took a deep breath and trembled. She knew she had to ignore the person and lead Rhodes's group to the sixth floor. Her job shouldn't be compromised.
"Is something wrong?" Frieda would have taken a step inside, but Rhodes and the receptionist stayed outside. She looked at the man inside the elevator. He leaned at a corner, back facing the doors. He wore a maintenance man's old uniform. It was eight in the morning, so she didn't feel particularly spooked, even if the picture felt wrong on many levels.
"…sorry. Can you move? We're using this elevator." Rhodes held the doors from closing. The hotel only had one elevator, so he needed the spirit to move. The receptionist could see it so he wouldn't sound too weird, right? He just had to shoo it away.
The male spirit twisted its head to face them without moving his shoulders. His eyes were white and clouded, and his chin was covered in a thin gray beard.
"…Rhodes…" the spirit said… before vanishing.