- Young Miller... admit it, how did you know about this place? Do you remember it from your previous life? - A terrifying whisper echoed in his ears as he stood by the door. He looked at Jake with a frightened gaze, who was staring at something behind him. - A friend won't help you, he will suffer as much as you. You will feel the vengeance you deserve...
Why were they the only ones who saw these demonic apparitions? Why were they able to hear their whispers while others could not?
- Jake - he said, his voice shaking. - Do you see this?
- Yeah, don't look away, Mason. She's standing next to you, she's terrifying.
The rest of the company focused on them, especially Betty, who was sensitive to ghost talk.
- Her? What are you talking about?
- The demonic woman who is at Mason's side. You can't see her, can you?
Daniel smiled half-heartedly.
- This is where it gets interesting...
The brunette grabbed the handle and ran out of the room, followed by the others, except for Jake and Daniel. Smith was still hunched over, staring at that one spot, feeling as if he were paralyzed. He couldn't move in fear, because the apparition was still there, this time targeting him.
- What do you want from us? Why are you harassing me and Mason? - At that moment Jake looked like he was insane. Daniel watched with amusement in his eyes. He always dreamed of seeing the fear in those people's eyes, of feeling what it was like to be defenseless and exposed to ridicule.
- I don't know how we ended up here, but I hope you kill yourselves. - After these words, Daniel headed for the door.
Jake could have sworn he saw the apparition extend a white hand toward the boy who had left the room.
Her eyes turned red as she looked back at her victim.
- Why are you doing this to me? What do you want from us? - the boy asked in a tearful voice.
- Discover the truth about this place's past and we'll forgive you. You only have one chance, Smith, to find peace for your sins - she rasped, her voice thick.
Trembling with fear, the boy continued to crouch under the window, being completely alone in this room with something that had long been dead.
How could he discover the truth when there was no internet or connection to the outside world?
***
Mason sat down at the reception desk and ran his hand through his black hair, unable to understand why only he and Jake could see and hear these terrifying apparitions. Even his brother couldn't see them!
What was wrong with this place? How had they gotten here? Why had the apparition mentioned that he should know this island? What was this about? And what past life was she referring to?
This was absurd!
- Are you okay? - Nancy asked, appearing next to him, sitting down on a dusty chair. - You and Jake really see something we can't?
The brunette boy looked at her sideways, running his hand through his hair again. He was stressed and didn't know what to do anymore.
- You may think we're crazy, but we really see it. I feel like I'm starting to lose my sanity in this place. It's beyond comprehension!
The blonde girl placed a hand on Mason's shoulder, trying to comfort him. Until now, no one had known that she had been secretly crushing on him for several years, and the more she hid it, the more she felt her love grow stronger.
She had never dared to confess it, not even to Betty, who was renowned for her long tongue. She didn't want it to reach Noah, because she had known for some time that he had been in love with her. Furthermore, she didn't mean to hurt him with it. There was probably nothing worse than unrequited love. She, Betty, and Noah, had experienced it firsthand.
Each of them fell in love with someone who was wrong for them, but their hearts never meshed with their minds.
- Do you have any idea who might have locked us in this place?- Mason looked her in the eye and shook his head. - I know you all did drugs on the yacht, but I swear I didn't take anything. Isn't that weird? Do you think something could have been added to the food or drink that someone prepared all this hell for us?
- Nancy, that yacht was my private yacht. No one had access to it. Only my trusted employees...
- Are you sure everyone is trusted? Mason, think about it. It's a good thing it ended with none of us losing our lives.
- So you're saying someone bribed one of my employees to do this to us? - The boy frowned.
- I didn't want to talk about it with everyone, I wanted to talk it over with you first. Honestly? They're our friends, and I don't trust them at all, not after what happened to Noah. - Mason sat down across from her, clearly interested in what she was saying. - It's not like I'm accusing any of us, but I'm sure there's someone among us who did this to us and is having a great laugh. This is all planned, for sure. I'm not stupid enough to believe that someone just threw us here and sailed away on your yacht.
Her words made Mason look at the whole thing differently.
- Do you think it could be that bastard Daniel?
- I'm not ruling him out, but honestly? He's the last person I would have suspected. He was simply on your yacht because you wanted revenge on him. - The brunette boy leaned down, looking at her straight in the eyes. Nancy felt her heart beat faster, but just like before, she didn't show in any way that she felt for him. - I was watching Jennifer and Will the most. I think he's acting strangely. He's too calm for this entire situation.
- Will? But why would he do this to us? What was his reason?
- Jake is covering for him, but he wrote the article about Noah to make a fortune. Our explanation of the situation and clearing Noah's name made him look the worst. People started to slander him, that he was making up nonsense rumors, that he was doing it all for the money. He was labeled a fake friend.
- How do you know about this?
- I heard his conversation with Jennifer.
***
Betty walked by Jennifer's side, holding on to her hand. She was scared as hell and at one point jumped with fear when she heard a loud clap of thunder in the distance.
Night fell, and a storm was coming. The abandoned hotel was haunted, could it get any worse?
- I want to go home so much, to lie down in my warm, safe bed... - The redhead girl was panicking increasingly with each passing moment.
- If you weren't such a nasty bitch, you wouldn't be suffering now, her friend replied.
- Don't start a fight with me, because you know very well that you won't win. I have more arguments against you, what a bitch you could be.
Jennifer snorted under her breath.
- If I'm such a bitch, then let me go. - She tore herself away from the redhead's embrace, giving her a hateful look. - You can handle it yourself and don't cry if an evil spirit gets you.
- Pfft, I don't need you. You're a coward anyway, so you'd be the first to run away from me!
The brunette girl walked away towards the stairs, leaving Betty alone. The panicked redhead girl looked around, having the strange feeling that she was being watched by something. It seemed to her that there was a ghost lurking in every corner of the hallway, ready to attack her.
It was dark and gloomy there, and the flashes of lightning sent shivers down her spine.
- I want to go home, please. Let a miracle happen. I only dream of freshening up and putting on clean clothes. I hate dirty places, I hate being dirty! - She panicked, nervously stamping her feet. Something fell somewhere in the corner of the corridor, and she began to cry with fear. - Someone get me out of here!
With her heart pounding, she looked toward the door, which opened by itself as if someone were inviting her inside.
- You may be a hospitable spirit, but I'm not going in there... over my dead body - she declared in a trembling voice. - Although not... because I'll end up dead.
The door opened wider, revealing a dark room. Betty stood frozen, staring in that direction.
A flash of lightning illuminated a large painting that was in the room. Looking at it from a distance, the redhead girl thought she was seeing things, but when another flash gave her a chance to see it again, she had no doubt that she was seeing a picture of a man she knew.
Forgetting her fear, she entered as if something wanted to show her what was hidden there.
The man who reminded her so much of the person she knew was smiling in the black and white photograph, transformed into a painting. A distinguished twenty-something, dressed in a 1970s suit, with a rather funny but fashionable haircut for the time, he was staring intently into the camera, and with another flash of lightning, his eyes looked like the eyes of the devil.
Betty stepped back, hitting the windowsill. She was breathing heavily, feeling like she was running out of air. She managed to open the window by yanking on the handle. The heavy downpour and the smell of rain improved her feel, but then her attention was drawn to Will, who was being dragged by Daniel. The boy had him pinned against a tree, looking like he was trying to strangle him.
- It's all your fault! - he shouted, his hands around his neck. - You're worthless, you should die!
- What are you doing?! Leave him, how dare you! - Betty shouted from the window. Daniel looked up and fixed her with a devilish gaze.
The terrified girl fell to the floor, watching with her own eyes as the window closed with a bang, causing the glass to shatter. Her scream echoed throughout the hotel.
The real nightmare was just beginning...