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Arrival at the Hotel
The old grand hotel loomed before them, its once-opulent facade now weathered and weary. Sarah gripped Mark’s hand tightly as they approached the imposing structure, a mix of excitement and unease swirling within her.
“Are you sure about this place?” she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. “It looks a little… creepy.”
Mark chuckled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Relax, babe. It’s just an old hotel. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Besides, you’re the one who wanted to come here for your research, right?”
Sarah nodded, unable to shake the unsettling feeling that had been growing since they’d first laid eyes on the hotel. As they stepped through the ornate revolving doors, the lobby greeted them with a sense of faded grandeur. The once-gleaming marble floors were now dull and scuffed, and the heavy curtains that framed the towering windows seemed to sag with the weight of years.
“Welcome to the Blackwood Hotel,” a voice called out, and they turned to see a young woman standing behind the reception desk. Her smile was warm, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes – a glimmer of unease, perhaps, or a touch of secrecy.
“Hi, we have a reservation for Room 404,” Mark said, stepping forward and flashing the receptionist a confident smile.
The woman’s brow furrowed slightly as she tapped away at the computer in front of her. “Ah, yes, here it is. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, correct?”
Sarah felt a pang of embarrassment. “Oh, no, we’re not married. Just… friends,” she corrected, her cheeks flushing.
The receptionist’s smile widened, and she nodded knowingly. “Of course, my apologies. Well, let me get you the keys to your room.”
As she turned to retrieve the keys, Sarah leaned in closer to Mark. “Did you notice how she hesitated when I said we weren’t married?” she whispered. “And did you see the way she looked at us?”
Mark rolled his eyes. “You’re reading too much into it, Sarah. She’s probably just making small talk. Relax, will you?”
Sarah opened her mouth to respond, but the receptionist returned, handing them a set of old-fashioned brass keys. “Here you are, Room 404. Enjoy your stay at the Blackwood.”
“Thank you,” Mark said, leading the way towards the grand staircase. Sarah followed, her gaze sweeping the lobby, taking in the ornate chandeliers and the faded oil paintings that adorned the walls.
As they climbed the stairs, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The hotel seemed to exude an aura of unease, as if it were holding onto some dark secret. She glanced at Mark, who seemed completely unperturbed, and sighed inwardly. Maybe she was just being overly paranoid.
They finally reached the fourth floor, and Sarah’s heart sank as she saw the number 404 etched onto the door before them. “Here we are,” Mark said, unlocking the door and pushing it open.
Sarah stepped inside, her eyes immediately drawn to the room’s decor. It was a stark contrast to the hotel’s opulent lobby – the furniture was outdated and worn, and the wallpaper was peeling in places. A sense of unease settled over her, and she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of history this room held.
“Well, it’s not the Ritz, but it’ll do,” Mark said, tossing his bag onto the bed. “Come on, let’s get settled in and then we can explore the rest of the hotel.”
Sarah nodded, but as she moved to follow him, a chill ran down her spine. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, and the whispers she thought she heard only added to her growing sense of discomfort.
“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mark paused, his brow furrowed. “Hear what?”
“The whispers,” Sarah replied, her eyes darting around the room. “I could have sworn I heard something.”
Mark chuckled and shook his head. “You’re just letting this place get to you, Sarah. It’s an old hotel, it’s probably just the wind or something. Relax, okay? We’re here to have a good time, remember?”
Sarah nodded, but the unease remained. As she unpacked her bag, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her, waiting for her to let her guard down. She glanced at the door, half-expecting it to swing open, but it remained firmly shut.
“Hey, you want to grab some dinner?” Mark called from the bathroom, oblivious to Sarah’s growing discomfort.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” Sarah replied, forcing a smile. “That sounds good.”
As they headed out of the room, Sarah couldn’t help but glance back over her shoulder, her eyes lingering on the ornate mirror that hung above the dresser. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw a faint movement in the reflection, but when she blinked, it was gone.
“Sarah, you coming?” Mark’s voice echoed from the hallway, and she hurried to catch up, her mind racing with unanswered questions.
Something was not right in this hotel, and Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that they were about to uncover a dark and unsettling truth.
The Disappearance of Room 404
Sarah awoke with a start, her heart pounding. The faint whispers that had haunted her dreams still echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that had settled over her since they had arrived at the Blackwood Hotel. Beside her, Mark slept soundly, seemingly unaffected by the strange occurrences.
Carefully, Sarah slipped out of the bed, trying not to disturb him. She moved to the window, gazing out at the gloomy, rain-soaked landscape. The hotel’s grandeur was marred by a sense of decay, and Sarah couldn’t shake the impression that the building itself was watching her.
Turning her attention to the room, Sarah noticed that the décor seemed to have shifted slightly since they had arrived the previous night. The positions of the furniture were slightly off, and the shadows cast by the dim lighting appeared to be moving on their own. She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself as a chill ran down her spine.
Unable to ignore the growing unease, Sarah decided to investigate further. Quietly, she made her way to the door, pausing to glance back at Mark’s sleeping form. He had dismissed her concerns the night before, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
The hallway was eerily silent as Sarah stepped out, the carpet muffling the sound of her footsteps. She made her way to the lobby, determined to find answers. The grand, ornate space was empty, save for the receptionist, who looked up with a polite smile as Sarah approached.
“Good morning,” the receptionist greeted. “Did you sleep well?”
Sarah hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. “Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something. When we checked in last night, we were given Room 404, but I can’t seem to find any mention of it in the hotel’s records. Do you know anything about that?”
The receptionist’s expression shifted, a flicker of unease crossing her face before she quickly composed herself. “Room 404, you say? I’m afraid I don’t have any information about that room. Let me double-check our records.”
She turned to the computer, her fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard. After a few moments, she shook her head, a puzzled frown on her face. “I’m sorry, but there doesn’t seem to be any record of a Room 404 in our hotel. Are you sure that’s the room number you were given?”
Sarah’s stomach twisted with dread. “Yes, I’m certain. Mark and I checked in there last night.”
The receptionist’s brow furrowed. “That’s very strange. Let me speak with the manager and see if we can get this sorted out.”
She excused herself, disappearing through a door behind the reception desk. Sarah stood there, her mind racing. If the room didn’t exist, then where had she and Mark spent the night? And what was the meaning of the strange occurrences they had experienced?
After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist returned, the hotel manager in tow. The manager, a stern-faced man with graying hair, approached Sarah with a concerned expression.
“Miss, I understand you’re having trouble with your room assignment. Please, let me take a look at our records.”
He too searched the computer, his frown deepening with each passing moment. “I’m afraid I can’t find any evidence of a Room 404 in our hotel. Are you sure that’s the room number you were given?”
Sarah nodded, her anxiety mounting. “Yes, I’m positive. Mark and I checked in there last night. The room was… it was strange, but we definitely stayed there.”
The manager exchanged a troubled glance with the receptionist, then turned back to Sarah. “I’m very sorry, but I can assure you that there is no Room 404 in this hotel. Perhaps there has been some kind of mix-up or clerical error. Why don’t you and your friend come with me, and we’ll see if we can find you a suitable room for the remainder of your stay?”
Sarah’s heart sank. “But… where’s our room then? Where did we sleep last night?”
The manager’s expression darkened. “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for that, Miss. Let’s focus on getting you and your friend settled in a proper room. Follow me, please.”
Reluctantly, Sarah followed the manager, her mind racing with unanswered questions. As they made their way down the ornate hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to shift and dance, and the whispers from the night before echoed faintly in the distance.
When they reached the end of the hall, the manager stopped in front of a blank wall. “Here we are. This is where your room should be, but as you can see, there’s nothing here.”
Sarah stared at the smooth, featureless surface, her heart pounding in her chest. “But that’s impossible. The room was right here last night. I know it was!”
The manager placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression one of genuine concern. “I understand your confusion, Miss, but I can assure you that there has been no Room 404 in this hotel, at least not in the time I’ve been the manager. Perhaps you and your friend were mistaken.”
Sarah opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. Mark’s voice suddenly rang out from behind them, startling them both.
“What’s going on here?”
Sarah whirled around to see Mark, his hair disheveled and his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and worry. “Mark! The room, it’s… it’s gone. There’s no trace of it anywhere.”
Mark’s brow furrowed as he took in the scene. “What do you mean, ‘gone’? Where’s our room?”
The manager stepped forward, his tone measured. “I’m afraid there seems to be some confusion. According to our records, there is no Room 404 in this hotel. Your wife” – he glanced at Sarah – “was just informing me of this discrepancy, and we were about to find you both a suitable room for the remainder of your stay.”
Mark’s eyes narrowed, and Sarah could see the skepticism written across his face. “That’s impossible. We checked in there last night. I know we did.”
The manager shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can assure you that there is no such room. Perhaps there has been some kind of mix-up, but I can promise you that we will do our best to accommodate you.”
Sarah reached out and grasped Mark’s arm, her fingers trembling. “Mark, I’m telling you, the room was there last night. I know it was. Something’s not right here.”
Mark’s expression softened as he looked at her, and he placed his hand over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Alright, let’s just… let’s just see what the manager can do for us, okay?”
The manager nodded, gesturing for them to follow. “Right this way, please. I’ll see what I can do to find you a suitable room.”
As they followed the manager, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to move and shift, and the whispers from the night before grew louder, sending a chill down her spine. Whatever was happening at the Blackwood Hotel, she knew they were only scratching the surface.
The True Nature of Room 404
Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest as the phone in her hand continued to ring, the sound echoing through the dimly lit room. She stared at the screen, her own name displayed on the caller ID, and felt a chill run down her spine. With a trembling hand, she answered the call, pressing the phone to her ear.
“Hello?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
A familiar voice, yet distorted and laced with desperation, crackled through the line. “Sarah, help me… please, you have to get out of here!” The voice was unmistakably her own, yet it sounded so distant, as if coming from another realm.
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she glanced at Mark, who was watching her with a mixture of concern and skepticism. “What is this?” she mouthed, her fingers gripping the phone tightly.
“The room… it’s a trap,” the voice on the other end continued, the static growing more intense. “You have to leave, before it’s too late. It’s not what it seems…”
The line went dead, and Sarah stared at the phone, her heart racing. “Mark, did you hear that?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Before Mark could respond, the lights in the room began to flicker violently, casting eerie shadows across the walls. A loud creak echoed through the room, and Sarah’s gaze snapped towards the door, which was slowly swinging open.
“What the hell?” Mark muttered, moving closer to Sarah, his eyes darting around the room.
Sarah felt a sense of dread wash over her as she stared into the dimly lit hallway. The door to Room 404 was visible once more, as if it had never disappeared. Swallowing hard, she stepped towards the doorway, her curiosity overriding her fear.
“Sarah, wait!” Mark called out, but she ignored him, stepping out into the hallway.
The corridor was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint echo of their footsteps. Sarah glanced back at Mark, who reluctantly followed her, his brow furrowed in concern.
As they approached the door to Room 404, Sarah noticed something that made her heart skip a beat. On the bedside table, there was a framed photograph – a picture of them, taken just moments before they had arrived at the hotel.
“What the… ?” Mark breathed, his eyes fixed on the photograph.
Sarah reached out a trembling hand, running her fingers over the frame. “How is this possible?” she whispered, her mind racing with questions.
Before Mark could respond, the door to Room 404 slammed shut, the sound echoing through the hallway. Sarah whirled around, her heart pounding, but the door to their original room had vanished, leaving only a blank wall in its place.
“We’re trapped,” Sarah said, her voice barely audible. She turned back to the door, her hand reaching for the handle. “We have to get back inside.”
Mark grabbed her arm, his grip firm. “Sarah, think about this for a second. Something is clearly wrong here, and we have no idea what we’re dealing with. We should find the manager, or the police, and–”
“No!” Sarah snapped, cutting him off. “I heard my own voice, Mark. Someone is in there, and they need our help.” She pulled her arm free and turned the handle, pushing the door open.
The room was exactly as they had left it, the eerie décor and flickering lights adding to the sense of unease. Sarah stepped inside, Mark reluctantly following behind her.
As the door closed with a resounding thud, the air in the room seemed to shift, the atmosphere becoming thick and oppressive. Sarah felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if the very walls were closing in around them.
“Do you feel that?” she whispered, her gaze darting around the room.
Mark nodded, his expression tense. “Yeah, it’s like the air is… different, somehow.”
Suddenly, the lights began to flicker more rapidly, and Sarah felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. The world around her seemed to blur, and she blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what was happening.
“Mark, I think–” she began, but her words were cut off as the room seemed to shift, the walls and furniture distorting and warping before her eyes.
Sarah felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and she reached out to steady herself, her hand grasping for Mark’s arm. But when she looked up, Mark was nowhere to be seen.
“Mark?” she called out, her voice trembling. “Mark, where are you?”
There was no response, only the eerie silence that seemed to permeate the room. Sarah’s heart raced as she spun around, her eyes desperately searching for any sign of her boyfriend.
As the lights continued to flicker, Sarah noticed something that made her blood run cold. The photograph on the bedside table had changed – it was no longer a picture of her and Mark, but a single image of herself, her expression one of pure terror.
“No, no, no…” she whispered, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch the frame.
The moment her fingers made contact with the glass, the world around her seemed to shift once more. The room melted away, and Sarah found herself standing in a dimly lit hallway, the walls and floor seemingly made of a strange, iridescent material.
She looked around, her breath caught in her throat. “Where am I?” she murmured, her voice echoing in the strange, otherworldly space.
As she took a tentative step forward, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
“Sarah! Over here!”
Her head snapped in the direction of the voice, and she saw Mark, his face etched with relief and concern. Without hesitation, she rushed towards him, her heart pounding.
“Mark! What’s happening? Where are we?” she asked, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Mark shook his head, his expression grave. “I’m not sure, but I think we’re… trapped. This place, it’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”
Sarah glanced around, taking in the strange, otherworldly surroundings. “Do you think this is… connected to Room 404?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mark nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “I think so. Whatever’s going on here, it’s tied to that room, and whatever dark secrets it holds.”
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine, and she instinctively moved closer to Mark, seeking the comfort of his presence. “We have to find a way out of here,” she said, her voice laced with determination. “And we have to find out what happened to the person who called me for help.”
Mark placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady and reassuring. “We’ll figure this out, Sarah. Together.”
With a deep breath, Sarah nodded, her resolve hardening. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she couldn’t face it alone. As they began to explore the strange, otherworldly hallway, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, the unseen presence of the hotel’s dark secrets looming ever closer.
