The Grand Hotel

Justin's POV

I raise my brow in confusion. "Of course I saw Brian" I answer her. He just showed us to our room."

She nods her head and tries to cover her surprise. "Oh, well, good, good. I'm glad he made it back." She smiles brightly at me. "He's been traveling you see." I can tell she's lying but I don't call her on it.

All of a sudden a cold breeze whirls through the building and blows out our candles. Lindsay screams again and whimpers as she reaches for my hands. "Justin, I don't like this; please not again. Make it go away, make it end," she cries out in a panic as she lays her head on my chest. I can feel her body trembling as I wrap my arms around her.

I am confused why this woman I have never met before is finding comfort in my arms.

Yet, something seems so familiar about her and I find myself wanting to comfort her. To let her know everything will be okay, but deep in my heart I wonder if everything really is okay. I gently caress her hair and my hand slips down to her shoulder. I can feel the stiff fabric of the high collared Victorian gown she is wearing under my fingertips. It is obviously a costume, much like Brian's old fashioned suit. The material feels oddly damp and suddenly I'm alarmed when I feel something thick and sticky on my fingertips.

A child's scream rings through the darkness and she pulls out of my arms. "Oh God, my son. I've got to check on my son," she says frantically as I hear the skirts of her dress swishing as she quickly moves away from me. "Please tell Brian I said welcome home and that his son missed him," her voice fades and I hear her footsteps retreating down the hall and a door slam.

I briefly wonder how she found her room so fast in the dark corridor. I turn and start feeling my way back the way I came, calling out to Daphne so I can find our room and get my candle relit. I'll need it to continue my trek to the mysterious elevator that I'm still determined to check out tonight.

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Daphne’s POV

I sit on the bed and watch Justin leave the room. I know I should go with him, but I also know how stubborn he can be. Setting the candle on the bed side table, I stand up and walk over to the massive covered window. I open the drapes and peer outside into the night. I can just make out the view of the valley below in the pale moonlight. I am confused that the lights in front of the building are on but inside they are still not working. I shake my head and then feel an icy breeze brush past me.

I cross my arms feeling the goose bumps rise up on my skin. I rub my arms to warm them and then suddenly feel a tug on my shirt. I gasp and jump a bit, and then I turn around to see a small boy. He’s holding a flashlight and in the beam I can barely make out that he has chestnut hair and hazel eyes. He looks to be about five years old.

I stoop down to talk to him. “Hi.”

His chin quivers a bit and I can see the tears brimming from his lashes. “Lady, can you help me?”

My heart pulls when I see the fear in his eyes. I speak softly to him. “How can I help you sweetheart?”

"I can't…I can't find my mommy or daddy.”

“Yes, I’ll help you. How did you get in here anyway?”

He smiles through his tears and points to an open trap door in the floor. “Mommy and Daddy told me not to go sneaking around, but I like to. It's fun.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I thought mommy was behind me and then the lights went out and I screamed, but no one heard me.”

I take hold of his hand. "The lights going out can be scary.” I laugh softly. “Believe it or not I scream sometimes too when the lights go out."

He looks at me shocked. “You do?”

I nod my head yes. “Now come on, show me where these steps go.”

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Justin's POV

As I touch the wall to lead me back to my room it feels as though hands are reaching out to me and I can see shapes moving in the darkness. I cower against the wall and fall into a crouch, covering my head with my hands. My breath hitches as I call out louder, but Daphne doesn’t seem to hear me. Shit! Maybe I went the wrong way.

Suddenly I hear that voice whispering my name again. “Justin, Justin.” I feel the tears well up in my eyes. I’m sure I have never been so frightened in my whole life.

“Daphne? Is that you?” I ask in a panicky voice.

“Justin.” My whole body is trembling. “Justin.”

“Who's there?” I shriek, grasping at the wall, desperately feeling for a doorknob that will open for me. “Answer me! I asked who’s there!”

“Justin, do not be afraid.” The voice is softer now and I can tell it is the voice of an older woman. I gulp back my fear and try to relax as I let her words penetrate my mind.

In the darkness I see a gleam of candlelight and hear footsteps approaching. I hear my name once again but this time it’s a different voice. It is masculine and comforting.

“Justin?” I look up to see Brian standing in front of me. He holds out his hand and helps me stand. His voice is tender. “Justin, are you Okay? What has you so frightened?”

Once again I am drawn into his hazel eyes. My breath catches at the familiarity of them, but I cannot place it. As I gaze at him I see a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. Not thinking, I reach up and caress his cheek. He shivers slightly and pulls away from my touch. He quickly takes hold of my hand and examines it closely.

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Brian's POV

I can hear Justin’s panicked voice ringing down the staircase and I quickly grab a candle and make my way to him.

I’m confused for a moment when I hear Debbie call his name. I look around to see where she might be. I’m really not sure why I bother looking. I know I won’t see her. I never see Debbie, but I hear her voice in my dreams and in my nightmares. Mostly my nightmares, it seems as though the darkness never ends. My thoughts are full with screaming and torture. I swallow my emotions and hold them at bay. I don’t want anyone to see into me.

I make my way to Justin and he looks completely terrified. I hold out my hand and help him up. When I look down into his deep blue eyes I am flooded with memories. I think of the bond we once shared, but now he doesn’t even seem to recognize me. I try to hold back my despair. Justin is the only one who ever saw through my bullshit, and now he doesn’t even know who I am.

When he reaches out to me my heart aches with hope that he remembers something. That he remembers us and what we shared. My heart leaps when his fingertips brush my cheek, but I pull away quickly when I feel something wet against my skin.

Quickly I grab his hand and pull it under the light of the candle. I take in a sharp breath. “Justin, you’re bleeding.”

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Michael’s POV

Michael returns to the lobby after seeing to a problem in one of the rooms. He sighs heavily as he slides behind the front desk. Owning a hotel was fun. He met a lot of interesting people, but it was a pain in the ass as well. All those people could be very annoying at times and there never seemed to be enough staff to go around.

The lights had gone out again and someone had been bitching, even though Michael always explained to everyone that it happened from time to time and made sure they had plenty of candles.

Usually his husband Ben took care of the difficult patrons, he was much more patient with them, but he was teaching his class in town tonight. He loved teaching and continued to do so part time even though he didn’t really need to work. When they had inherited the hotel, a substantial sum of money had come along with it, insuring their security for the rest of their lives.

Michael sighs again as he moves to the end of the desk where the guestbook lay open and sets down his candle. They had a computer system of course, but they used the old fashioned book as well. Brian had always insisted it was more authentic and the guests got a kick out of it too. Michael catches a whiff of something and his breath hitches. Brian. Brian had been here. He would know the man’s scent anywhere. It was a heady mix of expensive cologne, Jim Beam and cigarettes.

If Brian was back that must mean…he looked down at the guest book. On the last line are two names. Daphne Chanders and Justin Taylor. Michael’s heart runs cold and his fists clench at the sight of that last name. Justin Taylor. The reason he no longer had his best friends. The reason they could not rest in peace.

“He’s baaaaaack,” comes a loud voice from the darkness, making him jump.

A woman in a bright red wig with an even brighter scarf tied around her head comes into the room. “Ma!” he scolds. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Sorry, honey,” she moves behind the counter so she can pinch his cheeks. He reads her ‘Ghosts are People Too’ t-shirt in the candlelight and rolls his eyes. “I just wanted to let you know before I went to bed.”

Michael sighs again and points to the guest book. “I know.”

Deb nods her head. “Things are going to be very interesting around here for awhile. You might want to warn the guests.”

“It’s a good thing it’s close to Halloween and the only people who stay here this time of year are the ones who love this shit.”

“Good thing,” agrees Deb. She kisses his cheek and moves away from him. “Well, I’m off to bed. Good-night, sweetie.”

“Night, Ma.” Michael looks balefully at the guest book one more time as he plops down on the stool and waits for Todd the night clerk to show up for his shift.