"How the hell can our school afford this?" Tina asked, turning to me.
"I don't even know," I laughed, "Let's just say that we're lucky!"
"My god!" Tina exclaimed, "We're on a plane going to a seven-stars hotel!"
I smiled at the thought. Just because of a show about math and music, my school got to go to the most luxurious place in the whole planet. I leaned back and closed my eyes, imagining the beautiful hotel in my dream...
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I blinked and pinched my cheeks hard.
"Am I dreaming?" I whispered to Tina.
"This feels real to me..." Tina whispered back, her eyes were still on the hotel.
"This is so cool!" Somebody said and whispers about the hotel began.
"Look at the lights!"
"The designs look magnificent!"
"Ladies and gentlemen" A deep voice broke the whispers, everyone was quiet, "We would like to have everyone inside to get organize. After that, we'll let you do whatever you want around the hotel." A man in a suit (his name is Dale according to the pin on his suit) informed us.
The crowd rushed inside the huge golden doors, walking and chatting at the same time. While waiting, I watched Dale. He kept rubbing his palm and squinted his face when he touched a specific spot.
"Let's go!" Tina squeaked and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the hotel.
"Okay! Okay!" I smiled, trying to catch up to Tina's step.
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After settling into my new shared room with Tina, which was as big as a house, I came downstairs into the Main Parlor to find my friends. Tina was quicker than me, so she was already at a table playing Gofish. There seems to be no place for me at Tina's, I thought and walked to an another table. Passing by Andy, who was eating cookies with exotic butter on top...
"Hoi!" Vincent greeted.
"Hi" I replied with a smile and found myself a chair between Christie and Remy. Once I got settled down after Christie's hug, I put the cards on the table in Remy's hand.
"So what are we playing again?" Remy asked, shuffling the cards in her hands.
I shrugged. "I don't know!"
"Mafia!" Hector suggested.
"Mafia it is!" Vincent said, leaning back on his chair.
Remy gave a card for each person at the table. (There was Vincent, Remy, Hector, Christie, Emily and me). Hector was the narrator (like always) and others looked at their cards secretly. I took a peek at mine. Joker...the killer. I tried not to let my satisfied smile showed and facedown on the table...
"Mafia, mafia..." Hector chorused after everyone else's face was down, "Who would you like to kill?"
I sat up straight, looking round me. I let out a tiny laugh that nobody but me could hear and pointed toward Vincent. The innocent guy didn't know he was going to die... I placed my face back on the table.
"Nurse..." Hector continued, "Who would you like to save?"
It felt like I've been waiting for hours. Why is the "nurse" so damn slow? Just then I heard a shriek. I whipped my head at the direction of the noise.
"It's a puppy!" Christie squeaked.
"WHAT IN......" Remy yelled, jumping on her feet, "..TARNATION!!!!!"
Emily reached her hand out and pet the little husky.
"So soft..." She whispered.
"Oh my god!" Christie exclaimed, joining Emily.
I sat on my my seat, shaking my head as Hector walked over to pet the husky as well. Remy crept to the elevator and tried to get in as quick as possible.
"I hate dogs..." She mouthed as the elevator doors closed.
"Bored?" Vincent smirked and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Get outta here!" I said teasingly and smacked his hands off my shoulder.
We laughed and then stayed quiet for a while. I tapped my foot and hummed "Mad Hatter", trying to distract myself from the boring silence.
"That's it!" Vincent threw his arms in the air, "I'm out!"
He walked toward the elevator and went upstairs. I sighed and looked at the "puppy crowd". I stood up and made my way out to the garden. It was cold and quiet. Something growled in the distance. Then came footsteps... I turned around, hoping to find where the sound came from. Only silence remained...
I made my way to the corner of the hotel. It looked dark and scary. I scanned for a light switch and flicked it when I found one near the wall. The light was dim, but bright enough to see the outline of things.
"Mr...?" I asked when I saw someone standing near the back door, "Dale...?" I whispered, recognizing the man's eyes and face. He didn't say anything...or move... I took a glance at his hands, they were red. I gasped. Red...red...BLOOD! I thought quickly.
I held back my scream and focused on Dale's scattered face. His eyes looked surprised. Blood dripped from his leg, soaking the suit and covered the clean cement ground. I held my hands on my mouth and ran inside, hoping to find help.
"Tina?" I said loudly broke into sweat.
"Yes?" Tina replied, looking up at me,"What's wrong?" She asked, sounding worried. I rushed to her, shaking her shoulders.
"I saw a corpse!" I hissed, lowering my voice.
"Where?" Tina asked, surprised.
I made a "come with me" sign and ran, Tina followed. We came back to the back door. Nothing was there, except for a black feather on the ground, where Dale's corpse was.
"Hey!" Tina said, sounding irritated, "I'm sorry but I'm not up to any of your pranks right now!"
"It's not..." I whispered, trying defend myself.
"Suit yourself!" Tina rolled her eyes, starting to walk inside again.
"But..." I mumbled, trying to sort the riddle in my head. Was that an illusion? I asked myself and began following Tina, my head full of thoughts.
YOU ARE READING
The Children
ParanormalA girl went to a trip with her school to the most luxurious hotel on the planet. But little did they know, behind those shiny marble walls hid a secret only one chosen Child will know.
