"Come on baby... please don't do this to me now..." I gritted my teeth together as I jerked the car keys in the ignition, praying that the car would start up again.
I had been on my way home from university, heading from Liverpool back up the peninsula to visit with my parents in Southport. My aged car had made the trip down with little to no problems, but it just had to be during a heavy rain storm that my car would sputter and struggle with life before eventually conking out on the side of the road somewhere in the middle of Sea View. I blamed myself partially for this - if only I had stopped at one of the motels in town once the rain started, maybe I wouldn't have been in this predicament.
Oh, well.
I grunted as the car let out one last painful sputter before completely going silent. I hit my hands against the wheel, moaning in defeat. The car had died and there was no one else around. I reached into my purse, pulling my phone out in hopes of calling for help - maybe a tow truck or my parents.
No bars, meaning no signal. I was in roaming.
Can this day get any worse?
I leaned my head back against the headrest, my heart pumping loudly in my ears. I was trying to remain calm, even though I was beginning to feel the strings of panic rising from somewhere in the pit of my stomach. I pressed my hands to my head, closing my eyes and willing for something, anything, to happen.
"Did you remember the road map, Kylie?" Mum's voice came through like a beacon, "If you get lost, use the map to guide you home. It's helped me on numerous occasions..."
Mum was always insisting I take some sort of updated road map, just in case trouble ever crossed my path. I moved quickly, opening the compartment on the passenger side of my deceased vehicle. The road map was still in the wrapping, unused. I pulled it out and ripped the packaging open, spreading the map open before me.
I was somewhere outside the skirts of Sea View, along the A565. The map indicated that there may be a hotel about a quarter mile from where I was currently - meaning that there were people around. Perhaps I'd get lucky and be able to get a hold of a tow truck at a home along the way or the hotel. Whichever came first.
I pulled my jacket around my body, preparing for the onslaught of rain that I would have to travel through, and grabbed my bag and the map.
The car was going to have to sit and struggle for a bit until I came back with the tower.
***
It was quite nerve-wracking as I pushed myself forward through the heavy downpour. All that surrounded me was trees and the road. There were no houses, nor even any vehicles out. But with this weather, I couldn't be too surprised.
As the rain pounded down on my soaked body, lights made their appearance in the distance. I trudged further, moving as quickly as I could toward them.
A gate came into view, as well as a towering building that looked like a mansion. I stopped briefly at the stone wall entrance, taking notice of the plaquette embedded in the wall.
Sea View Hotel
Proprietor
Jimmy Hall
Licensed to Sell Beers and Spirits
Est. 1920
Water from the rain dripped into my eyes, reminding me to get into the building before I caught something.
Reaching the building, I pushed the door open, water flowing like a stream from my jacket onto the carpeted flooring. My soaked shoes squeaked as I walked toward the reception desk, the silence of the hotel a bit too eerie.
Normally, from past experiences with staying in hotels, there would be soft comforting music playing and workers moving about. If the place had a pool, children would be racing through the halls to go for a swim before their parents would pull them back up to their respected rooms for the night. Otherwise, there may have been some waiters or waitresses moving about and depositing food onto the floors - or even a delivery driver dropping off take out from a restaurant nearby.
That was not the case here.
There was no music, no people - not even a child. The halls and chairs were completely empty, and the place was deathly silent - like someone had placed earplugs into my ears. The only noise was me shifting about, looking around at both the beauty and eeriness of the place. The hotel seemed to be trapped in the 1920s era, with old crippling paintings and dust covered lamps. The rugs and carpeting was in dire need of repair in some places and the windows looked like they needed a wash. Some cobwebs clung to the back of chairs and table legs, making me wonder when the last time this place had been cleaned.
The reception desk was dusted clean, however, and paperwork covered the oak wood top. There was a little bell with a note that read "Ring for Service'' beside it. A pleasant little ting sounded after pressing the bell, allowing me to fold back into myself.
"Goodness me! Are you alright?!"
I jumped at the sound of a male voice coming from my left, whirling to see who I assume was the receptionist poking his head out of the office.
He was a tall pale skinned man with unkempt rully brown hair and deep brown eyes. He wore some sort of black bowler hat on top of his head, a red patterned vest, a white dress shirt, and a black bow tie around his neck. He also had on black dress pants and shoes - much like a performer would wear.
"I'm terribly sorry sir," I tried to smile as he approached, "My car broke down up the road about a quarter mile from here, so I had to walk in hopes of finding a phone to call a mechanic."
"I'm sorry to say, miss, that there's no signal up in these parts," the man shook his head sadly, "The phone lines may have gone down during that storm out there."
"Oh..." I felt crestfallen. This was my only hope to get in contact with my folks, to let them know where I was.
The man looked around before speaking, "Look, if you want, I can set you up for the night. You may have a better chance of getting a tow truck up here in the morning. With that storm, there would hardly be anyone available to get up the hillside."
"I guess I never really thought of that," I answered.
"And you're shaking to the bone, miss. You'll catch your death if you go back out."
"Alright, how much for a room?" I pulled my purse up onto the counter, pulling my wallet out.
"£180," the man asked, "Would you also be interested in breakfast?"
"No thank you," I answered, "I think I'll just make my call and meet the tower at my car's location."
"Very well, would you also be interested in the entertainment tonight?"
"Entertainment? Tonight?"
I must've looked confused because the man's features suddenly brightened up, "It starts around midnight, usually. It's me doing it, actually, comedy! I do this comedic character named Hugo Punch. He's sort of of this comedian sociopath, you know. Says things you're not usually supposed to say and that sort of thing."
He was grinning madly, chuckling as he was speaking. I could feel the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck were beginning to stand on end. There was something not right here with this man, nor was there anything right with this place in general.
"Well, miss?" he was still smiling, waiting, "What do you think?"
I licked my lips in thought. Honestly, I wasn't sure what would happen if I said 'No.' However, I wasn't even sure what would happen if I said 'Yes.'
"Allow me to think about it," I answered, "It's only seven now, so that gives me a few hours to give you a response, yes?"
The man nodded, seemingly to agree, "Of course, of course. Now, can I get a name?"
"Kylie. Kylie Martin."
"Alrighty, Miss Martin... Here's your keys. You'll be on the first floor in room 110. Take the lift up, it's around the corner where you first walked in."
"Thank you again, Mister?"
"Hall. Jimmy Hall."