Chapter 3

"Rose… you're here" the voice echoed.

I was standing still looking up the zigzag staircase that leads to the top floor where the voice came from, my eyes opened wide in shock and my mouth went dry with fear, I saw the most demonic distorted faces with long shadowy bodies. They were emerging out of the walls of each floor down towards me. I couldn't move and felt the grip of someone's arms around my waist. I was pulled back from behind and went into the pitch-black darkness.

With a gasp I woke up out of breath and saw a shadow on my wall reflecting from the opposite side of the room from the window that opened towards the staircase, someone was going upstairs. He was looking towards me, and then he went upstairs. I couldn't make out his face in the darkness

I didn't move a muscle for quite some minutes, trying to make sense of what just happened. I am now thinking of what that receptionist said about the place being haunted. But honestly, I am not scared of a ghost, that was probably just a bad dream followed by a creep who was watching me sleep. I got up and closed the curtains. The window was already shut so that was a relief. I realized that I had slept without changing my clothes 'maybe I was uncomfortable hence the weird dream' I thought. Lying on the bed I was unable to go back to sleep again and I started thinking about the mansion. It is now a thing that is making me curious to see who lives there. It looks so mysterious, what is there that is making me so attracted towards it? I turned and check my phone, it was 6 a.m. and there was a text from my aunt,

"Hi Rose, how are you. Did you find a place to live; the virus situation is getting pretty bad. Where are you? I hope you're OK. Keep in touch. Love you - Aunt Mary"

She has a habit to sign her name at the end of every message as if I don't have one number saved. But I find it adorable

"I am fine and yes I found a place. Sorry I was quite busy. I will text you all the details when I am done with everything. I hope everyone's ok, take care. Love you too."

I replied to her message. I don't want to trouble her as she already deals with anxiety so, I said that I had found a place. I was leaving today anyway with the determination to get an apartment before I spend all my money on useless things.

Before leaving here I thought to look around the place, I was up anyway so I decided to get some fresh air. I went downstairs, the whole place was empty, and everything looked so peaceful. I glanced at the window as I was passing from the hall, it was still dark outside. The reception's lights were on but nobody was there. I walked out the front door. I shuddered as the chilly air touched me. There was no light anywhere but it was dawn so I was able to see a little. The sky was dark blue making everything looks shadowy and creepy. There wasn't anything to see at the front side except a wide road and wild bushes so, I began to walk behind the motel. There were 6 Harley Davidson bikes Parked and two Range Rovers a little far from the bikes. I assume that they belong to David and his friends who were at the motel.

The sun was coming up slowly. The Mansion was looking grey, gloomy, and Georgian. It looked very old but seems like the owner tried to modernize it a bit. It was too big for the current inhabitants.

I slowly walked forward as I kicked a Pebble that was on the floor. Suddenly I heard movement in the bushes and I squinted, bushes were moving and I heard a growling sound. I backed up and bumped into someone who was standing behind, a strong body that was taller than mine. I felt my hair move as he sharply exhaled on top of my head and I felt him looking down on me. As soon as I thought of moving or turning away from him my vision blacked out then I heard the voice again, it was stronger this time.

"Don't hold back rose it's the will power and anger in you that makes you remarkable always remember that. The Prophecy is yet to be fulfilled".

I broke through the hypnotizing voice and turned around, there was no one there. I frantically looked in every direction but couldn't see anyone.

"Rose, what are you doing out here. It's not safe here."

I turned around and saw Courtney standing on the pavement that leads back to the mansion - was she inside I wandered.

"Where did you come from?" I asked.

"Uh, I was" she paused "...looking for David"

Here? I asked.

"Yeah, I thought maybe he came outside to smoke. Well he is not here, let's just go inside it's too cold out here she said.

"Were you looking for something?" she asked.

"Yeah I thought someone was here"

"Probably a raccoon" Courtney said and headed for the front door

"Are you coming?" she said

"Yes," I said.

The sun is up and I am already feeling off because of my Blackout. Earlier they only occurred in my dreams but this is the first time it happened when I was wide awake. That's just too bizarre for me to process.

I walked in and the lights were lit, the kitchen was open and the lady was there at the reception. How did everything happen so fast? My head is aching so badly. I went to order a coffee. I was standing by the counter and looking around; I saw Courtney was very near to David's face talking to him as if she was telling him a secret; he was nodding along and looking at Courtney with a stern face.

This place is strange. I should get out of here straight away. "Mam your coffee"

I took the coffee and paid the boy at the counter.

"Thanks, do you know when the bus will arrive".

"The bus usually arrives at 3:00 p.m."

"Ok thanks," I said.

"Sorry to inform you that there will be no bus arriving at all" David said as he walks up to the counter.

"Why?" I ask him.

"It was on the news; the whole country has been shut down because of the virus. Thousands of people have died in 24 hours so government locks down everything for safety measures, so no transport, no nothing.

"Oh my God for how long," I asked him.

"I don't know, maybe until the situation gets better," he said, "hey man one coffee, no sugar." He said to the boy at the counter.

"So There is no way of getting out of here, I need to go somewhere," I ask him. I was upset by the news.

"I don't think so," he said. "There is only one Store a Mile away and nothing for a long way off, where do you need to go anyway?

"I was in search of an apartment. I needed to go today what am I going to do?" I panicked.

"That's ok you do have a place to live," Courtney said as she walks up to us.

"You can stay here. I mean you have to stay; there is no choice left we all have to stay here until the situation gets better".

"Yeah, I guess there's no choice left."

I walked upstairs absolutely mad at everything. Got back to my room, took off my boots, and sat on my bed thinking about what I am going to do now.

It happened again; I felt the jerk just before it happened it was exactly like what had happened on the backside of the motel and many times before. Emotions were so strong that they sucked me into the place unknown. I couldn't stop it I couldn't pull myself out of it. Confusion, fear, hope, anticipation, mixed emotions flooded into me. I was there once again the place with bloody walls, but this time I can smell it. I can feel it as if I am physically present there. It smells of blood. I traced the wall with my finger. It had long scratch marks carved in it. A hushed voice spoke into my ear and I felt the air from his mouth blowing my hair "don't trust them, look for the signs, Rosa. They're after you." my vision came back with a twinge of pain in my head.

I sat there looking at myself in the mirror with fear.

I was shocked and petrified. What was that? Am I going crazy? How did I travel to another place while sitting here? But I'm sure this time that I'm not dreaming. The visions are real. Everything makes sense now. Which means someone is after me. I have to find out what's going on.

Looking back I remember everything the voice in my dreams has told me, it was true. That means he is real and this morning he was here outside the motel. I'm freaking out, who is this person that is watching over me and how is he communicating with me without actually being here. I have to find out.

The thunder roared outside the window that disconcerted me. I went outside my room and got downstairs in the hall. I looked outside the big window. It was drizzling.

"Rose, is everything ok?" Courtney came up to me "what is that look on your face?

"I'm fine," I said and tried to act normal.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

"No. It's just the thunder. It startled me." I chuckled nervously.

"Oh, it's nothing, just a little drizzle that's all." She said, "I was going out with Davey to get groceries for the kitchen and some other things that we'll need since we are stuck here for god know how long."

"But why are you guys doing that, the owner should do that"

I said.

"Oh the owner is a close friend of David, they came up with the idea to stock up and get the necessities, medical aid, and safety measures from the virus. Do you want anything?"

She asked me.

"No thank you," I said with a smile. The thunder rumbled again and the rain got heavy.

"I am just going to go to my room. Be safe"

"You too," she said and left.