HOTEL IN CALIFORNIA
Submitted for the Daa!Daa!Daa! 5th year Anniversary Contest.
by: Ahvs

Introduction:

I don't know what this thing was, but it wasn't a ghost that's for sure. It was some sort of force, some kind of a monster or a devil? It had killed all of us, but of course I'm not dead, that's why I'm here writing this story. We went into a place where every person should never go, a place where you will realize how important you're life is and a place where you will call -- 'hell'. The trauma is still lingering in my streams. I don't know if this truly happened but I know it wasn't an illusion and not even a nightmare, but rather a surprise - a bad turnout surprise, why? It's because…


--+--

It all started when Miyu and I was about to go to Florida to meet and visit her parents. But in such weird scenario, the flight ticket that we received was in way to California. For no apparent reason, we don't know how it happened. Florida? California? Sounds similar, right? But unlikely syllables. Miyu's parent apologized because they haven't double check the ticket before sending it to us. But before they do, we're already in California.

"Mom! How come, you send us a wrong ticket? We're here in Los Angeles, California wherein we should be there in Florida? This is weird. Why you didn't double check the ticket before sending it to us?! What should we do?! We're on the unfamiliar place. I don't know how we can survive, GHAD!!!" Miyu was busy yelling her mom over her cellphone while 'me' of course - covering my ears.

Miyu should also be blamed because she also didn't check the flight ticket before we enter in the plane. She didn't even distinguished the place that we are going to and of course I'm confident that we're going to Florida not even checking to my known clumsy, idiot companion that we are heading to a wrong country. But how will I able to concentrate when she is with me? ---- Naaaa… Never mind, all of us should be blame, coz' we're all stupid!

After long yelling and scolding conversation, Miyu's parents decided to fly here in California to meet us. They told us to check first in a hotel near air-terminal so that they will able to locate us easily when they came. Miyu was so disappointed on her parent's decision. Her face cannot be draw due to anger. I didn't talk to her unless she does it first. I don't want also to make an argument with her.

I don't know how to react in the situation; I just smile as I look at the positive side of that mistake. Though this is not the place that we should be, at least we saw the beautiful country of California.

--+--

The sun is already set when we arrived in the so called Golden State. Cold wind breeze from the West side of the coast and a warm smell of a dessert flower scented all over the place. We don't know where to go and where to stay. We're both hungry and tired but hungriness and tiredness came to pass as we saw and amazed at the lovely sight of LA. There's a lot of shimmering lights decorated in the whole city which make every tourist tempted to get inside every establishments.

We tried to look for the nearest Hotel near the Air-Terminal. We roamed our sight and then it stopped on a flickering light of the inn- 'the Hotel 11:11'.

It's a 20 story building. The hotel has a very nice with great ocean view. It stood at the back of the sea and because the sun is already set, the color of the hotel looks red and glowing. There was a beach that they owned wherein they let the people who stayed in there 'go swim and play'. The hotel was surrounded by the very beautiful garden. It was perfect and very tempting for anyone else to see.

We went inside the lodge. The lobby inside was so huge and shiny. Miyu and I can't able to avert ourselves from being startled. Totally the hotel was so surprising, attractive and magnificent.

"Welcome ma'am, sir in Hotel 11:11, the pride of Golden State. Come and be amazed."

We smiled at the greeter, then we walk straight to the front lobby and asked the receptionist for affordable rooms that they have. The receptionist checked the available rooms in her computer database. We wait til' the system loads when suddenly four Japanese guy (one girl and three boys) came inside and asked for four rooms.

We haven't finished our business when the receptionist happily greeted them and hurriedly checked again her database. She found only 4 available rooms and it's located at the 4th floor. All of us decided to take those rooms and divide ourselves into four so that we can able to allocate it all. I decided to share a room with Miyu while the two (one boy and one girl) share same room and others take the rest of the units.

Miyu opposed on what I've confirmed. Again she is mad. I explained to her that even I, don't like to share a room with her. And the reason why I chose to share a room with her is because we don't have time to look for another place and if we do that, we will leave wandering in the large street of LA. There's no other choice but to get that room, we're both tired and we need is a better sleep and rest.

After that long explanation, Miyu agreed but still she doesn't like it.

"Room 1-D, for you young man! Thank you for choosing Hotel 11:11. Enjoy your stay!" The receptionist gave the key to me. I took it and put it in my pocket. And then she distributed the other sets 1-A, 1-B and 1-C.

--+--

We are hungry at that time, so we decided to eat first before we go to our room. We went in there so called cafeteria.

While walking, people inside the hotel kept staring us. A kind of look as if there's something wrong on our face. Of course, I gave them also a fierce look in return. Then I heard one of the guy whom we met in the lobby whispered on his buddy, "Hey dude, I like that little blonde, she looks hot." - "Hold on pal, she's just a kid." The other one whispered then they both laughed.

I frowned on what I heard and I stare back at them. They just smiled at me in return. Probably Miyu didn't hear it, coz' she's busy talking again to her mom over the phone. I don't like what I've heard, specially the 'hot' word. Maybe if that guy makes some bad move to Miyu, he'll definitely receive a hard punch from me. Truly, I'll show him what the hell looks like, hahahaha! Anyway, why am I saying this? Naaaa, forget it…

The cafeteria inside the hotel was a self-service restaurant. We look for a table good for two and then I took the initiative to take an order because my companion was out of her mind. As I was ordering the food in the bar, a guy whom we met in the lobby, the one who said a 'hot' word came to Miyu and does some chatting with her. Of course the idiot also does the same, even though she didn't know whom she is talking to. I scratched my head as I look at their direction. I stamped my fingers in the table as I wait for the vendor to give my orders.

As I get our food I rushed to our table and dropped harshly the tray in the stall in front of them. The two stunned on what I did. I guess I lost my manners again! Well, WHO CARES!

"Anyway, I talk to you later. Nice meeting you!" said that annoying guy. Miyu smiled at him in return. Goodness! I hate her when she does that to other guys. I frowned as I took my sit. I want to say anything, but who am I to get mad? I just sighed as I wash out all my exasperation.

"Do you know the guy whom you're talking to?" I suddenly asked her.

"So!" that's all she answered. Grrrr! She makes me irritated. What else I can say. I'm just asking. Is it bad to ask? I just wonder why all guys easily attracted to her? You won't see any special something to her. What kind of aura does she have to make every man fall to her so easily? Hmmm… hey wait a minute, did I say all guys? I mean not almost… and I'm not one of them. Hmpf!

--+--

After we ate our dinner, we decided to go to our room. We go straight to the Elevator and hit the 4th button. The four people came also inside the lift and smiled on us. Without further ado they introduced themselves one by one.

One is a girl named Yuuna (21 years old). I should say she's one of those pretty primp kind of girl. She's tall, abnormal tall for a girl, burgundy hair, blue eyes, and always wore miniskirts and spaghetti straps.

The other one was a guy named Ryuu (23 years old). Ryuu was Yuuna's boyfriend. He was about the same way, just the guy version of Yuuna, brown hair, tall and brown eyes.

Third is Ren (19 years old). Yuuna's brother. He's a nerd pure and simple, he dressed with pretty much anything that looked good to him and he didn't care what people may think on the way he dressed.

Forth is Kenta (20 years old), he was one of those kind of so called black sheep, dark hair, medium height, average weight. Looks like drug addict. He has lots of tattoos all over his body which makes it visible in his arms and he has lots of pierced earring in his ears and nose. He's the one who talk to Miyu in the resto and the one that I heard saying odd words. I should say he's nothing.

We appreciate to meet them except for Kenta. Of course I didn't show them that I was totally pissed off to him.

"Anyway, are you two dating?!" asked Kenta to Miyu smilingly. "So what are you doing in hotel… don't tell me you gonna do mushy mushy thingy!!! Hahahaha!" Kenta teased. I looked at him in annoyance. Truly, this guy makes me angry.

Then suddenly Yuuna hit his head. "How come you're thinking such green as that huh! Can't you see they're too young?!" then she snob on us and crossed her arms.

"Anyway, how old are you?" Ryuu asked me.

"We're both 15!" I said.

"and… you're dating?" he continued.

"Hey bro! You're asking the same thing!!!" Ren reacted.

"NO! We're cousins!" Miyu replied quickly. I was struck on her reply. Then I saw Kenta smiling sheepishly.

"Oh I see! But you don't look the same. That's great!" Ryuu said. "Anyway if you two got any problem, just buzz us. We're willing to help you, okay!?"

Then Yuuna elbowed Ryuu's stomach and said, "Stop intriguing them… mind your own business." Then the door of the elevator opened. We all stepped out on the lift and went to our respective rooms. They all bid goodbye to us.

Yuuna and Ryuu stay at Rm 1-A, Ren at 1-B and Kenta at 1C.

--+--

I took the keys in my pocket and insert it in the door knob. I slowly open the door and entered. The room was simple yet elegant. There were two rooms located on the right side, a small living room in the front area and a small dining hall on the left. The floors are carpeted and the walls were fully furnished by light colorful wallpapers.

As we enter in the room, I felt sudden strange. As I walked in it, I didn't feel safe, I felt like something was watching us – a kind of spirit. I didn't ask Miyu if she felt this feeling also, coz I don't want to scare her. But I believe there was something strange in that room, and later I found that out.

Miyu's phone rang again. It's her mom calling. Angriness enveloped her face again. After a second she suddenly shouted, "I HATE YOU, MAMA!!!" then she threw her phone on the wall. It crushed and broke into pieces. I did not ask her what happen but she explained to me that her parents wouldn't able to be here tomorrow because of some emergency issues in their work.

Miyu cried in pain, she was so disappointed. She run in one of the room and slammed the door firmly.

I didn't able to utter a single word so I just sat for a moment in a sofa looking at every corner of the place. What a day! I slapped my head as I recall what an unlucky day we had. I decided to take a shower. I stood up from my sitting position when a sudden voice hit my ear and said in an ominous screechy tone "You'll never leave" - but I didn't pay much attention to it, because I think it was just my mind playing on me. I'm tired all day and all I what is rest, so I just ignore it and entered in the bathroom.

--+--

Now it's 11:11pm. The first sign of so called spirit attacked happened. The incident occurred in Rm. 1-A, where Yuuna and Ryuu were staying. I'm done bathing and what I am doing is lying on my bed, ready to take a nap. I almost fell asleep when I heard Yuuna screamed,

"OH MY GOD...AHHHH!!!"

Yuuna screamed at the top of her lungs, even from 100 feet away and behind a closed door, I heard her scream. I jumped at the coach and ran to their room. I peaked for a moment before entered in her room, I gasped on what I saw. Ren and Kenta came running also to Yuuna's room and without wavering, they went inside.

There we saw Yuuna's left leg enveloped by thick running blood. She's crying as she tried to explain what happened to her. She said she was just shaving her legs when she accidentally came up all the way to the second layer of her skin. Blood flooded out on her legs where she had cut accidentally. She was crying horribly. Ren and Kenta went to her and picked her up but Yuuna couldn't able to stand or walk; she went limp. Suddenly a strong cracked was heard. Yuuna's bone legs cracked and came out on her skin that causes her left leg to cut into two.

I gasped on what I saw. I cover my mouth. Ren and Kenta were struck on what happened to their friend. Yuuna screamed to death as she saw her left leg on the ground. Lots blood came out on her cut leg, her face went pale. She cried dreadfully then after a few second - she passed out. She died.

Ryuu came into the room shouting and yelling on us. "What did you do to her!!!" he shouted horribly.

"W-we d-didn't do anything, p-pal. We're just helping my sis… when she… when she… when she ---" Ren said trembling. He still can't believe on what he saw. His sister is dead. She faced a horrible death.

Ryuu ran to Yuuna and lifted her up. He was crying while holding Yuuna's body. His chin was trembling and tears started rolling down his face like a waterfall. Then after a second, he suddenly dropped the body. Yuuna's body crashed and dropped like a large bag of sand to the ground.

Then Ryuu quickly grabbed a knife and before any of us could react - he slit his throat. He didn't do it fast, he did it slow. First he shoved it in about 1 ½ inches and then slowly went across on the other end of his neck until it got to the other side. His face didn't change at all. I think it wasn't him, I think something was controlling him. He killed himself.

I don't know what to do. I don't know what's going on. Ren and Kenta were still shocked. They didn't even bother to move on their standing position. I slapped my face to wake myself up. I looked at every corner of the room then I saw a telephone hanging on the wall. I reached the phone and dial the lobby number. But there's no dial tone. I took my cellphone in my pocket but before I pressed the number, there's no signal indicated in the screen of my phone. I started to panicked.

I shrugged Ren and Kenta's shoulder to make them conscious from being shock. When suddenly Kenta screamed and shook me and Ren.

"Dead!!! They are dead!!! Yuuna and Ryuu are dead! OH MY GOD!!! We didn't kill them, right!? DO WE??? I'm just standing here and looking at them. OH GOD!!! IT'S HORRIBLE! THIS IS HORRIBLE!!! We need to call a POLICE!!! Or else we might be accused that we killed them." He reacted late.

He kept shaking us. So, I struggled and shrugged his hands off with me and shouted, "I DID IT! BUT THERE'S NO DIAL TONE!"

"H-how about let's t-try to use our r-respective r-room p-phones. M-maybe there's, maybe there's dial tone in-in there…" Ren suggested still heavily trembling.

We all agreed and sprinted out to our rooms. I look at phone inside, but I didn't find any. I go to my room but still there wasn't. So I thought maybe in Miyu's room.

I ran to her door and knocked many times. But she didn't respond. I called up her name but still she didn't answer. I grabbed the door knob and twisted it – it's not closed.

I open the door. Miyu wasn't inside. It was empty. Miyu wasn't there. But I know she went inside. I saw her.

I roamed my sight and called her name many times. I looked at her if she's under the bed, inside the closet, in the bathroom but she's not there. I also looked for the phone but there is none.

I held my head. I felt I'm going crazy. No it can't be… she should be here. But where the heck she will go? I was about to get out of her room when I suddenly slipped on the floor. My back and head banged to the ground but I didn't feel its pain because of what I saw – above.

Miyu was glued on the ceiling with arms wide spread. Her eyes are shot and she is breathing heavily. I trembled as I called out her name. Then her eyes quickly opened, she looked at me fiercely as if she's going to kill me. But then she blink, she blink so many times and then suddenly she realized that she was stuck at upper limit of the room. She screamed. Then inch by inch she was unfastened and then fell. Good thing I caught her. After that, she fainted.

--+--

Ren and Kenta went rushing inside our room and said in nuisance, "We have no phone inside!"

"Me too!" I said.

"We better tell this incident to the building management." Kenta said panicking.

"Yah, let's go down." Then I gently laid Miyu on her bed.

"Anyway, Kanata!" Ren cut. "What happened to your cousin?"

I sighed deeply and said, "You never gonna believe this… when I came in… I saw her attached in the ceiling."

"WHAT?!?!" Ren and Kenta shouted.

"This place is weird… I sense it. There's something living in here… it's some kind of force, a spirit. A bad spirit!" I said to them but I'm afraid that they won't believe me.

"Kanata! Do you have third eye?" Kenta asked curiously. I don't know if he is joking or what.

"Kanata, we need to go out in this place, immediately!" Ren interrupted.

"Yah I guess so. Okay you guys go down and asked for help. Then I rather stay here and keep an eye on our friends." Kenta decided.

"What? Why we!?" I said.

"You should obey my command coz I'm older than you two." Kenta said.

"No! I rather stay!" I demanded. I really don't want him to stay with Miyu. What if she does something bad to her? We never know. "I rather stay here!" I said firmly.

"Come on, pal! Don't be so coward! GO!" Kenta said to me.

"Common Kanata, let's go! We don't have time" Ren pulled me out of the room. I didn't able to shrug his arms, he was so strong. So I just decided to go on the flow, and left Miyu on the hands of the unknown protector…

To be continued…