The first impression of the hotel was one of mediocre dislike. The building itself wasn't ugly or particularly dark, but it's location, its odd angles, not to mention its smell was not one that was inviting. It was the sort of place that people inhabited by force of habit, but not by choice. The building had been marked for destruction but was somehow spared. Some donor had paid handsomely to keep the block intact...for historical references. In any case the people who were regulars weren't the type to care much for historical accuracy. They were deadbeats mostly, stealing, selling drugs, selling themselves...meanwhile killing themselves quickly and slowly.
The hotel was known to run a regular bout of prostitutes, but was 'overlooked' by many of the local authorities due to kickbacks and bribes. No one much cared about the souls that never seemed to re-emerge from it's doors, or why most of it's upper stories were blacked out, just that it remained clean outside, and that no litter cluttered the stoop.
Juliane was never happy about this part. She was never happy about having to part with some of her hard earned money. Even if it was for Edgar. One day she would beat him up, take back the money and leave a kronor on his chest as a warning to anyone who might follow...one day.
"Is this it?" Edgar said, the man's face curiously still as if he were trying to determine what he was going to do.
The young woman shook her head once, shaking her obviously phony red hair piece. The snow was falling and the quiet back street was devoid of life, save for their figures and a man sleeping on a bench next to the Hotel Rhinastad.
The young woman waited a moment for the inevitable. It was a scene that had played out every time she paid up. The slap came, not directly as last time. It knocked her to the ground, and her nose began to bleed.
"Next time you come to me Juli-baby...don't wait for me to find you." Edgar said menacingly. He was a rail thin man, with thin fingers wearing multiple rings. His tired eyes seemed to be constantly darting about, as if at any moment they might be interrupted.
Edgar kicked her once, drawing a stifled yelp and then sobbing. His designer jeans were brand new, as was his sweater and member's only jacket. Julianne loathed seeing the grey jacket coming towards her in the late evening, it was a sign that pain and suffering was near.
"I'm sorry...please, Im sorry" Juliane cried, hot tears burning her cheeks, as she begged for absolution.
In moments Edgar had gone, leaving Juliane to pick herself up, straightened her hair and tried to regain her balance. Edgar was always careful to hit her on the side of her face, where the makeup wouldn't stain his hands, and it was easier for her to cover up the bruises, a small bonus she thought. She soped up the blood with a small napkin from her purse, then noticed the small drip of blood contrasted against the grey white snow in the alley. Sniffing her nose, she turned to leave, keeping her eyes fixed on the direction Edgar had gone.
She left the alleyway, in the opposite direction, headed towards the hotel. A small figure stood across the street in the snow, luggage being emptied out of the back of the cab the figure had just left. The snow was coming down heavily now. Juliane's curiosity peeked when she made out the figure to be a blonde boy, no more then 15. Lost? Looking for his parents. His wallet loomed in Juliane's eyes, it was sticking out of his back pocket...like a small sandwich wrapped into so much butcher paper.
"Are you looking for something boy?" Juli asked, her eye lashes batting at the strange child in front of her. He was country pale, plan and soft looking, and most of all clean. Yes, that's what it was he seemed clean, inside and out.
"Um...the hotel RodBostad? I have an appointment- I mean reservation." Oskar said, correcting himself. Juli had seen this sort of behavior before. The kid was new to the city, and she knew how that felt.
Juli came closer, "Let me help you...the hotel is right over there."
The cabby noticed the woman, shook his head, and bellowed for his fair.
"Kid, that's 92 Cronor." The overweight cabby stated, his mustachioed face having little in the way of patience left.
Juli watched the boy dig in his pockets and pull out several hundred Kronor. It was obvious that he had more. The Cabbie pulled off quickly and dirty gray snow sprayed back, landing in Oskar's face and on his clothes. He wiped himself, and Julia helped with the stuff that landed on his pale white face with a quickly withdrawn napkin.
"First time in Stockholm?" She asked plainly.
Oskar simply gave a sheepish shrug.
"I can carry one of your bags." Juli said eagerly. "Since I know the way."
"Um, thank you" Oskar said as the boy carefully followed with the box in tow, allowing her to take his small backpack. The odd pair made it across the street, to the stoop of the hotel. It was nearly 5 by the girls reckoning. But the boy looked like several miles past tired now. Must be a runaway she thought, and it made her wonder if this was how she looked at first.
"You look tired..." Juli remarked as they walked on the grey and cold concrete pavement stones that had only recently replaced the cobblestone walk-way.
"I'm ok." Oskar replied, seemingly cheerful, though Julianne had her doubts. The boy seemed to being quite brave, but why?
The heavy front door of the hotel was brown, and had huge metal handles. Ornate carvings on the wood panel above the door spelled out the words in big bold letters. opened by an odd looking man. His face was sullen and cold, he regarded Oskar with a nod, and allowed them entrance. Oskar entered first struggling with the box to gingerly bring it in. The girl followed ignoring a stern look from the man as she entered. She helped the boy, and was expecting compensation...it was the way things were.
