AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's chapter 7! I would like the thank The Mocking J for giving me the idea for the ending of this chapter. Oh, and there will be slight spoilers for PL3. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! :)


-What lurks in the hotel-

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded through the hotel, followed by a deafening, female scream. Emmy knocked Luke off of the bed and into the floor as she jumped awake in alarm, followed by the Professor.

"What was that?" Luke asked, rubbing his now sore backside.

Before anyone could answer, a soft voice began to recite unknown lyrics.

"No one will play.
No one will stay."

"Who said that?" Emmy questioned.

"Whispers all around.
Why don't they hear the sound?"

"This way," Layton commanded, opening the door and allowing the others to exit.

"Music plays in a melody.
How can they not see?"

Layton, Luke, and Emmy began walking down one of the many halls in the hotel. It was hard to locate the source of the voice, as it echoed throughout the entire building.

"Tick tock goes the clock.
Why do they always mock?"

"Where is that voice coming from?" Emmy wondered.

"No one will understand.
They won't meet my demand."

"It sounds like a little girl," Luke pointed out.

"Why would a little girl talk like that? It's horribly creepy." Emmy murmured.

"Silence fills my ears.
No one sees my tears."

"I think it's coming from this hall," Layton pointed to a hall to the right.

"Let's go then," Luke stated.

The trio walked down the hall and noticed the lights were slowly going out.

"Oh no, this is not good," Emmy said.

The lights faded out completely, leaving them in complete darkness. Emmy felt in front of her and was surprised that she couldn't find Luke, who was in front of her moments ago.

"Professor? Luke? Where are you?" Emmy asked.

"Why am I so alone?
Frozen like cold stone."

Emmy jumped as the voice started speaking again. It was louder than before, so Emmy guessed she was close to the source. She felt around until she found a doorknob, turning it and entering a room.

It was very small and completely bare, except for a small candle perched in the middle of the room. The candle provided little light, but it was the only light at the moment. Emmy felt herself draw closer to the sliver of brightness.

"The dolls won't even speak.
Why must they be so meek?"

The voice sounded like it was coming from this room. "Hello?" Emmy called out.

"Come." An eerie voice called through the dark. Emmy glanced around in hopes of finding its owner.

"Come." The voice called, echoing off the walls, causing the creepy atmosphere to increase rapidly.

Emmy turned around as she heard the voice directly behind her, but all she found was an empty space. "Who's there?"

"Come play."

Emmy glanced to her left, then her right, still unable to locate anyone in the room with her. "Where are you?"

"Come play with me."

Emmy continued to glance around the room, but was still unable to find anyone in there but herself. "I can't see you."

"Come play. No one else will play with me."

Emmy felt guilty as she heard this; she always was sensitive when it came to children. "Will you come out for me?"

Emmy glanced to her right, noticing a young girl for the first time. The girl was barely noticeable through the shadows, but Emmy could just make out the outline of her curly, chestnut colored hair. "Please play with me."

Emmy smiled at the girl. "Who are you?"

"Caroline." the girl answered in a wavering tone, making her resemble a lost kitten. "Will you play with me?"

Emmy took a few steps towards the shaky figure, smiling warmly, making sure she didn't frighten Caroline. "Are you lost?"

"I don't know. Am I lost?" Caroline looked confused.

"Here, let me help you." Emmy held her hand out to the girl.

"Will you play with me?" Caroline asked again.

"Yes, I will play with you. Let's first get out of this place." Emmy answered.

"The door won't open."

Emmy turned to Caroline, confused by her statement. "What?"

"The door only opens one way. You can't get out once you come in." Caroline explained.

Emmy turned to the door and was surprised to find it missing. "Is there another way out?" Emmy asked.

"Come and play with me." Caroline showed a ghoulish smile.

Emmy was getting uncomfortable with the girls constant pleas for her to play. "Why do you want me to-"

"Play."

"Why are you-"

"You agreed to play, so now it's time to play." Caroline laughed.

"Listen, we need to get out of this room. We don't have time to play right now," Emmy explained.

"Tick tock
Come play."

"Why are you-?" Emmy began.

"Tick tock
Come my way."

Caroline's face suddenly appeared contorted.

"Tick tock
Why be shy?"

He'd fingers grew longer as razor-sharp claws protruded from her finger tips. Black forms took shape behind her, forming long, rigid wings.

"Tick tock
Time will fly."

Emmy took a step back as Caroline continued her disturbing song. Caroline smiled, showing a row of pointed teeth, and Emmy noticed fangs hanging lower than the others.

"Tick tock
Why so afraid?"

Emmy felt her heartbeat quicken as Caroline's eyes began to shine unmistakably red. The little girl began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Tick tock
Should have played."

Caroline moved forward towards Emmy, licking her lips with a long, pointed tongue. Emmy felt for door again, hoping to find a way to bring it back.

"Tick tock
Dinner time"

Emmy glared at the thing before her. "What are you?"

"Tick tock
YOU ARE MINE!"

Caroline smiled and let out a horrid screech. Emmy quickly shielded her ears from the horrid noise as Caroline lurched forward, ready to attack.

-o-

"P-Professor? E-Emmy? Where are y-you?"

Luke could not stop shaking upon realizing both Layton and Emmy had gone missing. He was terrified that his dream was coming true.

"P-Please, please don't be dead..." Luke muttered to himself as he wiped away a tear.

Luke had been walking down the hallway for a while now, unable to see a thing through the dark. He was hoping to find anything- a door, a table, maybe even a lamp- but there was nothing in the hall with him. He held him arms out in front of him and felt around. Soon, he found a door directly in front of him. He smiled as he opened the door, stepping inside the room.

"Wait a minute..." Luke stared in what was most definitely not a room. He was standing outside, and stretched out as far as the eyes could see, was a graveyard.

Luke turned around and ran back for the door. He let out a gasp when it slammed shut behind him. He pulled at the door with all of his strength, but he found it locked.

"Why do the doors always lock here?" Luke questioned.

Luke turned back around, his wide, terrified eyes staring at the misty area behind him. His breathing quickened as he thought about all of the things that could be hiding behind the gravestones before him.

Realizing he had no way of entering the hotel in this area, Luke walked forward, entering the mouth of the graveyard. From the left and right, he could see a tall, metal fence surrounding him.

"There is no such thing as ghosts. There is no such thing as ghosts. There is no such thing as ghosts," Luke chanted to himself in order to calm his nerves.

Luke nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a moan behind him. He spun around and was met by a misty figure.

"Hello there." The figure whispered.

The hairs on the back of Luke's neck stood on end as he screamed, "GHOST!"

The figure laughed. "Scared are we? That's understandable."

Luke backed up as he took in the ghost's appearance. It was a tall man. He had short, messy hair and large eyes. He wore an old looking outfit, perhaps from the 1800's. The man smiled as he continued to laugh at the frightened boy.

Luke took another step back as the ghost moved forward. "Don't be afraid," It murmured. "I'm not going to hurt you...much."

Luke let out a scream and ran as the ghost followed closely behind him.

-o-

"Where did Luke and Emmy go?"

The Professor could not stop questioning his friends' well being. The last time he left them alone, they were attacked by a doll and Emmy was locked in a room with spiders. He needed to find them before something else happened.

Layton was walking blindly down the hallway, still unable to locate either of his friends. Suddenly, he sensed someone's presence behind him. Before he could turn and ask who they were, a sharp pain ran through the back of his neck. His vision blurred for a moment, then his head began to swirl. He leaned against the wall for a moment, watching his vision slowly return.

"What on earth?"

"Hershel," a voice called.

"Hm?" Layton turned around as he heard the voice behind him. "Who's there?"

"Hershel."

Layton turned around, meeting the face of a woman. It was hard to see her as it was currently pitch black, but he could tell she was smiling, beaconing him to follow her.

Layton took a step forward as the woman turned, walking away from him. He could have sworn he had seen this woman before...

"Come on, Hershel. Keep up," The woman laughed.

Layton raised an eyebrow as he did as the she asked. They walked to the end of the hallway, then took a right turn. The woman led the Professor down another hall, then stopped in front of a door. She nodded her head towards the door. "Go on, open it."

Layton stepped forward, doing as the woman requested. He found it difficult to turn the door handle, but after a slight struggle, he managed to pry it open.

The Professor walked into a dark room. He noticed the woman move to the left as she touched something. Lights suddenly flowed throughout the room, revealing its contents. Layton gasped, as he realized the identity of the woman.

"C-Claire?"

"It's nice to see you again, Hershel," Claire smiled.

"How are you..." Layton faltered. He was at a loss for words. He hadn't seen Claire since the dreadful accident... the accident that cost her life. How was she standing in front of him?

Claire frowned. "Did you not miss me?"

"Of course I did. But, how are you here?" Layton questioned.

"I've missed you, so much," Claire stated, taking a step forward.

"I-I've missed you as well," Layton muttered, feeling a tear fall from his cheek to the floor.

Claire frowned, showing a distressed expression. "Why didn't you save me?"

"Hm?" Layton questioned.

"You weren't there when I needed you. You let me die," Claire shook her head.

"Claire, I had no idea that you would... I wish I could have stopped it from happening," Layton responded, slightly taken aback by Claire's words.

"You could have stopped me! You could have made me stay with you instead of going to the lab! You could have stopped it!" Claire exclaimed.

Layton frowned, "Claire...I'm sorry-"

"You're sorry? Does that help any? Well does it, Hershel?" Claire demanded.

"Well, no..." Layton began.

"I died, Hershel. I DIED! And we're you there to stop it? Were you there to protect me, to save my life? NO! You weren't there when I needed you most!" Claire's yelled, her face growing red with rage.

"Claire, if I could have done anything to stop it, you know I would have," Layton stated.

"But you didn't, and that's just it! You failed me, Hershel. You failed me just like you failed your friends!" Claire proclaimed.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Layton questioned.

"You failed your little companions. That assistant and apprentice, you weren't there for them when they needed you, just like me," Claire answered, refusing to show any signs of sympathy.

"What! Where are Luke and Emmy?" Layton asked, mentally panicking as he wondered what could have become of them.

Claire turned to her right, pointing and staring at the ground. Layton followed her gaze, gasping.

"My word..."


AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you enjoyed chapter 7! I kind of managed to make myself tear up while writing the last bit... I will try to update as soon as possible! :)