Chapter 14: The Stagger Inn Hotel
Stine
"Where can they be?" Zach repeated his question, his arms still crossed over his chest. "And I hope you're not wrong this time," he said, thinking that I made a mistake of where the girls are at, as if he didn't trust me.
"Zach, I'm sure I figured out where they went to," I assured him. Champ opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Don't say 'are we going to one of the other scary areas like Fever Swamp'," I mimicked the awkward teen's voice, mocking him.
"Hey!" Champ protested, feeling a bit offended. "That's not what I was going to ask," he responded angrily.
"Alright…" I said. "What are you going to say?" I asked him with a raised brow, waiting for what he's gonna say.
"Are we going to Black Lagoon Water Park?" he replied nervously and timidly.
I clenched my teeth together. "Really, kid?" I started, getting irritated already for questioning me on that. "Champion, we're not going to that place because like I stated, I might of figured out where the girls are at," I explained to him.
Zach gave me a disbelief look. "Yeah, right," he scoffed, being very skeptical about it. "Stine, we almost checked every area, how can you possibly know?"
"I said that I might know where they can be," I corrected.
"Sure…" He rolled his eyes, still not believing a word that I was saying.
"I'm serious," I protested in all seriousness. Zach just rolled his eyes again, almost smirking at me. It only disappeared when I gave him the look, the one that I always give to Hannah ever since she came around to my existence. "If you won't believe me, then I just have to take you there."
"Alright," he shrugged. "Just lead the way," he said, uncrossing his arms and letting them drop to his sides. "I'm not sure to believe you or not, but… go on ahead. I really need to see if the girls are okay. Both of them."
I sighed. "...so do I." And with that, I led the boys down Horrorland. Champ stayed in between me and Zach like we were shields or something, and yelped when he heard something. "It's just an owl. Are you afraid of owls?" I questioned him.
It took a minute for him to answer. "...yes…" he nodded, feeling embarrassed. "Like I mentioned a few nights ago...I'm afraid of everything," he repeated during that one night. "And I'm not good at anything either… my parents are even thinking about kicking me out of their home," he added in a gloomy mood. "I guess they don't want a coward who's always screaming when something 'scary' happens," he then muttered, as if he hated his own parents. "I mean, they're good at everything. My mom was an all-American sprinter and a two-time world debate champion, and my dad won a bronze medal in the '92 Olympics." He kicked a rock out of his way, watching it bounce off one of the snack booths. "Why can't I be as good as them?" I can tell by his face that he actually hated himself. "If they kick me out… I have to find somewhere else to live. Only here's the problem." Another kick of a rock, this time sailing to one of the Horror's that is sweeping up the pavement. I was expecting the rock to hit the monster, except it landed on the ground and the Horror swept it up like it was nothing. "I have nowhere to go," Champ continued his talking. "I can't visit my grandma anymore nor live with her because she lives in Pasadena after reading that one Goosebumps book about the Abominable Snowman monster which almost killed us if Hazel hadn't trapped it back in the manuscript that it got out of," he fumed, having me in shock to see a different side of him. "And I can't live with my aunt and uncle because they have dogs, and I don't know what to do with my life!" he yelled, this time picking up a rock and throwing it as far as he can. After doing so, I saw a tear forming at the corner of his eye. "I shouldn't be around anymore… and I shouldn't have a girlfriend anyway," he cracked, his voice breaking. "I'm not good at anything… I never liked myself and I hide it all the time. I'm an awful son to my own parents… my own damn parents." The tear even rolled down his cheek.
"Don't think of yourself that way. The best way to feel good about yourself… is to be you," I advised, pointing at him. "Who cares what your parents think of you. And if they do end up kicking you out the house...I'm sure they're places like you to live at. And," I informed, "you should never say that you never wanted to be around anymore or say that you can't have a girlfriend because you're not strong or in good shape just like Zach Cooper here." I flicked a thumb to my student, giving Champ a bright grin. "Besides, Taylor does like you and is happy for what you did for her during that monster invasion at the high school ever since her ex-boyfriend decided to leave her behind when that werewolf almost attacked her." I chuckled a little. "By using silver fillings," I completed, my grin growing a bit wider.
That angry look got replaced with a smile after I gave him that lesson on just being himself. "You're right, Stine," he agreed with a nod of his head. "I just wanted my parents to understand what I'm going through these years," he wished, his smile fading off his face.
"You know what I believe about your parents?" I waited for him to answer, but he only shrugged his shoulders. "I believe that they need to listen to you if you have any problems," I told him. "However," I added, "if they refuse to… then don't worry about it. And if they kick you out of the house, like I said, there are other places in Madison to live at."
"Thanks," he smiled again. "I'll do my best to get my parents to understand and to explain that I don't need to be like them. Heck, my dad thinks girls like athletic guys like Zach here," he pointed at his best friend. "Only…" He scoffed. "...what does he know about girls… He only wanted a girl that is athletic as he is, so that's why he married my mom before I came into the picture."
"Were you an ugly baby, Champ?" Zach teased, giving him a smug smile. "Because my aunt Lorraine always tells that I was an ugly baby and that I look like Baby Gollum when in truth is that I was looking at a picture of me and my dad… Before he passed away."
"I was not an ugly infant, Zacharias," Champ defended himself, feeling very offended.
Zach laughed. "I'm kidding, dude." He lightly punched his shoulder. "But seriously I was an ugly baby," he stated in that serious tone of voice.
Champ rubbed his shoulder, not paying attention. "I think you bruised my shoulder…" he spoke.
"I didn't punch you that hard," Zach said.
"Yeah…" Champ shrugged. "I'm being a little dramatic…" He stopped rubbing his shoulder and looked at me. "So...where are we going?" he asked.
"You'll see," I simply answered, my eyes straight ahead. "And no, it's not somewhere scary." I then thought about it. "Well, it might be scary," I told him, just to give him a heads up warning in case the place we're going is scary or not.
"U-Uh… okay," he stammered, his nervousness coming back.
"Dude…" Zach did a little eye roll. "I bet this place isn't down right terrifying like those Goosebumps monsters," he reassured him.
"Don't ever say that G word, man," Champ responded back.
"What word? Goosebumps?" he mentioned again.
"Don't say that word!" Champ cried out.
"Hey, I'm going to crack your heads together so you two can stop arguing," I threatened a bit.
"Sorry…" the awkward teen apologized. "I'm just really hungry and tired, that I wanted to lay on the ground and just sleep."
"So am I…" Zach rubbed his eyes, letting out a yawn. "I hope my mom doesn't freak out since I already gave her a heads up since I'm helping you guys stop the Invisible Boy. And I want to get everything in that book if we ever find it," he informed me.
"Don't worry," I assured him. "We'll get the book, but first we have to see if the girls are at this one place that came into my mind," I reminded him. "Although, I'm beginning to think that they got kidnapped…" That thought stayed in my mind until Champ said something that I told him just a few minutes ago.
"Don't think like that," he repeated my words that I gave him, only slightly different. "I bet the girls are fine."
I just answered by nodding my head slowly. I want the girls to be okay, I hoped. Then Champ said something else.
"I feel like we're being… watched," he reported to us, and when I looked at him, he felt very uneasy. He glanced over at a bush. "I'm not even exaggerating," he stated. He gasped. "The bush just moved!"
"It's just the wind, dude," Zach told him.
"It moved," Champ swore, pointing at it. "And we're being watched…" He was about to put his finger in his mouth when I slapped it. "Hey-!" he yelped, jerking his hand away.
"Don't put your finger in your mouth!" I said somewhat loudly. "It's gross and you have no idea what you were touching. This place maybe filled with stuff you don't want to think about," I warned him.
He thought about what I said to him. "Oh…" he said slowly. "Okay, once I get home, I'm gonna wash my hands," he decided in a smart way.
"Great idea," I agreed.
We continued walking until I stopped and the boys bumped me from behind. I gave them a quick glare since they weren't watching where they were going. "We're here, you two," I announced.
Zach gave me a confused look. "Where?" he questioned.
I pointed. "There."
Both boys turned and saw a building and when they read the sign, their jaws dropped to the floor.
The Stagger Inn Hotel written in black bold letters just like the signs at each park section in Horrorland on a large building, bigger than the other ones, above the entrance doors.
"You gotta be kidding me..." was all Champ could say, breaking the long silence which was pretty creepy.
"I wish I was, but I'm not. Let's go and look for them in here," I ushered them, not wanting to stand here and stare at the building. "Here, Zach." I handed Hazel's backpack. "You can carry this, it's starting to hurt my shoulder a little."
"Sure." Taking her backpack, he put both straps on. "It's not that heavy, but I can handle it."
Making sure it's on him, all three of us entered the building.
"Are you here to stay for the night?" a Horror asked at the front desk.
"Uh... no, we just wanted to see what it looks like," I fibbed. The Horror nodded and went back to his work.
As we were looking for the girls, I couldn't help but wonder if they knew that we are here.
Walking around the hotel is pretty creepy to be honest. I mean, there's cobwebs in every corner every time we turn, and the floor creaked with each step that we made that I thought we're going to wake up the others, only for me to forget that me and the kids are the only ones here at this amusement park, besides the monsters. Even that annoying one that I wish I never created in the first place.
Ugh, thinking about him makes me want to get... angry... He's worse than Slappy.
Slappy... For some reason...I'm already miss him... Wait, what are you thinking, Stine? Missing your alter-ego of you? The one who tried to freak Hazel out?! What the hell is wrong with you?! He even bit her as well! Don't you dare start thinking about that wooden dummy. Just stop it right now, I ordered myself. However... the thought of him made me feel...sorry for what I did...
"Is something wrong, Stine?" Zach broke the silence, having me jump out of my thoughts.
"Huh?" I questioned, looking towards him.
"Is something wrong?" he repeated. "You seem to be...lost in your thoughts. Are you thinking about the girls?" he asked me, waiting for my answer as he shoved his hands into his pants pockets.
"U-Uh...um..." I stuttered, taking my glasses off and cleaning them off with my shirt. "Y-Yeah...that's what I was thinking," I lied, even though it was true. But the other part of me wanted to tell them that I also miss that one monster... And if I do, they'll freak out or get mad at me.
Maybe...maybe someday I'll talk to that wooden demon... Just... not tonight. I put my glasses back on my face once I got the dusty particles off the lenses. "Let's check the second floor," I suggested.
"I hope we don't see any spiders," Champ spoke with a hint of fear. "Guys, if you see any spiders, let me know," he advised us. "I don't want to run into them or else they'll bite me."
"When were you afraid of spiders? Because most people like them..." Zach's voice trailed away when his best friend gave him a sharp look. "Oh... I see," he understood, taking out one of his hands out of his right pocket, rubbing the back of his neck. "You were a kid when it happened..."
"Don't apologize, friend," Champ grinned, patting Zach's shoulder. "I know you didn't mean to ask me. Now when I think about it... What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing," he answered quickly, shoving his hand back into his pocket. "I'm...not afraid of anything, Champ." Both of us gave him a disbelief look. "What...?" he questioned. "Don't look at me like that," he protested. "Really, I'm not," he continued to try to lie to us, only it doesn't seem to be working. "Okay," he gave up. "I'm...afraid of losing my mom...ever since my dad died last year."
"How did he die?"
"Champ, that's not a nice question to ask," I scolded him.
But Zach doesn't seem to mind as he let out two words. "Car accident." He shrugged his shoulders. "You know...back in New York...whenever mom gets in the car to go somewhere...I always get a bad feeling... But...nothing ever bad happened to her..." He sighed. "That's the main reason that I wanted to move to a different state. Just living in New York reminds of him."
I wanted to say something, so I did. "Did you know I actually...had a wife?"
"I thought you were single before you started dating my aunt," Zach replied confused. "Since when were you married?"
"Was married," I corrected him in a teacher like voice that I use on students at each class that I get. "I was married," I repeated. "A long time ago after college," I began to tell my story, "I always felt alone... No girl was interested in me except for one. At first I thought she was one of those bullies that picked on me because of my allergies, but no, she actually likes me. Not just to be friends...but be in a relationship with me. Of course, I agreed. I was living by myself at the time and I let her move in with me when she was still my girlfriend
'Thanks for letting me live here, Robert.'
She looked around my living room, setting down the last of boxes of her things, taken aback by the décor of the inside of my house. She had beaming smile on her face as she looked around the living room, brushing back her hair on her left shoulder.
'And I love the way it looks, too. Just like I love you.'
She giggled when she saw my face glowed pink.
'You're blushing.'
'I-I am?'
I couldn't help but stutter and she laughed, nodding her head.
'Yes, Robert, your face is turning that color every time you look at me.'
'And you're doing the same thing.'
She laughed, picking up her boxes off the floor.
'I'm just going to put these upstairs in our bedroom.'
She was about to go up the steps when I stopped her and held out my arms.
'I'll take those up.'
Smiling at my offer, she handed me the boxes. I almost dropped them, feeling the weight of the boxes.
'Whoa...! What did you put in these boxes, sweetheart?'
'Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley High and Stephen King books.'
I grimaced when she mentioned that last author's name since I hate that guy. Besides, I'm going to be a much better writer than him.
Of course, my girlfriend saw my expression.
'Is there something wrong about my favorite books...?'
I quickly changed the expression on my face when I gave her my answer.
'No, no. Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley High books are fine... But Steve King... not so much. Besides, I'm going to write my own book series someday.'
'Oh really? I didn't know you like to write. You can even make money from doing that. What are you going to call your series?'
'I'm not sure...but I want to write stories with frights and twists and turns to get back at my bullies that keep throwing rocks at my windows and keep calling me names.'
'Robert...'
She had a frown on her face.
'Why would you think that'll work?'
'Because I know.'
She shook her head.
'You know, Robert, you should try to ignore them or ask them to stop.'
I scoffed.
'That won't work, sweetheart.'
She didn't reply as I went up the steps and stopped midway.
'I'll be right back and we can have dinner. I'm thinking about having take-out tonight. Is Chinese food okay with you?'
'My favorite.'
I smiled and continued up the steps to our room.
By the time I entered the bedroom, I went over to the empty bookcase, pulling out one book at a time, setting them on the shelves as carefully as I can, wanting to line them up straight.
Once I got the Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley High books on the shelves, I reached down and grabbed the first Stephen King book that I took out of the box. I made a face at the title of the book. The Shining. What a lame title name for a horrible horror book. Actually, all of them suck in my own opinion.
After I finished putting the books on the shelves on the bookcase, I set the boxes aside and went back downstairs in the living room to see my girlfriend sitting on the couch, going through the channels that are on the TV. I can tell by her face that there's nothing good on during this evening, which I understand. So I came up to her and asked her something.
'Wanna watch a movie?'
She smiled.
'Sure, how about horror one?'
I smiled back at her answer to the movie genre that we can both watch.
'Alright, what horror movie do you want to watch?'
'Well, what do you have?'
I went over to where I have my DVDs and pulled out a few horror movies out of the shelves.
'How about this one? The Silence Of The Lambs?'
'No.'
'Psycho?'
'Nah.'
'The Texas Saw Chain Massacre?'
'Mm... no.'
I set that one down, picking up another one.
'Motel Hell? This one's a good movie.'
'Nope.'
'Hmm...'
I picked up another one.
'Dead Silence?'
'Um, no.'
'The Sixth Sense?'
'That's not a scary movie. That's more of a suspense thriller.'
'Oh...okay. How about Saw? I got all of them.'
'Nuh-uh.'
'Friday The Thirteenth?'
'No.'
'The Exorcist?'
'No.'
'A Nightmare On Elm Street?'
'Uh...no.'
'What about The Blair Witch Project?'
'That's a dumb movie, Robert.'
I laughed, agreeing with her.
'Yeah, it is. Don't know why I have it, though.'
She laughed, too.
'What else do you got, dear?'
'I got Jaws, Alien, Carrie, Dracula, Frankenstein and Bride Of Frankenstein, Night Of The Living Dead, Poltergeist, Halloween...'
However, she just shook her head no.
'I have no idea what you want to watch, sweetheart...'
'That's okay, Robert, I can get one of my favorite horror movies that are in the boxes that I took upstairs before I went to grab the last ones.'
'Alright. I'll order the food as you do that.'
'Great.'
She gave me a kiss and proceeded up the stairs to our room to grab the movie that we can both watch. And after standing there for a few seconds, I went over to my phone and called the Chinese restaurant that does take-out.
After I ordered the food, the guy said it'll be here in less than thirty minutes and said it'll cost twenty dollars. Not bad.
I hung up when I saw my loved one come down the stairs.
'So what movie do you got for us to watch?'
'IT.'
'IT?'
'Yeah, IT. This movie is one of my favorites. It's based on the book that Stephen King wrote.'
'Oh...'
'What...? Don't you want to watch it?'
'Well...um...'
'Please, Robert? For your soon-to-be-wife?'
'We're not engaged. Yet. But yeah we'll watch it.'
'Great.'
She went over to the DVD player right after she switched the channel so she can set the movie up.
Not wanting to stand around doing nothing, I made my way to the kitchen.
'I'm going to make tea. Do you want any?'
'Sure. Can you make it mint tea?'
'Of course.'
As I got into the kitchen, I filled up the teapot with hot water to make it boil faster on the stove. And while I waited for it to boil, I got out two packets of mint tea, I kept on thinking about the surprise that I have for her next week when she mentioned 'soon-to-be-wife'.
By the time the water is boiling, I got out two cups, a spoon, and sugar. I poured hot water in each cup. I then dipped the tea packets in the water, changing the color of it before adding sugar to make it sweet, stirring it with the spoon.
I then heard the doorbell ring.
'I got it.'
I heard my girlfriend go over to the front door and I heard a male voice.
'Here you go, ma'am, that'll be twenty dollars, please.'
'Alright, here you go.'
'Thanks and have a nice evening.'
'You too.'
She shut the door and set the food on the coffee table. I went into the living room as she took out the cartons of that had the food inside along with chopsticks.
'You know how to use chopsticks?'
She nodded.
'Yep, do you?'
'Yep.'
'Cool, and I already got the movie playing.'
Great, I thought sarcastically even though I wanted to say it out loud.
While we watched the movie and ate our meal, I felt her look at me.
'Robert?'
'Yeah?'
'How come you don't like Steve King?'
'I just don't. But like I said, I'm going to make up my own series. I just can't think of the name right now.'
'Don't worry, it'll come to you.'
As the next week came by, I was taking her to the park to get ready to surprise her. And she had no idea what it is.
However, thoughts ran through my head like: What if she doesn't like it and says no? What if she has a new boyfriend? And most importantly, does she really like me?
The questions spun around in my head by the time we got to our favorite tree that is covered in pink flowers, with lots of pedals littering the ground around us.
'Why are we here?'
I smiled at her question, putting my hand in my right pocket and pulled something out. It was a black velvet box.
At first she was a bit confused, then I saw her reaction at I got down on one knee, opening the box that contains a diamond ring…
"When did you lose your wife?" Champ interrupted my story, making me pause and cast a sharp glare at him.
"I'll tell you unless you keep your mouth shut so I can finish my story," I slightly snapped at the kid. My glare went away. "Anyway, I opened the box that has the diamond ring...
'Sweetheart, ever since we started dating, I knew you were the one. I wasn't sure when to bring it up but... Will you marry me?'
Her eyes widen and she tried to hide the joyful tears, only to fail as one slipped down her face. And it only took her a second for her to answer to my proposal.
'Yes... Yes, I will.'
So... I proposed to her and we had a wonderful wedding next year. Things were doing fine then, and we even brought up of having children of our own a couple of times. Only...we were too busy. It was no big deal, anyway.
But...one day...when I got back from my errands, I walked into the house to see another guy touching my wife...
Of course, being the husband that I am, I dropped the bags and shoved him away from her.
'Don't you touch her!'
The guy staggered back with a shocked look on his face when I screamed at him.
'Robert, no wait-'
My wife tried to intervene, but I kept blowing my fume at this other guy.
'Who are you?! What are you doing in my house?! Get out, NOW!'
'Robert! Stop it!'
My wife cried out, getting between us. She looked at the other guy.
'It's alright, honey.'
Honey?! Did she really just say that word to that guy?!
'...What...did...you...call...him?'
She was surprised when I gave her angry eyes, the ones that I only use on my bullies and people that I hate.
'Huh...? I-I didn't call him anything, Rob-'
'Don't you lie to me! I heard what you call this jackass!'
'Robert!'
The guy went over to the front door, grabbing the knob.
'I'm...I'm going to go...'
'Good, now get out of the house and stay away from my love one...'
He looked over at her, giving her a small wave.
'I'll see you next week, sweetie.'
She just waved goodbye when she saw a glare on my face after the guy walked out the door, closing it behind him. She opened her mouth to say something, but I talked instead in a not so happy way that I always use on her.
'When? When did this happen?! Why did you call him 'honey' and when did he call you 'sweetie'?!'
'Robert, please listen... Listen, please. I...I wasn't sure how to tell you this but...before we got married, I...liked someone else...'
'WHAT?!'
I let out a rage, balling my hands into fists.
'YOU LIKED SOMEONE ELSE?! BEFORE WE EVEN GOT MARRIED?! YOU LIED TO ME WHEN YOU SAID 'YES'?! YOU PRETENDED TO LIKE ME?!'
'Sweetie pie, please calm down...'
But the rage that I was having didn't leave me when she tried to calm me down and my face turned a bright, angry red and I can feel it.
'Sweetie...'
'Don't you DARE call me that since you lied to me! What the hell was wrong with you keeping that damn secret?! Huh?! Why is that?! What, am I not good enough for you?!'
She backed away from me, getting very frightened at the different side of me. She knew that I had anger problems every now and then.
'ANSWER ME! TELL ME THE TRUTH!'
I demanded her to speak. She held her head down and started sniffling.
'Yes...it's true... I wanted to tell you but...I was afraid that you'll get mad at me...'
'I AM mad you! Why would you do this to me?! I thought you were the one!'
She lifted her head and gave me a tearful glare that I never saw from her for the first time in my life. She wiped the tears away, only for more to leak out of her eyes. She then spoke in a broken voice.
'I guess I'm not... In fact, I did pretended to like you because I only felt bad that you were always alone. I thought doing that will make you happy...and now...since you saw my new boyfriend...I guess that secret is over...'
My eyes widen before turning back into angry ones. I pointed at the front door.
'Get out...'
'What?'
'Get out of MY house! Pack up your things and call your BOYFRIEND to come and pick you up!'
She wiped the water out of her eyes and replied back at my demanding request.
'...fine...I will...'
A few hours later after packing up her belongings, her boyfriend came and helped her with the boxes.
After, my lying wife took off her wedding ring and threw at me as it hit me on the nose, dropping into my hand and I was hit by the madness that she sent me.
'Goodbye... Robert.'
I didn't say goodbye back, considering that she is now my ex wife. So, after getting everything in her boyfriend's van, they both got in and drove off my driveway with the ring still in my hand. I went into the kitchen, throwing it in the trash along with mine. But my anger didn't go away. I was so angry that I wanted to grab something and break it.
Going over to one of the cabinets, I flung it open and pulled out a large, white glass bowl. I raised it up over my head, ready to smash it, only for my arms to weaken when tears started forcing out of my eyes. I set the bowl back in the cabinet and slammed the door shut that it made the house shake.
I can't believe I was lied to! I just cannot believe that is actually happened...
And as the years went on, my allergies that I still have to this day before I started taken medication, the bullies kept throwing rocks and called me names, like 'loser', 'lonely man', and other anything else that you can think of as I lived in my house in Columbus, Ohio. No friends... no one... And it's not just because of the bullies that I had to make my own friends with the special typewriter... It was because I very lonely... and when I finished my final Goosebumps book ever, I decided to move to Madison, Delaware with my daughter that I created six years ago and gave the typewriter to the high school. In fact, it started with me and her in the state that I grew up in, then Mississippi, New York, Maine, and other states such as Chicago, which is when the monsters got out of the books by that one 'person' who freed them since he wanted revenge on me, only for this one girl to stop him at the Town Centre Galleria in the library. And so, after that me and Hannah move to Madison, Delaware." I looked at the boys and they both have confused faces. "What?" I questioned. "You want me to retell the story so you can understand it better?" I asked thinking that was the case.
Zach shook his head. "No. No, the one where your ex wife lied to you was fine, but...someone helped you stop this 'one person'? Who was he?" he said.
I clenched my teeth together and answered with one word. "Slappy."
"Slappy?!" Champ reacted in shock. "He was out of the manuscript before?! I thought when we saw him a few nights ago was when he got out the first time! Why didn't we know-"
"Shut up," I hissed, covering the kid's mouth. "It was five years ago," I explained. "Plus, I don't remember the girl's name or her older brother's name, either. She was eleven while her brother is about sixteen or seventeen years old. However..."
"However..." Zach repeated when my voice trailed off.
Not wanting to tell them just yet, I stuttered. "Uh, um... nothing. All I wanted to say is, uh, that I'm worried about the girls." No way that I'll tell them that I miss...Slappy. With a sigh, I stopped at the staircase, grabbing the railing and I led the way to the second floor of the hotel. The stairs let out a groan with each step that we took, which made Champ yelp. As usual.
"Is there anything you're not afraid of?" I asked him, continuing our up the steps.
"Um…" he replied, thinking about the question. "...I'm not sure..." He let out another startled yelp when we heard a loud creak sound on one of the steps that he, well, stepped on. "I don't like this hotel," he shivered.
"It's just a hotel, dude," Zach told him as if he didn't care about the noises. "Besides, I bet you've been to hotels before."
"Did not," Champ retorted back. "I never wanted to go places because I'm afraid of flying in airplanes," he explained.
I glanced at them. "Do you want me to sew your mouths shut? Because I can." Of course, they shook their heads. "Good, you're arguing is giving me a headache. Even when I'm starving."
"Can we stop and have a-"
"Not yet, Champion," I cut him off. "When we find the girls in this hotel we'll have a snack break," I told him.
He grumbled. "Fine," he responded.
By the time we made it up to the second floor, we walked down another hallway. "Hannah? Hazel?" I called out their names. "Hannah? Hazel? Are you two up here?" No answer. "Girls, are you here in the sec-"
Loud spitting came from behind me. I turned to see Champ who had stepped through a cobweb. "Not again," he exclaimed, pulling the cobweb pieces out of mouth. "Ew, it's on my tongue," he panicked. "I can still taste it. Quick, give me a snack," he urged Zach, almost begging to have food.
"Stine says that we have to find the girls first then take a snack break, so deal with it, man," Zach said, not giving in, shifting Hazel's backpack. "And don't ask if you can carry this since you're weak," he added. "No offense, by the way."
"I'm not that weak," Champ responded.
"Knock it off, you two," I exclaimed, not wanting to hear it or else my headache is gonna get worse.
So with that, we continued to look for the girls, hoping that they are in this hotel just like I thought. But... what if I'm wrong?
Hazel
"Huh?" Hannah questioned, almost as if she didn't understand what I had just told her of where Stine and boys can be.
"The Stagger Inn Hotel," I repeated. She was about to say something, but I just started running and I heard ran behind me, our shoes slapping the pavement. I looked around, until I spotted it.
"There it is," I pointed, not caring if I was out of breath from running all the way here.
The Stagger Inn Hotel is written in bold letters just like other hotels that you see when you go on vacation. I gestured Hannah to follow me and she did. "Hazel..." she spoke. "Are you even sure that my dad and the boys are in here...?" I can tell by her voice that she was very skeptical about this building.
"Of course I am," I convinced her, grabbing the handle of the door, pulling it open, and was surprised to see that it opened easily due to the large size of it, since the hotel is more castle like then a regular old building. "I don't know, but my mind told me that they're in here somewhere..." I stepped in, the inside smelling like moth balls. I sneeze when some dust got into my nose.
"Bless you," Hannah said.
"Thanks," I replied. I looked around and spotted a desk with a Horror going through some hotel room keys. "Excuse me?" I walked over to him in a casual manner. He looked up when he saw me.
"Hello," he greeted with a grin. "Welcome to the Stagger Inn Hotel. Come in and stay as long as you like," he invited in a throaty growl just like the other Horrors have.
Well, you know me, I don't smile anymore, so I just gave him a frown and solemn look that I always carry on my face. "We're not here to stay," I answered, not taking his welcome at all. "Were three guys here?" I then asked, drumming my fingers on the desk, waiting for his answer.
"Why yes, miss," he replied with a nod. "The older man just told me that he and two young teenage boys are just checking the place out. I don't blame them, it's a pretty nice hotel in all of Horrorland." Yeah... right. I'm guessing all of you Horrors say that. "They went that way," he directed, pointing with his green, fury finger.
Hannah nodded. "Okay." She turned to me. "I trust you, girl. Lead the way," she told me.
Walking away from the large desk, we began to look for Stine and the boys. Hannah started calling them out. "Dad? Zach? Champ? Are you guys here?" There was no answer. "Guys?" she called out again. "Where are you? Hazel told me that you're here and I trust her."
"You know, I don't think calling them out will work. Besides, they might be on a different floor. Like the second one," I said. "Come on, let's find the staircase. I don't think the elevators work in this hotel." Going over to the steps that I found, I began to climb up them with Hannah right behind me since the stairs made that groaning sound that you most likely hear in very old buildings.
While we climbed up the groaning stairs, I couldn't help but to feel... uneasy. Like when you sense a ghost or something. And it's not Hannah since she isn't a ghost anymore.
"Hey, Hannah?" I spoke, still feeling uneasy.
"Yeah?" she responded.
I stopped for a split second with her almost bumping into me. "For some reason... we're being watched... I don't know why, but I can just...feel it," I told her, getting a bit anxious, not liking the feeling that I'm receiving at all.
"Relax," she assured me, "I'm sure it's just your imagination…"
"It's not my imagination, Hannah!" I raised my voice. "I swear, we're being watched and it's creepy me out," I kind of argued. I then lowered my head, letting out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry…" I apologized, feeling guilty that I talked to her that way. "Really, I am. I just want to find the guys, look for that damn book and put everything back…"
"It's fine," Hannah forgave me as we went back to climbing the steps. "Let's just find everyone and then we'll-"
Suddenly, the lights got knocked out, along with a shrill scream that we both recognized.
And it's not Hannah's since we were both shocked when it happened all of the sudden, and we both knew who belongs to.
Stine
Me and the boys kept walking down the second floor, searching for the girls when I stopped at my tracks. I don't know why, but I began to have a bad feeling about this hotel, like something annoying is in this building that wanted to do something with the lights.
Either that, or my head is going wild. I turned to Zach and Champ. "Let's go back downstairs," I suggested. "For some reason, something's gonna happen. It can be just me, but... let's go downstairs and-"
And just like I predicted, the lights went out, filling the whole building into total darkness, and a shrill, girly scream came next to my ear. "Ow!" I cried. "Champ, that's my eardrum!" I hollered, rubbing my ear.
"Sorry," he said.
Once the pain is gone, I tried to see through the darkness, but it's pointless. I can't see anything, not even my own hands. "Okay, let's just wait here until the lights come on," I advised.
"Wait... Just stand here? In the pitch darkness?" Champ squeaked, his voice all shrill and high.
"Yes, Champion," I repeated, "we'll wait until the lights come on."
"I hope they come back on soon. And if they don't, I'll use my-oof." I heard Zach bump into something. "Hey!" he exclaimed, and even though I couldn't see him, I knew he was on the floor. "Watch where you're going."
"Zach?" a voice questioned.
"Oh, my God!" Champ declared in panic. "There's a ghost in this place!" he screamed as I heard him running around in the pitch darkness.
"Uh...I'm not a ghost," the same voice answered. "It's me... Hazel..."
"And Hannah..."
Hazel
In the darkness, we decided to carefully to go up the steps after we heard that scream. Once we got to the top, we tried to make our way down the hall, which is impossible since it's so dark in here, when the screaming continued from the same, familiar voice. Then we heard another one.
"Ow! Champ, that's my eardrum!" I tilted my head to the side. It sounded like Stine hollering at someone.
"Sorry..." That other voice sounded like Champ.
Me and Hannah followed the voices when we heard Stine say, "Okay, let's just wait here until the lights come on."
There was a squeak of fear that replied, "Wait... Just stand here? In the pitch darkness?" It was high and shrill, too.
"Yes, Champ," Stine's voice lingered, repeating his words with annoyance, "we'll wait for the lights to come on."
Then there was a third voice. "I hope they come back on soon. And if they don't, I'll use my-oof." However, he was cut off when he bumped into one of us, which is me. "Hey!" the third voice cried out. "Watch where you're going," he declared almost rudely. I felt offended at first, but I knew he didn't mean it. Besides, if someone did that to me, I'll snap at them, too. But the third voice sounded someone that us both girls recognized, just like how we quickly figured when we heard the last two voices; Stine and Champ.
Anyway, I responded back with a questioning voice in case I'm wrong, which I shouldn't be since I know the third voice belonged to this person. "Zach?"
"Oh, my God!" Before Zach could answer, Champ let out a declaring shout. "There's a ghost in this place!" I heard him running around in the dark. Really? Does he not recognized my voice? I then answered.
"Uh...I'm not a ghost," I mentioned slowly. "It's me... Hazel..."
"And Hannah..." Hannah spoke up as well.
"Hannah...? Hazel...? Are you both alright?" Stine's voice asked since we couldn't see him.
"Yeah," I answered, rubbing my forehead since I bumped into Zach accidentally. "We're both fine," I told him.
"A ghost, a ghost, a ghost, a ghost!" Champ kept on screaming. "Not only there's one ghost, but there's two of them. Both named Hazel and Hannah! Oh, my God, this hotel is haunted. It's haunted, guys, it's-" The running of feet stopped, probably in front of us if I'm guessing right.
"Wait..." he realized all of the sudden. "Hazel and Hannah? You're the ghosts?" he said, confusion in his voice.
I let out an an expressive sigh. "No, Champ, we're not ghosts. Especially Hannah since Stine wrote her back into existence," I replied. "Now I do have a flashlight in my backpack. Can I have it back, Stine?" I held out my hand.
"Oh, I have it. Stine gave it to me to carry," Zach explained. "Hold on, stay still so I can give it to you. It's so dark."
It took several tries for him to find my hand. Once I felt the weight of my backpack, I unzipped one of the pockets, feeling around for my flashlight.
When I felt the object, I wrapped it around with fingers, pulling it out. Fiddling with the flashlight, I manage to find the button and pressed it.
It's a small flashlight with really bright light. Luckily, I was pointing down at the floor so no else won't get blind by it. "Alright, now we can see," I verified, holding the flashlight at a downwards angle. I looked at Stine and the boys. "Where were you guys?" I asked them.
"We were going to ask the same thing," Stine answered. "Hannah was supposed to call me when she find you."
"Oh...sorry," she apologized. "I was at the Vampire Village when I found her, and one of the vampires smacked my phone out of my hand and it's now broken," she explained timidly, expecting her father to yell at her.
"Where's your phone?" Champ replied. "Do you have it with you?"
She shook her head. "No, I left it at that village while me and her-" She pointed at me. "-are defending ourselves from blood sucking vampires that turn into bats. Plus, we were almost attacked by other bats from the Bat Barn." She looked at her father. "Sorry..." she repeated. "You're not mad at me... are you?" she said, waiting for Stine explode.
Of course, he didn't explode at all. "No, I'm not," he responded. "I'm just glad that you two are okay," he expressed out.
"Can we eat now?" Champ whined.
"Oh, heh," Stine chuckled. "I did promise the boys that once we find you girls-well, you two actually found us, that we stop and take a snack break. I did gave Champ an apple but he wasted it." He gave Champ a firm look.
"It had worms on it from that tunnel we went through," he exclaimed, raising his hands. "How many times do I have to tell you that?" He had a frustrated look that I never saw on him since he's always a happy person unlike me.
"I don't want to argue with you," Stine ignored his question. "Let's sit down and eat in this...hotel."
So that's what we did. We took a break and had some snacks that I packed. Like I told the others, we needed things to survive this creepy park, and food is one of them.
By the time we're finished, we made our way out of the hotel with the lights still out, the flashlight being the only light we have.
When we stepped outside of the castle-like building, I turned it off since there's light all around the amusement park of Horrorland, just like you see in other big parks during the night time.
"Okay, now let's find the book so we can-"
"Put everything back in the book?" a minion-like voice completed, finishing Stine's sentence. We heard his footsteps stop in front of us. "That's not gonna happen..." he spoke. "I said that during this challenge is to see how long you can survive here... But..." He giggled. "You all lose."
"Not true!" I yelled. "I told them what a fraud you are! You fraud about us leaving this park if we survive, which we did, and you fraud when you told me that these people aren't my friends!"
"I'm not a fraud," the Invisible Boy replied. "I'm a liar," he boasted with a grin that we couldn't see.
"That's what fraud means," I explained shortly. "Even Slappy is a fraud for telling me the same lie that you told me." Oh, good God, I said the wooden dummy's name. I then gave the Boy an angry look. "Tell us where the book is!" I demanded him. "Or I'll hit you with my backpack," I threatened, ready to take it off my back.
"You shall not do that..." he sneered. "Monster Police!" he then suddenly declared. "Take these humans to the dungeon," he ordered.
"What?!" all five of us reacted.
We looked straight ahead and saw the Monster Police run up to where we are, ready to grab us... And take us to...the dungeon.
We tried to move out of the way, but they were too quick and dragged us there.
"Ahh!" Hannah screamed
"Whoa!" Zach yelled.
"Hey!" Stine cried.
"Ow!" I declared.
"Put me down, or I'll give you one swift punch!" But the Monster Police ignored Champ's threat, throwing him in the dungeon cellar just like they did with the rest of us, closing the door and locked it. Then they walked away.
"'With one swift punch'," Zach quoted with his fingers, not impressed by Champ's words that he gave to the monsters that had been wearing police outfits. "Real smooth, dude," he smiled sarcastically. "Real smooth."
"Hey, I did my best, okay?" Champ defended. "I thought my threat will scare them or something."
"Or something," Stine echoed, leaning against the wall. "Besides, we may never get out of here," he said hopelessly, taking off his glasses, cleaning the lenses with his shirt. I bet he does that a lot with those things.
I rubbed the back of my head where it's now getting a little sore from being thrown in here by force, when something caught my eye over at a pile of old rags. Getting up from the hard, dirty floor, I walked over to it. Then I got down on my knees, throwing the rags all over the place.
"Hazel, what are you doing?" Hannah asked me, ducking away from the rags. "Do you know how dirty those rags are?"
"I see something," I replied, continuing to throw the rags all over the cell. After I was finished, my eyes widen. "Guys, come here!" I exclaimed in pure shock. I heard them come over to me as I picked up the object.
Stine gasped. "Could it be...?" But he couldn't finish his sentence.
It was something that we've been looking for hours.
A manuscript titled One Day At Horrorland.