Four more reviews, I feel good. Here is chapter three and I hope it'll be a short one. While the Titans enjoy Hollywood, LM starts finding clues about the mysterious haunting Tower. Then what happens when he put Raven into the picture?
Italics – Flashbacks
DD:TT/TOT/HM/SH
Chapter 3: Gathering Clues
The Breakfast Patio Area
It's morning at The Hollywood Tower Hotel as the entire team sat around a big-circled table in the patio area, showing the view of Hollywood itself. Cyborg had a stack of pancakes, Terra ate a fruit salad, Robin had the sausage and eggs, Starfire ate some waffles smothered in mustard, Beast Boy drank some cereal with soymilk in the bowl, Raven had some French toast and bacon, and LM ate an egg omelet. At the center of the table were pitchers of milk and orange juice and a pot of herbal tea for Raven. Anyway, Cyborg discussed about what happened that night with both him, Stafire, and LM. However the rest of the team didn't understand what they were saying.
Robin: O.K., your losing us here Cy. You're trying to tell us that this hotel is haunted?
Cyborg: That's what I've been trying to tell you for the tenth time!
Robin: Listen Cyborg, as a friend, you best stop watching those Hitchcock flicks.
Starfire: Cyborg's telling the truth Robin. This happened to us last night.
Beast Boy: And all this happened while we were sleeping.
Starfire: Indeed Beast Boy, we were under attack.
Terra: Yeah, by a bunch of old furniture and mannequins.
Robin: (looking at Terra) Terra, let's not jump to conclusion. (looking at Cyborg) Now why don't you guys tell you story again? And this time, make it clear for us to understand.
Starfire: While you guys were in hibernation, I heard the voice of a little girl. When I saw the little girl, she skipped away from me. I went after her from the hallways to the basement, that's when I lost her in the room of storage and found Cyborg.
The four Titans then looked at Cyborg for an explanation.
Cyborg: Well some piece of blue electric bolt attacked my charger and almost killed me. Thank god LM came and saved my life. After that experience both me and LM followed it straight down to the basement. He decided that we should split up and search the basement area for it. So I went one way and searched at the storage room, that's when I met Starfire.
Robin: (looking at LM) Well LM, what's your side of the story?
LM: Where do I begin? For starters, I did said to Cyborg to split up to make our search quicker. I found the blue bolt and quickly went after it. That chase went to the lower level of the lobby and into the dining area of the hotel, or The Sunset Room if that's what they call it. It was then that London told me-
Beast Boy: London? Paul London from the WWE is here! Where is he?
LM: Gilbert London, not Paul London Beast Boy. He was that electric fuzzball that gave me a good chase off.
Robin: You mean he's a ghost.
LM: No I mean- Nevermind... As I was saying, London told me that he and four other people entered an elevator but then they were hit by lightning and were sent to a different world. And get this, that tragedy happened in 1939, like over sixty years ago.
Cyborg: Yeah, me and Star watched a news reel about that incident and they said that there had been a number of suicides in the Tower. To make things much weirder, they closed this hotel down until they solved the case, even though it's still open today.
Starfire: That was when the living furniture and strange creatures came alive and attacked us. We were fortunate enough that LM came and we got out of there in one piece.
Terra: And why didn't you call us for help.
LM: Let's see, maybe it's because they were too quick to attack.
The team just starred at them like they're faking.
Cyborg: We're telling you man, it's the whole truth.
Robin: Then where's the proof, if something happened to you people you got to have some evidence or a picture.
LM: If we had time to get proof, we would've been dead. Listen we're not like Halle Berry from Gothika, Robin. We're not crazy.
Robin: And I could tell that you guys are lying and playing a sick joke on us.
Raven: Actually Robin, I think they're telling the truth.
Beast Boy and Terra: What!?
Robin: Don't tell me you believe in this shit Raven.
Raven: Robin, did you forget what happened last night? I've been sensing a disturbance in this hotel; this had been going on all night. During those disturbances, I've been seeing images on the hotel and what happened. I believe that what they said might have matched the visions I saw.
Beast Boy: If this hotel is haunted, why didn't it attack us?
Cyborg: Maybe it wanted to get us one at a time, to try to weaken our team a little.
Robin: Really? Well then, I guess I have to say sorry about you lying to us and making this a joke and all.
Starfire: Apology accepted Robin.
LM: Hey, hate to break up this touchy moment but there's something else I need to talk to you guys about. You see, Gilbert said that someone placed a curse in this estate over sixty years ago. I believe that the curse is connected with the girl, the incident, and those monsters that attacked us.
Robin: Did he say who the person is?
LM: He didn't say. Either he doesn't have a clue, or he just keeping it a secret.
Terra: So what you're trying to say LM is that we know that someone done had something to the Tower, we don't know who did it or how the person did it.
Robin: Terra has a point. Who ever is doing this wants us dead. And if we don't do something about this, then I'm afraid that we won't be able to leave.
Just then, Richard, the bellhop, entered the patio with a serving cart filled with drinks and different varieties of breakfast foods.
Richard: Does anyone else want something to eat? Some ham, some eggs, different varieties of cheeses?
Robin: No thanks Richard, We're O.K. here. Thanks for the food?
Richard: My pleasure. Don't want our guests to starve to death. I'll take my leave now. If you need anything, just call me.
Richard left with the serving cart as Raven kept starring at him with her famous death glare.
Starfire: Raven, is there something wrong?
Raven looked at Starfire and saw her worried look.
Raven: Nothing's wrong Star, It's just I sense something inside that bellhop. Just the look on his face gives me the willies.
Beast Boy: Ah... Raven's scared of a normal bellhop. (laughing)
Raven looked at Beast Boy with eyes glowing white then red.
Raven: Want to see something really scary?
Beast Boy stopped laughing and looked at Raven scaredly with a sweat drop at the side of his head.
Beast Boy: (high voice) no...
Outside The Hollywood Tower Hotel
After breakfast, the team went outside and walked to their cars, everyone except Raven of course.
Robin: Do anyone know where Raven is?
Cyborg: I went to her room to tell her that it's time to go, but she said she wants to meditate.
Terra: Too bad, she's going to miss all the fun.
Robin: I don't think fun isn't part of Raven's job description. Oh well, is everybody ready to go?
LM: You know what, you guys go ahead, I'm going to make a couple of stops and head back here.
Robin: Are you sure you don't want to go with us?
LM: I told you guys already, I've been here when I was little. I'll just pass by a few places if I feel like it.
Robin: All right man whatever.
All the Titans went inside the T-Car as LM went into his GTO. They soon left the hotel and entered the freeway. Once they were at the freeway, the GTO took one road while the T-Car took the other.
The Chinese Theater
The whole team was at the Chinese Theater enjoying their time. Starfire can't help but look at the oriental deco art all over the theater, Beast Boy and Terra sitting on a bench enjoying their moment alone, and Robin and Cyborg were taking pictures of each other with the cement handprints. Cyborg placed his metal hands on Arnold Schwarzenegger while Robin video tapped it.
Robin: All right Cyborg, do you're famous Arnold voice.
Cyborg: (Arnold voice) Hello boys and girls, I am Cyborg, the true Terminator. If anyone gets in my way I will pump them up and blow their brains out. Asta la vista baby!
Starfire: Oh Cyborg, that's a wonderful impressing of the voice I ever heard.
Cyborg: Uh... Thanks Star.
Robin: At least you guys are enjoying yourself after your attack at the Tower last night.
Cyborg: Speaking of enjoying ourselves, (pointing) look at the two lovebirds.
Robin and Starfire looked at what Cyborg was pointing at. They then saw Terra and Beast Boy kissing and hugging each other at the bench.
Robin: Sheech, save it for the hotel room you two.
Starfire: It is ashamed that LM and Raven didn't join us in this joyous moment.
Cyborg: If I know them, they're doing their own thing.
The Los Angeles Times Building
LM was at the Los Angeles Times building to see if they have any information about the Tower in the archives. He approached the main desk where a woman in her twenties was sitting there reading a super model magazine. She looked at LM approaching her, put the magazine away, and gave a nice warm smile.
Female Employee: Welcome to the LA Times. How can I help you?
LM: Yeah uh... Do you have any articles about The Hollywood Tower Hotel dating back to 1939? I need to do some research.
Female Employee: Most of the historic articles are placed in the newspaper archives at the bottom floor.
LM: I see, can you show me the archives?
Female Employee: I'm sorry sir, but that area is for employees only. No one else is allowed down there.
LM: What about if you bring someone down there and they can hand me those articles?
Female Employee: If you are doing it for research, then I think it's O.K., I'll send someone down there for the Hollywood Tower articles. Can I have your last name please?
LM: Morgado.
The female employee pushed the intercom button as LM walked away and sits on the couch.
Female Employee: I need someone to get down to the newspaper archives to bring some articles for a Mr. Morgado. Something about The Hollywood Tower Hotel dating back to 1939.
LM waited half an hour waiting for the articles to come. While he was waiting he thought about what both London and Raven said.
Flashback 1
Gilbert London: Someone placed a curse in this estate. We don't know who did it, what we know is that the person had us trapped here and I got a feeling that that someone will keep us here for all eternity.
Flashback 2
Raven: I've been sensing a disturbance in this hotel; this had been going on all night. During those disturbances, I've been seeing images on the hotel and what happened. I believe that what they said might have matched the visions I saw.
End Flashback
LM: (in thought) If what they said is true, then there's something going on in that hotel. After I get the articles, I'll head to the police station to see all them suicides and missing reports. This sounds like this vacation's going to get interesting.
Male Employee: Mr. Morgado?
LM just snapped back to reality and looked at a male employer wearing tapped up glasses.
Male Employee: Here's all the research you need on The Hollywood Tower Hotel.
He handed LM a small cardboard box filled with stacks of old newspaper clippings.
LM: Thanks.
LM just stood up from the couch and left the building.
The Hollywood Police Department
LM approached the front desk of the Welcoming Center of the Police Station. He sees a chubby police officer scarffing down a donut. The officer looked at LM and swallowed his donut.
Police Officer: Can I help you?
LM: Yes, I need to borrow some both missing and suicide reports on The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Do you know where's the record room.
Police Officer: Sorry, but know one is allowed in the record room.
LM's response was slowly opening up his trench coat showing a part of the pistol and the Mac 11.
LM: How about now?
The police officer silently put his hand under the desk and pushed the panic button. LM came close to the officer and whispered something to his ear.
LM: (whispering) I hate to be a buzz kill, but I snapped the wires on the alarms. Technically I don't want to hurt you, but my friends are in trouble and I need to help them. Now either you show me the record room or I can show you what my world looks like. Either way, I win.
Forty-five minutes have passed and LM waited outside the record room for the officer. The door opened as the officer came out of the room carrying a box filled with suicide and missing files.
Police Officer: Here's all the files you need.
The Officer handed the box to LM.
LM: Thanks.
LM was about to leave but left the officer with a small message.
LM: A fair warning bud: If you tell anyone that I was here, I got a few good friends from the other side that can show you what hell's like.
LM then exited the hallway as the officer was sweating violently from that warning.
Canter's Diner
LM was sitting at a dinning table in Canter's Diner. On the table were a glass of coke and a mess of newspaper clippings and suicide and missing records. He looked at the first article that dated back November 1, 1939. It reads, "Hollywood Tower Disaster". It talks about what the lightning striking the Tower and the people that disappeared in the elevator. Another article is dated back January 25, 1940 and it reads "Closing it's Doors" that said about the Police shutting the doors of the Tower to the public until the case is solved. LM then looked at the article dated back May 14, 1959 that reads, "Tower Hauntings" with the picture of the exposed elevator doors opening by themselves. The rest of the clippings talked about the people either missing or caused suicides over the years. Attach to them were the records of those people with pictures of what they look like. Apparently, most of those people were families, newlyweds, business people, and mostly kids. LM keeps on looking at most of the articles when a young waitress interrupted him.
Waitress: Here is your chicken finger platter sir.
LM looked up at the waitress with a small smile on his face.
LM: Thanks.
The waitress placed the Chicken Finger Platter on the table and left. LM stared back at the papers to see what all this means. He then remembered what London said that the hotel is cursed.
LM: I better talk to Raven about all this.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel, Raven's Room
Raven: Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos... Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos...
Raven was in her room meditating on the bed, chanting those magical words. She is enjoying the quiet atmosphere of solitude, a temporary get away from the noise of her teammates. Just then, there was a continuos knock at her door. She opened one eye to look at the door.
Raven: Now what?
Raven got out of her Indian position and approached the door.
Seventh Floor Hallway
LM was knocking on the door numbered 716, hoping that Raven was inside. The door slowly creaked open showing half of Raven's face.
Raven: What do you want? Shouldn't you be with the others?
LM: Can't. I was finding some information about this place.
Raven: What information?
LM: Just meet me at the main lobby in five minutes, then you'll understand.
Raven closed the door as LM walked away from it.
Main Lobby Lounge
LM was sitting on the couch at the lounge with piles of newspapers and records and the guest book on a wide designed wooden table. He was sitting there for five minutes until Raven came out of the library and approached LM.
Raven: This better be important, I was enjoying my meditation.
LM stood up out of the couch and walked toward Raven.
LM: Oh it's important all right. Check out what I got.
Raven looked at all the papers that LM gathered. She read the articles and looked at the missing and suicide reports. After looking through them all for an hour, she then realized that it all matched what she saw in the flashbacks.
Raven: I knew it, I knew something was wrong in this hotel.
LM: Yeah, and take a look at the guest book. (grabbing one clipping) This article said that the Johnson family disappeared July 15th, 1967. The guest book said that Wayne Johnson signed this guest book a day before the disappearance. (grabbed another clipping) This one said that Jim and Mary Grayson vanished during their honeymoon on April 22nd, 1974. Their names are on this guest book. It all makes perfect sense now.
Raven: Oh my god...
LM: What?
Raven: Look at this.
LM approached Raven looking at a clipping that said "Hollywood's True Terror". Raven read it out loud.
Raven: For forty years, The Hollywood Tower Hotel, once a proud and luxurious hotel has turned into a place filled with death and despair. What started as a bizarre accident in 1939 has turned into series of unusual events filled with missing civilians and haunting phenomenons. The citizens of Hollywood have given a new name to this damned hotel. They call it, "The Tower of Terror."
LM: The Tower of Terror. That's just great.
Raven: What kind of person is sick enough to do something like this?
LM: That Raven is the million-dollar question. Someone placed a curse in the Tower, we don't know who's doing all this. (sitting on the couch) If we have some sort of clue or some type of evidence then maybe we can find out who's responsible.
Raven: I've got an idea.
Raven sat next to LM and discussed about her plan.
Raven: Tonight, when everyone's asleep. You're going to take me to the basement.
LM: Any good reason why I going back down there?
Raven: I believe that those monsters that attacked you were protecting something. I need to find out what they were guarding, not to mention I need someone to protect me.
LM: Why me...
Suddenly, the two front doors opened and Robin and Starfire entered the lobby. LM and Raven quickly stood up and put all the papers away into a box. They then went to two Titans before they got a little suspicious.
Starfire: Friends, it's so glad to see you here. What are you doing?
Raven: We're just talking.
LM: Yeah, talking. So how was Hollywood?
Starfire: Oh it was wonderful LM. We went to the theater of the Chinese, then we walk down the sidewalk of stars, and then we went to the museum of entertainment.
Questioned marks appeared on both LM and Raven's heads.
Robin: What Starfire is trying to say is that we went to the Chinese Theater, the Walk of Fame, and the Entertainment Museum.
The rest of the Titans soon entered the lobby discussing about the exhibits in the Entertainment Museum.
Terra: Man those costumes from "That 70's Show" were awesome.
Cyborg: I kinda like the set from Star Trek. Make you feel like you're in the Enterprise.
Beast Boy: Dudes, the only thing I like in that museum were the sets from MADtv and Saturday Night Live. Oh do they bring back memories.
Raven: Gee, no wonder why your jokes are lame.
Beast Boy: Hey, don't call my jokes lame Rae.
Raven: Well they really are.
LM: So what's on the agenda tomorrow?
Starfire: Well upon Cyborg's decision, we're going to the Records of the Capitol.
Cyborg: Capitol Records Star.
Robin: Yeah and we'll see if we can go see a movie at the El Captain Theaters. Let's head back to the rooms.
The Titans headed to the service elevators in the storage rooms behind the library. Raven and LM walked behind them as Raven whispered something in LM's ear.
Raven: (whispering) When the team goes to bed tonight, we'll check the basement.
LM nodded as the team entered the elevator and the metal doors closed shut.
End of Chapter 3. Next Chapter's going to be scary. Please Review.