As I read the last of his carefully written words, I smile briefly because the thought of someone waiting for me is very refreshing! But now my smile turns to confusion of the greatest kind because I have to make a choice...
Do I return to my room, with my friends whom I know? Or do I go downstairs, to this man who I think I know? This man who appears out of nowhere and who my friends have been trying to warn me about? What should I do? Okay, I'll go to my room, get dressed, talk to Christine, and then...then I will decide if I feel like going downstairs or not...
On my way out of Erik's room I noticed that where the note was, there was also a rose. A beautiful, fully bloomed, luscious red rose with a black satin ribbon tied onto it... How adorable! Oh no, I'm leaning towards him again! I have to fight it, I can't be drawn into his web of seduction again! I have to leave this room, I have to! I grab the rose, run out of room, slamming the door closed behind me. I follow the map of the hotel and find my room as quickly as I can. Christine opens the door just as I go to open it.
"Oh my gosh! You scared me!", she said as she held her hand to her chest.
"Are you going somewhere?", I asked. I went in the room and hid the rose behind my back.
"Well, I was, but... But now you're back so I think we need to talk.", she said.
"Where were you planning on going?"
"To breakfast, with Raoul... He's really quite charming, you know..."
"Go if you want to! I'm happy for you! You don't have to stay here with me... We can always talk later..."
Thankfully she didn't notice what I was hding behind my back.
"Do you want to come with me? We can all eat together and chat! Like yesterday...", she said.
"I don't know... I wouldn't want to delay your...um...breakfast date!"
"You won't! Come, I insist! Get ready, I'll go down real quick and tell Raoul that you'll be coming with me... Then I'll come back and meet you here! Ok?"
"Yes, that's fine... I'm going to take a shower and get ready... See you in about twenty minutes?"
"Twenty minutes, and no later!"
She shut the door as she left and I headed towards the shower... But before I got in, I put the rose in a vase with water and set it on the bedside table nearest my bed... After I took a shower, started to get dressed. I finished getting dressed just as Christine walked in. She looked worried and sat on her bed...
"Ready to go?", I asked. Then I saw her face...
"Ember, we must talk...now!"
"What's wrong? Are you all right?" I sat beside her.
"He's there, he's waiting...he's waiting for you..."