This is a story I wrote about a flapper who visits the Tower during its glory days.. Enjoy.
Chapter One- Arrival
The Hollywood Tower Hotel rose above the tree line into the night sky. Faint music could be heard from within the large terracotta-colored resort, making the cool December night feel just a little warmer.
Marie Fleming gasped in awe of the giant. This was definitely the place- garish green letters boasted,
"THE HOLLYWOOD TOWER HOTEL"
on the front of the building. Grabbing her suitcases and tipping the taxi driver, she broke into a run towards the front door.
A doorman smiled warmly and greeted, "Welcome to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, madam." The girl returned the smile and entered the great lobby.
Marie was a lanky girl of eighteen. Her hauntingly pale heart-shaped face displayed blood-red Cupid's bow lips, a dainty nose, and mahogany eyes. Coal-black, page-cut hair framed it all. She wore a black flapper dress with layers of fringes, which swung gracefully when she turned.
The lobby glittered with grinning faces. In the center of the lobby stood a brass statue of an eagle, which was surrounded by flowers; tulips and roses. A chandelier hung over this arrangement, which gave off a golden light that seemed to embrace the room like a mother holding her child. Couples danced merrily as if there was not a care in the world. Everything seemed too perfect…
A small bellhop with circular spectacles and mouse-brown hair asked, "Need some help with your bags, ma'am?"
"Oh yes." Marie's mind snapped back to reality. "Thank you."
"What is your room number?" he inquired. "Oh—um…" she looked at the key the front desk had given her. "Five fourteen."
"Right this way."
He led her to an elevator with cage-like doors and an intricate design around the semi-circle chart of floor numbers. Marie blinked.
"There are thirteen floors in this hotel?"
"Yessirree."
"Isn't that unlucky?"
The slight man shrugged. "Well, we haven't any problems so far. That's just an old wives' tale anyway."
The doors opened with a jolly little "Ding!" The bellhop lumbered onto the elevator. Marie smirked inwardly and wondered how a man so small could be towing two full suitcases.
"Wait—what is on the thirteenth floor anyhow?"
"Wanna see for yourself?" It sounded like a dare.
"Uh… I suppose so…"
"Next stop, Tip Top!" he chimed in a singsong voice.
The music faded as the elevator progressed upwards. The little bellhop hummed a cheery song. Marie looked around the cramped elevator. The hotel was pretty nice. It even had a working elevator, so you wouldn't have to lug your bags up ten flights of stairs. The lobby was gorgeous too. The thought that things were too perfect crossed her mind again. Everything looked like it could shatter in an instant, like a china plate. She knew it would be implausible to mend the fragments of the most prestigious hotel in Hollywood.