Ashlynn Harding was cold, despite the balmy California weather. She hugged her pale yellow cardigan tighter around her shoulders as her blue eyes darted to her friend, Cierra Todd. A faint wind blew through the open window of the taxi, making Ashlynn shiver despite herself. Cierra looked her way, smiling. "Hey, lighten up," she said, squeezing her friend's knee. "Twenty-one, it's a big deal, Ash."

She supposed that was true in its own way. She could drink now, but that was it. She didn't feel any different. Cierra squeezed one more time before she released Ashlynn, pointing out the window at the hotel that was coming into view.

Its neon sign showed the words, Hotel Cortez. "We're staying there?" Ashlynn asked, and Cierra nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "That's okay, isn't it?"

It really wasn't, in truth. In all of her twenty-one years on Earth, Ashlynn had left home twice. Once on a vacation with Cierra's family, and once to summer camp. And she had returned from summer camp a week later. Cierra had planned the trip, a week away from their parents to celebrate Ashlynn's birthday and have fun. Ashlynn hated being away from her parents, and already she found her hand wandering toward the cell phone in the back pocket of her jeans.

Cierra caught her wrist, a dark eyebrow raising as she said, "hey, you promised. No calls home. Remember?"

"Yeah," Ashlynn said. "But they should know we got here safe- -"

"Ashlynn, we're not far enough to make them worry. From here on out, I'm taking your phone hostage. You're an adult, Ash. Live a little."

Cierra held out her hand, waiting. Ashlynn bit her lip, sighing before she handed over the cell. "Better?" she asked.

"Yes," Cierra replied.

The taxi pulled to a stop, and Cierra smiled, leaning over the console to hand the driver a stack of crumpled bills. "Keep the change," she said, and Ashlynn wondered briefly if she had even counted the money before she gave it to him.

Before she could ask Cierra such, she was being grabbed the hand, and Cierra was dragging her from the taxi. Her blue eyes looked over the towering hotel, lingering on the sign for a moment to memorize the name, just in case.

Cierra had a tight enough grip on her that she gave up on trying to lag behind, instead being pulled alongside Cierra as they entered the hotel. The lobby was spacious, lit by faint gold columns. Everything was a shade of bright red, cast crimson in the dim light. "Whoa," Ashlynn whispered, and Cierra was grinning.

"It's so cool," Cierra declared, her voice echoing slightly in the empty room.

"It looks like something out of the twenties," Ashlynn answered.

"That's why it's cool."

Before Ashlynn could protest, Cierra was dragging her toward the front desk. She finally released her, and Ashlynn leaned her elbow on the black wood countertop, tapping her fingers anxiously as Cierra rang the bell, once, twice, and a third time. A woman stepped out from a room behind the desk, a smile on her face, though her blue eyes held no kindness. "I heard it the first time," she said, and Cierra smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

Ashlynn looked the woman over. Her hair was brown, graying, and pulled into a bun. Large, rectangular glasses made her blue-green eyes look wide and insect-like. The name Iris was printed neatly on a gold name tag.

Iris' eyes darted between Cierra and Ashlynn, finally settling on Ashlynn as she asked, "reservation?"

"Yes," Cierra replied, her voice filled with polite kindness. "It's under Cierra Todd."

Iris nodded, pushing a guest book toward them. "Sign," she instructed.

Cierra signed first, her neat, looping handwriting similar to many of the others that filled the page. Ashlynn signed after in a messy scrawl that looked as if a toddler had done it. Iris squinted at the words as she took the book back. "Cierra and Ashlynn," she said, nodding to herself, and she turned to take a set of keys off of a wall hook. "This is your room key. Feel free to enjoy yourselves at our bar on the second floor."

Cierra took the keys, nodding in thanks. "63," she said to Ashlynn, before taking her arm and starting to lead her to the elevators.

Ashlynn looked back at Iris, managing a smile as she called, "thank you!"

Iris only nodded, saying nothing in response.

It was a short walk from the elevator to their room, and Cierra was practically jumping with excitement as they stepped inside. There were two beds with chests of drawers beside them. A phone rested on one of them, the same bright red as the lobby, even down to its cord.

There was a large vanity mirror against the back wall, and Cierra took advantage of it, fixing her dark hair. "Well," she said after a moment, turning to face Ashlynn. "I'm going explore. You up for some adventure?"

Ashlynn bit her lip, tugging at the sleeve of her cardigan. "No," she said. "You go on ahead. "I'm just going to stay here, get used to the room."

Cierra rolled her eyes, but she smiled nonetheless. "Fine," she said. "But, tonight, you're coming to the bar with me."

Ashlynn opened her mouth to speak, but Cierra shook her head. "Nope, no buts. It's happening. I'll be back soon. Enjoy yourself."

She pecked Ashlynn quickly on the cheek, grinning as she hurried from the room, leaving Ashlynn by herself.

Ashlynn sighed, settling into a chair. She slipped off the cardigan, the hairs on her arms rising at the cool air of the room. She shivered slightly, leaning back into the chair with a long breath. "You can do this, Ashlynn," she whispered to herself.

Her hands were shaking, the onset of a panic attack, she knew. She closed her hands into fists. "Breathe," and the command seemed to help. "Breathe."

She closed her eyes and repeated this a few more times.

Until a voice, she had never heard before spoke. "Yes, dear girl. Breathe."

Male, tinged with an accent. Her blue eyes flew open to see a man. He, like the lobby, looked as if he had stepped out of the 1920s. He was dressed smartly in a white button-down shirt, a black, striped vest over it, and black pants as well. A silk scarf was tucked into his shirt, hiding the skin of his neck.

He looked her over with a pair of dark eyes, the same color as his hair, which was gelled and slicked to one side. His thin mustache was carefully trimmed. "How did you get in here?" Ashlynn demanded, her voice tinged with fear, though she tried her best to hide it.

The man shrugged, smiling faintly. "I come and go as I please," he said. "Am I frightening you, dear girl?"

She didn't answer, rather she pulled her legs up onto the chair, hugging her knees close to her chest. "How did you get in here?" she asked again, voice weak with the start of tears.

"I own this hotel, darling."

"I didn't hear you come in."

He shrugged again. "Perhaps it's hard to hear when you're as anxious as you are."

She didn't answer, and he smiled one more time. "If I'm making so afraid, I'll go."

"Please," she whispered, the word barely audible.

He nodded. "All right. Adieu, then."

And in an instant, he was gone.

Ashlynn screamed.