Chapter 2: "Waking Up To A Nightmare"
Sam and Dean had both been asleep for a few hours when a scream sent them flying onto their feet. They raced into the hallway to see that the lights were out and that a middle-aged man dressed in a suit was hopping up the stairs.
"It's alright everyone; you can all go back to bed," the man said as the other people on the floor stepped out of their rooms. "The lights just short-circuited. We'll get that fixed real soon."
"Who are you?" Dean inquired.
The man turned to him as everyone but he and Sam returned to their rooms. "I'm Joseph Hill, the owner and manager here, so rest assured I'll get everything running normally before morning."
"Why did the lights short-circuit?" Sam quizzed.
Joseph cocked an eyebrow. "The weather, of course."
As if on cue, thunder seemed to shake the building.
Dean and Sam glanced at each other.
"Anyways, I better get to it," Joseph decided.
He walked away, and Dean turned to Sam.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Dean asked.
"It wasn't storming a minute ago," Sam replied.
Dean nodded. "Exactly."
"That doesn't mean anything suspicious is going on though," Sam argued.
"It does in my book," Dean mumbled. "I'm going to go talk to the old man; if the bar is even open this late."
Sam sighed. "Alright. I'll do some research on the history of the hotel."
Dean grinned. "That's my geeky brother."
Sam rolled his eyes, and turned to their room door as Dean made his way downstairs.
As Sam fished for the room's keycard in his shirt pocket, a woman with dark curly hair bolted out of her room and tripped, landing face first into the carpet.
Sam raced to her side. "Are you okay lady?"
She starred up at him. "I need to get out of here!"
"What happened?" Sam questioned her.
"I need to get out of here!" the woman repeated, shouting. Her eyes were wide and it was obvious she was panicking.
"What did you see?" Sam inquired.
"It wants me!" the woman cried. "I need to leave, now. Let me go!"
She shook Sam's hand off her shoulder, but he grabbed her by the sleeve instead of releasing her. "What is it?"
"It was in my room," the woman answered, shaking. "It was horrible. It was nothing but a shadow and...You must think I'm crazy, but I'm telling the truth!"
"Okay, okay." Sam lowered his voice, trying to comfort her. "I'll help you..."
"Marybeth," the woman said.
"Marybeth," Sam repeated.
"Can you get my suitcase out of my room?" Marybeth asked.
"Sure," Sam replied.
"Be careful!" Marybeth warned as Sam approached the door.
He stepped into the room cautiously, his hand grasping the piece of iron rod he had on him.
He glanced around the room as he made his way to the suitcase Marybeth had placed on the floor by her bed. When he reached it he grabbed the suitcase with his free hand and made his way back to Marybeth.
When he was in the hallway again, Marybeth breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank God you're alright. And thank you."
She took the suitcase from Sam.
"No problem," he assured her.
Marybeth stared at the stairs.
"Do you want me to walk you to your car?" Sam inquired.
"Would you mind?" Marybeth quizzed, biting her lip.
"No," Sam said.
"I don't know how to thank you for doing all this," Marybeth told him as he took the suitcase back from her.
Sam shrugged. "It's not a big deal."
They made their way downstairs.
"Still," Marybeth said. "Not many people would help a crazy person like me."
She laughed, but it was an empty one.
"I don't think you're crazy," Sam told her. "My brother and I think there's something going on here."
"Are you going to leave too?" Marybeth inquired.
Sam shook his head. "No."
"Well you two are a lot braver than me," Marybeth said.
They reached the front door and Marybeth pushed to open it up, and pushed and pushed. The front door wouldn't budge.
"Why isn't it opening?" Marybeth muttered.
She shivered as a cool breeze swept by them.
Sam froze as his breaths became visible and Marybeth stared back at him.
They spun around to see a stunning woman in a beautiful red dress strolling towards them.
"Welcome to The Desert Highway Hotel," she said sweetly. "Enjoy your stay."