Chapter 9: Blood Stains
Jay raced back to the hotel as fast as he could surprisingly without getting pulled over.
He didn't know how Matt would take the information that Jay had discovered but had a feeling he wouldn't take it well.
When he arrived he turned the car off before jogging inside, running up the stairs to his room. He was about to enter when he heard Matt talking to someone and tried to listen in only to realize that Matt was on the phone and by the sound of his voice he could tell it wasn't good.
MATT'S POV
Buzz
Buzz
Buzz
I woke to the sound of my cell phone vibrating and grabbed it hitting the talk button I answered it without a second thought.
"Hello," I yawned.
"Matt," I sit up so fast that it makes me dizzy.
"Jeff where are you? Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine; Matt you have to find Shannon please you just have to find him," I shut my eyes trying to fight tears from forming.
"I will I promise, Jeff please tell me where you are?
"Matt I can't, look I have to go now, but can you do me a favor?"
"Jeff…."
"Please?"
"What is it?"
"When you find Shannon tell him I'm so sorry….and…and that I love him." Jeff sobs.
"No!" I yell finally the tears fall.
"Please," he begs.
"NO because you're going to be telling him that yourself you hear me."
"Matt I have to go."
"No Jeff Wait!"
"I love you Matty"
"Jeff! Don't go." I beg helplessly.
"See I'm not all that bad, I let you talk to your brother."
"You son of a bitch…."
"Nah Nah Nah…. Not so fast, there Matty, you know I'm feeling kind of playful at the moment so I'm going to help you out on your quest to find Shannon okay.
Now listen and listen good boy you have 39 hours left to find the little runt. The only way you will even get close to finding him is if you play it my way. So here it goes, go to the hotel I was staying at, in my room on the dresser is a card read it and follow it, if you want to know where you will eventually find Shannon but the question is can you find him in time?"
"Which hotel?" I ask as calmly as I could.
"What fun would that be if I told you? Good luck Hardy boy," Mark hangs up.
Within seconds I on my feet as I turn I see Jay standing by the door with a distraught look.
"I'm guessing that was Mark?" He looks down refusing eye contact. When Jay does this it usually means he knows something bad.
"Yeah"
"What did he say?"
"He wants us to play his way, He said to go to his hotel room, and that there would be a letter, follow the letter and it will lead us to Shannon."
"Okay so let's go." He urges.
"We can't. He didn't tell me what hotel he was staying at." Jay stares at the floor when a smiles creeps on to his face. He takes out his cell and puts it to his ear.
"Hey what hotel are you staying at?"
"Okay thanks….oh hey what room was Mark in?"
"Okay, thanks talk to you later" Jay shuts his phone smiling as I just stand there in shock.
"Who the hell was that?"
"Adam," He sighs looking eager, that's when I notice that he's shaking, feet bouncing slightly from side to side like he used to do when we were younger and about to do something dangerous or stupid.
"Look are you just going to stand there all day or can we go find Shannon."
"Yeah let's go." I announce coming back to reality, I rush toward the door but Jay stops me.
"Um, Matt?" he says giggling.
"What?"
"You might wanna put some pants on," he said gesturing toward my boxers.
"Oh, right look I'll meet you in the car."
"Kay," Jay then turns and walks out the door.
20 MINUTES LATER
"Hurry!" I yell at Jay as we hurry up the stairs trying to find Mark's room. It's some cheap inn hotel on the bad side of town that looks like it's from a bad horror movie and definitely gives me the creep.
"I'm going as fast as I can fat ass!" He yells back we as we finally reach the sixth floor.
"What room were they in?"
"589."
"This way," I point down the hall to the sign hanging on the ceiling that read 'rooms 575-590'
Once we reach the door, Jay tries to open it but of course, it's locked.
"Move," I spoke as I pushed him out of the way before I reach into my pockets remembering that I had a guitar pick from Jeff that had my initials carved into it 'I never go anywhere without it it's my good luck charm, kinda'.
I manage to get the door open after a few moments of struggling and take a couple steps into the room before I have to dart back out, my stomach turning violently as I fight the urge to lose everything in it.
The room, completely destroyed and covered in blood, on the carpet, the bed…everywhere. The worse thing was the smell, the coppery smell of blood mixed in with the musky scent of sex. I don't even want to think about what has happened to my baby brother or Shannon.
"My god," Jay murmurs as he walked out of the room with the envelope in his hand. By the look on his face I can tell he wants to be sick. All I can picture is what I just witnessed and I can feel the tears begin to fall as I try to convince myself otherwise, This is just a nightmare.