Chapter 1
Murder
Vivian: Today was a tough day.
Travis: Yeah, and it's as hot as hell right now.
A horrifying scream echoed from the second floor of the hotel, catching Travis and Vivian's attention.
Travis: Did you hear that scream? Feels like we're actually in hell.
Vivian: Maybe it's just someone having a wild night? I wouldn't mind having one with Dorothy.
Travis: Doesn't sound like it. Happy night sounds are usually more pleasant. Especially with Sandy.
Vivian: Oh, our shift's over, see you tomorrow.
Travis: Bye.
•|NEXT MORNING|•
Dorothy: Good morning, room cleaning duty.
Dorothy surveyed the room from the doorway.
Dorothy: Oh, no one's here.
As she approached the bed, she froze in horror at what she saw from the corner of her eye.
Dorothy: Oh my god..
In the corner of the room, not visible from the door, was her colleague Sam, stabbed in the chest.
Dorothy, in shock, rushed downstairs to the phone at reception.
Noah: Oh my god!
Ethan: He told me...
Before finishing his sentence, Ethan saw Dorothy sprinting towards reception.
Ethan: Hey, what's going on?
Vivian walked by and became interested in the situation.
Vivian: Why is she so nervous?
Ethan: I don't know.
Vivian: I better go ask.
Vivian approached the reception where Dorothy was barely holding onto the phone after finishing her call.
Vivian: Dorothy, honey, everything okay?
Dorothy turned nervously to her, managing to utter a few words.
Dorothy: Viv, there... There's Sam...
Vivian: What, something happened to him?
Dorothy: He's dead... He was lying there dead!
Vivian: What do you mean dead?
Dorothy: He's been murdered... There was a knife wound in his body.
Vivian hugged Dorothy to comfort her.
A police siren outside the hotel caught everyone's attention, looking towards the building's doors.
Noah and Ethan approached Vivian and Dorothy, preparing to ask some questions.
Noah: What's...?
A police brigade burst into the hotel.
Ethan: What the hell is happening here?
Police Officer: Good day, where's the body?
Dorothy: In room 100.
A detective entered through the door.
Detective: Please, whoever called us, come to the crime scene, and the other employees too.
Ethan shifted his gaze from the detective to Dorothy.
Ethan: Dora, what's going on?
Noah: I have a similar question.
Dorothy: Sam's been... killed, in room 100.
Noah: Holy shit! When?!
Ethan: How? How is he dead?
Detective: Let's move, we'll figure this out on-site.
All four followed the detective.
Detective: Could someone bring all the employees, please?
Vivian: I can do that. Dora, I'll go look for Travis, Jack, and the others.
Dorothy: I'm coming with you! I don't want to be without you; you're all I have.
Vivian: As long as we're together, everything will be okay.
Dorothy and Vivian went to the library where Jack sometimes sat, luckily not having to search for him for long.
Vivian: Jack, are you here?
Jack was sitting at a table, absorbed in reading a book.
Vivian: Jack!
Jack: Huh, what? What do you need?
Vivian: Go to room 100, we have a problem.
Jack: What kind?
Vivian: It's complicated to explain, just go and see. If you see any of our folks on the way, tell them to come to room 100 too.
Jack: Fine. But if this is some bullshit someone stirred up again, I'll kick their ass for not letting us rest.
Vivian: Screw you! He's already pissed me off. Oh, sorry, Dora.
Dorothy: Don't apologize. By the way, I saw Ben heading towards the boss's office. Maybe he's there.
Vivian and Dorothy walked down the corridor to their boss Lucas's office.
Dorothy: *Knock on the door* Can we come in? No one's here.
Vivian: You go in; I'll go look for others.
Ben: Hey, ladies!
Vivian and Dorothy: Aah!
Dorothy: Why scare us like that?!
Ben: Oops, sorry. Let's go, everyone's gathering there.
Near room 100, they met Lucas.
Lucas: Dorothy, can I have you for a moment? The police have questions.
Dorothy: Of course.
Sandy approached Vivian.
Sandy: Have you seen Travis?
Vivian: Is he missing?
Sandy: I haven't seen him.
Travis: I'm here!
Sandy was on the verge of tears of joy.
Sandy: I was so worried about you. Where have you been?
Travis: I was late today; there was a pipe burst at home.
Vivian: Hi.
Travis: Hi Viv, what's going on here?
Vivian: Sam was killed.
Travis: Him?! How could this happen?
Vivian: Dorothy was cleaning rooms and went into room 100, where she found Sam dead with a knife wound in his chest. Although I don't know all the details, I don't want to press her; she's already terrified.
Voices came from the room.
Detective: Medics, take the body!
Paramedics carried Sam's body on a stretcher, approached by Timothy.
Timothy: S-Sam?
Tears streamed down Timothy's face.
Timothy: Why didn't anyone tell me it was him? Why did you say Sam wouldn't come today, that he was sick?! Why did he die; he wasn't supposed to die!
Alice: We didn't want to tell you. Sorry.
Timothy turned away and ran downstairs in an unknown direction through the hotel.
Simon: Chad, why didn't you take him aside like I asked, so he wouldn't see Sam?
Chad: I didn't have time; Tim ran up so suddenly, I was just about to do it.
Simon muttered under his breath.
Simon: Damn, now we have to calm him down.
He followed him, trying to find him.
Simon: Tim, where are you?
He entered a utility room, seeing Timothy sitting by the wall.
Simon approached him, sitting down next to him.
Simon: Sorry we didn't tell you right away... we knew you loved him, didn't want to upset you.
Timothy: If you had done it right away, I wouldn't have reacted so harshly. When something like this is hidden from you, it's hard not to let out your emotions. Please leave me alone.
Simon left the room for 5 seconds, turned his head to Timothy, then left and closed the door.
Workers met Simon with questions.
Ben: Oh, hi, how's Tim?
Alice: Can we visit him?
Simon: *exhales* It's better not to go to him; let him calm down.
The policeman spoke abruptly.
Policeman: Tomorrow you will be questioned at 12:00! All employees must be present at work.
Employees began to disperse to their homes, saying goodbye to everyone as if for the last time.
Lucas: Bye, I hope everything will be fine.
Ben: See you tomorrow, Chad.
Ethan: See you soon, Noah.
Noah: Have a good evening.
Timothy walked out of the hotel's doors without saying a word, heading home.
Vivian and Dorothy stood by the wall.
Dorothy: I don't want to be left alone; I feel like something... wants to devour me more and more with every passing second.
Vivian: You can come over to my place tonight. Honestly, I don't want to be alone either.
Dorothy: You're always helping me, and I... how do you manage?
Vivian: No, what are you talking about? Your support means everything to me.
Vivian kissed Dorothy on the cheek and said.
Vivian: See you later.
