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.