Prologue: Entering the Hotel (Door 001)

It doesn't matter how I got here. Because I have no clue how. All I know, is I just woke up in an elevator with some really good music, and am now stuck in a hotel. I wanna go home. So that's what I'm going to do. Starting at door 001. The wooden door creaked as I pushed it open, a gust of stale air greeting me as I stepped into the dimly lit hotel lobby. The place had seen better days—probably decades ago. Dust floated in the air, catching the weak beams of light filtering through grimy windows. The furniture, once luxurious, was now tattered and worn, adding to the eerie vibe of the place. But, of course, here I was, grinning like an idiot. The whole place screamed danger, but that was part of the thrill, right?

"Well, this is cozy," I muttered to myself, though I couldn't help but chuckle. My voice echoed in the empty hall. No response. No surprise. The room was silent, almost too silent, like it was holding its breath. "Guess I'll just have to find my own way, huh?"

I walked further in, the floorboards creaking under my weight, each step sounding louder than the last in the oppressive silence. I scanned the room for anything of interest—a clue, a key, anything that might indicate what the hell I was supposed to do here. Nothing. Just more dust and decay. A clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one seemingly louder than the last, the sound drilling into my ears. The only direction was forward, towards a corridor lined with numbered doors.

Door 001.

"Alright, let's do this," I said, half-joking, trying to keep the mood light. But even I could feel the edge in my voice. Something wasn't right about this place. But hey, that's what made it fun. I reached out and grabbed the brass doorknob, its cold surface sending a chill up my spine. With a twist and a push, the door swung open, revealing another dimly lit hallway.

"Great, more hallways. This place really knows how to mix things up." I chuckled, stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind me with a sense of finality that made my skin prickle. I shrugged it off and started walking. The hallway seemed endless, the dim lighting casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. I felt eyes on me, though I knew I was alone.

Keep going, I told myself. It's just a hotel. How bad could it be?

But deep down, I knew it wasn't just a hotel. There was something more to this place—something sinister. And as I approached the next door, that feeling only grew stronger.

Door 002.

I reached for the handle, but the lights flickered before I could touch it. I froze, hand hovering in mid-air. The air grew thick, almost suffocating. My heart pounded in my chest, and I forced myself to take a deep breath. "Get a grip, man. It's just a power surge or something."

I didn't believe my own words. The lights flickered again, this time more violently, and then they went out entirely, plunging the hallway into darkness.

"Oh, come on!" I groaned. My hands fumbled in my pockets for a flashlight, but before I could grab it, I heard something—no, someone—whispering. A low, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine.

Rush.

I didn't know how I knew its name. I just did. Instinct screamed at me to move, and I obeyed, diving to the side just as a deafening roar filled the hallway. A surge of darkness, an entity made of pure speed and malice, rushed past me, its eyes glowing an unnatural white as it moved. I barely caught a glimpse of it before it was gone, but that was enough.

My heart hammered in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I was alive. I'd survived. Barely. But the hotel wasn't done with me yet.

The lights flickered back on, revealing the hallway once more. But something had changed. The air was colder, more oppressive, and I knew—I just knew—that the next door wouldn't be as easy as the last.

"Alright, Rush," I muttered, trying to steady my shaking hands. "You wanna play? Let's play."

But before I could take another step, the world blurred, a sharp pain slicing through my chest. I gasped, my vision darkening as I crumpled to the ground. The last thing I saw was a faint blue light, hovering above me, before everything went black.

Chapter 1: The Guiding Light

I was dead. Or at least, I should've been. I felt it—the snap, the way my breath had left me. The cold darkness that followed. But now, I was… awake? Alive? It didn't make sense.

And yet, here I was, floating in an endless expanse of warm water. But it wasn't water, not really. It was thicker, warmer, more comforting than any ocean or pool I'd ever been in. I could breathe, though, which was weird. I wasn't drowning; I was just… suspended, held in place by some unseen force. The sensation was so strange, so surreal, that I couldn't help but let out a bubbly, confused, "Whaaat the fu—?"

Before I could finish, a light appeared before me, gentle yet radiant, like the full moon on a clear night. The light shimmered and shifted, slowly forming into a figure—a humanoid figure. A woman? Or… something else? She—they—were unlike anything I'd ever seen. Their form was delicate yet strong, bathed in a soothing blue glow that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

"You are… intriguing," the figure said, their voice soft, yet resonant, echoing through the liquid-like space around us. Their words carried a weight, a sense of wisdom and kindness, that made me feel oddly at ease despite the bizarre situation.

"Uh… thanks?" I replied, unsure of how to respond to a sentient light that had apparently just called me intriguing. "So, uh, what's going on here? Did I, like, die or something?"

The figure nodded slowly, their ethereal eyes—if you could call them that—focusing on me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "Indeed. You have perished. You were caught by Rush, one of the many entities that reside within this place."

"Rush, huh?" I said, trying to wrap my head around it. "Yeah, that guy was fast. And mean."

"They all are," the figure said, with a hint of sadness in their voice. "But they are bound to this hotel, as are you."

"Wait, what do you mean, 'bound'?" I asked, a sinking feeling growing in my chest.

"You cannot leave," they said, the weight of their words pressing down on me. "Not until you escape."

"Uh, isn't that kind of contradictory?" I pointed out, trying to make sense of it. "I can't leave, but I have to escape? How does that work?"

"There is only one way out," they explained, their voice patient and calm. "The mineshaft elevator. Until you reach it, you will continue to be revived here, within this hotel. Death is not an escape."

I stared at them, trying to process what they were saying. "So, you're telling me I'm stuck in some kind of endless death loop until I figure out how to beat this place?"

"Correct," they replied. "But you are not alone. I will guide you."

I blinked, taken aback by their words. "You… will?"

They nodded, a soft smile—a human expression, but one that felt oddly genuine—playing on their lips. "I am the Guiding Light. You may call me Light, if you wish. It is my duty to assist those who find themselves trapped here."

"Guiding Light, huh?" I repeated, trying out the name. It felt… right. "Okay, Light. So, what now?"

"You must return," Light said, their form beginning to blur at the edges. "Your journey is not over. But remember, I am with you. Always."

Before I could respond, the warm water-like substance around me began to drain away, pulling me down, down into darkness once more.

Chapter 2: Round Two

I gasped as I jolted awake, the dim light of the hotel hallway coming into focus. My heart was racing, but I was alive. Somehow, I was back where I started. I looked around, trying to get my bearings, but everything was the same. The same tattered carpet, the same old paintings on the walls, the same eerie silence.

"Okay, that was… weird," I muttered, pushing myself to my feet. I brushed off the dust from my clothes and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The memory of my encounter with Light was still fresh in my mind, and it made me shiver.

I wasn't alone here. Light was with me. Guiding me. And I had to keep going.

"Alright, Door 001, let's try this again," I said, more to myself than anything else. My voice echoed down the empty hallway, the sound eerily comforting in the silence.

I approached the door, half expecting it to swing open on its own, but it didn't. I reached for the handle, my hand steady this time, and pushed the door open. The hallway beyond looked just as creepy as the last time I saw it, but now, I knew better. There was more to this place than just its looks. There were things here—dangerous things—and I had to be ready for them.

Light said she'd guide me. So where is she now? I thought, looking around as if expecting to see the glowing figure from before. But there was nothing. Just the dim lights flickering overhead.

I took a deep breath and stepped through the door. As soon as I did, the lights flickered again, just like before, and I felt the air grow colder. My muscles tensed, and I instinctively looked around, searching for any sign of danger. My hand gripped the flashlight in my pocket, ready to pull it out at the first sign of trouble.

But nothing happened.

Weird, I thought. I was sure something would jump out at me.

I continued down the hallway, my footsteps echoing off the walls. The lights above flickered again, and this time, I caught a glimpse of something—no, someone—at the end of the hall. A dark figure, standing still, watching me.

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice betraying a hint of nervousness. But the figure didn't move, didn't respond.

I took a cautious step forward, and the lights flickered once more. The figure was gone.

"Okay, this place is officially creeping me out," I muttered, shaking my head. But I wasn't about to let it get to me. I was (Y/N), after all. The one and only. I didn't scare that easily.

As I approached the next door—Door 002—I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. It was like a hundred eyes were boring into me from the shadows, waiting for me to make a mistake.

"Just keep going," I told myself, trying to drown out the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind. "You've got this."

But as I reached for the door handle, the lights flickered out completely, plunging me into darkness. I froze, listening, waiting for the telltale sound of Rush, or worse. But all I heard was my own ragged breathing.

Then, out of nowhere, a voice whispered in my ear.

"Psst."

I jumped, spinning around, but there was nothing there. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline surging through my veins. That voice—it was real, I know it was!

"Okay, okay, stay calm," I whispered to myself, gripping the flashlight tighter. I fumbled with it, managing to switch it on, and shone it around the room. But there was nothing—no sign of whatever whispered to me.

Was it my imagination? No. It couldn't be. There was something here. I knew it.

"Alright, show yourself!" I shouted, my voice echoing down the empty hallway. But the only response was the sound of my own voice, fading into the darkness.

Just as I was about to give up and move on, I heard it again.

"Psst."

This time, it was right behind me.

I spun around, flashlight in hand, and caught a glimpse of something—a small, dark creature with glowing eyes, clinging to the ceiling. It hissed at me, baring sharp teeth, and before I could react, it lunged at my face.

I screamed, stumbling backward, but it was too fast. The creature latched onto my head, its claws digging into my scalp as it screeched in my ear. Pain shot through me as I tried to pry it off, but it wouldn't budge. It was like it was fused to me, sucking the life out of me.

I fell to the floor, thrashing, my vision fading as the creature drained my strength. My last thought before everything went black was Light, where are you?

I awoke once more in the strange, warm water-like place. My body felt heavy, my head spinning from the ordeal I'd just been through. I blinked, trying to focus, and saw the same gentle light hovering in front of me.

"Guiding Light…?" I croaked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"You encountered Screech," Light said softly, their voice as calming as before. "A malevolent entity that preys on those who linger in the dark. It seems your death was inevitable."

"Yeah, no kidding," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "That little bugger got me good."

Light's form seemed to waver slightly, almost like they were concerned. "You are learning, (Y/N). Each encounter brings you closer to understanding this place, and the entities within it. But you must be more careful."

I sighed, letting the warmth of the water-like substance soothe my aching body. "Yeah, I get it. I need to keep moving, right? No lingering in dark rooms?"

"Precisely," Light replied, their form glowing a bit brighter. "But remember, I am here to guide you. You are not alone."

I looked at them, feeling a strange mix of frustration and gratitude. "Thanks, Light. I mean it. This place… it's crazy. But having you around makes it a bit less terrifying."

Light's glow softened, almost like they were smiling at me. "You are welcome, (Y/N). I will continue to assist you in your journey. But now, it is time to return."

I nodded, bracing myself as the water-like substance began to drain away again, pulling me back into the darkness. But this time, I wasn't as scared. Light was with me. And I wasn't going to give up.

The hallway materialized around me once more, and I found myself standing in front of Door 001 again. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. This was my third chance. I wasn't going to waste it.

"Alright, (Y/N)," I muttered to myself, cracking my knuckles. "Let's do this."

The hotel wasn't going to know what hit it.