Charlie's Hotel

After a long semester of college, all Hayden wanted to do was relax and do nothing. Hayden got a room at a small, run-down hotel in his hometown of Holbeck called Charlie's. It definitely needed some work done on the outside. Walking in through the front door, the decor was swanky on the inside with its out-of-date eighties style as you walked in. He paid for his room, placing his things inside, and decided to go to Moe’s Diner down the road.

Hayden walked out of the room, locking it behind him, and as he exited his room, Hayden heard a loud thud from the room next door. Was the tenant next door okay? It sounded as if they had fallen down and were attempting to drag themselves across the floor. He decided to inform the front desk clerk on his way out. When he returned to the hotel after eating a much-needed greasy and satisfying meal, the clerk called him over.

"About the room next to yours…from our records, no one has checked in." she said, speaking in a low tone.

"I'll keep an ear out then," Hayden smiled and went on his way, seeing the concerned look on her face as he walked away. He decided to watch some TV and get some rest. It didn't take long before Hayden fell asleep with the sound of some program on the TV. That's when the dragging started again. It was dull at first, then seemed to get closer, as if they were crawling up the wall.

Fingernails dug into the wood, causing a cracking and splitting sound.

Getting out of bed, Hayden exited his room and stood in front of the room next door. Slowly, he reached out and knocked on the door. "Excuse me? Is everything okay? " he asked, a little too loudly. There was a small, gurgling, raspy breath reply. Followed by rapid knocking and the rattling of a doorknob.

Hayden stepped back slowly the knocking and rattling coming to a halt.

A hand placed on his shoulder caused him to let out a terrified shriek. Hayden turned to face the receptionist of the hotel. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern. “Y-yeah…eh, didn’t you say this room was vacant?” Hayden replied, scratching the back of his neck. “We haven’t rented this room out ever since the murder happened a few years ago,” the receptionist explained.

"A murder in Holbeck?" Hayden's eyes widened, and he took another step away from the door. “Yes, and what you’re hearing is the victim’s last moments.” said the receptionist opening the door with an old, rusty key. She flipped on the light switch, and it slowly flickered to life. The room had old blood stains, outdated furniture and reddish-brown splatter along the floor and walls. It smelled of cleaner and stagnant air from being closed up for so long.

Along the walls were nail scratches and a fresh, bloody handprint on the indoor handle. They both stared in disbelief, and Hayden could tell by the look on her face that this hadn’t happened before. “I think that it would be wise if you get the owner to call in a priest,” he commented, exiting the room. The receptionist closed the door, locking it back, her heavy footsteps thudding across the floor to the front desk. Hayden himself was already packing up his things to head home early when, out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone standing in his doorway.

Hayden closed his eyes and shook his head. It isn’t there, he thought to himself. Upon opening his eyes, he let out a terrifying scream. Because before him was something he would never unsee. Hayden rushed to his car without saying goodbye, having left the key in his room. Getting far away from here and never returning to Holbeck was the only thing on his mind.