A dark and Stormy Night...
The storm was quickly on them. It wasn’t a gentle arrival either. One second, nothing. The next…
“Note to self, find two of every animal and figure out what a cubit is.” Scott said as they ran for cover.
“You try running in this dress and these heels.” Skye complained. They’d dressed to fit in. Scott in a three-piece suit and a fedora, Skye in a pastel dress with a floppy brimmed hat.
They ducked into the doorway of the large tower they’d pasted a few times. Strangely the door was unlocked. Skye pushed it open and Scott followed.
The lobby was empty. It was slightly dusty, like no one had been in there for a while. That or the cleaning staff was on strike.
“OK... just missing a few creepy bellhops and this place is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror…” Scott said.
“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic…” She said
“You say that and yet I’m 99% sure you have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“It’s a…” She said, trying her luck “video game?”
“good evening folks.” A voice said, causing the pair to jump.
“Sorry I startled you.” The source of the voice said, a short, balding man in a pinstriped suit who’d just stepped from behind a door.
“Sorry, we just needed to get out of the storm. I thought it never rained around here?” Scott asked.
“Well they say that.” The man said, “But every so often, a nasty storm rolls off the ocean. Welcome to the Hotel Vine.”
He walked around the desk “I’m Mr. Franks. I’m the manager. If you two would like to stay the night till the storm passes, I’d be more than happy to give you a discount. I need the business. Place has been empty for ages.”
“I… I guess…” Scott said before looking at Skye, who nodded in agreement.
Even if the storm passed, the pair knew they’d locked the plane for a full twenty-four hours. Not even they could approach it without getting shot at or shocked on contact. Without the 5001 working, they were stuck.
“Great. I can do $50 total for the both of you if your promise to give a testimonial and tell your friends.”
“Can do.”
“Now, before we go any further, I do need to ask if you two are married?”
“No…” they said
“Then I’m going to have to set you up in separate rooms. City law, I’m sorry. I’m not going to charge you extra, I just don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Fine… Fine…” Skye said, “he snores anyway.”
“No I don’t.” He said as she elbowed him in the gut.
The pair signed their named and Scott handed him some money they’d “barrowed” earlier.
“Well, Mrs. Simmons and Mr. Riley, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you both to your rooms.”
He picked two keys off the wall and lead the pair to the nearby elevator.
“I’m putting you on six, that’s where my personal rooms are, so if you need anything, you don’t need to get lost finding me.”
“So, are you two related at all?” Mr. Franks asked as the elevator climbed.
“In-laws.” Skye said “He’s married to my sister. She’s home with their new baby. I came on the trip in her place.”
“What sort of business are you in Mr. Riley.”
“I’m a writer, I had a meeting today with a studio executive, but he had to postpone it for a few days, his assistant said he’s not feeling well. We were supposed to leave today but when I called the hotel, they’d already sent out bags to the station and they’re probably already on the train.”
“Well, nothing beats the Hotel Vine for the experience of New Paris. Where are you from?”
“New York.”
“Ahh... bright lights… big city… Surprised no one there wanted your story.”
“It’s… special, let’s put that way.” Scott said, gearing into the role “None of them could see the vision I had.” The elevator stopped and the three stepped out.
“Well, here’s your rooms. If you need anything, I’ll be downstairs in the lobby until around 10, just in case anyone else joins us. Unfortunately, my kitchen staff isn’t in, but I’d be more than happy to try to cook something for you. Just let me know if you get hungry.”
“Thanks” the pair said in turn as the older man got back in the elevator.
Scott opened the door with the matching number and stepped inside. The room was nice and simple. Two beds, dresser, closet, in suite bathroom. Looking out the window showed the storm raging. A crack of lightning flashed outside.
“Maybe it’s Thor and he can send us home.”
“I wish…” Scott said. He thought to himself he’d yet to go back and check on the Asgardian on the abandoned Earth.
“Well, let’s get out of these wet clothes.” Scott said.
Skye took the key to the room she’d been given, next door to Scott’s. They both found bathrobes in their closets and changed.
“How does it look?” Skye asked a few minutes later as Scott sat at the room’s table, examining the 5001 with Tallus.
“It would seem, Mistress, that one of the Department of Defense lab monkeys didn’t do a proper job putting it back together.” Tallus informed her.
“They did alright with you.”
“that’s because they never took him apart.”
“I’m complexly solid state, and I told them if they tampered with my power cell, it would explode.”
“That can’t really happen, can it?” Skye asked.
“No, I lied.” It said, proud of itself.
Another flash and rumble followed by the light flickering.
“I think I’m going to take a shower.” Skye said, returning to her room.
Skye pulled her robe off and climbed into the claw footed tub. She turned on the water. It made her feel a bit better. She was a little upset at Scott, but she didn’t want him to know. Sure, he was missing his wife and his newborn daughter, but she had her own wife and her own kids, and she missed them just as much.
“Jas…” Skye said, thinking of her beloved.
After a few minutes she stepped out of the shower, put her hair in a towel and slipped the bathrobe back on. She had just wiped off the bathroom mirror when she saw it.
Scott was still staring intently at the device on the table when he heard Skye scream.
He picked up the Tallus and ran out into the hall.
“What’s the matter? What’s wrong?” he asked as she came running out of her room.
“I saw a face… in the mirror… a face… in the mirror.” She said, panting, clearly terrified.
“Ok… That’s what mirrors do…”
“Not mine you idiot!” She said, smacking him “It was… someone else… Scott… I think this place is haunted.”