After seeing what Vandal made for Nu, I was kind of tempted to see if he could potentially conjure a scythe. However, that would have to wait for now as I looked at the newcomer then at the earthen wall she had erected.
It was impressive but now wasn't the time to stand and admire.
“We should get going,” I said as I looked over at the newcomer. “Thank you for the assistance.”
“Yes, thank you,” Nu chimed in, “and what’s your name?"
“No problem! My name is Senshi!”
“Nice to meet you but please stop with the yelling,” I hissed as I looked around. “The last thing we need is for more Umbras to come, especially with it getting dark outside.”
“So, what now?” Vandal questioned as he continued to stare at the wall.
I pulled out the key I found earlier. “I say we regroup and try to start fresh in the morning.”
Not hearing any rebuttals, I opted in taking the stairs because the less sounds the better. Unfortunately, the number on the key led us up to the eighth level. Stepping out the stairwell once the coast was clear, I couldn’t help but grimace at the state of the floor.
The tacky carpet was peeling along the edges and ripped in other places. The wallpaper was starting to peel and there was a service cart every now and then with spoiled food on it. The room doors were splintered as if something wanted in while others were demolished with their interiors left in ruin like much of the hotel. Even more, a light musty odor lingered about.
It was terrible.
“This should be it,” I said as I inserted the key into the door at the far end of the hall.
I was prepared to face a disgusting accommodation as anything would have been better than hiding out in the open at night with Umbras lurking about.
Exhaling quietly, I pushed open the door to see quite the opposite. The room was a master suite and from the looks of it, it hadn’t been touched by time or whatever was the cause for the hotel’s disrepair. If anything, it looked like the room service had left not even a few moments ago.
Stepping aside to let the others in, I looked down the hall to make sure nothing was watching us before closing the door quietly. Flipping the switch to see if we at least had power, I sighed my relief before hurrying over to the windows to at least close the blinds.
We didn’t need to attract unwanted attention even if we were on the eighth floor.
“I found water,” Vandal said after coming out the bathroom.
“I do hope you mean from the sink and not the toilet this time,” I replied as I looked around the parlor room.
“I found a bedroom,” Nu called a little further in. “Oh, I found another. This one has two beds!”
“I’ve found food,” Senshi called from the small kitchenette.
I leaned over to see the fridge well-stocked. “Well, I be damned.”
I then noticed the note she had plucked off the refrigerator door. Coming to take a look at it, it held a simple message:
Bon Appétit
‘Why is any of this here?’
My phone buzzing had me jump before I retrieved it.
I hope you like it. I was starting to wonder if you would even make it to this save point at all.
“Save point?” I murmured before grudgingly looking around.
They had eyes on us.
Good thing the newcomer came about or else you and Nu might’ve been eaten. That could have been... tragic.
They knew our names.
Vandal seems to be handy with forging. That may be useful for a short time~
They were assessing us.
But what about you, Jayden? You’re weaponless and Runihura isn’t here to save you…
I held the phone tighter after reading the message.
What can you even do?
“Um, Jayden?”
“What?” I griped before looking towards Nu to see her fidgeting in place. “Uh, sorry. What is it, Nu?”
“I can tend to your wounds. I mean, if you’re ready of course.”
I looked back down at my phone as I held it tighter before smiling at the girl. “Why don’t you take care of Vandal first, ok?” I suggested as I went to take a seat on the couch. “Perhaps you can check on Senshi too. I’ll go after they're situated.”
“Oh…ok.”
After she had left, I looked back at the message again before opting in throwing the phone at the wall. Knowing that wouldn’t do any good, I set it down on the coffee table before combing a hand through my hair.
‘What can I do…?’
Picture credited to Pinterest
