"Haaah..."
Ethan slowly opened his eyes, letting out a big yawn, and looked around, realizing he was lying on the sofa.
"Well! So I fell asleep right after watching the credits of the last movie in that amazing trilogy. Oh my, it's been a long time since I enjoyed my free time so much!"
"Ahhnnn!"
He got up and stretched until he felt his body brimming with energy.
On the screen, the credits were paused after showing all the people who contributed to the production.
Ethan still found it incredible that the tense situation with his brother had granted him the opportunity to leave work at four in the afternoon, two hours earlier than usual!
While he was aware of how poorly his brother treated him, he couldn't blame him.
Since their childhood, his brother had been neglected by their parents, to the point of being kicked out of the house. Their parents only paid attention to Ethan because he was seen as a genius with a promising future.
Although he ended up working as a humble Customer Service Assistant at Atlantis Paradise Island, he ended up there due to his fervor for the hotel industry.
He was chasing his dreams, and that was what really mattered in his life!
Therefore, he preferred to continue tolerating Matthew's anger and let the past matters stay behind.
"From four in the afternoon until midnight, it reminds me of my teenage years..." he said with a smile as he looked at the television with the paused credits.
Ethan picked up the remote, thinking of turning off the TV, but he stopped and decided to tune in to the news channel he usually watched in the mornings.
He still had half an hour before he had to go to work at noon, so he decided to take that time to listen to the news while he took a shower.
"A sunny and warm weather is forecasted for the entire week, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius. Perfect for enjoying the beautiful beaches and outdoor activities."
While shampooing his hair, Ethan smiled upon hearing that. He didn't want to encounter a difficult day at work due to bad weather.
"The Bahamas Tourism Authority launches a campaign to promote adventure tourism on the islands, highlighting activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, excursions to deserted islands, and exploration of underwater caves."
He finally stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel covering his lower body.
"Man, I would love to explore an underwater cave someday. It must be truly beautiful," Ethan murmured as he glanced at the man presenting the news.
He was about to head to his room to change into clean casual clothes and grab one of the spare uniforms he kept in his closet, but he abruptly stopped upon noticing the serious expression on the man's face.
"As many of you may already know, yesterday at four-fifteen in the afternoon, an unusual phenomenon occurred: a red rain that we will now refer to as 'blood rain,' although analyses indicate that it was only normal rainwater dyed red..."
"On the other hand, what has baffled researchers worldwide is that this phenomenon was not limited to the Bahamas; it occurred all over the Earth!"
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief upon learning that the red rain from yesterday had occurred worldwide.
"Fortunately, individuals exposed to the blood rain only experienced mild coughing and mild fever, which should subside soon."
"Leading doctors and specialists worldwide have examined some of these individuals and have found no dangerous conditions."
"Nevertheless, dear viewers, we would like to remind you that in case something similar happens in the future, it is advisable to avoid contact with unknown substances as they may pose a risk to your health and safety."
The man expressed it with a scolding tone, as if reprimanding his child after misbehaving. "But let's set that aside and focus on the exciting festival that will take place in..."
Ethan felt a great relief for not having been exposed to that rain, as it would have been extremely uncomfortable to deal with coughing and fever while working.
He quickly made his way to his room and changed his clothes, opting for a style that reflected the vibrant essence of the Bahamas. He dressed in a white linen shirt and complemented his appearance with turquoise shorts.
To complete his outfit, he put on comfortable brown leather sandals that allowed him to feel the sea breeze between his toes.
Grrroow!
"Oh right! I forgot to have dinner last night. I think I'll just make a quick sandwich," Ethan said after hearing his stomach growl. He promptly prepared a simple sandwich and devoured it in no time.
Tac-tac-tac-toc-toc!
Suddenly, the door chimed five times with a melodic tone. Each knock seemed carefully executed, as if the person knocking was creating a small symphony on the wooden surface.
"That way of knocking, it must be Olivia. Always so punctual," Ethan commented with a smile, reflecting his good mood.
He immediately turned off the television and placed his dirty uniform next to the washing machine to clean it later in the evening. Then, he packed his clean uniform into his backpack.
Creeeek!
As he opened the door, the warm sunlight spilled over him, revealing the figure of a charming young woman of about nineteen years old. Her wavy blond hair, which seemed to have been kissed by the sun's rays, cascaded over her shoulders, highlighting her bright hazel eyes.
She wore a soft and lightweight blouse with tropical prints in vibrant tones, evoking the lush landscapes of the Bahamas.
Olivia paired her blouse with cool fabric shorts in a turquoise blue shade, accentuating her natural tan and highlighting her slender legs. Completing her look were leather sandals adorned with seashells, giving a beachy touch to her appearance.
"I heard from Lucas what happened yesterday! Seriously, you endured so much in front of that bitch. If I were in your place, I would have given her a good beating and left her with a swollen and purple face!" Olivia said with a charming smile, not caring about uttering those words about Ashley.
"Shhh!"
"Don't say that, what if someone from the hotel hears you? You know the consequences of insulting the guests," he explained nervously, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby.
"Hahaha!"
She burst into loud laughter, noticing Ethan's nervous appearance: "You should relax a bit, it's not like we're planning to murder anyone," she commented with a relaxed expression, downplaying the hotel rules.
Cough! Cough!
Suddenly, Olivia began to cough as if she were fighting off a cold. This immediately reminded Ethan of what he had heard on the news.
"Could it be that you got touched by that red rain yesterday?" he asked with a worried tone.
"Eh? Ahh, the rain yesterday... I would have preferred to avoid that, but as a Recreation Activities Assistant, I have to be with the guests in outdoor spaces. I ended up completely soaked by that unpleasant rain; my clothes looked like they were taken from a horror movie!" she responded casually, as if it weren't relevant.
"Don't worry, that will disappear soon. According to the television, it's milder than a cold. Let's head to the hotel."
Ethan decided not to dwell on the topic further during the journey, considering it foolish.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Once inside the hotel, they noticed that there were many more people coughing. They were surprised by the large number of individuals who had been exposed to the rain.
"At least it comforts me to know that I'm not alone in this," Olivia said with a radiant smile that highlighted her pearly white teeth. She bid farewell to Ethan and headed towards her workplace.
He simply smiled at the carefree attitude of this girl he had met two years ago and made his way to change into his uniform.
Clang!
After closing his locker, he continued on his way to where Jane was, to discuss the area she preferred him to handle that day.
After a few minutes, Ethan arrived at Jane's office, located in the administrative area. On the way, he exchanged greetings with several of his colleagues whom he had known since he started working at the hotel two years ago.
"Ethan, you arrive just when I needed you. That's what I appreciate about you, your punctuality. Don't worry about yesterday, everything is fine. Believe me, if you keep this up, in a few years, you could be holding a prominent position in the hotel, with great opportunities and rewards," Jane commented with a friendly smile.
"No, no, thank you for your kind words, Coordinator!" he responded with gratitude, slightly lowering his head as he felt a surge of excitement. He truly aspired to reach a high position in this hotel.
Jane nodded satisfied and said, "Today you will be in charge of the guests in the Royal Towers. Specifically, you will be responsible for supervising this area of the hotel," she said while pointing to the designated location on a hotel map.
"You know how to proceed, in fact, it's been over a year since you needed explanations. You really grasp things at an impressive pace," Jane expressed, indicating to Ethan that he could leave.
He nodded and left the office, quickly heading towards the Royal Towers.
However, upon arriving, he had the unfortunate coincidence of encountering a small group of people whom he preferred to avoid at all costs.
"Isn't that your genius brother?" spoke a tattooed man in his twenties, pointing towards Ethan mockingly.
"Oh?"
"It seems like destiny wants us to have a good sibling time, don't you think?" Matthew said with an unpleasant and malicious smile.
Ethan felt uncomfortable as he noticed the gazes of the people around him, aware of the great animosity that existed between him and this group of individuals.
There were six people in total: three men and three beautiful women. Among them, one stood out with a gaze filled with affection directed towards Matthew.
"B-brother, it seems like you're having fun with your friends. ...Do you need something?" Ethan asked in a barely audible voice, showing his nervousness.
"Pfff!"
The girl who was previously looking at Matthew with tenderness couldn't help but laugh at Ethan's pitiful appearance: "Your brother is really different from you, in fact, you don't seem like siblings at all!"
"Come on, Megan, leave the little brother alone. After all, he's just an ordinary person, with an average salary, and probably that's how he'll stay for the rest of his life."
It was the man from earlier, his body covered in dark and disturbing tattoos that extended across his arms and neck, displaying symbols linked to violence and death.
His cold and piercing gaze was framed by arched eyebrows and dark eyes full of malice.
Megan stared at Ethan intently and, with a malicious smile, commented, "You're absolutely right, Garrett. Normal people are doomed to remain that way for the rest of their lives."
"Little brother, little brother, let's go party at the best bar in this place and enjoy some good drinks. Go and make sure to reserve a table with the most exclusive drinks you can find, alright?" Matthew said without even looking back at Ethan.
"...Sure, I'll have it ready in a jiffy," with these words, Ethan hurried towards the best bar in the Royal Towers.
Matthew made a sudden grimace, his expression turning pensive: "Where did Jason the giant disappear to? He should be here with us to have some drinks."
"It seems like he's sick or something. It's probably related to that unpleasant rain yesterday," Ashley responded as she looked at herself in a small mirror, adjusting her makeup with precision.
"Hmm, alright. I'll leave him a message anyway. But for now, let's drink and enjoy this place as we teach my brother a lesson, haha!"
Matthew headed in the same direction Ethan had gone, followed by the others chatting among themselves.
The atmosphere in the bar was lively and bustling, with people laughing and enjoying their drinks. Matthew and his group were seated at the table Ethan had prepared in advance.
Cough! Cough!
"Oh dear, what's happening to you?!" a desperate man exclaimed as he saw his wife collapsing to the floor, coughing violently and spitting up large amounts of blood. Her face was pale and covered in sweat.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Suddenly, while Ethan endured the mockery of his brother and his group of friends, a shiver ran down his spine as he witnessed several people in the bar collapsing to the ground, just like the woman had moments before!
Numerous individuals started coughing and vomiting blood, creating a suffocating and dense atmosphere filled with the strong smell of iron.
"Quick, call the doctors! I have a lot of money! I'll give whatever they want to anyone who helps my daughter!" a desperate middle-aged man exclaimed, as his daughter, a woman in her twenties, continued to vomit blood relentlessly.
"I also possess a great fortune, I'm willing to offer any amount to anyone who helps my husband!"
Soon, wealthy individuals in the bar began shouting exorbitant sums of money, desperate to get help as quickly as possible.
The scene was terrifying, and panic immediately took hold of the place. Chaos and fear filled the air as other customers tried to distance themselves from the unsettling scene.
Money-hungry individuals salivated at the sound of the enormous sums being offered, but not knowing how to help, they were forced to retreat.
Zaaap!
Before everyone could fully comprehend what was happening, a deafening blast echoed all around. It felt as if a nuclear bomb had detonated nearby.
Zzzooommm!
Suddenly, a blue shockwave pierced through the walls, rapidly spreading and creating the illusion that a bomb had indeed exploded!
Panic spread rapidly, plunging many into a state of genuine fear at the possibility of a real catastrophe. Heart-wrenching screams and sobs resounded everywhere, further exacerbating the atmosphere filled with anguish and desperation.
The energy wave passed over Matthew, Ethan, and their friends, but only those who weren't coughing could feel a sudden electric shock, as if they had been electrified.
"What... What's happening?" Ethan was perplexed, not understanding what was unfolding.
The sensation was bewildering and distressing, causing looks of concern to appear on everyone's faces.