He mounted his bike first, then extended a hand towards me. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, and he helped me carefully onto the back of his bike. Feeling slightly out of my element, I waited patiently until I was securely seated before he started the engine. With a deep breath and nervous excitement, I clutched onto him as he revved the engine, signaling that we were ready to go.
As I tentatively gripped his shoulder, Gab turned his head slightly and chuckled, "You'll tumble off like a sack of potatoes if you hold onto me there."
Before I could even react, his hand gently guided mine to his waist, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, feeling the warmth and solid build of his physique, which was more toned than I'd anticipated. Despite the scent of motor oil lingering around us, he smelled good.
As the engine roared to life and he accelerated, I instinctively shut my eyes, the rush of wind tousling my blonde hair and the adrenaline causing my heart to race. Thankfully, my hat was tucked in the space between me and Gab's back. The speed, the rush, and the sensation of his waist under my hand momentarily distracted me from my stiffened nerves.
As Gab called out, "Open your eyes, Scarlett,"
I stubbornly replied, "No way, Gab!"
"Come on. It's beautiful. You're safe with me"
Those words did something in me and before I could think twice, well, curiosity got the best of me, and I eventually peeked through my squinted eyelids.
Behold! There it was, the grand view that was the sun setting, casting a gorgeous array of pink and gold across the sky. I couldn't help but gape in awe, despite trying to play it cool. The wind tousled my hair and blew it all over the place, and instead of feeling annoyed, I was feeling like a rock star with my hair flying all around.
"Okay, okay, I admit it's beautiful," I begrudgingly confessed, secretly thrilled by the view.
Such stunning sunsets! I couldn't help but let out a sigh of contentment, which quickly turned into a whoop of joy, much to Gab's amusement.
As we gradually slowed down, my gaze landed on a three-story building with a massive, illuminated sign that proudly proclaimed LORAS MOTEL in the distance. The sight was a relief after the fun ride on Gab's motorbike.
"We're here" he announced.
He then helped me alight from the bike, his hand guiding mine, and for a split second, I felt a spark between us. Ignoring that entirely (or at least trying to), I shifted my focus to the motel.
The Loras Motel looked like something out of a vintage movie, with its retro neon sign and plain structure with almost all the lights in the rooms off which only means they have very few to no customers. Trying to shake off the effect of the bike ride and the tingling sensation from Gab's touch, I turned my attention towards the motel entrance. My gaze swept over the place.
"So, this is LORA'S MOTEL?" I murmured, not really believing what I was seeing and what Lisa booked for us.
"Yeah, this is it," Gab replied.
Eyeing the motel, I couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow.
"Um, this isn't exactly what I had in mind. It's, uh, not exactly five-star material," I commented, trying to mask my unease with a forced chuckle. "Are there no other hotels around?"
My attempt at a joke failed to lighten the situation.
"Sorry, this is the only one nearby," he admitted, gesturing towards the seemingly eerie establishment.
My heart sank a little, envisioning a night spent in what could easily pass for the setting of a horror movie.
I forced a nod and a hesitant "Thanks for the ride. You saved me today" though reluctance dripped from every syllable.
Fighting the urge to cling to Gab for dear life, I squared my shoulders, masking my apprehension as best as I could. Deep breaths, Scarlett. This could turn out to be better, right? I hoped against hope that the stories about the creepy motel were just exaggerations.
As I turned to leave, Gab's voice halted my steps.
"Hey, wait a sec!" he called out.
I pivoted, shooting him a puzzled look. "Yeah?"
"May I ask for your phone?"
"My phone?" I echoed and perplexed, I handed it over, not comprehending his sudden request.
My confusion only escalated as he maneuvered to start the engine, the car humming to life. He then started typing something on my phone. Before darting away, he grinned and tossed me my phone which I thankfully caught.
"Hey"
He grinned, wearing his helmet, "I saved my number just like I promised"
"Your what?...." I stammered.
The engine roared, and in a flash, he sped off, leaving behind the echo of his motorbike. Standing there, dumbfounded, I stared at my phone.
"Did that just happen?" I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of what happened.
Then, a rush of amusement washed over me.
"Well, he's definitely got style. Hot and cool—quite the combination," I mused aloud, giving in to a soft chuckle before turning towards the supposedly haunted motel, phone clutched in hand.
Adjusting my sunglasses, I strutted towards the motel's entrance, determined to maintain an air of confidence despite the uncomfortable ache in my feet from my heels. Ignoring the sting of a cut on my foot, I soldiered on, channeling my best 'I've got this' attitude.
As I stepped inside, the sight of several couples coming and going caught my attention. Their curious glances felt like they were assessing every detail about me. Well, can't blame them, I probably stood out like a sore thumb in this place.
Oddly enough, the lobby defied the haunting vibes the exterior suggested. It was surprisingly bright, a contrast to the foreboding exterior. Making my way to the reception desk, I spotted a brunette woman around my age who seemed just as intrigued by my presence as the others.
The woman was a stunning brunette with sharp, almond-shaped hazel eyes, framed by perfectly arched eyebrows, her hair fell around her shoulders. She was dressed in a crisp, cream-colored blouse, slightly tucked into the skirt.
The engine roared, and in a flash, he sped off, leaving behind the echo of his motorbike. Standing there, dumbfounded, I stared at my phone.
The woman behind the desk peered at her computer screen, her expression shifting slightly.
"Sorry, the deluxe was booked yesterday," she stated matter-of-factly, not meeting my gaze.
I furrowed my brow, "But my secretary made the reservation a few days back,"
Her response was far from accommodating. "Look, if you're going to make a scene..." Her words trailed off, her tone holding a dismissive edge that irked me. "Just leave"
"This makes no sense. What about my reservation?"
Without missing a beat, she offered a blunt solution. "I'll refund your money,"
Realizing I had little choice at the moment, I tried to salvage the situation.
"Fine, just give me another room," I sighed, my voice holding a trace of frustration.
"We don't have any larger rooms available," she claimed.
"That's not good enough," I asserted, refusing to let her dismiss me so easily. "It's the least you could do after messing up my reservation. I could sue your business for this"
"We're fully booked tonight."
I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my frustration. "The lights are off almost in all of your rooms here"
She sighed, almost theatrically, and shot me an irritated look. "Fine, we have a standard room available on the third floor. It's smaller than what you booked, but it's all we've got."
"Whatever. Just give me the key." I said, shaking my head in disappointment.
She handed me the keycard with a disinterested air. Feeling infuriated, I snatched the key she begrudgingly offered, my patience wearing thin. As I turned to leave, the echo of her insult caught my ears.
"Bitch," she muttered under her breath.
My jaw clenched, a surge of anger pulsating through me. I spun back around, meeting her gaze head-on.
"Excuse me, sorry to burst your little bubble but you're the one acting like a total bitch here," I shot back, before pivoting and striding toward the elevator.
Stepping inside, my blood still boiling, I fumed silently. The weight of my anger made the confined space feel suffocating. With a huff, I ripped off my sunglasses, realizing they were useless in this dimly lit box. Arghhh!
The doors slid shut, sealing me within the claustrophobic confines of the elevator. Alone with my thoughts, I took a deep breath, trying to regulate my emotions. This was not the warm welcome I expected in this eerie motel.
As the elevator doors creaked open on the third floor, a chill slithered down my spine, sending goosebumps dancing across my skin. The eerie ambiance didn't help dispel the images of ghostly apparitions that my overactive imagination made up.
"For Pete's sake," I grumbled quietly.
With a half-jog, half-speed walk, I hurried down the corridor, my footsteps echoing in the haunting silence. Every flickering light made me jump, half-expecting a ghost to pop out of nowhere.