'Maybe I can borrow gold coins?'
The idea crossed his mind as a possible solution.
But after thinking it over for a while, he realized how ridiculous it sounded.
Gold coins were like real money in the game—people treated them seriously. In fact, it was even easier to borrow real cash.
He sighed, rubbing his neck.
'Yeah, that's not gonna work,No one's gonna lend me that much. I don't even have friends I can borrow from.'
'Speaking of friends,' Luck muttered as a thought struck him.
He quickly checked if there was any way to access the internet from the laptop.
No browser.
But then he remembered the HEO app.
Clicking it open, he discovered he could actually contact game friends through its in-game messaging system.
His fingers hovered over the keys as he typed:
[Help me. I was kidnapped by a crazy system...]
But before hitting send, he stopped.
He stared at the screen, the absurdity of his message sinking in.
'I sound like a lunatic,'
No one would believe him, and even if they did, it would destroy his credibility.
People would think he'd lost his mind, and that's if they didn't just laugh it off as a joke.
And even if someone was naive enough to take it seriously, how could he even explain where he was?
This place was in the middle of nowhere, with no address or clear way to point out its location.
He wouldn't even be surprised if he discovered he was in some kind of alternate space that couldn't be accessed through normal means
Luck leaned back, shaking his head.
'This isn't gonna work.' He deleted the message, feeling even more isolated.
RING RING RING
The sudden, sharp sound of a phone ringing caught his attention.
It was coming from inside the motel, and even now, he hesitated to go in.
Something about this place made his skin crawl—he had no idea what could be waiting for him in there.
RING RING RING
The ringing persisted, nonstop, echoing through like a broken radio. It wasn't going to stop anytime soon.
With a deep breath, he steeled himself, deciding there was no point in delaying.
He walked inside, his footsteps echoing on the worn floor.
What he saw shocked him.
There, sitting on the clerk's desk, was a phone—a big, old-fashioned bronze one, the kind that looked like it had been built at least fifty years ago.
Luck was sure it hadn't been there before.
The phone had a rotary dial, something he hadn't seen outside of movies or old shows.
RING RING RING
He stood frozen for a second, the ringing drilling into his nerves.
Slowly, he reached out, unsure whether answering it would be a mistake. The strange situation he was in only made him more wary, but he did not have much of a choice.
He placed his hand on the receiver, hesitating for a heartbeat before picking it up.
"Hello?"
[Are you enjoying your new property?]
A sweet female voice echoed through the receiver.
His heart skipped a beat. He recognized that voice—it was the same girl from the cemetery, the one who had started this entire mess.
His grip tightened on the phone, a cold chill running down his spine.
"You…" he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady but failing.
"What did you do to me?" The frustration and confusion he had been pushing down started rising up again.
[Nothing, really. I just helped you get your inheritance,]
She said casually, as if trapping him in this nightmare of a motel was some kind of favor.
"Help? This doesn't feel like help. You trapped me inside a haunted motel with no way out."
The girl chuckled, the sound making him angrier.
[You're a super smart guy. You'll figure it out. Besides, it's not all bad—think of it as a fresh start.]
Luck's jaw clenched. "A fresh start? Stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no idea what I'm supposed to do?"
[You'll thank me one day... and here's a little hint,] the girl continued, her voice dripping with amusement,
[You should start by cleaning the motel, because you might have some guests soon.]
BEEEEEEP!
The line went dead again, leaving him holding the receiver.
THUD!
"Shit!" He slammed the phone back onto the cradle, his blood pressure rising.
That girl—whoever, or whatever she was—he hated her guts.