Barely holding up my exhausted body, I made it back to the front desk, my mind still replaying the close call I'd just survived. Just as I was about to catch my breath, the hotel manager—the same stern-faced man who'd interviewed me last night—suddenly appeared, as composed and severe as ever.
"Loren, follow me." Without any other expression, he turned and headed toward a hidden corridor. I hesitated, uneasy as I watched his cold, imposing back disappear down the hall, a sense of dread building inside me.
I followed him into a concealed room filled with weighty tomes and strange contraptions. Old photographs of the hotel hung on the walls, lending an eerie atmosphere to the space. The manager turned to look at me, his gaze steady and penetrating, as if evaluating me.
"Loren, by now, you should have realized that this hotel is far from ordinary."
I nodded tensely, saying nothing, but inside, I was guessing what he might reveal next.
He allowed a faint smile, apparently satisfied with my reaction. "This is the Shadow Hotel. Every guest who checks in here is no ordinary person. And, in truth, this place is a convergence point of multiple worlds."
"A convergence of… multiple worlds?" My eyes widened in shock.
He nodded, then pointed to a design map of the hotel on the wall, indicating rooms on different floors marked with numbers. "Each room here connects to a different world, and the guests are special entities from these worlds."
"Wait—are you saying that every room leads to… another world?"
"To be precise, each room serves as an entry to a unique world, and the guests from these worlds often carry their own stories, missions, or even… unfinished business." His voice held a chilling tone, as if this were all perfectly routine to him.
"Then… what exactly is my job?" My mind was racing, as it seemed this role was far more complicated than I'd imagined.
The manager chuckled faintly. "Your responsibility is not only to act as the 'doorman' but, more importantly, to ensure each guest completes their mission and checks out successfully. In other words, each of them arrives here with a purpose, and it's your job to help them 'complete their story' before they leave."
"Complete their story?" I frowned. The term sounded straight out of a novel.
Seeing my confusion, he explained further: "These guests, whether assassins, detectives, heroes, or others, are unique figures in their own worlds. Some have unfulfilled missions; others have unresolved inner conflicts. The Shadow Hotel serves as a neutral place where they can pause and resolve their issues. Your ultimate task is to guide each guest to complete their 'story' so they can leave."
My head began to spin—this wasn't just a simple doorman job; it was like being some kind of cross-dimensional guide! I scratched my head, asking cautiously, "What if they don't want to leave or don't finish their missions?"
The manager's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone growing cold. "Then they will be erased by the hotel—along with you."
A shiver ran down my spine. "Erased by… the hotel?" It sounded absurd, but the manager's gaze held no hint of a joke, only an unyielding finality.
"Yes," he said icily, his voice filled with a coldness that sent chills down my spine. "The hotel doesn't allow unfinished stories to linger indefinitely. If a guest fails to complete their story or you fail to assist them in checking out, they'll be 'erased'—erased from their world entirely. And as the doorman, if you can't fulfill your duties, your fate won't be any better."
I swallowed hard, my stomach churning. This job had suddenly taken a terrifying turn. "So I have to help each guest fulfill their wishes, solve their issues, or else…"
The manager nodded, his gaze carrying a harsh warning. "Exactly. This is no ordinary hotel, and there are no second chances here. Each guest's story is a survival challenge for you."
My head throbbed with unease; this job was already more than I'd bargained for. This wasn't the "high-pay, easy" role I'd been promised—it was a test of survival!
Taking a shaky breath, I tried to compose myself, but my mind was in chaos. Completing each guest's story to let them check out? It sounded like solving complex puzzles, all while facing various dangers. This was a game where the stakes were life and death!
"I have a question," I couldn't help but ask. "Why me? Why did you hire me so easily in the first place? It can't be because I just look like a doorman, right?"
The manager cast me a brief, mocking glance. "Loren, this hotel's doorman role isn't something just anyone can handle. The Shadow Hotel itself chooses the most suitable candidates, and you happened to meet the criteria."
"Criteria? What criteria? My resilience?" I chuckled wryly, remembering the bullet wound from last night, still feeling a chill at the thought.
He gave a cryptic smile. "Perhaps. In fact, the hotel has already accepted you as its doorman. From the moment you first stepped inside, it began analyzing your abilities and personality to determine whether you were fit for this position."
"The… hotel?" I frowned.
He nodded, elaborating, "The hotel chooses its staff autonomously. I, too, was chosen by the hotel."
This revelation sent another chill down my spine. A hotel that "chooses" its employees? This wasn't just a well-paid job but a selective process I had no control over?
"So, you were also… 'chosen'?" I asked, both confused and wary.
The manager smiled, unsurprised by my question. "Exactly. Every staff member here, myself included, has been 'selected' by the hotel. Ordinary people can't work here; only those it deems suitable. In a way, you and I are both just the 'right choices' for it."
Fear gripped me as I realized I might be trapped in a bizarre destiny with no way out.
The manager seemed to see through my thoughts, speaking calmly, "Fear is useless. The hotel chose you because you have the qualities it requires. Recognizing this is your best starting point."
Just as I was about to ask more questions, he glanced at his watch, smirking faintly. "Today, we have a special guest in room 301. This will be your first official mission. Go complete it."
Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself, but dread gnawed at me. This whole concept of "helping guests complete their stories" felt like stepping into an absurd game—a game where my life was on the line.
"Remember," the manager said coldly, "only by assisting guests to complete their stories can they check out. And only then do you have the right to stay here."
I stared at the door to room 301, my mind brimming with questions but no escape in sight. I knew that no matter how many uncertainties I had, the challenge behind that door was a step I couldn't avoid.