Radiant sunlight cascaded from above.
Upon being drawn into the cinema screen, Allen found himself seated within a tour bus. At that moment, all creation stood frozen in perfect stillness, time itself seeming suspended as the passengers remained motionless as statues. He too found himself completely immobilized, unable to even utter a sound.
He seized this opportunity to survey his surroundings. The actress from Hell's Eighth Theater must be nearby. Given Dragon Nelly's renowned beauty, she should be conspicuous, yet his scan revealed no unfamiliar faces of exceptional allure.
The first act's script began flooding into his consciousness.
Shortly thereafter, the cacophony of life resumed, time lurching forward as the tour bus rumbled into motion.
Edith occupied the seat beside Allen, while Carol and Nathan claimed the seats ahead, with George nearby.
In this narrative, Carol and Nathan portrayed the protagonists, Yan Junxiong and Fang Siying. Allen embodied the character of Luo Feng, while Edith played Lin Qianqiu, and George assumed the role of Wang Jiajia. These five individuals were embarking on an independent tour of the fictional "Tianhai City."
Carol, studying the scenery beyond the window, consulted her tourist map and addressed Nathan: "Siying, Hotel Utreya ranks among the finest establishments in Tianhai's suburbs, and it offers spectacular views of Lake Tianming!"
So it begins...
Allen knew their impending lodgings would be none other than the "Ghost Hotel," where a series of horrific events would soon unfold!
After a moment, his cue arrived.
He felt a flutter of nervousness, for according to the revised script, his character Luo Feng and Edith's Lin Qianqiu were romantically involved! This marked a dramatic departure from Wu Zhaotian's original role, revealing the extensive modifications made after his death.
"Qianqiu," Allen offered a gentle smile, delivering his lines with practiced ease, "The scenery of Mount Tianming truly lives up to its reputation. These views are absolutely magnificent."
Edith returned a soft laugh, holding a tourist guide containing detailed maps of Tianhai's suburbs. Unfolding the map, she had already located the position of the so-called Hotel Utreya.
The supposed... Ghost Hotel...
"Indeed, though I'm rather tired after the hour-long flight and another hour's journey to reach the suburbs. Once we're at the hotel, I plan to feast to my heart's content."
"That's the beauty of independent travel. With group tours, you can't expect much from the meals - they'll take you to any rural restaurant to get by. Travel should include savoring local delicacies."
The dialogue returned to Carol and Nathan.
Allen's gaze drifted to Carol's bulging trouser pocket, which contained the bloody hand from "The New Neighbor." Among their group, only Carol and he possessed cursed artifacts, though having Edith present far outweighed the value of any cursed object.
Yet Donna's warning about Carol still echoed in his mind.
Why... had she said that?
Nevertheless, excess caution never hurt anyone. Allen couldn't dismiss Donna's warning.
Edith studied the tourist map again, making use of her dialogue-free moments. The main plot would surely revolve around Hotel Utreya.
"Look, there it is!"
Carol exclaimed with delight, pointing ahead.
Before them stood a lakeside hotel, rising some thirty stories. The establishment exuded grandeur, though Edith's psychic abilities detected no immediate danger.
After disembarking, the five actors wheeled their luggage toward the hotel, past numerous fountains while small boats dotted the lakeside.
Through revolving doors, they entered a dazzling, opulent lobby. Staff promptly approached to assist with their luggage. Nearby stood a buffet restaurant offering panoramic views of the lake - a scene that belied any horror film associations.
Suddenly, Edith's expression shifted, and Allen followed her gaze.
Through the glass, they spotted a woman dining in the buffet area. Her beauty was truly breathtaking - phoenix eyes set in an oval face, willow-like brows arching over jewel-bright eyes, dimpled cheeks, and porcelain skin. Her curls, similar to Martin's, cascaded down, and her dining posture exuded impeccable refinement, betraying an elegant upbringing.
This woman, indeed, embodies unparalleled beauty, even marginally eclipsing Martin's own allure. Without doubt, she is the renowned actress from Hell's Eighth Note Cinema, none other than the enchanting Roni!
However, due to the script's focus, merely Carol's character noted Roni's presence, thus Allen remained unaware of their impending encounter. The first sight of her left him utterly captivated. Allen even pondered that had she chosen acting as a career, she would have swiftly become an icon, her fame hardly trailing behind Gina's.
At that moment, Roni's gaze shifted towards them. Naturally, she was well aware of the collaboration between the actors from Hell's Thirteenth Note Cinema for this horror film. Staying at this inn, a stipulated requirement in the script, assured their meeting.
Her eyes briefly met Carol's before landing on Edith. Like Julian, Edith also enjoyed a minor degree of fame at Hell's Twentieth Degree Cinema, though her notoriety was modest; merely a consequence of her role as an actor who survived the Fourth Forbidden Zone, thus qualifying as a medium—an uncommon distinction. Compared to "that person" and the renowned Marquis from Hell's Nineteenth Degree Cinema, Edith remained a relatively obscure figure.
Yet, Edith was the sole medium among the cast, making her presence indispensable. Roni regarded her with a subtle smile, elegantly spearing a sausage with her fork and slowly feeding it into her delicate mouth as she chewed. This graceful gesture only served to accentuate her beauty even further.
Carol's gaze followed Roni's and then, as the script dictated, he averted his eyes. There was no need to squander a get-out-of-jail-free card on an introduction at this juncture. Soon enough, they would all meet.
The five of them reached the reception desk, each producing their identification cards. The photographs adhered to these cards were undoubtedly of them, and their names were those of their fictional personas.
"For five people, two rooms for five days," Carol stated, producing a gold card from his person, indicating his character's affluent status.
"Indeed, given the peak tourist season, available rooms are scarce. I've selected rooms that offer a view of the Dawn Lake," the receptionist replied.
She then listed several room numbers.
"Very well, let's take rooms 1505 and 1506," Carol decided.
As he spoke, a subtle change flickered across the receptionist's face.
These room numbers were also prescribed in the script, marked with red lines, marking them as mandatory choices to avoid a production mishap. Just as the script foretold, the receptionist's expression swiftly altered.
Roni, dining in the self-service area, wiped her mouth delicately with her napkin, her eyes fixed on the actors at the reception. The narrative was about to commence...
"What's the matter?" Carol inquired, parroting his scripted line: "Is there something wrong with the rooms I've chosen?"
"No, there's no issue. Here are your key cards, and your deposit has been pre-collected... Your luggage will be attended to by our staff. We hope you enjoy your stay at our hotel," the receptionist answered.
After receiving the key cards, Carol handed one to Nathan.
With that, the filmmaking within the ghostly hotel was about to begin. The horror film, of moderate complexity, posed no challenge to Carol, whose remuneration consisted of 800 get-out-of-jail-free cards—a testament to its modest difficulty.
However, Allen discovered his remuneration had been reduced to 650 cards, practically positioning him as a supporting actor. Edith's remuneration was even lower, at 500 cards.
The five of them approached the elevator, pressed the button, and the doors swung open immediately. Entering one by one, followed by the luggage-bearing staff, they ascended to the fifteenth floor where the doors opened with a "ding."
Upon entry, a row of floor-to-ceiling windows greeted them, complemented by a genuine leather sofa and an assortment of decorative plants. Oil paintings adorned the walls, and a panoramic view of the Dawn Lake stretched out before them through the windows.
"How splendid! We'll go boating on Dawn Lake this afternoon!" Nathan exclaimed, his face alight with excitement.
"Indeed," Carol replied with a smile, "Dawn Lake is one of the city's greatest attractions, so it would be a shame to miss it."
After locating their respective rooms, Carol slid the key card into the slot, the staff helped settle the luggage, and they departed.
The room was very nice, with a view that truly captured the scenery outside. Two large beds were flanked by a television, and inserting the key card into the wall's indentation powered the room.
Nathan, adhering to the script, remarked, "It seemed the receptionist's expression did change slightly upon hearing the room numbers you chose. Could there be something amiss?"
Carol pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Probably just a coincidence. This sprawling hotel, known as the Hôtel Mystère, is renowned and shouldn't harbor any issues."
Though the scripted response was delivered, Carol's mind was elsewhere, musing on the receptionist's knowing glance. It was clear they knew more than they let on. When the time was right, he would inquire further, to uncover what mysterious occurrences might have taken place in this very room!