CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE DARK MYSTERIES WITHIN HOTEL DEL ESTRELLA ( SOMETHING FISHY! )

"Wait, what?!" asked Raine.

"I called him many times but he's still not picking. Also I went to Lani and Zane's house but no one's answering," added Shaira.

"Hmm... I just met Lani and Zane here," Raine spoke, "but I don't know where Simon is."

"Why would Lani and Zane be there?" Shaira asked in a curious voice.

"I don't know," replied Raine, "but something tells me that they might be up for something."

Meanwhile, at the other side of the room came the investigators. Searching for leads at the time when people around the building went to sleep.

The well-known Inspector, Sean Alvarez, rushed towards the room. Never letting to bother anyone asleep.

The room, as told by the police to the owner, was untouched. The scene around the room was still the same from the time the murder happened.

The room was locked. Secured with a digital lock. The only one who can come in are the police officers and the hotel staffs. They are the only one who knows the passcode.

The police eagerly searched the area. Not letting to skip on a clue that can help in solving the mystery.

The room was indeed cozy, consisting of a huge living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. A pattern of white and cerulean tiles was shown inside accompanied by the indoor plants of different types and sizes.

Little did they know that something's watching them. Somewhere at the hotel. Lurking in the shadows.

The inspector and his men took a auick snap of the things they found inside. After a while, an unleavened dinner caught their gazes.

"The victim didn't finished his meal. Hmm... I bet this has something to do with the murder," Sean spoke. His gaze dropped unto the table at the dining room.

"Strange," he spoke, "isn't there only one man in this room?"

"What's the matter, Inspector?" asked Mr. Dominguez. He eagerly looked at the two tall glasses beside a pitcher with orange juice drink inside. One of the glasses was half-emptied. The other one was empty but still have traces of juice drink on it.

"Is there a security camera in this area?" asked Inspector Alvarez to the owner.

"The security camera here was removed just this morning because it was not working well," replied Mr. del Estrella. Seeming to be thinking of something inside his mind.

Out of curiousity, Sean touched the pitcher. Seeing that it was still cold, he immediately nodded slightly. "It seems like he might have a visitor before the accident happened," he spoke.

"Mister Dominguez, do you have the picture of the victim when we first saw him? I have to clear something," he added.

Dominguez immediately handed him the pictures he and the police officers had taken.

There were five pictures — snapped from different positions of the room.

After seeing it, the case just seemed to start blurrying. Questions began to appear inside his mind — questions that still can't be answered unless the mystery is solved.

"I have to go check my son. He might be sleeping now," the owner spoke. Walking towards the door.

The police continued to search the area. Trying to fight their sleepy feelings.

"Inspector, I found this!" one of the police exclaimed. Rushing towards Sean while holding something. It was a prizeless antique covered with a soft blanket.

But before they could even touch it, a transparent young girl appeared in front of them. She was wearing a sunday dress and her hair was in piggy tail style. On her hand she was holding a doll — a doll with evil face and has eyes as red as blood.

"Come and play with me," she spoke in a ghostly voice echoing inside the room.

The police paused. Terrified of what they just saw. The unexplainable fear crept towards their whole body making their hair seeming to stand.

After a while, screams of their terror covered the whole room. Waking up the nearby people inside their rooms.

They hurried outside the area. Locking the door out.

Hearing the screams, Raine hopped off her bed. Rushing outside their room.

"What happened here?" she asked one of the people who also came out their rooms.

"I don't know. But it seems like the ghost came out again," replied the old woman.

"Wait? The... The ghost," Raine asked in curiousity, "came out again?"

"Haven't you heard that there's something out of the ordinary happens here in this very side of the hotel?" she replied.

"Can you... Can you please tell me more about it?" Raine asked.

"Sure. Come on inside my room," the old lady responded. "I don't want to spread fear outside of here."

They entered the room next to Raine's. Like the other rooms around that corridor, it was cozy and homy.

"Sit down," said the old lady.

After sitting on a nice soft sofa, Raine's eyes focused towards the old lady in front of her.

"Is it really true that a ghost is lurking here? How long have you been here? Have you ever seen that ghost?"

The room was suddenly covered by Raine's overlapping questions.

"That was based on the stories of the people that stayed in this hotel," replied the old lady. "And yes. Yes I saw that ghost, too."

"What does it looks like? Is it... Is it terrifying?" Raine asked. Still curious about what to believe on.

"It was a little girl. It was a young girl younger than you," answered the old lady.

"Then why is she terrorizing the people going here? Do you think she's related to the people who died in this hotel?" Raine added.

"In order for you to understand it more clearly, I can state to you the story of that young girl which my mother told me long ago," the old lady spoke.

"Alright. I'm ready," replied Raine. Her voice seemed to be a little terrified.

"Alright," the old lady spoke, "listen closely."