The meet

Damn!

How could I have be so stupid? Surely, my life ends today. What would Otto do? Would he send his men now? I had to do something.

I would run. Yes. I would pack a bag and disappear before morning. But where? Otto had men everywhere. There was no running from a man like him.

A car screeched outside, nearly giving me a heart attack. I bolted to the window, carefully peeping through the small opening on the side but the car sped off.

Oh my God! This can't be happening.

I collapsed onto the seat by the window in my room, my heart pounding against my chest. Every movement outside felt like a threat. Every passerby became a potential cartel member sent to end me.

I kept looking at my phone, my fingers trembling as I refreshed the screen again and again. No response from Otto. No threat. Nothing but silence.

I must be the most wanted man on campus.

Just then, came a knock on the door. A single, deliberate knock. I almost lost my breath. For a moment, I could barely see clearly as panic surged through me.

Quickly, my hand went under the bed, my fingers fumbling desperately until they closed around a cold steel. The baton. My only weapon.

If this was it, I won’t go down easy.

Slowly, I crept toward the door, my every move calculated. I pressed my eye to the peephole. But, there was no one out there.

I couldn’t breath.

Was someone toying with me? Luring me out?

I tightened my grip on the baton and with my heart pounding, I unlocked the door. My fingers hesitated over the handle. Then, in one swift motion, I turned it open and step outside.

But, there was still no one.

The hallway was empty. The air felt thick, suffocating. I swallowed hard. This isn’t right. Then, I heard a faint movement behind me. A hand as cold as death on my shoulder.

I froze.

The baton slipped from my grasp, hitting the floor. My knees caved in. Every cell in my body screamed for me to run, to fight, to do something.

Then, I turned around and my breath caught in my throat.

Standing in the dimly lit corridor,  was the last person I expected to see - Gerd, Otto’s personal messenger. His presence alone sent a chill down my spine. He was a man of few words. If he was here, it meant something really serious.

He leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest, his sharp eyes locked onto mine. There was no greeting, no explanation just a quiet pressure that made my pulse quicken.

Then, without a word, he reached into his coat, pulled out a plain envelope, and extended it toward me.

I hesitated for just a moment before taking it. As soon as the envelope left his fingers, Gerd turned and disappeared down the corridor, his departure was as silent as his arrival. He didn’t even glance back.

I swallowed hard.

Quickly, I slipped back into my room, shutting the door lock behind me. The air felt thick with unspoken tension as I leaned against the door, envelope clenched tightly in my hand.

My mind raced with questions.

What could this be about? What message was so important that Otto had sent Gerd, of all people, to deliver it?

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I sat on the edge of my bed. My fingers trembled slightly as I tore open the envelope, revealing a single sheet of paper. No pleasantries, no explanations, just a short, cryptic message:

"Meet at the Lowery Hotel at 10 PM. Room 316. Wing 2. Tell no one about it."

Wait. That was it? That was all it’ll take to wipe my slate clean, to erase my betrayal?

I couldn’t believe it. My heart pounded as I glanced down at my wristwatch. It was already 9 PM. I had less than an hour left. I had to move fast.

As I hurried to get ready, my mind flooded with questions. Why a hotel? Why the secrecy? What was he planning to do there? And most of all, was this really enough? Could this single act erase the betrayal that had shattered everything between us?

I had lots of doubts, but I pushed it down. I had made up my mind. I would do whatever it took to fix things. To earn his trust again.

Standing in front of the mirror, I took one last look at myself. Every detail was perfect. I inhaled deeply, readying myself for what was to come.

Then, without another second of hesitation, I grabbed my keys and stepped out the door.

The air in the Lowery Hotel lobby felt heavy and suffocating, as I walked in. My heart pounded of uncertainty. Room 316. The numbers echoed in my head like a warning, like a countdown to something I wasn’t prepared for.

“Can I help you, sir? You seem lost,” a man in a grey suit asked as he approached, stretching out his hand.

“Where can I find Room 316?” I asked, shaking his hand quickly. Just then, I felt a sharp sting through my palm the moment our hands parted.

I flinched. I wasn’t sure what it was. My pulse quickened, but he simply pointed down the hall and walked away.

I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the third floor. I stared at the flickering numbers. 304… 310… 314…

Then my vision blurred. The numbers seemed to melt into each other, shifting so fluidly. My head spurn. The walls of the elevator seemed to close in. I almost fell but I grasped the rail for support.

The soft chime of arrival rang out, but the sound was distant, as if I were underwater. I felt lightheaded. The doors slid open, revealing a dimly lit hallway. My heart pounded violently.

Something felt wrong.

The hallway was silent. My fingers trembled as I reached for the doorknob. But, it was locked. I knocked once. But, there was no answer.

Twice.

Still nothing.

I swallowed hard, glancing down both ends of the corridor. Empty.

Then I heard a click. The lock shifted, the door creaked open just a fraction. Just enough for me to step inside.

Just then, I saw him. He walked slowly toward me, his charming eyes fixed on mine as he approached.

He pinned me to the wall, placing his hands by my sides. He looked into my eyes with intense desire and asked, “What took you so long?” right before he tenderly kissed my lower lip.