The Good Monster

SOME MYSTERIOUS EXPERIENCES HAVE A DEEP IMPACT. THE ONE WHO HAS NONE WANTS ONE BUT ONE WHO HAS KNOWN IT NEVER WANTS TO HAVE IT IN LIFETIME. THEY HAVE THEIR WORLD, THEY HAVE THEIR UNIVERSE, BUT SOMETIMES THEIR WAYS ACCIDENTALLY COLLIDE WITH US AND THAT TELLS YOU HIS WAYS OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

HE HELD THE DOOR OPEN FOR ME. WE BOTH ENTERED.

"TWO ROOMS ON THE TOP FLOOR"-I ASKED IN THE RECEPTION.

"MAM OUR MANAGER INSTRUCTS NOT TO ALLOT ROOMS THERE SOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDS TO BE DONE"-HE REPLIED.

"I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM. I WILL MANAGE"

"SORRY MAM, BUT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO SO"

"PLEASE, I LOVE THE RIVER VIEW'

'UMM, OK MAM.'

"YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT TO PEOPLE" ZEN SAID

WHAT?

"DAZZLE THEM", HE SAID.

DO I DAZZLE YOU? – I ASKED

." VERY OFTEN", HE ADMITTED

We went to the hotel gallery to discuss our agenda. We were the event organizers for the conference. Many distinguished guests were to come.

"Mr. Derby's documents ready ", he said putting a tick mark on the list.

By then one of the waitresses arrived and gave him a warm smile.

"We aren't ready to order", he said not bothering to meet her gaze.

Time flew as usual as we were too busy sending and replying to various e-mails from the participants. The clock struck past 10 and we were finally done for today.

"Esha, Aren't you sleepy yet?", he asked examining my face.

"No", I smiled a bit, very often I drooped right over my table and he guided me to my room handing me to my good friend and roommate Zedka. I felt like a child being passed over from one custodial guardian to the other. I know that was due to fatigue, little was used to so much workload, unless after graduation. I knew I would get over it in just a matter of weeks. He too smiled in response.

"I think I slept, quite a bit on the plane"

"That's a good thing, you have chosen the top floor, I don't think you could have made it up the stairs uncoordinated"

"I'd have taken the lift ", I suggested instantly.

"But the lift doesn't take you to the 18th floor, it takes you till 17th, they said you it's still under construction."

"Oops ", I mumbled.

"Please send me the director's speech, so that I can make the necessary corrections," I said as we were done with our dinners.

"Enough for today, I'll give you tomorrow. Now let's go and rest", he almost commanded.

I didn't complain, I was actually very tired. We took the keys from the reception and took the lift. The lift only had floor no. till 17, 1048, his room was right in front, when the lift's door opened up.

"Good night. Sweet dreams ", I mumbled as I walked but he kept walking behind me.

"Let me help you find yours", he said as I looked back at him. Finally, we reached my floor, and honestly, it was a mess. The messy floor had stains of black paints, dust and its walls weren't clean from many days as it seemed.

"And you paid how much for this ", he said teasingly.

"I hope the room inside is not like this", he said as he took the keys from my hands to unlock it after watching many of my failed attempts to do so.

The room was great, more than I had expected. A huge white bed beside the big windows that opened to the balcony, from where one can get the view of the river flowing. A large mirror on the opposite wall where you can see yourself as soon as you enter the room. The brilliant white embroidered clothes, decorated all over the room. I looked at him raising one of my eyebrows.

"Why do you always have to get the best?", he said.

"Because I know, what's the best"

"Have a good time then, I" ll knock on your door at 7 in the morning"He shut the door after he left. I opened the windows wide and fell straight into the bed, not bothering to change my clothes.

Later when I woke up at night, I was very cold, shivering. I was more than surprised because, I didn't even require a jacket in the evening, and now suddenly I was freezing with cold. I got up and changed into my nightgown anyway. I took the blanket to cover myself, still, my teeth were chattering with cold. Then I thought, maybe they knew the temperature did fall several degrees at night, so they had put all those huge thick white clothes, all over the room, the floor was even covered with thick white fabric and felt very warm beneath my feet, but honestly it wasn't helping. But the scene was something to be gazed at, the brilliant moonlight was shining from across the river, making it's way to the room, through the big windows, lightning the intricate white embroideries like tiny diamonds. I went to the balcony to touch the moon as if I was just inches away from it. Again, at night when I was on my bed I felt a hand on my chest, I peeped to look, but it was nothing, but I had no idea how I got to my bed from the balcony, maybe I have started sleepwalking. But I wasn't cold anymore and my eyes were so heavy to make any sense. I woke up when my eyes were disturbed by the sunlight, the night was really peaceful, it was like a dream. The clock showed 11:40 am. I looked at my phone only to find 45 missed calls from Zen. I called him back immediately.

"Hey, are you well, are you still in your room", he said in one flow.

"I just woke up, I 'm sorry."

"Alright I'm waiting for you downstairs", he disconnected.

The shower stopped abruptly, maybe due to a shortage of water and I had to stumble over something, to get my eyes washed from soap. Then I immediately wore my khaki and a pair of old jeans , quickly ran a brush through my wet hair, and locked my room. It wasn't until I got to the stairs that I realized I had hit my leg pretty hard, and I couldn't walk properly. Anyways I got down the stairs and took the lift. I staggered on my way and took a long time to get on the loveseat in the reception. I opened my heels to examine the wound, just a little sprain, I thought.

At the same time, my phone rang.

"I' m waiting in my car. Are you done ? ", Zen said.

"I think you should go alone, I've hurt my leg "

" Where are you ?"

" In the reception "

I was about to say something but he disconnected the phone. He found me in a minute.

I cringed when he touched my foot to scrutinize it.

" I think we should go see a doctor now", he said with some pain I didn't understand touching his eyes.

" I have already called the doctor, there is one in the hotel, he is coming soon"

After a while, he said " Let me go park my car,

and fetch some food for us "

When we were having lunch he was restless.

"Why hasn't the doctor arrived yet?", he had asked the fifth time.

"I'm sure he is on his way. But it barely hurts, it's just that I can't walk properly" I tried to say him. Then finally the doctor arrived.

" Did you hit yourself with a hammer or something ? ", the doctor said and both him and the doctor stared at me with wide eyes, my foot was swollen then.

"No, absolutely not, I just slightly stumbled over something, until .."

"Stumbled over what? ", he caught me in the middle, his expressions horrified now.

"I don't really know, I didn't notice", I said in a low tone.

"Anyways", the doctor said as he put braces in my foot.

" Take care", the doctor said patting on my back and left.

We were sitting in the posh area at the farther end of the reception, I could see many visitors going to places, with their hats, cameras, and binoculars on. That made me a bit unhappy coz I wanted to visit places as soon as I completed my work.

"Why are you carrying a jacket? " He asked looking beside my chair.

" I was freezing last night, at some point in time", so I thought I may want it sometime.

He laughed loudly at that.

"I think this place is messing your senses, I had to use an air conditioner last night"

I was dumbstruck the cold last night, was unbearable as if one could die of that, he was too anxious watching my expression.

"Do you want to leave?"

"No", I said loudly this is my first project and we are going pretty good, I can't afford to stop it halfway.

"I can manage alone"

"I know it's just that I want to help you and make sure everything is fine"

"You are stubborn as always", he sighed.

The day went on, as usual, we had to do online shopping because he didn't go alone.

As usual, I drooped over my plate this time and he had to shake me violently so that I completely awoke. He had to support me putting one arm on my shoulder and the other tightly over my waist and pulled me to the elevator. It wasn't until I got to the stairs that I realized I was wearing heel in one foot and the other was smaller clearly a death trap, I thought inside my head. I think he also realized the same and decided to carry me. He put me on my bed but how did he do that I am pretty sure I locked my door before I left.

"Sleep", he ordered.

"I'll shut the door behind me and if your leg bothers you I'm just one call away ", he said.

"Oof, it is confusing, I can bet I locked my door"

"Just sleep you seem awkward, I'll catch you tomorrow" he shut the door.

I was surprised when the doctor thought I hit myself with a hammer and now this door. I shook my head to avoid thinking about those stuff. I bought some blankets from under the bed so as to be prepared for the night, then I put my laptop on my lap and checked my mailbox, Zedka had written me, she was curious to know what was going on between Zen and me. She is crazy she thinks Zen is over me, that's the reason why she decided to not join me here as if it made sense for such an angel face, to ever fall for me, of course, he is helpful and caring, he had shown the same concern when Zedka was hospitalized last summer as for me today in the morning, the thought of my leg injury escalated the pain as if a thousand pins were pricked into it and it had begun to swell more. I put the quilt over my face and let the days exhaustion and pain overpower me. Obviously, I was cold when I woke up later at night, but I was numb too as if I had collapsed as if a heavyweight was put upon me but I didn't wake up to that. I woke up to Zen's voice outside the door. He was sounding upset as if he was hurt I tried to get up ignoring the stabbing pain in my leg, but I couldn't go farther, when I saw him moan, blood all over his face, I began to inch in his direction very fast until l lumped, this time hitting my head. It was a dream the clock shows 4 a.m. in the morning but I knew I couldn't sleep more.so I got up to brush my teeth, the person in the mirror was strange with the dark circles and redness overpowering the face, I jumped a bit when I found a bump in my head exactly at the place where I had been hurt in my dreams last night I sighed to fight the stupor I had gained from the horrific nightmare last night and then I decided to get dressed and put my hair down so as to hide the bump in my head. This time I realized that there is something seriously wrong with this place, I went to the hotel library and settled to work at once, as I resolved to complete my work and leave this place today. In an instant, he was there and he put a cup of coffee near my laptop. I took two big sips from it, it tasted horrible. When I looked up at him, I was in shock, it just took seconds for tears

to stream across my cheeks, he got to the ground to sit beneath my chair.

"What's wrong ", he asked alarmingly.

I pointed to his head where a thick bandage was placed now.

"It's nothing, I just banged my head in the door last night",

There were a million questions I wanted to ask him but the thought of the nightmare broke a thousand sobs in my heart and I covered my face tightly with my hands my body began to tremble involuntarily, he tried to get my hands off my face, confused.

"And ...u...u had blood all over your face", I managed to say.

"Oh", he said, he had seen my reaction when Zedka had the accident on the road and spread her blood everywhere but now I had a bigger concern than just blood he buried my face in his chest.

"Shh, calm down", he said.

I wanted to say how my dream was real after all but my stomach twisted as if there are butterflies inside, I got up clutching my hand in my mouth he knew what it meant and began to drag me to the sink, his arms around my waist, ignoring the weak shoves I aimed at him, but it was all too late with my slow pace and legs refusing, I threw up on him violently, more than once I think.

" We have two leave", was all I could tell him before everything blackened.

When I got up I had pins inserted in my hand, I was covered with sheets, the hotel staff forming a queue, maybe it was the manager who questioned them one by one, but I was not there in my room, maybe his because his baggage was all around then I shuddered as the reality dawned upon me.

" Zen", I called almost shouting, he was by my side, he rubbed my back and said," I am right here, it's alright, you are alright".

"What happened, how long ....", I ran my hand into my hair holding some of them.

"You were given a chemical via ingestion, which triggered vomits, convulsions, which could have "his voice broke.

" Trust me, I'll find who it is", I shuddered thought, we were supposed to leave instead of digging at matters.

"How long was an out ?", I asked.

" Almost nine hours", he answered.

"Holy crow", it must be 10 o'clock by now

"What?" he asked

" We have to leave "

"No, tomorrow when you are well"

" I am fine, we'll leave at once "

"The police are arriving in a while, I will make sure the culprit is wretched for a lifetime and you need to rest", he said composing himself Fury crossed across my face, I could not explain to him and neither I had time to do so.

"If you want me to stay alive, then please let's leave or else" he clasped my mouth, knowing where I was getting at. Tears brimmed over his eyes as he said

" Listen, I love you and I just turned shreds apart to see you gasping for air, having difficulty to keep your heart beating "I too broke down, I wanted to kiss him to tell him how I love him as well and that's exactly the reason why I wanted to leave but I kissed him on his forehead instead.

"Then please take me from here", I whispered. He carried me in his arms removing the pins from the tubes and hurried down the stairs when the left took too long to respond and then he put me on the giant sofa in the reception and said, "Just wait till I bring the keys and luggage I wanted to say it wasn't essential but he kissed my hands and ran away. In a minute he was there again with my trolley bag, handbag and his green bag, he took it to the car there was a blood curtling scream as he just came back to hold my hands, I held my ears tightly and watched everyone in the hotel doing so, we were no longer together. I couldn't find his arms, the glasses of the doors and the windows broke down with the force of the sound. At that moment, almost everyone collapsed, but I was in my senses, I didn't want to be, when I saw the horror scene, it was none other than him who was screaming with pain. After a moment everyone was fine again, some people still traumatized which shock. I saw him lying crumpled on the ground, I crawled to him, shook him, but he didn't respond.

"You have to get up, you said you take me, "I shouted.

It felt like my head would explode at that moment.

"Get him", the manager said.

Two members of the hotel staff carried him upstairs, I couldn't find my voice to speak anything, instead, I followed them keeping pace with them ignoring the pain in my feet they put him on the bed where I was there previously, I still couldn't speak with a shock that was overpowering me I rubbed his hands and legs to warm him with friction, clearly, he was cold, I put the quilt over him and forced upon his mouth to see blood in them, the way his screamed was unhuman, spooky, the intensity of it was enough to make you deaf if you listen without blocking your years, I listened to his heartbeat which was much faster than normal then why wasn't he waking up. I sprinkled water over his eyes, all to no avail. I was beginning to feel dizzy myself but I sucked in a deep breath and muttered under my breath "You will survive I'll and not let anything happen to you".

Just when I was beginning to leave to bring my phone which I think I left downstairs. Someone caught my hand I turned to see it was him, he was staring blankly at me and something about his eyes made me jump they were deep red, deeper than the color of blood.

"Don't leave me alone, please" he mumbled.

I inched closer to him," Zen, are you alright ? I know your mouth is bleeding don't worry about that, the doctor is here".

But he didn't say anything, he rather looked confused, his expression twisted, every second he was silent he was driving me insane. I took his face in both my hands and looked at his eyes, the red color slightly faded, but it was still scary.

" Why am I, why are we still here? Did I do something wrong?", he finally spoke his fingers and through the corners of my wet eyes and I realized I was crying more with fear than pain, the pain of watching him lying crumpled on the ground there. The doctor was there. I know he too was startled watching his red eyes.

" Nothing you are fine", I whispered in his ear. He growled when the doctor examined his eyes with a torch, and his pulse, his mouth.

" You just need to rest ", he got angry when the doctor was mending the syringe and the injection, even trying to harm the doctor by trying to punch him in the throat. I was surprised by this action, although, he was disturbed he is usually a non-violent person.

" Let go ", he shouted at the doctor.

I concealed his face in my chest and put his arms around me, he followed.

" Just hold on, it was a pass" I whispered. He gripped me so tightly that, I was knocked out of breath.

"Promise me you'll be here "

"I am right here ", I said breathlessly.

It didn't take long, he was unconscious seconds after the dose of sedatives.

I put his head carefully on the pillow, unlocking his hands off me. There are a lot of answers I have to find. Without delay, I lurched past the stairs in asked one of the attendants of the hotel.

" Where is the manager?"

He pointed out, I followed his direction and got an old man, he was standing near the broken glasses.

"I need to talk to you now", I said to him. He walked to the other room that was empty and turned back to face me.

" I want you to explain all this mess going on. "

"What do you mean?", he asked me.

" Just don't try to act smart. You have just witnessed it, how can someone scream so loudly that the glasses break due to vibration, and why the receptionist said me on the first day, improvement needs to be done with the room that was on the 18th floor when it is in perfect shape, in fact, one of the best, why did she deny me in the first place?", I looked at him furiously.

" You know what, you are responsible for every damn thing haunting this place, why didn't you consider the warning in the first place?", he glowered at me.

"Please tell me what's wrong, there must be some way out. "I begged him.

"There is none for you.", he said smiling now. Listen you must have realized by now this room has some supernatural presence tell me your experience first and then I'll let you know the story ."

I said him everything, the drop in temperature every night, the feeling of numbness, the dream that turned out to be real, my foot injury which was done by hammer according to the doctor, the chemicals in my food, uncanny scream with horror. His expression was horrified by then and he spoke after clearing his throat.

"About twenty years ago, there was a beautiful blonde girl who came in here to spend the night, she didn't have enough to spend, the reception is here was bowled over her beauty, so he offered her the room on the 18th floor which was just for the special guests arriving. The man shared the room with her, fell deeply in love with her, I don't know about the girl but one day his husband came and took her, everyone thought it was just hooked up for the man, but realized it was not when he embraced death by hitting his head with the hammer, people were disturbed by the hauntings and paranormal activities initially at that particular room, switching off lights and the shower didn't work properly often, but never the ones that you had experienced let me point it out. The hotel staff also experienced the same sometimes and most of them left their jobs as they were all aware of the cause, then we had shut the room forever, appointed new staff and then for many years everything was normal until you came and complicated things. Now you know, he is trying to capture you here, whenever you decide to leave, you got your leg injured got poison in your food, your friend who was possessed just when he was trying to get you out of here, got hurt when he tried to get you out of the room. You have endangered both of your life."

I was just devastated, not with fear but I had risked Zen's life now when all the danger was meant for me.

"You have to help me please, please" I begged to fall on the ground.

" You know, I can't ", he said on a serious note. "I have a plan "before I could say anything for the Zen was there suddenly.

He got to me at once, kneeling on the floor, and watched me with anxious eyes as I was crying. His hands reached my face, but I flinched away.

"Just go away and I can't believe you did this to me." I groaned.

" What did I do Esha", he said.

I stood up and spoke to the manager now, "Why don't you take him to the police when you know he is the person who poisoned my coffee "

His eyes widened when I spoke out the words ." No I didn't . Can you believe that?", he shouted the words.

I didn't say anything, tears filled my face as I realize this was the last time, I was seeing his face, so perfect, God-like, with no flaws at all.

"Call the guards", I said.

He immediately followed, he didn't struggle as six men arrived and two caught his arms, instead, he glanced at me, eyes wary and confused, as he was stomped pass the room I took the lift, climbed to my room on the 18th floor, afraid that I was, but I didn't take a second to unlock the door and got to my balcony to see him one last time. His eyes found me as well when he looked up, he was angry, hurt but safe. My heartbeat accelerated when all of them left in the car. I locked the door, making sure nobody except me gets hurt tonight, I was insane, I thought to myself. Dying in the place of someone you love is generally peaceful, but not in my case where a ghost intended to torture me to death, but the worst part was fear that was overpowering me, I was always a timid kid to sleep listening to ghost stories, my grandmother had said me once. The clock showed me 2:00 p.m. at night, unlike the ghost stories I didn't just have to survive the night but the days, all days to come in fear, I know I won't be able to do that anyways I knew an easy way out. I got my laptop and wrote a letter addressing to all people I love my parents, Zedka, my friends Zen, ironic how he made me feel so lively when he confessed his love for me just before I decided to die for the same. I felt the temperature dropping but this time I didn't use the quilt to escape, instead, I got the paper-knife which I always had in my handbag and pulsed blood out from my wrists, both my wrists, the heat and the pain of the pulsing blood, warming me up. I heard many screams and voices at the same time but I carefully but hid my face in my knees and I tried to concentrate on the beautiful moments I had in my life. It worked, after some time everything blurred, the screaming stopped but now I heard banging on the door, it didn't take long before the pounding giveaway to splintering and the sound of shattering wood. No more than a moment passed, then the bed started shuddering, he was here, I thought. A hand grabbed one of my legs and began to drag me across the floor but I was composed, it was as if I was drowning peacefully in the black waters, I may now be turned limb from limb, while I scream, but surely my love, my angel was safe from harm, focusing on only that thought in my mind, I managed to smile before the monster.

My eyes opened but they were so heavy so I decided to give them shut for a while. I felt so much pain, so haven't I died yet? I opened my eyes and the first face I saw was my favorite, Zen hugged me tightly leaning over me, Zedka was also there.

" Can you explain to me ?", I asked as I watched my bandaged wrist.

"It's a long story. The manager of the hotel was possessed and he tried to harm you, all the while he was caught when he was dragging you out", he said putting his arms around me as I shuddered, he was the one I thought was helping me.

"But it was me who slashed my wrists, he just saved my life", I said pulling back from him.

"But why did you do that ?"

"Because I love you and I wanted to protect you, he has done the same," I said wiping tears from my face which were not for him but the monster who wasn't evil.