The Graveyard Hotel

I was led by Hermes, who I assumed to be the butler, down a long hallway. A hallway that seemed to go on forever, but it was the kind of "forever" I really didn't mind. Each step on the luscious carpet was like luxury to my feet. Each picture hung, each light in the hallway, even down to the paint color, was like luxury to my eyes.

With each corner turn, I feared if I would ever find my way back to the lobby when needed. All the halls looked the same.

"This is such a beautiful hotel!"

"We try to make everything as close to perfection as we can for our invitees," Hermes replied.

I noticed that his eyes were nowhere near as full of wonder as mine were. Maybe he had been part of this hotel for so long, he no longer noticed the wonder of it.

Every now and then, we would pass by another hotel guest. Some would smile warmly at us and then some had that same confused expression I had - their eyes full of questions. I wondered if they were new guests like me who had received a mysterious and unexpected invitation.

"I hope you will find that everything we offer meets your needs," Hermes said as he stopped in front of one of the doors towards the end of the long hallway. "Your room."

The door cracked open, revealing a room that could only be described as my dream room. I was left speechless as I took a step inside.

Everything was perfect. The precise position of the furniture. The way the bed was made. Even the temperature of the room.

It was as though I had designed this room myself to meet my idea of "the perfect room".

"How long will I be staying here?" I asked now in an eagerness to stay and not so much as wondering when I'll leave.

Hermes only smiled. "Oh, you don't even need to worry about that." He paused briefly before turning to leave. "If I were you, I'd get some rest. You and the other invitees have quite an eventful day tomorrow. Good night!"

I sat on my bed almost afraid to do so. That I'd taint it by even just touching it.

I pulled the invitation from my pocket and read through it once more as if I'd see something that I didn't notice before that would answer my lingering questions.

I went to reach for my phone but remembered. It was strange not having it and even stranger that I wasn't allowed to bring it or any other belongings with me. No exceptions.

Nothing about this ordeal was normal. It started with the horse drawn carriage and the chauffeur who spoke not one word to me. And then there was the carriage ride itself. It felt like I've been on that carriage for an eternity and yet I did not see one car pass us by. And what about that mysterious fog? A fog so thick, I couldn't make out my surroundings. The second I stepped into the hotel, it got even stranger. How did that woman at the front desk know my name before I even spoke to her?

And now this.

I've never seen anyone in this hotel in my life and yet, the way this room was designed, it was as though someone knew everything about me.

The carriage arrived at 10:45. That was my last sense of time. It had to be close to midnight by now if not later. The butler was right. I did need my rest. I fell back onto the bed as my head hit the pillow.

Strange. I didn't feel tired or exhausted at all.