The Graveyard Hotel

I sat up in bed, the vision of seeing myself weak and struggling to reach for a glass of water, a simple task, still vivid in my mind. A chill ran through me. Was it real? If it wasn’t a dream, then what was it? I glanced around the room and felt as though I was second guessing whether I was even real. The luxurious feel of the sheets. The soft carpet beneath my feet. The smooth feel of the emerald green dress I wore. It all felt as real as anything.

A more intruding thought invaded my mind. Why did I receive that vision in the first place? 

I glanced out the window. How long have I been lying here? Hours? The whole afternoon? Or was it only mere seconds? My heart beat in anticipation of not knowing. Seconds, minutes, hours … I’ve since lost track of any sense of time.

If it was ever time for me to leave, without time, how sooner or later that would be wouldn’t matter. 

We can’t stay here forever. Nothing lasts forever, right?

I froze in thought as Clarissa’s words echoed in my mind.

From the distance, breaking through the fog, I could see Corvus and his carriage arriving through the gates yet again. I stood up, my eyes remained transfixed on his arrival as they always did. My eyes followed the new arrival as Hermes met them to lead them inside as he had done for me. 

Corvus’s arrival and departure was as sure as the sun that rose and set each day.

My gaze shifted to the carriage as Corvus snapped the reins to leave. I kept the carriage in my sight until it vanished into the fog never to be seen until his next arrival.

How could he vanish into the fog but not meet the same fate as William?

If there was a way to leave, maybe Corvus was the answer!

I wondered what lay beyond the fog and if I could successfully move through it. 

William never said what he’d seen if anything when he tried to leave. All I could remember was the disheartening look cemented on his face when he circled back through the gates. 

What if I tried to venture past the gates? How far would I get? 

William swore he had kept straight ahead, but part of me doubted him. Maybe he had gone in a circle without realizing. The fog was so thick after all. 

I heavily debated my decision as though going through with my plan would change my fate forever.

I thought of how foolish it was for Clarissa to ask when she was leaving. What would they tell her? The same response as always? That it wasn’t a concern to be worried about? 

My gaze lingered across my room from one side to the other  — perfect in every possible way before I left and didn’t look back.

Each person I passed in the halls, I wondered, have they ever tried to leave? Or did they have absolutely no desire?

I passed the front desk where Elara sat. For a split second, as if seconds could exist here, I considered asking when my departure was before heavily deciding against it. I kept a calm demeanor as though I was on my way to spend a peaceful afternoon in the garden.

I started to walk past the garden only to pause for a moment and reach for a blooming flower. Such perfection! Not once during my time here did I see a wilting flower or any sign of death and decay.

I looked beyond the garden, towards the fountain. Never have I seen such clear water. The way it flowed, so tranquil, it was almost like a lullaby.

I paused on the cobblestone path, deeply hesitating my decision. If my departure was successful, I knew there was no coming back and no saying goodbye.