The Graveyard Hotel

The sound of horse hooves beat against the dirt road. I could not see the horse. Only the hooves as they kicked up dust and stone as it galloped at a steady pace. Where were they going? Were they sending a message? Making an escape?

I turned in my sleep. Some dream.

The horse hooves grew louder as they beat against the dirt road with strong willed determination as though the rider was on a crucial mission with no time to spare.

The sound of the horse hooves faded but not as though they were galloping off into the distance. They faded before morphing into a different sound.

My eyes flung open, heart racing. The horse hooves weren't beating against some dirt road. They were coming closer trotting up the asphalt road right outside! A horse snorted as the hooves came to a stop.

This was not a dream.

I held my breath and dared a glance at the clock.

10:45 pm

Precisely the time the letter said the chauffeur would arrive.

I froze in bed too afraid to look out. Too terrified of what I'd see.

Why was I even invited to stay at this luxury hotel? I had no money. I had no connections to anyone wealthy enough to pay for such hotel expenses. There had to be some mistake!

A faint glow outside my bedroom window caught my attention.

Mesmerized, my eyes followed the glow until they rested on the edge of the road right in front of my driveway.

There, I saw the source of the glow - a majestic horse with a sleek black coat. It pulled a carriage made from polished black wood with elegant designs carved into the woodwork. My eyes adjusted more and I could see thick dark curtains concealing the inside of the carriage.

The driver - the chauffeur - was draped in a thick dark cloak, his face partially concealed. He looked straight ahead as though he had all the time in the world.

No longer afraid, I couldn't look away from the window as the horse and carriage continued to emit an eerie yet mesmerizing glow. I longed for a closer look. No. This had to be a dream.

My eyes caught movement as the chauffeur turned his head in my direction. I held my breath. Even though, I couldn't see his face, I could sense he was looking straight at me, as if beckoning me to come without words.

If I didn't go, I would miss out on an opportunity I'd likely never get again.

Instinctively, I reached for the first set of extra clothes within reach before remembering.

Leave all your possessions behind.

How could I enjoy a hotel stay without my possessions even with absolutely everything taken care of?

In a split second decision, I grabbed my cellphone and the invitation and ran out.

Standing just a few feet away, the carriage continued to emit a glow that felt even more hypnotizing. If I didn't want to go before, if I had even a sliver of hesitation, I'd since changed my mind now. Both the chauffeur and horse waited with matched patience as I stood there staring at the carriage speechless.

Finally what felt like an eternity, the driver's eyes met mine before moving his gaze to the back of the carriage as if to say, It's time to go.

Wasting not another second, I started to step into the carriage but my hands instead met an invisible wall holding me back, preventing me from going any further and climbing in.

My heart raced in immense confusion.

"But I was invited to the Amulet Rosette! My name is Hazel Leicester. Here is my invitation." I showed the invitation to the chauffeur.

He glanced at it for only a second before pointing at a specific line in the letter.

All of your possessions are to be left behind.

"I know," I replied impatiently. I held up my empty hands to indicate that I had no bags. No suitcase.

The chauffeur nodded towards my pocket as I pulled out my cellphone.

"I can't even bring my cellphone? But what if - "

The chauffeur only gave me a grave stare as he turned his gaze towards my phone.

Right in my hands, right before my eyes, my cellphone started to fade until there was nothing between my hands.

I stared in disbelief at the empty space where my phone had just been. I had a whirlwind of questions. I turned towards the chauffeur but his attention had already turned straight ahead.

I took a glance back at my house wondering just how long I would be away and climbed into the carriage.