Room B

The year is 2005 in New Orleans and it was Halloween night, a Bride and Groom just got to their honeymoon suite. The Groom carried his Bride over the threshold, twirling around his gorgeous wife. Their kiss was pure passion and fire and they started their wedding night officiating the ceremony. She laid her head on his chest and sighed out of bliss and exhaustion. There was a knock on the door that startled them. “Must be room service," he said.”But we didn't order anything, did we?” she asked, confused. “Just stay here, I'll go get it’. He got up and started putting on his boxers and his bride covered herself with the blankets. He went to the door and opened it but no one was there. Just a cart with a silver bucket full of ice, a bottle of champagne,  two glasses and some chocolate covered strawberries. He stepped out of the doorway and looked around but there was no one around. Then some college kids ran past him in their costumes and made him jump. 

The kids laughed and shouted “Happy Halloween”. “Yeah you too”,he replied. He brought in the cart and headed back to the bedroom. “Oh champagne and strawberries, just like in Pretty Woman how did you know?” His wife asked and climbed out of the bed and put on her robe. “Veuve Clicquot’, sounds fancy” as she picked up the bottle. “It was just outside in the hall,” he told her. She spotted a note labeled “The Blossoms” in red ink “Ah here's a note, ‘Congratulations Mrs. and Mr. Blossom, may you have happiness and prosperity in your years of marriage. Yours truly B’. Who's B?’ his bride asked. He looked puzzled as well. They didn't have any family members or friends who they called B. “Oh you know, maybe it's my boss Mr. Brownstone. Weird he's never at the office. I doubt Brian would send anything, he didn't even come to the wedding.”

Both bride and groom didn't know who B could be, but they enjoyed their gifts. He popped open the champagne and the cork went flying and out the sparkling fuzz. The bride squeaked with joy and grabbed the glasses and he poured one by one filling to the rim. “To years of happiness and prosperity” the groom announced and they clanked their glasses and drank. They spit it out instantly.”Ugh what the hell, must be a bad batch”. He picked up the bottle and it left a bitter taste in their mouths. The bride ran to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and gargled mouth wash to get the taste out of her mouth. “Screw whoever ‘B’ is”.

“The strawberries should be good atleast”. He picked one up and dropped it. “AHHH”. She came running out of the bathroom “What happened?” She asked in a panic. “There's freaking maggots on these things! That’s it I'm calling the front desk. Probably those stupid kids playing a Halloween joke on us.”  He strode toward the phone next to the bed. She looked and the whole plate was covered in maggots. She covered her mouth in disgust and disbelief. “There's no dial tone on the phone.” He hung it up and picked it up again and tried dialing for the front desk downstairs. Nothing happened. “Look, just get the cart out of here and put it back in the hall where you found it please. It gives me the creeps looking at it. God I feel like I need a shower. You don't think one of those things crawled off do you? Oh my god what if it did and it goes in my ear at night. Is there no one at the desk? Can we move into a different room?” 

His bride was panicking and he got the cart and pushed it outside into the hall. He went to her to try and calm her down. “It's going to be okay, we will get this fixed. Why don't you take a bath and I'll go downstairs and talk with the hotel manager” He soothed her and kissed her forehead. She relaxed and agreed and went into the bathroom and started the bath tub. He got dressed while she took off her robe. He grabbed his phone and the room key, “I'll be back shortly, just relax, it's our wedding night. I'll get this situation settled.” He reassured his wife and walked out of the room. She sighed and tested the water, it was ice cold but the hot knob was turned all the way over. She waited a few more minutes and it was still cold. She turned it off and put her robe back on. She got her phone and went to her husband's name. “The hot water is not working. Please get us a new room”. She sent the text message. and then got their bags and started packing what they took out. This is supposed to be her wedding night, and it was not turning out how she imagined. 

He walked out in the hall and looked around to see if he saw anyone. The cart was gone. “This place is weird, how did she find this place?”. He started walking towards the elevator,  walking past a room blasting music. Must be the college kids having a party. He pressed the button for down. After a moment he heard it ding. But the doors didn't open. The button's light wasn't on anymore. He pressed it again. The numbered floors above the doors showed where it was. He watched it land on number 10 ‘ding’, but the doors still did not open. “What the hell is going on”. He heard his phone ring and saw the message from his wife. “What else can happen tonight”. He started walking around the halls to find a different elevator or even stairs. But only found he had ended up back at his door. Like he did a giant circle. He walked again, maybe he walked past it. He passed the college kids room and tried to find the staircase. And once again ended up at his door. 

“What was in that champagne?” He got his key and unlocked the door. He stepped inside and she was sitting on the couch, with the bags and dressed. “Did you get it figured out ? What room are we moving to?” She asked him as he walked inside. “I never made it to the desk, the elevator is broken and I can't find the stairs. I think that bad champagne has me tripping. Lets just get some rest, it's probably stress from the day and we will just go find another hotel tomorrow. Deal?” She was clearly annoyed but what else could they do? She was already tired from the day, so she agreed. “But I'm staying in my clothes, I don't trust this place anymore”.

They went to bed and both felt drained but anxious. This hotel was giving them the creeps now. They crawled under the covers and she laid her head on his chest. “How did you find this place ?” she asked him. “I thought you booked this hotel?” He said confused. “I had to book everything else I told you to take care of the honeymoon. I was surprised when I got the email . You know I love Halloween but coming to New Orleans, Who knows what ghosts lurk this city.” She started to doze off and he laid there with his own thoughts. Who booked the room then? His assistant? He will have to give them a call in the morning. He started to doze off as well until a loud banging sounded at the door. 

They both jumped awake, she was frightened. Whoever was at the door was twisting the knob trying to get into their room. He looked around for something to use as a weapon. “What is happening?” She was reaching for him. He grabbed the only thing he could grab and went to look at the door. They were still banging on the door and someone or something was trying to open it. When he got to the door he looked out the peep hole and there was nothing. He unlocked the door and opened it and no one was there. A cold chill ran up his spine, his heart was racing with adrenaline. He went back inside and doubled bolted the door. He went to the bedroom  and found his wife on the phone. “What's going on? who was out there” 

“I don’t know, there was no one out in the hall. Who are you calling”?

“The Police, there is someone messing with us and it's scaring the crap  out of me!”. She looked down and there were no bars on her data. “How don't I have a signal? Try your phone please, this is really freaking me out.” He pulled out his phone and saw the data ‘SOS’. “That's impossible, it was fine earlier when I got your text message”. Now they were both starting to worry. He went to the window, maybe there was a fire escape, when he pulled back the curtains only to find a brick wall. His wife squealed.  “What is going on! This can't be happening”. 

“I'll go ask those kids I saw earlier, I think they're in the room two doors down. I'll see if their phone is working or if they know how to get out of here.” He went to his wife who was starting to cry out of fear. “It's going to be okay. I'll get us out of here. We will go to Florida and be at the beach”. She looked up at him, “but we didn't pack for Florida”. 

“We'll get new clothes. Just keep trying to reach someone”. A knock at the door and they both turned to look at it. He looked out the peep hole and there was a cart in front of the door.  He opened it and saw the note written in red ink labeled “The Blossoms”. His wife came up behind him and looked just as terrified as he felt. 

He picked up the note and read “Mrs. and Mr. Blossom your stay has just begun. You will not leave until the truth sets you free. There is no escape and only you can decide your fate. You have one hour to spill the tea. I'll see you at 3, Yours truly, B”. He slammed the door shut and locked it. His wife was pacing in the main room. “What does that mean? What is the truth? If someone is playing a game on us we need to sue!”.She was frantic and he was trying to gather his thoughts. He had the same questions but they only had an hour. He looked at the clock and it was 2:05 a.m. “I'm going to check on those kids, if it is them messing with us this ends now. Keep the door bolted until I get back.” He stepped out in the hall and got a cold chill again. She ran to the door and locked it. She was terrified, leaning up against the door trying to control her breathing. 

She heard water running coming from the bathroom. She started walking slowly, her body was now shaking. When she got inside the bathroom the shower, bathtub and sink was on. It was like walking into a steam room where she couldn't see anything. She found the sink and turned it off, then went to the bathtub and turned the knob. She went for the shower but the hot water touched her arm and it was boiling. She yelped and turned the knob. She pulled back her arm and the skin was red. “Why is this happening?” she whimpered. She heard a squeaking noise and looked at the mirror. “Tell the truth-B” She screamed and ran out into the bedroom.

When he got onto the hallway he could still hear the music coming from the room down the hall. If this was some prank these kids were playing they are good I give them that. But enough is enough. He knocked on the door. No answer. They probably can't hear with the music so loud. He banged on the door. Still no answer. Banged again so hard the door rattled. Nothing. He walked towards the elevator, the light said it was on floor 10, their floor. He kept pressing the button several times and the doors wouldn't open. This is something out of a comic book or some horrible writing scary movie. When he walked past the college room he saw the door was open slightly. He opened it all the way and loud rock music filled his ears. His eyes went wide as he looked around the room and saw no one in it. He ran into each room, the bedroom, the bathroom. No one was here. There was a white mask laying on the bed, a Phantom of the Opera mask. He threw it against the wall in anger and fear. 

He screamed as the mask broke and shattered. “This can't be happening! Where are you! Who are you?! What the hell do you want from us!” He started tossing chairs , ripping pillows, looking for anything in the room that might tell him something. He opened the nightstand drawer and found a Holy Bible. He sat down at the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped with defeat. He opened it on a random page. Written in red ink “You can't bury the truth like you did me Nathaniel-B” He stared at it wide eyed. He ripped out pages and threw the Bible at the window and he heard the glass break. He went over to see if there was a way out. He looked out the window and saw nothing but dark skies and a dead sidewalk. They were 10 floors up but he screamed. 

“Help us! Someone Help us Please!” repeating and hoping someone could hear him. But no one did. He screamed until his voice was gone. But there was nothing but silence. As if the City itself was trapping him. There was nothing left to do. He left and started to go back to his wife. He knocked softly on the door, “Honey it's me, it's okay you can open the door”. He heard the latch unlock and the door opened. He walked inside and she jumped on him in tears. “Derek, what are we going to do? There is something wicked here. We need to get out of here!”. 

“I know, I know. Shhhh, we're going to be okay. “ He turned and looked at the clock and it was 2:30 a.m. He peeled his wife off of him and cupped his hands around her face. He looked into her blue eyes, red from crying. He was preparing himself. “The note said ‘the truth will set you free’. Jenny, there's something I have to tell you.” She looked at him with understanding. “There's something I need to tell you as well.” They held each other and both afraid of what's to come next. They sat across from each other in the sitting room. 

“My name is Natthaniel. And I'm so sorry, but all this is my fault. There's something dark in my past I never told anyone.” He felt the tears building in his eyes. She looked at him questioning who he was, who she married. And the secrets started pouring out like a river being trapped behind a dam. They both looked at each other in horror. Who were they to each other? They were strangers wearing wedding bands. She felt sick so she ran to the bathroom and vomited the surf and turf they had at their dinner. He paced back and forth not sure what to feel. Trying to process everything she had said. She came out of the bathroom, hand on her stomach and the phone rang. 

They both turned and looked at it, and he saw the time on the clock. It was 3 a.m. The phone kept ringing and he went over to the bed. They both looked at each other and he picked it up. “Hello?” Static on the other end. He said hello again, still nothing. He hung up the phone. Then there was a knock on the door. She went to the peep hole, a silver cart was in front of their door. She unlocked the door and peered out. Grabbed the cart and brought it inside. All they could do was look at each other. On the table was a letter “The Blossoms” in red ink. She picked it up and opened it. “Mrs. and Mr.Blossom…”

Your's Truly, 

B.