Room 333

There were 8 hours left before midnight.

No one could expect such a tragedy.

Beatrice sat stunned.

Shocked still.

Her normal smile was completely sullen.

She was grateful to be alive.

Dating Jewel had been such a rollercoaster.

Her mind wandered to the first day she saw him.

Jewel stood there in a two piece tracksuit. His idea of life was different.

Beatrice knew nothing about life and love when they met. The up’s and down’s. Her younger years were spent competing and travelling, always occupied and supervised by her parents. Meeting Jewel was similar to a fairytale.

The 20,000.

Where was the $20,000?

Beatrice stood up anxiously. She looked around for anything. A sign of anything.

No one was around her.

She had to leave here. She had to go somewhere else.

The questions continued to ramble her brain’s normal process of thinking.

She was going to need food. Water.

Beatrice let out a sigh. Remembering the days of hours before this moment.

Touching the jewel swaying on her chest, a tear formed in the corner of her eye. She moved her fingers down to the third chain crossing her neck.

A tear fell onto her left cheek.

Mother Dearest had given her the third chain. As an offering of peace. Always a simple reminder, peace be with you. She needed that thought now. And she knew what to do.

Faith had led her here. Along with love. She remembered the light that Jewel carried with him. It was an energy always filling the environment and space around him. Beatrice found it soothing. Memories of the hours before were giving her chills. Compiled with her growling stomach, Beatrice briefly bent and tilted her chin to the earth under her feet.

As she walked from the field, there he was. The man from earlier. He knew her.

Was he waiting on her? How did he get here?

She wanted to ask him so many questions. Knowing better, she pulled her shoulders back and strutted to where he stood.

As she approached him, she noticed he had something in his hand.

Her vision had become clearer. It did not appear dangerous.

As he extended his hand he said, “This is from Jewel. He wanted you to have this.”

“Where is he?” Beatrice exclaimed. “Jewel?” she trembled.

Looking directly into this man’s eyes.

She took the package. “What is this?”

“The contents are yours Miss. Due to the unforeseen circumstances, this is all I have for you.”

Beatrice quickly cut him off saying, “You aren’t writing me a letter. Stop speaking to me this way. Jewel has to know more about what is going on. Take me to him, please.”

“Miss I delivered you a package. There was no message to give you.”

“Please don’t leave me here. I have no idea where I am. This is my first time in Vegas.”

“If I could I would.”

“I arrived with Jewel. Now I’m wearing a wedding dress covered in mess. This is a love horror.”

The man looked at Beatrice turning almost simultaneously; consequently, she hurried behind him. Almost tripping over her own feet.

Pulling up her dress allowed her to run faster, almost catching up to the man.

She yelled, “Wait.” Recalling where she was at the back of a shopping mall. Beatrice knew no one in this city. Yesterday was clear. The last 8 hours were glitchy. Processing all that took place. She remembered this man, and knew she needed to open the package.

The $20,000. Beatrice shook her head in disbelief.

When did Jewel give this man the money? Where was he now?

If this man had seen Jewel, did he know what happened? Who had all the answers?

Underneath the stacks of dollar bills was a black notebook.

A small black notebook?

“Sir, you have to wait.” she huffed out stopping dead in her tracks.

Looking around he was gone.

Not there. In front of her, nowhere in sight.

Beatrice caught her breath.

Looking down at her breast she quickly said a prayer.

Her mind sped through events and people.

The flight to Vegas.

The Uber driver.

Shopping.

The chaplain.

The casino, food, and games.

Winning.

Never making it to the hotel room.

Who was Jewel? Who is Jewel?

Beatrice saw an empty nearby bench and took a seat.

She surveyed different faces of people walking through the mall. No one looked familiar and no one seemed to notice her. Before she could open the black book a growl so fierce shook her.

Beatrice rose from the bench and proceeded to find food.

There at the pretzel stand. She ordered.

“Two Pretzel Rolls, Cinnamon Snacks, and a large lemonade, please?”

“Anything else?” replied the food attendant.

“No, that’s it.” said Beatrice.

“$11.11 is your total Miss.”

Beatrice handed the attendant a $20 bill.

Beatrice thanked the attendant and reached for her change.

Before turning around she noticed a black book near the register.

Stopping dead in her tracks, and looking closer she saw it appeared bigger than the one in her possession. It was time to open this book.

She walked and ate the food. Window shopping for a new outfit, she finished up her food.

A restroom.

Beatrice slurped the last of her lemonade and darted down the hallway.

She used the ladies room. In the stall she pulled out some bills to pay for clothes.

After washing her face and hands, she looked for a store to enter.

Alas, Marshall’s. She got a shopping cart.

Beatrice found a pair of jeans, and a comfortable fitting tee shirt. Making her way to the fitting room, she removed the soiled wedding dress. Throwing it in the cart, she continued to shop. Beatrice picked up another outfit, and some other things just in case.

As she waited in line, she replayed exactly how her stunning wedding dress ended up ruined.

The waitress.

Her mind was made up. She was going to put that dress with the nearest trash.

The custom jewels symmetrically lining the front had her contemplating was life but a dream.

Beatrice was not feeling well. Feeling sick to her stomach, she made her way to the register.

Quickly paying for the items, she placed them neatly in her new black bag on top of the book, and money.

Using a plastic shopping bag she folded the dress inside, making sure to preserve the jewels.

Beatrice yawned as she walked outside into the fresh air. She took in her surroundings, for the first time since the tragic explosion of events. Her mind shifted to the setting sun, she would have to find somewhere to sleep.

Still curious about the black book, its contents, and where it would lead Beatrice began walking towards the strip.

The lights were bright.

She had no cellphone. No id. Going back to the hotel where she checked in the day before seemed like a good idea. The hotel was up on the right.

It had been 4 hours.

Not only was she worn out, she was thirsty.

In the front lobby Beatrice headed to the available concierge.

“Evening, I need a key for room 333, please.”

The concierge looked up at the moles covering Beatrice’ cheeks.

“Room 333 Miss, here is a new key.”

Beatrice thanked the concierge and slid into a closing elevator.

A family of 6 occupied the elevator. Smiles were exchanged as she got off at the 3rd floor.

Hurrying to enter the key, she immediately fell into the doorway.

Hastily closing the door behind her and dropping the bags. She scanned the room for her purse or details of it. She turned on a lamp and saw this note.

Spring summer, winter fall. - Joia Maria

These words were scribbled on a hotel notepad. A lump forming in her throat caused her to gasp for air, and into a coughing spell. Beatrice retrieved a water bottle from the mini fridge.

Gulping a third of it, she closed her eyes. She envisioned embracing Jewel and his intoxicating aroma. It was so intense the thought left her eyes moist with tears. Unable to hold her pain in any longer, she kneeled screaming into the comforter. Uncontrollable, she rolled over onto the floor. Nearly choking from her own saliva, on all fours under the bed she saw her purse. Promptly emptying the contents on the nearby comforter. She found a napkin of notes to her. They were from Jewel.

An envelope of tickets for cash out?

The flight itinerary. Her wallet, untouched including her identification. Lipstick. Dental floss. Keys. An airplane shot of Jack. Pen.

Beatrice grabbed the scattered items and one by one put them away.

She made sure to conceal the remainder of the $20,000, her id, and itinerary. Meticulously, reading each napkin note. Adding up the ticket’s total amount for cash out.

The other items she put into a pouch inside the black bag. Here in the hotel room, Beatrice could see a light brimming over the little black book’s outer edges.

To her surprise the book was filled with equations. Some were labeled accordingly, others followed a pattern similar to the napkin notes. This book was more than a possession; it was powerful.

The wedding dress was able to fit into Beatrice’s old purse. Along with the black bag, Beatrice headed to the cashier’s cage. While standing in line she noticed an older lady looking at her. After cashing out, Beatrice noticed the lady again heading into a convenient ladies room.

The napkin notes were riddles. Beatrice understood now that Jewel was working for someone and was in trouble.

Speedily, she entered the hotel lobby and spoke with the concierge. Beatrice was running out of time. Heading out of the hotel, she entered into an adjacent store to browse. Her purchases included a wig, travel wipes, chewing gum, magazine, and newspaper. She walked out as the airport shuttle arrived in front of the hotel. The ride to the airport was quiet. Outside was humid.

Checking her itinerary she got off at Terminal C. She used an ATM to deposit a stack of bills. Making her way through Airport Security, she smiled and acted normal. Nothing suspicious. She was dying to close her eyes and could only imagine what could happen next.

Beatrice was able to upgrade to first class, and change the destination airport.

Jewel had changed her life for the better. She wanted to understand more about him, and wanted to help him. She muttered to herself, “If I could, I would.” One of the riddle’s written by Jewel was leading her to his hometown.

Securing her luggage next to her and under her seat, exasperated she sat down. Using the magazine to cover the black book, she puddled over the equations found in the book.

The flight attendant began to speak, “This is Flight 333, with a layover in Minneapolis.”

Closing the magazine and hugging it to her chest, she buckled in and prepared for take off. Beatrice drifted far away into the subconscious details of her Vegas trip.

To be continued