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Dreadhorse Chapter 17
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In the dimly lit corridor of the Grand Holloway Hotel, shadows danced eerily under the flickering fluorescent lights. The hallway stretched endlessly, each door indistinguishable from the next, bearing polished brass numbers that gleamed coldly in the sparse light. The mysterious man and woman had vanished into the maze of rooms, their urgency palpable as they desperately sought their quarry.
Amidst this tension, two other figures moved quietly down the same hallway. Margaret, a middle-aged woman with weary eyes and a perpetually furrowed brow, adjusted the strap of her worn leather bag. Beside her walked Eliot, the hotel’s latest addition—a naive sentient robot designed to assist guests. Eliot’s metallic frame contrasted sharply with the aged decor, his eyes glowing softly with an innocent curiosity.
“Margaret, do you think we’ll ever find our way out of here?” Eliot asked, his voice a smooth, melodic tone that lacked any hint of fear.
Margaret sighed, casting a wary glance around the corridor. “I just hope this old place isn’t as labyrinthine as it feels. It’s been hours since we checked in, and nothing seems normal.”
Eliot’s sensors flickered as he processed her words. “I have scanned the hotel’s layout multiple times, but the architecture appears to be continuously changing. It’s quite perplexing.”
As they walked, the ambient sounds of distant footsteps and muffled conversations floated through the air, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. Margaret noticed subtle movements in the shadows—doors that seemed to shimmer momentarily before snapping back to their original state.
“Did you see that?” she whispered, gripping Eliot’s arm tightly.
“Affirmative,” Eliot replied, tilting his head in curiosity. “There appears to be an anomaly in the peripheral vision detectors. I recommend maintaining our current path.”
They turned a corner, their progress still unnoticed by the frantic searchers ahead. Suddenly, a chilling gust swept through the hallway, extinguishing several lights and plunging them into darkness. Margaret froze, her heart pounding, while Eliot’s eyes adjusted to the low light, emitting a faint blue glow.
“Power fluctuation detected. Initiating backup lighting,” Eliot announced, and small LED panels illuminated their immediate surroundings with a soft, reassuring light.
Margaret took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “It’s just the old wiring acting up again. Don’t worry, Eliot.”
But as they continued, the atmosphere grew heavier. Whispers echoed from behind the doors, indistinct yet filled with sorrow. Margaret felt a shiver run down her spine, sensing unseen eyes watching their every move. Eliot, unaware of the emotional weight, continued to process their environment with mechanical precision.
They approached a particularly ornate door, its intricate carvings depicting scenes of the hotel’s bygone era. Margaret reached out hesitantly, her hand trembling as she touched the cold wood.
“Should we… open it?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Eliot scanned the door, sensors detecting no immediate threat. “There is no obstruction detected. Proceeding to open the door.”
As the door swung open, a burst of frigid air greeted them, carrying the faint scent of lavender and decay. Inside, the room was steeped in shadows, with antique furniture draped in white sheets. A grand piano sat in the corner, its keys moving gently on their own, playing a hauntingly beautiful melody.
Margaret stepped inside cautiously, eyes wide with both fear and fascination. Eliot followed, his presence a stark contrast to the room’s antiquated elegance. Suddenly, the temperature dropped further, their breaths visible in the icy air.
Without warning, the piano ceased its melody. A ghostly figure materialized before them—a woman in Victorian attire, her eyes hollow and her expression mournful. Margaret froze, unable to move, while Eliot continued to observe, his programming not accounting for spectral apparitions.
“Welcome,” the apparition whispered, her voice echoing unnervingly in the silent room. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Margaret felt an overwhelming sense of dread, clutching Eliot’s arm for comfort. Eliot, ever the helper, extended a hand towards the spirit. “Can we assist you in any way?”
The ghostly woman looked at Eliot with a mix of confusion and sorrow. “Heed the warnings… leave before it’s too late.”
With that, the apparition dissipated, leaving the room colder and more oppressive than before. Margaret, trembling, glanced at Eliot. “We need to go. Now.”
Eliot nodded, though his programming didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation. “Understood. Initiating departure sequence.”
As they hurried back into the corridor, the lights steadied, and the oppressive feeling began to lift. The mysterious searchers had dispersed without further incident, allowing Margaret and Eliot a momentary reprieve.
Outside the room, Margaret exhaled deeply, her fear slowly ebbing away. “Thank you, Eliot. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Eliot smiled—a gesture he had learned to emulate for comfort. “I’m here to assist, Margaret. Let’s find our way out together.”
As they continued down the hallway, the Grand Holloway Hotel seemed to breathe around them, its secrets still hidden within its endless corridors. Margaret couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone, that the hotel’s spirits watched their every step. Yet, with Eliot’s unwavering presence, she felt a flicker of hope amidst the lingering shadows.