Chapter 2 (The Curtains)

Next day, the perky bright rays hit my face, descant of birds was magical, aroma in the air almost captivated me. We all woke up quite early, I stepped out the camp, trod directly to the car to grab some snacks.

"Morning", Simon said in sleepy voice, mincing by the camp where Elizabeth and May was reposing, he approached me, holding a cup of coffee.

"Are you ok, you just crumbled the camp", my words sounded concern as he was half sleep walking.

He filched on the road, I grabbed the cup, and glanced around for water. He was acting weird as if he was drugged. Clair saw Simon on floor, her foots rushed towards us, she helped me carrying Simon into the car.

"Here's the medicine, take it, you'll be fine", her bothering voice was bit loud, her grey eyes were gazing Simon, slightly rubbing his forehead to make him feel good. I headed back to my camp, wrapped up my stuff, dialed mom for daily updates.

"I love you, mom", these were the last words I said to her, walking out the camp holding my bag.

"Hey, say hi to your mom", Will shouted tossing a cheese roll over me. 

We loaded the stuff back in jeep and were ready to go. Edward decided to drive. Foggy air blurred the vision to drive, we kept the speed low. Ignoring Jacob, I sat on the front seat. A second later my phone buzzed, eyes dropped down, Jacob's name was flashing, a message was drifting across the screen. Sweaty hand deleted the message, may be at that time I just aligned my mind to focus on work only. Sliding my cell back into my purse, I hauled a book out my bag, plugged the music on, crossed my legs to relax.

"There, there is a façade of the building", Karen shrieked ecstatically, shaking May's shoulder blissfully.

I heaved a euphoric sigh of joy. Placing down the book, I looked at the motel blankly. Loud screeches clamored the place as Edward stop the car, we rocked back and forth yelling at Edward to be careful. Stepping out the car I moved 3 steps ahead, all of a sudden a car's door slammed shut, dragged me from my ranting thoughts. Broaden eyes were locked on the building.

"The building is almost burned", Edward whisper, drawing my attention by grabbing my bag, glancing around the place.

A strange spoor made us to cover our nose, it was dreadful. Parking car near the front door, we clutched our bags, picked the flashlights, walked directly to the door. The creepy frame of building cloaked our spirit for a while. We were almost 270 miles away from our homes. A deep silence covered our souls as we stepped in, we all were gazing the ancient place which reminded us of Egyptian monuments. Suddenly after breaking a silence Simon shrieked "It will take a lot of time if we'll all move together".

"Spreading up is too dangerous" Susi replied, looking at us, her eyes glitch with fear.

"Let's spread up and find out the mystery behind this motel", I rolled my eyes and replied, flashing the light on her face. Clair appealed but I was busy mapping the way. She turned her face to go, paired up with Susi and Karen, the three girls headed north side, There were 20 floors on the motel, I decided to search the second floor. The building was extensively damaged that it felt like it will collapse any moment. Our roaming eyes were sighting artistic beauty, sprinting through the tables, ornamented by the baroque frame, we made way to the bedrooms' side.

Sun was dawning, moon facing up again. Wind sound was almost striking like a thunder. Trees were wafting, slamming the rooftop. Right behind me, tree crashed in, ripping off the window, floor freckled with glass bits, I stumbled over the wall. Widen eyes watching the sharp pointed branch sliding directly towards me, frightful gasp just escaped through the dropped mouth. Jacob grabbed my wrist, lugged towards him and we hit the floor with a shrilled bang, just before the branch collided against the wall. His sturdy arms enveloped me from behind to keep me safe. Quivering lips can't even thank him. Simon panting terribly, kneeled down the floor, rubbing his chest in fear. 

"You ok", Jacob asked tightened the grip to make me stand. His sweat slithered down my hand holding his jacket ardently. I slowly stood up, dusting off my jeans, looking at the bruises of his hand. 

"Yeah", I moaned low, eyeing out the window. The tragic moment ceased us for a while. We began to walk front. Simon held my hand, his wobbly feet barely carried his weight. My fiery eyes popped on his tugged eyebrows, hands were soothing him to overcome fear, The whole day passed, no clue found and nothing new was explored. We all gathered back in the main hall and decided to get some rest as we all were tired enough from our rough day.

A hand suddenly clapped my shoulder, I joggled my head back, startle eyes grabbed Elizabeth standing.

"You scared the hell out of me", my chilled voice uttered. The fear rasps away as soon as she asked me to sit with her.

Sating on the floor, I leaned against wall, laid the head back, exhaled a sigh of relief, shut the eyes in peace, almost went sleep. They all were chatting, admiring the place having snacks till late. Bright and shiny morning jumped up the next day, sky was calm. No traces of any spooky feelings, I beheld everyone, they were all passed out in good sleep.

"How was your sleep?", a drowsy voice reached my ear. I tilted my face to see. It was Clair, lying on the big red velvet sofa, her tumbling hand waved me, eye sheds were half closed and hair were all muddled.

"Quite well" I whispered, struggling getting to my feet but my legs felt like they have gone numb.

"You look quite tired too", I said looking at her, hand was placed at wall, stepping forward to catch a fresh air.

"I'm just very delighted that we are where we wanted to be" she replied very softly, my heart began pumping in my chest, goosebumps appeared and face lit up by smug glee, by listening her. I pushed Will to get a way out as he was sleeping roughly on floor. I walked near the corridor, trolling eyes roamed around the place, saw a teary and dusty old newspaper near the edge of the lamppost, stooped front to pick it up. Wiping it snappily I read an incomplete news about the motel.

"The curse will find its end. The Curtains, was locked down during the construction by declaring a haunted place, but after a while the work began and the motel was built. Soon after the inauguration, few employees died, leaving no evidences behind, the motel continue to operate. It has been sought that the building was constructed on grave yard, illegally. Four hundred deaths were not...."

Weird thoughts drifted inside me in a solitude. Strong puff smoked the vision, I rolled the paper to read the rest, but it was slit half, kneeled down to search the rest piece of parchment, head right on the floor, dust colored my cheek yellowish, trying to look under the table aside the lamp.

I felt an arm on my waist as I was tugged up the floor.

"What are you doing down there?", Karen asked furiously, taking a step back.

It felt like the heart will rip off the rib cage and pop out of my mouth.

"It's you", I replied in a fearsome shock, trying to remain calm. I fronted the paper near her face, widen eyes with glare, she took the paper to read. Simon snatched the paper to rub his hands. 

"Hey stop", I shouted, aggravation laced my tone, slapping his arm I walked away from him.

"Was that important", he replied nonchalantly, a small giggle on his face annoyed me more. Karen tilt her face with a trivial grin, "Are you serious? Obviously it was.".

I remained silent, eyes glamming with anger, ambled near staircase, stepped up. The stair creaked by the weight of my foot. Laughter began to echo in the ambience, breaking the lingering peace and quietness, Simon cracked joke on me, raging me to kill him. I gave him an impish look, spun back to climbing up.

Suddenly we all heard a big loud roar and the sun light disappeared, blackness lured us, vision slowly fades. I stepped down, stroll back near the couch, staring the passage from where the roar appeared. All eyes were aligned looking at the passage in astonishment, huffing in fear, trembling legs began to follow the growl. I shook my head, hand skated inside the bag to pick flash light out in deep dark but wasn't able to. Darkness again fallen on to light, looks like the sun covered itself with fear, I tilt my head, eyes darted in search, widen in satori, roar was almost deafening, I fasten up my pace, in a mean while I saw my friends sprint towards the noise. Our breaths were reflecting like a smoking puffs. Anxiously chewing my nails, I stared the passage. We arrived to the doorstep. Jacob sluggishly twisted the door knob, other hand forced the door to open.

"The door is locked" Jacob tried to open with his bare hands. He kneeled down to search anything to trespass the room.

"The sound is coming from inside" May blabbered, holding a piece of cloth in her mouth, watery eyes staring the room curiously.

They turned the place upside down to find a tool, finally Will's hand reached the broken table rod.

By breaking in, we terrifyingly gleamed the bones and skulls of human which smelled like rotten eggs, mouth shrugging with astonishment, clearing my throat I stepped inside the room.

We paused, the door slams shut.

"DAM"

Screams break the frozen box of silence and we enthrallingly adhered by the wall. Edward said by catching his deep breath "It's probably just a wind. No need to get scared", looking at the door. The door got stuck and we all were in deep fear. After a lot of travail opening it, the boys gave up.

"The door was already jammed. Our bare hands are of no use" I said by holding the same thick metal rod with a shard pointed edge, we found the other side of the door. The door somehow opened, we went out and the passage was all brighten this time but no one noticed. We rushed up the stairs, directly to the first floor.

"Hey, hey" Susi screamed

"What about the noise that was coming from there?", she shouted, pulling Karen's hand back, her frenzied nature was somehow chaotic.

"Maybe it's from the forest nearby" Edward furiously replied.

We all were petrified but going back was not the option. We all eagerly continued our search to decipher the secrecy behind the motel, to finish what we started.

We spread up

By making way towards the kitchen, I asked May to join me. Eyes snapped to the door as Clair and Edward enters. I turned around, back squinting the place. Weird! The kitchen walls were all covered with mirrors. The silence was so loud that even the clicking of the heels was so thunderous.

My eyes stricken the fabricated stair case to witness the sight of primeval, archaic Roman Foot Wooden statue of soldier, holding sword in hand, adorned in complete attire, with shielded chains. His neck was wrapped with Laurel wreath and shiny eagle breast plate was hanged.

"What an antique mirror!" May was mesmerizing the beauty of true work, just a few steps ahead.

Breaking my locking gaze from statue, I went towards her, felt like a reflection was following me. Looked back, no one was there. Shutting out nuisance, stood near the mirror. As I looked at the mirror, I saw myself but not me. Clair got busy chatting with Edward. I stood still, watching myself, staring the mirror as she demitasses her face and her uncanny laugh echoed my ears. She scratched her face like a maniac.

"You are not me" I screamed, fear laced my tone as I saw her.

By hearing my horrified yelp, they rushed towards me. Held my hand and pushed me out of my hallucination.

"what happened?" Clair worried, her chilled hands were shaking.

"You ok!" May asked frighteningly.

"I just saw myself in the mirror" I stammered, paling face, fallen mouth lost the words.

Their amplified laugh slogged against the walls, "It's a mirror, what else will you see here!", clasping my wrist they dragged me away the mirror. It was not my hallucination, my brain dwindles. Mind trailing from her fiery breathtaking eyes to her deceitful smirk, felt entombed within her clench.

"Let's keep on moving", May said with a little sarcastic smile on her face, she clearly thought I was making it up. We reached the owner's cabin. It was pretty dark inside, only a line of light through a broken shed alit the left corner. Hitting the torch light on the room we entered, it was all messed up, files were scattered all over, tables and cupboards were all sabotaged.

"Ahhh, What a smell?" Edward said, casing his face with his hand, walking inside through the files.

We stood there for a while, scanning the place, my mind jotting to locate what the hell happened here. Edward coiled the place upside down for the excavation of site, he broke all the lockers.

Boom!!

Dust flew like storm, blocking our sight, coughing echoed. A dreadful stanch flew in the air. A bag fell down, averting our attention. We swiftly moved near the bag. Edward stepped front to open it. Screams overlaid our mouths when we saw inside the bag. A man, dressed in white cloak, with a black glittery hat and rain boots soaked with blood. Looks like someone stabbed him down, leg flesh was callously chopped into pieces.

"The body is still fresh" Edward cried, tapering lips held the tongue in between, hand was placed right between the chest, floundering eyes wavered to see him.

"He died recently" I instinctively said, looking down at him, trudged near him to see, mouth titled as I bite my lips in a long gaze. His lips were welded, nails were all broken half, an arrow was crossed in between the ears, seems like he was crucified. Edward plunged back as May threw up, her legs were shivering and she was about to throw up her body. It was clear that people whoever visit the motel are destined to die. It was uncertain that whether there is some sort of insidious presences or there is a man behind all this who is butchering people.

Just beneath a body there was a door. Brown cloth swathed all over, stringed with heavy metal, corroded and rusty chains.

"Hey, there is a door right under him", Clair shouted, pointing towards the door, kneeled down the floor to clear the blurry image.

"There is a butcher who is killing around, I can't stay here any longer", May yelped, horrifyingly flashed out the cabin, grunting in deadly fear.

I ran beside her, her hand trapped under my grip, hauled her back to slack the fear down. Pushing near the wall, I asked her to be patient. My hand held her halting arm, leaned up my face to lock her gaze. After a moment of muteness, long sigh trailed out and I said.

"We are here for some reason, can't turn our faces in between", her lighten feet began to walk as I plodded towards the cabin.

"Yes, Don't quit yet" Edward shouted, egressing the cabin, wiping off his face with yellow handkerchief.

"We were prepared to face any consequences before leaving home, now you cannot show your back. Don't you know how much this project means to us", he retaliated in a weary tone.

Ready to see what's coming next...