13th Floor

Misha takes a deep breath and checks her make-up before she drags herself into her internship. Misha wanted nothing more but to be a professional journalist but this internship?... Hate it. They always had her proof reading or worse…writing the fluff pieces. No one cares if Karma the Cat can hula hoop. Like how did Karma even learn to do that and why did her owner have that much time to teach her? But here Misha is…. writing these nothing stories with a tight grin on her face. She checks her outfit, and a strange uncomfortable breeze takes over Misha body. She thinks “that can’t be a good sign” and slowly emerges from the car wondering what tedious task is for today. Probably counting paper clips or something else useless but nonetheless…got to do it. Misha’s dad used his friendships and connections to get her this internship, so she had to be on her best behavior because hearing her dad’s mouth about not following through isn’t worth it.

Misha scurries through the front door of the very successful local paper “Bellaview Reads” headquarters. She runs right into her boss, Sloan. Sloan looks at Misha and scowls. “Happy you could fit us in today Ms. Riley” Misha looks down and mumbles “I apologize. Traffic was heavier than I anticipated” Sloan responds with “Time management is an important skill to have” and walks off. Misha walks over to her desk and unloads her backpack and laptop thinking to herself “Just great. This is gonna be a fun day” Misha sets up her laptop and iPad and heads to the kitchen for coffee. If she was going to survive this day, she was going to need massive amounts of caffeine. Misha gets her coffee and as she heads back, notices Sloan hovering around her desk and smacks her lips. “I just know this bout to be some bullshit” Misha musters up a smile and walks to her desk. “What do you need me to do today?” Sloan responds with “How are you with scary things? Are you ok with urban legends and all that?” Misha is confused by the question. Sloan never asks anything, just barks orders. “ Uuum, I am not really a horror kinda girly. Never really been into being scared for fun” Sloan cuts her off with “Yikes, that’s going to suck for you then. In the spirit of Halloween, we need someone to stay over at the alleged cursed Hewsten Hotel. Get the insider on what makes it so spooky” Misha thinks for a second. “I have to stay there for that? I can just go ask some employees, patrons, people who previously stayed there…you know. Research it? “Sloan stares right into Misha eyes uncomfortably. “That has been done a million times over. Bellaview Reads is number one because we go a step further than just good enough. We like insider work. Grit. Dedication to the real answers no matter how big or seemingly small the prompt is. I feel as if the only real way to determine if the rumors are true is to be in the thick of it. Is that ok with you Ms. Riley?” Misha pinches herself under the desk to avoid the sarcastic remark that was right on the tip of her tongue. “When do I have to be there?” Sloan smiles. “Check in is at 3. Room number 1200. You can go ahead and leave for the day so you can do that research you were referring to before your overnighter. See you here tomorrow after checkout. Good luck dear” and sashays off. Misha gathers her belongings thinking what was the point of fussing about her being late, if she was just dismissing Misha 15 minutes after getting there. Misha gets in the car and sits for a second. Hewsten Hotel was a town staple. Plenty of rumors of unsolved mysteries and missing people and just weird things that Misha wanted no part of. She hated anything creepy, scary or any other weird thing that could happen. Misha had a sister that just disappeared without a trace when Misha was 10. It isn’t something she really likes to rehash but being forced into this whole ordeal was triggering. There were so many town whispers about people who have checked into this hotel but never checked out with no trace and the world seems to just move on from it. It all just gave Misha tingles. Misha’s sister, Kyra, was 14 years old when she literally just disappeared into thin air. Kyra was in the 9th grade lunch period and then nothing. No footage of her leaving, no one remembers her leaving, no body was found. She walked out that lunch period and was just…gone. Misha had wished for years and years not to be known as the sister of the girl that disappeared, but it was etched on her chest like a scarlet A or something. This assignment was dredging up so many uncomfortable memories. Misha says to herself “I knew it was going to be some bullshit. Such a bitch” starts her car and heads toward her apartment for ghost hunting pajamas.

Misha pulls up to Hewsten Hotel and instantly gets annoyed. She pulls into the parking spot and turns off the engine. Fumbles around a bit for a lighter and once she locates one, Misha lets the seat back and looks at the ceiling of the car. She did not want to do this…at all. She started to wonder is it really the worst if she says fuck this internship thing and just quit. Everyone is making it off social media these days anyways. Are internships still relevant anymore? She lights up the charred cone in her hand and decides it’s not even worth the speech she knows comes with it. Ever since Kyra disappeared, Misha’s parents are hyper focused on her and her every move. Quitting the internship over one night just did not seem like a battle worth fighting. She inhales and says out loud to herself “It is only one night; how bad could it really be?” Misha grabs her phone, checks the battery percentage and then goes to her contacts to FaceTime with her best friend, Bronson. He picks up on the first ring with “What you want girl?” Misha laughs. “DANG, don’t answer the phone like I’m an annoying BM. I’m just trying to see what my best friend into” Bronson responds “nothing really. Trying to convince this one girl I am the love of her life” Misha stares at the phone. “Please stop ruining these women life. You remember the last girl wanted to fight me because she was convinced, I was lying about being your best friend. You make these girls fall in love and then you are over it three weeks later” “Well, is it really my fault that I’m charming? Stop minding my business and support my quest for love. What are you doing anyways?”“Man! Sour ass Sloan sent me on a dummy mission again. I have to stay overnight at the Hewsten Hotel to chase ghosts, I guess. Bronson laughs. “Your boss still fine? You ok though? I know you don’t like that scary stuff?” “I guess I don’t have a choice.” They have a few more minutes of small talk as Misha finishes her cone and takes a deep sigh. “Let me go get this over with” Bronson responds with “aw it’ll be over before you know. I don’t think smoking right before was smart though. Call me if you need me. Love you lame” and hang up. Misha giggles and grabs her bag. Might as well get this night done. She walks in the hotel, and it looks exactly what you imagine a haunted hotel would look like and everything has a light layer of dust. How is this place not condemned? She takes in the eerie scene and walks up to the person behind the desk. “Hi. My name is Misha Riley. I am here on behalf of Bellaview Reads. My boss said I should be in room 1200. Some creepy man looks at Misha and asks for her ID. She hands over the ID and decides to see if the clerk would have any useful information. Misha puts on a soft smile “So, have you been working here long? Have you been a part

of any of the investigations surrounding the missing people? Have you seen any weird stuff happening? Creepy clerk looks up and hands her a key and says “Room 1200, completely ignoring Misha questions. She takes the hint and heads towards the elevators. The elevator opens and there is a light flickering. Misha takes a deep breath and walks on. “Please let me survive tonight” Misha goes to push her floor and takes a deep sigh…let the night begin. She heads up to where her room should be. It is so uncomfortable walking down the halls. It has a musty smell and the lights are dim. She sees room 1100 and then her door has a sign that says 1300 but crossed out with the number 1200 over it. “This is so ghetto” Misha mumbles and let herself in. She looks around and turns on every light she can. There is no way she is going to sleep tonight. Misha sets up her laptop and starts to research. Looking on YouTube, reddit, social media, and book articles. Any background information she could get on this forsaken place.

Misha jolts awake frantically. What in the hell is that thumping? And when did I fall asleep? She thinks to herself. Misha sits up and looks around. She remembers she’s in this terrible hotel. Above her is a bunch of moving and banging around like they’re up there having a ladder match. Misha picks up her laptop and tries to continue working but the ruckus upstairs is so distracting. She throws on her slippers, grabs her phone and her keychain mase and stomps down to the elevator. Elevator opens and Misha goes to angrily press 13…. There is no button for floor 13. She steps off to make sure she’s on floor 12 and then walks back in. No button for 13. So, who in the world was above Misha? She figures she must have been dreaming and heads back to her room. She sits on the couch confused. She stuffs a cone and sits close to the open window. Misha had to smoke. This place was driving her crazy. She must have fallen asleep again because once again she hears a bunch of commotion. This time she is SURE she is hearing this. Misha once again grabs her keys with the mase, the room key and her phone and once again heads to the elevator. She texts Bronson “aye man, something is weird” She sees bubbles pop up but she couldn’t even bother to read the message because this time when she gets on the elevator, there’s a button for floor 13 all lit up. She is flabbergasted. Misha says to herself “I KNOW that wasn’t here before. But nope. Here is floor 13 lit up like a red flag. Misha takes a deep breath and presses the button. Clearly, there is a story here. She just hopes she survives it.

Misha reluctantly pushes the button for the 13th floor and clutches her phone. It seems like the elevator flew up to that floor. Before Misha could exhale the breath, she didn’t even know she was holding, the elevator doors opened. It was pitch black but Misha could hear a loud, angry male voice. Misha gulps and steps off the elevator and tries to follow the noise. Misha walks lightly and the voices and cries are getting closer. She gets to door 1300 and the door is cracked. Misha peeks in and sees a big male figure in a wife beater t-shirt and some black slacks. You see a body huddled in the corner sobbing loudly begging to be let go and pleading that she won’t tell anyone. “Please Mr. Lyons. Please. I won’t tell anyone. Please don’t hurt me. You know me! Don’t do this” Why does that name sound so familiar? That girl voice too…. The big angry man yells loudly “SHUT UP AND GET UP!!” The man lunges at the girl and she kicks him squarely in the genitals. He yelps and grabs the girl by the throat and slams her down on the floor…hard. Instantly, the girl stops fighting and her head slumps over, face to the door. Misha gasps…It’s her sister. The one that left one day from lunch at 14 years old and never came back. Misha just always assumed she ran away. Is this what happened? What is this? Why is this floor showing me this? With so many questions, Misha starts to back away when she hears the man yell “Bronson! Shut up all that damn crying boy and help me!” Misha moves back to the door and pushes it open just a tad more. She sees a small young boy with a face full of tears emerging from the hotel room bathroom. Misha can’t believe her eyes. She turns around and sprints toward the elevator. It was oddly just sitting there open. Misha runs on and pushes the buttons for the lobby 5 times. She can’t get out that hell hole any faster. The elevator finally opened, and Misha ran to her car. Once in the car, she takes a deep breath and facetimes her best friend. He answers smiling and bubbly “Gave up on that mission huh” Misha with a straight face. “Your dad killed my sister, and you knew” Bronson takes a deep sigh. “Let me explain