Hijack Hotel.

“Did you see that?” 

“Hm? The lights?” Responding to his inquisition, she glanced up from her phone. “They flickered.” Unconcerned, her gaze fell back to her screen. 

“But, like, all of ‘em did.” 

“I’m sure it’s fi—“ 

“Not to worry, Mr. Peck” The woman behind the desk looked up from her computer, cutting Mrs. Peck off. Her brown hair was pulled back into a bun and her warm smile was adorned with pink lipstick. Her blue eyes were comforting and her tone welcoming. “Routine electric maintenance is being performed. Please be assured that the comfort of each one of guests is of utmost importance to us. Current maintenance will be concluding in thirty minutes and no further inconveniences will be endured by you and your wife.”

“Are flickering lights in an empty hotel lobby really that huge of an inconvenience?” Vexation strung her words together seamlessly. 

“For the price we’re paying here, I’d like to make sure we have lights.” Mr. Peck replied, visibly becoming frustrated with Mrs. Peck’s blasé demeanor. 

“It’ll be fine.” She slid her phone into her purse and grabbed the two key cards from the clerk. 

“Room 5-0-4. We hope you enjoy your stay. If there’s any further accommodations you’d like, there’s a service button on your room phone. It’ll connect you to one of our hospitality specialists—who’ll be happy to help.”

“Tha—“ Mr. Peck leaned over the counter towards the clerk, “thank you, Thelma.” The couple picked up their bags and turned towards the elevator. 

“Oh, lord!” Mrs. Peck shrieked in horror.

“Good lord, man!” Mr. Peck yelled. “You could have given us a heart attack! Where in the nine hells did you come from?”

A stout man wearing a hotel uniform whilst wheeling a cart, stood inches away from them. “I’ll take those bags off your hands.” He smiled back to them. 

“Sure, just don’t creep up on us again, Ace” Mrs. Peck leaned in to read his badge, and subsequently took a long step back. 

“Thanks Ace.” Mr. Peck’s tone flat with an offering of a ten dollar bill for the tourble.

“Thank you for the gratuity!” Ace said shaking his head vigorously and snatching the money. “Room 5-0-4! I’ll meet ya up there!” The ding of the elevator couldn’t be a more welcome sound for Mrs. Peck, growing more uncomfortable the more time she spends with Ace. 

“Are you okay, dear?” Mr Peck placed a hand on his wife’s back and guided her into the elevator. 

“Just startled, honey. I’d like a bottle of wine delivered once we get settled. It’s been a long day of travel.”

“Of course, dear” 

The elevator buzzed again, opening up to the gilded fifth floor of the hotel. The perfectly combed carpet was a deep red, and appeared that no one had previously traveled these halls before. The walls were covered in gold paisley paper that shimmered in the glow of the brass sconces. Abstract paintings were methodically placed alongside lush planters of various flowers. “Well, if the rooms look anything like the halls.” Mrs. Peck strutted off the elevator, a new air sweeping over her. “Our room is down this hall,” she pointed at the sign. 

“I’ll follow you, love.” They turned the corner to see that Ace was already waiting outside. 

“Oh, Hi there, Pecks!” Donning a big grin, he waved. 

“Ho—how’d you get here so fast?” Mrs. Peck asked.

“The service elevator.” Ace replied, seemingly getting more excited. “It’s like a rocket,” he giggled. 

“Oh.”

“We’ll take it from here, Ace. Thanks” Mr. Peck interjected. 

“I don’t mind! I’ll just wheel it in once you open the door, sir!” 

“I appreciate it,” Mr. Peck handed Ace another five. “We’ll take it from here though.” He stepped between the cart and Ace, insisting that he take his leave. 

“O—of course! Just leave the cart out here and I’ll wheel it away for ya!”

“Thanks, that’d be swell.” 

Mrs. Peck unlocked the door and held it open for the cart. “Ace!” She called out after her husband was in the room. 

He turned, “yes, Mrs. Peck?”

“Could you send for a bottle of wine? White, preferably.” She beamed a smile his direction. 

“Right away, ma’am!” 

A grand king was the focal of the room. A cluster of white pillows were topped with one that read, “And Ever After,” stitched with gold thread. The linens were crisp white, accented with red and gold top covers. The frame was a rich mahogany wood, matching the the desk, coffee table and dresser. A single stitch, sapphire blue couch was nestled into a nook, accompanied by a bar cart. The bathroom’s floors and walls were tiled in a gray and white marble, highlighting the black porcelain fixtures. 

“Luxury, modern, dramatic.”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a black toilet before. That’s pretty neat.” His tone vindictive to his misunderstanding of what she had just said. 

“Plenty of room for the two of us.”

“It is just a weekend, dear.”

“And we’ll absolutely not be bumping into each other,” she exclaimed with delight. 

The pair began to unpack their bags, filling the closet and drawers with pieces to their preplanned wardrobes. Lotions, oils, pastes and creamed, meeting any perceived need, lined the marble vanity. 

“Will you get that, honey?”

“Hmm?” He muttered from his precarious position. 

“Can you get that?” She called again from the bathroom. 

“Get what?” He was leaning over the desk, extending in an effort to reach the outlet with his power cable.

“The door. Can you get the door?”

“The door?” Another knock shook the door. 

“Right! The door. Just a minute!” He yelled as he finally landed the plug into the wall, and jotted to answer the door, muttering a, “hello.”

“You requested a wine?” A man, about the same size as Ace, stood in the doorway with an ice bucket bearing a bottle. 

“That we did.” Mrs. Peck appeared to grab the wine and walked over to the bar cart. “Would you like one before we go down for dinner?” She called out to Mr. Peck. 

“Well thank you,” he paused to read the man’s badge. “Edward. Yes dear, I’d love a glass.” He closed the door in Edward’s face and joined his wife on the couch. 

“Cheers.” They said in unison as the rims of their glasses gently clinked. 

“Thanks for taking this weekend trip with me. I couldn’t be more grateful to share this time with you.” His words were drenched in admiration, and his hand moved to sweep the blonde hair falling into her face.

“Of course, love. I’m so glad we could do this. That reminds me!” She quickly stood up to retrieve her phone. “I promised Rhonda I’d send her pics of the room. Her and Jeff are considering this as their next trip.” With Mr Peck’s ego deflated, she began to dance around the room, snapping pictures of each detail. “Have you seen th—“ the lights flickered, leaving Mrs. Peck to pause. 

“Three times,” he said. 

“I’m sure it’s fine,—maintenance right?”

“That’s what they said anyway.”

She spun back to the couch and grabbed Mr. Peck’s hand. “Let’s grab a table for dinner.” 

The couple were met by a young hostess with black hair and a pale complexion. “A table for two?” She eagerly greeted them with two menus in hand. 

“Yes please.” Mr. Peck politely replied. 

Walking them through to the back, she motioned her hand towards a round table set for two, she asked, “will this be alright for you?” 

“This is great.” He nodded and pulled Mrs. Peck chair back.

Hesitantly, she took a seat, her eyes swiveled around at the empty tables that filled the restaurant. “Thank you, dear.” Mr. Peck took his seat across from her. 

“What can I grab you to drink?” The hostess’ question, abrupt, caught the couple by surprise and was met with a collective “uh”. 

“We have half-off all bottles of select white wine.” She looked at each of them, nodding yes to guide their order. 

“Any other specials?” Mr. Peck looked back at her, inquisitively. 

“Just white wine, sir.” 

“What do you me—“

“We’ll have a bottle of the Queen’s Grove, if you would, Louise.” Mrs. Peck pressed her finger to her lips to quell his attempt to rebuke.

“Queen’s Grove sounds lovely.” 

“Of course!” Louise now brimming with excitement explained that she would pour the glasses and that their server would be with them momentarily to finish their order. 

“Why did you interrupt me?” He questioned Mrs. Peck curiously. 

“Oh, would you just shut up.” She snapped back. “Look around. Each table is draped with a perfectly pressed white cloth and set with fine china. It’s all so lovely, and they only have white wine?”

“What are you going on about, love?”

“That there’s no one in here. Everything’s set so nicely, but notice the thickened layer of dust on every table— except ours. Didn’t you say this place was normally booked up and we just barely got a room? Where is everyone?”

“So, wait. What are you saying?” Louise delivered their wine, and left their bottle in a bucket on the table. 

“I don’t trust this place.” 

“Trust it? What do you even mean, it’s a reputable hotel. Do you think they’re murdering people?”

“Maybe.” 

“You need to spend less time reading those articles on your phone.”

“Maybe.” She took a sip of her wine and scanned the empty tables. “It just doesn’t seem right.”

“Let’s just try to enjoy one of the few weekends we get together.”

“I suppose you’re right,” She raised her glass towards him. 

Their server, Tommy, delighted them as they enjoyed the extravagance of steak, assorted vegetables and chef crafted desserts—all paired with two additional bottles of wine. They slipped into stories of the moments they’ve shared over the years. They laughed, Mrs. Peck cried, and Mr. Peck ate what would have been her leftovers. After finishing, they made their way to the elevators in the lobby. Pulp Fiction was playing on the screens they had sporadically placed. 

“A classic.” Mrs. Peck quipped. 

“I tend to agree.”

Back at their room, Mrs. Peck poured them each a glass of wine.

“To you, dear.” She kissed Mr. Peck, following with a sip. Dinner was absolutely lovely. The cook on the steak was divi—“

“And again. Three times.”

“Maintenance should have been finished four hours ago.”

“I’m going down there. I’ll be back, honey.” Mr. Peck set down his glass and stormed out of the room. He stepped onto the elevator and hit the button labeled ‘L’ with a star. The elevator chimed as it pased floor four, and again at three. The elevator then came to a stop on floor two and opened. “What are you doing?” He questioned aloud as he began to push the button labeled with two arrows converging.

The elevator remained unresponsive, regardless of the expletives or force behind his jabs. “I want to go down!” He yelled in a fury. The lights of the buttons began to illuminate a repeating sequence—beginning with the bottom and alternating to the top. The sequence then followed itself back to the bottom. The electric sconces adorning the halls flashed in harmony with the buttons. He slowly took one step out of the elevator and looked down the halls to his left and then to his right. 

“Hello,” calling out, he stepped out of the elevator. The hall lights, again, flickered three times 

“Help me, dear, help!” A familiar voice echoed from he hall to the right. 

“Honey?” He called out, concern evident in his shaking voice.

“What’s going on? Honey?”

“This way dear. Please, help!” She called back. 

Mr. Peck walked his hands along the wall, bracing his steps as he slowly crept the hall “Honey, are you okay?” He yelled out to no avail. The lights flickered and the door to the nearby room swung open. 

“Three times,” he spoke aloud before yelling into the room. “Honey, are you in there?” He peeked into the open room assigned 2-0-4, only to find it completely empty. “Honey?” After taking two steps into the room, Mr. Peck was quickly overcome by a flood of blinding light. If you ears were keen enough, one could discern the sound of distant whirring machines.

“Its so warm.” Mr. Peck, now adopting a hastened pace, made his way to the glowing window. As he opened the window, a sensation of being pulled overcame his body. Like opposite magnets coming together, Mr. Peck was pulled out of the window, and through the stream of light. His screams muttered by the clashing of iron and steel over head. 

“Excuse me! Hello?” Mrs. Peck’s insistent pounding would have broken the bell if Thelma hadn’t emerged from the back when she had.

“Hello Mrs. Peck. How may I be of service?”

“Have you seen my husband? He came down about an hour ago to check on the flickering lights, that I will remind you, were to be of no inconvenience.” Her tone was worried and her speech swift. 

“We have not seen Mr. Peck, ma’am.” The clerks smile was quickly traded for an expression to match the worrisome of Mrs. Peck “Perhaps he had to step out for a phone call? I can call Ace to escort you out to the gardens, if you’d like.”

“Just point the way, I can get there.” Mrs. Peck was short and almost dismissive Thelma’s offer to help. 

“Just that way.” Thelma pointed to a door in the distance with a large smile. “If he’s not out there, come back and see me.” 

“I’ll do that.” 

Mrs. Peck stormed off towards the door. As she got closer the lights flickered and the door swung open alone. “Three times. What cheap hole are we staying in?” She muttered to herself, slowly approaching the now open door. “Love, are you out there?” Hearing no response, she stepped out to the hotel’s gardens. “Hello?” 

“Hi.” A voice from behind sends chills across her neck—leaping in the air, she spun around.

“Ac—Ace. I asked you not to startle me! Have you seen my husband?” 

“Of course.” Ace smiled wide and pointed to the sky. 

“Up?” Mrs. Peck turned her gaze above her. Three pulsing orbs lit the bottoms of rotating disks that were hovering above. The clashing sound of mechanical whirring overtook Mrs. Peck, her screams muffled by the magnetic pull of a bright light, dragging her towards the sky. 

“We hope you enjoyed your stay.” Ace calmly says, turning to go back into the hotel. 

“Oh! There he is!” Thelma’s excitement echoed through the lobby

“Ace! If you’ll grab their bags, we have a family of four checking in.”

“Daddy, the lights are weird.” The little girl dragged and elongated each word she spoke. 

“The lights are fine, sweetie.” 

“Splendid! Not often we get the pleasure of children in our quainthotel. I can also show you to your room, if you like?” Ace loaded their bags onto the in the lobby. “Looks like you’re in room 5-0-4. What a fantastic view.”