The journey had been long - filled with laughter, off-key singing, and the kind of chaos only a college trip could bring. As the bus rolled down the empty highway into the still night, the excitement slowly gave way to fatigue and the horror ran through their spine all they needed was a Safe Shelter.
By the time they reached the small coastal town, everyone was half-asleep. What they hadn't expected, though, was that every hotel in the city would either be closed or fully booked.
As they neared the town, trouble began. The hotels they'd planned to check into were either closed or overbooked.
"Perfect planning, genius," Kritika muttered, glaring at Deep.
"I was told there'd be space!" Deep defended glaring at Aryan.
"Why didn't anyone confirm the rooms?" Varsha groaned, rubbing her temples.
"Blame Wick," Aryan said with a smirk. "He's our logistics head, right?"
Wick shot him a death look. "We were told rooms were reserved. Someone clearly was lazy enough not to verify."
"Nick,you idiot it's your mistake and you're blaming us?" Dipanshu in aggressive tone.
Aryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Arguing won't help. Let's just find something before we pass out on the road."
"Maybe next time try booking before arriving," Sonal added.
Wick raised an eyebrow. "Let's not panic. Worst case, we camp."
"Yeah, let's set up tents and summon mountain lions or maybe the thing we survived," Dipanshu said dramatically.
"Yeah camping is the worst scenarios and last option as not after what happened on the road". Wick took a sigh.
"Let's first pick Prishka, her bus will arrive in few minutes." said shristi.
"Yeah, Let's add more people to wander around... homeless." Deep said sarcastically.
They picked Prishka but still nowhere to go.
When Prishka finally joined them, she immediately sensed the mood.
"What did I miss?" she asked, climbing in.
"Nothing," Dipanshu said flatly. "Just minor horror.And We're currently homeless."
She blinked once... then nodded slowly. "Cool. Love that for us."
---
Another thirty minutes passed.
The roads grew emptier.
The town lights faded behind them.
And just when it felt like they'd run out of options-
They saw it.
---
A hotel.
Standing alone.
At the edge of everything.
---
The sign flickered faintly:
Shoreline Retreat
The letters were faded, some barely hanging on. The building itself loomed tall-old, quiet, wrapped in shadows. Thick curtains blocked the windows, and the garden outside was overgrown, unnaturally still.
No sound.
No movement.
Just... presence.
---
Deep stepped out first, stretching his arms. "Honestly? I don't care if it's haunted. I'm sleeping."
Prishka tilted her head, studying the building. "Looks like something straight out of a Scooby-Doo episode."
"Please let there be a creepy butler," Dipanshu added. "I'm ready to be traumatized but I need a shelter to throw up."
A few tired laughs followed.
Not because it was funny.
But because they needed it to be.
---
They walked inside.
---
The lobby was dimly lit-just a single yellow bulb casting long shadows across the room. The air felt heavier inside. Still.
Behind the counter sat an old man.
Pale.
Silent.
Watching.
---
No greeting.
No smile.
He simply slid the register forward.
---
One by one, they signed.
When it was Shristi's turn, his eyes lingered.
Too long.
Too still.
She felt it.
A subtle unease crawling up her spine.
But she forced a small smile, signing her name quickly and stepping aside.
---
No one said anything.
No one questioned it.
Because they were too tired to care.
---
Keys were handed out.
Rooms assigned.
And within minutes, the group scattered-bags dropped, shoes kicked aside, bodies collapsing onto beds that creaked under their weight.
---
Shristi, Varsha, and Sonal took a room on the third floor.
The corridor leading to it felt longer than it should have.
Quieter too.
---
Inside, the room was old.
Carpet worn out.
Ceiling fan creaking with every rotation.
And a large mirror fixed above the dresser-slightly tilted, as if it had been adjusted... and never corrected.
---
Varsha dropped onto the bed immediately. "I don't care if this place is cursed. I'm not moving."
Sonal didn't reply. She just glanced at the mirror for a second longer than necessary... then looked away.
Shristi placed her bag down slowly, her gaze drifting around the room.
Something felt... off.
Not wrong.
Not dangerous.
Just-
Unfamiliar.
---
But exhaustion won.
It always does.
---
Within minutes, the lights were off.
The room fell silent.
And the night...
Settled in.
To be continued...