Sweet Assurance

Dante turned on his phone's flashlight as they arrived on the stairs. The staircase was engulfed in immense darkness. It was beyond them how the receptionist was navigating without a shred of light. Before descending, he held her cold hand and carefully guided her step by step down the creaking stairs.

"This is the place, if you can adjust," the receptionist stated as they reached the foot of the stairs. The basement was a cold, shadowy abyss where a single flickering bulb fought a losing battle against the darkness. Dante looked around the room, without releasing her hand, and concluded this had to be his worst stay.

"There is no bed," Dante pointed out.

"There is one in the corner," receptionist pointed his flashlight to a corner, illuminating the bed. Dante stiffly nodded. The queen-size bed was a discarded piece.

"5000 dollars," receptionist said, shocking both of them.

"For this?" Maya asked, shooting him an incredulous look. The man nodded.

"You are asking for too much.