Chapter 1 – Something Feels Wrong

The hotel hallway had a smell, like roses and perfume. It was the kind of smell that stays in the air for a while after someone walks by. There were lights on the walls and they made the marble floor shine. Elena Carter walked down the hall. Her footsteps echoed off the walls. It sounded like the building was listening to her. An elevator rang out in the distance. Then it was quiet again. The hallway was really calm. It felt too calm.

Elena stood in front of Room 1807. She was holding a gift bag in her hands. She was not scared she was excited. Her heart was beating fast. She felt happy. Tonight was supposed to be a night.

The gift bag had a silver watch in it. The watch was not fancy. It was special. Elena had saved up for two months to buy it. Daniel had said he liked watches like that once. He did not make a deal about it but Elena remembered. She always remembered things about Daniel.

Elena smiled a little when she looked at the door. "Anniversary " she said to herself. She did not want to say it loud because it might ruin the moment.

They had been together for three years. Three years of laughing sharing dreams and making promises. After everything that had happened to her Daniel made her feel like she could be happy. Maybe they could even make it last.

Elena took a breath and she raised her hand to knock on the door. She knocked softly at first. Then she knocked again a little louder. "Daniel?" she said. She was being playful. He did not answer. Her smile started to fade. Maybe he was in the shower.

Daniel had sent her a text message earlier. He said he had a surprise for her. That made her come from work without even changing her clothes. She wanted to see the look on his face when she gave him the watch.

Elena waited for a moment. Daniel did not answer. She felt excited and a little uneasy at the time. Without thinking she reached for the door handle.

Her hand stopped. Daniel always locked the door. That was what he did.

Elena stood there for a moment. Then she turned the handle. The door opened easily. It was not locked.

Elena’s eyebrows came together. That was weird.

She walked into the room slowly. Her heels made a soft sound on the floor. The room was not very bright. It looked romantic. There was a table near the window with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. The curtains were partly closed. Elena could see the city lights through the rain-streaked glass. She could hear the sound of the rain on the window.

It was beautiful. Daniel had clearly planned this. For a moment Elena felt happy. She forgot about her unease.

Then she heard something.

A soft sound.

A woman was laughing.

Elena’s smile froze.

The sound was light and playful. It came from deeper in the room. It sounded familiar. It made Elena feel uncomfortable. She held the gift bag tightly. She did not feel happy anymore.

Maybe she had just imagined it.

Then she heard it again. It was clearer this time. A woman was. Elena knew she was not imagining it. Her heart. She felt scared.

Something in the room felt off. It was quiet and cold. Elena felt uneasy. Her instincts were telling her that something was wrong.

Elena took a step forward. Then another. The room felt heavy. It was hard to breathe. Every sound was loud. The air conditioning, the rain, her own clothes.

She looked at the bedroom door. It was open a little.

The laughter had come from there.

Elena’s body tensed up. She did not want to go any further. She tried to think of reasons why there might be another woman in the room. She could not think of any. Why had Daniel not answered the door? Why was the door unlocked?

Her heart was beating fast. The silence was deafening. Her throat was dry. She swallowed hard. Then she took another step because she had to know what was going on.

The gap in the door looked dark like it was hiding something. Elena hesitated for a moment. A small voice, in her head told her to stop, to turn around to leave before she saw something she could not forget.

She did not listen.

Her hand moved towards the door like it had a mind of its own.

Then the laughter came again. Soft. Familiar. Real.

Elena’s breath caught in her throat.

She reached the door. She pushed it open slowly.