Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Violet’s Point of View

Mum took me back to the hotel and then went out to have lunch with dad. I wasn’t really feeling it and after a bit of convincing, she agreed to leave me alone for a bit. Again, I knew it was coming from a place of love and care, but they were constantly watching me all the time, I just can’t be doing with it. 

I just needed some alone time! 

As soon as she was gone though, I went over and locked the door. I don’t know why I did, but it made me feel a bit better. Looking around the large room, I let out a loud sigh, I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t go out, but there was nothing but watching TV to pass time in here. 

I wandered over to the window and looked out. The hotel was across from the beach, well, part of it. It was miles long but from our window, we could see the sand and water and it was perfect. I could see people on the beach, having fun, enjoying themselves. People walking down the streets, their arms loaded with bags of souvenirs and other exciting things, and here I was, stuck up in this room, too scared to go out there and join in on the summer fun. 

I moved away from the window again and went to my room. Sitting down on my bed, I flipped the TV on and browsed through my options for entertainment. I was just getting into a rerun of The Simpsons when I heard a noise out in the suite… 

I froze. 

What was that?

I debated calling out, but if someone was here, what are the odds they would answer me. What if it was Jason? 

Panic suddenly enveloped me at the thought. 

I sat and waited, hoping I wouldn’t hear any more noise... But I did... 

I grabbed the first thing my hand touched and clutched it to my chest. I got off my bed and slowly made my way over to the bedroom room, opening it, I looked out, listening, searching for any movement. 

‘Hello?’ 

No response. 

‘Hello?!’ I called again, a little louder. 

Still nothing. 

Taking a deep breath in, I stepped out of the door and started moving slowly towards the main lounge area. I raised the object in my hand up, preparing myself for whatever was there and preparing to use it as a weapon if need be. 

..but as soon as I saw who it was, I instantly felt like an idiot. It was just the cleaning lady. She smiled apologetically and explained she didn’t realize someone was in. I told her not to worry about it and lowered my makeshift weapon. Relaxing instantly, I sighed. 

I needed to just face my fears and go out. Toby seemed pretty confident that Jason wasn’t coming around and surely, he wouldn’t be that stupid. He must know that the police would know about the assault by now. 

I wrote a quick note to my parents telling them I was going for a walk, but I’d be back before it got dark. I knew they wouldn’t be happy but honestly, I didn’t even know if I’d be able to bring myself to leave the hotel and surely... Walking around the hotel wouldn’t be completely breaking the rules... 

Leaving the suite, I wandered down the corridor to the elevator. Pressing the button, I waited for it to arrive. I could hear muffled chatter and as the doors slid open, A couple were standing there. Their conversation stopped momentarily while they glanced at me. I just held my hand up to let them know I’d wait for the next one and the doors closed and they were gone again. 

When the next one arrived, I got in and headed down to the lobby. There were lots of people around and it overwhelmed me a little bit. I could feel my heart pounding, almost as if it was going to pound right out of my chest. Swallowing deeply, I made my way around the reception and down a corridor towards where I knew there was a ‘’games’’ room but when I got there, it was locked, so I just turned back around and decided to wander around a little more. 

I just kept my head and gaze down, following the patterns on the carpets when suddenly, I crashed into something extremely hard and fell to the floor. 

‘Wow, watch where you’re going!?’ The somewhat familiar voice snapped. I rubbed the back of my head as I looked up, realizing it was Toby. At almost the same time, he realized it was me and instantly held his hand out for me. I took it and thanked him. 

‘Sorry, I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going’. 

‘No, no it's ok, are you ok?’ I nodded. 

‘Do you work here?’ 

‘Not officially. My girlfriend does so I’m just helping out. It's the busy season and I don’t work during the summers’. Girlfriend? He had a girlfriend? 

‘Why, what do you do?’ I asked quickly before I could focus too much on the fact that him having a girlfriend was causing this reaction inside me. 

‘I’m a teacher.’ I don’t know why, but I definitely didn’t think he was a teacher. My surprise must have been clear on my face because he smiled again, ‘What is that much of a shock?’ 

‘No, not at all, just... Not what I was expecting. 

‘What were you expecting?’ I shrugged. 

‘I have no idea’. We shared a laugh and then stood in silence for a few seconds. I didn’t know what to say. ‘Well, I will let you get back to work, I’m sure your girlfriend won’t be happy that I’m keeping you from it’. He chuckled again. 

‘Well, actually, I’m done for today’. I oh’’ed, ‘I’m actually going to go and get a drink, are you busy?’ 

‘Me? No, not at all’. 

‘Do you want to join me? It's only at the bar down on the beach, but the weather is so nice today’. 

‘Oh, I um... I-I don’t know. I haven’t been near the beach since…’ I trailed off, but he of course instantly knew what I meant. 

‘Oh, right, of course. Well, I completely understand if you wouldn’t be comfortable with that. I’m sorry’. 

‘No, no it's ok. Yeah, yeah ok, I’d love to join you for a drink, I mean… I’m hella safe as long as I’m with you, right?’ 

‘Right’. Smiling at each other. 

‘Ok then!’. 

Walking together and talking about random, unimportant things, we headed back towards reception and then towards the door. I could see outside. Bright, lovely... Absolutely terrifying! 

I had to stop for a moment when Toby realized, he stopped too. 

‘Are you ok?’ Taking a deep breath in, I nodded. He held his hand out to me. I hesitated before taking it. ‘You’re good’. He reassured me before he started walking towards the exit again, pulling me along with him, and in just a matter of seconds, we were outside. 

The air was heavy with heat, and the smell of the burning tarmac and BBQ’s went straight up my nose. I could hear children screaming and laughing as they played, the chatter of the adults as they shopped, everyone just having a good time. After asking me once more if I was ok, and me assuring him I was, Toby, still holding my hand, led me across the street to the beach and then over to what I assumed was the bar…