The Midnight Hotel

“Stay close to me if you want to survive.”

Winona looked up sharply as the stranger pulled her against his chest while screams echoed somewhere deep inside the dark hotel corridor. His black shirt was stained with blood, yet his hand around her waist remained steady and warm.

“What exactly is trying to kill us?” she asked.

The man lowered his gaze toward her trembling fingers before giving a faint smile that somehow made her heart beat faster at the worst possible moment.

“Tonight?” he said softly. “Everything.”

Then the hotel lights went out.

Three hours earlier.

Winona kicked open her apartment door while balancing takeout bags in one hand and her dying phone in the other. “Ethan, if you touched my cheesecake again, I’m ending this relationship."

No answer came from inside, that was strange. Usually Ethan appeared the second food entered the apartment like a hungry golden retriever with gym addiction.

Winona stepped farther inside and froze.

A blonde woman sat comfortably on the couch wearing Winona’s silk robe. Another girl leaned against the kitchen counter drinking wine from Winona’s favorite mug.

And Ethan stood shirtless in the middle of the apartment looking like a man seconds away from cardiac arrest.

Nobody spoke.

Then the blonde frowned at Ethan. “Wait. You said she was sleeping over at her friend’s place tonight.”

Winona slowly placed the takeout bags on the table.

“Well,” she said calmly. “This feels personal.”

“Babe, I can explain,” Ethan rushed out immediately.

“No, actually, I’m curious now.” Winona crossed her arms. “Was the threesome planned because you wanted me to watch how bad you are in bed live?"

The girl near the kitchen burst out laughing.

Ethan looked horrified. “Can you stop joking around? This is serious!”

“You’re naked in my apartment with two women,” Winona replied. “I think we left serious behind a while ago.”

The blonde quickly untied the robe. “In my defense, I genuinely thought you were his ex.”

“I am now.” Winona muttered.

Fifteen minutes later, Ethan’s clothes, sneakers, gaming console, and protein powder collection were scattered across the apartment hallway while nearby neighbors secretly watched through cracked doors.

“You’re overreacting!” Ethan shouted while trying to collect his underwear from the floor.

Winona leaned against the doorway with frightening calm. “You cheated on me with two women at once and somehow I’m still the dramatic one.”

“It didn’t mean anything!”

Winona pointed down the hallway. “Take your little circus and leave.”

“You’ll regret this,” Ethan snapped angrily.

Winona smiled sweetly before throwing his toothbrush directly at his forehead. “I already regret dating a man who thinks body spray counts as hygiene.”

Then she slammed the door in his face.

Silence filled the apartment.

For the first time that night, the anger faded enough for embarrassment to settle in. Two entire years wasted on a man dumb enough to destroy his relationship over cheap wine and bad choices.

Her phone buzzed suddenly.

Unknown Number. Winona frowned before opening the message.

[Congratulations, Winona Hart.]

[You have been selected for The Midnight Project, an exclusive immersive reality experience for rising creators.]

Another message followed immediately.

[Luxury accommodation. Fully paid trip. National livestream exposure. Final winner receives a publishing contract worth $1,000,000.]

Winona stared at the screen suspiciously.

Before she could process it, her best friend Ava called.

“Tell me you got the invite too!” Ava shouted excitedly. “This thing is blowing up online right now. They’re inviting writers, actors, gamers, influencers, all kinds of people.”

“You seriously think this is real?”

“I think your boyfriend just ruined your mental stability and the universe is compensating you,” Ava replied. 

"Not my boyfriend anymore... dickhead cheated on me with two women..." Winona replied.

Ava sighed, “Pack your bags. We’re ABSOLUTELY going.”

Winona walked toward the window slowly. Outside, a sleek black luxury car waited silently below her apartment building despite the heavy rain.

Its headlights turned on the second she looked down.