Alone on the elevator going up clutching my bag like it's some ancient relic that might save me. After the last student left from the 10th floor, I forced myself to look around and pretend this was normal.
The conversation on the plane flying back to my heart was like a reminder on my phone, together with the scene in the anime I just watched. Where I pasted Ice face on the male lead and me, on the side character.
Female leads get shy when the male lead asks for their number.
I remember that scene, cute and made my heart jump and da bump uncontrollably.
Me?
I forced Ice to give me his number just so I could stalk—NO, not stalk, research!
I forced him to make me lunch. Very greedy behavior missy.
I forced him to teach me. With extra lessons, long life sermons. Cry emoji.
No wonder he sees me like some tiny side character. A little sister. A gremlin child. A walking red flag.
Stupid. Stupiiiiidddd. I stomp my feet, thankfully I am alone on this elevator.
Face red embarrassment, how can I do that?!
But it's fine. It was just a crush.
A tiny, small, microscopic crush.
Argh.
INT – HOTEL, 27TH FLOOR – 11:30 PM
The elevator dinged open and I stepped out alone.
Wow. So unfair. Not even the same room as my friends.
Left. Right.
The corridor was silent, like "Are-you-sure-you're-not-in-a-horror-movie?" silent.
Okay, scary alarm activated—NOT voluntary!
This is why I watch romance, not horror!
I forced my breathing to behave.
"002." walk
"003." walk
Okay Fire, just count like your life depends on it.
"004."
End of the row. Then a small left turn toward the corner. The carpet felt soft under my boots, which did nothing to calm the goosebumps.
And then I saw it.
Room 005.
It sat alone at the end of a narrow hallway—almost like a VIP suite that doesn't want visitors.
Above the door: a clean, intimidating 005.
Like it was daring me.
Calm down, Fire. You're not the sacrifice in this school trip.
Right?
RIGHT?
I stayed at the edge of the main hallway, staring at the door like it might whisper back.
"If I disappear, Dhylan and Oriel will look for me… right?" I whispered to the universe.
I took my first step down the small private hallway.
Dead silence.
No footsteps. No voices. No other students settling in.
Where are the seven-people-per-room noises?!
Why is this the only floor that sounds abandoned?!
Another step.
Gulp.
When I was in the elevator, every floor had chatter. Laughter. Moving luggage. Not to loud but lively.
This floor?
Crickets. Absolutely nothing.
My brain, the traitor it is, started remembering horror stories about disappearing students on school trips.
I didn't ask for that memory!
My mind is sabotaging me!
The corridor behind me felt longer now, stretching like a hallway in a creepy dream.
The door ahead felt taller—tower-like.
The door handle glinted gold, shiny, almost… bait-like.
Knock first?
No knocking?
What's the protocol for possible demonic hotel rooms?!
My heartbeat pounded in my ears. My bag was suddenly heavier than a full semester of textbooks.
I reached for the handle, fingers trembling. It was colder than expected, like it hadn't been touched all day.
It's fine, it's nothing, it's fine, it's nothing—
Mommy help me!
Mustering the last two seconds of courage my soul had left, I yanked the handle down quickly and pushed the door open.
Silence.
No voices.
Maybe it was empty?
Maybe I had this room to myself?
But… why don't I have the key then?
I cracked one eye open.
Blur.
Then the lights came into view—warm, soft orange glow.
Then everything sharpened into HD.
Someone was standing there.
A few feet in front of me.
A man
In a bathrobe?
Hair dripping water?
A towel in his right hand, halted frozen in time like he was drying it.
His face held that same tired, confused mixture I saw in the library.
My heart didn't double from fear anymore. It tripled!
And I kind of wish it was a ghost.
Because this reaction?
This panic?
Same result.
My eyes went wide, his blank.
My legs turned into jelly.
My mouth hung open like a broken door hinge.
Still clutching the doorknob like an idiot.
And the man in front of me was
Ice.
Why is Ice here?!!!!!
Next Chapter:
The SSC thought they were prepared for anything—except President Ice actually accepting their plan.
One keycard, one nod, and the entire council goes from terror to euphoria.
But while they celebrate their narrow escape, Ice is already on his way upstairs…unaware of the chaos waiting in Room 005.