"Hey, Second. Wake up."
"H-Huh?" I yawned.
"It's already 7:00 PM. We need to guard that room 305."
I woke up when I heard that. I twitched my body to sit. I looked at the wall clock and it was nighttime! I ate the food I had bought earlier outside. I took a quick shower and changed into new clothes. How long have I been asleep?
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I asked First.
"Don't worry, I can't detect the presence of that monster."
I ran to the elevator, but it was taking a long time, so I just climbed the stairs. After all, my room is only on the 2nd floor. I looked around and went to the front desk, but the receptionist was not there. I approached the chambermaid who cleaned my room and changed my bedsheet earlier.
"Ma'am, nothing. I didn't notice her."
I just noticed something about the chambermaid, she has beautiful eyes. I approached the janitor. He is in the men's comfort room.
"No, Ma'am." There seems to be something in what the janitor said. I shrugged it off. Everyone looks busy. A series of murders have occurred in this hotel, and the suspect is not an ordinary human, so all the workers here must be working harder. I have no choice but to go to room 305. I went up in the elevator. When I arrived on the 3rd floor, I immediately looked for room 305. I knocked several times and luckily, someone opened.
"Oh, Ma'am, it's you. Do you need anything?" She was wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and slippers. I guess she will no longer work since she's not wearing her uniform and has left her post.
"I just wanted to say something. We stopped talking earlier, right?" Our conversation got interrupted.
"Ah, yes. Come on in," she invited me into her room. This will be a private talk, so this is perfect.
At first, I was skeptical, but she insisted on letting me in. Her room is about the same size as mine. I sat on her little red sofa while she prepared snacks. I looked around, and it was just an ordinary room. There is a red sofa, a small bed, a table, a lampshade, and a bathroom. I think it's cold here. I saw her window. The curtains weren't fastened properly, as if they had been pulled forcefully. The window was also open, so it was cold. I looked at the air conditioner, it was turned off. She must have been changing her curtain.
"Here," She lowered the tray she was holding. I looked at the snacks she gave me. A soda in a can, chips, and cookies.
She smiled at me. "Ma'am, what are we going to talk about?" she sat on the edge of her bed opposite the sofa I was sitting on. She took a goblet with her left hand and filled it with wine. She was ready to give some of it to me, but I refused.
I scratched my head thinking about how to restart the conversation we had earlier. I got chills from the cold. Isn't it cold or is my skin just too thin?
"Oh, your window is open. Aren't you getting cold?"
She was a little surprised and immediately stood up. "I'm sorry. I think I left the window open, and I just arrived here." She closed the window with her left hand. I feel shy. That was quite demanding of me. When she returned to her seat, I questioned her.
"Miss, do you like sweets?" She must like sweets, as seen in the snacks she gave me. Earlier, I saw near the bathroom some bags with grocery items.
"Yes, so much"
"Did you just buy them?" then I pointed out the bag of snacks.
"No, it's already in stock. I really like sweets, don't I?" she chuckled.
I nodded. "So, how is your baby?"
She caressed her stomach. "It's okay, very healthy." She smiled.
There is something off here. I even looked around. Red small sofa, small single bed, table, lampshade, and bathroom. The sofa is only good for one person, so it is not possible. As for the bed, I didn't see anything under it because the bed sheet wasn't hanging on its side. The only possible place is… the bathroom!
"Miss, can I use your bathroom?"
Her eyes widened for a moment, and she blinked. "I'm sorry, it's under maintenance. You can go to the lobby's comfort room."
Why? Why did she react like that? Are my suspicions correct? I calmed down because of the imagined possibility. I'll take this one slowly before I catch her alive. I went back to sitting and she smiled at me. I told her I would use the comfort room in the lobby later after we talk.
I suddenly felt nervous. "About my real purpose here..." I hope I can relay to her my intention of being here.
"Mm?" She seems eager to hear my purpose here but because of what I found out, maybe my real purpose will change as well.
I know First sees me now. I hope he also notices something strange in our situation now because… I am in danger. I am getting nervous. My heartbeat quickened, and there was sweat dripping on my right eyebrow. Are we still going to proceed with our original plan which is to protect her? We have an idea that the one who lives in room 305 will be the next victim of Zarod. His victims have room numbers 605, 505, and 405 so the next one is 305. An obvious killing pattern that Zarod did. We don't know yet if it was purely a coincidence or he did it on purpose.
"Second, I know what you're thinking. Get out of that room, now!" An authoritative voice of First engulfed the silent room. The moment I hear that tone, it means the grave danger that I need to follow his order.
He could control me right now to leave this room but he's giving me my free will. Even without an attacking enemy, he can still do it, but he strongly respects my decisions. And that's one of the traits I like the most.
"Listen to me. I know you already deciphered it. It's too dangerous."
It won't end if no one will end this. From the beginning, this has been First's and my mission. I used to escape Zarod because I was alone and got scared but now... I will face him—we will face him.
"Hey, stop that-" Please coordinate with me, First. I know you can read my thoughts without the need to speak out.
"You won't get anything out of pretending... Zarod."