Sydney looked up toward Arvin, her voice seemed to choke.
Then she spoke in a gentle voice.
"Why hello sir, is there anything you need?"
Her foot tapped rapidly against the ground.
Arvin reached into his pocket and revealed his badge.
With a commanding voice he said,
"Detective. Under our circumstances may I be able to inspect your area?"
Sydney gave a revealing smile before agreeing and letting them inside.
Arvin and Chessie both walked in. Inside the room was a door to Arvin's right leading to a white bathroom. Straight ahead was a window opening to a balcony, and in the same area was the bedroom. Four beds, two on each side of the room, each with a desk and a small gas lamp.
To the left was a small kitchen area with a little metal fridge, and next to it a small metal oven.
Arvin tapped Chessie and pointed toward both the kitchen and bathroom, signaling her to check them.
As Chessie walked first into the restroom, Sydney and Arvin moved into the bedroom area.
Arvin decided to make some small talk.
"How has your morning been, ma'am?"
Sydney, a little frightened, cleared her throat.
"Um, it's normal so far. My mornings are always tiring!"
Arvin chuckled a little before looking over the first bed.
"So are you visiting Gita with family or friends?"
Sydney responded, her voice still slightly shaken.
"Yes, me and a couple friends of mine came for the lovely oceans outside."
She walked toward one of the desks near a bed and picked up a brown straw-like object.
After Arvin inspected all of the beds, he called out to Chessie.
"Chessie! Are you done, find anything?"
Chessie from afar responded after a quick moment of silence.
"No boss!"
Arvin sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"Alright then, let's go to the other room."
Chessie walked out first as Arvin bowed and thanked Sydney.
After Arvin closed the door, Sydney walked to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and went to the sink, running water over the brown straw.
"Think I finally found it!"
Meanwhile, Arvin and Chessie walked to room 16.
As they approached, Arvin felt a misty heaviness in the air, like the damp breath of a swamp. It reminded him of the lake he visited years ago.
Chessie covered her nose.
"The air feels so heavy."
As Arvin drew closer to the door, a strong urge tugged at him.
It felt unnatural, almost supernatural.
Standing in front of the brown oak door, sweat gathered on his brow as the hairs on his arms stood on end.
From the other side came a gut-wrenching smell.
The stench made Arvin think back to his childhood, the kind of horror that etched itself into memory.
It was the smell of human blood.
Arvin quickly stopped Chessie.
"Do you smell that?"
She looked at him with a confused expression and shook her head.
Arvin reached for the revolver at his waist.
Click.
He cocked it back, then released the handle and gave a gentle knock.
Knock, knock.
The door opened slowly.
A tall, mature man stood there. He had black wavy hair and worried dark eyes. His face was pale with sweat trickling down. He wore a wool brown jacket, dark trousers, and high black boots. On his hands were gloves with golden lining across them.
Arvin spoke without hesitation.
"Is this Zoa Malqui?"
The man's voice shook as he stood frozen for a moment.
"Y-Y-Yes sir. I-Is there any reason you're h-here?"
Arvin revealed his badge.
"Detective. Under our circumstances may I be able to inspect your area?"
The man hesitated before stepping aside to let them in.
The room had a foggy, heavy smell.
It was small, only one bed.
The bathroom had nothing but a toilet, but the kitchen was larger, with an oven twice the size and a fridge.
"Chessie, check the same areas," Arvin ordered.
He looked toward Zoa and asked in a demanding voice,
"Do you have anything going on here?"
Arvin made sure his gun was more visible.
Zoa stumbled back, raising his hands in the air.
"I-I got nothing here, sir!"
Arvin walked into the kitchen. Chessie was already there, looking into the fridge.
"He has nothing, boss. I checked every part. Only thing in the fridge is food."
Arvin's face showed doubt. His eyes darted across the room, his nose twitching.
"Chessie, are you sure? The smell— I smell blood."
He looked into the fridge. Inside were different foods and fresh meats. Blood stains ran across them, pooling on the sides of the fridge.
"Boss, maybe you're wrong. It can always just be these bloody stacks of meat!"
Zoa walked up behind them, shaking as he spoke with pleading confidence.
"Sir, I have n-nothing in this room. What exactly are you looking for?"
Arvin, still eyeing the fridge, froze. Then he gave a loud chuckle.
"I'm sorry Zoa, it's just— there's been a case going around. Fatigue has been catching up to me recently."
He rubbed his eyes and looked at Zoa with a smile.
"I might have been wrong about you. Ha, ha!"
Chessie looked at him wide-eyed.
"Boss, you can laugh normally!"
She chuckled, and Arvin joined her.
With a more relaxed smile, Arvin bowed to the man. Just then, his eyes noticed something else in the fridge. More pieces of meat he hadn't seen before. They were red and juicy, but on one was a green fuzz. A giant moldy spot covered its surface.
Arvin looked at Zoa before reaching down toward the meat.
He gave a friendly laugh, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Zoa! There seems to be some meat you left! Let me show yo—"
Arvin's eyes widened. His hairs stood on end.
The moment his fingers touched the meat, a strange aura bled from it.
The flesh morphed in a gut-wrenching way, leaking blood as it grew larger. It began to take shape. Around it, the other meats transformed, spilling blood from every corner.
The piece Arvin touched shifted in texture, becoming cold dead skin.
Under the crimson flood, a decapitated head emerged. The lifeless expression frozen in terror, moments before death. Beside the head were severed hands, then legs.
Arvin stood frozen.
Behind him, Zoa broke into laughter.
He was laughing like a lunatic.