Chapter 507: Special guests (1/2)
A four-drive prolonged into five hours. Along the coast admiring the blueness yonder, he missed a junction and followed the wrong road. It didn't take long to get back on track, though it came at the price of time. Approaching the 'elite' area, the change began with a slow and gentle ascension. The road narrowed into a single lane, the forestry about grew thick and overwhelming. At times the signs would simply not give instruction, the more one continued, the more decrepit and deserted it felt. Normal judgment would kick and say return home. Not here, not in this case, Éclair showed exactly where to head. The fear of the unknown turned to mere words.
Blue sky stuttered by floss-like clouds loomed beyond the tree-line. The road resumed, long and slow, peaceful or cautious, none knew. Flowing of water sang, a wooden bridge spawned as the portal to another dimension. The heavy blockage of the trees from the prior climb all but disappeared. Made by triangle supports, the pathway gave a clear view of the sea far down. At the mouth of the river, a delta formed upon which farmers grew plants. The brownness didn't extend far up the shore, few barricades stopped the dirt from escaping deeper into the lagoon.
'We're here,' he crossed into Hephon. Cleanliness and solitude were immediate. The road grew large. Numerous beautiful buildings were about, the lovely hedge-style barricades around various mansions accompanied by avant-garde architecture. Not stopping to admire, he sped along farther inside until a private road protected by brick-walls. 'Balna,' stood in a sign.
”Hello, how may I help you?” gestured a guard.
”I have a reservation,” said Igna taking off the helmet.
”Yes, please,” the actions felt unwilling, ”-can I see your luggage and check for verifications?”
”Sure.”
A fresh breeze of relief dowsed the visage, the tight and uncomfortable relaxed per laid back shoulders.
”Might I ask why security is so?” wondered Igna noticing few people and more guards about.
”Balna,” said he cross-checking with the receptionists inside, ”-isn't that well seen per the inhabitants here. We're against sharks of the resort business. I don't know how long we'll last. Considering every customer that comes here is either a spy or plans some sort of sabotage, we have to be careful.”
”What about the policy?” he wondered in pure curiosity.
”Shames me to say,” exhaled the guard, ”-the staff tries hard to keep true to the owner's wishes. Our food is amazing, and the service is affordable. I'd gladly take my family here if I could. Thing is,” the check paused, ”-we had a particular incident last week. Business's been low, and the scheme was successful,” he handed over Igna's card, ”-please enjoy the stay.” Gates opened per a push, and the bike went on its way. No red-carpets were deployed, the building inside wasn't that impressive. For a four-star beast, the very compartmental design left much to be desired. Despite the 'boring' outside, a step in and the perspective change. A grand lobby with few customers roaming about. The workers held smiles and white-gloves. A pillar englobed by various slideshows went up to the ceiling. At its feet was a quaint little fountain sprouting water at a normal pace.
”Greetings sir,” said the lovely receptionist.
”Hello, I have a booking under the name Igna,” replied he.
”A moment please,” she fiddled around the keyboard to breathe in awe.
”Something the matter?” he asked with a tilt.
”No, no,” her hands hid nervously under the counter, ”-you've booked the master-suite,” the other hand reached for a card, ”-this will get you access to the room. Please have a good stay.”
”Thank you,” he faced away, '-why did she seem so distraught?'
”You've booked the master-suite,” commented Éclair, ”-the most expensive room in the entire hotel for two days and one night. It's bound to turn eyes.”
”How much did it cost?”
”About 350 Exa per night.”
”Isn't it supposed to be like, cheap?”
”Obviously. Still, tis a hotel we're talking about. The prices range from 20 till 500.”
”You saying there's another more expensive room?”
”Yeah, the presidential suite. I'll get into details later, head up the elevator – there's something you need to know.”
Clean marble floors changed to the carpet. The suite was on the fifth-floor at the eastern wing. Here, the few guests about turned to a ghastly town. Ambling down the red-brown carpeted corridor felt eerie. The more steps taken, the longer it felt. *Master Suite,* no room name assigned. A tap of the card and voila, an expensive room at a hotel. What could be said of the décor, not much? It sure was pretty and minimalistic. The few things about were expensive. A sunny-balcony gave onto the idyllic beach. In the end, the money was worth the view. *Slrr,* it slid to a warmer outside.
”What is it?” he laid upon a beach-style chair.
”Balna's gone through a few conspiracies as of late.”
”Really?” he looked about curiously.
”Isn't it weird that the Presidential Suite isn't up for booking?”
”Now that you say that…”
”Let me speak.”
”Fine.”
”It goes without saying, what I have here has been dug up from the hotel's and local law enforcement's servers. Don't underestimate my power. It all starts about two months ago. The guests staying at the presidential suite were spooked by weird knocking at night. They reported it almost immediately. The footage was scanned and nothing was found. The guards were on alert but none pay much attention. Most draw it to the rambling of a drunkard man. The very next day, same reports and these are witness reports I'm quoting. He returned to the lobby and cried about seeing a shadow. Once again, they checked the footage and found nothing. At parts of it, the clip blurred and grew distorted.”
”Hold on,” interjected Igna, ”-are you sure this is what happened? Getting the feeling of having heard this story somewhere.”
”Shut up!”
”Sorry, sorry.”