The waiter came and took their orders, Karl ordered something he couldn’t even pronounce properly but insisted it sounded fancy, Adrian chose the quietest dish possible (herb soup), Julian went for roasted buns and a fruity tea, and Milo... ordered two plates of rainbow noodles and a sweet bun.
The food arrived quickly, hot and aromatic.
"Milo! Don’t eat so fast!" Ruby warned as Milo stuffed the colorful noodles into his mouth like they’d disappear if he blinked.
"I can’t help it! They’re sooo good!" Milo said with puffed cheeks, his voice muffled.
Karl was eyeing the dessert tray from across the room like it was treasure. "Wife," he said seriously. "I need that triple-layer pie. I’ve never needed anything more."
"You literally just ate two dishes," Ruby replied.
"I’m growing," Karl said proudly.
Julian chuckled quietly, handing Karl a napkin to wipe his face. "At this rate, you’ll grow into a ghost ball."
Karl gasped. "You dare?!"
Adrian finally turned his head from the window. "You’re already half way there."
"Traitors," Karl muttered, pretending to sulk.
Ruby laughed softly, leaning her chin on her hand as she watched them—this strange, beautiful little family she had built.
The red sea sparkled beyond them.
But right now, this moment full of food, teasing, warmth, and quiet smiles was more beautiful than anything.
After their peaceful evening at the beach and a satisfying dinner, Ruby drove them back to the hotel. The sun had already set, casting the world in quiet shades of dark red. The city lights shimmered in the distance like a sea of stars, and the red-tinted waves sparkled under the last light of dusk.
She parked the car on the rooftop terrace parking of the hotel, guiding them gently toward the lift. Her hand rested protectively on Milo’s back as they walked, her gaze sweeping across each of them.
Just before they reached their rooms, she turned and stood in front of them, her expression turning serious.
"You all are sleeping in different rooms from mine," she began, her voice firm but soft, "so listen carefully—if anyone knocks at your door, don’t open it unless it’s me. And don’t roam around alone, understand?"
Her red eyes glinted slightly under the hallway light, the breeze from nearby hall window tugging at her hair.
"I’m not trying to scare you," she added, seeing Karl’s cheeky grin starting to form. "But my instincts are telling me something is off. And... my gut’s usually right."
Julian nodded first, always obedient. Milo looked a little scared, but he nodded too, reaching for Karl’s sleeve. Adrian gave a short nod, silent and understanding.
Karl puffed out his chest dramatically. "Don’t worry, wife. I’ll protect them. No shady people will get past me!"
"That’s what I’m afraid of," Ruby muttered under her breath, earning a giggle from Milo.
In the end, she had Karl share a room with Adrian, hoping Adrian’s calm nature would balance out Karl’s mischief. Julian and Milo shared the room next to theirs, while Ruby stayed in the third room.
They all freshened up, and soon, the rooms were quiet. The hotel fell into a calm lull, with only the soft humming of distant wind and the occasional rattle of something brushing against the windows.
But sometime deep into the night, Karl stirred.
His eyes blinked open slowly. Something had woken him. A sound.
At first, he thought it was part of his dream...a soft dragging sound, like something being pulled across the floor. But when he turned his head, Adrian was still there, sleeping on his side, face calm and breathing slow.
The room was dimly lit by the bedside lamp, left on for Milo’s comfort, though Milo wasn’t here.
Karl sat up slowly, frowning.
Like something knocking faintly against a wall.
Ruby’s words echoed in his mind—don’t open the door.
But... what if it was nothing? What if it was someone who needed help? Or worse, a bad ghost doing something suspicious?
He tiptoed toward the door and gently turned the knob.
The corridor outside was lit with only one light. The warm light flickered weakly, casting long shadows that danced across the tiled floor. The hallway stretched silently to both ends, narrow and unusually long.
The air felt heavy. Too quiet. Like the hotel was holding its breath.
But the sound came again—scrrrrch—a soft scraping, like metal across stone.
Karl took a cautious step forward, glancing over his shoulder at Adrian one last time, sleeping peacefully. He gently closed the door behind him and stepped into the hall.
Each step echoed faintly under his feet.
"Hello...?" he whispered, voice shaky but pretending to be brave. "Anyone there?"
He walked slowly, each footstep measured, moving toward the source of the sound. The corridor turned a corner ahead. The flickering light above his head buzzed slightly, then dimmed.
Then came a sound like someone breathing... very softly... just around the bend.
Karl’s skin prickled.
He clenched his fists and muttered, "Don’t be scared. Wife will laugh at you if you’re scared. Just check and go back. Be a ghost!"
And with that... he turned the corner.
However... there was nothing.
Just the hallway stretching ahead, eerily empty. Silent. Still.
Karl stood there awkwardly, blinking.
"...There’s nothing?" he muttered under his breath, one eyebrow twitching. "That’s it? All that creepy drama for nothing?"
He glanced to the side.
The walls were plain, off-white with strange old paintings that looked more like faded shadows than actual art. One of them was tilted slightly to the left.
Karl tilted his head too, frowning.
Was it like that before?
He shook his head quickly. "No no no. Don’t overthink. It’s nothing."
His voice sounded louder than he expected, bouncing off the hallway walls and coming back to him like an echo of his own doubt.
He turned around, ready to go back.
He suddenly couldn’t remember his room number.
—To be continued...🪄