“Why didn’t he die?” I whisper to myself, grasping the golden railing. The elevator shakes to life. “I saw her kill him. I have his blood on me.” I lift my hands, spreading my fingers to prove that there are splatters of red everywhere.
The first floor passes, and Joshua turns to me. He takes a moment to evaluate my appearance. “I know you’re terrified and probably have a million questions, but I assure you, I don’t have the answers. I just work here. I do know that we have to keep moving, because if Kenneth catches me when he’s this pissed off, I’ll end up worse than Lourdes.” He turns away. “I don’t intend to let him catch me.”
Beyond the gate, I realize, the hallway lights are going out the minute we start to pass the floors; the darkness is racing us to the top. I’m scared we won’t make it. I’m worried that we will.
“So this place is haunted,” I state. “By Kenneth? Is he the one who can rearrange things?”
Joshua shakes his head. “Kenneth is the asshole in charge, but the Ruby runs the place. She decides who to take in. This is a hotel,” Joshua says, adjusting his uniform. “It’s meant for guests. But sometimes the wrong people slip in. You should have just kept your mouth shut and enjoyed yourself. Now you might be stuck here.”
I want to laugh, his statement’s pure madness. A hotel can’t keep me. Then again, I just watched my friends murder a concierge, only to find him smiling moments later behind the front desk. I tried to leave and ended up reentering the lobby, over and over. I’d be the mad one if I denied any explanation at this point.
The elevator jolts to a stop and I stagger sideways, bumping my shoulder into the wall. Joshua rips open the gate and quickly walks out. I follow behind him, glancing up at the dial to check which floor we’re on. The dial has stopped on the fifteenth floor. Joshua points ahead to a gray metal door.
“Back entrance,” he explains. “Now hurry before Kenneth shows up with a dagger of his own.”
My fear once again spikes, and then Joshua is waiting for me, holding open the door. His stance is impatient, and I pause across from him in the doorway. I peel my hair back from my forehead, the strands stiff with blood.
“Will he really stab you?” I ask in a weak voice. “And . . .” Do you want to ask this, Audrey? I wait a long beat and then swallow hard. “And what happens to you if he does? Will you die?” I’m scared of the answer. Joshua may not be like Kenneth, but it doesn’t mean he’s like me, either. His dark eyes hold mine, unflinching.
“You’re not asking the right questions,” he says calmly. Then he pushes past me and calls for me to come on. I’m going numb; whether from shock or crazy, I’m not completely sure. But it’s offering calm when there shouldn’t be any. When we stop at room 1525, my body is shivering, even though I’m not cold at all.
The door pulls open dramatically, making me rock on my heels. I snap out of my false calm and take a step backward, bumping into Joshua. “Catherine,” I whisper, gulping down a breath. I look behind me, afraid Joshua’s set me up. “Why did you bring me here?” I demand. “She hates me!” I’ve blamed Catherine for convincing Daniel to stay, but now I realize her intention may be much more sinister than that. Frightened, I move to run off, but Joshua grabs me around the waist and holds me fast. I scream, but he smothers my mouth with his palm.
Rather than hurt me, he whispers for me to calm down. To please calm down. He works my body through the door, and I watch as it slams, trapping me in the room with Joshua and Catherine.
Chapter 15
I’m frantic, afraid they’re going to tie me up and torture me. Do terrible things that I can’t even comprehend. I thrash and dig my nails into the back of Joshua’s hand. He yelps, pulling away, and I fall a few steps onto the bed. Joshua shakes his hand, cursing at me.
I quickly take stock of the suite. It’s twice the size of my room with a view like Elias’s. The entire place smells of flowers, hints of perfume. There’s a bright purple and pink bouquet on the dresser, gowns hanging on the outside of the closet door like she was trying to decide what to wear. And then there’s Catherine herself, sans makeup. She’s not made of porcelain. Tiny freckles dot her nose and cheeks, making her all the more real. She stands there, dressed in a white sequined dress and bedroom slippers.
“Don’t come near me,” I say in her direction. “I want to go home.” I’m completely caught off guard when Catherine lunges at me, dress and all, and grabs me by the upper arms to drag me to my feet. Her sharp red nails bite into my flesh.
“Are you trying to get him killed?” she shouts in my face, her eyes wild and her curls framing her face. I’m so startled by her ferocity that I don’t respond, even as her grip tightens.
“Cathy,” Joshua says softly, taking her arms to pull her back. I flash him an accusatory look, angry that he put me in this position in the first place. Catherine tears herself away from him and points her finger in my face.