Chapter 16
Daniel doesn’t answer his door. My knocks turn to panicked thumps, and I’m not sure if he’s ignoring me or truly not here. He wasn’t with Catherine, I know that much. He could be with my father. With that thought I walk down a few doors to my father’s room and start the banging process all over again.
I’ve lost track of time. How long since the movie ended, since lunch? How long have we been at this hotel? Time is a blur. I rub my hands roughly over my face and rest against the wall. I’ve been telling myself for months that I was alone, but now . . . I truly am. And I’m terrified.
I take a moment to pull myself together. I look down at Catherine’s clothes and smooth back my hair. My father is probably at dinner, and he plans to be at the party. I have to find them both, and then I’ll drag them out of here if I have to.
A plan starts to formulate. I’ll ask Daniel if I can talk to him outside with Dad. And then I’ll convince them to leave. We came here together; if we try to leave together, we’ll be able to. It makes sense. In my scattered and frightened thoughts it makes a little bit of sense.
I walk purposefully back to the elevator, and the doors open like it’s been waiting for me. My heart crawls up into my throat and I step inside. When I turn, I see that every button has been pressed already, lit up and every floor a stop. The elevator doors close, and although it’s not dark in this space, the air itself seems to dim.
The Ruby will try to stop you.
The bell dings for the next floor. I press myself against the mirrored wall, afraid of who’s waiting for the elevator. It feels like an eternity, and I moan out my fear as the doors slide open. No one is there. I bite hard on my lip, scared to peek into the hallway. I wait. Please, hurry. Please, hurry. The doors finally close, and I squat down, my legs shaking too badly to stand. It’s the same on every floor, and my sanity wavers, until finally the elevator doors slide back at the lobby.
The space is bright and grand in front of me, light glittering from the chandeliers, people happily walking about. I let out a shaky breath and step forward. The scene is one of ease, and I leave the elevator and look around. Is this happening?
My eyes dart to the desk, expecting Kenneth, but he’s not there. Too busy trying to murder his employees, I think. No one walking around seems even the slightest bit interested in me. But my eyes feel too wide, my skin too cold. My lips are parted, shaking as I breathe erratically. I start toward the ballroom, mentally reciting the different ways I can tell my family that the Ruby is haunted, that it’s brainwashing them, and that we have to leave—that we have to try. It’s not going well, even in my head.
I pause when I notice two men in tuxedos standing at the doorway of the ballroom. They weren’t there when I sneaked in that first day. Is this added security a new development? Is this because of me?
The men nod their hellos to every person who walks in the door. They’re not turning anyone away, but will they let me pass? Just then one of the men lifts his head and meets my eyes, like he’s known I’ve been here the entire time. His expression is stern but not altogether scary. If I hope to pass through, I’ll need my invitation. Proper attire. I’m sure I could dredge something up in my room, and then I’ll come down and . . .
It’s then that I hear it, the soft sounds of piano keys; the song. The same song I’ve heard over and over since I’ve been here. I turn and follow the melody, my pulse pounding so fast I’m afraid I’m going to have a heart attack. But the song. I feel like I should recognize it, that I need to remember it.
The people begin to fade away as I turn down the empty corridor. I’m no longer scared, I’m determined. I have to find the source of the music, and then maybe I’ll figure out what the hell is going on here.
I end up at the door of the billiard room. It’s partially ajar, the lights blazing inside, but I’m scared to walk in. What if Kenneth is there? What if he’s waiting for me?
“Hello?” a voice calls from inside, as if noticing me linger. I push the door open more to find Elias standing at the leaded window. I sway with relief. He’s okay. Thank God he’s okay. When he sees me, he puts his hand over his heart.
“I called your room,” he says breathlessly. “I’ve looked everywhere.” His hair has fallen onto his forehead, disheveled, but he’s still painfully handsome in his gray suit. He checks me over, and the corner of his mouth tilts slightly. He must recognize Catherine’s clothes.
I stare at him, not sure where to start. “Did you hear it?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Hear what?”
“The music,” I say. “Did you hear the music?”