There were two things that had compelled Zoe to wander the Death Hotel so late that night.
1. Part of her reasoning for going on this trip was to try to find some answers about her brother’s death. Until she had more information, there wasn’t much she could do within the manicured, well-decorated walls on the opposite end of the building where her brother had stayed.
2. Instead of answers, that day she’d found an exotic creature, a weapon, and an epileptic old woman. That was a lot to process, on top of being in the last place her brother had been alive, and the quiet of her room was intimidating in a way that made her want to pretend that it wasn’t through avoidance.
When she’d left her room, she’d had excuses ready in case anyone sharing the suite was up and about, but she able to slip into the hallway undetected. She made it down without interruption. She had her phone in her back pocket, a notebook in her satchel, and a pen in her ponytail. She figured if she ran into anyone, they’d be late stragglers on their way back from the bar who’d gotten turned around.
Zoe hadn’t thought that she’d come across someone with similar intentions as her.
There were two things that compelled Zoe to follow the other girl’s directions.
1. Apparently she’d watched enough Disney movies to instinctively trust blondes with kind faces who had a penchant for sneaking into/out of places.
2. There was something about this Cinderella that seemed familiar.
Quickly following her, Zoe glanced behind her before the door closed all the way, before she turned her attention back to her new companion and the dark hall in front of them. Clearing her throat, she said, “So.” A pause. “Just out of curiosity, how often have you done this? Because we’ve been here less than two days and it seems like you’ve had some practice.”