Six of Us

Chapter One- Rumors

“Yeah, boss, I’m almost there.”

I look at my watch. It’s almost three. I sigh. Charles had told me to be there by two- thirty, but here I was, sitting in traffic.

I should introduce myself. I am Starley Mason, struggling author. By now, I should have at least one book published. I mean, come on! I wrote it three years ago! Okay, the topic is a bit dull, but hey, if Hobbit, the most boring book in the world, the solar system, the galaxy, the whole universe, can get published, so can my book!

I finally arrive at the hotel. I look at the signboard. It reads, “Lillie Hotel & Resort”. In no way is this a resort, I think to myself. I enter through the stained glass door. It’s not too shabby, just really, really old and creepy. Charles is sitting there, in the lobby, with Celine beside him. I raise my eyebrows at him, but he just shrugs.

Charles is my publisher. His grim expression, grey eyes and omnipresent frown makes it look like he is always at a funeral. Celine is his, uh, secretary. She has bright pink hair, shoulder length, and a fake smile is always present. Have her chewing bubble gum, and she is perfectly plastic.

“Ah, Starley! We’ve been waiting! What took you so long?!” Celine exclaims, batting her eyelashes.

Charles scowls. Probably because he did not want her here at all. Like always, she had gate crashed.

“Traffic,” I mumble. Charles grunts. I shoot him a piercing look, one that says, “Support me and I won’t kill you.” He gets it, and says, “That’s alright.” Celine just gives me a sympathetic look, and batted her eyelashes a bit more.

I have to get to work, so I say, “Uh, Charles, let’s go sit in my room. We can discuss there,” and then, just in spite of her, added “Celine, sweetie, the spa’s on the left. I don’t think you’ll enjoy it with us. Our talks might be too…….complicated for you.”

Charles snickers. Celine manages to keep calm, but her ears turn red. And I definitely saw the stink eye she gave later, as we got on the elevator. One point for me, meaning sweet success.

 “This place is SO CREEPY!” she exclaims once we got on the lift, “That must be where the rumors come from!”

“Rumors?”  I say, genuinely shocked, “What rumors?”

Celine just giggles. “The rumors of ghosts, silly! The rumors of death!”