Munroe Island

Chapter 5

Appollo reaches the motel around 1 a.m. It was an old traditional house, remodelled into a motel.

It was surrounded by a high wall with an Edwardian gate. He realised in relief that it wasn't locked, and he hurried in.

He walked along the stone path, and reached the large Oak front door. He reached for the huge brass lion knocker on it, and announced his arrival.

He waited for a full 5 minutes. No response. He tried again. Yet no response. He looked around in despair. He was tired, hungry and sleepy.

I must most probably resembling a zombie now, he thought to himself. Why isn't anyone answering the door?!

He tried again kept waiting. When he felt his legs would give away, he looked around and saw a wooden bench not far away from the entrance. He decided to spend the night there, since he didn't have any other choose. One of his bags was made a pillow, and he fell asleep on the bench.

*******

Appollo woke up to the sound of people talking. He opened his eyes, and immediately narrowed them due to the sunlight. He slowly looked around, and set up alarmed.

Where am I, he thought. He looked at the people who had gathered around him, who were looking at him in shock. It was then he remembered the previous day's adventure, and that he was in Zen.

"Sir?"

Appollo looked up at the owner of the voice. He saw a timid looking man staring at him.

"Sir? Are you alright?"

"What? Uhm. Yes, yes. I'm OK. I had come yesterday night, but as nobody answered the door, I had to spend the night here."

The man, along with all other people continued to stare at Appollo, who was confused with all the attention he was getting.

I must be looking horrible if these people must look so hard, he miserably thought.

" Uhm, I know I'm not in my most presentable form but...", he was cut off mid-sentence by the timid man.

"That doesn't matter sir... Its just that.. Never mind.. Please come in sir. We will arrange for a room, you really look... Tired."

The other people gathered around slowly dispersed. Appollo followed the man inside. He was marvelled by the architecture, and was lost in his own thoughts.

The man went behind the reception desk and fished out a register to fill in the visitor's details.

" Your name sir? "

Appollo was brought back by the man's voice.

"Huh? Beg your pardon? Sorry I zoned out. This place is beautiful."

"Your name?" the man repeated.

"Appollo. Appollo Xander Angelos. And you are..? "

"Good morning sir. I'm Winston Jacob, the manager here. Please fill in these details, and sign here. " he extended the register to Appollo, who did as he was asked to.

After all check in formalities were done, Appollo was escorted to his room by a bellboy. Once they reached the room, Appollo thanked and tipped him, which the latter accepted wholeheartedly. He was about to leave, when he suddenly said,

" You know what sir, you are really something else. Do you know why everyone was staring at you in the morning? We all actually thought you are dead!"

Appollo stared at him in horror.

"What? Why? Dead? Really.. I mean come on, I know I'm a sound sleeper but.."

"No no sir it's not that. You really don't know anything about this place right. Nobody dares to step out of their houses at night. And you, came here, that too alive at 1 in the morning, passing the graveyard on a new moon's day!"

Appollo was confused.

" So? "

" So? Yesterday was a new moon's day sir. The day when the Red-Eyed spirit visits Zen to hunt its prey! "