Midnight at the Spectral Motel

THE COLD COFFEE

A thin grey light came into Mayas window. This light was from the desert. Maya did not really sleep. She just passed out. When she woke up she felt terrible. She did not get rest. She was very scared. The nice humming sound from Room 5 was gone now. The annoying tapping sound from Room 8 had also stopped. The whole motel was very quiet, at dawn. The motel was like it was holding its breath.

She got dressed fast and went into the lobby. Silas was already there standing still behind the desk looking the same as he did when she left him a hours ago. Silas gave her a nod looking her up and down.

Silas said that the person is, in the dining nook. The person has been sitting there for twenty minutes now. Silas told me that the person asked for you.

Mayas stomach got all tight and worried. She said to herself what am I going to do what is the next step, for Maya. Maya really did not know what to do.

He told her what she had to do. She had to serve him coffee. She had to be polite to him. She had to be dull and not say anything. He finally looked at her. "Remember you are a woman who owns a motel that is, in bad shape " he said. "The motel is broken-down. You do not know what you are doing."

Maya took a breath and walked to the little alcove with sunlight coming in. It was off the lobby. Had a few tables. Leo was sitting at one of them. His laptop was open. He had a notebook next to it. When he looked up he had a smile, on his face. He really seemed happy to see Maya.

Miss Reed, morning, to you. I hope I did not scare you night when I showed up without telling you I was coming.

Maya said it was a surprise. She kept her voice steady. Maya turned to the sideboard where an old coffee maker sat. Maya asked if they wanted coffee.

He said please and then he said black. He watched her pour something. The place looks really nice. It is just like it used to be. It feels like I am looking at a picture. I would really like to see the plans, for this place if you have them.

She said "I do not". She brought him the cup. The cup was a white mug.. When she put it down she felt a chill. It was a chill that went through the ceramic. The steam that was coming up from the coffee was not rising much anymore.

Leo did not seem to notice. He took a sip of the coffee. His smile faltered for a short time. The coffee Maya knew without tasting the coffee was now ice cold.

He said and then he put the mug down really carefully. Your uncle, Arthur he was a private person. Did your uncle Arthur ever talk to you about the motel and the strange things, about it?

Maya leaned against the sideboard. She crossed her arms. She said that the motel owner was not a friend of hers. Maya met the motel owner two times. The motel owner was an old man who owned a motel.

Leo said that the motel never seems to have any people staying there. He spoke in a way. He pointed to the parking lot outside the window. The parking lot was empty. "It feels like someone is here" Leo said. "The motel feels occupied. Do you think that is true?" Leo asked, looking at the parking lot and the motel. The motel feels like it has people, in it even when you do not see anyone Leo thought.

The building is really old. The old building creaks when you walk around it. I do not like the sound the old building makes when it creaks.

It sings Leo said quietly his eyes getting sharper. I heard the music night. It was a tune but it was very quiet. Then I heard something. It was like one note that just kept playing over and over again. It was like when you listen to a song and it gets stuck. Leo took another drink of his cold coffee. He kept looking at me the time. Where do you think the music came from he asked.

The desert wind can make sounds she said, repeating something that Silas had said the night before. She was thinking about what Silas had told her. The desert wind can make sounds that is what Silas had said.

Leo laughed,. It did not make his eyes happy. He said "The wind, of course." Then he closed his laptop. Leo said "I will be out, for most of the day I want to see the area I want to go to the society and look at the county records." He got up. Left his full mug of cold coffee on the table. Leo said "Maybe we can talk more tonight I want to hear what you think and your mother was Clara was she not? She went to see Arthur one time I think.

The sound of her mothers name coming from him was really bad. It felt like someone had hit Maya. Maya just stopped moving. The sound of her mothers name was very upsetting, to Maya.

Leos smile was an one but it was not a big smile. He said "I do a lot of research. It helps me find the interesting things that are connected. I hope you have a day Miss Reed."

He walked out of the nook. Gave a polite nod to Silas. Silas stood like a statue, at the desk. Then the front door. Closed. After that a car engine started outside.

Maya let out a shaky breath. Her hands were trembling a lot. Maya was very nervous. Maya could feel her heart beating fast. Mayas hands would not stop trembling.

Silas was next to her in no time. "You did a job " he said. "He let you see what he is really looking for. He is not just looking into buildings and things, like that. He is looking into her life. And he is looking into your life too Silas told her.

Maya said in a voice "The coffee..."

Silas said that the motel was giving this person a reminder that he is not wanted there. This will not hurt him. It will make him feel uneasy. The motel is sending him a message that he will know what it means. Silas explained that the motel just wants to make this person feel like he should not be around. The message, from the motel is something that this person will understand.

The sound of scratching came from the brass message slot. Then a single note came out of it. The note was, from the brass message slot.

Silas got the thing. He looked at it. His face became really serious. Then Silas handed the thing to Maya.

This note did not come from Room 5. The handwriting was really different. It looked cramped and urgent. The writing seemed to be done in charcoal. The handwriting of the note from Room 5 was not, like this all.

This person is not just paying attention to what you're saying. He is actually trying to figure things out. The heart of the matter is what he is really looking for. You should not let him find the office.

Maya said what about the office.

Your uncles private office is really the center of everything. This is where they keep track of all the people who come and go. Silas looked at the door that Leo had just walked out of. He is not someone who studies the past. Leo is a man who looks for things of value.. He thinks there is something powerful here that he can find and use for himself.

What is, in the office?

Silas said everything is at stake. The first key is what this is about. The first guest is also a part of this. Then there is the pact that holds this place between worlds together. If he gets his hands on the pact the first key and the first guest he will not just mess up the balance. He will have control, over the balance, the first key and the original pact.

The phone, at the desk rang. It was a ring. This happened in the middle of the morning. The front desk phone rang like it usually does at that time of day. The front desk phone made an ordinary sound.

Silas and Maya looked at it. The guest light had not come on.

Silas answered the phone carefully. He said "Neon Mirage". Then he listened to what the other person was saying. He said "Yes, Mr. Vance. I understand. Of course. I will make sure it gets taken care of." When he was done talking he hung up the phone. His face looked very serious.

What is it that this person wants?

Silas has some things coming to the house this afternoon. It is a box. He wants us to put it in his room. Silass grey eyes looked really upset. He is getting something. The thing he is getting is something that can help him or hurt someone. Silas thinks he is moving faster with what he wants to do.

The motel got really dark all of a sudden. It was like the sun was hidden behind a cloud. The motel was making a noise. The pipes, inside the walls were making a sad sound.

The battle was no longer about silence or disturbance. Leo Vance had declared his true intent. He had come not to study, but to conquer. And the first skirmish would be over a simple, delivered crate.