Trenton

The hotel we were staying in was called Sawgrass Mills Hotel. It was a four-and-a-half star rating, and it must have been very expensive.

“Where’d we get the money for this?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” Kylie responds. “I woke up with an envelope on my stomach with money and a note telling us that this is the nearest hotel.”

“Then let’s go check in!” Kathryn says. We get to the front desk and the lobby clerk looks up from her computer.

“Oh! You must be the note party! We have your rooms all ready! We just need the payment, then we’ll get you set up quickly.” We all looked at each other. Kathryn speaks up.

“Um there must be a mistake. We didn’t book our rooms.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re Kathryn Jones!” We all look surprised, but hand over the money. Any room would be nice because we’re so exhausted.

“You’re rooms will be 221 and 222. Bellboy! Show these guests to their rooms.” A husky guy, about nineteen, steps up to us.

“Right this way,” he gestures with his hand. We all cram into the elevator and head up to the thirteenth floor. We step off and walk down a hall. The plush carpet quiets our footsteps. The walls are painted a yellow/ gold color with a red floral design striping down the center. We came to the middle of the hallway. Rooms 221 stood before us, 222 right next to us. We opened the door and a rush of cool air blew over us. We walked in to an ornately furnished room. A huge plasma screen TV sat on a glass shelf. A bathroom stood off the side, and there were two bunk beds, each with soft linen sheets. A table was in the corner with a couple chairs. A crystal chandelier hung down from the cavernous ceiling, proving that we must’ve been on the top floor. A small refrigerator and microwave were on a cupboard. Lamps were strategically placed so light was spread out evenly. An open door revealed an identical room conjoined to ours. Room 222. We got settled in, then decided that the guys would sleep in 221 and the girls in 222. Kylie found that we had some money left over, so we went out and found a mall nearby. We found different stores to buy new clothes and back packs, and then we drive to a grocery store to buy food. We get back to the hotel late at night. We get to our rooms, and the girls go into their room. I hear the lights go out in their room, and one by one, ours go off. I’m sleeping on the bottom bunk with Nathaniel on the top of mine. Eric sleeps on the bottom of his with Dawson on top. I lay in bed for a couple minutes, wide awake, when I see Eric sit up in bed. He leans over to me.

“I need to talk to you,” he whispers to me. We both get out of bed, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and head down to the lobby. We find a table and sit down. I look at the clock and read 12:45.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” I ask.

“It’s about Serena,” he says.

“What about her?”

“I’m worried about her. When we were talking alone the other day, she told me that her family had been murdered. She said she had nothing else to live for. Trenton. I’m scared she’s gonna kill herself.” I can see tears threatening to come.

“Don’t be too worried. I’ve known Serena for a while now. She’s stronger than she seems. She will find something else to fight for. And I think I know what it is.”

“What is it?”

“You. You are her boyfriend. She is gonna be fighting because you are. Don’t ever lose hope. She is looking up to you, so try staying strong no matter how hard it is. I know from past experiences that breaking down during a hard time can bring a whole group down. Serena and I try so hard to stay strong in front of you guys, but as soon as we aren’t, the veil is gone. We are fighting for you guys. And we are trying so hard to keep all of you guys with us. If I lost Kylie… well I’d rather not think about that. But she needs you. And I can see that you’re gonna need her too. You guys are perfect for each other. I’ve seen the way you look at her, and her at you. I will do everything in my power to keep you two alive and together.” I could see that he was holding back tears. “It’s okay to cry. We all break down eventually. I wont judge you.” I see the first tears fall, then they come like a river.

“Trenton. I can’t lose her. I JUST CAN’T! MY LIFE WOULD BE A DISASTER! I… I love her.” He puts his head in his hands and I see his shoulders quivering. I get up and go stand by him. He stands up and we slowly walk back upstairs. By the time we leave the elevator, he’s stop crying and is wiping his eyes. We get to our room and walk in. he heads to the bathroom to wash his face and I wait outside. He finally comes out and I grab his shoulder. I make him look me in the eyes.

“I swear on my life that I will get you and Serena through this.”

“Will you actually? What if it’s a choice between one of us and Kylie?” I stare at him for a while before answering.

“I would try to save both of you. Now c’mon. Let’s go to bed.” I start walking to bed, but he grabs my wrist.

“Thank you. A lot. It means a lot to know that you will help us. Thank you,” he says. He gives me a quick little hug and we walk back to bed. We leave the bathroom and turn to see the slenderman in the middle of the room, tentacles fully extended. They snake throughout the dark room and are wrapped around Dawson and Nathaniel. I see three more going through the door into the other room.

“Eric! Run!” I yell at him. He turns and runs to the door. However, it slams shut by itself. I’m trying hard not to look at slenderman.

“It’s locked!” he yells at me. “What do we do?!” Just then, a cold unspoken voice talks.

“Sleep. It is time to sleep.” I feel dizzy and I start to fall over. I turn to see that Eric has collapsed on the spot. Tentacles wrap around him and I feel my mind growing foggy. I finally fall into the soft comfort of sleep.