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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/02321 on 2024-11-20 18:16:55+00:00.
I was tempted by an email about a job that looked like it wouldn’t kill me. I just needed to investigate a motel.
All sorts of supernatural motels showed up on empty roads of almost abandoned towns. There must be a few thousand different types of these buildings. Some were creatures disguised as somewhere to rest. I only knew details about the basic ones. A Pop-up Motel for the most part isn’t overly harmful meanwhile a Haunted Hotel can be very dangerous. A mixture of safe and life-threatening is a Bugged Motel. I just needed to gather details about an out-of-place building in the middle of nowhere. What could go wrong?
Knowing my luck, a lot of things.
I arrived at the location where the motel had last been seen. These types of buildings don’t show themselves to just anyone. Luckily enough, I was the type of person it wanted—or didn’t feel threatened by. The outside looked more like a decent hotel than a U-shaped motel. The nicer the place, the more danger that waited inside. I took a deep breath and walked through the glass doors, unaware of what would greet me.
To my surprise, it appeared normal. It’s as normal as an unnamed hotel showing up overnight in a rundown neighborhood could be. A man dressed in a professional suit jacket waited behind the check-in desk. His dark eyes watched me as I carefully walked over. His friendly smile did nothing to comfort me. For some odd reason, he reminded me of August. They didn’t look related. It was just how they both smiled and facial structure formed their face. Because of that one hint, I already knew what I was dealing with.
My palms became sweaty as I tried to look calm. I stopped in front of the desk hoping I could get out of this place safe and sound in the next few minutes.
“What can I do for you today?” The man chirped.
His smile grew wider, and it made every hair on my arms stand on end. I only had one chance.
“I would like to book a room for next Monday if possible.” I said, keeping my voice steady.
The man nodded and reached for a book to write down the information. There were no computers or cameras in the lobby. But I knew I was still being watched. I glanced away long enough to spot a cockroach nestled in the corner near the ceiling. I focused my attention back on the clerk and gave him my contact information. I was almost in the clear. Once I left, I would pass along what I learned to The Corporation. They would decide if this place was dangerous enough to assign an Agent to deal with. I could cancel my booking, but I wasn’t aware of what the cancellation fee would be. Whatever it was, it would be better than actually staying in a place like this.
After a tense few moments, the clerk finished my booking and I let myself exhale knowing I was free to leave. Before I took a step away, someone came literally crashing through the door, guns drawn. A few bullets hit the clerk, his false face blowing apart at the edges showing parts of what he really was.
“I’m here to exterminate all you fucking bugs!” A voice shouted out into the lobby.
I stared in sheer shock at the stupidity of the person who just arrived. He wore a long black duster with his hair wild. Countless charms and necklaces dangled from his neck, and he stood tall because of a pair of black platform boots covered in belts. He must still be a teenager if he thought those boots for fighting monsters were acceptable.
The clerk smiled away, not noticing a few new holes in his face.
“Would you like to check in sir?” The clerk asked.
I couldn’t stop the kid in time. I opened my mouth to speak but he instantly responded.
“Fuck yeah I do! That way I can-”
I watched as a swarm of dark insects flooded out from each side of the lobby. They went around me heading straight to the newcomer. He screamed and shot wildly trying to get away. He didn’t stand a chance.
“We’ll see you to your room. And we’ll see you on Monday.” The clerk said, his voice not able to hide the joy of nabbing a new victim.
I felt the floor move under my foot. I was rudely tossed out, the doors slamming behind me. The windows in the hotel became dark as a closed sign appeared in the window. No matter how hard I pushed or pulled, the doors weren’t opening. This was not good. That kid had at most, a few hours before the hotel claimed him. This was easy to tell this place was a Bugged Hotel.
It was just as it sounded like. A supernatural hotel run by insect monsters that pretend to be human. Since they didn’t eat the kid when he first checked in, then I knew they would keep him alive but slowly drain his life away.
I rushed off and somehow got a meeting with someone I’d spoken with before. Klaus met me outside of the interview room ready to hear my story. He handed me a water bottle noticing how haggard I was from running around finding the right damn magic key that would bring me to The Corporation office.
“It sounds like you met a new Hunter. They often take in whoever applies. They give them weapons but no real training. People like this die quickly, but to their credit may take a monster down or two with them.” Klaus said after I told him the short story.
“Clearly this kid was a dumbass trying to look cool. We need to get him out of there, like ten minutes ago.” I pushed.
Klaus made an expression I didn’t like. He straightened his posture ready to ask questions I didn’t want to hear.
“Did you encounter any other humans in danger?” He asked using a stern tone.
“Well, no I didn’t see any but-”
“Your job was to collect information. Our job is to keep the balance between supernatural creatures and humans. We do not kill every monster we come across.”
“Yes, I know that.” I argued but he went on.
“As distasteful as it sounds, The Corporation allows certain creatures to hunt humans to live. Each creature has a different victim limit. From the sounds of it, This Hotel has only taken one human that picked a fight. I’ll submit what you’ve told me, but you may need to accept the fact this hotel’s activities have been approved by us, but we were just not certain where it had moved to.”
“Are you saying we should just leave him to die?”
Klaus took a moment to try and collect his words. I knew he had most likely dealt with situations like this before. His hands were tied when it came to how The Corporation dealt with certain supernatural creatures. I knew it was only fair of them to protect monsters as much as they did humans. I still didn’t agree with certain decisions.
“If this is deemed to be a priority, then we’ll send an Agent out. Your job is done here. You’re able to carry on with the rest of your day.”
Instead of being angry over what he said, I nodded. He said I could leave and do anything I wanted today. That included saving a stupid young Hunter that got himself into a huge mess.
I left the office behind knowing I wasn’t going to get any help from them. Instead, I called an old friend. She owed me a favor. Not a big enough favor for her to rush into such a dangerous place. I may need to pay her a little extra for this.
She met me in front of the Hotel, face bright and ready to help. Harp was taller than me. Her well-built body could barely be contained in her simple clothing. Now that I was in front of her again, I knew why I had stayed away for so long. I got weird when she spoke to me. I suddenly understood Joey’s interests a little bit more.
I shook off those emotions to get down to what we needed to do.
“It’s good to see you back on your feet little man.” Harp said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
She had cream-colored hair that she always kept tied back for jobs. Her ears were slightly pointed and her nose was flat. I’ve never figured out what sort of creature she was. The only thing I knew about her for certain was that she could snap me like a twig with her massive arms.
“Not fully on my feet, but it’s good to see you. Thank you for helping with this.” I quickly said and started forward hoping she would follow.
She did not. I turned back, my stomach rolling with different emotions.
“You know what my price is. What I owe you is not enough for this.” Harp said, eyes gleaming.
I let out a deep sigh feeling my face go slightly red.
“Not in front of people this time, alright? Now let’s go.”
I wished she would stop teasing me as much as she did. This time she followed. Her long strides soon overtook my pace. She entered the Hotel, the closed sign now gone. I felt a million unseen eyes on us when we entered the lobby. She stopped a few steps away from the front desk. The dark-eyed clerk smiled at us. His smile appeared strained when he saw me again.
“Booking a room for tonight?” He offered in a less polite tone than he used with me earlier.
“Nope. Coming to pick up a friend. You wouldn’t happen to know what room he’s in, would you?” Harp said, sharp teeth coming into view.
The clerk matched her expression.
“I’m afraid we can’t give out that information.” He half hissed.
“Then I’ll just have to beat it out of you.”
She quickly moved; fists ready. The clerk let out a cackle, finding th…
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