Chapter 3
A short time later, the group gathered around Jasper's van, their suitcases piled high. Mr. Warner, ever the picture of enthusiasm, clapped his hands together, his brown eyes twinkling with energy. "Ready? Great! It's just a short walk from here," he announced, his mop of brown hair bouncing with each animated movement. Moments ago, he had been somber and pleading, but now he seemed to radiate excitement.
As the group began to move forward, Taylor and Mandy planted their feet, sour expressions on their faces. Mandy cleared her throat, drawing the group's attention back to them. Leroy raised an eyebrow, sensing trouble.
"Aren't you coming, Taylor?" Leroy asked, his tone laced with impatience.
The priestess shot him a fiery glare, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on her face. Jasper sighed and walked over to pick up two of Mandy's bags. The bag in Ariel's hand slipped out of her grasp, her frustration palpable.
That Mandy... Ariel thought, suppressing an eye roll.
Mandy giggled modestly into her sleeve, while Leroy had little choice but to follow Jasper's lead, picking up a pair of Taylor's bags. The priestess smiled smugly at him, but there were still three suitcases at her feet. Mandy found herself in a similar predicament, but then Mr. Warner stepped in, his charm unwavering.
"Here now, I'll take these three," he offered, a winning smile lighting up his face. Mandy managed a small appreciative nod, though she seemed less impressed than she had been with Jasper's help. Taylor stood awkwardly, her remaining bags burning holes in the ground. Her face hardened, her eyes leering at the group expectantly. Just as Ariel was about to sigh and take one, Max stepped forward, snatching up all three of Taylor's bags. Taylor let out a giggle similar to Mandy's, her smugness barely concealed.
"Some thanks I get..." Leroy muttered under his breath.
"Okay, everyone set? Let's go!" Mr. Warner announced, his tone suggesting they were heading to a luxury resort. Ariel quickly realized how mistaken she was. The Williams Inn was far from a resort; it was more like an overgrown house where the owners allowed strangers to stay.
"Hello, hello..." Mr. Warner called, setting down Mandy's bags as they entered the inn. Leroy also relieved himself of his load, while Max and Jasper continued to hold theirs with steely looks. John watched them sheepishly with his single bag. The small foyer was lit by oil lamps, much like the theater, and held a simple desk, currently unattended.
Just then, an ancient-looking woman shuffled in, holding a vase of fresh flowers. "Mrs. Williams, how are you?" Mr. Warner beamed, his charm undiminished. The woman set down the vase on the desk, then moved it a few spots over, only to decide she did not like it there and moved it back.
"Mrs. Williams?" Mr. Warner persisted, his smile faltering slightly. Just then, an equally ancient man crept in, also facing away from them.
"Ah, Mr. Williams!" Mr. Warner's voice carried a note of relief. "We're here to check in."
"SAY, I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU. WHATCHA DOING THERE?" the old man called out, his voice surprisingly robust for his frail frame. Ariel stared after them, wide-eyed. For such an elderly man, he certainly had a powerful voice.
"YOU SAY YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME? I WAS JUST HERE, PUTTING UP THESE FLOWERS. I DON'T REALLY LIKE HOW THEY LOOK," the woman replied, practically shouting back. The man observed the vase thoughtfully, then slowly and precisely moved it an inch to the left. The woman broke out in a wrinkled smile.
"PERFECT, MY DEAR!"
They shared a loud, hearty laugh. Mr. Warner cleared his throat, but neither of them so much as glanced his way.
"I SAID, AHEM."
Startled, the old woman grabbed her chest, and the old man put a hand on the desk to steady himself.
"SAY, WHAT'S THE MEANING OF SNEAKING UP ON US LIKE THAT?" the old man barked.
Mr. Warner smiled again, trying to maintain his composure. "Sorry about that, I've brought your guests from Atlanta," he explained.
The old man looked to the old woman. "WHAT DID HE SAY? WHO ARE THESE STRANGE PEOPLE HE'S WITH? I ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS AN ODD ONE, DOING ALL THOSE PLAYS AND SUCH."
Mr. Warner turned a shade of pink. "I just told you—"
"I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT THAT TALL ONE GIVES ME THE CREEPS," the old woman said, eyeing Max apprehensively. Max shifted, his face hardening even more, if that were possible.
"MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS, THESE ARE YOUR GUESTS FROM ATLANTA," Mr. Warner shouted, his face now beet red. The old couple blinked in surprise.
"OH. HELLO." Everyone bowed stiffly and murmured their hellos.
"DANIEL, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY SO?" Mrs. Williams wondered, shuffling around the desk and pulling out some rusty keys.
"I tried to..."
Mr. Williams was busy counting everyone in front of him. "SEVEN," he yelled at his wife. "HOW MANY ROOMS DO WE HAVE LEFT?"
Left? Ariel thought, glancing around at the dilapidated inn.
"SIX," Mrs. Williams answered with a frown. Everyone exchanged concerned looks.
"We can always share a room," John suggested with a kind smile. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"WHAT ARE THEY NODDING ABOUT? ARE THEY SLOW OR SOMETHING? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOMS," the old woman said to her husband, who shook his head. Mr. Warner stepped forward hurriedly.
"No, no, I would never ask you to share," Mr. Warner insisted, a polite smile on his face. "I'd be more than happy to have one of you stay at my place. Not to brag, but it is one of the nicest houses in Magnolia Midlands."
Taylor perked up instantly and took Mr. Warner's arm, her eyes lighting up with interest. She was clearly unimpressed with the state of the inn and saw an opportunity for a more comfortable stay.
"How nice of you, Mr. Warner," she cooed. "If you would just help me with my bags—"
"Ah—" Mr. Warner said, wriggling out of Taylor's grasp with some difficulty. "I was actually wondering if Miss Makenzie would join me?"
Taylor's face drained of all color. Ariel recognized the look on Taylor's face and knew that if Mr. Warner had been Leroy, he would have been wise to duck and cover his head. Mandy looked surprised but, with one last glance around, consented with a modest giggle.
"Well, I suppose I have no choice," Mandy said sweetly.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE TALL WOMAN? SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. I DON'T THINK I LIKE HER EITHER," Mrs. Williams remarked to Mr. Williams, who nodded in agreement.
Pleased, Mr. Warner picked up Mandy's bags again, taking the two from Jasper as well. Ariel frowned sullenly at the medium. Of course, Mandy gets to stay somewhere nice, she thought bitterly. But then she caught her boss's eye, and a small smile tugged at her lips. Of course, that means she won't be near Jasper.
"I guess it's settled," Ariel spoke up encouragingly. Mandy sent her a sharp look, noting the triumphant tone in her voice.
"You are okay with this, aren't you?" Mandy asked, turning to Jasper, her voice dripping with charm. He nodded.
"Just be here tomorrow morning," Jasper said firmly.
Ariel watched the exchange in disgust. "OH LOOK HOW THE YOUNG GIRLS GLARE AT EACH OTHER," Mrs. Williams tutted.
"I THINK THEY BOTH HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON THAT PALE YOUNG MAN," Mr. Williams observed, nodding sagely.
"NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT IF YOU ASK ME..." Mrs. Williams appraised with a grunt. Mandy's cheeks burned crimson, and Ariel was sure her own complexion matched. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Leroy fighting to suppress his laughter. Taylor smiled smugly next to him.
"Um, time to go, I think," Mr. Warner suggested, trying to move things along, sagging slightly under the weight of all the medium's luggage. Mandy agreed, and with a quick goodbye, they were out the door.
"THEY'RE LEAVING?" Mrs. Williams asked her husband, confused. "WHY DIDN'T THEY TAKE THE REST OF THESE WEIRDOS WITH THEM?... LOOK AT THE TALL ONE, HE'S REALLY SCARING ME."
Mr. Williams patted his wife's shoulder. "YOU CAN LEAVE NOW TOO," he told the remaining group.
Taylor, silently fuming from being snubbed, found her voice. "WE'RE NOT LEAVING. NOW GIVE ME THE KEYS!"
The elderly couple looked stunned, then frowned and crossed their arms. "WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ROOMS TO ANYONE."
Taylor, turning red, was about to start a shouting match with the old couple when Jasper stepped in. It was not like him to raise his voice, so he let his actions speak instead. He set a sizable amount of money on the desk.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams stared down at the money with wide eyes and, without looking up, handed off the keys. Jasper took them with satisfaction, clearly understanding how to communicate with them better than anyone shouting that night. For a moment, they all stood in silence. Then, as an afterthought, Mrs. Williams pointed to the left.
"YOUR ROOMS ARE DOWN THAT WAY," she said curtly.
"Thank you," Jasper replied, nodding to the group to follow him. They picked up their bags and made their way down the dimly lit hallway. The atmosphere was thick with unease, but at least they had a place to stay for the night. Ariel couldn't shake the feeling that their adventure was only just beginning.
Jasper led the way down the dimly lit corridor, the air heavy with the scent of old wood and faint echoes of distant laughter. Ariel's brow furrowed as she took in the worn-out state of the place—chunks of the wooden walls were missing, the floor protested with every creak under her weight, and the cries of infants seeped through the closed doors, adding a haunting layer to the atmosphere. Twice, droplets of water dripped from the leaky ceiling onto her bare shoulder, sending a shiver down her spine.
At the first door, Taylor snatched the key from Jasper's hand with a swift motion, unlocked the door, and slammed it shut behind her, leaving Jasper with a cold glare in her wake. Unfazed, he moved forward, leading the group further into the labyrinthine inn. Leroy and Max dropped the priestess's bags unceremoniously at their feet, the weight of their journey evident in their weary movements.
As they approached the next door, Jasper extended the key to John, a gesture of gratitude for the smoothness of their journey thus far. John accepted it with a nod of thanks, bidding everyone a pleasant goodnight before disappearing into his room and closing the door behind him.
Next in line was Max, who took the key from Jasper without a word, acknowledging the unspoken understanding between them. Leroy leaned over to Ariel, his voice a low murmur in her ear amidst the quiet of the hallway.
"I'll take the next room. You can have one near Jasper," he offered, a warm smile playing on his lips.
Ariel's cheeks flushed slightly at the implication, her gratitude evident in her whispered reply, "Thank you."
With a wink, Leroy accepted the key from Jasper and made his way to his room, leaving Ariel standing slightly awkwardly beside Jasper. She stole a cautious glance at him, noting his unruffled demeanor despite the long journey and the day's events. His presence still held that crispness and charm that seemed unaffected by fatigue.
Their silent procession continued until they reached Ariel's assigned room. Jasper finally turned to her, his gaze carrying a weight that made Ariel's cheeks warm once more. He handed her the key, their fingers brushing briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through her.
"Goodnight, Ariel," he said, his voice soft yet carrying a hint of something she couldn't quite decipher.
"Goodnight," Ariel managed, her voice a whisper as Jasper walked away, his figure melding into the shadows of the dimly lit hallway. With a sigh, she entered her room, shutting the door behind her and leaning against it, the echo of Jasper's parting words lingering in her mind.