Memories From A Hundred Years Ago

Like a shattered glass that breaks into innumerable pieces but reconstructs itself as if time were flowing backwards, the memories of this terrifying demon begin to flow, memories that trace back a hundred years...

Crash!

The lively murmur of the crowd, filled with laughter and groans of winning or losing, was abruptly interrupted by the shattering sound of glass.

This loud noise echoed through the casino, capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Oops!"

"What can I say... I guess I'm just clumsy," slowly uttered a beautiful, slender woman with dark hair. Her voice resonated in the air, laced with sarcasm, while her defiant and mocking gaze fixed upon a young employee in his twenties wearing the white and navy blue uniform of Atlantis Paradise Island hotel.

The young man, with black hair and a timid expression on his face, remained silent, avoiding direct eye contact. The woman's lips curved into a mocking smile as she continued her words.

"Everyone, I apologize for interrupting your fun with my unfortunate accident," every word she spoke dripped with malice, emphasizing the word "accident" to make her desire to humiliate the man in front of her crystal clear.

The casino fell into a brief silence, and the gazes of the onlookers turned to the scene, waiting to see how the young man would react.

Unfortunately for those expecting a scandal, he merely lowered his gaze with a faint nervous smile on his lips, observing his shoes stained with a wine as red as blood.

Fragments of shattered glass from a broken glass scattered around him, fragile reminders of what had just transpired seconds ago.

The woman, a friend of his older brother, approached him suddenly and dropped the glass at his feet.

Despite feeling uncomfortable about what had just happened, his personality prevented him from confronting the beautiful woman. Fear of causing trouble and being unjustly dismissed took hold of him, leaving him with no choice but to endure the situation.

"Don't worry, Miss Ashley. It was just a simple mistake. I'll clean this up right away," he responded in a soft and calm voice.

"Haha, you're right, Ashley. Let's have Ethan take care of the cleaning while we continue playing. This time, I'll bet ten thousand on red!"

An imposing man with a muscular figure and a confident smile wrapped his arm around the waist of the beautiful woman named Ashley, seeking her attention with clear attempts to flirt.

Despite that, she quickly distanced herself, paying no attention to his obvious advances.

"Don't dawdle too long, Ethan. I want another glass of wine to enjoy while I watch Jason's gorilla keep losing money," Ashley said with a disdainful look in her eyes.

"Hey, I have no intention of losing. Just wait and see. Lady Luck is whispering sweet and seductive words in my ear, assuring me that I'll definitely emerge victorious!" exclaimed Jason with enthusiasm and confidence.

"Ugh, whatever," Ashley muttered as she settled into a seat near the roulette table, immersing herself in the excitement of the game.

Sigh...

Ethan dropped his shoulders in helplessness and turned to head towards the cleaning supplies. Unexpectedly, at that very moment, he felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, bro. I'll take care of this. Go clean your shoes and bring the wine to our guest," said a young man with brown hair, the same age as Ethan.

"Lucas!" exclaimed Ethan, displaying a grateful smile towards his coworker. Without wasting any time, he hurried to clean up.

As he rushed to the restroom, he observed the vibrant and exhilarating venue, filled with flashing lights and the constant sound of slot machines. The gaming tables were surrounded by excited people, betting and enjoying the adrenaline of the game.

The atmosphere was sophisticated and elegant, with luxurious decor that created an ambiance of glamour and extravagance. The space was carefully designed to provide a unique and captivating gaming experience.

Upon reaching the restroom, Ethan hurried to clean his shoes and quickly made his way to where the wine glasses were arranged for the guests.

"Your wine, Miss Ashley."

Finally, he was about to hand her the wine, but a hand approached and decisively took the glass.

"Well, well, look who we have here, if it isn't my successful brother who landed a prominent job at a prestigious hotel in the Bahamas. Oh, how proud I am," said a tall, handsome man with black hair, dressed in clothing that undoubtedly exuded luxury and style.

"Hey, Matthew! Give me my damn wine!" Ashley yelled with indignation, her voice resonating in a defiant tone.

"B-brother, are you enjoying your stay at the hotel?" Ethan asked with a nervous and servile smile, as if he hadn't heard his brother's sarcastic words.

Matthew cast a disdainful glance at Ethan, not bothering to conceal his contempt, and twisted his face into a grotesque, twisted smile.

"Of course, Ashley, here's your wine. Oh, no!"

Crash!

Without any pretense, he threw the contents of the wine directly onto Ethan's white pants, causing a large red stain. As expected, the glass shattered.

Ethan stood there, bewildered, unsure how to react to the mocking and pitying gazes of the other guests.

The smiles and looks around him seemed to distort, threatening to shatter his confidence. Fortunately, he quickly regained his composure, returning to a state of normalcy.

"D-don't worry, brother. I know it was an accident. I-I'll take care of cleaning this up and bring another glass of wine for Miss Ashley," Ethan said in a trembling voice, while avoiding eye contact with Matthew.

Lucas, observing the situation with growing anger, was about to step in and intervene.

However, his attention was diverted when he noticed a woman in her thirties, dressed in the hotel uniform, approaching with a serious and displeased expression by his side.

"Ethan, there's no need for you to bring anything else, as they will probably "accidentally" spill it on your clothes again. Go home for now. I can't allow you to continue working in that condition," the woman said with an air of authority.

"B-but Coordinator Jane, I still have two hours left in my shift!" Ethan exclaimed nervously.

Matthew, witnessing the situation, angrily interjected: "Hey, hey, there's no need to send him home just yet. In the end, it's just a sibling prank. Don't be such a killjoy, old lady."

A thick vein appeared on Jane's forehead as she firmly stated, "I'm not asking for your opinion, Ethan. Go home. That's an order."

She then shifted her gaze to Matthew and, with a professional smile, continued speaking, "Dear guests, this is a warning. If you continue causing trouble, I will be forced to report it and, as a consequence, cancel your stay at Atlantis Paradise Island. Of course, you will be refunded the remaining money, excluding the days you have already been here."

"Damn it, Matthew, I was just starting to enjoy this place. Don't get us kicked out!" Jason exclaimed, furrowing his brow after returning empty-handed from the roulette table.

Ashley also nodded, though she was the one who started it all, ignoring that fact as if it were natural.

"Tsk, I'm bored of this casino already. Let's go somewhere else. Besides, we have to find the others," Matthew stopped looking at Jane and Ethan, and with his two friends by his side, he casually left the casino.

Jane gently shook her head and then patted Ethan on the shoulder before walking away.

"Stay strong, bro. You just have to endure them for a few more days, and then they'll leave. After that, everything will go back to normal. Even someone wealthy would feel the economic impact of staying in this hotel for more than a week," Lucas said, trying to cheer up his friend.

"Thanks, you're right," Ethan responded gratefully: "Let's look at the bright side—I'll be able to watch some movies faster than usual," he smiled and quickly left the casino.

"Really, his taste in horror movies is terrifying," Lucas muttered as he continued attending to the guests.

Ethan hurried towards the staff area, eager to change out of his uniform and head back home.

As he made his way, he noticed that it had suddenly started raining. However, to his relief, he didn't receive a single drop of water, thanks to the roof that covered the path he walked on.

"Argh, just when I leave work early, it starts raining. What a streak of bad luck..." Ethan sighed resignedly.

"Hmm?"

As he approached the staff area, Ethan noticed that both the visitors and some hotel staff members were casting curious glances at the rain.

Intrigued, he decided to stop and look up. He was bewildered to discover that the rain was falling in a reddish hue, resembling the color of blood!

"...What the hell is happening with this rain?" he asked perplexed, though there was no one around to answer his question. Still, he seriously doubted that anyone could have an explanation for this strange situation.

But soon, he felt relieved as he watched some people stepping outside and letting themselves be soaked by the rain, confirming that it was not blood but simply rainwater with a peculiar color.

A fleeting impulse crossed Ethan's mind, tempting him to join the curious scene and feel the crimson rain on his skin.

However, after a brief moment of temptation, he decided to resist and continue on his way to the staff area. He knew it was time to leave and unwind by watching some movies.

Finally, Ethan arrived at the staff area, where he found a spacious room equipped with lockers and benches for employees to change.

Clang!

He opened his locker and took out his personal clothes. Calmly, he removed the stained uniform and dressed in his regular attire, leaving behind any trace of the uncomfortable situation he had experienced moments before.

On his back, he carried a small backpack containing his personal belongings and the stained uniform, which he planned to wash at home.

He left the hotel without wasting a moment and headed straight to his home. Luckily, the rain had already stopped, which made him think that perhaps the bad things had come to an end for now.

After walking for ten minutes, he arrived at a modest apartment complex provided by the hotel for its staff.

In no time, he took the elevator up to his floor and, upon opening the door, felt an immediate relief as he entered his own personal space. He heavily sank into the comfortable sofa, releasing a tired sigh that echoed in the tranquility of the place.

"Ah... there's nothing like being home. I think I deserve something refreshing to drink. Today is the perfect day to finally enjoy that trilogy I've been saving for moments like this."

With happiness, he stood up and made his way to the kitchen, where he poured himself a cold and refreshing drink to savor in his long-awaited moment of relaxation.

Ethan returned to the sofa and settled in. With a click, he turned on the TV and began exploring the options, browsing through different movies until he found the one he had been eager to watch.

In the movie, hordes of zombies soon began to emerge, accompanied by explosions and a variety of astonishing scenes.

"Without a doubt, zombie movies are the pinnacle of the film world..."

He settled into the sofa, allowing the movie's plot to transport him to a different world, distancing himself from the tensions of the day.