The Game Door

I love taking risks, the reason why I am in my situation right now. I did not know what to expect when The Grim Reaper opened the door for me. When she told me that she calls the door she opened "The Game Door", I was expecting that it would stand a lot of arcade games, shooting games, and those machines that you take a stuffed toy in it. It wasn't.

Upon opening the door, roars loud music and laughter is the first thing I heard in the room. Then the biggest chandelier I have ever seen hanging on the glass ceiling. Around the room are open corridors wherein there are people wearing something stylish, I remember seeing them in drag shows, and fashion shows and some of them are neat and simple. Some part of the room is a dance showdown, (I just saw someone dipping in orchestra music while some part of the room has a crowd that is dancing to Megan Thee Stallion's song), and there's a bar wherein a bartender serves drinks for the guest?

All I'm saying is that it wasn't the door behind it that I am expecting it to be.

"Welcome to The Excelsior!" The Grim Reaper says, twirling in front of me, a new tutu black dress, (that kind of looks like Avril Lavigne's), on her.

A while ago, I was almost mourning that I could be dead and unable to get back into The Reality. Now, I am in a room full of people that appears to be happy where they are.

"What kind of a place is this?" I asked her.

"It's a hotel of the spirits that would like to play the game." The Grim Reaper happily exclaims and pulls me to the bar.

"Hey! Bloody Mary, please?" She asks the bartender, and I noticed immediately that he (or she) is a robot, functioning to serve the guests. At the same bar, a bunch of women was clinking their glasses together as if they are celebrating something, then The Grim Reaper talks to them as if they knew each other for so long. I could care less about what those are celebrating, but right now, I am only thinking of myself and I need to get answers.

"Hey!" I softly slammed my hand in front of The Grim Reaper who is currently talking to another person. Usually, when I do that to people, they tend to get a little shock. She didn't fall for it but I appreciated it when she turned to me with the drink in her hand.

"I would like to ask again what the hell is this place?" I said to her.

"I told you. It's a hotel. And it's not hell yet." The Grim Reaper said.

"I heard you. Then what is the place for?"

"Do you have to ask the same questions all over again?" The Grim Reaper annoyingly said, then goes back to the women who are celebrating.

I kind of understand her attitude right now. It would also annoy me if the same questions were asked. I remember my sister, Kassie, asking me how to download this specific file to her laptop, even though I have repeatedly told her what to do. It would also annoy me when my brother, Karlos, would ask me how he should adjust the brightness of the monitor he is using. Just thinking of this makes me want to play the game that The Grim Reaper has mentioned in order to get back to The Reality. I would do anything whatever it takes to get back.

I look around again and noticed also that the people inside the room are the vast majority of people of color. There are Asians, African-Americans, Whites, Hispanics, Latinos, Indigenous People, Arabs and so much more. I love games that are diverse because playing games like this would educate you about their tradition and culture even just a single lint. It frustrates me also whenever there is mocking and inaccuracy about them. I remember once singing up for a petition to cancel a game because there was mocking of one specific ethnicity. We successfully canceled it and the gaming company made a new game. Representation, nowadays, is very important.

I walk around at the center of the room and observe its 1950s-style lobby. My brother would be a fan of it, but I vibe for the 1980s- style of a hotel, same with my sister. But then, as I slowly check the details of the lobby, I start to appreciate it. It feels like getting back from time. Also, does time travel exists here?

A bump on my back releases me from my wonder that I almost fell, but my reflexes stop me to. I look back, annoyed, to see who did that. Then I saw another woman, dressed like she was going to a MET Gala, with her reaction like she is drunk because she is holding a glass of champagne. She tries to mutter once an apology, but then hiccups. She shakes her head and tries again to talk.

"I apologize, dear." She says while putting a hand on her chest. "You can see clearly that I am drunk." She says while I notice that she has an accent that I couldn't tell. She also has a deep voice which made her beauty even more. Her dress is sky blue chiffon that spread to her toes and has a deep black hair color that is tied up to her head. Her ethnicity differentiates her from Asian to White.

"It's fine," is all I could say because I was busy checking her out, and then I realized that it was rude for a man like me to do so. Men should be considerate about checking out women. Some of them may like it but most of them don't.

"Dear, it's fine to check me out. I appreciate you being attracted to me," she says then twirls, her dress joining her, which made me a bit concerned because she is in the state of being drunk. Afterward, she spills her drink on someone and apologizes again, then laughs.

It's not that I feel enamored by this woman, however, I feel that I could be friends with her. I can blend in with anyone, regardless of what state there are in. This personality is what always made me the president of a student government back in school once.

The woman in a chiffon dress holds my arm and says, "You're new here at The Excelsior?"

"I guess so," I said, still confused at my situation.

"I know that you worry about getting back at The Reality as soon as possible. But for now, try to at least enjoy the fun here. And trust me, being out of the darkness, and entering The Excelsior is all worth it." She says, then opens her mouth as if she was shocked. "Goodness me, I am so rude. My name is Eleanor Roosevelt, not the first lady, but my dad gave me that name. You can call me Eli for short." She gives me her hand, and I introduce myself also.

"I'm Karleil. New here."

The Grim Reaper interrupts us, making her way to me and Eli's center. "I guessing that you're making new friends here, Karleil." To Eli, she says, "Don't offer him a drink yet, Eleanor. He needs to be checked in first."

"Oh my gosh, Karleil. You have to do that first before you enjoy the fun. You must go now." Eli says then turns away. The Grim Reaper ushers me to the front desk of the hotel while she whispers something to me. "Eleanor is always drunk whenever The Break is initiated. But when she is sober, you need to be careful of her. She's cunning and could manipulate you into getting what she wants."

As we get to the front desk, a woman in her hijab welcomes us and greets The Grim Reaper.

"Jawaria, Darling. Can you get my new guest here a room? Also, give him a room service to feed himself. He is tired from The Darkness and is starving." The Grim Reaper says.

"Sure thing. May I ask which card do you like to use for his stay?" Jawaria asks.

"Miss Girl. You know that if I have new guests coming in, I always use mine." Then she fishes her card and I did not think that it was there with her all the time. Jawaria, the front desk attendant, happily accepts The Grim Reaper's card. After moments of her typing, something and then swiping the Grim Reaper's card, she happily looks at me, "Mr, Karleil, my name is Jawaria, and welcome to The Excelsior. Our butler would assist you in going to your room. We hope that you have a pleasant stay." She reaches me a key card with her two hands, which I take. At my right is the butler who is taller and darker than me. I have noticed that the staff from this hotel are good-looking, and remembered once that Karlos once studied in Hospitality Industry, which he did not pursue after graduating and started to work in a tech company anyway. He told me once that working in the hospitality industry means that you need to look pleasing to people.

My mind was blurred from reminiscing a memory from the reality until I reached the door which was supposed to be my room. I was confused about when I would stay so I ask the butler, and he replied, "There are no limits if when you can stay in The Excelsior. Mr. Karleil. It would be up to you when." He shows the touchpad of the doorknob and gestures to me to use my keycard for the room. As soon as I use it, the butler opens the door for me, then I smell a familiar scent. A scent of my room back in The Reality.

I walked inside and felt the familiar breeze of my own room. It was always as clean as it was, making myself proud that I like cleanliness. I have my computer set next to the door, and that comfy gaming chair that Karlos bought for me. There is also a whiteboard hanging on the wall, and the bed is arranged near the window so that when I wake up, I would see the sunlight, the first thing in the morning.

"Enjoy your stay, Mr. Karleil." The butler says and closes the door for me. I look back at my room and observe it again.

I could not believe this. It felt like I was back in The Reality. I was feeling my things that are on the computer table like the bracelet beads that Kassie made for me, which I don't wear because it does not match my fashion. I pick it up and wear it, to have a reminder of my sister. I miss the feeling of the gaming chair so I sat on it and touch the armrest. It felt the same as it was back.

Usually, having a hard look that I show to strangers is my defense mechanism upon meeting them. It only softens when I got their trust. I would share so much about my life and my now friends back in The Reality would tolerate my stories, the good, bad, and the ugly.

Today, as I see my room, I felt emotional, and later I felt the tears streaming down my face, I did not bother to wipe them off my face because I do not want my dirty hands touching my face to avoid germs that could cause pimples. I was very particular with my hygiene.

I went to my own bathroom to see if it was still clean before. I was not disappointed to see it spotless. I remember that we had a housemaid who used to clean extensively, especially my bathroom. She also changes my bedsheet every two weeks to avoid the bed bugs, and that's what I feel comfortable about.

Somehow, this is the first thing that I like about The Excelsior. They gave the spirits their own rooms familiar to them when they were in The Reality, and I was gladly one of them.

What I did not notice though is that there is a big screen that I know I did not have back, though I wished for it for film school to watch Netflix. Karlos says that he is unable to afford it yet for me and that I have a big monitor to watch the movies I like while I study them too.

Once I got in front of it, it flickers a light from the screen to show an ad about the nice things offered by the hotel. A woman from the background speaks, just like what you hear from home shopping TV ads.

-

"Does your spirit roams in The Darkness, waiting for you to come back in The Reality? Are you in despair? Are you in a spot wherein you don't know what to do?"

"No worries! Because The Grim Reaper would assist you to a door of big possibilities, The Excelsior!"

"Once you get to The Excelsior, enjoy an infinite stay at our hotel while you enjoy our amenities, like the infinite beach, our gymnasium, and our theatre bigger than the Dolby Theatre in California, USA. Our sports areas wherein you can see our basketball court and our soccer court, and you can get fit while you use our fitness area to get buff and sexy. You can also enjoy our bar at the beautiful hall, wherein our bartenders would be happy to serve you. If you like to gamble, we also have a casino and you can also dance in our ballroom anytime you want!"

"We rest assured our guests that their stay would be as comfortable as if they are back in The Reality."

"Also, get a chance to play The Game, offered by our Hotel Manager, Madam Annabelle, for you to win our prizes, especially our top prize-winning 5 million worth of Happiness! Just go to our front lobby to ask for more details about The Game."

"Thank you so much and enjoy your stay with us!"

-

I remember what The Grim Reaper said about playing a game. I did not know what is that 5 million worth of Happiness. What is that for?

I go downstairs from my room to find out.