“Truth or Dare? And stop with the truths. It’s getting dull already.” Julian said.
“If you say so, bro.” Carter said, wanting the game to be more fun. “Dare.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Julian said excitedly. “I want you to go and get that’s girl’s number.” He said pointing behind Carter at a blonde woman with pretty hair standing in the distance. It was the same receptionist who had been on duty that morning. Eliana rolled her eyes.
“What! Are you serious?” Carter was surprised that Julian would ask that. “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to do it? I mean just look at you, she’d give you her address in a blink.”
“Address and much more.” Eliana muttered.
“Easy for me, not you. What did you expect? This game isn’t supposed to be easy. Haven’t you seen the movie?” Julian asked.
“He’s right about that.” Naomi supported. “A dare is something you wouldn’t do willingly.”
“True that,” Mia said.
“Alright, I’ll do it.” Carter stood up and made his way to the woman even though he was freaked that she might stake him alive. But he worried in vain and since he pointed towards Julian, she quickly scribbled her number on a paper napkin and handed it to Carter giving Julian a naughty wink. Carter came back to his friends with the number in his hands.
“There. Phew. I did it.” He gave it to Julian, who took it graciously and pocketed it. Eliana looked at Julian with distaste. Such a player, she huffed silently.
“You did. I’m proud of you.” Mia encouraged Carter giving him a high-five.
Carter spun the bottle next and it stopped at Eliana and Julian. “Well, well, Bennett. Truth or Dare?” He asked with a gleam in his eyes. Eliana was about to pick truth but she didn’t want to be predictable and knew that is exactly what Julian was expecting. Jax came back and sat down next to her without a word. None of the others asked him anything, all intent on Eliana’s answer.
“Dare.” She chose. Julian was amused at the way he could provoke her with just a look.
“You sure you don’t want to choose the truth? Because you know, you seem the type.” He commented as she narrowed her eyes.
“You know nothing of my type. Dare.” She repeated, not wanting to give him the satisfaction to goad her.
“In that case, I want you to go up to the third floor to room 325 and spend at least twenty minutes in there,” Julian said.
“Julian, I don’t think it’s safe to go in there,” Mia said looking concerned. “Why not?” Naomi questioned.
“Haven’t you heard?” Carter worried. “It’s haunted.”
“Haunted how?” Jax asked.
“It is believed to be the most haunted room in the hotel, and many guests have reported seeing the figure of a woman standing outside the door. People have witnessed faucets turning on by themselves, lights flickering, and the sound of a baby crying being heard. Employees and guests of the hotel believe Bridget Bishop is source of these paranormal encounters you know, the first victim of the witch trials.” Eliana looked spooked already, as did the other two girls.
Jax looked at his sister. “You don’t have to do this El. You can refuse.”
“Yeah El, you don’t have to do this,” Julian smirked at her.
“But how would she go in without a key card?” Naomi asked.
“About that.” Julian stood up and went to the receptionist whose number rested in his jeans pocket. Eliana saw him flash a million dollar smile at her and she could literally see the result it had on the woman who struggled with breathing. They both left the lounge together.
“Did he just walked out on us to get hooked up in the middle of a game?” Mia asked.
“I’m not sure.” Carter said. “Let’s wait and see.” They didn’t wait long because Julian came back minutes later looking smug. “Bro, what was that?”
“That.” Julian said producing a key card to room 325. “Was me getting this.”
“Wow.” Naomi looked impressed. “Was she even allowed to do this?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.” Julian shrugged.
“You’re the man, bro.” Carter said, slapping Julian on the back.
Eliana stood up. “Alright then, I’m doing this and I don’t scare easy anymore, Jax.” She snatched the card from Julian started to walk out towards the elevator. “If I don’t come back in twenty minutes, maybe get help.” She muttered on the way. “Wait.” Julian called out. Eliana turned at his voice. “No using the elevators.” She cursed him under her breath.
She was on the second floor stairwell when Eliana starting to freak out. She heard all kinds of sounds, even the hotel seemed to be conspiring against her. She swept her bangs aside and tried to calm down. The lamps caused shadows and all she could see was scary monsters that hid under her bed. She jerked around when she heard sudden taps or bangs coming from the walls. She prayed to God to spare her from dying a gruesome ghostly death and cursed herself for leaving her phone behind at the table. This is all Julian’s fault, she started to take slow steps forward once she reached the third floor. She heard light footsteps coming towards her, heart racing she closed her eyes tight so didn’t see the female ghost Cater had mentioned. The steps came closer and then stopped. She let out a sigh of relief when she bumped into something and screamed her heart out. So did the person she had bumped into. Julian.
“Julian! What are you doing here?” She said when she could breathe again.
“What do think? I was looking for you.” He said.
“Why did you scream then?” She asked. Is he as scared as I am? She wondered. He didn’t seem the kind to be scared of anything.
“Have you seen your face? You look even scarier in this light. I’m going to have nightmares for weeks. This is what I get for rescuing you.” He shook his head as if it was the worst decision he had made.
“Why did you come? I didn’t ask you to.” She defended herself.
“Yeah well, I didn’t want to hear Jax and the others continue to blame me if you ended up dead out here. So you know, it was self-defense.” He shrugged casually. “I don’t want you to haunt my ass in case I stay here in the future.”
“Such a gallant knight you are.” She said sarcastically and opened the stairwell door ignoring him.
About The Author:
Jannat loves to watch anything from movies to tv shows about myths and legends surrounding romance in a certain perspective. She absolutely adores reading about sexy heroes and sassy heroines.
When she's not writing, she will mostly be found day dreaming and snuggled up with her cat Sasha, whom she loves dearly.
A Love Lost In Translation is her first Wattpad story and inspired by true incidents.
