It was eerily dark and the trees swayed against the stormy wind. It seemed as if nature's wrath was at its peak. She cursed her luck and lowered the car speed as the rain hollered on. She did not dare to stop her car on the highway. The visibility was almost zero beyond two feet.
'Oh damn! How could I be so stupid! I could have taken a two hour flight instead! She had to deliver a confidential package to a person as per instructions of DCP James, her boss.
She glanced sideways at a small package lying on the seat next to her wrapped in an untidy brown paper and wondered what lay inside. She almost had an urge to open it but decided not to. DCP James had laid his trust in her and she didn't wish to go against rules.
Shreya lived with her Father in a small town of Woodsboro, USA and had completed 6 months in ETF. She finally decided to stop for a few minutes. 'I can't see a thing!' She said aloud. She eyes flicked back to the package. It really won't hurt just to take a look at what's inside, will it? She thought. She was about to lift the package when suddenly her cell phone rang. She almost jumped at the sudden noise. DCP James was calling her.
She pressed the answer button and spoke 'Hello? Hello?'
'Riya... Are you all right? The weather's awful! Well... Hello...? Are you there?'
There was a lot of disturbance she couldn't hear a thing. She could hear his faint voice... It seemed he was yelling.
'Riya... Stay... tonight... somewhere... Storm... Stay... Don't drive... Stay... Storm... Can you hear me? Hello? Riya? Riya!'
And the phone was dead. It seemed the network was jammed. 'Hell! This day is turning out to be the worst!' Well but she had deduced his message that apparently there was a storm coming up so he had asked her to stay somewhere for the night and not to drive.
But where would she stay? She was not sure that she would find a motel to stay on this deserted highway. She would have to sleep in the car then. She shivered. 'What if the killer turns up?' She thought. They were working on a dangerous case. A serial killer was on loose and all attempts to capture him had been in futile so far. A chill ran down her spine as she recalled his last two victims were found dead in a car on a deserted street. 'No! Stop this nonsense Riya! You have to find a place to stay up for the night!' She thought.
She drove slowly looking for a place to rest. After about half an hour when she had lost hope and was almost on verge of tears, she saw a flashy neon sign 'Bates Motel'
She was so relieved to see a vacancy sign just below the name. She stopped her car inside and almost ran to the reception. While running the package slipped from her hands and fell in the mud. 'Oh no!' She yelled and picked it up. It was covered in mud.
A man came out from the motel carrying an umbrella. 'Oh thank you!' She said gratefully
'Hi! I am Jake. The reception guy. I saw you coming so got an umbrella for you. The weather is horrible!'
'That's so kind of you! I hope you have vacancy.' she said
'You are lucky miss! We have just one room left!' He said.
'Oh thank god!' She whispered.
They stepped inside the motel. It was surprisingly warm inside. Riya saw a crackling fire in the mantelpiece. She approached the reception desk to find a man standing there. He was tall and broad shouldered and had a handsome face.
'Please hurry up. Just give me the keys. I am all wet!' he said shaking his head and ruffling his hair spraying Riya with cold water.
'Hey what are you doing?' She asked angrily.
'What? Can't you see what am I doing?' He asked in an arrogant voice.
'I am getting wet! Are you crazy?' she asked.
'Well you already are!' He said a little impatiently.
'You...' she began but that that moment the bellhop arrived.
'Your room keys sir.' He said handing the keys to the stranger.
'Mam we are really sorry. The Motel's full. He was in luck. Came just a minute before you' said the bell hop pointing at the stranger.
'Thanks' the guy said giving Riya a wicked triumphant grin and started leaving.
'Hey wait! You can't have the room! said Riya indignantly.
'Excuse me?!' said the Stranger.
'I was here first! I had already booked the room. Where is Jake? The guy who sits at the reception? He had assured me that I will get a room!' she said unable to stop herself.
'Hey this is unfair! I came before you. No way! You are definitely not getting this room!' yelled the Stranger.
'I won't let that happen! And don't you have any manners? Don't you know how to behave with a lady?' She demanded angrily.
Amidst their argument Jake arrived. 'Guys calm down! What's going on here?' He asked
'They are fighting over a room' said the bell hop calmly.
'You had promised me that I would get a room!' said Riya.
'No let's get this straight! I already had the keys when she arrived. So I will get the room!' said the Stranger.
Jake looked from one to other thinking how will the situation be sorted.
'Okay... Sir I would like to suggest a way out if you don't mind. I suggest this miss would take the room.
We will arrange a bed for you in the Motel lobby.' said Jake.
'Fair enough!' said Riya immediately.
The stranger looked at her with narrowed eyes, paused for a moment and then a sly grin flicked accross his lips. 'I have a better option. A deal I would say' he said.
'What?' asked she
'Why don't we share the room?' He said.
'What? Are you out of your mind? Sorry I don't share rooms with strangers!' she said
'we will share the room else you can sleep in the lobby' he said flatly.
'You are unbelievable!' said Riya aghast.
He merely shrugged his shoulders.
'Say something! Just do something. This person is being ridiculous!' she said looking at Jake.
'I am sorry miss! I really can't help you further. We value our customers. And it's really up to you both to decide.
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