The Hotel

by T.V.

My friend and I laughed giddily, unable to help ourselves, while clutching our heads. We were seven and we had just ding-dong-ditched someone in the hotel. Then after we had ding-dong ditched them we had ran. As we ran I tripped over my friend and she tripped over me. I was unconscious for a few second but then I was back up and running.

"Hello?" we heard the confused man call out. My friend held her breath, but a giggle escaped from her mouth. I clamped my hand over her mouth but I nearly laughed myself.

"Hello?" the old man said weakly for the last time. I was starting to feel guilty. I peaked over the side of the wall to see if the man was there. He deserved an apology. Yet I saw nothing, but I heard his voice again.

"Someone say something please!" the man's voice begged.

"Oh gosh, Irina! Come see this!" I said.

"Sssssh! Whisper! What is it? We can't pull off a good prank by letting them see us!" my friend, Irina, whispered angrily.

"I don't think this person has anything to see with." I muttered quietly.

"Huh?" Irina said, finally curious enough to look. She put her whole head over the side. And then she screamed. I clamped my hand over her mouth for the second time.

"Do you want to wake up Elza?" I hissed. Elza was my nanny. I let go of Irina's mouth. She started hyperventilating.

"Calm down!" I said, really worried now. Her eyes rolled into her head and she fell back unconscious. I started hyperventilating too now.

I suddenly heard someone breathing calmly and heavily. I turned my head. And I screamed. There was a man, nearly colorless and old wearing a black cape. He seemed to not see me. I expected not only Elza but everyone on the 7th floor to come out and see what was wrong. Yet everyone seemed oblivious to my scream. I saw a couple come out of a room.

"Help me!" I said. They didn't hear me.


"Help!" I said again. I got up and ran to the couple as the man seemed to not see me yet. I tried to pull at the man's coat sleeve, but my hand went right through. I heard a gasp behind me. Irina was looking at something. And the man was looking at her. And me. Irina came up to me. She grabbed my arm and started to lead me somewhere. In fear of what I was about to see I closed my eyes. Then I heard heavy breathing again. I saw the man behind me, standing with a kind smile.

"Look HERE!" Irina said angrily, yanking my head towards the place she was pointing. I gasped. Where Irina and I had fallen were our too mangled bodies.

"How?" I asked.

"Ask him." Irina said, pointing to the man.

"How?" I asked him.

"You might want to ask me who I am first." the man said, still smiling kindly, now immense pity mingled in his expression.

"Who are you?" I asked quietly.

"I am death." he said sadly. I gasped. Louder than ever before.

"Am I dead?" I asked. He nodded sadly.

"How? Why? WHY?" I screamed starting to sob. I was only, after all seven.

"You see," death started, laying a hand on my shoulder.

"You ran and you tripped and you would have survived quite easily, but your young soul strived for a chance to be free, not quite knowing being free would mean death." death said sadly.

"No...no..." I moaned.

Suddenly I woke up somewhere white. A man was looking at me. A man with a long white beard and hair.

"Where am I?" I asked. Surely I was in a hospital. Surely it had all been a nightmare.

"Well, you're at the gates of heaven dear one. Your friend did not pass. Too many lies. She's not off to a better place. But you seem to be a good girl. Now, what did you say your name was?"