Spooky

d Dad had opened their doors and tumbled outside, Jess

nd Dad re-entered the car a few seconds later, but not after looking around. The mom

same reasons as I was?” Dad aske

n named Florence was spilling b

r, almost instinctively. “We had

s had the same dream as I did,” Dad

gown?” I

g the most beautiful house dress any woman from

f in your dream too

d before that there was a m

he rest of

, “Fancy all of us hav

r written all over her face. “First our car drove into the wood

cist,” Dad replied,

ed. “We have to leave

t a bad dre

n all of us having the

co-incidence.

ence, Clyde. This plac

isn’t one of your Nigerian fo

e, now, please.” Mom said calmly,

om and Dad rarely called each other by their real names, even in an argume

s get going, we have to get home anyways.” H

r?” I l

ised to scout a way out of

similarity of our dreams, it seemed

mine too.”

,” Mom ca

by myself anymore, still I got up and headed outside, it was bette

om called when

d towards her

eding.” She said, put

on in the side mirror. “It’s from t

up. Why is it sudd

a nightmare, he must have hit his head

eady. “Alright let's move already. This pla

n to hell before,” Je

us out was easy as I’d kept my eyes open throughout our detour. In a few minutes

y,” He said. “We can't have Mark's hea

ungry,” J

o dramatic,

how I am.”

xt hotel, just hold on

ate

cond hotel and a small pharmacy. The place looked a lot more welcoming than the last

.” Dad cried as he pull

hen decided to just get into a room; Mom suggested the possibility of the hote

roached her desk. “Welcome to The Hank brothers’ Inn a

.” Mom replie

t, but is there by any chance a reptile of any sort in here?

She said with her face still in a smile, under her breath

long, we just need hot baths and food.”

rs tapping furiously on the keyboard. “Your rooms are fifty-one and fifty

s exchang

!” We yelled together

t, and then turned to the rec

e and my son’s unlucky numbers.” Da

and then went back to tapping furiously on her keyboard. “Your

eceptionist; she smiled way too much, and yet her smiles didn’t look l

ar

ast look at the woman and shuddered when she w

cking her out

o!” I ha

something in my hand. “Here’s the key to you and

thing scary in here.” J

on, we both burst into laughs when after she’d tr

avender painted walls and large oval

y arm. “Go get a

rst,” I

me. I knew she was only scared of getting into the bathroom even though we’d been

ad.” I

” She began shiftin

e my guest!” I gest

e stomping into the bathroom; I chuck

sie’s offer when I’d reached the ground floor, it was like my bladder had suddenly filled itself up. My eyes darte

d I bumped into the receptionis

f**k?!”

use a restroom real quick and my sister’s in ours‒” I stopped

Mark,” S

ly but stopped immediat

silly.” She sai

ght.” I

stured to the door behind her. “It’s a ladies’

id, not in the mood to

there, trust me.” She

you talk

e at Wordsworth's yester

you kn

rooms fifty-one and two, that’s something almost every tra

?” I furrow

spend even a minute, not to talk o

y is that?

me. No one goes there, except weary, unsuspecting travelers who have no idea w

I saw them.” I argued, squirmi

people Mark.”

at are you ta

Elaine who acts like a receptionist. Those guests you saw were only a trick of t

r, trying hard to beli

personnel are also an i

hy does she

hrought the slit on the door. “I have to get back to

now feeling the urge t

pent the night at Wordswor

reamwoods?

e the same bad d

man in a bloo

rrupted with her palm raised. “But there’s

ha

woods have the power to influence the future of wh

” I replied,

and scribbled furiously on it before handing it over to

y written cursive. “W

ned the door, almost closing it behind her before she paused. “Oh, I’

he truth. In the end I shoved the paper in one of my pockets, even if I wouldn’t need it eve

thes, I decided I’d go for a walk again after having lunch, but when I was done I was too full to even move, I doze

er and checked out without any qualms, except for how Clarissa kept staring at

ot in New Jersey

” I a

you two staring at each

what you think; besides s

I won’t be surprised if you start talking abou

I muttered under my bre

d yesterday. I felt the urge to mention Clarissa and what she’d told me, but I decided against it. It would be really dumb for me to magnify a simple bad d

ore; maybe you needed just a wash.” Mom remar

. “We’ll be at New Jersey before night

hings coul