The Hotel Royale

Carolyn precariously balances a tray in her hands, while trying not to trip on the narrow winding stairs. Reaching the top she enters the dining room and places the food in front of Mrs. O’Hagan. Then, with a slight bow of the head and a warm smile, she says1

“Breakfast is served, can I get you anything else?”2

“Not right at the moment thank you, but I’d love a cup of tea when I’ve finished eating if you wouldn’t mind, shall we say in half an hour?” Mrs O’Hagan replies, returning the warm smile.3

“Certainly madam, do you take sugar?”4

With this Carolyn turns around and heads back down the circular stairs. Taking every opportunity for a cigarette she heads outside for a quick break. The flashing of the neon sign above the door catches her eye the illuminous red letters spelling “The Hotel Royale” they illuminate a small board which states that the hotel is “The smartest for miles around” and gives a five star rating. However the blood red letters and the wooden board are the only modern feature at the front of the Gothic building. The towering height, combined with the dark stone gives the building a sinister appearance on first sight. A sense of beauty exists only for those who look closely. It lives through the stained glass windows, which spatter the front of the building. It can be found, for those who search amongst the tall spires which poke from the roof and pierce the sky, and hides amongst the decoration which covers the stones. Nobody, however can deny its interposing appearance or its mysterious magnetic force which attracts visitor after visitor.5

The battle between splendor and sinister continues inside the hotel with it’s dark corridors which although are brightly lit by electricity seem to be suffering from the lack of daylight.6

Carolyn stubs her cigarette out in a plant pot holder and turns to enter the hotel once more, thinking about Mrs O’Hagans cup of tea and hoping she hasn’t been more than half an hour she glances at her watch. As she looks up again the sun reflects onto the glass in the front door, and creates a mirror effect. She notices that her tight bun, full of long Chestnut hair, is coming undone. Standing on the steps for a few moments she soon has it back under control. Then she takes a step back and examines her appearance with a satisfied smile. She knows in her heart that she is truly a beautiful creature, although she is not vain. Her porcelain skin is of the palest pink; where as her eyes are the most stunning blue, like sparkling jewels. Although she is not very tall her figure is perfect, and her make up stays immaculate from the beginning of the day to the end. There is a definite air of fantasy in her appearance, and it has been remarked many times how remarkably like a doll she looks.7

As it is early in the morning, and the hotel currently only has one guest Carolyn is the only worker there so far. She is unphased, however, by her surroundings. This is her hotel. The hotel she worked hard to own. The hotel she loves. The hotel in which she is at home.8

As she stands humming in the kitchen making the tea for Mrs. O’Hagan, she drifts off and starts thinking about how this place would have been all those years ago when places like this were first built. She works in what would then have been the servants quarter. Although the Hotel Royale was newly decorated it had been kept in the original style, so it was still quite dark. Although the artificial light illuminated the room as well as it could, corners still remained dark and gloomy. She imagined working there under pressure with only a candle to keep away the dark, and shivered. That’s one time she would not have loved this building. Not at all. Running here there and everywhere to keep her mistress happy, the beatings if she made a mistake and no modern luxuries such as kettles to make the tea in. 9

Suddenly the sound of footsteps disturbs her thoughts. Spinning around quickly she is surprised when there is no one to be seen, but then the footsteps stop and she realises it is time for the other staff to get here so calls out a friendly 10

“Hello, you’re early” 11

“Sorry boss, thought I’d get here on time seeing as it is my first day" replies the masculine voice. 12

Pouring the tea she starts to sing along with the radio which is playing an old favourite of hers “though its true that I’m not the man I used to be oh Ruby, still need some company”13

Then, realising suddenly she’s singing out loud and the new chef has just entered the building she chuckles and stops, with a quick “Sorry”14

However it is met with silence, the only noise gentle splashes as the sugar shatters the smooth surface of the tea.15

Then she hears the breathing which is coming from the dark corner nearest to the door. She calls out16

“Hello, two seconds and I’ll show you around, want a cuppa love?”17

When this is met by silence she spins around to repeat herself, the smile on her face fading when she realises nobody is actually there. She allows herself time for a shiver to descend down her spine before sternly checking herself for being so jumpy. ‘Why am I getting spooked by the wind’ she thinks, uneasily. Picking up the tea she places it on a tray and begins to carry it towards the door. As she nears the staircase, CRASH she drops the tea in surprise as a dark stranger steps out of the shadows. 18

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there” she says in a friendly tone, whilst feeling uneasy, ‘something about him isn’t right’ she thinks 19

The dark stranger however remains intolerably silent. Carolyn fights the impulse to turn around and run, and asks,20

“Are you ok?”21

As she speaks this time she stares into his dark eyes, a tactic she learnt at college to disguise fear in difficult situations. Noticing his chiseled features and a long scar across his left cheek her heart begins to pound. This man is strange, he’s scaring her. As she turns her back to walk away, the stranger stretches out a skeletal hand. He grabs hold of her arm, and with a quick, smooth, silent movement puts his other hand around her waist. 22

Beginning to tremble now Carolyn clears her mind and remains staring into his eyes, ‘stare him out’ she thinks ‘make him uneasy and take the first opportunity to get away’ she knows it won’t work, you can't beat evil by staring at it, but she knows there’s nothing else she can do, and everything is worth a try. Eventually the dark stranger parts his lips as if to speak, but all that is emitted is a sinister laugh. A maniacal laugh. From out of the gloom he reaches for a frozen leg of beef.23

James sits back, and admires the scene he has just played out in his dolls house, the lifeless figure lying on the floor. The only evidence simmering on the hob. Then, with the satisfied smile of one that has realised his plans will work he stands up, replaces his Roald Dahl book in the bookcase, walks over to the freezer and then heads to his local hotel, the owner of which had turned him down for the chefs job last week24