When I look around the room, I see everyone else in the hall. I’m alone. The group is leaving me behind, none of them aware that I probably just stood beside and spoke to a ghost.
I scan the doorway for Thad, and he pokes his head through the opening, waving at me to come closer.
A bit annoyed, I pout when I reach him. “You left me.”
He arches a dark brow. “Huh?” He holds up his phone and shows me the screen. “The hot chick at the front of the group just gave me her number.” He’s stupidly excited about it.
“You missed it. I saw a ghost.”
“For real?”
“Yes, for real. It’s the same guy I saw in the window when we stood outside. He spoke to me.” Now that I had a few minutes to think about it, I remembered.
“That’s cool. What did he say?”
“He’s waiting for you,” I repeat.
Thad scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t think he was talking about me.”
“Clearly.” I don’t bother to hide my irritation.
“Aw, hey, it’s probably a good thing. Maybe this ghost wouldn’t talk to you with me around.”
Yeah, I wouldn’t either.
“Come on. They’re going to the third floor.” I lead my brother away from the ballroom, and we rejoin the tour, staying together for the rest of it.
There’s another eerie wail like the one we heard earlier, and I nearly jump in surprise. It sounds close. We’re on the seventh floor, and I know it’s one of the most haunted areas in the hotel. People have made claims about room 703, which happens to be the door closest to where I stand.
One of the guys in our group holds an EMF detector up to the door. The lights on the device flicker and flash. “Wow. It’s going crazy!”
He turns the emitter toward Thad, and it continues to light up. “Are you real?”
My brother doesn’t appear amused. “Want me to punch you and find out?”
The guy blinks, backs away, and takes his EMF detector to the opposite end of the hall.
“That wasn’t very nice,” I chastise.
“I agree. He wasn’t.”
The guide calls the group to her, and we head upward again, taking the stairs to the next level. We proceed without incident on floors 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Nothing happens other than a few cold spots, that haunting female wail, and something howling outdoors beneath the moon.
Thad slaps his hand over his chest, blinking at me. “It’s so scary, Nat!”
I smack his arm. “Shut it.” Ignoring his snicker in response, I begin to climb toward the thirteenth floor. We’re at the back of the group again because my brother likes to distract me.
“Have you seen any ghosts?” I ask as he leaps up the steps beside me and waits at the top.
“Not a one. I’m worried this isn’t real.” He winks.
Why did I decide to bring him?
“He’s still waiting for you.”
We both turn toward the source of the voice and see the man who spoke to me in the ballroom. He walks across the floor in front of us and disappears into the nearest room. It’s 1307. The room with the most paranormal activity in the hotel.
My hand darts out and collides with Thad’s as he grips my fingers. We both squeeze.
