Tap tap tap!
The sharp sound of leather shoes echoed in the silence of the room where Jessica was still fast asleep. Everything was dead quiet, except for the sound of those footsteps.
They stopped—right beside her.
A tall figure with an icy presence loomed next to Jessica. Even in her sleep, she stirred restlessly, sensing the chilling aura.
It was Sollon. Dressed in an all-white shirt and pants, he stared down at Jessica with sharp, piercing eyes.
In a blink, Sollon was already on top of her, leaning in closer and closer to her slender neck. His long fangs gleamed, ready to bite into the girl who probably was dreaming of rainbows and puppies.
His mouth opened wide, fangs just inches away—
Knock!
Fwoosh~
"Morning, sunshine!" chirped Jenaya as she swung the door open.
Just like that, the terrifying figure vanished—gone like smoke in the wind.
Jenaya walked toward the window, about to pull the curtains open when a sudden chill swept past her. It was unnaturally cold, the kind that made your bones ache. Her eyes scanned the room.
"I know you're here. Now scram. What are you even looking for?" she muttered into the air, even though she was supposedly alone.
Screek! The curtains flew open.
And then she saw it—written in blood across the window glass:
'I want that whole family.'
"Bibi Jenaya?"
Jenaya jumped and spun around—Jessica was awake, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"You okay? Why do you look pale?" Jessica asked, confused.
"Uh ... I—it's just ... nothing," Jenaya stammered.
Jessica frowned. Her eyes drifted past Jenaya to the window.
"Whoa, the sunrise looks so pretty," she smiled.
Did ... did she not see the writing?
Jenaya quickly turned back to look at the glass.
Gone.
Relief washed over her. If Jessica had seen that message, she'd tell her parents, and then the renovation project would be shut down for sure. And Jenaya? She'd never get the chance to finally be free of this cursed hotel.
Thank goodness the demons weren't in full attack mode ... yet.
"Of course it's pretty. This hotel's location was picked for the scenic view, so guests won't feel disappointed," Jenaya chirped. "Anyway, it's already six. Time to get ready for school. I'll fix you some breakfast."
"No need—"
"It's my job."
Jessica hesitated. No one ever treated her like this before, and Jenaya wasn't even their maid. But seeing the woman's warm expression, Jessica didn't have the heart to say no.
***
Javiero was focused, measuring each wall carefully with his tape while Jessica tagged along, simply watching the long hallway bathed in sunlight that filtered through old wooden blinds.
Without realizing, Jessica had slowly drifted away from her dad. That's when she saw something.
A shadow. It darted past—fast, but definitely human-shaped.
"Who's there?" she whispered, squinting at the hallway's bend. "Sam?" she guessed randomly.
She glanced back at her dad, who was still deeply focused. Jessica didn't want to bother him, so she walked toward the bend alone.
Boo!
No one. The hallway was a dead end.
Just some fluttering curtains at the far wall swaying in the breeze.
But she saw something, didn't she?
"Excuse me."
Thud! Jessica jumped as someone touched her shoulder.
She spun around. "Oh—uh, yeah?"
It was Halton.
"You looked kinda lost. Everything okay?"
Jessica paused. If she told him what she saw, he'd probably laugh. But no—something weird was definitely going on.
"Be honest ... this hotel's haunted, isn't it?"
Halton tensed. He shook his head—then nodded.
"What the hell does that mean?" Jessica frowned.
"I—I mean, yeah ... kinda. Every building has something, right? Especially if it's been abandoned for years. But like, it's not cursed because of the seven terrifying demons that eat humans or anything like that."
Dumbass. He didn't know Jessica had read the book about the seven demons.
Wait ... something was off behind Halton.
While he kept rambling, Jessica spotted her dad still working at the end of the hall. But then—she saw it.
A little boy, crouched behind Javiero, about to stab his neck with claws.
"DAD!" Jessica screamed, sprinting to him. The creature froze, looked straight at her—then vanished in a blur.
"Are you okay?!" Jessica checked her dad all over in panic.
"What are you doing? I haven't done anything risky," Javiero said, puzzled.
"Dad, there was—"
"It was just a bug, sir," Halton cut in quickly.
Jessica shot him a look. What the hell?
"Oh, Jess. Come on, don't freak out over a little bug. You're pale as a ghost! Go back to the room. I need to check the west corridor," Javiero said as he packed up and walked away.
Jessica grabbed Halton's arm. "Why'd you lie?!"
"Lie? There was a bug," he said, unfazed.
"There was a freaking demon, okay?! Trying to kill my dad! And I know about the seven demons, what you said earlier—it's real, isn't it?!"
Halton laughed. "What are you even talking about? Been binge-watching too many fantasy movies?"
Tap tap tap!
A knock on the window.
Jessica turned—and so did Halton.
There, on the other side of the glass, stood a blond-haired boy ... smirking.
Standing? They were on the 32nd floor. There was no balcony.
CRACK!
A loud thunderclap.
Jessica passed out.
***
Rain poured outside, soft and steady, echoing faintly through the dim-lit room.
Jennie Kalea gently swapped the cold compress on Jessica's forehead. Jessica lay unconscious.
"I hope she'll be okay," said Jenaya quietly.
Jennie sighed. "I just don't get it. What made her faint like that? Halton, were you there?"
Halton, lost in thought, snapped back to reality. He glanced briefly at Jenaya—who gave the faintest shake of her head.
"I—I dunno. Maybe she saw a scary bug or something."
Jennie rubbed her temples. "Thank God you were there. Otherwise, who knows what could've happened."
"I'll go make dinner," said Jenaya quickly.
"Oh, no need. I can—"
"It's my job to serve the Harrison family while you're here, ma'am."
"But—"
"Halton, come help me in the kitchen," Jenaya cut in, not wanting to argue.
"Yes, Mom."
The two of them walked down the hall.
"Mom," Halton muttered, "Isn't it kinda messed up, hiding all this? They're in danger. What if they can't destroy this hotel?"
Jenaya stopped walking and turned sharply toward him.
"Don't worry about them. We need to be free from this place. I don't have the money to pay your dad's debt to their family. This is the only way. We can't run—those demons will follow us wherever we go. Our only hope is to get rid of them for good."
"But I suck at lying—"
"You're not lying. You did say it was a bug. And those things? They're disgusting little insects we need to exterminate. Just make sure Jessica thinks she imagined it. Got it?"
"... Got it, Mom."
Jenaya walked ahead again.
Halton stood still, watching her disappear down the corridor. Then he glanced at the reflective glass wall beside him.
One of the demons stood there, leaning casually.
"What are you staring at, Mammon?" Halton asked with venom in his tone.
"I told you, it's Lach now."
"Whatever. You're still just a demon to me. I don't care what you call yourself."
Lach smirked. "Getting bold, huh? Don't forget, your granddaddy made a deal with us. Sintria was his playground too. We asked for 350 kg of meat a day. We could've demanded a full ton."
"That was his choice, not mine. Not my mom's either!" Halton growled.
"That's what we call inherited sin, kid."
Halton had no comeback. He sighed, frustrated.
"You humans were cursed to this shitty world thanks to your ancestors. So suck it up—pain's in your bloodline."
Lach clapped a hand on his shoulder.
It wasn't comforting.
Halton clenched his fists, wishing he could rip the demon's arm off.
A few more steps, and Lach disappeared into thin air.