The Against All Odds

CH 1 - Sky Hotel

"Hi, welcome to my first novel. Because this is the first time I write a novel, so there may still be many shortcomings, such as punctuation problems, sentence arrangement, hole plots, slow grooves, and so on. So don't hesitate to give your critics and suggestions, thanks a lot."

"When others say it's impossible, it's a good time to prove them wrong." - Leo Demhian

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In the darkness of the night covered by the rain, three police figures stood in front of the gate of a hotel located in a hilly area. Its remote location makes this hotel called Sky Hotel look foreign in their eyes. The dim light of the street lights reflected the wet luster on the asphalt, creating a mysterious atmosphere around them. Alisha, a police officer with long experience, looked at the building with deep suspicion. Next to him, his partner Neil, a feisty young cop, snaps his coat to protect himself from the increasingly heavy rain.

Lifting up her walkie-talkie, Alisha who was standing next to the patrol car said, "Central Headquarters, this is Alisha. We will enter the Sky Hotel for further investigation. Please permit."

The vibrating sound of the walkie-talkie gives the answer, "Accepted, Alisha. Be sure to keep an eye out and report everything you encounter there."

Alisha nodded, despite not being able to see her interlocutor. "We'll be careful, Headquarters." With permission granted, Alisha starts picking up some supplies from inside the car and then locks the door.

"Why would someone report a noisy neighbor problem in a place like this, anyway? Isn't it in the hotel there's a guard, huh?" Neil commented while observing the dark windows of the hotel.

"This case may be bigger than it looks. You know for yourself, phone reporting like this is rare, especially in public places like hotels." Alisha answered while trying to digest the situation.

Leo, a policeman with a stern aura, responded to their conversation. "Maybe it's a kidnapping case or something, we need to get inside." Leo is a cop who has the rank of equal to Neil.

Neil frowned and glanced at Leo. "Your words have a point, too, Leo. If your guess is correct, maybe we get a chance to find new clues about your brother's disappearance." The silence at that location seemed to break as Neil spoke in a high tone.

Alisha, with her serious expression, approached her two comrades. "All possibilities can happen. The beginning of the disappearance of Leo's brother happened to be in the same location, but now the most important thing is to prepare all the necessary equipment. Because we're going in soon."

Leo only fell silent when he heard the words of his superior. There was no change in expression on his face. At first glance she recalled her brother, that memory only caused pain and longing mixed with emotions.

Leo has been separated from his older sister for almost 10 years, even though the case has been left alone because it is consumed by time and there is no progress in the search process. Despite the pessimism that always arises, Leo is not desperate, he does not give up the departure of his beloved brother just like that.

Not wanting to waste any more time, the three of them immediately stepped closer to the hotel entrance which seemed inviting. This hotel lobby welcomes them with a simple atmosphere and looks like a hotel in general. The walls are lined with plain wooden panels, giving it a natural feel. Ceramic floor is no longer white, looks like it has been used for a long time. Wooden furniture with a protective layer that has faded, composing a sitting room along the wall. There are also some panoramic-themed paintings embedded perfectly in the walls of the hotel lobby. The lobby lighting comes from the light of the lamp hidden behind the wooden cover. In one corner, there is a medium-sized reception desk with a computer and a stack of registration forms on it. A thin brown carpet is located just below the entrance, but is slightly wear-and-tear, probably due to the many footsteps guests often walk on.

As their shoes touched the ceramic floor, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet hotel lobby. Just like an empty building, there is no security guard or receptionist at this hotel. However, the interior and the objects inside are still neatly arranged.

Neil looked around, feeling a sensation of discomfort creeping up behind his neck. "So much, are there no humans here? Like there's no air of life at all."

Alisha circulated her sharp eyes that flashed around the empty lobby. "Neil, stay alert. We don't know what we're dealing with." Alisha had realized from the beginning, something was wrong with this hotel.

"understand."

Carefully, they continued exploring the hotel that felt so quiet. The rain continued to fall with increasing intensity, producing a sound that contrasted with the silence that filled the room.

"We have to go up" said Alisha firmly. "The phone call came from one of the people on the 6th floor."

"Alisha, we better take the elevator, while it still works. It's nothing, but the stairs up it look slippery and dark." Leo's words stopped Alisha from climbing a dark staircase.

Alisha nodded.

Although Alisha had a higher rank, she considered Leo and Neil to be her best friends. They are used to calling each other by name rather than seeing from their rank.

As the elevator doors close, they ride with a tense feeling, ready to uncover a truth that may be scarier than the night rain that flutters outside. In the dim lights of the elevator, the three stood facing the elevator door that would soon open automatically.

Leo nodded firmly. "I don't want to trouble you guys, which is clear we have to work together and always be vigilant. Prepare yourself for anything."

The elevator chimed as the door opened slowly, revealing a dark corridor in front.

They stood for a moment in the open doorway of the elevator, facing the mysterious dark corridor. The walls looked dull, scratched and cracked, as if they had gone through hard times. Fragments of glass and fragments of other objects were scattered on the floor. The dim light from the flashing lights illuminated the passageway filled with specks of water falling from the ceiling. The shadows created by the erratic lights created the illusion of an invisible threat. The air there feels cold and humid. The resulting atmosphere was very different, unlike when they were on the ground floor.

Neil scrunched his forehead while looking at the scene in front of him, then he shook his head slowly. "It seems that your prediction is correct, this is not a trivial matter."

While Alisha clasped the sleeves of her jacket tightly, trying to relieve the increasingly tight heartbeat. The bad feeling he felt from the beginning, turned out to be true. "It looks like something terrible has happened in this place." He said softly while taking out a flashlight from his jacket pocket.

Leo patted Alisha on the shoulder standing in front of him."We don't know what might be here" Leo said in a soft voice. "But we have to keep moving forward. Keep the position, because I don't think splitting up is the right choice."

Alisha nodded, holding the flashlight tightly.

Carefully, Leo took the first step into the dark room, a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other. Flashlight illuminated the gloomy corridor, revealing messy walls and sinister shadows. Disgusting rats and insects seemed to be feasting without direction in that corridor.

Alisha follows behind him, the flashlight she holds illuminating Leo's every move. His heart rate was still racing, but he knew he had to stay calm to keep things under control. Moreover, he is a person who should have led the team and take full responsibility.

Neil followed them from behind, his gaze filled with extra vigilance, checking every corner of the surrounding room with a flashlight. He also held a gun and prepared to respond to anything that might appear before them.

As they walked through this corridor, the tense atmosphere grew more and more pronounced. Every step they took reflected a squeaking sound on the slippery floor by the water and dirt. The rooms lined up along the corridor were wide open and empty, many doors were not intact or detached from the hinges.

Leo at a glance felt a movement in the corner of his eye, his gaze immediately directed to one of the rooms beside the corridor. 'Room 14.'

His heart beat faster, and once that faint movement was seen in one of the rooms, the police instinct within him was instantly triggered. With a slow step, he approached the door of the room, the gun still in his grasp. While the flashlight continued to illuminate some of the dark corners in the room. He held his breath as he looked at the shadows inside the room, trying to make sense of the situation, yet there seemed to be nothing there.

"Everything is fine here" Leo said in a soft voice, reporting his findings to Alisha and Neil waiting behind him.

Leo was relieved after checking the room and did not find anything suspicious. However, as he looked back, he only saw Alisha beside him, while Neil was not around.

Alisha also felt strange, because from now on Neil was always behind them. He looked around with an anxious expression. "Ney? Where's Neil?" Alisha started to panic.

Leo and Alisha exchanged glances, a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety instantly surfaced. They realize that they should stay together in order to protect each other from the threats that come.

Alisha held the flashlight tightly in her hand, her gaze full of worry. "Leo, we can't part like this. We need to find Neil immediately."

Leo tries to reach Neil through the headquarters through his walkie-talkie and his cell phone, but both are not working. "This is impossible" Leo said in a frustrated tone, trying not to panic.

Alisha bit her lips, her face was full of worry, she had also tried the same thing."Whatever it is, we need to find Neil quickly."

Leo agreed. They both sped up their steps, trying to repeat the trail they had already taken. The dark and messy corridor felt increasingly gripping, and the tension they felt grew.

After a few steps, they finally heard a soft voice coming from one of the open doors of the room. The sound seemed to catch their attention.

Leo and Alisha looked at each other, then directed their steps towards the door of the room that emitted the sound. Carefully, they stepped closer to the door, ready to face whatever might be waiting behind it. They feel their heart rate is getting faster. With a tense breath, they finally stood in the doorway of the room.

The bedroom door was pushed slowly, revealing the darkness within. Alisha and Leo felt their heartbeats getting tighter as they looked at the black figure sitting with his back to them in the middle of the darkness, looking like he was busy doing something.