The Well at the Bottom of Everything (The Hotel Book 2) by Michael James

Author:Michael James [James, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25: Emma discovers a new use for matches.

Arthur led Emma towards the Hotel at a brisk pace while she tried to catch a glimpse of Vain. Where would she have gone? Knowing her, she probably fooled Trick completely and had already doubled back to the Portal. All Emma needed to do was keep Arthur distracted for a while longer.

The Hotel’s interior was not what she’d expected. Polished marble floors with white and black diamond patterns reflected the light from ostentatious ceiling lamps that dripped with crystal lace. Rectangular planters were placed at symmetrical intervals, each containing a single, perfectly pruned tree. Identical women in floral-patterned skirts and loose blouses scurried back and forth.

“What the hell,” Emma said.

“Which part?” Arthur said.

“The identical women.”

“Those are Janes. They’re like housekeeping.”

Emma had no idea how to react to any of it, so she kept her mouth shut. At the back of the room, a circular stone structure protruded from the floor, looking thematically out of place with the opulence of the lobby.

“Is that the Well?” She pointed at it.

“It is. I’ll explain everything to you. Let’s go to my room.”

“Pass. Hard pass. Hard, unequivocal, emphatic pass.”

“There’s something I need to show you.”

“I just bet there is.”

Arthur glared at her and stroked his mustache. She crossed her arms. Finally, he reached out and grabbed a Jane.

“Get me the Camera from my room.”

“Yes, Mr. Arthur.”

The Jane scurried off and Emma took a seat. In addition to her general apprehension about being around Arthur, the Hotel made thinking a sticky, laborious chore. Even so, she knew enough not to walk into his bedroom. She didn’t like going home with a guy after four dates, let alone after a superhero energy battle.

Arthur said, “Once you look through the Camera, we’ll have a talk.”

“Is it a Device?”

“Yes. It shows you the moment of the Hotel’s creation.”

Emma squinted at him. “You created a Device to show your backstory?”

“No.” He sounded annoyed. “We wanted to review what happened. Maybe find a clue, something we could use.”

The Jane returned, carrying a stubby old-fashioned film camera, the kind with the accordion-style front. Arthur handed it to her.

“Look through the lens.”

Emma had no idea what to expect. She raised it up to her eye. With a rushing blur, her sense of self poured through the lens, and she tumbled through a tornado of memories. Her thoughts became jumbled, intertwined with someone else.

She was Emma.

She was someone else.

She was Emma.

She was—

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