45 - The Red Roof Hotel

I was travelling back home alone with my car, from a conference I had attended in another town. It was already late in the night but I had to continue the journey home for obvious reasons.

As I was driving on along a certain stretch of the road, and was about to negotiate a sharp bend, I suddenly heard a loud and strange sound from my car. The engine stopped running, and I had to maneuver the car and park it by the roadside. I later realized that the engine had knocked as a result of a broken crank shaft.

I alighted from the faulty car, looking so confused and tired. In my state of confusion, I looked around and saw a hotel right opposite where I stood; it was the Red Roof Hotel! I felt a sigh of relief for the only option left for me is to find where to stay till the next morning.

I approached the hotel building complex cautiously. Now inside the premises, I noticed a change in the atmosphere. The type of flowers I saw was the type I have never seen in my life even as an Agriculturist. Everything there seemed so different from what we have in the normal world. I ignored that because of my heavy eyes and tried to walk as fast as I could to the main entrance of the hotel. I could not really guess the amount of money that was spent to fix the type of door I saw, the door was equipped with a sensor that enabled the door to open on the approach of a guest and closed automatically on entrance. Every other items of furniture and equipment I saw around me was just extraordinary.

At the reception of the Red Roof Hotel, stood a female receptionist to welcome guests. She was a very tall lady in high heeled shoes. She was dressed in a shiny blue blouse and black skirt to match, her hair was so long and her nails too, were neatly manicured. She was so beautiful, I thought! I controlled my emotions and eventually told her I needed a room to spend the night. She welcomed me with a warm smile and gave me the key to a room. When I checked, it was the key to room number 53; and I immediately zoomed off to my room.

The effulgence of everything in the hotel room baffled me but I kept praying in my mind. Having taken a good look round the room, I took off my shoes and lay on the bed for a while. I later decided to take a shower, so I undressed, and went into the bathroom to for a shower, to my chagrin however, when I turned the shower on, it was blood that was gushing out instead of water! On sighting this, I could not control myself as I screamed – Oh my God! I dashed out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist back to my room. I sat down on a chair, feeling so perplexed as I did not know what exactly to do. Just then, I heard a knock at the door. I reckoned it must be the room service - but I did not order for anything - I said to myself. So I decided not to open the door but the knocking went on persistently. I became worried and went to open the door. When I opened the door, I was shocked to discover that what has been knocking is not a human being, it was a large crab! I tried to shout but my mouth was just open. I shut the door immediately. Some moments after, I summed up courage and decided to get out of the hotel as fast as I could. So, I opened the door, ready to face the worse but to my dismay, the mysterious crab was gone! I was greatly relieved.

Now walking towards the lobby of The Red Roof Hotel, I started hearing different footsteps at my back and when I looked back, I was surprised to see a great number of that type of crab I saw earlier, matching towards me. I started pelting them with whatever I could lay my hands on - flower vases, dust bins, photo frames and so on - and at the same time was running away from these monsters. At last! I raced to a safe distance and got out of the Red Roof Hotel and ran towards my car. I felt a lot of relieve as the crabs were no longer in sight. At this time, I could guess it was almost dawn and so I decided to spend the rest of my night inside my car.

That was what I encountered inside the Red Roof Hotel that particular night. It was an experience I would live to remember and share with anyone who cares to listen.

• Written by Peace Anne