50 - Fear: Room101C

I growled in frustration as i listen to my younger brother, David, who is very annoying by the way, rant about some hotel shit. He always disturbs me about a so called 'Room 101c' that usually appears in some hotels in Nigeria. He claims bad things happen in that room.

"Enough! Let my ears rest for atleast give minutes biko. Who's feeding you all these superstitious crap sef! They aren't true."

I continued packing my toiletries inside my travelling box. Yes I'm travelling. To Lagos to be precise. Want to sort out my visa issues, and I plan to stay as long as required.
I zipped my box shut and turned around to bid my brother goodbye, only to find him pouting.
"I will miss you vee, and please try not to stay in room 101c. Please believe me. " He pleaded. I chuckled, then smiled warmly at him

"alright buddy" I ruffled his head. My brother can be a drama queen sometimes.

I grabbed my Cinderella cardigan on top of my laptop. Good thing I remembered it. Last time l boarded a plane without my cardigan, but with only a short, sleeveless gown because I wanted to do shakara, I died and came back to life... Literally. So I learned my lesson.

"Okay! I'm off. Tell mum and dad that I already left. That I'm sorry I couldn't wait a little longer to see them as I didn't want to miss my flight.

"No problem vee. They'll understand. Bye" I hug my brother before raising the handle of my box and exiting my house, and Abuja.

   The flight was as smooth as a freshly made plate of akamu, and when we landed at the airport, I was already feeling tired and sleepy. 

I checked my wristwatch, 2:22pm. I should get settled in a hotel before darkness came.
I hailed a cab, and told him to take me to Premium star hotel because it's near the American embassy, and I didn't want half of my mom money to be cut down because of transport..
As I sat in the taxi, I tried calling my parents to inform them of my arrival, but could get them, so I settled on calling my bestie, chioma.

She picked up after the third ring.
"Finally! You remembered me." I smiled. This girl never changes.
"No vex you hear. Everything happened so fast, but I've landed in Lagos, currently on my way to a hotel"

"Thank God for journey mercies dear. I just pray you sort out this visa ish fast fast here. Moving back and forth Abuja and lasgidi ain't easy. Don't even let me get started on transport expenses" Sympathy was evident in her voice.

"Asin ehn chioma. You just read my mind oo. I just hope this will be my last visa related trip, because I don't taya. Anyways, how's your family and Chuks them? " I asked remembering my other friends. Too bad I don't have enough airtime to call them all.

"Everybody is fine dear. There's this thing I'm heading about one 'room 101c' that appears in hotels. People have been talking about it, and I fear its true. Please be careful virtue"

You have got to be kidding me.
I laughed at her words.
"Chioma the chiomashable! You too? David was telling me something like that, now you? I no know sat you day fear like this oo. So you too believe that nonsense? Hmmm nawa o. "

"Just think about it. Its pretty popular, so it can't be a lie bah? " she tried reasoning with me, but I was having none of it.

"Abeg chioma, fashi that rumor joor. Room 101c ko, room 101z ni. I have to go dear. Take care" I struggled to breathe from laughing too hard. The driver looked at me through the rear mirror like I've gone crazy. I just grinned at him. Yep. He definitely thinks I'm crazy.

"alrightie bae" she hung up.

"We've reached" t he driver announced as he drove through the big black gates and the checkpoint into the parking ground.

I got out, and went behind the car to get my traveling box from the booth. He opened it and helped me carry it out.

"thanks" I paid him his fare and rolled my box into the reception. The cool A. C and the lovely 'hotel scent' greeted me as I went straight to the receptionist who was attending to someone, so I stood behind the customer. I kept my eyes on the back of the man's head, memorizing the lines of the folding of his bald head. When the receptionist was through with the Man, she flashed me a welcoming smile.

"Welcome to Premium Star Hotel n' Suites. How may I help you? " her voice was welcoming too.

"Yeah thank you. I want a one room suite for five nights" I replied retrieving my credit card from my bag since I didn't have enough cash with me. I planned to go to the bank.

"Okay Miss. That'll be sixty thousand naira. Would you like the extra room and personal butler services? Here's the full service menu... Fill in your name and details right here"

I looked at this woman like she'd gone bunkers.
I look like Mrs Dangote?
Having a personal butler for a day will cost you at least half a million.
Oh well, she's just doing her job.

I Faked a sweet smile as I still collected the menu she gave me, and filled the spaces required.

"No thanks. I'll be just fine. " I replied as she swiped my credit card on one machine like that and handed it back to me.

"Alright miss. Here's your room key. You'll be staying in room 101c. A chauffeur will help you. "

I froze, and blinked three times or her. Room 101c?
"Are you alright miss? You look pale" She worriedly looked at me.

"No I'm fine. Thanks. " A Chauffeur appeared beside me immediately. He carried my box and led me to my room.
It was the last room on a long corridor.
I looked at the sign on the door.. The sign looked different from other door signs. Hmmm weird.

I brushed it off. The chauffeur opened the door, we entered inside.
He got me settled and left.

I looked around. Nothing spelt 'cozy' more than this room. And they said bad things happen here. I snorted.

I was so exhausted. Sleep. That was all I could think about.
So I plopped on the bed and immediately fell asleep.

The sound of thunder woke me up. I rubbed my sleepy eyes as I look at the clock by my left on the bed stool. 7:49pm. Wow I slept that long?
The rain started. I sat on the bed.
As I was observing my room, I saw the black curtains move and close.
What the hell!? I jumped in alarm.
How did that happen?

I crept to one of the windows to look closely at the curtain system.
As I moved closer, the curtains opened with force. I scream and landed on my butt. Ouch.

Oh God! Maybe if I go out and clear my hunger, I'd start seeing things clearly.
I got up, wore my sandals, and grabbed my phone and some cash. I walked to the door, but couldn't open it when I tried.
Did the chauffeur lock the door or what?

I got the key and tried unlocking it, but it got stuck inside.
"Mtcheww! What kind of rubbish is this now? All these hotels and their second hand doors" I was already seething.

"OH! OKAY! SO YOU ARE INSULTING THIS HOTEL? YOU WILL SLEEP HUNGRY THIS NIGHT!!!! " I froze. Where did that voice come from?
I was shaking with fear. Oh my God, what the noodles is happening!?!

"What is the meaning of this!?! Thus is not funny! " I shouted back with the little confidence I have left at the cold female voice that boomed from every corner of the room.

"HAHAHAHA!!! DOES IT SOUND FUNNY IN YOUR EARS??! YOU UNGRATEFUL GIRL!? " Chills ran down my spine as I remembered my brother and bestie warned me about this room... But.. It just can't be...
Right now, I'm so confused and scared at the same time.

My instincts told me to scream for help, and that's exactly what I did.
"Help!! Somebody help me!!! " I screamed as loud as I could and kicked the door with my legs and hands. That terrifying sinister laugh came again, twice as loud as before.
I kept on kicking, but nobody heard me.
Oh God please help me.

"YOUR BROTHER TOLD YOU ABOUT US, DIDN'T HE??! " I screamed and tried blocking out her voice, but all to no avail.

"I'm sorry! Please let me out!! " I pleaded. I started hearing piercing screams of different people, and tears flowed down my face like Victoria falls. Oh God please don't let me die.

I ran to the ensuite bathroom.
As I entered, my eyes almost bulged out and I screamed in terror. There were dead bodies of little children scattered all over the floor. The bathtub was full of blood. It was a horrible and disturbing sight.
My legs gave out, and I fell down in fear. I was crying.

"blood of Jesus! " I shouted as I spotted a living bat perching on the window and looking at me like I killed his son. I ran out screaming like a mad woman seeing her period.

I picked up the room landline in an attempt to call for help, but thunder struck, and that cold-as-ice voice came again..
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!! NO ONE MAKES IT OUT OF ROOM 101c ALIVE!! "

My heart stopped. My whole body was shaking frivolously, and I was drained in sweat and tears.
As if that wasn't enough, the telephone in my hand turned into the head of the receptionist.
Her eyes were pitch black, and she was laughing wickedly at me.

"Hope you are enjoying your stay miss? "

"Jesus Christ!!! " I shouted and dropped her head and jumped up in the greatest fear I have ever felt in my 19 years of living. As soon as her head hit the ground, it turned into a very slim, but long snake.
The blood in my body stopped flowing, and I ran to the door, but it turned to a wall, along with all the windows.

I urinated on my body and fainted.

......

"Will she be okay? " "What happened to her? " "Should we take her to a doctor? "

I tiredly opened my eyes, and squinted at the faces that were looking down on me.
The doors and windows were there. The room looked asif nothing ever happened in it.

A middle aged woman was the first to speak.
"Are you okay dear? You just fainted. Thank God the room service guy alerted us. Are you pregnant dear? "

I just jumped up, ran towards by box. I grabbed my phone and slippers.

"Where are you going? " someone asked.

I held my box and ran towards the door.
"Tell the manager of the hotel that he needs to hire TB Joshua and the pope to do deliverance for this hotel!! "

With that, I ran out drawing the cross with my hand on my heart.
As I ran out of the hotel, people looked at me as if I had gone mad.
Their cup of tea.

I think I will stay in aunt Fiona's house till I go back to Abuja.

• Written by Shontelle Peterz