Eli didnât wake so much become aware. One moment he was looking at Nathaniel Alexander the next he was sitting in a booth in an ornately decorated room. He was wearing a grey suit with a grey knitted tie, Eli remembered his Father wearing a similar type of tie.
He glanced around the room which was wood panelled and dimly lit. He could hear muffled voices but couldnât see anyone else.
Music was playing but he couldnât be sure if it was recorded or there was a band.He pulled himself from behind the table and left the booth.
The room was notable for the large window that ran from ceiling to floor. Eli walked toward the glass and could see no seams. It was a single massive pane of glass.
The room was overlooking what seemed to be a wood but it was hard to tell with the snow falling outside. It looked like a blizzard. Eli closed his eyes and tried to make sense of what was happening. Suddenly he felt a tug at his side like he had a stitch.
He raised his eyes back to the glass but instead of looking out he found his reflection.
He looked old.
Really old.
âJesus!â Eli exclaimed as he ran his hands over his face. His face felt young and firm but in the mirror an old man was staring back at him.
âSir. Please keep your voice down.â
Eli turned to face a diminutive looking bald man dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and green vest. He wore a name tag that simply read âStaffâ.
âSorry... I... Iâm feeling a little confused. â
âTo be expected, Sir. Perhaps a drink at the bar?â
âYes... where is that?â
âStraight through there beside the dining room.â
âThank you.â Eli said as he glanced back at the black window and saw his wrinkled face staring back.
#
The Hi-lux was parked over five miles away. The voice told him this was alright. He trudged through snow that had begun to fall. He was feeling hopeless and lost.
âCome on, Kyle, speak to me. Itâs no fun if you donâtâ
âYou made me kill those people.â
âI donât know about that, Kyle.â
âChrist I am insane, standing in the middle of the woods talking to myself.â
âHow about I prove youâre not insane, Kyle?â
Kyle remained silent.
âGotta get there before nightfall though, let the snow cover up your tracks. Kyle.â
Kyle slowly trudged on.
#
I hate this song. Eli thought as he made his past empty tables and the darkness. For some reason the lamps on
the tables only seemed to throw their light a few feet.
He arrived at the bar and got onto a stool, he looked at his reflection in the mirror opposite.
He now looked normal.
The bar tender was a young woman who was heavily made up with brunette hair. Her name tag said Karen.
âWhatâll it be Hon?â She asked with a world weary sigh.
âCoors.â
The woman walked off to get the beer and Eli started to relax. There seemed to be more light here and he no longer looked like he was about to die of old age but
he still felt uneasy about the pain in his side.
He decided he was in a hotel because thatâs what it felt like to him. The staff, dining room and decor seemed to support his assumption.
âHere you go Hon.â The bar tender said placing a glass of beer in front of Eli.
âWhatâs it come to?â Eli said suddenly afraid he didnât have any money.
âCompliments of the gentleman at the end of the bar.â
Eli turned a saw a man with a well groomed beard in a dark grey suit who raised his glass to Eli.
Masters.
Eli stood and walked towards the old man.
âJohn, I didnât see you there.â
âNor I you.â
âPretty dark in here.â
âI fear we are strangers in a strange land.â
âThis will sound funny but I donât really remember where we are. Last thing I remember was being in The Bishop House. Howâd we get to this Hotel?â
âHotel?â Masters said with a confused scowl. âWhere do you think we are, Eli?â
âExcuse me gentlemen but I need to see your tickets.â The bald man said from behind them.
âTicket?â Eli said.
âI found mine in my jacket pocket.â Masters explained as he produced his own ticket.
Eli rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. He hadnât bothered to check his own pockets. He produced his own ticket and handed it to the man who was holding a single hole punch in his hand.
âOk.â He said as he punched Masterâs ticket and handed it back. Eliâs received no mark and was handed back to him.
âIf youâd like to follow me.â He said to Masters who stood.
Eli also stood but the bald man raised his hand.
âYou can only come to the dining room if you ticket has been punched, Sir.â
âOh.â Eli said weakly as he returned to his stool.
Masters bowed his head and followed the bald man in the direction of the dining room.
âAnother time Sheriff.â
Mastersâ suit was now black.