InsaniKey

“ASHLEY!” I yelled into the hallway, hoping he'd answer.

“SHHH!” Jinxx stepped back into the room.

I grinned and returned his room key to him. “WHAT ROOM ARE YOU IN?” I yelled to break the sound of the buzzing hallway lights.

A door opened a few rooms down and a hand waved to me.

“Ash?” I stepped into his dark room.

“I was sleeping.” Ashley's voice said groggily, I could see his outline on the bed.

“Keyword WAS.” I rolled my eyes, deciding that sleep ends now because everybody is joining my adventure.

The TV turned on and faintly illuminated the room. Ashley lay in his bed, one arm behind his head.

I looked at the grey screen. “Jinxx! Ash has TV!" I yelled into the hallway.

“Nope.” Ashley changed the channel but every channel was the same. “It’s a surveillance camera of the parking lot. I saw Jake walk by earlier.”

“Jake didn’t make it to his room.” I tried changing the channels.

Ashley sat up. “That’s unusual.” He stroked his chin.

"JINXX!" I yelled into the hallway to annoy him and anybody else listening.

“Wait.” He pointed to the screen. “See? There he goes again.” We both looked at the alarm clock and back at the screen, timing Jake's TV appearances, trying to make a connection. After a minute I gave up and opened Ashley’s window.

“PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTS!” I yelled out into the crisp night air.

Not a sound. No cars in the streets below.

“You're having a loud day.” Jinxx stood in the doorway with his arms folded, he flicked the lightswitch. Nothing happened.

“There’s no light in here.” Ashley said with slight annoyance.

Jinxx stared at the gray TV screen with Ashley. “Is that the parking lot channel?” He joked.

“Five minutes.” Ashley replied and looked at me. “He walks by the same spot, the same way every time, runs his fingers through his hair right there, see.” He pointed again and clapped in the air.

“It’s a looped feedback?” I shot Jinxx a nervous look.

“That’s creepy.” Jinxx said. “I better go find him."

“I’ll go with you.” Ashley added.

“The exits won’t open.” I sighed.

“Have you checked every room?” Jinxx smirked.

“I woke up on floor 1, the rooms were all normal but no fridge, no coffee. Floor 2 is where I thought I saw Ashley run to but he disappeared. Floor 3 is under construction and that’s where I boosted the coffee pot from. It might have a drill we can use to detach the bars on the window of the first floor and get out of here.” I rambled.

“And four?” Jinxx asked.

“Four.” I said hesitantly “The master key doesn’t open floor 4 from the elevator or fire door entryways…” My voice trailed off.

“And?” Jinxx asked, sensing I was hiding something.

“And the elevator entryway to floor 4 has blood on the door handle and a guy standing guard in front of one of the rooms.

“Has anyone heard from Andy?” Jinxx asked.

“He’s asleep next door.” Ashley pointed to the wall.

I watched Jake walk by on the TV screen again.

Ashley left the room and banged on Andy's door.

Notes

♦ Chapter 7's title is from Perfect Weapon by Black Veil Brides
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thanks for reading :3