Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-27008899-20160513175825

Extended Stay

As a bartender you find many things when the night is over. In patron drunken stupors; coats, hats, glasses, and even the occasional pair of underwear are often found after the doors are locked. The most popular lost item, of course, is cell phones.

When we find them we usually try to look through it to see if we can discover who it belongs too. Often they are locked and we simply throw it in the lost and found. Most of the time people come back to get them. Don't let bartenders and waitresses lie to you, one of our favorite things to do it check you texts and messages. I have read entire stories of how marriages went wrong, new and old found love, as well as heard all about the millions of dollars owed from the phone of a perceived successful business man.

One night we found a phone in the women's room, just laying on the floor. The old flip phone was tattered, not dirty, but it had deep scratches all over the outside. Shawna, a waitress at the bar, joked that perhaps Captain Kirk dropped it in his battle with a Klingon. After a good 10 minutes of toilet jokes from that comment I decided to open it to see if I could find the owner.

The screen seemed in good condition, however, the numbers were just like the outside. Deep gouges were in the place numbers once appeared. I located text mailbox but no text had ever been sent or received. I next tried the contacts, there was only two numbers. One showed 6 heard messages, and the other showed one. Of course curiosity got the better of me and the wait staff and I all gathered around. I laid the phone on the bar and put it on speaker. The following was the first message we heard:

Message 1: October 2, 2015

"Hey babe, I finally made it to the hotel. No wonder we couldn't find it on Google Maps, this place is way out in the middle of nothing. I'm just glad I have a signal. It's beautiful here. My room is huge! Anyway, make sure you thank Dr. Arnold for telling us about this place. I love you and I will be home in a month.

Feeling let down by this message due to lack of drama, I proceeded to click on the next message:

Message 2: October 9, 2015

"Hi honey, I just called to check on you. I hope you are good. I miss you. I met a really nice guy today who says Dr. Arnold also said his girlfriend told him this is a great place for men to just get away from the stress of work. Before he said that I didn't realize, but everyone here is a guy. I think I saw Dr. Arnold in the lobby this morning too. Anyway, I love you baby. Talk to you later."

After a few comments as to why someone would send their husband away to a man resort, and a few of the staff asking how they could do the same, I still felt unsatisfied with the fact our investigation had not provided us with some deep dark secret about the person who lost the phone. I had to click on the next one:

Message 3: October 16, 2015

"Hey Jen, Dr. Arnold is here. I spoke with him a few minutes ago. Where did you say you met him? It was weird because he kept asking me all about you. He kept asking me if I thought you missed me. It was, strange (a low hum starts to become audible here and the caller pauses for a good 10 seconds). I...I love you."

"Ok, that one was weird." Shawna said. I shook my head to show I agreed with her and played the next message:

Message 4: October 19, 2015

"Jen, I really need you to answer. Something really strange is happening in this hotel. Remember the guy I told you about last week? At dinner tonight he just stared at me. I kept asking him if he was ok but he just, stared. As though I wasn't there. When I told Dr. Arnold he said it was all a part of the process (again a low hum starts in the background and the caller pauses. The following sentence was said by the caller in a monotone voice). I must go now. They are calling for me."

"I think we should stop," One of the wait staff murmured, "this is getting really messed up."

"What if this person is in trouble, we could help them." I said clicking on the next message:

Message 5: October 23, 2015 (The low hum can be heard throughout this message. Also note the callers voice is very solemn and cold in this message)

"Hello Jennifer, I hope you are well. Dr. Arnold said that I'm almost better and should be able to return home soon. I...lu...(he almost sounded normal for a second but quickly snapped back). Goodbye."

"Fuck this I'm out," Shawna said as she jumped up from the bar stool, "you're not getting me sent to some crazy place to be turned into a zombie."

The rest of the staff followed her and went back to cleaning up. I sat there for what seemed a half hour just looking at the last message. I had to know if this was real. I had to know the person on the other end of this call was ok. I clicked the last message:

Message 6: October 31, 2015

"Help me Jen! Dr. Arnold is a mad man. He...he killed my friend. He cut his throat and started drinking his blood. The entire hotel staff joined in. We all just watched. We couldn't move. It was like I was in a dream. I...I don't know why but I came to and realized what was happening. I'm in the woods behind the hotel. You have to call the police! Please (barking dogs in the distance draw closer to the caller as he goes on)! Oh god! They found me. If I never see you again please know I love you more than anything. I'm sorry. Ahhhhh! (He screams as a snarling creature sounds is heard close to the receiver. After that the line goes dead)"

I stepped back away from the bar in horror. My heart raced as the screams on the other end of the line tore through me. My shaking hand grasp a bar rag as I searched for anything I could find to settle it. "This has to be a joke." I thought to myself as I leaned forward to see the message line at 0:00. I grabbed the phone and scrolled to the last message. Barely able to steady my hand, I managed to click on the last message in the phone. A deep scratchy voice began:

Message 7: November 1, 2015

"Your queen is pleased with your choice. She demand another for next years ceremony."

The message ended abruptly. Terrified I closed the phone and placed it under the bar. I convinced myself it was all a prank and finished my work. The next night was busy, as it usually is on Saturday. I had forgotten about the phone as well as the voice on the other end. As I was pouring a shot a beautiful woman approached the bar. She smiled and looked at me. Her bright green eyes were almost hypnotic.

"Hi, my name is Jen," she said in a sweet sultry voice, "I think I left my phone her last night."

"Uhh...we found a phone in the bathroom," I said stumbling over my words as this goddess gazed at me. I handed her the phone.

"Thanks you're the best," she said dropping the phone in her purse. She got up to leave and took a step. She stopped and turned to look at me again and said, "hey, are you doing anything next weekend?" 