Hotel California

It was dark that night, my blonde hair whipped my face as I stepped out of the cab my mom sent for me. She was with my dad at the hospital and she sent me to stay at a small hotel, I walked in through the automatic doors as they opened for me, the warm air hit me like a wall. There were red walls and a double staircase leading up to an elevator, “Welcome to Hotel California!” a young woman yelled, running up to me. Her brown hair was pulled up in a tight bun, tied up with an orange ribbon, her red lipstick was smeared and there were dark streaks of mascara on her cheeks as if she had been crying. Her eyes were bloodshot yet she still managed to smile at me with a horrific grin.

“I just need to stay here for one night," I told her as if I was using that to protect myself from her, “Someone allowed a young girl to stay at a hotel by herself?” she questioned, her smile leaving her face and her eyes growing wider than they already were, I shrugged, then nodded. “This way," the woman said, leading her up the staircase to the elevator.

“Don’t I have to check in?” I asked, lingering at the base of the stairs for several seconds. “Nonsense," she chirped, “Come," she continued up the stairs, the elevator was torn up on the inside and reeked of smoke, she took me all the way up to the top floor.

The doors opened, but there was no hallway, there was one door, the woman fished a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. She led me down the wide hallway, there were heavy bar doors against each wall, the young girls ran over to see who I was, they were wearing baggy white shirts with white shorts, they were covered with dirt and their hair was stringy and tangled. There was screaming everywhere, filling the empty space where the oxygen was supposed to be, “Run while you can!” they were screaming, “Ignore them. They are supposed to be polite to our new guest!” the woman yelled, hitting the bars with a long stick that blocked off the door with thick glass and filled the entire room with water. After about 10 seconds, she drained the water and the girl was left soaking wet and coughing, “You don’t mind having roommates, do you?” the woman asked me, I was about to answer when she said, “Of course you don’t! Wonderful!”

“You won’t need these here!” the woman said, taking my bags from me, she handed me a change of clothes and pointed to a small room.

“You know, my mom is probably waiting for me, I should go," I said, turning around and heading for the door that I had come in from. Something bit at my ankles and I yelped, “Go. Now," she pointed again to the small room, I obeyed. It was a small grey room with a mirror, I changed into the white clothes that she had given me, I stepped out, “Wonderful! Come here, sweetie," she exclaimed, I walked over to where she was. “What is your name, girl?” she asked.

“Carrie," I replied, my voice violently shaking, “Hmm, alright, I think I’ll put you with Venus," she said.

What kind of a name is Venus, I thought to myself, I followed her down the hall that seemed to last forever, passing room after room of crying girls, all dressed in the same white clothing I was. We stopped in front of a cell that seemed empty, but didn't sound like it, crazy, manic laughter echoed throughout the hall, “This is Venus," the woman said, the laughter stopped, “It’s Athena," a girl said followed by more laughter. “I’m Amity. Just call if you need anything," the woman said, unlocking Athena’s cell, shoving me in, and locking the door behind me.

“So, you’re new," Athena said, biting her nails, I nodded, I couldn’t even respond, “Look, here’s how stuff goes around here,” she started, “Amity locks you in here, then you stay forever, you never age and you almost die every day," there was a wail from the cell next to ours. “And that’s Ivy," Athena said.

“What about my family, they’ll come back for me," I said, Athena rolled her eyes as if she had told this story a million times. “You’re erased from their memory. They don’t even know you exist," she said, my heart rate increased.

“Look, Carrie. A sweet little flower like you is never going to last in this place. You have to learn to be tough," Athena said, Ivy let out another wail, “Ivy, shut up!” Athena shouted. “You gradually go crazy, then they decide where they put you," she said, flipping her tangled hair and biting her nails again.

“Do they ever let us out?” I asked, sitting down on the floor, “Yes, of course, they let out one section at a time. We’re 4J so we go out pretty early," Athena said.

I breathed out a sigh of relief, Ivy let out a loud cry, “Shut up!!” Athena yelled.

“Have you ever even tried asking Ivy why she’s always crying?” I asked, “Of course we have, she doesn’t say anything we understand, but she’s been here for a while, so she’s crazy," Athena replied with a shrug and continued to bite her nails.

“Ivy?” I asked, grabbing the bars, Ivy walked up to the bars on her cell so I could see her face, she had dark brown eyes and beautiful long hair, “Yes?” she said, Athena jumped up and ran over to stand next to me.

“Did Ivy just say that?” she asked, her blonde hair hitting her shoulders as she raised her eyebrows, I nodded, Does she not usually talk?, I thought to myself. “I’ve never heard her talk before," Athena said, her voice light and breathy, she tightened her grip on the bars.

“Why are you sad?” I asked, ignoring Athena, “It wasn’t me!!” Ivy cried, pulling on the bars, “It isn’t my fault!!!”

“What do you guys do for fun here?” I asked Athena, backing away from the bars, “We have a daily therapy session, there’s a dance twice a week, usually the girls are crazier than the guys, though. We get to go outside every single day," she said, her pupils dilating. “Good night, girls! Sweet dreams," someone, who I assumed was Amity said before clicking off the lights and leaving them in complete darkness. I got up and walked over to the bars again, “It wasn’t me!” Ivy screamed.

“What wasn’t you?” I questioned, “Good luck with that one," Athena mumbled.

“I didn't poison them! I didn't! They poisoned me!!!” she yelled, hitting the bars with a metal object, “Shut up, Ivy!!” Athena yelled, my eyes were suddenly adjusting to the dark and I somehow made my way to a bed. The great king of all comforts, a bed. I laid down on it and a sudden pain filled my lower back, “The bed is hard isn’t it?” Athena asked, laughing.

“Yeah," I replied, hoping that I sounded happier than I actually was.

“Good night, Athena," I said, there was silence from the other side of the room, “Athena?” I asked, “Yeah? Sorry, I haven’t heard anyone say that to me in at least 2 years. Good night, Carrie," she replied.

“Carrie?” a small voice said, I got up and ran to the bars to see who was calling for me.

“Yeah?” I whispered, “I’m Chava. I live in the cell one away from yours,” she said, “Your cell is close to me and my friends, so maybe we could be friends?” Chava said, her voice shaking a little.

“Yeah, sure why not," I responded. “Okay, thanks," Chava said.

“I’m tired, I’ll talk to you tomorrow," I said, backing away from the bars and getting into bed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Get up, girls! Breakfast is ready," Amity yelled at 8:25 the next morning, “Our schedule for everyday is we eat, go outside, therapy, eat, go outside, weird activity, then eat, then quiet time, then bed," Athena said, as if she were reading my mind, we were all shuffled to a large grey room with tables. There were 7 girls at our table counting me, “Good day, mate! I’m Love. You must be Carrie!” Love said in a thick australian accent. “I’m Bambi," a girl said, her face was covered with freckles and her hair was a mess… and she had ears. “I’m Acacia," one girl mumbled, there were thorns and leaves in her hair. “I’m Mercy. Don’t cross me or I won’t give any," Mercy said, stepping toward me so her face was inches from mine, she wore a grey sweatshirt with the hood up and her hair coming out of the sides, she had one earbud in.

“Don’t fret, love. Mercy ain’t gonna hurt ya. Are you, dear?” Love said, Bambi’s ears went down, “Oh, sorry, Bambi, sweetheart. Calling people ‘dear’ offends her, ya know?” Love said, linking her arm in mine.

“I think I’m gonna like you, Love," I said, grinning at her. She smiled at me, “I hate it here. I don’t know when I’m gonna get out of here," she said, somehow managing to keep a smile on her face. I nodded, “Are you hungry, Mercy?” Love asked, Mercy looked up and glared at her, “No," she said, Love looked at me and rolled her eyes, still smiling.

“Mercy don’t eat much," Bambi said, grinning with her perfectly white teeth, I sat down at the table with Love, Bambi, Acacia, Mercy, Athena, and Chava.

“Do we even eat here?” I asked, seeing that no one had food and was eating, “Of course, but the food here is no good. Also, they feed us," Acacia said, I turned my head slightly, “Look,” Acacia said, pointing to where there were two people going around and injecting everyone with some kind of liquid.

“No, no, no. That’s not happening," I said, looking for Mercy to be sour toward me, “It’s not that bad, Carrie, don’t worry, sugar," Love said, putting a hand on my shoulder, Good grief, she’s friendly.

“No, Love, you don’t understand. I am terrified of needles," I said, the people with the injections were coming closer. “No, Carrie, you don’t understand. It hurts less than a flu shot," Bambi said as the people came to our table, I watched as they injected liquid into every one of the people I know. Finally, I was next, as it turns out, Bambi was right. I felt refreshed and instantly energized, “This is better than coffee!” I exclaimed, Mercy gave me a disgusted look and readjusted her hoodie, “Don’t mind her, she’s not usually this friendly toward new people,” Bambi said, Mercy gave her a nasty look, too.

“Alright, asylum inmates,” a man’s voice rang out,.

“Asylum?” I whispered, the room fell silent, “We’re going outside, remember, we have therapy, then the weekly dance," he said. One girl got up, “What do you think you’re doing?” the man asked, towering over her, “I just-” she started, “I did not command you to get up!” he bellowed, striking her in the head, she helplessly fell to the ground, staining her white clothes with a deep red. “I think you need to go sit in The Room for a while and think about what you’ve done," he whispered to her, “No! No! Please! I’m sorry!” she yelped as two men grabbed her by her thin arms and dragged her away.

“Go," he said, everyone sat motionless, “I said go! Git out o’ here!” he motioned violently for us to leave as the girls scrambled to get up and leave.

“He’s scary," I said, adding a dramatic shudder, hoping that it was lightening the mood, “Crikey, mate. Ya got that right. He’s not a ripper himself, I’m surprised he even got married, got a root, and has got a lil roo at home!” Love said, laughing. I smiled and pretended to know what she was talking about, “Ah, no worries, me ol’ cobber, you ain’t a true blue. I don’t expect you to know those words," she said, “Just ignore her, she’s got a language of her own," Mercy said sourly.

“Ay! Rack off, will you?” Love said in a sharper tone but she was still joking, Athena grinned and shook her head, “Love, you couldn’t be mean even if you tried," Bambi said, grinning, “Lay off, Bambi," Mercy said, pulling her sleeves down. “Hey, guys," someone said from behind us in a brooklyn accent, “Ace! You’re back," Athena exclaimed, wrapping her arms around a very beautiful girl, “Hey. I missed you," the girl said, hugging her back.

“Um," I started, Athena spoke up, “This is my girl, Ace. She’s my best friend, she’s also Chava’s cellmate," Athena said.

“Nice to meet you, Ace, I’m Carrie," I said, narrowing my eyes at what she was wearing, she had cut her white clothes so they fit her form perfectly and showed slightly more skin than most people were okay with. “Ah, you’re new aren’t ya?” Ace said, as she examined my face, “Yeah, I’m new. How could you tell?” I asked. “You don’t look tired or sad," Ace said, “Crikey, Ace. Ya can’t be sad, mate! Bein’ rooted ain’t a side factor of this here complex," Love said, playfully hitting Ace’s shoulder.

“Where were you last night?” Athena asked as they walked into the cold embrace of the prison yard, “Is it really any surprise, mate? She probably got a slab,” Love said, an angry expression on her face.

“She what?” I asked, “She’s a root rat!” Love said, now Love was from Australia so she had all kinds of slang. So, she called Ace a root rat, and when she mentioned ‘root’ earlier, she mentioned a kid right after, so that must be related to-

“Hey, I ain’t denyin’ nothin’,” Ace said, pulling up her shorts, “Pig’s arse! Ace, don’t dress like such a knob jockie, will ya?” Love exclaimed, Ace gave her a rude look and rolled her eyes. “I wadn’t doin’ what ya’s think I was. Sure, I’m a lil bit of a root rat, but I was wit Jax and Amethyst!” Ace said.

“Who’s Amethyst and who’s Jax?” I asked Love, “Jax is a dill arse monkey. Amethyst is even more of a knob jockie than Ace is. Amethyst is Ace’s best friend, other than Athena of course," she said.

“What?” I said, not understanding any of what Love told me, “A dill arse monkey is a player, and you know what a knob jockie is," Mercy said, I gave her an expectant look, “Imagine Ace, but like 18.5 times worse," she whispered, I shuddered for effect.

Outside, it was cold and bitter, my lips cracked just from being out of the heat, “It’s beautiful," one girl said, standing with Ace and was wearing something way worse than Ace was, “Oy, mate, that’s Amethyst," Love whispered to me, shivering in her loose clothes.

“Oh, wow. You were right," I managed a laugh as the weather embraced me with its icy hands not leaving any part of my body untouched from the chills. “Amethyst, I see you ain’t shiverin’ from the mute tannin’ block up there," Love said, playfully nudging her shoulder, Amethyst gave Love an icy cold stare with her grey eyes, “Ya got that right," she narrowed her eyes at me.

There was a steady stream of silence as everyone stood out in the open, their cheeks and noses light red. “It’s a li’le cold out here, ay mate?” Love asked some random girl, she stared at Love and forced a smile and nodded. “Some ol’ cobbers ain’t as friendly as you and I," Love whispered to me and grinned.

“How long do we stay out here?” I asked as chill bumps covered my skin and I shivered.

“Not sure. Maybe about 45 minutes," Love said as she ran up to the end of the yard, “Well, come on, now. Cold don’t get in the way o’ fun!” Love shouted as she slid down the hill, mud flowing everywhere. There were about 4 seconds of silence before the girls ran up to the top of the hill in a screaming flurry and slid down, their voices drowned in laughter and smiles filling their faces, “Come on, Mercy. Don’t be such a downer," Love said, now covered in mud and leaves. “I’d rather be a downer," Mercy said coldly, Love shrugged, “Alright, your loss," Love said as she ran to the top of the hill again.

“Why don’t you wanna come have fun?” I asked, following Mercy to the grass patch several feet in front of the wall where we both sat down, “Look, you’re new, so you don’t understand that I’ve been here for over 8 years. Everything gets kind of boring. I’ve already slid down that hill and gotten needles stabbed into my arm more times than I can count," she said.

“Oh," I tried to say, but my voice came out as a faint whisper, I got up and ran up to the top of the hill, Mercy’s words still echoing in my mind, “You and me, love. Ready?” Love said, grabbing my hand, I grinned without even having to force it. That was all I remembered...