Page 54 of Sad Girl Hours
“Mmm-hmm,” he says, his (real) moustache twitching. I realise that my (fake) moustache is now stuck to the side of my face.
“We got lost last night looking for a bathroom and came in here, realised our mistake and tried to leave. Unfortunately, the door locked behind us and we were rendered with no option but to sleep here, on the floor of your fine establishment.”
“That’s why we keep the door propped open. And,” he says, walking over to the desk and opening the drawer, “why we keep a spare key in here. So that no one has tosleep on the floor.”
There’s a beat of silence while I just stare down at the key in his hand. I flick my eyes back up to him. He remains unamused.
“Right. I see. Well,” I bluster, “we’d best be getting back to our group. Thank you so much for your hospitality. We’ll be sure to leave you a five-star review. Well, maybe four point five: it wasa tad draughty. Saffron?” I call down to where she’s still sitting, watching this unfold. “We’re leaving now.”
I walk out of the door, Saffron close behind. I hear her whisper “sorry” to the man.
When she catches up to me, I say, “I can’t believe there was a key in the drawer the whole time. Iloveescape rooms – I can’t believe I didn’t think to put my puzzling brain on.” I was much too busy trying to puzzle out what was going on with Saffron.
Speaking of – when we approach the door back into the main hall, I pause and turn to Saffron. She looks pale – or at least paler than usual (she’s always got that waifish thing going for her).
“You OK?” I say. “Ready to face the music?”
She nods.
In the hall, everyone’s packing up their things, ready to leave. Our group are still in the corner. I walk up to them with a, “Hey, guys!”
Vivvie turns to face us, throwing her hands up in the air. “Oh BUENO, they’re not dead.”
“Um … no?” Saffron says.
“See, I told you.” Jenna turns to Casper before focusing on us again. “He was very concerned that a vengeful ghost had murdered you.”
“I had a nightmare about it and everything,” he says soberly. “Nell accidentally insulted his ghostly garb, and he made you and Saffron pay. Dearly.”
“He murdered us because I insulted his outfit?” I say in disbelief. “Grow a spine, mate.”
“Probably not the best thing to say to a ghost,” Saffron adds, beginning to pack up her things.
“See what I mean!” Casper’s blue eyes are wide. “If you were in a confrontation with a phantom, you’d definitely be dead before morning. As it is, I’m very glad that you’renot—”
He accepts a half hug from Saffron.
“But wherewereyou then, if you weren’t dead?” Vivvie asks.
“Yes,” Jenna joins in. “We saw you go through the staff door, which is why we didn’t tell anyone we were worried about you. We didn’t want to get you into shit. But whatwereyou doing?” she asks.
“We got locked in a storage room,” I say. “We slept on the floor, surrounded by boxes of stationery.”
“Very cosy,” Vivvie says. “But why did you even—”
“Don’t push it,” I mutter quietly to her. “Not right now.”
Vivvie’s eyes narrow, not a fan of being told what to do, but she drops it all the same.
As we’re funnelled through the courtyard out into the grey light of morning, the others engaged in conversation about the events of the night before, I say to Saffron, “What are you doing today?”
“Today? I’m not sure.”
“Well, no pressure, but the pumpkin patch is still open. We could go and get our pumpkins to carve ready for tonight. If you wanted? Happy Halloween, by the way.”
“Happy Halloween,” she says back automatically, but then she stops, grabbing my arm. “Oh wow, it’sHalloween. Your favourite holiday. I can’t believe you spent the first part of your favourite holiday locked in a storage room with me. I’m so sorry.”
I shrug. “That’s OK.”
