As dusk settled, Mike headed to work. The evening began uneventfully, with only a handful of guests to check in. He delivered extra towels to Room 205, and replaced a flickering lightbulb in the hallway, trying to keep busy while the night slowly unfurled around him.
By nine o’clock, the lobby grew eerily quiet. Mike double-checked the doors, making sure they were secure. A faint wind rattled the glass. An unsettled feeling crawled up his spine, though he brushed it off as the typical hush of a near-empty hotel.