Chapter 5 THE ENIGMA INN

Liv made her decision and the next day she had packed her clothes and stuffs she might need while she was away. The letter had picked on all her strengths and had compelled her to visit the Enigma Inn. She ordered a ride and was on her way to the address at the back of the envelope she had received. On her way to the place she kept on thinking on how better she would be as a survivalist if the hotel reached it's hype.

She planned on staying for two days to assess the hotel, if it wasn't worth the hype she would leave quickly but if indeed it was truly as it was stated in the letter she would come out better than ever. As they made their way down the winding road, the hotel came into view, its turrets and towers ising above the trees like a fairy-tale castle. The building was situated in the midst of a lush, verdant forest, and a feeling of peace and serenity washed over her as the driver pulled into the driveway. She could already imagine herself wandering through the woods, camping out in the woods filled with different creatures she had no idea about, breathing in the fresh air and relaxing among the trees as her adrenaline pumped on. The hotel itself was magnificent, with an old-world charm that made her feel like she had stepped back in time. The driver dropped her off along with her suitcases and drove off after being paid. She stared longingly into the forest and couldn't wait to be part of nature and seeing what nature could throw at her in the forest. A tall, slender man with a kind face hurried out of the hotel to greet her. "Welcome to the Enigma Inn" he said, a smile spreading across his face. "I'll be your bellhop for the duration of your stay. May I take your bags?" Liv nodded, relieved to hand over her heavy luggage, and he quickly whisked them away. Liv watched as he carried them inside the hotel, his movements precise and graceful. He seemed like the perfect bellhop and that reassured her that the decision she made was the right one. She smiled as she followed the bellhop into the hotel. As she stepped inside the hotel, she was struck by the opulence of the decor. The floors were marble, and the walls were lined with intricate tapestries. The ceilings were adorned with elegant chandeliers, and the furniture was luxurious and ornate. She felt like she had stepped into a grand palace from another era. She made her way to the reception desk, which was situated at the centre of the lobby. The desk was made of dark, polished

wood, and it was manned by a young woman who greeted her with a smile. "Welcome to the Enigma Inn" she said. "Thank you. What can you tell me about this hotel? I've never come across it until now and I don't think the article I've seen online could actually suffice." Liv asked curiously. The receptionist smiled at the question and pushed a form for her to check in before she began to tell Liv about the history of the hotel. "The hotel had been built in the 1800s by a wealthy businessman who had a passion for medieval architecture. The hotel had been expanded and renovated over the years, but the original architecture had been carefully preserved." The receptionist went on to explain that the hotel had been designed to cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. "We want our guests to feel like they are stepping into a world of their own, a world where they can feel at home." She said. Liv nodded in understanding at her explanation she saw that she was the fifth person to check in and wondered how many rooms they had in total. "I'm sorry if my questions are getting too much, but then I would love to know how many people can your hotel host at a time?" Liv asked. "The hotel hosts a maximum of six people at a time. Not because we don't have enough room but because we want our guests to experience all that the hotel as to offer which you would see on your stay here." The receptionist explained with a smile. "Wow. Thank you. I can't wait to see what your hotel has in store for me." Liv said excitedly. It looked as though she had just walked into a five-star hotel without paying a dime. "Yeah, final question." Liv said just as the receptionist brought out the key to her designated room.

"Why was I given an invitation, and why is the hotel free?" "The Manager, Our Enigmatic Benefactor, chose selected individuals to be invited to the Hotel. He wants only the best of people, he calls you Enigmas of recent times. He's a philanthropist and is willing to make your experience here the best no matter the cost. Everything here is free, and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity." The receptionist explained and handed Liv the key. "Room 005." Liv read the tag on the key. "Please follow me." The bellhop said smiling as he led her up the stairs to her room. The bellhop dropped off her luggage in her grand room and was about to leave when Liv asked. "What's your name?" "It doesn't matter ma'am." The bellhop replied and made for the door again but was stopped. "Of course, it matters. I would be worried if I didn't know the name of my bellhop." "I'm sure my name would be the least of your worries ma'am. Have a great day." The bellhop quickly left the room leaving Liv stunned with the last statement he made. It was evening by the time Victor arrived at the road leading to the Inn. It was a long journey from where he lived here. It took long hours of sex before he made up his mind to come here, although he still had doubts in his mind. His heart pounded as he drove down the dark, winding road, the branches of the trees clawing at the car like bony fingers. He wasn't sure if he was making the right choice, coming to this strange, isolated hotel. As he pulled up to the front gate, he hesitated, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The imposing structure loomed before him, its many turrets and towers standing tall against the evening sky. He took a deep breath and forced himself to step out of the car after all he had faced worse at the battlefield, but something about this place unnerved him. He stepped into the hotel after pulling into the driveway. He made his way to the receptionist while staring at the interior of the hotel, which still put him on edge, his battle senses tingling.

The receptionist stood up to greet him and was about talking when a deep voice interrupted behind him. "Good evening, and welcome to the Enigma Inn. I'm Mr Blackwood, we've been expecting you." Mr Blackwood, a tall, imposing man in his late 50s with salt-and-pepper hair, a well-tailored suit, and sharp, calculating eyes introduced himself. "Good evening. Sorry I'm late." Victor said, staring at the man whose presence exudes an aura of mystery and authority. "It's fine. Please come along. Dinner is ready. Our bellhop would take your luggage to your room." Mr Blackwood said. "Oh okay. Won't I need to check in first?" Victor asked, confused.

"That would be taken care of. Here's the key to your room." Mr Blackwood handed him a key with the tag '006'. "Please this way." Mr Blackwood said/ordered. Victor hesitated for a minute but ended up following as he didn't have a choice.