XLVII. Luna Flos Hotel

Raine's POV:

Outside the bathroom was an oddly painted painting.

It was a picture of a naked woman.

I better had not transported into an underground stripping club or something like that.

One step after another, I made my way down the hall. A person pushing a cart full of dirty dishes passed me. Our eyes met, but he only nod once and continued his path.

At the end of the hallway was a room full of people. A woman passed me without a single glance. I looked around at the busy tables. There were people dressed in fancy outfits everywhere.

A man came up to me, “Ma’am. May I help you?”

A group of young women not far from me giggled.

“Where am I?”

“Morning Glory?”

“Morning Glory?”

“Morning Glory Restuarant.”

“A restuarant?” I walked past him and towards what I assume as the exit. Once I reached the outside, a lobby greeted me.

Businessmen passed me in their grey and black suits.

Steadily, I walked towards the front door. I was right. It is a hotel. I somehow got transported into a hotel.

I was in a car.

Went to space.

And now, I’m at a hotel.

If something like this happened to me a year ago - or even a few weeks ago - I would’ve freaked out. I learned that freaking out gets me nowhere except, maybe transport me to another place.

At least this place isn’t in the middle of a forest.

I pat my body for my cell phone only to realize I left it in my bag.

The bag is at the bottom of the car.

I looked at the bright sky before I turned back into the hotel. I walked towards the front desk and the man smiled, “May I help you?”

“May I borrow your telephone? I left mine inside the hotel room and I need to call my friend to open the door. I would ask you to open it for me, but the room is underneath my friend’s name and I don’t want to put you in a situation where you can get in trouble.”

The story came out so smoothly that it almost scare me.

Leon is right to hire me.

I’m good.

“Not a problem,” he said. “May I know her number?”

I gave the employee Helen’s number.

After he dialed it, he gave the phone to me.

One ring.

Two rings.

Click.

“Hello?”

I looked at the man who smiled and walked away. “Helen. Its Raine. You need to listen. Don’t disturb me at all.”

I started the story with how I was forced to attend the stupid Pre-Alpha meeting with Leon. Then, I told her how I was transported into space. I met my dad who was supposed to be dead and he told me that I’m supposedly a Traveler. And lastly, I got dropped off away from Leon’s car and into a random hotel.

“Which hotel?” Helen asked.

My eyes went towards the card laying in the front. “Luna Flos Hotel.”

Helen repeated my words. She must be searching for my location.

“And where did you say you were going to go again?”

“The Red...Pink...Yellow Forest or something.” I should learn to listen.

“Black Forest Pack.”

“Yes! That one!”

“Well, good news. You’re in their territory. The Black Forest Pack own Luna Flos Hotel. So, if you tell the front desk to call the Black Forest Pack. They will call Crescent Moon and then Leon will come pick you up.”

“Yeah. That sounds like a good pla-”

Wait a second.

“What?” Helen asked.

“Why...do I have to call Leon?”

“Don’t you want someone to come get-”

Helen gasps.

And she caught on.

“Yes! Why are you still on the phone?! Come get me!”

“Alright! Let me go to the airport and-”

“Problem,” I intervene.

“No. No. No. No problem. Just wait there for me.”

“I don’t have my identification card...or anything.” They locked it up back in the Pack House.

Helen groaned, “Give me a second.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Alright. Don’t hang up.”

The phone went quiet and the front desk worker eyed me. I smiled and looked away. He must have some suspicion about my phone call.

He stepped towards me and I held up a finger. Of course, with his professional training, he wouldn’t cause a scene in front of everyone. The man nodded once and stepped back. He pretended to be busy with some papers in front of him.

“Helen?” Cory’s voice. “Holy lord! What the fuckery! What the actual damn fuck-ing-ker-ry.” I can tell he’s speechless and Helen probably gave him a brief summary of what happened.

“I know right!” Helen shouted. “Like oh the shitty shit shit lord golly gopper grapefruit!” None of that makes sense.

“I know. I know. I’m...I don’t know! I don’t know!” I really don’t know how to feel about this situation.

“Okay.” Cory inhaled a deep breath. “Helen how do you feel about driving?”

“On a scale?” Helen replied.

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know. -2?”

“Well add 12 and you’re at a 10.”

“What?” Helen and I replied.

“It means you’re going to borrow your parents’ car and come get me. Then, we’re going to get Raine.”

“Are you crazy?” Helen responded.

“Sometimes,” he said. “Now, it will take two days if we drive straight to where Raine would be. It should take two days, but most likely, you’ll get stop whenever you reach a new territory. But, if we used your family flying car and-”

“Isn’t flying cars illegal?” I asked. Yes. They have freaking flying cars here.

“Its not illegal per say,” Helen respond. “Its just creatures outside of the magic community doesn’t like to use it. You know, werewolves, humans, vampires, and shit can’t use magic so they’re bitter about it.”

“If you travel at night to early mornings, then you’re less likely to get caught by the guards. Turn off your lights and put the car in autopilot. Once you’re in Full Moon, we can travel straight through the territory during daytime and head towards Raine.”

“That sounds like an extremely risky and unsecure plan,” I said. I pressed my forehead against my palm, “Guys. No. Just don’t do anything. I’ll figure out a way to get back.”

I don’t want them to do all this and get caught. They can go to jail for trespassing into another territory.

When I started school, I learned that the continent is named the same as my world - North America. And knowing that the worlds used to be one, it makes sense why the continent is named that way.

That America guy who landed here is lucky.

I wonder if the other worlds continent is also named after him.

And also, similar to my world, this world has a concept similar to states. Each states is it’s own territory with it’s own laws.

“Too late. I’m already stealing my parents’ car.”

I look up from the table, “What?”

“So, you have no choice but to sit there and wait for us.”

“But-”

“Steal a towel, go somewhere warm, and wait for us. We love you and we’re coming.”

“Guys-” The tears fall involuntarily. I must had save someone great in my past life to meet people like them.

“Save the tears for the reunion.”

There’s a smile on my face. I know it. “Alright.” I wiped off the tears.

After we said our goodbye, I hand the phone back to the front desk worker. “She’s coming,” I said.

He nods, “That’s great.”

“Thank you.” I made my way towards the lobby. I can stay here for a few hours and when things get too awkward, I’ll leave.

The earliest Helen and Cory gets here will be two days. The latest will be a week.

My stomach growls.

I have no money.

No identification.

Nothing except the clothes on my back.

The more I thought about my situation the more concerned I get. I’m basically homeless. My eyes leaped towards the front door as if Helen and Cory would burst through it at any second.

I know I’m relying on my friends a bit too much. Some may even say I’m taking advantage of their kindness.

On the single arm chair, I curled my body into a ball.

But, they’re the only two I know that I can trust. They’re the only two that would believe my crazy stories. The crazy story I told them is equivalent to telling someone in my world that aliens exist. They would only look at you as if you have a loose screw.

Helen and Cory never look at me like that.

I wiped the tears from my cheek.

Friends say they will do anything for each other.

In Helen and Cory case, they had proven that to be true.

When I get back to the human community, I’m going to treat them to dinner. I’m going to study hard in school, get a good job, and take care of them for as long as I’m here.

The more I think of what I can do for my best friends, the more terrible my stomach felt.

I’m a luggage.

I know it.

Even with the discovery that I’m this grand Traveler of all worlds.

I’ve never felt so weak.

In the human community, I hid behind Cory and Helen.

In the werewolf community, I hid behind Leon.

Despite being in this world for over year, I still fear it. The door burst open and a little boy rushed inside. He stood his ground and howled.

Involuntarily, my body flinched as he got closer to me.

Two couples went in after him. They grabbed him and shook their heads.

Its foolish of me to be afraid of a little child, but I also saw what the adult version of him can do.

They can rip things apart with their bare teeth.

Its not as glorious as the movies make it out to be.

My thumb twiddle around one another as the sun slowly sets.

“Wolfie. I wonder what you’re doing,” I mumbled underneath my breath.

The longer I sat there, the calmer I felt. The sounds of footsteps decreased when nighttime arrives. If I don’t move from my location, they’ll surely escort me out.

“Leon.”