Chapter 13: Back to the Third Floor
The lobby of the Midnight Hotel looked pretty normal. Unlike the dim stairwell, this area was well-lit. On one side was a black front desk with two neatly uniformed and pretty girls standing behind it, while on the other was a lounge area furnished with sofas and coffee tables. A few steps led from the lounge to the restaurant, but it was currently closed off, with the entrance blocked by a folding screen.
The only odd thing was the tightly locked door. However, it was during a lockdown period, and no one was allowed to enter or exit; that was clearly stated in the room rules, so Luo Jun was already prepared for that.
Silently getting ready to activate the mind dice at any moment, Luo Jun forced a casual demeanor as he approached the front desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
The front desk staff was quite friendly.
After making a quick assessment in his mind, Luo Jun tentatively said, "Sorry, I accidentally got locked out of my room..."
"No problem, sir. May I have your room number, please?"
"0315."
"Great, please look at the camera for facial recognition. We need to verify your identity."
Luo Jun hesitated for a moment but complied.
He also took the chance to observe the two girls behind the counter.
Both were well-featured, standing on two feet, and didn't have bangs… They seemed human for sure.
Humans represent safety.
"Okay, please hold on for a moment."
While the front desk processed his request, Luo Jun discreetly took a look around and soon spotted a small sealed display board on the side that read "Customer Notice."
New rules? Luo Jun's interest was piqued, so he started reading carefully.
Welcome to the Midnight Hotel. To ensure you have a good experience, please follow these rules after checking in.
1. The hotel is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Please check in during these hours. After 10:00 PM, the hotel will enter a lockdown period, prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting. We appreciate your understanding.
2. Check-out can be done daily between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. As long as the room is checked and found to be in order, you may leave the hotel. If you have not checked out by 2:00 PM, it will be assumed you are extending your stay for another day, and you cannot leave the hotel until you complete the check-out process.
3. If you accidentally forget to check out and do not wish to stay longer, please come to the front desk before 10:00 PM to handle the matter; you will need to pay double the room rate before you can leave.
4. The restaurant is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM to provide you with a free breakfast buffet. The restaurant is not open at other times. To avoid hunger, please do not miss breakfast hours.
5. During your stay at the hotel, hunger is a dangerous signal. If you start feeling hungry, make sure to eat within two hours.
6. If you accidentally miss breakfast time and start feeling hungry, you may contact the front desk to receive sleeping pills and then return to your room to take them. Sleep can pause your hunger, and the sleeping pills will allow you to sleep until the next breakfast time.
7. No matter how hungry you feel, do not eat food from outside the restaurant. There are no vending machines in this hotel; if you see one, please do not buy any food or drink from it.
8. There are currently safety hazards in the hotel stairwells; please do not use them, and try to take the elevator instead.
9. This hotel has no basement level; the button for the basement level in the elevator is a remnant from renovations. Please ignore it, and if you accidentally press it, immediately press it twice to cancel.
Finally, we wish you a pleasant night at the Midnight Hotel.
...
After reading the rules, Luo Jun frowned slightly.
The first few items seemed perfectly normal, just some time-related regulations that he could remember and follow. The last two items were about the stairs and elevator, essentially warnings not to go to the basement level, which he was somewhat aware of already.
But starting from the fourth rule, a new concept emerged—hunger.
It was easy to tell this wasn't a good state to be in. He had experienced the "danger" in these rules before, and it was something he needed to avoid at all costs. But the problem was, such a dangerous state of hunger was only given one opportunity to eat each day, and during the rest of the time, they had to rely on sleeping pills… Could a hotel treat its guests this poorly and still stay in business?
Thinking of this, Luo Jun instinctively touched his stomach.
He hadn't eaten anything since hurrying to see a movie that night. From noon until now, it had been over ten hours without food, and while his stomach felt a bit empty, it wasn't painfully hungry. Was this considered a state of hunger?
As he thought of this, Luo Jun instinctively rubbed his belly.
He hadn't eaten since noon, rushing to watch a movie that evening, and now it had been over ten hours without food. His stomach felt a bit empty but not painfully hungry—was this considered a state of hunger?
Just as he hesitated, the front desk handed him a blank room card.
"Sir, your temporary room card is ready. You can use this to open your door. But remember to return both cards when you check out tomorrow."
Luo Jun accepted the card and said a quick thank you, then asked the question that lingered in his mind.
The front desk smiled slightly, "Don't worry, sir. When you experience real 'hunger,' you definitely won't mistake that feeling."
Luo Jun furrowed his brow, turning to review the rules once more, relying on his exceptional mental strength to memorize them, before leaving the front desk and stepping into the elevator.
Checking the time, it was just about to hit midnight. Luo Jun decided to use his last opportunity with the heavenly die and headed for the third floor.
Once again, he faced a difficulty of five, but with some point adjustments to guide him, success was all but guaranteed. However, this time, there was no sign of a "great success."
His experience on the first floor was smooth, giving him the illusion of being in a regular hotel...but he knew deep down that this place was filled with oddities and dangers. Reflecting on it, finishing up the temporary card safely was likely thanks to the "great success" from his earlier encounter.
Wait a moment—Luo Jun suddenly recalled that while being sucked into the black hole in the mall, he had rolled the die, resulting in a major failure. According to the die's rules, that would have severe consequences. What were those consequences?
Was it this eerie hotel of midnight?
Luo Jun speculated that being drawn into that black hole may not necessarily lead him here. This hotel might be the most dangerous among many possibilities, warranting the outcome of a "major failure."
So, did this "great success" imply that even if he successfully exited the elevator, he wouldn't necessarily have to end up here? Could there be several "first floors"? The one corresponding to "great success" could be the safest, most uneventful option!
With that thought, Luo Jun felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead, becoming wary of the approaching third floor.
This was definitely not the third floor of a "great success!"
…
"Ding!"
With a crisp sound, the elevator doors opened to reveal an empty interior.
After two seconds, Luo Jun jumped down from the elevator, quickly darting out.
To avoid running into a monster when the door opened, he pushed himself up against the top of the elevator with his hands and feet. Given his current attributes, this was not a particularly difficult maneuver.
The long corridor was dimly lit and eerily empty, with only him present.
Luo Jun swallowed, rising onto his toes and, without making a sound, sprinted toward his room (0315) as fast as he could.
0323, 0321, 0319…
He was almost at his room!
At that moment, the door to room 0311 suddenly swung open, revealing a small, familiar figure stepping out!
It was that monster! It had transformed back into a little girl, but this time her bangs were lifted, fully exposing the bloody mouth on her forehead. That large mouth was still chewing on a half-finger, blood trickling down the adorable girl's cheeks, clearly just finishing off an innocent guest!
Luo Jun felt a chill run down his spine!
He fought the impulse to turn and flee, ignoring any sounds, and accelerated, determined to get into his room before the monster!
Now both he and the creature were roughly the same distance from the door of room 0315. He was running, while it had just stepped out. It would take time for it to gain speed! If he could swipe the card and open the door quickly, he could escape inside!
The girl clearly noticed him too, turning her head, with her cute little face and that gory mouth breaking into a smile, followed by her sticking out her tongue!
"Damn it!!!"
This creature had ranged attack capabilities—there was no need to chase after him…
Instinctively, Luo Jun wanted to activate the heavenly die, but he had used up all his chances! It would be less than a minute before he could refresh them!
He had to rely on himself. Could he dodge it?
Even without activating the die, Luo Jun felt as if everything around him was slowing down a bit.
This was the result of adrenaline surging amidst a crisis!
He could clearly see that bony, barbed tongue shooting towards him from the girl's forehead.
So fast, but I must dodge!
Just then, with a click, the door of room 0315 opened!