Chapter 3 : Hopeless

Thud-thud-thud.

A loud knock at the door jolted me awake from that weird dream—if I can even call it a dream. No, it felt too real. I'm sure I walked through that girl's memories—the girl I'm pretty sure I heard with those cultists. The one who's… gone. Dead.

Thud-thud-thud.

Another set of knocks hit the door. At first, I wasn't sure if the knocks were real or just part of the dream. But now, I'm certain. I grab my phone and check the time—6 a.m. Who could be knocking this early?

"Who's there?" I asked. My mind spirals to overthinking mode. Racing through possibilities? The cult? Maybe the police? I don't really know.

Slowly, with cautious steps, I approached the door. The events from yesterday still clung to me, keeping me on edge and feeding my paranoia… making it feel like I couldn't trust anyone.

Thud-thud-thud. 

Another set of knocks hit the door. It sounds monotonous – like a machine trying to imitate a knock.

"Hello?" I called out again, hoping that the person knocking at the door just hadn't heard me the first time. To be honest, just waiting for a reply is making my chest tighten.

Thud-thud-thud . I'm just an arm's length away when I heard another set of knocks. At this point I just decided to peek through the peephole.

'Oh, it's just you,' I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the person on the other side of the door.

It was the sweet, friendly middle-aged lady—Linda, the one who handles room service at this hotel. She's taken care of me the most during my stay on the island. There's a caring air about her, perfect for this kind of work. We developed a very good relationship during my stay. She even offered to introduce me to one of her sons. I politely declined, though.

But... this time, something feels off about her. Her eyes are empty, staring blankly at the door. She doesn't look like herself at all. Her usual appearance is nothing like how she looks now—the complete opposite. Her hair is a wild mess, huge bags hang under her eyes, and her skin is pale, like someone who hasn't seen the sun in a long time.

Well… that earthquake was kinda strong. Maybe she's just really stressed from yesterday? I mean… yeah, that's probably it. I guess?

"Uhmm… I don't really need anything right now. Maybe you could… come back later?" I said, trying to sound polite but not sure if I did.

Linda didn't react—didn't even blink. She just… walked away. No, staggered away. It was weird, but I didn't think much of it. I went back to my bed to pack up my stuff, just in case I wanted to leave later. But… there's still what I saw yesterday. I need to report it. But to who? It's not like anyone would just believe me… right? And honestly, I'm not even sure who I can trust in this place.

Thud-thud-thud. 

the knocking cut through my overthinking. I wasn't feeling as paranoid this time, so I started toward the door. I was just about to peek when…

 Whack! 

A dozen wooden shards hit me, a few leaving small scratches on my face. I blinked, trying to make sense of it. A blade now sat where the peephole used to be.

Stumbling backward—the familiar wave of fear and desperation hitting me again. If I'd been even a second faster, my face would've been split in two—either dead or bleeding out.

Through the hole, I saw Linda—holding an axe. Not a fire axe, but the kind woodcutters use. My heart stopped. What the hell is happening? I thought I was safe. Why is this happening?

Whack!

Linda swung again, splintering the hole wider.

Whack!

She's really trying to get in—desperate to break through. My chest tightened, heart slamming in panic. I scrambled to my feet and sprinted for the balcony, as far from that door as I could possibly get.

Looking around, I desperately try to weigh my options.

Should I jump? No—the balcony is too high. I'd either die or, at best, be paralyzed from the impact.

Should I try for the next room's balcony? The gap's not that wide, but I don't trust myself to make the jump…

Glancing back at the door, Linda was still trying to break through. She had already smashed through half of it.

I slid the glass door shut. Hopefully, it'll slow her down—at least for a little bit.

Whack!

With that final swing, she finally made a hole big enough to get through. She staggered toward me, dragging the axe behind her. Her face was blank, but her eyes—those were locked right on me.

"Linda! Don't do this…please" I screamed, my voice cracking. Her expression stayed the same—no sign that she even heard me.

She swung the axe at the glass. With a loud thud, cracks spidered across its surface.

"Linda! Stop!" I screamed, my voice breaking—desperate, terrified. She swung again, and the glass door shattered into a million shards.

Linda staggered toward me, raising her axe again, this time aiming straight at me. She swung down—it was a clumsy swing, like there was no strength behind it. I dodged to the left but missed my timing by a hair—the axe grazed my leg. Pain shot through me, spreading like wildfire. I glanced down quickly—thankfully, it didn't look too bad, but it still hurt like hell.

I ran inside, collapsing into a corner, my legs pulsing and ready to give out from the pain. The only thing keeping me moving was pure adrenaline. I scanned the room, desperate for anything to fight back with. Linda was still dragging herself after me. She swung again—I barely dodged, and she almost took out my arm. I tried pushing her, hoping to knock her off balance, but I was too weak… or she was just too strong. Way too strong.

Desperate to escape the room, a dash for the door seemed like the only option. But Linda blocked the path. She swung again, her axe lodging deep into the wall. I grabbed a lamp and slammed it into her head, hoping it would stop her. But she didn't even flinch—it didn't even slow her down at all.

With my escape route blocked, I backed toward the balcony, heart pounding. Should I try the other room? Maybe I could jump to the next balcony... but what if I didn't make it? What if I slipped or misjudged the distance? Still, it might be my only chance.

Before I could even make a decision, I saw Linda—running right at me, blood dripping from the vase shards lodged in her head. She'd left her axe behind, still stuck in the wall.

Linda slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. Her hands went straight for my throat—her grip was too strong, way too strong, almost inhuman. I thrashed like crazy, punching, scratching, doing everything I could to break free.

It was getting so hard to breathe—I was going to pass out. With every ounce of strength I had left, I kicked her as hard as I could. She stumbled, and then tumbled over the balcony railing.

A sickening thud echoed as Linda hit the ground. Heart racing, I rushed to the edge and looked down. There she was—her body limp and unmoving. Probably dead.

"I killed her," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper as I felt myself breaking down. I slid down against the balcony railing, eyes locked on the door—waiting, watching, terrified that someone else might come.

What did I just do? I sat there, still in shock, my mind spinning. How could a sweet lady like Linda turn into… that? This can't be real. No. This has to be a dream. It has to be...

I looked again, and the body was still there. This isn't a dream… What the hell is happening here? Cults? Weird shadows in dreams? And now this? Possession? Mind control? Or… could Linda have been part of that cult too? Nothing makes sense! And now… now I've killed someone.

"But you were justified," a terrifying thought whispered in my mind.

"Yes… justified?" I mumbled, my voice trembling. "She was trying to kill me, right? I just defended myself… Yes… justified."

I looked at Linda's lifeless body again, and a flood of emotions crashed over me—guilt, horror, confusion, and overwhelming sadness. My knees gave out, and I broke down, sobbing. "How can any of that be justified? I killed someone!" My voice breaks through my tears. 

I must have passed out for a bit—I don't know how long, but at least no dreams or nightmares came for me this time. I woke to sunlight hitting my face. Groggy, I grabbed my phone and checked the time. Two hours. It had been two hours since Linda attacked me.

"I need to move," I mumbled, trying hard to convince myself. I stood up on shaky legs, still on the balcony. As I looked out over the town, I noticed things I hadn't seen last night.

The island—the town? There's smoke everywhere. I don't see any obvious damage yet, but with all that smoke, it's only a matter of time before those fires spread. Then I saw something even worse—red stains. Bloodstains? What the hell is going on?

This felt way worse than when I was back at those ruins.

At least then, I knew I had somewhere safe to return to. But now? What the hell am I supposed to do? Hide and wait for help? Try to escape? But where? Given the way things are now, I need to leave this place—immediately.

"You need to focus," a thought popped into my head.

"Yes, focus," I whispered, my throat dry and scratchy.

I stumbled back into my room, feeling dizzy. That's when I noticed the blood pooling where I had passed out.

That's not good. 

I shoved a bunch of furniture against the door, throwing together a makeshift barricade—just something to keep anyone like Linda out.

Linda... Just thinking about her made my heart sink.

"Focus, Ariane!" I muttered to myself.

trying to push everything out of my mind, I check myself on the bathroom mirror, my clothes are full of holes and blood stains --basically rags now. I removed it and cleaned myself up as best as I could, considering the time I had, I needed to move quickly.

I checked myself for injuries. The wound on my shoulder from yesterday looked better, thankfully—it still hurt like hell, but not as much as I thought it would. I had to dig out the wooden shards from my face, and, well, there were a lot. Some were pretty deep, but I've had worse. The worst one was the cut on my leg from the axe. I didn't want to look at it at first, the memory of the pain still fresh. But when I finally did, I felt a little better—it didn't look too bad. It didn't need stitches, just a little cleaning up. Honestly, I couldn't complain too much, given everything that's happened.

I cleaned my wounds as best as I could using what little alcohol I had left, tearing up some of the blankets to make makeshift bandages to wrap up my wounds. . It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do for now. 

I also put on a fresh set of clothes, something that would let me move well. A tight-fitting t-shirt and pants this time—I didn't want to risk repeating what happened yesterday. The pants were a little tight, but it was better than wearing shorts. I also threw on a jacket. Looking back, Becca didn't want me to bring it, since I was headed to a tropical island, but now, it seemed like a good idea to have something extra to cover myself.

I grabbed the extra backpack I had with me, taking out all the souvenirs I'd bought and replacing them with some essentials I might need. A change of clothes, a flashlight with extra batteries—that was pretty much it. I couldn't help but feel like I really should get more supplies before making any decisions on what to do next.

I also grabbed the axe from the wall. It felt like it would come in handy soon. Better to be prepared than caught off guard again. It… was quite heavy, though. I couldn't help but wonder how Linda swung it earlier like it was nothing. How could she be so strong?

I slowly removed the makeshift barricade I had set up, but before I left, I walked to the balcony to glance at Linda, maybe for the last time. But... she wasn't there anymore. Her body was gone. The only thing left was the pool of blood where she had fallen.

"Focus," I told myself, feeling on the verge of breaking down again. I couldn't let myself fall apart now—not with everything that's happening.

I can think of two possible actions right now: either head to the forest area and figure out my next move there, or make a run for the docks and try to escape by boat. That's assuming there are still people operating the boats. The boat plan sounds dumb, honestly. Both options feel dangerous, and both need supplies. I'm starving—yesterday was rough, and I won't last much longer like this.

So, I did the most logical thing possible—I made my way to the kitchen. And I'm telling you, it was not easy… I had to move floor by floor, cautiously. For some reason, the townspeople were patrolling the area. 

'Is everyone here part of that cult?' The thought kept nagging at me. It felt like some twisted nightmare, like I was trapped in a place where people weren't really people anymore—just... puppets. I couldn't understand it. Was that what happened to Linda? Did she change like this because of them?

I'm not really sure if all the people around here had become like Linda, but based on their blank, lifeless expressions, I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.

I sneaked my way past everyone I saw, every step deliberate and silent. I double-checked each corner before moving on, my heart pounding with every second.

"Just kill them all. You've already killed once, what's the difference?" A thought, cold and twisted, crept into my mind. My head hurt, my thoughts swirling.

"No... I'm not like that," I whispered, trying to push it away, trying to convince myself.

Finally, I managed to reach the kitchen, and who I saw wasn't what I expected.

"Who's out there!?" a woman asked, her voice trembling with desperation and fear.

It was the same receptionist who had been bullying me the entire week.

"It's me, Ariane," I answered, looking around, scared that the locals might spot me.

"Who is that?" the receptionist asked, and I couldn't tell if she was being serious.

"Uh… the loner?" I replied, my voice low. I was too afraid that someone might hear all the shouting.

I heard some shuffling around before she opened the door and pulled me inside.

"Are you that dumb? What are you doing outside?" she asked, her tone back to its usual condescending self.

"I was trying to escape. What about you... why are you here...why are you… you normal?" I asked her.

The receptionist tilted her head slightly, a strange grin forming on her face. "Because I was chosen," she said, her voice almost sounding calm. 

"What do you mean, 'chosen'?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Chosen for what? What's going on here?"

"You have no idea what's going on here, do you? You, me, everyone around here—we're all part of this, whatever it is. But me? I've been... Chosen. I don't need to hide, I don't need to run!" she babbled, her words spilling out with manic energy.

'Just kill her, nobody would know,' a random thought crossed my mind, but I quickly brushed it aside.

"What do you mean 'chosen'? Chosen for what?" I asked, my voice tight with fear. "What is this? You... you sound crazy."

"I'm not crazy! You just don't get it!" she shouted, her laughter bubbling up from her chest, wild and unhinged. "HAHAHA!"

She slumped to the floor, her back against the wall. To be honest, she sounded terrified... traumatized. I don't know what happened to her, but I knew I needed answers. 

I walked towards her and slapped her across the face.

'That was a nice slap,' a random thought came again, 

"What's going on here? I need answers!" My voice was sharp, and I tried to sound more confident than I actually felt.

"The mist... the red mist," she murmured, her gaze lost in the distance. "There was an earthquake, and then suddenly, this red mist... it surrounded the whole town." Her voice wavered, faint and fragile, as though she was trapped in a nightmare.

Is what happened to the temple connected to what's happening here? Is this all part of the cult?

"The people, the locals... They started attacking the tourists. There's red! Too much red!" she gasped, her body shaking with fear.

"Locals? Then why aren't you affected?" I asked, my suspicion growing.

She looked at me with that same condescending expression, her lips curling into a smile. "Because I'm Chosen," she said, her voice dripping with certainty. "The dark shadows chose me."

Dark shadows? Just like in my dream? That's too close to be a coincidence.

She shoved me aside, her movements swift and sudden. Without a second glance, she ran toward the door, tearing apart the barricade she'd set up. In the blink of an eye, she was gone—faster than I could follow, disappearing into the shadows. I had no idea where she'd gone, but she was out of sight before I could even react.

What just happened? She left me dumbfounded.

'Nothing I can do now', I thought. I just need to focus on what I can do right now. I started searching for supplies, grabbing all the food I could fit into my backpack. Some knives—those might come in handy—so I took a few. Then, I noticed a key on the floor. Was this from the receptionist? I picked it up, figuring it could be useful. Maybe car keys?

I secured the door and took a moment to rest before moving on. If what the receptionist said is true, then I'm surrounded by enemies here. If that's the case, I really don't like my chances of making it out alive.

The boat plan sounds dumber now, but it's the best option I've got. But how the hell do I get to the docks? It's got to be even more dangerous, right?

Do I try walking there? It'd be quieter, less chance of being spotted. But with these injuries, I don't think I can make it. My legs are barely holding up. 

Do I drive? Should I look for the receptionist's car? I know she has one—she was bragging about it a few days ago. But I can't really drive. Sure, I know a little, and I have a license. Yes, I can handle those electric bikes, but I've never actually driven a real car before. Especially not in this condition.

But... seeing how terrified the receptionist was, driving might actually be my best shot. I need to get out of here fast. The more time I waste, the smaller the chance of escaping gets.

I moved through the hotel's dark hallways, heading toward the parking lot, every step and every breath calculated. The locals were scattered around, but dodging them was simple as long as nothing went wrong. Their movements were sluggish, like puppets with tangled strings. At first, they might've seemed like they were working together, coordinated, but the more I watched, the more it became obvious—they were barely aware of what was happening around them.

There was a moment when I simply observed. Then, I heard the clink of metal—maybe a pipe or something—loud enough for the locals to react. Instantly, they started dragging themselves toward the noise. Their movements were stiff, robotic, like they were being controlled. They were completely distracted, like they were part of some hive mind, with no thoughts of their own.

I used this to my advantage. I'd learned how to distract them, to throw them off course. It made it easier to slip past unnoticed. But even with this new advantage, the tension never eased. Every step, every sound, made my heart race. The more frightened I became, the more cautious I had to be. It was slow, but it was the only way forward.

I managed to get to the parking lot without much issue. A local noticed me once, but I somehow managed to run away from him without the others noticing. I had to lay low in a closet for a bit until they cleared out.

I scanned the area, eyes darting between the parked cars. Somehow, having all these vehicles around made things harder. There was always the chance someone I didn't see might be hiding behind one of them. Luckily, there was no sign of anyone.

But then, I heard something.

It was the receptionist, her voice barely audible but unmistakable.

"Where did I put it!" she sounded terrified, panicking beside a car. She was making too much noise.

I heard the locals coming. The receptionist was too distracted; she didn't notice them surrounding her.

The locals started swarming her, cutting off every possible escape. 

"No, no! Please, someone save me!" she pleaded. The locals started beating her. They punched, kicked, and hit her with a variety of tools. When she was powerless, battered to the ground, they grabbed her and tied her up. I just stood there as this happens, Me, frozen with fear, in a corner.

"Help… me, please…" She made eye contact with me before they pulled her away.

I really wanted to save her… maybe? But then, a thought lingered: maybe she deserves this.

I shuddered, trying to push the thought away. 

After ensuring there were no more locals in the parking lot, I rushed to the car—the one the receptionist had been trying to open. If I had to guess, this was probably hers, right? I grabbed the key from my pocket and pressed the button. With a beep, the car unlocked.

Well, that was easy, I thought. 

The drive was more traumatizing than I expected…

For the first time, I saw just how much damage the locals had inflicted. Doors hung off their hinges—some smashed apart like Linda did to my hotel door. Shattered windows exposed dark, hollow buildings that used to be full of life and celebration. Pavements, stairs, even walls were streaked with blood trails. Tourists, probably. Attacked, maybe killed. I haven't seen any bodies yet, but I know they're out there somewhere. The fires... the black and orange glow in the sky—it's like the whole city's burning. Some fires are still raging, others have already swallowed entire buildings.

The streets? A complete mess. Blood-stained tools everywhere—axes, pipes, makeshift weapons. Things I only ever saw in movies or games. They're just scattered on the roads, but there's no sign of who left them. Burnt-out cars and overturned carts block nearly every path. Driving through it feels impossible.

But it's the bags, the luggage. Seeing what those tourists left behind… that hit me hardest. People desperate to escape, probably dead now. All victims of something they couldn't control.

This place is gone. And if I stay any longer, I'll be gone too.

I can't believe how stupid I was, thinking I could make it to the docks on foot. I wouldn't have even made it out of the hotel area. Every local who saw or heard me came after me. They only stopped when their legs gave out. Whatever's controlling them—it's sadistic. And pure evil. 

And just when I finally started feeling grateful for this car... the fuel ran out. Of course. Thanks a lot, receptionist, for not filling the tank. Definitely not something I thought I'd be mad about today.

This is probably karma. Or divine punishment though.

 For leaving those people behind. 

Yeah, I left people behind. Abandoned them. Probably left them to die. I saw them—people trying to fend off the locals. Some of them even begged for help. I could have helped. But I didn't. I was too scared. Helping them... might have gotten me killed.

What's done is done. I can't do anything for those people now. The most I can do is pray for them... maybe.

Before I left the car, I checked my surroundings—made sure no one was nearby or watching. If I'm going to deal with any locals, I'd rather have the car as cover than be caught out in the open.

I stuck to the alleyways as my main routes. It was safer, or at least it felt that way. At one point, I saw a group of people gathered around. At first, I thought they were locals, but no—they were tourists. Survivors. Somehow, they made it through all of this. I guess some people are just... stronger than others.

I noticed some of them watching me as I passed through, their eyes tracking my every move. None of them made any attempt to come near me, though. They probably figured I wasn't worth the trouble.

It wasn't that easy, though. I ran into some locals on my way to the docks. If I could, I either ran or hid.

But if I had to fight, I didn't kill them... I could've, if I really wanted to. But I can't see myself killing someone on purpose—not even like this.

So I fought. I dodged as best as I could, and so far, it was working. Dodge, then incapacitate. Break their legs with my axe.

Every encounter was pure hell, though. My body screamed in pain every time I had to move quickly. The axe... it was almost too heavy for me. My arms felt like they were falling off with every swing.

But Little by little, I was making progress. I had to stop and catch my breath plenty of times. But progress is still progress.

Seeing the signs that I was nearing the docks gave me a small sense of relief. It's almost over... I can make it. I can escape this place.

But then I smelled the familiar sea breeze. Something was wrong. Something was different. It carried the scent of burning.

And when I reached the docks, my legs just gave out.

It wasn't relief—it was pure fear.

The locals... They burned everything. The boats, big or small—it didn't matter. They destroyed it all.

There was no escape.