The bellman must have seen the look on my face; he reaches out a hand to steady me. I lift my gaze to look into his eyes. My emotions must show in my eyes as I see the pupils of his dilate. I break the glance and step away from the bellman, looking for the elevator as I cross the lobby. Finding the elevator, I press the button and wait for the elevator to arrive. Glancing at the key I realize I do not know the room number that I am to go to. I look inside the envelope again and discover the note you have included with the key.
Welcome pet. I look forward to our meeting. May I compliment you on your promptness? How do I know this, the bellman was instructed to only give you this message if you arrived before 2pm. Please come to room 1231.
Just as I finish reading the message, the elevator bell chimes and the doors open. I enter the elevator and I reach to press the button for the 12th floor and notice my hand shaking, I wonder to myself if it is from fear or anticipation. My thoughts drift to how badly I had lost time on the way to the hotel, and I remember how we talked about driving as being its own type of hypnotized state at times. I am amazed at how much I had let my mind take me away, yet I continued to function. I glance up at the numbers as the elevator climbs its way from floor to floor, 4,5,6,7…..
As the doors part, I exit the elevator, the fear in my stomach solidifies. I check the numbers and head toward the room that is indicated in the envelope. My heart is pounding and my mind is racing, my breath coming in short shallow gasps as I near my destination.
When I find the door I stop myself, and take a moment to breath. I begin to have a feeling of dejavous as my mind begins to spin, I have been so in and out of trance for the past few hours, and I can no longer define the line between reality and fantasy. I am both fearful and extremely excited. The swirling in my mind makes it difficult to stand, and even this feeling reminds me of my fantasy. I am, for a second time, standing at a hotel door and fighting the pulling of my mind, wanting to surrender to the feelings of dark delight.
Taking control of myself I knock on the door, I don’t really expect an answer but I feel strange just entering the room. I open the door, slowly, my mind searching for the candlelight I had seen in my fantasy. My eyes are greeted with a sunny hotel room. The shades are pulled back and bright sunlight streams into the room. I blink at the glaring affront to my fantasy and walk into the room looking to see if you are there.
The room is empty much as I expected. You love mystery and I know you like to use it to get into my mind and take control. On the small table by the window sits a note propped up with my name on it. Next to the note is a gift box wrapped in silver paper with a white ribbon. Because I know you, as an act of defiance, I open the box first, leaving the note until after I discover the contents of the box.