ELISE

“Hello, I'm here to meet my friends, Jayden and Kayden in room number 504.”

The receptionist looked up from her screen, a well-rehearsed smile immediately lightning up her face. “What's your name?”

“Elise. Elise O’Brien.”

She nodded at a bellman to check me in, and we walked to the elevator together.

As we reached the floor, we walked to number 504. He knocked on the door, announced "Bell Service," then opened the door for me.

I walked into the empty room and stood there like a prey. I was wearing a lacy slip dress the color of spilled red wine, the fabric so thin it felt like a second...