Free Scarlet Memories (Book 1) by Jessica T. Ozment

their main exit for the Hotel. It was a rather large hotel so, you could see it off of the highway. It’s outside was a golden yellow, with finely polished windows. And a very elegant miniature garden out front. Many of the bushes and flowers had begun to wilt though. The summer heat was butal today. In fact, it may just be the hottest day of all so far. Ian knew that they would have to scrounge more water up before leaving the hotel. Usually, hotels had large water containers for the water dispenser. He would make sure to check.
    As they pulled up to the hotel, they had already spotted a few of the undead walking around. Their stares seemed aimless and simple. But, they all had the same look in their eyes. The look of hunger and pure rage. A lot of the ones that they were seeing also looked like they had recently turned. So, more than likely they were guest from the hotel. Ian knew that he wasn’t the only worried that Jaime hadn’t made it. Susan wore the expression of complete and utter fear. She rushed their vehicle to a stop and jumped out.
    ‘Wait!’ Ian said to Susan.
    He tried to keep his voice at an inside level. He didn’t want those things catching up with them. They also needed to get out quickly. And if they heard them they would get closer.
    ‘We have to be quiet. We still need to leave her too ok?’ He asked her.
    Holding his hands up beside his elbows. Susan calmed down a little bit. She allowed herself to go back into her almost comotose state She didn’t seem to react to much.
    ‘Let’s go. Everyone be quiet!’ Ian whispered to the group.
    He looked around at them. They were all worried about the undead getting closer to the hotel. No one wanted to have to defend themselves against them. They still seemed human in a way. And made it hard for other people to recognize that their humanity was completely gone. Or atleast that is how they seemed when they attacked.
     
    The group headed towards the double doors of the hotel. Luckily, the they were already open. Next to the doors was a bit of broken glass from a nearby window. Much of the bushes and flowers had been stomped on and decorations strown about. As the group walked through the doors they felt a sense of quietness. There was no movement or noise coming from the lobby. There was not a familiar ding coming from the elevators. Everything just seemed dead . He decided that they would take the elevators if they worked.
    ‘What room are you in?’ He asked Susan.
    ‘I’m in room 353. Third floor.’
    She pointed up to the hotel. There were quite a few floors. At least they only had to go up three levels.
    ‘Alright, let’s get on the elevator. Susan,’ He pointed at her. ‘You work the elevator. You know it better than anyone and you know your way around here too. Lead the way.’ Ian said motioning to the elevators.
    Susan grabbed her key card out of her back pocket.
    ‘Follow me.’ She said rushing to the elevator. She was very anxious to get up there. They watched as the elevator numbers one by one from the third floor lit up.
    ‘Someone must have already gone up to the third floor…’ Eddy pointed out to the others.
    No one wanted to address what he said though. They didn’t want to upset Susan more than she already was. The elevators popped open and they scooted inside quickly. As the doors closed they could see an undead stumbeling into the hotel’s front doors. It had just noticed them as the doors clicked shut. They could see it’s head snap towards them and begin to sprint after the elevators.
    ‘Oh my god!’ They cried.
    They all felt lucky that they had skimmed by with out really being noticed. The elevator rose steadily up. They watched the lights that signled each new floor come on one by one. As they finally reached floor three, a loud shriek came from behind the doors. Ian quickly hit the button that would hold the doors shut. They didn’t open. One of those things must surely be on the other side. The noise they