Leaving the storm behind, Charlie and the others entered the enormous hotel lobby. A giant owl, some twenty feet high, covered in cobwebs, stared them down with electric blue eyes—watching each member closely as they approached the check-in counter.
“It’s much larger inside than I expected,” said Ben as he scanned the area.
“Much darker too,” Michael added.
“Hmmm, there doesn’t seem to be anyone working at the front desk,” said Frank.
“Maybe if you ring the service bell?” Said Oteza.
The fireplace on the far wall ignited fiery orange and yellow, startling its guests. Above its mantle a nose protruded from the rocky surface, knocking the hanging tapestry to the ground, as a set of fiery eyes opened.
With its head nearly turning one hundred and eighty degrees, the owl’s searing stare followed Frank and the others towards the fireplace.
The giant stone structure’s firebox mouth opened wide. Hot, golden embers floated outward into the room as the large, unwelcoming face spoke. “What brings you here this evening?”
“We are here in search of the crystal,” replied Frank.
Two dusty suitcases near the sofa began to shake and rumble, startling Charlie and the others.
The burning eyes of the unfriendly face gazed at the suitcases, then looked towards the hallway on the left, as if the suitcases didn’t exist. “Follow the hallway past the elevators and into the library. There you will find what you're looking for.”
Frank nodded to confirm he understood, then quickly turned and marched passed the owl—turning left into the dimly lit hallway.
Charlie and the others followed close behind—frightened by the giant owl who continued to stare until they had fully exited the room.
******
Eerie music from Halloween days gone by echoed through the long, stone-tiled hallway as flickering jack-o-lantern lights provided the only guidance to the unknown. Occupying the right side of the hall were twenty elevators, half of which had out of order signs, while the other half appeared to be functioning erratically, with sounds of clanking cables, clunking doors and dinging bells. Screams of fright and terror bellowed down through their shafts.
As the Patron group approached the end of the hall, a sharp right turn was defined by the soft glow of a television seeping out through the library doorway.
Frank entered the small, high-ceiling room of literature. It’s walls were covered with thousands of dusty, cobweb-covered books and crusty statues of dark and evil things which followed the moves of everyone who entered the awkwardly-shaped room. Several Tiffany lamps flickered on and off, providing just enough light for the group to scan its shelves.
As Charlie looked closer, it became very apparent that the literature on the shelves was no ordinary literature, but rather books of conjuring, torturing, potions, black magic and such. Subject matter that only a person filled with evil intentions would be interested in learning.
On the far wall opposite Charlie, Midnight had made the same discovery. “I’m not liking the titles of these books Anyone else feeling that way too?”
“Yes. Yes I am,” said Frank. He pulled a book off the shelf and blew the dust from its cover. The title on the spine had peeked his curiosity. It read Shadow Crystals.
“What is it Frank?” Asked Valerie.
“This book might give us a clue as to where the crystal is located,” Frank replied.
“Fascinating,” his apprentice said, staring at the book with a gleam in her eyes.
Charlie’s ring and the television on the wall suddenly lit up chartreuse green—possessed by the same evil of the hotel.
An unruly force of black magic began pulling Charlie and Oteza closer towards the tv.
The boy tried to resist, struggling to steady his feet.
Lightning struck the spires of the tower once, and then again, sending a tremendous surge of energy into the television.
SHWOOP!
Charlie was sucked into the chartreuse abyss of the tv screen—his trusty friend Oteza, instantly knocked out of his hand in the process.
The screen went dark.
“Charlie!” Screamed Michael.
“Everyone rushed the television. Frank picked Oteza off the floor as the others began pushing on the screen, twisting buttons and knobs. Banging on its top and sides. All in an attempt to get the boy back.
******
“The boy has been taken your highness.”
Cast upon a dimly lit wall in the highest tower of the hotel, the queen’s shadow replied, “It’s time for action.”
Dark Thorn Oltar, stepped forward, addressing the shadow. “Being this is my realm, I will lead the way.”
“Good. You know what needs to be done. Take the others and make sure our guests do not escape. I will deal with the boy.”
“Yes, my queen,” Oltar replied, as he bowed and stepped back to rejoin his Dark Thorn associates of evil.
The queen’s shadow flew quickly across the highlighted wall, disappearing into darkness.
******
Frank and the others feverishly searched the Library for an answer, combing every square inch of the room for the chosen outsider. And still…nothing.
“Something really bad is about to happen,” said Ben. “I can feel it.”
“Oh, like it hasn’t already,” Michael snipped back.
“Now-now. We must not fight amongst ourselves,” said Frank. “We are all that Charlie has, and it will take all our focus and energy to find him.”
“But what if we can’t?” Michael said with teary frustration. “What if the queen and her Dark Thorns took him away? Or even worse, killed him?”
“As long as he holds the ring, no harm will come to him,” said Midnight.
“Oh really, and how would you know that?” Ben said in sarcastic tone.
“No. Midnight is right, Ben. The queen needs the ring to find the crystal,” said Frank.
“And the ring only answers to the chosen outsider,” Oteza added.
Valerie stepped away from the huddle to gain everyone’s attention. “Then what are we waiting for?” the young lady said with passion in her voice.
Everyone nodded in agreement then turned to Frank.
“Where do we start?” Asked Midnight.
“I think it’s pretty obvious,” the old man replied—scratching his head in thought as he looked around the room, then at his friends. “We head to the next part of the attraction.”
“You mean…”
“Yes, Ben. The boiler room.”
© 2024 Charles E. Zitta. Charles E. Zitta and Disney and the Wonder Within blog novels are in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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