Nikolai had downed a whole bottle of his pills, his eyes unfocused and barely open, maybe this time… he’ll be free, he’ll feel the sweet release of death!

But… he knew better… he wasn't worth heaven’s embrace but he didn’t know what he was worth if he had ended up in this hotel… he was confused to say the least seeing the corridors , the stairs that seemed to loop into new alleys but… there was no exit.

“H-Hello?… I’m lost… is there an exit somewhere here?…” Nikolai asked softly, he was confused. This man seemed so relaxed, almost content about his situation as he cleaned the hallways

“Exit?… kid, are you new here?”

“What?…”

“There is no exit.” The man said plainly.

Markus… the hotel’s janitor, he knew the place left and right, the grumpy man who had been stuck for years yet no matter how much work he was put through, he seemed used to it, almost relaxed by the fact he worked for such a bizarre hotel.

“W-What do you mean— No exit????…” Nik was panicking at that point, this man had to be joking… there had to be a way out…

“Might as well get a job here… get used to it… we’ve basically got infinite rooms for you to stay—“

Before  Mark finished, Nikolai had already run  away. He was desperate, he wasn’t sure where he was, he was scared… What did Mark mean that there was no exit?… he can’t just rot away again!

When he was alive… he always struggled, isolation and more but he struggled most wad this prison in his head, he knew he wasn’t good enough, he admitted that but he would never admit that he was terrified of suffering

As he approached the lower levels, Nik could feel the fear creeping into him… why was it so dark?… as he looked down, vines laid by his feet, the corridor was infinite yet the vines made it look like the only end was their mass

“W-what the?..”

Before Nik could investigate, the vine’s eye like sprouts opened, taking him and pulling him closer to their mass

As Nik cried out, Mark and other staff members came, grabbing him out in time

“So you’re the newbie Mark talked about?”

“Don’t hurt him… he’s just got here…”

“Don’t run off on me again idiot…”

Mark said, Nikolai’s  eyes closed, as he fell asleep, he was still uneasy and restless but he had energy. As he woke up, he was confused, why was he in the same uniform Mark had?…

“Welcome to your new home brat…”

“What do you mean home!—“

Nikolai froze as Markus grabbed his collar, his voice more stern unlike their first encounter, his brown eyes filled with annoyance by the kid

“This is death idio!… how do you expect to escape that?”

Nik remembered what he did, his attempt! He finally remembered what he did

“But why am I here?… aren’t I supposed to be in hell?..” he asked, his voice was quiet and confused

Markus took a deep sigh, he rubbed his temples and sat Nikolai down onto the bed of hisnnew room

“You were never on either side… you were basically stepping on both good and evil so this is where the lukewarms go… “ Mark explained, a place between heaven and hell?… it sounded fake but here Nik was, a new worker and waiter of the hotel

“This doesn’t feel like home… so basically a less painful purgatory?…”

Mark chuckled as he picked up his coat, he was kinda impressed “You’re smart… get up, you’re the new waiter”

Nik was still shaking on the bed, he hated work but he knew it was the least he could do but the need for escape still lingered inside of him…

Nikolai stood at the hotel lobby with his other co-workers, he was nervous to say the least… he knew he had to be at his best behavior, afraid that he may get Mark mad again, somehow, Mark managed to get his rebellious little self to behave for once

Nikolai was always the one unable to pick so he had to mindsets that governed him. One was curious, always giving into temptations. On the other hand, one was calm and righteous, maybe that was why he was in between heaven and hell… what ever put him in the hotel, he knew it was the fault of both sides

“Damn janitor…” he thought, he gazed at Markus who was peacefully going to the next floor. Nik was annoyed by him, he was a mix of playful and unbelievably charming to him. He can help but like his attitude— what was he thinking??—

“Hey newbie!” A staff member called, it was Anthony. He had a tired but relaxed smile on his face as he spoke

“Hey… you’re one of the guys that saved me from those vine things… What were those?—“

Anthony chuckled softly, he was amused by the boy’s curiosity “sheesh… the curious type eh?… well…”

“The hotel is alive”

Anthony chuckled but he sounded almost serious about it “the hotel isn’t infinate… those vine things that almost killed ya? They were just judging you…”

“Off what?… what do you mean by judging me?…”

“As in— they know you want to escape, the hotel adapts to the needs of the customers, it’s not infinite… it’s just adapting”

Nik was amazed but the almost killing part still confused him, a lot to say the least…

“Elaborate on the killing please-“

Anthony took a deep sigh as he continued to explain, he knew Nikolai was new and curious but maybe too curious “It can’t adapt to make an exit. The only escape it knows is death”

Nikolai froze, the reason they attacked him earlier was because he wanted to leave?… he was starting to understand it now but he was still baffled by the idea of a living hotel killing its own occupants for wanting to escape

Nikolai was approaching his first week in the hotel… he was getting better at serving guests of course but he was still the shy and nervous wreck around his co-workers, especially Markus

As the night time cycle approached, the lights of the hotel, taking a soft blue hue as the employees slept, Nikolai was restless… What were those vines?… the hotel being alive… he had so much in mind, he can’t just act like it was normal and got up

It was easy sneaking past the night time staff as Nik made his way to the lower levels, the rooms were devoid of occupants and guests but he made use to it as he sneaked closer to the mass

“W-wow…” he gasped, the flower in the middle of everything looked beautiful… Nikolai’s hand gently approached it, his hand gently brushing the vines, it felt surreal to be in the middle of everything

“Hey kid!” A voice yelled, Markus

Nikolai panicked, his hand withdrawing from the flower quickly

“Mark- i-i mean sir?…” he stuttered, he back was against the wall as he held a random broom he found

“What did I tell you?… don’t go to the lower level” Makus huffed heavily, his hand grabbing Nikolai’s wrist, his grip was tight but it only made Nikolai more curious, why was he so stern?…

“I-i’m sorry sir…”

“A sorry can’t cut it, kid…” Mark said, he pushed Nikolai into a room, making him sit down, lecturing him

“I shouldn’t have let you near Anthony damnit… that guy, he knows too much and shares too much, especially to newcomers like you…” he said with a deep sigh, his tired eyes narrowing above Nik

Nik looked like a kicked puppy, he was curious to say the least, what Anthony tells him a lot made him curious, his hands fidgeted with each other nervously ad Markus continued

“Just… don’t let that curiosity consume you… I know you’re unfamiliar with the hotel but you have to respect protocol, ok?” 

Nik nodded, his eyes casted low “ok… i’m sorry, sir”

Markus’ eyes softened as he turned around, ruffling Nik’s hair gently, his voice softer than earlier but it was still ferm, holding both authority and a quiet affection

“Stop saying sorry… I get it, you’re a curious little guy, just don’t do it again…”

Nik nodded as both parted, leaving the room and heading back to his. He can’t forget how stern Markus was, his hand covered his mouth, trying to hide his labored breathing as he hid in his room

______________________

In the morning, Nikolai dawned on his uniform, ready for another day, his hand was shaky from yesterday, he still saw the marks on where Markus had held him on his wrist

As he served a guest their drinks, Nik’s wrist trembled, almost dropping the drinks. Markus noticed and approached Nik, bringing him to the staff room

“You really are fragile huh?…” *Markus commented seeing Nikolai’s bruised wrist. He remembered the way he held them yesterday, he was kinda worried, kinda was the key word—

“Of course it hurts, you had a death grip on me last night” Nik grunted with annoyance but in general, he didn’t really mind…

Mark chuckled a little at Nik’s comment, “to be fair… you naturally the clumsy one…” he teased, remembering the first time Nik was working, always tripping over his heel and spilling water, he was a mess but an endearing one at that

“You said it… I'm a newcomer” Nikolai was about to get up when Markus grabbed him, his hold gentle yet firm

“Maybe let your wrist rest for a sec… it was a pretty dark bruise…” Mark sounded soft, almost worried as he got up, keeping Nik sat down. His own shift was almost ending so he guessed it was ok to use his time to talk to Nik

He hesitated at first but soon, he spoke up, his voice soft but also concerned, knowing Nik’s background of self neglect and drug abuse

“What got you here? What did you do to get yourself here?…”

Nikolai hesitated, his hands clasped together tightly as he spoke

“I was… isolated, I worked from home for a long time and when I was finally out… I wanted a reason to hide again…”

“I was scared because of meeting people and loosing them”

“I couldn’t afford to get hurt…”

Mark was confused, afraid to connect yet craved love… What hurt him so bad to have withdrawn from society? He was clearly damaged, afraid to go too into detail

“What hurt you so bad?…”

“…”

“Maybe next time… now you’re the nosy one…” Nik said with a grunt but he knew Mark was right, at some point, he had to come clean about his trauma but for now, he had to keep in that subject in dark

(A teaser for a future episode)