Chương 8: Chapter 8: Unlikely Rescue

Brenna POV

“Are you alright? Miss?” a squeaky voice called out to me.

I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. It sounded like I was underwater and whoever was talking was calling out to me from the surface. The voice didn’t stop speaking though. I tried my best to focus on it and regulate my breathing.

As the fog around me began to fade away, I realized I was seated against a wall in the hallway. I wasn’t alone either.

Next to me was a young woman with a short red bob and striking blue eyes.

“Are you alright, Miss. You’re breathing is more even now.”

I tried to open my mouth but coughed as I realized how dry my tongue had become from hyperventilating for so long.

“Here, I have some water if that will help,” the young woman said as she held the water bottle out to me.

My hands still felt weak, and I tried to lift them, but they felt so heavy. I leaned back against the wall and just focused on my breathing.

“Is it alright, if I help you drink, I mean?” The young woman asked. I wasn’t sure who she was exactly but knowing she had stayed by my side until I could regain some sort of composure meant all the world to me.

I nodded, and she lifted the water bottle slowly to my lips. I took a few sips and immediately felt the cold relief trickle down my dry throat.

“Thank you,” I rasped out. It didn’t even sound like my voice, but I knew it would take a while to shake off the after-effects.

“Does that happen often?” Her question was polite, and she seemed to be genuine with the soft smile she gave me as she waited for my reply.

“It’s been a few weeks. I was hoping they would stop soon, but I guess I was wrong.” I felt some of the feeling return to my hands and reached out for the water bottle.

I took another swig and hoped my lips would stop feeling numb soon. This was the part I hated most. The persistent tingling that made my skin crawl when I started to come out of it. This was going to last for another hour or so at least.

“Do you want to go to the infirmary? It’s just downstairs.”

I shook my head. That was the last place I wanted to go.

“Are you hungry?” the young woman asked shyly. “I know a place, I mean, it’s the same one we all go to.”

She fiddled with her hands before standing up. She put both her hands out for me to take.

Whoever she was, she didn’t have to stop and help me like this, but she did. She hadn’t even made a face or anything while helping me. She was very kind.

“Thank you,” I rasped out as she helped me to my feet.

“No worries. I just couldn’t tell if it was an anxiety attack or a panic attack. Now I know for next time,” she stopped and waved her hands. “I mean, I hope there’s not a next time, but if there is, I got you.”

It was hard to smile, but I managed a soft laugh.

“Oh, by the way, I’m Molly. You must be Brenna, right?”

I felt myself stop at her words. Who was I talking to?

“How did you know who I was?” I tried to keep my voice from cracking, but I was failing miserably.

“Oh, everyone knows,” Molly brushed it off as she looked down the hall. “The news cycle is pretty boring around here, so yeah, everyone knows you’re new. It will pass by the weekend though. Shiny things always catch their attention, but they are easily distracted. So don’t worry about it too much.”

I nodded. That actually did make sense. Even though the hotel was huge, it was still a finite space in the grand scheme of things. Of course, people would be intrigued by the slightest change around them. It was only natural.

I just wish they hadn’t stared at me as they did. It just made me feel so uncomfortable.

As we walked in silence, I could see Molly go to open her mouth and then shut it just as fast. She must have a hard time talking to new people. If I hadn’t just come out of that fog, I would be much more talkative, but it was taking a while to get myself grounded again

“Here we are. I thought I’d never find the stairs.” I felt relief wash over me. At least I wouldn’t be late tonight.

“I got lost a lot when I first came here. You get used to it after a while, though. I’m sure they will have a map for you at the front desk tonight, so you can learn the layout better.”

As we got to the bottom of the stairs, Molly directed me through the crowded lobby. No one was checking in or out, but mostly mingling and chatting with each other.

I tried to keep my eyes focused straight ahead, but I knew the others around us were staring at me.

Molly held the door open to the dining hall for me. Luckily, it was late, so the seating area was practically empty. From the door, I could make out a buffet area as well as a couple of places that offered sandwiches or fried foods.

I took in the room around me when Molly waved me over to a small table against the wall.

“Have a seat and I can get you something to eat. Do you have any restrictions or preferences?”

At first, it surprised me she would ask me that, but then I remembered she worked here, so that was something she would be aware of in any meal situation.

“Just a strawberry allergy,” I said as I took a seat in the two-person booth.

“That’s awful! I’ll make sure to avoid them. I’ll be right back,” Molly put both hands out and waved them up and down at me, “don’t go anywhere, k?”

Molly darted off quickly. She must have been in her early twenties or so.

I couldn’t help but feel lucky we had run into each other in the halls.

Even though the hall was practically empty, I could still see a few heads turn in my direction. It was so strange knowing I was being watched. Maybe Kat was right, and this place just had a different vibe check than what I was used to back home.

The sigh left me before I realized it. This was something I’d just have to adjust to. Eventually, I’d be boring again, and I’ll feel more comfortable whenever that finally happened. I could make it until then.

It’s not like I had a choice, so I would just have to endure for a while. I’ve dealt with so much worse before, so this should be something I could handle now after everything I’d been through.

Molly walked up with an armload of snacks along with an extra water bottle.

“I wasn’t sure what you wanted or if anything sounded good, so take some of this with you during your shift.”

“You didn’t have to bring so much. Thank you.”

I picked my way through to find a sandwich, veggie crisps, a small banana nut muffin, granola bars, and a slice of pizza.

“Eat the pizza first though, you don’t want that when it’s cold,” Molly laughed a little too hard as she sat down.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. Molly scrolled through her phone as I devoured the pizza and the sandwich.

“I wish I could be there,” Molly said as she looked at her phone.

“Where?”

Molly jumped a little at the sound of my voice. I should work on not startling her, she seemed to be a nervous person in general.

“Oh, at this movie premiere,” she said as she held her phone out. The clip playing was at a premiere for one of the big season releases.

“My friend and I used to go and wait outside the premieres in high school. Ended up with quite a few autographs too.”

Luckily those were all tucked away safely at Kat’s place.

“That’s so cool! You must miss the city. I’ve always wanted to go,” Molly said with that dreamy gaze people had when they dreamed about living in the big city one day.

“I hope you get to. It’s not for everyone, but it has its good points.”

No more traffic, public transport, and best of all, no more uncomfortable fancy cocktail parties. As much as I would talk smack about home, it was still the place where I got my start in life.

“What was the best part about it?” Molly asked with wide eyes.

That was the easiest question she could have asked.

“The food. You can’t get all the variety that’s out in the world without being in such a diverse area. There were always new trends to try or new styles I would get to eat without having to travel on a plane. It was all right there whenever I wanted.”

“That’s exactly it! My dream is to try food everywhere I can so I can be a better cook.”

“You should. That would be such a fun life.”

“Maybe one day,” Molly said as she fidgeted with her phone. “I haven’t left the hotel since I was little. It’s where I’m safe, and that’s hard to walk away from.”

I understood what she was saying, at least as much as I could. She sounds like she was practically raised here, so that would make it all the more challenging to leave behind.

“I hope you get to go one day.”

“It’s almost nine! Are you sure you don’t want to go to the infirmary? I’m sure they won’t mind waiting for you.”

“I’m sure. Let’s go.”

Molly pulled out a bag from her purse and put all the extra snacks in it before handing it to me.

Even as I stood up and walked away, I could swear people were watching me leave. Maybe I was just being paranoid at this point. Especially with what just happened on the second floor. Hopefully, tomorrow things would be easier.

We walked into the lobby when I saw someone tall standing at the concierge desk. The closer we got, I realized I knew exactly who was at the counter. Why would he be there though?

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