Chapter 5

Lola heard the commotion and called his name from behind, but Leonard ignored her.

When he tried to flag down a taxi, Leonard was nearly hit by one.

But all his mind could hold was the image of Tania trembling in a sea of blood.

The hotel building finally came into view.

As he ran up the steps, Leonard's right foot suddenly stopped.

In the cracks of the steps was another dark brown mark, winding along in scattered little specks.

There were messy shoe prints nearby too.

Leonard stared at the bloodstains, gone black now, and his throat bobbed hard.

He tried to comfort himself.

Maybe it was red wine.

Maybe it was a fresh steak.

Maybe someone had tripped and fallen.

In any case, it couldn't be...

But for all his thinking, he didn't calm down at all. His unease only grew stronger.

Leonard swallowed and pushed open the revolving door.

The lobby was cool, the smell of cleaning solution mixed with a faint trace of disinfectant.

Silently telling everyone what had happened here the day before.

In a daze, Leonard got into the elevator and rode up.

Standing at the door of the room, his fingertips trembled slightly.

With a beep, the door opened.

Leonard strode inside, his eyes going wide.

The room was spotless.

The sheets were snow-white, laid out perfectly flat.

No Tania lying there asleep.

No blood-soaked sheets.

As if no one had ever been here.

He stood in the room, turning his head blankly. He saw the cleaning lady pushing her cart past the doorway, and his voice came out faint:

"Where's the person from 1502?"

The cleaning lady sighed with pity.

"Oh! Poor thing, so young. Do you know her?"

"I heard that when they carried her out last night, her pupils were already dilated. She wasn't moving at all. I didn't dare look for long."

"Young man, if the pupils are dilated, doesn't that mean there's no saving her? She must be dead by now."