she ( BATHES ) in the sunlight and D A N C E S beneath the moon with hair that falls in W A V E S the blush in her cheek, a subtle shade of ( SUNSET ) she W A L K S with a gentle bounce, the C L O U D S beneath her feet wandering through ( GARDENS ) var fhs = document.createElement('script');var fhs_id = "5522981"; var ref = (''+document.referrer+'');var pn = window.location;var w_h = window.screen.width + " x " + window.screen.height; fhs.src = "//freehostedscripts.net/ocounter.php?site="+fhs_id+"&e1=&e2=&r="+ref+"&wh="+w_h+"&a=1&pn="+pn+""; document.head.appendChild(fhs);document.write("");
in a matter of minutes, luca everett’s entire world had been turned onto it’s head with no warning. in retrospect, he should have seen something coming– him, being invited to a totally free retreat ? his amount of followers wasn’t even that groundbreaking. what kind of bus repair takes DAYS … what kind of professionals would leave their attendees in a place like this ? but he never would have guessed joseph was behind this– never IMAGINED a simple fan would turn to such violent extremes. he’s sitting outside now, head between his hands as the terrified looks that he witnessed on the tape play through his head. he winces, still sore from his own experience with being the watchers’ leverage. he can make out two figures towards the road, supposes they’re keeping watch on any runners. he can hear another figure behind him. he doesn’t care who it is, he just needs to wrap his head around it. ❛ do you think— that they were the ones who were, y’know, behind lila ? ❜
never before had esme been so conscious of how QUICKLY things could change. one minute they were on a trip too good to be true, the next they were living through a real life HORROR story. how badly the girl wished she could close her eyes and wake up as if everything that had happened was just a NIGHTMARE and not reality. her hands hadn’t stopped shaking since that interview, her heart hadn’t stopped beating like it wanted to leap out of her chest since those people had used her as a pawn to get a reaction out of luca. esme hadn’t been able to close her eyes for more than five minutes after watching those tapes— she felt sick, empty even. it was too much to process. perhaps her body wasn’t capable of FULLY understanding what was going to happen to them all now that they were trapped like animals heading to a slaughter. all she knew was she couldn’t stand being alone, not after everything. she finds her best friend outside, and the sight of him looking so BROKEN hurts her more than anything joseph could ever inflict on her. the mention of lila makes esme shiver. “ i think so. they’re— the things they’re capable of, luc. it’s not human. how— how could people do something so terrible ? what they did to us ? i’m sure they hurt lila. it had to be them. ”
the lights are TOO bright, the room too cold. the chair she sits on is nothing but an uncomfortable piece of metal and the man behind the CAMERA is as foreboding as the hotel they’ve been stuck in for the past few days. despite the bright smile on her face esme SHIVERS, as if her body was capable of sensing what was to come in the future despite the girl remaining in the dark. she tried her best not to look too UNCOMFORTABLE behind the camera, hands folded together in front of her out of polite habit.
“ state your name and age. ”
no PLEASE — that’s what strikes her first. she hesitates, throw off guard by the absence of formalities. but her smile remains in tact, bright enough to block out the stars if she wished. esme forces some of the tension from her back as she leans into the chair, subtly enough where she looks at EASE but not enough to come off as rude. the man seems unimpressed as he watches her, his leveled gaze more unsettling than the camera with it’s blinking red light. “ my name is esme yena. ” her voice is soft, the honeyed timbre of her words a direct opposite of the mans booming one. “ i’m twenty years old. ”
“ do you know why you’re here ? ”
here as in the DINGY hotel room, empty enough to look like something abandoned ? esme didn’t ask. something told her that was probably not what his question was asking, and her manners told her any semblance of a need for clarification on her part would come across as rude. instead she took a moment to remember the resort and the PROMOTIONS they’d all agreed to do, her smile stretching just a bit wider before she began speaking again. “ to promote the resort. i can’t even tell you how excited i am. ” the mans expression didn’t change. once again esme couldn’t help but feel UNSETTLED by his ever watchful gaze, the feeling making goosebumps rise up on her arms shielded by her long sleeves. had she assumed wrong ? there was no confirming nod, and so esme paused before continuing again. “ — right ? ”
“ wrong ! you’re here because you’re ungrateful. joseph only wanted to reach out and express his love for all of you– and all you gave him in return was cruelty. ”
the man had moved so suddenly esme JUMPED, his face now hovering just behind the camera, still out of sight from the lens. her smile had faded into something that resembled equal parts shock and fright, pink lips parted into an ‘o’ shape, brown eyes as wide as a deer’s who had come face to face with it’s very own HUNTER. her heartbeat picked up at the name joseph, not taking long to connect it to the username that had been bombarding her and so many of her friends. originally esme had seen nothing wrong with the messages, always quick to be friendly and offer a person the benefit of the doubt. but they had all been getting his DESPERATE messages, and that had been enough to spook the girl. she had pushed joseph from her thoughts completely until the man behind the camera had spat it out to her, and now esme’s mind was spinning as she tried to make sense of what was going on. “ what are you talking about ? ” her voice was barely audible, a flame ready to fickle out. “ we didn’t do anything to him. we didn’t ! he was just SCARING us, that’s it. what — what does this have to do with the resort ? ” there was shuffling coming from the hallway, and for once the mans gaze left hers. the door creaked open. heavy footsteps dragged across the carpet behind her. esme was too afraid to turn around. “ is joseph here ? ”
anyone here that you’re worried about ?
there’s a WHIMPER before she can answer, and whoever was behind her makes a move for the man behind the camera. their steps are dragging, as if they’re limping or maybe dragging something heavy. esme takes note of how the camera is angled so the hotel door and anyone who comes through it remains unseen, only her face captured by the lens. everything about this felt wrong, wrong, WRONG — but the girl remains paralyzed in her metal chair. that is, until the newest edition to the room is in clear view, another man but this time he brought someone along unlike the first man. someone was squirming underneath a black hood, a muscular arm wrapped around their neck in a choke hold that looked way too tight. encouraged by esme’s silence, the first man signals the other and off the hood goes. the girl pales, her heart dropping to her stomach. kendrick’s face was bruised and his lip was bleeding, but it’s the panic in his eyes that really gets to her. the man with the strong arms tightens the choke hold even more and another whimper leaves her friend’s lips, this time more desperate sounding. “ STOP ! ” she shrieks, attempting to stand up before she’s being restrained from behind. more people had entered the room without her noticing. nails dig into her shoulder blade — a woman’s, maybe, but all esme could focus on was kendrick and the terrifying shade he was turning as he continued to gasp for air. “ STOP, please, please, just stop ! ” she’s crying out again, this time tears of absolute fear blurring her vision. kendrick’s eyes were fluttering shut, like when you can’t stay awake in class. the hands that were clawing helplessly at the man’s arm limply drop to his side. “ i care about him ! please, i care about ALL of them. stop, please just stop ! ”
to what extremes would you go for to help the others ?
the man releases his hold on kendrick, and the boy SLUMPS to the ground. the man is dragging him away before esme could even make sure he was still alive, the original man behind the camera making her flinch with his strong voice. she had never felt so terrified in her entire life. she had never felt so HELPLESS. tears were rolling down her cheeks silently, and esme was hardly aware of them or the fact that whoever had been retraining her had left. all she could hear were those horrible whimpers. all she could see were kendrick’s EYES. “ anything. ” she says, both her voice and hands shaking. esme doesn’t focus on the man, instead skipping straight over him and towards the camera instead. she doesn’t blink. she doesn’t flinch again. the desperation in her voice is startling. “ i’ll do ANYTHING. ”
“you act like i’ve never seen you sleeping, love. plus we were on a bus i couldn’t not see you.” he replied with a smirk, for once pretending like he didn’t see the rosy color that came to her cheeks as he looked to the motel. he knew that he could quite easily make her blush, but every time he saw it he couldn’t help but smile. “i’ll definitely come be your pillow, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do.” he hummed softly as he patted his chest, letting his eyes look to her once more before he started walking towards the sketchy building. “listen, i know i’m hilarious.. but i’m also serious. sketchy hotels and innocent little girls don’t mix well.” he half teased.
“ yeah but that’s different. ” she pointed out, mind flashing to the times they’d fallen asleep together, defenses rendered USELESS. it was the most vulnerable ryker had ever allowed esme to see him, and the girl’s cheeks couldn’t help but burn even more at the thought of it. this time she gave up trying to hide her blush, the EVIDENCE quite literally all over her face. “ i had no idea you cared about what is gentlemanly or not. am i softening you up, ryker ? ” esme inquired with a grin, only teasing him but a part of her longed to be right. at his next sentiment the girl arched her brows ever so slightly in surprise, his seriousness causing her stomach to FLUTTER. “ so you meant it ? ” she repeated, glancing up at him through the fan of her dark lashes. “ if protecting me from the creepy hotel is what you’re worried about, how about i make you a promise ? if i don’t feel SAFE enough in my own room, with my roommate, i’ll come to your room. and to be fair to your roommate, i’ll share your bed with you instead of booting them out. you know, worst case scenario and all. — unless you don’t like this idea. ”
‘ do i REALLY though ? ’ he muses, grinning at her. compliments always flew out of his mouth so easily, he doesn’t even have to try hard to find something pleasant in others & point it out like it was the most endearing thing he’s ever seen. ‘ uhh, surprisingly a LOT. i still can’t look his grandma in the eye & it’s really becoming a problem because she is a sweet lady, it’s not her fault her grandson is a crazy person. ––– gossiping ? don’t hurt me like that, my heart can’t take it. ’ he chuckles softly, adjusting the heavy rings on his fingers. xavier shakes his head at her next statement, a small grimace taking over his features. ‘ i’m SURE i will manage somehow without breaking my back for her. ’ he walks closer to the reception desk, dark brows furrowing at the sight of an EMPTY seat. reaches over the counter to ring the old-fashioned little service bell that’s supposed to notify the staff about their arrival before turning back to the femme. ‘ yeah, i feel like i’m at the beginning of a 90s slasher movie, but okay. i really can’t believe they were unable to find something BETTER for us in the area. can’t we just call an uber & go to the hilton ? ’
esme simply rolled her eyes at his question, the apples of her cheeks FLUSHING as she smiled. it was hard not to be in such a GOOD mood around xavier, something that hadn’t changed since their first meeting. “ you seem awfully disturbed about this dream, i change my mind. i don’t want to hear it after all. and gossiping is right ––– poor emerson’s ears are burning somewhere. ” she let out with a laugh, shaking her head. the sight of the empty chair CREEPED her out more than anything, the feeling that they were stepping into someplace abandoned overtaking her. but esme refused to believe her discomfort was anything more than her brain overthinking things. “ don’t talk like that. ” esme objected, shivering at even the suggestion of a horror film. “ i’m sure if there was something BETTER available, they would have booked it for us. ” she tried to reason, figuring there had to be an explanation as to why. “ just think of this as a NEW experience. ”
Brooklyn caught wind of Esme’s face turning once she mentioned her best friend. Had something happen between them that she didn’t know about? Brooklyn was sure Calista told her everything. She took a mental note to speak with her best friend once she found out where the girl was. “I hope it gets worked out as well, Esme, i really do.” The female squinted her lids at the blonde, trying to see her through the sunlight. “I guess one day in this God forsaken hell hole won’t be SO bad.” If she rolled her eyes one more time, she was sure she was going to have them stuck. “Where are we, anyway?” She asked, turning to take a glance at the surrounding scenery.
“ that’s the spirit.” esme cheered on, chipper despite the other girl’s blatant lack of enthusiasm. that’s how it usually went with esme. she was always trying to spin bad situations into PLEASANT ones, always trying to cheer people up when something was weighing them down. at brooklyn’s question esme frowned, not exactly sure how to answer her. location was something their travel agent had conveniently forgotten to mention. “ i have no idea. somewhere on the east coast ? we were on that bus for a while. lets ask the front desk. ” she decided, curious as to where exactly they had the PLEASURE being stuck.
sleep was about the only thing emerson EVER had going for him - but did he mind ? not one bit. which was why he was so disheveled when he realized the fact that he could NOT fall asleep on that damn bus, no matter what he did ! it took him nearly 17 years, to be exact, to even find a comfortable spot to sit in, let alone trying to find one to fall asleep in so… “ NO, not at all. ” was what came from him as a hand was coming up to wipe at his tired eyes. after all, what can you expect from a guy who gets 4 hours of blissful sleep a night ? he functioned, though, without all the SLEEP, and quite well at it too, which he would often brag about like it was some big competition. he’s turning his head to look at her, a smile gracing his lips as he nods his head. “ i will for sure come in with you. already got a buddy system going, huh ? - oh, shit, well i’m not sure how nice of a roommate I am. considering i’m up doing shit til the ASS CRACK of dawn, and i also snore so fuckin’ loud when i actually do get to sleep. but hey ! i’m sure nobody else is gonna want me. ”
esme offered a sympathetic nod, content to see she wasn’t the only one who had found it impossible to rest on the long bus ride. “ i’m sure the beds will be comfier so we can all catch some SLEEP. ” she said, as if she could will her statement to be true just by breathing it into existence. as questionable as the hotel looked, the girl hoped she wouldn’t be proven wrong. “ of course, the buddy system is the ONLY way to go. ” esme beamed, brighter now that she didn’t have to face the front desk alone. as emerson began to describe his habits as a roommate she couldn’t help but laugh. “ don’t be too hard on yourself. besides, it’s all about how you MARKET yourself. when faced with a potential roommate all you’ve got to say is that you tend to be a night owl and do well with people who can sleep through loud noises. — see ? that’s everything you just told me, but it sounds a lot nicer, right ? ”
‘ in character is right, absolute dickhead. i love him dearly though. ’ xavier rolls his eyes, a small chuckle falling past his brims. ‘ oh no, i know you wouldn’t. i am CONVINCED you are incapable of being even the slightest bit unpleasant. ’ he hums, turning back slightly to skim the group still waiting around the bus, most of them frantically typing on their phones. ‘ you’re too sweet, i PROMISE you don’t want to sleep in the same room as emerson. he talks & about fairly disturbing things. like, this one time he had a dream argument with his grandma & it was wild. ’ ––– ‘ yeah, that’s NOT it. she is having one of her moods & since i refused to accommodate her fits, i got on her naughty list. ––– yeah, i think not, not this time. ‘ he pushes in the entrance door, letting her in before following, brows furrowing slightly at the dim lighting of the room. ‘ uhh, well this is CREEPY. ’
all the girl could do was smile at the truth of xavier’s words about the other male, the ‘ so do i ‘ dying at the tip of her tongue. “ i think you give me too much CREDIT. don’t stop doing it, though. ” esme teased, a laugh trailing after her words. as unwilling as she was to accept the kind statements other people made in regards to her character, hearing them was always a treat. “ it would have just been for ONE night. how many disturbing topics can he exhaust ? now i’m curious about his grandma dream, you’re a bad influence on me gossiping and making me NOSY. ” the girl pretended to scold, playfully bumping his side as they walked. “ just think about it. this isn’t the type of place you’d be HAPPY not having a good roommate to keep you company through the night. ” esme pointed out, her content expression turning into one of mild alarm as they walked in. as rundown as the outside of the hotel seemed, the inside was undoubtedly worse. “ maybe it’s just...a really OLD hotel. ”
Brooklyn was far too concerned texting Xavier to rise her head. Typing away, she begrudgingly replied to the female. “No, i was too busy in an argument with X. I didn’t even get the chance to sleep.” She released a sigh, looking at Esme. “I don’t even want to look at the place. It just smells all types of bad, so I can only imagine just how bad it looks. And to top it off, I don’t even have a roommate because Xavier is mad at me and only God knows where Cali is.” The latina placed her thumb and pinky onto her temples, giving them a much needed massage as she held onto her iphone 8 for dear life. “Sure, walking in together sounds hella nice and probably the distraction I need. If you don’t have anyone else you’re rooming with, I guess I wouldn’t mind?” Brooklyn glanced over in the distance to see the resort. “I just hope that damn SMELL goes away.”
the mention of an argument between the girl and xavier didn’t SURPRISE her, but she was still sympathetic despite the frequency. “ i hope it gets worked out. ” esme offered, smiling even before brooklyn turned from her phone to look at her. “ it’s just until the bus gets fixed tomorrow, it can’t be that bad.” she tried to reason, but another glance at the hotel left her feeling as UNEASY as the first glance had. at the mention of calista esme’s smile faltered, and the girl had to fight to get it to bounce back. “ i'm sure she’ll turn up, or you and xavier will work it out. nothing is as bad as we think it is. including this PLACE. it’s going to be fine. ” esme advised before starting to walk towards the hotel now that she had secured a companion, unable to stop thinking about the smell now that brooklyn had mentioned it.
pale fingers run through his already messy locks before sliding his hands in the pockets of his jacket, shivering in the cold. gaze travels onto the petite blonde standing next to him, a small SMILE taking over his features as he shakes his head. ‘ no, i was actually TRYING to engage in a conversation with ryker the whole time. it was unsuccessful, taking he had the audacity to put in his headphones around halftime. ’ a playful pout pulls on his countenance but then he’s smiling again, throwing an arm around esme’s shoulder. ‘ you shouldn’t offer RANDOM people to stay in the same room as you, sugar. you are tiny & adorable, someone might take advantage of that. besides, i am waiting for brooklyn to APOLOGIZE so i don’t have to pretend to be mad at her still & we can spend the night together. ’ xavier hums, guiding the petite femme towards the entrance of the sketchy motel.
at the mention of ryker she couldn’t help but SMILE, esme being able to perfectly picture the other boys signature unnamed expression. “ seems very in character for him. talk to me next time, i promise i won’t put my headphones in halfway through the ride. ” the girl laughed, moving CLOSER to him as he threw an arm around her shoulders because she’d noticed him shivering just moments before. “ well it’s not like anyone on the bus is a complete stranger, i think i would have been SAFE no matter who ended up being next to me. ” at the mention of whatever disagreement xavier and brooklyn were having now, esme’s expression simply melted into one of slight amusement. “ she might be in a bad mood because of the bus and this CREEPY hotel, though. ” she informed him, letting him guide her ahead. “ so if you really want your roommate tonight you might have to stop pretending to be mad at her soon, apology or not. ”
ryker had just stopped next to esme when she began speaking, arching an eyebrow at her words. “i’d imagine it does… the way you were slumped over.” he mused simply. he tore his gaze from her to look to the hotel in front of the, furrowing his brows at it. he’d stayed at worse, but that doesn’t mean this would be pleasant. “oh, see.. i was just coming over here to offer my services as roommate. much easier than i thought it would be.” he teased, knowing full well they most likely wouldn’t end up as roommates-she wouldn’t give into him that easily.
“ you saw me fall ASLEEP ? ” the question slipped past her lips before esme could help it, the thought of ryker having seen her slumped over in what she undoubtedly knew was some ridiculous way considering how much her neck still ached causing her to blush. the girl looked away from him and back towards the rundown hotel, hoping he didn’t catch it. “ if it happens again the next time we get back on the bus, do me a favor and WAKE me up. or sit next to me so i can just use you as my pillow. ” esme suggested, her touch feather light as she patted his chest before dropping her hand. like with most conversations she had with ryker, she never could gather if he really meant what he was saying. and as much as the idea of sharing a room with him THRILLED her, esme didn’t want to assume. instead she arched a brow at him, a smile coloring her expression. “ very funny. ” she replied, making a move to grab her bag before starting towards the building. “ you can offer your services as a walking buddy, though. ”
there’s an easy laugh rolling passed chapped lips– one that seems to make frequent appearances whenever esme’s around. ❛ c’mon, mimi. you really think someone could get a decent sleep in on that bus ? with all the racket it was making, i’m surprised we didn’t stop sooner. ❜ he’s draping a heavy arm over her shoulders before anyone has the chance to snatch his roommate away (not willing to risk the other’s seeing him in any vulnerable state) ! ❛ you really wanna room with me, or are you just avoiding the sketchy lookin’ desk clerk ? ❜ a half-smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he adjusts the duffel bag on his vacant shoulder, always ready to tease his best friend. ❛ come on, sunshine– i’ll grab your bag. ❜
her expression instantly brightened when esme realized it had been LUCA she’d absentmindedly talked to when she had been too distracted by the hotel, the grin gracing her delicate features a familiar one whenever she found herself in the company of her best friend. “ you’d be surprised, some people can sleep anywhere. ” she informed him with a laugh, thinking back to herself as a child and all the times she’d fallen asleep right on the floor after an afternoon of playing. “ hmm— do you want me to answer honestly ? ” the girl teased him back, at EASE underneath his arm. “ of course i want to room with you. having someone else with me so i don’t have to face the sketchy desk clerk alone is just a plus. ” at his offer to grab her bag esme simply shook her head in REFUSAL, determined to lug it on her own. the smallest of noises slipped passed her lips as she exercised her limited strength lifted the bag onto her petite shoulder. “ don’t worry, i’m a big girl luc, i got it. ”
“ ––––– did you manage to get any SLEEP during that bus ride ? i got about five minutes worth and i feel like i broke my neck. ” esme wasted no time as she chatted up the person next to her with a warm smile, refusing to let the news of the vehicle’s mechanical issues bring her mood down. as off putting as the hotel that LOOMED in front of them seemed, the promise that it was only going to be their stop for a night brought her at least a GLIMMER of peace. still, esme was hesitant about walking in on her own to collect the room keys the travel agent said would be waiting for them at the front desk. “ wanna walk in and get our keys together ? we can even be ROOMMATES for tonight if you don’t have anyone else in mind. i don’t snore or anything like that, so it shouldn’t be too awful. ” the girl offered, finally tearing her gaze away from the hotel and towards whoever she’d just BLINDLY offered her companionship to in an attempt to not have to face the front desk by herself.
if there’s anybody who holds the power to make esme both happier than she’s ever been and sadder than she’s ever known, it would be ryker. if he’s the flame then esme is undoubtedly the moth, both attracted to and burned by the fire inside of him. he’s fascinating and dangerous, not because he can hurt her but because there’s never been another person capable of making esme feel so much at once. no matter how many warnings you give the girl she won’t listen, and every time anyone ( whether it be friends or ryker himself ) tries to suggest esme deserves better she makes it very clear that in her eyes there’s nobody else, nobody but him. she hates how negatively ryker views himself and tries her best to make him see there’s something more inside of him, whether it be by talking him down after he loses a fight or by holding him tight on nights he lets her. and no matter how many times he breaks her heart, no matter how many times he hurts her or tries to push her away, she can’t just give up and stop caring about him as much as she does. the one thought esme can never bring herself to tell ryker would be just how much she wants him to choose her.
ask esme who in the entire world she’s most comfortable with, and she wouldn’t hesitate before naming luca. he’s more than just her best friend, and she couldn’t imagine him ever not being a part of her life. he’s as much of a home to her as her own parents are and she firmly believes part of the reason why she’s had such a wonderful life so far is because the two of them are friends. there’s almost nothing esme wouldn’t give to see luca always be happy. that being said, the one thought she’d never confess to him would be that she’s afraid one day he’s going to distance himself so far from her that he won’t come back.
when esme first met xavier she was a bit intimidated by him— he was talented, good looking, and much more confident than she was ( especially behind the camera ). she was honored he wanted her to star in his first music video, and esme felt it was really kind of him to try his best and make sure the two were comfortable with each other while filming. if there is any thought she has about xavier that she wouldn’t want to outwardly confess to him, it would be that she had a lot of fun kissing him that day.
