Ethan arrived in Blackwood shortly before midnight. The town was small, and the hotel was located just outside it, at the foot of a mountain surrounded by forest. When Ethan asked a local for directions, the man pointed uphill.
"The hotel is over there."
Ethan looked up. The building appeared among the trees. It was huge and grand, with warm lights streaming from its windows. Ethan smiled.
"Looks like I'll be wasting the client's money in a respectable place."
He slung his bag over his shoulder and continued on.
When he entered the hotel, he sensed something was off. The lobby was crowded. Some people stopped talking when he came in. Others looked at him with surprise. Ethan looked at himself. Neat coat, clean shoes, well-groomed hair... Then he looked down at his bag.
"Is the problem with the bag?"
He couldn't think of any other explanation. He approached the reception desk. But before he could speak, a smartly dressed man in a black suit appeared.
"Welcome."
"Thank you."
"May I know the reason for your visit?"
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"I'd like to book a room."
The man's expression changed. — A room?
— Yes.
— Maybe you've got the wrong place.
— I don't think so.
— The hotel is very expensive. Ethan took out the money and placed it in front of him.
— Is it enough? The man didn't even look at the money.
— Money isn't the issue.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
— Then what?
The man was silent. Then he said,
— I advise you to return to town.
— You've come a long way to get here.
— There are better hotels.
— But I liked this one.
The man was trying to find any excuse to get rid of him. But Ethan didn't back down. Finally, the owner sighed.
— Fine.
Then he gave instructions to the attendant. A few minutes later, Ethan received the key to room 000. First floor.---Ethan entered his room. It was luxurious and spacious. But he noticed something strange. There wasn't a single guest on the floor. Even the adjacent rooms were empty. He sat on the bed. Then he thought about the owner. He didn't want the money. He only wanted one thing: for Ethan to leave. —Strange.
He opened his briefcase and took out a picture of the Man of Nowhere. He placed it on the table.
—What exactly did I come here to look for?
Outside, the hotel was quiet. But behind closed doors, not everyone was human. In one room, a woman with pointed ears stood near the window. In another, a pale-skinned man sat almost motionless. Downstairs, a short, elegantly dressed creature was discussing something with two wizards. This wasn't an ordinary hotel. It was a place where the inhabitants of the underworld could stay without having to hide. Witches. Elves. Vampires. Dwarves. Goblins. And shapeshifters. The presence of a human among them was extremely rare. That's why everyone was watching Ethan. Not because they wanted to kill him. But because they knew something he didn't. An ordinary human shouldn't be here. The owner entered a small room behind the reception desk. One of the employees was waiting for him.
—Has he left?
—No.
The owner sighed.
—Did we give him the room?
—Yes.
—And why did he insist on staying?
—He said he came for the hotel.
The owner was silent. Then he said,
—Stay away from him.
—And what if he discovers something?
—Don't hurt him. The employee looked puzzled.
—Of course not.
The owner glanced at the door of the room leading to the lobby.
—The problem isn't him.
—Then what is it?
The owner answered calmly,
—It's what made him come here.
And on the first floor...Ethan was reopening the file on the man from nowhere. He didn't know that his choice of this hotel hadn't been a coincidence. And he also didn't know that the man he was looking for...knew from the beginning that he would end up here.