The sound of the door closing echoed in the still night, which made her wince. She stepped away from the car and began to walk into town. She cast a quick glance back, watching her car become obscured in the dense fog.

  Stranded. Abandoned. It felt like she just lost her only sanctuary.

  She couldn’t linger on those feelings. With a soft chant she raised her hand. The spell disturbed the aether in the air and drew it into the center of her palm where a spark of light took form. She’d be damned if she walked in the dark. Conjuring small effects like that was second nature to her.

  The town was unnervingly quiet. No voices, rustling of leaves, not even a cricket. Only the persistent hum of the street lamps broke the silence. When she stepped into their light she felt relieved. Zoe shook her hand, dispersing the aether to break her spell.

  The streets were empty, as expected for a town this size so late at night. In the distance a small neon glow caught her attention. Zoe quickened her pace. Maybe escaping this fog would ease the tightness in her chest.

  When she approached the parking lot of the motel, she wasn’t surprised to find it nearly vacant. A black sedan was parked near the entrance. Its sleek appearance was a stark contrast to the weathered motel. A flickering neon “Vacancy” buzzed in the window. Zoe couldn’t help but smirk. “Surprise surprise.” The fog made the light seem eerily bright.

  When she reached for the door a subtle shift in the air made her freeze. Almost like someone walked past her. A chill caressed the back of her neck. Her breath caught in her throat. Zoe rushed inside and slammed the door shut.

  She felt relief at the sound of the lock sliding into place. She stepped back, keeping her focus on the door. Zoe remained still and listened.

  The buzzing of the vacancy sign was deafening. The neon light cast an eerie glow in the fog outside.

  She froze, afraid to move. Was it just in her head? She shifted to the side to get a wider view. Nothing. No movement. Only the relentless buzzing of the sign. Zoe held her breath. It was maddening.

  Zoe spun around when someone called out behind her. “Good evening.” Her hand went to her side as she prepared to draw in aether. A well dressed man stood behind the desk. He stared at her with an unwavering smile. She glanced back but saw nothing beyond the glass door. “I just,” she pointed towards the door. “Yes?” The Clerk stared at her unblinking.

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  The oddity of the situation caused her to lower her hand. He tilted his head to the side. “Welcome to the Ashford Motel.” His voice was awfully calm considering she just burst in here like she was running for her life. He didn’t even seem phased.

  Her adrenaline was wearing off and exhaustion began to set in. She cast one more look towards the door before she walked up to the desk. “I’d like to check in.” She did her best to control her voice. The man slid a ledger towards her. “If you wouldn’t mind signing your name?”

  She picked up the pin and started to sign. Just above the blank space was another name. C. Reid. The names above it were full names but were mostly faded so she couldn’t read them clearly. “Whose car is that outside?” Zoe asked, trying to steady her nerves.

  The clerk didn’t answer immediately, his gaze shifting to the pen in her hand as though it were a strange object.

  “Oh, that? It’s been there a while. Can’t say I remember who checked in with it,” he replied, his tone a little too practiced, like a line he had recited a hundred times.

  “Right,” Zoe muttered. She thought about the car. Left behind and abandoned. Had someone checked in before her? Why leave the car if they’d left? Did it stop working like hers did?

  She rubbed the ink, hoping it would smear. Maybe, just maybe, it would show her she wasn’t the only one here. But it didn’t.

  With a frown, she started to write her full name but paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Instead, she mirrored the way the last name was written. Only her first initial followed by her surname.

  The clerk stared at it for a few moments longer than necessary. “Very well, Ms Sinclair.” He placed a brass key on the desk, and Zoe wondered when he retrieved it. Room 206.

  She reached for her wallet, but the Clerk gestured for her to stop. “We collect all payments when you check out.” Zoe’s brow furrowed. “I'd rather just take care of it now.” The Clerk smiled and offered a slight shrug. “It is policy, Ms. Sinclair.”

  Zoe grabbed the key and made her way down the hall. As she walked, she glanced back and saw the clerk standing at the end of the hall, still smiling.

  “Rest well, Ms. Sinclair.”

  She smiled stiffly, her nerves on edge, and closed the door behind her, locking every bolt.

  “That was odd,” she muttered. Exhaustion finally hit her full force, and she couldn’t suppress a yawn. She turned to look at the room. A single bed. No television. Great. A mirror on the far wall caught her eye. She didn’t want to see how much of a mess she was so she avoided it. And was that a rotary phone on the bedside table? “I know the feeling,” she muttered under her breath. It didn’t seem to belong here either.