I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

Two days had passed since the Victor incident, and life had returned to a semblance of normalcy. My daily duties as a concierge at the Shadow Hotel continued uninterrupted, greeting and assisting guests while maintaining a polite facade. Nights, however, were a different story. Chev had made it his personal mission to drag me to the bar every evening under various absurd pretexts—"celebrating that we're still alive" being his favorite.

Despite his antics, I couldn't deny that the routine was oddly comforting.

"Hopefully, these peaceful days will last a little longer," I muttered to myself as I wiped down the front desk.

But peace was never meant to be the main theme of the Shadow Hotel.

As if to mock my naïve hope, the shrill ring of the phone shattered the calm.

Picking up the receiver, I was greeted by Harvey's ever-calm voice.

"Lorne, to the basement. Now."

The line clicked dead before I could even ask a question.

I stared at the phone for a few seconds, a sense of unease creeping over me. Harvey rarely used such a direct tone, especially without any explanation. Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my uniform and headed toward the elevator that led to the basement.

The descent was eerily quiet, with only the faint hum of machinery breaking the silence. The dim lighting and cold atmosphere of the basement seemed to amplify the tension in the air.

When the elevator doors slid open, I saw Harvey standing near a massive circular console. His back was turned to me, and several screens displayed complex energy wave patterns that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. Two other people were with him, both focused on the console.

"Manager?" I called out hesitantly, my footsteps faltering.

Harvey turned to me with his usual faint smile. "Ah, Lorne, perfect timing. Let me introduce you."

He gestured to the pair near the console.

"This is Joseph Cooper, and his daughter, Murphy Cooper."

I blinked, glancing between the two. Joseph was a rugged-looking man in his early forties, his short-cropped hair and firm expression radiating a sense of resilience. Beside him, however, stood an elderly woman with gray hair and deep wrinkles, her movements slow and deliberate.

"Daughter?" I blurted out, unable to hide my confusion. "Manager, are you sure you've got that right?"

"Quite sure," Harvey replied, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Their story is… unique."

Joseph noticed my bewildered expression and let out a weary chuckle. "You're not the first to be confused, and I doubt you'll be the last."

"Care to explain?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to overstep.

Murphy's voice was raspy but firm. "It's a long story… in the most literal sense of the word." Her eyes flicked to Joseph, filled with a mixture of nostalgia and resignation.

Joseph sighed, his gaze growing distant. "To put it simply, time hasn't been linear for us. Due to certain circumstances, I was forced to leave Murphy for many years. When I returned… well, she was as you see her now, and I…" He gestured to himself with a faint smile, "haven't aged a day."

His words felt like they were plucked straight out of a science fiction novel. Time not being linear? What did that even mean?

"So… you were separated by time itself?" I ventured.

Murphy nodded, her expression tinged with both sadness and acceptance. "Yes. Our story revolves around a place called 'Gargantua,' a supermassive black hole. Time there is… distorted."

The mention of a black hole made my head spin. I tried to picture time twisting and bending, but all I could think of were the abstract visuals from sci-fi movies.

"Black holes? Time distortion?" I repeated dumbly, trying to make sense of her words. "This sounds like something out of a blockbuster film."

Joseph gave a wry smile. "To you, perhaps. But for us, it was our reality. Gargantua cost us dearly, but it also brought us back together."

Murphy's voice softened as she added, "As a child, I resented my father for leaving. But as I grew older and learned the truth… I understood he never stopped loving us."

The room grew quiet, the air heavy with emotion. I fumbled for something to say, but Harvey stepped in smoothly.

"Lorne," he said, "the Coopers are experts in spatial research, and they're here to help us with the artifact you recovered: the Void Gem."

"The Void Gem?" I echoed, startled. "Wait, you mean that thing in the box was a—?"

Harvey nodded, his expression calm but serious. "Correct. The Shadow Hotel's rooms are all connected to various dimensions and timelines. These connections require immense energy to maintain, and the Void Gem isn't just capable of tearing through dimensions—it can also strengthen these links. It's invaluable to the hotel."

"So, the Void Gem is the key to keeping the hotel connected to other worlds?"

"In essence, yes," Harvey confirmed. "But there's a problem. The gem's energy is unstable. Its release has already caused spatial rifts around the hotel, and rifts are unpredictable—and dangerous."

"Rifts?" I asked, frowning. "What exactly are those?"

Joseph approached, pointing to the console's energy readouts. "Rifts are tears in the fabric of reality, breaches between dimensions. They consume anything around them until their energy is depleted or sealed. Worst of all, they're uncontrollable and can expand rapidly."

I shivered at the thought. "Then why bring something so dangerous here?"

Murphy's gaze was sharp yet composed. "Because it's also an opportunity. The Void Gem isn't just a threat—it's a tool to alter and stabilize reality. The issue isn't its existence, but how it's used."

Harvey nodded. "We've detected active energy deep within the rifts. If we can seal the energy and recover the gem, we can stabilize the rifts and reinforce the hotel's dimensional links."

"And my role in this is…?" I asked warily, already sensing I wasn't going to like the answer.

Harvey's tone grew heavier. "Your task, Lorne, is to join the Coopers and Chev to enter the rift, contain the energy, and retrieve the gem."

Before I could fully process that, he added, "There's another complication. The Dawn Hotel has also taken an interest in the gem."

"The Dawn Hotel?" I repeated, confused. "What's that?"

Harvey's eyes darkened slightly. "The Dawn Hotel is the Shadow Hotel's counterpart. They claim to be 'guardians of light,' but their methods are far from benevolent. Like us, they aim to control multi-dimensional access."

"So, they're our rivals?"

"In a manner of speaking," Harvey said evenly. "They've already accessed a separate rift. Expect resistance."

As if on cue, a woman appeared in the room as if stepping from the shadows themselves. She was clad in a dark crimson outfit, her short black hair framing a sharp, emotionless face. Twin daggers hung from her waist, their blades gleaming ominously.

"This is Iressa Natrix," Harvey introduced, his tone respectful. "Code name: Phantom Assassin. She'll be your partner for this mission."

I froze, caught off guard by her sudden entrance. Her piercing gaze flicked to me, evaluating me with cold precision.

"He's the rookie?" she asked, her tone laced with doubt.

"He is," Harvey replied smoothly. "But Lorne has shown promise in prior missions."

Iressa's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "He'd better not slow me down."

Her icy demeanor was intimidating, and I couldn't stop myself from swallowing nervously.

"Staring at me?" she said suddenly, her voice like a knife's edge. "Keep it up, and you won't need those eyes anymore."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, and I quickly looked away.

"Sorry!" I stammered. "No offense meant, I swear!"

"Offense or not," she said curtly, "stay focused on the mission. I don't have time to babysit."

Harvey intervened, diffusing the tension. "Enough. This mission is critical. Iressa will lead, and you'll follow her instructions."

I nodded, though inwardly I groaned. Surviving this mission would be a feat in itself, especially with a partner who looked like she might kill me for sneezing at the wrong moment.

Iressa, meanwhile, was already checking her gear with practiced efficiency, as if the rest of us didn't exist.

"Don't drag me down," she said without looking up.

"Got it," I replied through gritted teeth.

This mission was shaping up to be a nightmare, but there was no turning back now.

4o