فصل 14

A Night in Terror Tower - Chapter 14

“They wouldn’t just leave!” I exclaimed. I walked over to the closet and checked it out for myself. I don’t know what I expected to see. It was clear from across the room that the closet was completely empty.

“Are you sure we’re in the right room?” Eddie asked. He pulled open the top dresser drawer. Empty.

“Of course this is the right room,” I replied impatiently.

Eddie pulled out the rest of the dresser drawers. They were all empty.

We searched every inch of the room. No sign of Mom or Dad.

“We’d better go down to the desk,” I suggested, thinking hard. “We’ll find out what room the meeting is being held in. Then we’ll go there and talk to Mom and Dad.” “I can’t believe they’re still at the meeting,” Eddie murmured, shaking his head. “And why would they pack up and take all our clothes to the meeting with them?” “I’m sure there’s a good answer,” I said. “Come on. Let’s go downstairs.”

We made our way back down the long hall and took the elevator to the lobby.

We found a crowd around the front desk. A large woman, dressed in a green pantsuit, was arguing angrily about her room. “I was promised a view of the river,” she screamed at the red-faced man behind the desk. “And I want a view of the river!” “But, madam,” he replied softly, “the hotel is not located near the river. We do not have any river views from this hotel.” “I must have a river view!” the woman insisted. “I have it right here in writing!” She flashed a sheet of paper in front of the man’s face.

The argument continued for a few minutes more. I quickly lost interest in it. I thought about Mom and Dad. I wondered where they were. I wondered why they hadn’t left us a note or a message.

Eddie and I finally got up to the desk about ten minutes later. The clerk tucked some papers into a file, then turned to us with an automatic smile. “Can I help you?” “We’re trying to find our parents,” I said, leaning my elbows on the desk. “They’re in the meeting, I think. Can you tell us where the meeting is?” He stared at me for a long moment, his face blank, as if he didn’t understand. “What meeting is that?” he asked finally.

I thought hard. I couldn’t remember what the meeting was called. Or what it was about.

“It’s the big meeting,” I replied uncertainly. “The one people came from all over the world for.” He twisted his mouth into a thoughtful pout. “Hmmm…”

“A very big meeting,” Eddie chimed in.

“We have a problem,” the clerk said, frowning. He scratched his right ear. “There aren’t any meetings in the hotel this week.” I stared back at him. My mouth dropped open. I started to say something, but the words just didn’t come out.

“No meetings?” Eddie asked weakly.

The clerk shook his head. “No meetings.”

A young woman called to him from the office. He signaled to me that he’d be right back. Then he hurried over to see what she wanted.

“Are we in the right hotel?” Eddie whispered to me. I could see the worry tighten his features.

“Of course,” I said sharply. “Why do you keep asking me these dumb questions? I’m not an idiot, you know. Why do you keep asking, is this the right room? Is this the right hotel?” “Because nothing makes sense,” he muttered.

I started to reply, but the clerk returned to the desk. “May I ask your room number?” he demanded, scratching his ear again.

“Six twenty-six,” I told him.

He punched several keys on his computer keyboard, then squinted at the green monitor. “I’m sorry. That room is vacant,” he said.

“What?” I cried.

The clerk studied me, narrowing his eyes. “There is no one in room 626 at the present,” he repeated.

“But we are!” Eddie cried.

The clerk forced a smile to his face. He raised both hands, as if to say, “Let’s all remain calm.” “We will find your parents,” he told us, leaving the smile frozen on his face. He punched a few computer keys. “Now, what is your last name?” I opened my mouth to answer. But no answer came to my mind.

I glanced at Eddie. His face was knitted in concentration.

“What is your last name, kids?” the clerk repeated. “If your parents are in the hotel, I’m sure we can track them down for you. But I need to know your last name.” I stared blankly at him.

I had a strange, tingly feeling that started at the back of my neck and ran all the way down my body. I suddenly felt as if I couldn’t breathe, as if my heart had stopped.

My last name. My last name…

Why couldn’t I remember my last name?

I could feel my body start to shake. Tears brimmed in my eyes.

This was so upsetting!

My name is Sue, I told myself. Sue… Sue… what?

Shaking, tears running down my cheeks, I grabbed Eddie by the shoulders. “Eddie,” I demanded, “what’s our last name?” “I—I don’t know!” he sobbed.

“Oh, Eddie!” I pulled my brother close and hugged him. “What’s wrong with us? What’s wrong with us?”