NJ Hotel

"Okay, this place is five times harder to find than I thought it was gonna be," you tell your phone with a quiet voice. "How does this place even make any money?"

Wandering aimlessly around the autumn city streets, you eventually manage to find the place nestled between two brick walls. You mistook it earlier for the backdoor of some place, but now you noticed the thick sign advertising the... Establishment. It read "NJ Hotel" and nothing else.

"Wow, okay, I really did find a crack den, huh?" You were hesitant to step much closer. Just being in this alleyway was dangerous enough as is. You at least had the decency to explore during the day, but the sunlight wouldn't help you if you got trapped behind that door.

Then you remembered why you came out here in the first place. The video! You glanced to your phone and imagined how many views and subscribers you could get if you filmed one of the dirtiest places in your city. What if the shower sprayed mud? What if the beds were made of cardboard? What if there wasn't even a bathroom!? You were convinced this place would be what kickstarted your career!

And so, without hesitation, you eagerly opened and stepped through the musty hotel door. You held your phone in hand but angled it so that it wasn't blatantly obvious you were recording anything. A bell chimed as the door opened.

To your surprise (and mild disappointment) the foyer actually looked pretty... Normal. Not extravagant or nice, mind you, instead it was just shockingly regular for an average motel lobby. The beige walls had occasional paintings of abstract art that were surprisingly well done. Spotting the edges of the room were chairs, coffee tables, and a few potted plants of varying size. A busty woman behind a counter looked up from her fashion magazine at you.

She was dressed proactively, but not too excessive. Her long and flowing blond hair complimented her sparkling blue dress. She blinked ditzily at you with wide eyes and an even wider smile, showing off a face of joy that highlighted all of her makeup. Maybe this place was actually a brothel? That'd sure be awkward.

"Hiya!" she welcomed. "Are you, like, here for a room or something?" She put her magazine down and leaned forward on the countertop, clearly making an intentional display of her deep cleavage.

"Uh..." You were taken aback by the woman's blatant sexuality. You didn't even think to record her. "Y-yeah, I am. What're your rates?"

Her mouth curved as she paused to show her surprise. Letting out a small gasp, she went over to type at a laptop behind the counter you hadn't noticed before. "Omigosh, do you not have a reservation?"

"Reservation?" You asked in confusion. "No? Am I... Supposed to have one?" Since when did seedy motels have reservations!? This place didn't even have a website! The more she spoke the more convinced you were that you had accidentally walked into a brothel.

Giggling, she looked up from the laptop. "Nah! Just, uh... Forget I said anything, 'kay?" She smiled, again, and brought up a finger to twirl her hair. "Just show us your ID and I can, like, show you the rates and stuff."

"Sure, fine." You weren't completely comfortable with what was going on, but you were in too deep now. It was a little odd having to show your ID, but where was the harm? You took your wallet out and showed her your driver's license.

The ditzy woman took a few seconds to copy a few words into her laptop. "Aw, Sarah? That's an adorable name! I'm Kathy!" She giggled as she finished with her work.

"Uh... Thanks?" You still weren't sure what to make of Kathy. Either way, you still had one goal. You wanted a room.