Chapter 2
Ryker froze, looking up at me, flustered.
"Why are you here?" he exclaimed, startled.
The ghostly girl pressed closer to him and then shot me a look over his shoulder with defiance and pure annoyance.
"So annoying," she muttered.
She turned to Ryker and whined playfully, "I hate being watched. Let's go next door. There's a big, comfy bed waiting..."
She traced circles on his chest with her slender, pale fingers.
Ryker hesitated, glanced at me, and then at the female ghost.
He thought he could smooth things over with me later. If he let a girl like this slip away, he might never get another chance.
After a moment, he gritted his teeth, picked her up, and carried her straight into the dark hallway next door.
He completely ignored me.
I was in shock.
Ryker and I had been together for seven years since college. We were the perfect couple that everyone admired.
He picked me up after work every day, brought me roses on Valentine's, and never missed a single relationship ritual.
Last month, we got the keys to our new home, got married, and left for our honeymoon.
This was only our first stop.
He'd just met this woman, and he was already ditching me for her.
"Ryker, stop!" I yelled, voice shaking with rage.
I rushed after them, but they were gone.
The secret rooms were dimly lit, wooden doors blending into dark brown walls. If I didn't look closely, I'd miss them entirely.
I burst into room after room but found no trace of either. Instead, I got chased by a Duke of Hell NPC.
After searching frantically, I couldn't find Ryker anywhere.
I had no choice but to storm out to confront the staff member.
When I threatened to call the cops, the front desk guy, Devin Sanford, grew nervous.
"Miss, I swear, we really don't have any female staff. If you don't believe me, I'll show you the schedule," he insisted, flustered.
He pulled a folder from a drawer and opened it.
The escape room was fairly large, and the roster listed over a dozen names. They were all male.
Devin explained they used to hire women, but in the darkness, some male visitors would pretend to be scared just to grope the female NPCs.
The female NPCs complained repeatedly, called the cops, and even had family members storm in.
The owner couldn't take it anymore and let all the female staff go.
Devin said, "Since then, we only hire men. Even the female roles are played by men in costumes.
"You said your husband was with a female ghost..."
He paused and then shook his head seriously.
"Unless he's into guys, but even then, none of our male staff are interested. If he tries anything, he'd better watch out, or he'll get beaten up," he added.
I fired back, "It was definitely a woman, and she was stunning."
No man had legs that smooth and delicate, or a voice that seductive and hypnotic.
Devin gave a strained smile. "We really don't have anyone like that. Our haunted manor features vampires, maids, and werewolves. How would a bride even fit the theme?
"It just doesn't make sense.
"And tonight, it's just you guys. There were no other guests. Maybe... you just imagined it?"
"Don't lie to me. You must be running some kind of special service here," I shot back. "Show me the security footage now, or I'm calling the police."
That female ghost was stunning, and Ryker was just an ordinary guy. I couldn't wrap my head around why any woman, let alone one that gorgeous, would throw herself at him like that.
Something was definitely off.
I'd heard all sorts of rumors about how some businesses secretly offered more than they advertised, such as pool halls and internet cafes.
And this escape room, dark and secluded, seemed like the perfect cover for something illicit.
My gut told me there was something off about that woman.
Ryker might be trash, but I wasn't about to let this place run some shady operation right under my nose. No way I'd let that slide.
I pulled out my phone, ready to dial.