The Silk Orchid

Chapter 1: Kessia

The pale orchid stood perched on a side table overlooking the beach. Dew drops glinted on its soft, delicate petals, some sliding off and landing gently on the table. The flower appeared to weep, and Kessia admired it with a sad smile, shaking off the momentary thought that the orchid had just shivered. A soft, pink pigment emerged from the center of the flower, giving a light accent to the orchid, and perhaps a happier appearance. Kessia closed her eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief as a gentle breeze lifted the strands of blonde hair that strayed from her ponytail. When she opened them again, she was greeted with swaying palm trees and a beach as white as snow. The crystal water licked the shoreline, caressing each grain of sand with its watery touch. Kessia shifted her gaze back to the orchid, noticing something she hadn’t seen before. A shiny, iridescent green beetle on its back, nestled in between the petals. It lay motionless, its tiny legs rigid and fragile. Kessia’s smile slowly faded, a sadness misting her eyes. She clenched her trembling hand, a small tremor of unease traveling down her spine. What a beautiful place to pass away, she thought, dismissing the feeling.

“Honey?” Cory called, his muffled voice appearing to come from far away. Kessia blinked as she snapped back into the present moment. How long had she been standing there? Her husband stepped through the sliding glass door and out into the back porch. “There you are,” he smiled, walking over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek from behind. Kessia giggled, lacing her fingers through his.

“This is the best honeymoon I could ever imagine,” she said dreamily. Looking adoringly out at the vast ocean before them.

“Well I’m glad all the planning was worth it,” Cory replied, releasing her and walking back inside. “Ready for breakfast?” He inquired. Kessia nodded, following him back into the room.

Breakfast was an extravagant buffet splayed out on a table that stretched from one end of the spacious room to the other. There was a section of familiar American foods, as well as a multitude of Thai selections. Hotel staff scuttled around, tending to the needs of every guest under the intricately painted gold trimmed ceiling. A gilded Buddha sat on one end of the room, and the wall adjacent was open to the outside, lush vegetation and flowers visible through the curtains. Kessia stole a glance at her husband to check if he was feeling the same wonder as she was. Cory had grown up in a wealthy old money family from England. Though he was born in the United States, Kessia still sometimes shook her head at how posh he could seem. Indeed, after observing his expression, Kessia deemed him not quite as impressed as she was. In fact, she had to keep her mouth from hanging open at the grand sight before her. The two newlyweds sat down in the plush chairs at a table by the open window spaces. After selecting a variety of fruit, rice porridge, and a traditional rice omelette, Kessia returned to her seat. She rolled her eyes upon noticing that Cory had filled his plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon.

“Babe, we’re in Thailand. Be a little adventurous,” she teased.

“You know I’m not the adventurous type,” he said. “You’re my other half, you can be bold for us.”

Kessia scoffed playfully. “I can’t believe I married you,” she said. Cory raised an eyebrow. “Just kidding,” she added. “I’m gonna go to the restroom; I’ll be back.” Kessia stood up and left the room. The front desk was at the center of a tall marble room with a glass dome ceiling. Behind the desk stood a woman in a neat, white uniform with a silk orchid embroidered over the heart. Kessia figured this was a reference to the name of the hotel, “The Silk Orchid.” In front of the desk stood a woman with her hands on her hips.

In what Kessia believed to be a German accent, the woman said, “I’ve told you just about five times now to stop putting orchids in my room! There is a do-not-disturb sign on the door,” she exclaimed with exasperation. Kessia paused in her step. She had never seen this woman in her life, and yet, something about her words seemed familiar—as if she had heard the exact sentiment in a dream. She squinted her eyes briefly, trying to recall how she might know the lady, but all that she could muster was a vague sense that this had happened before.

The receptionist, a slender Thai woman with perfect skin, replied, “M’am, nobody is putting orchids in your room; we don’t do that here. I can assure you didn’t see them when you first arrived.” The German woman, who looked to be in her mid forties looked just about ready to explode. There was an icy glare in her piercing blue eyes, and her knuckles were white on her clenched fists.

“You said the same thing word for word yesterday! What is wrong with you people?” The lady then stormed off toward the buffet. Kessia averted her gaze as the woman passed by, continuing her walk to the restroom.

As she washed her hands, Kessia contemplated what the woman had said. She didn’t mind the orchids, in fact, she thought they were a nice addition to the room. She couldn’t understand what that lady had been complaining about. Kessia glanced up at the mirror and jolted with a start. She thought that she had seen herself look up in the mirror after she had already lifted her head. Her breath caught in her throat as she swallowed a lump. Surely she was imagining it. She moved her head to the side, carefully observing her reflection. No—just a split second too late. She shook off the thought; perhaps she was just jet lagged.

“You alright, love?” Cory asked as she sauntered back into the breakfast room. Kessia nodded, though she felt the unease creeping up her back. As she sat down, her eyes stopped on a staff member by the golden Buddha. Her eyes had a strange fog behind them, her lips slightly parted in a blank expression. Kessia wrinkled her brow, puzzled at this odd behavior. But when she blinked, the staff member was back at her work, wiping down a nearby table. Perhaps it was because she had never traveled out of the country, or perhaps she was just plain tired, but Kessia could have sworn that something in this hotel was—off. When she looked back at Cory, he was scrolling through his phone.

“Since you’re desperately trying to get me to be adventurous, why don’t we do something today?” He proposed.

Kessia’s face brightened. “Sure! What were you thinking? Maybe we could go walking in the town,” she suggested.

“I was thinking something a bit more relaxed, like a boat tour. It’s too hot for walking,” Cory replied.

“Alright, I’ll ask the receptionist what she recommends.” Kessia stood up again from her seat, making her way back to the same place she’d come from.

Sitting at a corner table, the German lady from before stirred her coffee robotically. She stared down at it with an intense gaze, as if her future itself lay in that cup. That same stare—the one she had observed from the hotel staff—slightly parted lips, empty eyes, but when she blinked, the woman stared directly at her. Great. She had been imagining things again, and now she looked like a creep staring at this woman. She gave a quick smile to the lady to ensure that she didn’t look menacing; it was not returned. Kessia continued on her way, stopping in front of the reception desk.

“Hello,” she said. “My husband and I were wondering if you have any recommendations for things to do around here. A boat tour perhaps? If not, any good places to visit in the town?”

The lady’s lips curled in an amused smile. “Oh honey, there’s no need. We have everything here. Do you want a massage? A snorkeling lesson in our private lagoon perhaps? Or would you prefer a cooking class from our world-renowned chef? Or maybe you would like something more peaceful in our meditative garden. It’s known for being quite enlightening.” Her words made Kessia’s skin prickle. She stood there speechless for a moment, glancing around the room nervously. She didn’t like being put on the spot. Surely there was a boat tour available? But why even consider that when they really did have everything you could ever need? She hesitated a moment, fiddling with a hangnail on her finger.

“The lagoon, I guess…” she muttered.

The receptionist’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful! I can tell you’ll love it. And by the way, you appreciate them.”

“Sorry?” Kessia mumbled.

“The orchids. Not many guests relish in their beauty like you do. We notice,” said the lady. Kessia went pale, desperately trying to push away the thought that the only orchid she had ever admired was in the privacy of her room. There must have been one in the lobby—yes. There it was. A thriving, white orchid behind the desk. Surely she had been looking at it without taking notice. The receptionist smiled ominously.

Kessia cleared her throat. “Great, I’ll be there in just a moment.” She then scurried away, determined not to look back at the smiling receptionist, but before she could make it far, “Have a good time, Kessia.” Kessia froze. How had she known her name? She didn't recall this being the check-in lady, but she must have been mistaken. Suddenly, something very strange occurred. Instead of the hallway leading to the breakfast room in front of her, Kessia was faced with a bright blue artificial lagoon.

“Ready, honey?” Cory said from beside her.

“What? What just happened?!” Kessia exclaimed incredulously. She looked around, panic-stricken. The world spinned before her and it felt like every gaze was pointed directly at her face. She put a hand to her heart, desperately trying to calm her throbbing heartbeat.

“Kessia, what’s wrong?” Cory inquired, resting a hand on her shoulder.

“I was just–we were just…what’s going on? We were just at breakfast…” Kessia mumbled meekly.

“Yes…and then we came here, love. Are you alright?”

“I don’t know. It’s like time skipped,” she muttered.

Cory’s brow wrinkled. “Maybe we should go back to the room,” he said. “You should take a nap; you must be exhausted.”

Kessia stared at him with a burning frustration. “I’m not crazy! I was standing right in the lobby, when all of sudden, I was here!”

“I know you’re not crazy, sweetie, I just think you need some sleep,” Cory insisted. Kessia looked down into the water where vibrant corals formed hideaways for multicolored fish. They swam like little gems in an ocean of liquid diamond. She admired them, grounding herself in the beauty. She knew she was right; something had happened, but she didn’t want to argue with her husband on their honeymoon.

“Fine. I’ll go back; you can stay,” she said dejectedly, stumbling her way back inside as she struggled to gain her footing on this unfamiliar ground. A pounding headache pulsed against her skull; she put a hand to her temple, wincing at the splitting pain. When she looked up, she found stares pressing in on her—vacant stares; lifeless eyes, slightly parted lips. It was that same look. Kessia gasped, averting her eyes and storming through the doors with her head down. As she pushed past a hotel attendant with a tray of hot towels, she inhaled sharply, despairingly trying to catch her breath. She stole a glance up, finding herself faced with sparsely dispersed guests, all with unsettling smiles plastered on their faces as they sipped fancy drinks and laughed with their families and friends. Maybe she was paranoid, or maybe something here was seriously wrong. Yes, something was wrong; she could deny it no longer. She started to run, past the front desk, down the hall, and into the elevator corridor. She frantically pressed the button repeatedly, until a ding rang out, echoing in her ears. It resonated in her ear drum, prompting a high pitched ringing that caused her to slap her hands over her ears. Kessia clenched her teeth together in discomfort, when just then, everything went silent.

All around her was darkness, but as her eyes adjusted, and her hands felt her surroundings, she came to realize that she was in a bed—a bed in her hotel room. Cory slept soundly beside her, letting out an occasional snore. The ringing had stopped, and all that resounded besides Cory’s restful noises, was the gentle sound of swaying palms. Kessia didn’t know what to say or what to do. Had she dreamt it? But where had the time gone? Surely she couldn’t have dreamt breakfast. Maybe she had never even woken up that morning at all. Yes, that must have been it, because none of this was possible. Skipping time? What a joke. But something was still off. There was a presence—someone, or something, was staring at her. Kessia’s eyes darted around the room until they landed on something to her left, on the bedside table. An orchid—its flowers all pointed directly at her. This plant was not there before. In fact, Kessia noticed something particularly disturbing. Nestled in between the petals, was an iridescent green beetle.

“No,” she whispered. It wasn’t possible. She couldn’t have dreamt it, because how would she have known about the beetle that she had only discovered this morning? And more importantly, how was it here now? Kessia sprang out of bed, tiptoeing towards the door. She needed to get out of here—if only just momentarily. Fresh air was desperately needed, and not just from the porch where the orchid had previously sat. She needed confirmation that there was indeed a world outside the hotel, because oddly, she was starting to feel like the hotel was a world of itself. She opened the door, careful not to let it creak, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway. There it was—an exit sign at the end of the hall. Kessia practically ran towards it, and as she did, it felt as if the walls were closing in on her. The air, rich with the scent of orchids was suffocating, making Kessia lightheaded. She gasped for breath, her face turning pale, still hastily making her way down the hall. It seemed as if the hall was getting longer and longer the more she walked down it; she started to get frustrated, grunting with labored breath. But finally, she reached the door, pushing it open with all her might. The door was heavy, as if whoever made it had crafted it with the specific goal in mind to not let anybody out. Kessia stared in disbelief through the doorframe. There was not the outside, nor a stairwell, nor anything else indicating the exit. Instead, there was another long hallway with the exact same exit sign at the very end. Kessia made a sort of groaning sigh, hardly able to reconcile what she was seeing. How could this be? Behind the next exit, was it really the outside, or just another hallway? She sprinted full speed down the next hall, determined to reach the real exit. But when she shoved open the door at the end, what awaited her made her freeze in shock. Yet another hallway—identical in every way. An orchid rested on a bureau by the elevator corridor; it stared directly at her, its center piercing her soul. Kessia cried out, overwhelmed by this labyrinth of a hotel. She rushed toward the elevator, pressing the button over and over as she had done before. When it opened, she pressed the button that would bring her down to the lobby. She had come in that door; she knew it led to the outside. But when the doors opened and the lobby came into view, Kessia was met with a strange sight. The lobby was—lively. Guests bustled around, followed by eager attendants. They chatted, laughing by the front desk, some sat in chairs sipping cocktails, and others had bathing suits on, heading toward the hallway where the indoor pool was located. Kessia was startled. She hadn’t been to many hotels, but she guessed it wasn’t normal for guests to be out and about like this at—she checked her watch—3:35 am. Beside her sat a young woman with flowing, raven hair. She had fair skin and rosy cheeks. Kessia was just about to ignore her and continue on toward the door, when she had an idea. Surely she wasn’t the only one noticing something strange about this hotel.

“Hey,” she said. “I’m Kessia; nice to meet you.”

The girl looked up, evidently a bit startled. “Anya,” she replied, holding out her hand. Kessia shook it gratefully.

“This is gonna sound kind of weird, but have you noticed anything…off about the hotel?” She asked, deciding to be direct rather than scoot around the question. Anya’s eyes lit up with recognition.

“Yes! I’ve been thinking that the whole time. What is it with everyone up so late at night? I could hardly sleep, so I came down to get some tea, and here they all were,” Anya said in an elegant Russian accent.

Kessia sighed in relief. Thank goodness she wasn’t the only one; her husband had made her think she was alone in her thoughts. “And the orchids? Have you noticed how they keep appearing, and they always seem to be looking at you? I used to think I was just paranoid, but I refuse to believe that now,” she said indignantly, glaring at a nearby orchid plant that looked at her in mocking.

Anya’s demeanor instantly lifted. She shifted her body toward Kessia, a mug of tea cupped between her hands. “Don’t even get me started on the staff. They’re like robots—no original speech patterns or movements.” Just then, a couple passed by the two women. They laughed, wrapped up in towels. Their giggles sounded forced, as if they were acting in a movie. Kessia stared at them intensely, and suddenly, they stopped.

“Hello,” the woman said plainly. Kessia blinked, surprised by the interaction.

“Umm…hello? Can I help you?” She asked.

“Oh, no sweetie, it’s just, you’re standing in front of the elevator,” she responded.

“Oh!” exclaimed Kessia. “I’m sorry.” She stepped aside, moving in front of Anya.

“I bet Anchali is done cleaning our room now,” said the woman to the man she was with.

“Just lovely, isn’t she? I’ll probably hop in the shower then take my nightly swim in the lagoon,” he replied. Kessia listened intently to their conversation. They spoke as if they had known the housekeeper for years.

“Excuse me,” she said to the couple, “how long have you been here?”

“We got here Thursday morning!” Chimed the woman. Kessia was taken aback.

“Thursday as in…yesterday?” She inquired.

“I suppose so,” the man piped up. The elevator dinged and the two entered it, the doors shutting gently behind them. Kessia looked to Anya to see if she was thinking the same thing. “Nightly swim in the lagoon?” They had only been here a day. Anya looked at her with the same perplexed look.

“They speak as if they live in this place, yet they’ve been here a single day,” Anya said. Kessia nodded.

“Something here is seriously wrong, and I want to figure it out,” she said. Anya smiled at her with intrigue.

“And I want to help you.”

“Really?” Kessia grinned.

“I came to Thailand to find my purpose. And now I feel that I have an obligation to solve this mystery with you. It was our destiny to meet,” she replied.

All of a sudden, a hotel staff approached them. “Would you like some tea?” She asked. She appeared to be looking at both women, prompting Kessia to look into Anya’s mug. It was empty. How the staff lady had known, she couldn’t say, but after this wild day, Kessia thought tea sounded nice.

“Sure,” she said. Anya nodded as well, handing her empty cup to the lady. Practically as soon as the lady disappeared behind the wall, she returned with two mugs of tea. Kessia was astonished at the speed, but assumed that it must have been premade. The two women thanked the lady and sipped their tea. It was strong, with an almost overwhelming herbal scent. There was something strange about it too—something familiar. Orchids, that’s what it was. A wave of unease rolled across Kessia’s body, but she tried her best to ignore the scent as she slowly consumed the tea. As she drank, she felt irrefusable compulsions to keep drinking. She stole a glance at Anya from the corner of her eye. Both women were chugging the tea, unable to stop. When the mug was finished, Kessia felt a hazy feeling come over her. She wobbled on her feet, struggling to maintain her balance. She moved back to her original place, planting a hand on the door of the elevator. Before she could stop it, darkness clouded her vision, and everything in her view went black.