The Sinister

Mary had always loved staying in bed and breakfasts. The quaint charm of a home away from home, the hospitality of the hosts, and the unique character of each establishment made her travels all the more memorable. So, when she stumbled upon a little B&B in the countryside, she knew she had to book a stay.

As she arrived at the house, she was greeted by a warm smile from the owner, Mr. Johnson. He showed her to her room, which was cozy and well-furnished, with a large window overlooking the lush gardens.

The first few days were idyllic. Mary would wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and homemade bread, explore the nearby woods, and come back to a warm cup of tea and a slice of cake. She enjoyed chatting with Mr. Johnson, who was an affable and knowledgeable host, and even struck up a friendship with another guest, a retired professor who was also staying at the B&B.

But then, things started to get strange.

Mary noticed that Mr. Johnson seemed to be watching her every move, even when she was just reading in the garden or taking a walk. She caught him peeking into her room a couple of times, which made her feel uneasy. When she confronted him about it, he just smiled and said he was making sure she was comfortable.

Then, one night, Mary woke up to a strange noise. She got up and went to the window, and saw Mr. Johnson in the garden, digging a hole. She watched as he buried something in the hole, then covered it up and went back inside. Mary was now more than uneasy. She felt like something was off about Mr. Johnson, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The next morning, Mary's new friend, the professor, told her that he had overheard Mr. Johnson talking on the phone in the middle of the night. He couldn't make out everything, but he heard Mr. Johnson say something about "getting rid of her."

Mary started to feel like she was in a Hitchcock movie. Was Mr. Johnson plotting something? Was she in danger?

She decided to investigate. She snooped around Mr. Johnson's office when he was out, and found some strange documents. They were records of the previous guests who had stayed at the B&B, with detailed notes about their habits, preferences, and even medical conditions. Mary was horrified. She felt violated and exposed.

She knew she had to leave, but she didn't want to do it in a way that would tip Mr. Johnson off. She made up a story about a family emergency and packed her bags. She went to say goodbye to Mr. Johnson, and he hugged her tightly, thanking her for her stay.

As she was walking down the driveway, she heard Mr. Johnson mutter something under his breath. She turned around and saw him staring at her with a cold, calculating look. It sent shivers down her spine.

Mary got in her car and drove away as fast as she could. She felt like she had narrowly escaped something terrible, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that she had missed something. What was Mr. Johnson really up to? Why was he so obsessed with his guests?

A few weeks later, Mary read a news article about a man who had been arrested for spying on his guests and selling their personal information to criminals. The man was none other than Mr. Johnson. Mary's heart raced as she read the details of the case. She felt sick to her stomach, knowing that she had been a victim of Mr. Johnson's scheme.

She couldn't help but wonder if there were other B&Bs like Mr. Johnson's, where hosts were spying on their guests and violating their privacy. She made a vow