The Time-Loop Hotel

Jack had been driving for hours, and the sun was starting to set behind the mountains. His GPS led him down a narrow road, far from any town. He was tired, hungry, and needed a place to stay. Just as he began to worry about where he would sleep for the night, he saw a sign: "Evergreen Hotel – 2 Miles Ahead."

Relieved, Jack drove on until he reached the hotel. It was an old building, covered in ivy, with large windows that gave off a warm glow. It looked like it had been around for a long time, but it was inviting. Jack parked his car and grabbed his small suitcase, eager to check-in and rest.

Inside the lobby, the air smelled of wood polish and old leather. The furniture was antique, and the walls were lined with old photographs of guests who had stayed there long ago. A friendly-looking woman stood behind the counter.

"Welcome to the Evergreen Hotel," she said with a smile. "Are you staying the night?"

"Yes, please," Jack replied, returning her smile. "Just one night."

"Of course," she said, pulling out an old-fashioned key. "Room 207. Breakfast is served at 7 a.m. sharp in the dining room."

Jack took the key, noticing how heavy it felt in his hand, and made his way up the grand staircase to his room. Room 207 was cozy, with a large bed, a desk, and a window that looked out into the dense forest behind the hotel. He dropped his suitcase on the floor, kicked off his shoes, and lay down on the bed, exhausted.

He thought about going out to grab dinner but was too tired to move. Instead, he let his eyes close, and within minutes, he was fast asleep.

The sound of the alarm startled Jack awake. His phone read 7:00 a.m., and the sun was shining through the curtains. He groaned, still feeling groggy, but he was glad to have slept through the night.

He got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. The dining room was quiet, with just a few guests scattered around. The same woman from the front desk was there, setting plates on the tables. Jack helped himself to eggs, toast, and coffee, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

But as he was finishing his meal, something strange happened. The room seemed to dim, and Jack felt a sudden chill. He looked around, but no one else seemed to notice. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door to the kitchen swing open. A man walked in—tall, with a long coat and a strange, twisted smile on his face.

The man didn’t say anything, but his presence was unsettling. Jack felt a knot form in his stomach as the man walked toward him. But just as the man was about to reach Jack’s table, everything went black.

Jack woke up with a start, gasping for air. His phone read 7:00 a.m., and the sun was shining through the curtains again. Confused, he sat up in bed. Had it all been a dream? The breakfast, the strange man—everything?

Shaking his head, he got dressed and went downstairs. The dining room looked exactly the same, and the woman at the desk greeted him with the same cheerful smile. He sat down to eat, but as he glanced at his plate, a sense of dread washed over him. Everything felt too familiar.

Then, just as before, the room dimmed. The strange man appeared again, walking toward him, the same eerie smile on his face. Jack’s heart pounded in his chest, but this time, he stood up, trying to leave before the man could reach him. But just as he took a step toward the door, the room went black again.

Jack woke up at 7:00 a.m., in the same bed, in the same room. His heart was racing, and his hands were trembling. Something was very wrong. He quickly threw on his clothes and ran downstairs.

He burst into the lobby, his eyes darting around for someone to explain what was happening. The woman at the front desk was there, smiling as if nothing was wrong. "Good morning!" she greeted him brightly. "Breakfast is ready."

"No, this can’t be happening," Jack muttered under his breath, backing away from her. He rushed toward the front door, determined to leave this place. But when he pulled the door open, he froze.

Outside, everything was foggy. His car was gone, and there was no road, no path—nothing but endless mist. Jack’s heart sank. He turned back to the woman at the desk.

"How do I leave?" he asked, his voice shaky.

"You’ll be fine," she said in that same cheerful tone. "Breakfast is ready."

Jack ran back up to his room, trying to think. He had to find a way out. Maybe if he stayed awake, he wouldn’t have to face the strange man again. He locked the door, then sat on the bed, refusing to close his eyes.

The hours passed slowly. His phone showed it was well past noon, but nothing changed. The room was quiet, too quiet. Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. Jack’s stomach flipped.

"Room service," a voice called from outside.

Jack didn’t respond. The knocking continued, louder this time.

"Room service."

The voice was now deeper, more menacing. Jack backed away from the door, his heart thudding in his chest. He grabbed a chair and placed it under the doorknob, hoping it would hold. The knocking stopped. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, without warning, the door burst open, and the man with the twisted smile stood there.

"No!" Jack screamed, but before he could react, the man stepped toward him, and everything went black again.

Jack woke up, drenched in sweat, his phone displaying 7:00 a.m. once more. His heart sank deeper than before. There was no escape. He was trapped in a never-ending loop.

He tried everything over the next few days. He stayed awake, he tried to confront the man, he even searched the hotel for clues, but no matter what he did, the day always reset at 7:00 a.m., and the man always appeared.

One night, exhausted and hopeless, Jack sat in the dining room, waiting for the man to come. He stared at his coffee, his hands trembling.

"Why are you doing this?" Jack whispered to himself. "What do you want?"

"To keep you," a voice whispered behind him.

Jack turned and saw the man standing there, his eyes glowing with a strange light.

"Why me?" Jack asked, fear and desperation in his voice.

The man smiled, his teeth sharp and gleaming. "Because you came. And now, you’ll never leave."

Jack felt the air around him grow cold as the man reached out, touching his shoulder. Jack tried to pull away, but his body wouldn’t move. The man’s grip tightened, and for the first time, Jack felt something different.

He felt... nothing. The fear was gone. His mind was blank, and the darkness began to swallow him whole.

Jack woke up at 7:00 a.m., but this time, something was different. He felt calm. The sun shone through the curtains, but the dread was gone. Slowly, he got up, dressed, and walked downstairs to the dining room.

The woman at the front desk smiled. "Good morning. Breakfast is ready."

Jack smiled back. "Thank you," he said softly.

He sat at his usual table and sipped his coffee, watching the other guests come and go. He knew now that he was never leaving the Evergreen Hotel. But somehow, that was okay.

Because now, the loop didn’t feel like a prison.

It felt like home.

Disclaimer: This story has been generated by an AI. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is purely coincidental. The content is for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect any real-world situations or entities.