Motel 949

April 2010

By Ingrid G

 
Mary finally decided to take a few days to go to see her mother. After driving several hundred miles, she found a place to sleep for the night. She pulled up in front of a motel and even though she had a bad feeling about the motel, she was too tired to drive any further. The sign in front of the motel read Highway  9 - 9.  She thought it was rather odd since the highway near the motel was Highway 949. A large billboard stood to the left of the motel sign.  It read "Welcome to". The rest of the sign was ripped off. There were four beer bottles standing outside room 14.  Maybe there had been a party the night before.She hoped that it would be quiet tonight. At the front desk, the clerk gave her the key to room  #12. She quickly made her way to the room and got ready for bed. As she laid down, she couldn't shake the bad feeling. Her skin crawled and sweat poured down her forehead.  Orange flickering lights like slender long fingers reach through the window, across the room and lit up the far side of the wall. A haze similar to the haze that comes off the black pavement in the mid-summer’s heat filled the room.  It quickly turned into a warm thick fog.  She sat up and saw flames whipping around her. Mary tried to scream but no sound came out. The heat and pressure of the fire were on her chest, yet her face was cool.  She pushed everything off herself and heard a howling sound like someone in pain. Was it her own voice?  She sat up, suddenly awakening. The trip, the motel, and the fire, just a horrible dream. It seemed so real. Her Irish Setter, Charlie, had been laying over her and his howling had woken her up when she pushed him off.  She got up from the couch, looked around, and now recalled that she had laid down after work. Checking her watch, it was now after 9 p.m. She feed Charlie, made herself something to eat, and took him for a long walk, still thinking about the dream.  It felt so real. She never dreamed and when she did, she would never remember them. But something about this dream left her with an eerie feeling. It was almost 11 pm when she got back from her walk. The dream lingered and the sense of danger persisted. She felt the need to talk to someone, so she picked up the phone and called her best friend Sarah.
Sarah always knew the right thing to say. Friends since grade one, they finished each others sentences, had the same tastes in clothes, food and men. Just thinking about Sarah made her feel better she wouldn’t mind the late call.
"Hello"
"Hi Sarah, it's Mary. I hope I'm not waking you up."
"No, I'm so glad you called Mary. I wanted to phone you and let you know what was happening but it's been so crazy so I thought I'd call once I stopped.  My mother is very sick and I decided to go to Toronto to see her.  I left in such a hurry that I didn't get a chance to let you know. Everything went so well that by the time I remember to call you, I thought it was too late,
so I didn't want to wake you.”
“I thought I was waking you up. What’s this about your Mom?” Mary asked.
“My brother called to tell me that Mom was diagnosed with cancer. It’s not good.”
“I’m so sorry Sarah.”
"I'm going to stay overnight at a motel and get a fresh start in the morning."
“Motel, fresh start in the morning? What are you talking about?”
“Well I couldn’t get a flight to Toronto, so I’m driving. I’m looking for a motel so I can get a little sleep and get an early
start in the morning.”
“What’s the name of the motel?”
“Don’t know.  I haven’t got to it yet.  I just passed a sign that said there is one ahead. What’s up?”
“What highway are you on?”
“Highway something. Highway 49 I think. Mary what’s up? You sound upset.”
“Are you sure it’s Highway 49?”
“Mary, it’s almost midnight, I’m not sure of anything. Just a second…I see a highway sign. Highway 949. Mary what’s going on?”
"Sarah, I just had a bad dream about a motel off off highway 949."
"Mary that’s crazy!" Sarah let out a little chuckle.
"Sarah, I'm serious. The motel was off Highway 949!"
"I see the motel and it’s right on highway 949. It’s not off of the highway at all.
"Is the motel name Highway 99?"
"No, Mary, it's Motel 949.  See again it's different."
“Sarah I know this sounds crazy but...”
“Very crazy. Have you been drinking Mary?”
“You know I don’t drink!”
“I know but you also don’t normally act hysterical either.”
“Sarah I’m serious!”
“Mary this is crazy talk. I’m tired, it’s been a long day and I’ll call you in the morning.”
“No wait. Are there four beer bottles in front of room 14?"
Sarah paused and looked around. "No of course not!"
"Is there a billboard that says 'Welcome to' and the rest of the sign is torn or missing?"
"Yes there is a billboard but it's dark and I can't see
anything on the sign.  It's late and I'm tired.  I need to get some sleep. I’ll call you in the morning, Mary."
"You can't sleep in that motel.  There's going to be a fire there
tonight.  I know it. Please promise me you won't sleep there, please!"
"Mary please stop this. Nothing will happen.  I will call you in the morning."
"But Sarah!"
"Goodnight Mary."
As Sarah ended the call, a car pulled up beside her and a teen-aged driver got out. The driver went to the front desk and shortly after came out with a room key. Sarah watched as the driver waved the key at her friends and they all piled out of the car. The driver headed to room 14, opened the door and went inside. As her friends reached the door one by one each put a bottle outside the door.  Sarah counted 1 -- 2 -- 3 – 4, four bottles in front of room 14 just as Mary had stated. The wind had picked up and Sarah could feel the car shake with the wind.  A huge gust of wind caused the lights to flicker.  Sarah got out of the car and went into the motel to registered. The lady at the front desk handed her room key 12. Heading to her car, she heard a popping noise. The motel sign now read Motel 9 -9. The # 4 had burned out.  Sarah grabbed her luggage and headed to her room. Early the next morning Sarah phoned Mary.
"Oh, Sarah!” Mary sounded relieved.  “I'm so glad you're okay.  I was so worried about you all night. I'm so sorry
about scaring you but my dream seemed so real."
"Mary, because of you I didn’t get any sleep!"
"I feel so bad. I shouldn’t have called you. You were right, I was kind of crazy last night.”
“I couldn’t sleep so I drove all night listening to CBC
radio and thinking about what you said.”
“I don’t know what to say, but I’m so sorry.”
“Mary” Sarah paused,
 “Motel 949 burned down last night. I just heard it on the news. Everyone perished.”