I used to travel a lot for work, and most of the time I stayed in cheap but decent hotels,

because I didn't care about anything except having a bed and a shower. Nothing scary ever happened to me

in any hotel before, so I never thought about danger or weird people. That changed during a trip I

took for a training event in a small city in Pennsylvania. I checked into a regular looking

hotel that had a small lobby with old depressing red carpet and a smell that reminded me of

my grandma's house. The woman at the front desk gave me a room key and I went up to my room on the

third floor. The hallway was very quiet and felt a little empty in a strange way. My room was

pretty normal with a small bed, a desk, and a bathroom. I threw my bag on the bed, turned on the TV, and tried to relax.

I was tired from driving for hours, so after showering and watching TV for a bit, I tried to fall asleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night because I heard something sliding on the floor.

At first I thought it was the ice machine or some noise from the hallway.

I was half asleep and did not want to get up, but then I heard the soft sliding sound again.

And this time it was right by the door.

I turned on the lamp and looked at the door. Something small and

white was sticking out from underneath. I got up slowly and picked it up. It was a folded

piece of paper. There was handwriting inside, very messy and uneven. It was only a few words,

telling me that someone was watching me from somewhere inside the

hotel. My heart started beating harder because I had no idea who could have written that. I didn't

hear any footsteps after the note appeared, and the hallway had been dead silent. I stood in the

middle of my room, feeling unsure if I should open the door or stay inside.

I decided to lock the chain lock and sit on the bed with my back against the wall.

I kept the lamp on so the room would not be so dark.

...