Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Robbia. I am very excited to announce
Speaker 1: that I have a brand new podcast out today called
Speaker 1: ninty Night, Bedtime Stories to Keep You awake. Ninety Night
Speaker 1: is an anthology featuring both adaptations of classic horror stories
Speaker 1: that you might have never heard of and fictionalize true
Speaker 1: life stories that are so frightening that you will start
Speaker 1: to think that reality is scarier than fiction. And also
Speaker 1: we've got some amazing originals in there. Now. Look, As
Speaker 1: an attorney, it's my job to investigate and find the truth.
Speaker 1: But as the host of ninety Night, it will be
Speaker 1: my job to make you question which monsters are real
Speaker 1: and which ones are just in your head. So join
Speaker 1: me as I tuck you into bed with stories that
Speaker 1: will leave you sleepless all night long. Now I'm about
Speaker 1: to play you a preview of episode one, but first
Speaker 1: make sure you subscribe to Cast Media's new podcast ninety
Speaker 1: Night wherever you get your podcasts, and please leave us
Speaker 1: a rating and review ninty Night. Everyone, good evening and
Speaker 1: welcome tonight E Night with Robbia Chaudhry. I'm DJ Luebell,
Speaker 1: the show's producer. Tonight's tale is about a family that
Speaker 1: seems to forget one of the most important rules when
Speaker 1: going on vacation when in Rome, do as the Romans do,
Speaker 1: or at least always listen to their warnings. Please enjoy
Speaker 1: the children taken. Once upon a time there was a
Speaker 1: family of travelers that didn't heed the advice of locals.
Speaker 1: Their vacation began, as many vacations do, with absolutely nothing
Speaker 1: going according to plan. Sarah and Tom had planned the
Speaker 1: trip months ago, finding a week with their schedules aligned
Speaker 1: and they could slip away together, leaving the kids behind,
Speaker 1: even if just for a few days. It was no
Speaker 1: easy task. They're lives were a hectic, constant swirl of work,
Speaker 1: school events, after school activities, soccer and tennis, camp and
Speaker 1: piano lessons for the kids. They could barely come up
Speaker 1: for air, and lately had been feeling like strangers to
Speaker 1: each other. So spending an intimate few days in a
Speaker 1: luxury hotel in the mountains was what they needed to
Speaker 1: recharge and reconnect, But their bags were already packed. When
Speaker 1: it all fell apart. A stomach ache had morphed into
Speaker 1: full blown appendicitis, and just like that the world's most
Speaker 1: trustworthy babysitter Tom's sister, No less couldn't make it. Jeremy
Speaker 1: was only eight and Stephanie had just turned ten, not
Speaker 1: nearly old enough to leave alone, and finding someone they
Speaker 1: trusted that could keep the kids for a week at
Speaker 1: the last minute wasn't possible. They're only options were to
Speaker 1: cancel the trip and lose the deposit, or just bring
Speaker 1: the kids along. Forget it, said Tom. The whole point
Speaker 1: of the trip was to get time together alone. Sarah agreed.
Speaker 1: She desperate needed a break. Her kids were her life,
Speaker 1: but she just didn't want them on this trip. Ultimately,
Speaker 1: they decided it wasn't ideal, but they would have to
Speaker 1: make it work, and they'd have to plan their own
Speaker 1: getaway another time. The next morning, they loaded the kids
Speaker 1: into the car and headed out. As they drove further
Speaker 1: and further away from the city, Tom and Sarah felt
Speaker 1: more and more relaxed. Large buildings slowly gave way to
Speaker 1: groups of huddled homes, Stores and parks melted into fields
Speaker 1: and trees. The kids buzzed with excitement, and Sarah began
Speaker 1: to think that while this trip wasn't what was planned,
Speaker 1: it was turning out okay. She hummed a song, stared
Speaker 1: out the window at the changing landscape and smiled to herself.
Speaker 1: Sometimes things not going according to plan, it's actually what
Speaker 1: everyone needs. As the miles ticked by, the excited hum
Speaker 1: in the back seat slowed down and then stopped altogether.
Speaker 1: Soon it was replaced with the board frustration known to
Speaker 1: all parents, one that made it clear to Tom and
Speaker 1: Sarah that they were not going to be making it
Speaker 1: to the hotel without finding a place to stop first.
Speaker 1: As the bursts of conversation from the kids turned shorter
Speaker 1: and snippier, Tom began scanning for a place they could
Speaker 1: stop to stretch their legs. While the children mostly got
Speaker 1: along being stuck in the backseat of a car for
Speaker 1: hours on and was testing their friendship, they were lucky.
Speaker 1: Sarah knew plenty of siblings didn't get along at all,
Speaker 1: but these two were usually thick as thieves. Right now though,
Speaker 1: they were just getting on each other's last nerve. Just then,
Speaker 1: as they began ascending the valley towards the mountains, the
Speaker 1: Green Orchard Gas and convenience store came into view, promising gas,
Speaker 1: snacks and bathrooms. Tom pulled off the empty two lane
Speaker 1: road up to the little store you can each pick
Speaker 1: out one snack, Sarah shouted as Jeremy and stuff sprinted
Speaker 1: to the store. She smiled at Tom and reached out
Speaker 1: for his hand. She took a few deep breaths of
Speaker 1: the fresh country air, which was sweeter and cleaner than
Speaker 1: anything that exist stood back in the city, and then
Speaker 1: they followed their kids inside. The store was small but clean,
Speaker 1: and Sarah watched as Jeremy and staff wandered up and
Speaker 1: down the aisles, examining the chips and cookies and candy.
Speaker 1: An elderly man complained about the price of gas to
Speaker 1: the friendly looking woman standing behind the counter, and she
Speaker 1: smiled and nodded, agreeing with him. The bathrooms were immaculate
Speaker 1: and empty, and the coffee was fresh and hot and short.
Speaker 1: It was exactly the kind of spot you hope to
Speaker 1: stop at when you're traveling. Sarah navigated a small selection
Speaker 1: of books, choosing a thriller to read by the pool,
Speaker 1: and then collected the snacks that the kids had picked out.
Speaker 1: By the time she got to the checkout. As Tom
Speaker 1: herded the kids back to the car, Sarah had an
Speaker 1: entire armful of goodies to pay for. She fished around
Speaker 1: in her purse with one hand to find her wallet
Speaker 1: and noticed a picture of a young girl with dark
Speaker 1: hair taped to the front of the cash register. Sarah
Speaker 1: smiled at the photograph. Must be the cashier's daughter, she thought.
Speaker 1: So nice to a young families in here, said the
Speaker 1: woman behind the counter, nodding towards the older man who
Speaker 1: had been so cranky about the cost of gas earlier,
Speaker 1: and who was still in the corner of the store
Speaker 1: comparing prices on bottles of water. What brings you to
Speaker 1: the area, visiting or passing through? We're here for vacation,
Speaker 1: Sarah smiled. We're staying at the Grand Mountain Hotel. Do
Speaker 1: you know it? The woman nodded with a grin. Oh,
Speaker 1: you'll love it. It's a wonderful spot to stay. But
Speaker 1: you know, just one piece of advice so you don't
Speaker 1: get lost. I think you're staying at the Grand Mountain Resort,
Speaker 1: not the Grand Mountain Hotel, because the hotel is actually
Speaker 1: an older building all the way up on the top
Speaker 1: of the mountain. Sarah furrowed her brow as the woman continued,
Speaker 1: See they're both owned by the same company, and they
Speaker 1: really should change the name to avoid confusion. But but
Speaker 1: just in case, you get turned around in new directions,
Speaker 1: you'll want to make sure you're asking for the right one,
Speaker 1: you know, otherwise you're liable to end up at a
Speaker 1: place that you don't want to be. Sarah's face stayed confused,
Speaker 1: and the woman continued, your kids, actually, see, that's that's
Speaker 1: how I knew families stay at the resort. The hotel
Speaker 1: is adults only. Sarah shook her head. Well, we we
Speaker 1: didn't think we were bringing the kids when we booked,
Speaker 1: but actually we're staying at the hotel and not the resort.
Speaker 1: The woman's eyes turned hard in an instant. You'll want
Speaker 1: to change then tell them about the kids when you
Speaker 1: get there, because you know, an old building like that,
Speaker 1: it's no place for kids. It just wouldn't be safe.
Speaker 1: Sarah blinked at the lady and responded, Uh, well, thanks,
Speaker 1: but I'm sure it'll be fine. The hotel looks great.
Speaker 1: The woman moved quickly and grabbed Sarah's wrist hard. Tell
Speaker 1: them at the desk when you arrive that you decided
Speaker 1: to bring the kids, and ask them if they'll switch
Speaker 1: you to the resort. I'm telling you that building is
Speaker 1: not safe for kids to be wandering around in there've
Speaker 1: been they're in accidents, and then they're very accommodating with
Speaker 1: these things. Sarah pulled her wrist firmly away, and the
Speaker 1: woman released her grip. She smiled as she went back
Speaker 1: to bagging the items of the counter. I just want
Speaker 1: to make sure you enjoy your time in the area
Speaker 1: as all. I mean, you know, tourism is a big
Speaker 1: deal for us. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip. Uh. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I'm sure we will too, Sarah mumbled. She got back
Speaker 1: to the car quickly, her face read. Tom could see
Speaker 1: if something was wrong. She told him what the woman
Speaker 1: had said, how she grabbed her wrist and insisted that
Speaker 1: the hotel wasn't safe. Yeah. Well, look, I'm not changing
Speaker 1: our plans because some crazy woman doesn't think kids belong
Speaker 1: in a nice hotel. They'll be fine. What kind of
Speaker 1: trouble could they get into with us there? We're not
Speaker 1: changing where we're staying. Sarah felt embarrassed about taking the
Speaker 1: woman even a little bit seriously, but Tom was probably right.
Speaker 1: The woman did seem a bit crazy. Why would they
Speaker 1: change their entire plans because a stranger told them to, Plus,
Speaker 1: she was lying the hotel wasn't adults, Only it didn't
Speaker 1: say anything like that on the website. Tom pulled the
Speaker 1: car out of the parking lot and onto the road
Speaker 1: that climbed uphill towards the hotel. Sarah returned to staring
Speaker 1: at the window, feeling her alarm grow duller as they
Speaker 1: ascended the slope of the mountain. She watched as they
Speaker 1: passed the turn off to the sort, and a little
Speaker 1: voice inside her told her to follow the sign. She
Speaker 1: ignored the voice, though, and she said nothing to Tom.
Speaker 1: The Grand Mountain Hotel loomed at the summit of the mountain,
Speaker 1: a behemoth of sandstone, gothic and intimidating that perched above
Speaker 1: the valley below. They pulled into the mass of circular
Speaker 1: driveway and stopped in front of the pillars that framed
Speaker 1: the entrance. The bellhop that had come running with a
Speaker 1: luggage cart stared at the children while Tom began unloading
Speaker 1: the car and Sarah entered the massive carved doors to
Speaker 1: check them in. The lobby was immense and dark, and
Speaker 1: Sarah guided Jeremy and stepped towards the front desk. The
Speaker 1: walls were covered with large tapestries and paintings, framed in gold,
Speaker 1: and a silent grand piano sat in the corner. The
Speaker 1: deep red carpet was almost ominous, and a shutter ran
Speaker 1: through Sarah. The man standing behind the on desk made
Speaker 1: of polished wood that shone under the lights, smiled politely
Speaker 1: but coldly at her. He wore a name tag that
Speaker 1: identified him as Edgar the manager. Ma'am. He said to her,
Speaker 1: you missed the turn off for the resort halfway up
Speaker 1: the mountain. Sarah set her jaw no, we're staying here.
Speaker 1: You'll find the reservations under the name Frasier. He took
Speaker 1: his eyes off of her to look at a computer
Speaker 1: screen and then met her gaze again. Mrs Fraser, my apologies,
Speaker 1: but you told us when you booked that it would
Speaker 1: just be you and your husband on this visit. Otherwise
Speaker 1: we would have directed you to the resort. It's much
Speaker 1: more family friendly. We can change your booking without any fee,
Speaker 1: and you'll find the resort's much more comfortable and enjoyable
Speaker 1: for your children. Well, Sarah replied, exasperated. We didn't know
Speaker 1: we'd be bringing the children we booked, but this will
Speaker 1: be fine. We don't need to change and we're looking
Speaker 1: forward to staying here. Edgar frowned. Children are not allowed
Speaker 1: in the dining rooms here. He replied, well, we like
Speaker 1: room service anyway. This now seemed to be a challenge,
Speaker 1: and Sarah was not backing down. Look, I checked the
Speaker 1: website and there were no age restrictions for staying on
Speaker 1: the property, and the suite that we booked accommodates for people.
Speaker 1: So I don't understand what the issue is. Tom arrived
Speaker 1: and now stood by Sarah's side, joining the standoff. Is
Speaker 1: there a problem, he inquired. Edgar smiled politely, not at all,
Speaker 1: Mr Fraser. I was just explaining to your wife that
Speaker 1: you would all be much more comfortable at the resort.
Speaker 1: We have pretty strict rules here, like children are not
Speaker 1: allowed the dining rooms, they can't be in the hotel
Speaker 1: common spaces or elevators alone. It's really quite a hasshole.
Speaker 1: The resort has lots of activities in areas for children,
Speaker 1: and there'll be other children there as well. Tom shook
Speaker 1: his head. We'll be fine and are happy to follow
Speaker 1: any rules you have here. We're not interested in changing
Speaker 1: our plans, though Edgar nodded, slowly, fixing his eyes on Sarah.
Speaker 1: Please do pay very close attention to your children. Again.
Speaker 1: We'd be happy to change you to a family suite
Speaker 1: at the resort if you change your mind. I think
Speaker 1: you'd enjoy it a lot more. However, I will fetch
Speaker 1: your keys. Edgar turned and walked away. Jeremy looked at
Speaker 1: his parents with concern. Are we going to get thrown out?
Speaker 1: Tom ruffled his son's hair and smiled, not at all, buddy,
Speaker 1: don't worry about it. He leaned over to Sarah and
Speaker 1: whispered in her ear. Wait till I review this place online.
Speaker 1: Edgar returned a moment later. You'll be on the thirteenth floor.
Speaker 1: Please remember once again, the children are not allowed to
Speaker 1: be unsupervised in the hotel at anytime, and cannot be
Speaker 1: alone in the elevators. He slid the plastic hard keys
Speaker 1: across the counter and nodding towards the children. We're very
Speaker 1: strict on our rules here, but they are for their safety.
Speaker 1: Tom collected the keys and shook his head at Edgar,
Speaker 1: and the family walked towards the elevator bank. Jeremy rushed
Speaker 1: ahead so he could beat his sister at pressing the
Speaker 1: call button, and the four of them entered the musty
Speaker 1: smelling elevator mirrored on all four sides, the floor covered
Speaker 1: in the same dark red carpet as the lobby. Tom
Speaker 1: glanced at the buttons and hit the number thirteen. The
Speaker 1: elevator groaned, hesitating for a second while the lights flickered,
Speaker 1: then the car began to climb. Tom smiled. Mystery solved.
Speaker 1: They're worried about our kids getting stuck in this whole thing.
Speaker 1: Imagine that lawsuit. Sarah laughed in agreement at the absurdity
Speaker 1: of the realization. Yeah, mystery solved. Their suite was cavernous,
Speaker 1: an enormous amount of space with panoramic views of the
Speaker 1: surrounding hills. They unpacked and ordered room service and put
Speaker 1: on a movie, but Sarah kept turning to look at
Speaker 1: the breathtaking view beyond the window. She was glad they
Speaker 1: hadn't switched to the resort. Nothing they could offer would
Speaker 1: make up for these views. The next couple of days
Speaker 1: passed well, with hikes on local trails and hours by
Speaker 1: the pool. In the backdrop, though, was Edgar, who turned
Speaker 1: up at all hours of the day, it seemed, glaring
Speaker 1: at the children. He seemed intent on catching them misbehaving.
Speaker 1: He never managed to. They watched movies together in the
Speaker 1: evenings and ate piles of candy from the hotel gift shop.
Speaker 1: Sarah made sure the kids weren't left unsupervised anywhere. She
Speaker 1: admitted to herself that she was just a little bit
Speaker 1: afraid of Edgar and didn't want to give him any
Speaker 1: excuse to kick them out. Things were going great, and
Speaker 1: she wanted to keep it that way. One morning, a
Speaker 1: few days into the vacation, the family had just arrived
Speaker 1: at the pool when Jeremy announced that he had forgotten
Speaker 1: his book back in the room. Tom and Sarah were
Speaker 1: both half covered in sunscreen and told him to wait
Speaker 1: so one of them could go back inside with him.
Speaker 1: Jeremy bounced around and moaned, it's okay, I can go.
Speaker 1: I'll be fast. I promise, I won't even use the elevator.
Speaker 1: I'll just go up the stairs. Come on, it's not
Speaker 1: a big deal. I'm not a baby. Sarah looked around.
Speaker 1: They were alone at the pool, and Edgar was nowhere
Speaker 1: in sight. She sighed, okay, just don't go to the lobby,
Speaker 1: don't use the elevator, and be quick. She handed him
Speaker 1: a key and watched as he took off disappearing into
Speaker 1: the bill ding. Only a few minutes had passed when
Speaker 1: Jeremy returned with Edgar, whose glare was unrelenting. I reminded
Speaker 1: you multiple times with the rules, but I just found
Speaker 1: your child wandering the hotel by himself. Come on, now,
Speaker 1: he wasn't wandering. Tom responded, he was just running up
Speaker 1: to our room. He wasn't going to use the elevator.
Speaker 1: We just forgot the book he's reading. Edgar's eyes narrowed
Speaker 1: and his words became a hiss, each one enunciated carefully.
Speaker 1: You have no way of knowing he wouldn't use it
Speaker 1: since you weren't there. Sarah tried to defuse the situation
Speaker 1: before it spiraled. I'm so very sorry, Edgar. I was
Speaker 1: a mistake. I promise we won't make it again. Edgar
Speaker 1: turned to look at her see that it doesn't. If
Speaker 1: there's another incident, I'm afraid you'll have to leave. Safety
Speaker 1: is one thing I cannot make exceptions on. With that,
Speaker 1: he turned and walked into the hotel. Tom met Sarah's
Speaker 1: gaze and rolled his eyes. That guy must be fun
Speaker 1: at parties. The rest of the day passed as the
Speaker 1: others had swimming and lounging in the sun. Early in
Speaker 1: the afternoon, they decided it was time to head back up,
Speaker 1: take showers, and order some lunch. They entered the old elevator,
Speaker 1: the blood red carpet reflecting all around them. As they
Speaker 1: rode up, slowly, passing floor after floor, Sarah heard a
Speaker 1: sound that seemed to swell up from the elevator shaft.
Speaker 1: It sounded faintly like a child crying. She squinted, trying
Speaker 1: to listen closer. M