Chapter Text
Oj didn’t mean to do it.
He never wanted to hurt anyone, he was a good man. He was kind, and he would never even think of doing something like this! Especially to one of his friends.
It was just one big mistake,
But now he was a murderer.
And now he would have to live with this for the rest of his life.
…
The sun shined over the large building, the hotel was filled with joyful people chatting away and planning fun activities to do out in the sun now that summer was coming around,
Except for one single person.
This person was the manager of this fine establishment, Oj. While everyone might have time to go out and enjoy the nice hot weather, Oj just didn’t have the time. His mornings were often spent cleaning after and preparing meals for everyone in the hotel, and his nights were spent doing long hours of bills and other mindless paperwork late into early morning, and then the cycle repeats.
But It was nothing, really. Oj knew what he was getting into by owning a hotel, and he was truly happy to help out his fellow contestants in whatever way they needed.
Or at least that’s what he tried to tell himself.
Hours of fake smiles while dealing with rude customers and spending his free time sitting in stuffy rooms that were a little too humid for comfort while doing stacks of bills because of the damn AC that never seemed to be able to work properly no matter what he tried.
But he was happy to help out, always.
Right?
…
After breaking up a fight between two residents and having to sit behind the front desk for hours, all Oj wanted to do was pass out in his bed. But he couldn’t afford to rest, there were far too many things that needed to get done. What if something happened while he was asleep? He needed to be on top of things at all times just in case someone needed him.
But what’s missing one more night of sleep? He’s done it so many times that he was practically immune to the exhaustion.
But for some reason this night felt different, Oj’s body felt heavier, his bones felt more sore, and for the past few days there seemed to be an irresistible headache that plagued his entire being.
Oj was smart enough to know that anyone would be exhausted after having to do as much as he did around the hotel. But he didn’t need help…or sleep. No way.
There was no time to rest or to take a break, everyone needed him. He wasn’t going to let them down.
…
After stumbling over his feet a few times while getting everything ready for the night and dimming and shutting off most of the lights, the end was almost in sight.
Oj turned towards a clock he had on the wall,
“3:30 am”
Oj almost scoffed, that was basically nothing for how late he would usually stay up working. But maybe that was a good thing, it felt like his mind was working much slower than usual, and the eyebags under his eyes were getting more prominent by the day.
But that was okay, it was all part of being a good hotel manager.
No pain, no gain, am I right?
…
Oj turned a corner in the lobby to get to a staircase, but before he could start walking up a voice broke through the carefully crafted silence,
“Oj? I wasn’t expecting you to be up this late?”
A soft chuckle erupted from the person, and Oj turned around to see that it was just his coworker, Paper. He was relieved that it wasn’t a resident, Oj didn’t know if he had the mental capacity to put on his “work face” right now.
“Oh, y’know…just the usual.”
Oj’s voice came out a bit lethargic, like he could barely stay awake. (which was probably the case, but nobody else needed to know that.)
Paper noticed the sudden change from Oj’s usual tone, and quickly grew concerned,
“Are you alright? It’s not everyday that I see you so…”
Paper couldn’t really think of a word, just letting out yet another chuckle, just slightly more awkward this time, as he scratched the back of his neck.
Oj grew confused, and honestly he was a bit offended,
“So…what? Can I not be tired after busting my ass all day?”
Oj’s voice came out angrier than usual, and Paper was only more concerned. Oj usually never lashed out, he was always calm and collected unless something was very wrong. He was never the type to get so angry, what’s with the change?
“You know that’s not what I meant, I just want to know if you’re okay. You’re acting weirder than usual…”
Paper stepped back a step, as if to give Oj his much needed space. Paper felt like he was walking on eggshells right now, any wrong move and Oj could just-
“I’m fine! Okay!? Just-…please leave me alone.”
Oj moved to start walking up the stairs after speaking in a not-so-calm tone again. Paper just let out a sigh, slightly frustrated.
“Oj, what is up with you? You’re lashing out for no reason and you won’t even tell me why! It just doesn’t make any sense considering you were fine two days ago! I’m your friend, I think I have the right to know!”
Paper spoke as he followed Oj up the stairs to the very top of the staircase that seemed to go on forever, eventually reaching the top.
Oj tried to keep composed, he had to be perfect. Mistakes or cracks were unacceptable, and he cursed himself that he let Paper catch on to his deteriorating mental state.
“I’m fine! Why won’t you listen to me?!”
The back and forth banter continued, both parties getting more and more frustrated by the minute. This was new, Paper and Oj usually never fought about anything, but guess it was time to change that.
“God forbid I’m tired after working all day! And where were you? I thought we were supposed to do this together, and I’ve been doing everything around here by myself!”
Oj took a step towards Paper, and Paper took a step back. Oj’s expression faltered for a moment, before eventually returning to the same frustrated state as before.
Paper tried to reason with Oj,
“Oj, you don’t know what you’re doing! You’re obviously sleep deprived and not thinking straight, what about you go and get some rest and we can talk about this in the morning…”
Paper’s tone softened a bit, but the silence was quickly broken again.
“Not thinking straight? I know what I’m doing, you’re just trying to manipulate me into forgetting about this! You know what? Get the hell out of my sight!”
Oj, blinded by frustration, suddenly pushed Paper back. Paper stumbled and tripped a bit, but Oj didn’t think anything of it.
Until…
“Woah- Woah!”
Paper’s voice echoed through the empty lobby, and he tried to catch his balance again, but he was too close to the edge of the staircase, and that push was the final thing he needed to-
CRASH!
…
Death wasn’t anything like how they talked about it in the shows or movies, it was loud. And sudden.
And oh so very cold.
Oj was the only one at the top of the staircase now, and any sound in the room seemed to go quiet.
Has the lobby always been this cold?
His exhausted brain hadn’t processed what happened yet,
“P-Paper?”
Oj’s voice lacked the anger and malice that was there before, and he could feel his heart beating in his ears.
“C’mon, get up! I’m sorry, okay! Stop-…Stop joking around…”
Oj’s plea went to no avail, and he didn’t get a response. And finally his brain had started to process that something was in fact very, very wrong.
Oj didn’t wait to rush down the stairs, tripping on the last step and falling to his knees at the bottom of the staircase.
Oj’s eyes locked onto the figure a few inches infront of him, the person once so full of life now completely still.
“Nonononono- I’m sorry- I never meant for this to happen! Please, I’m sorry, Please wake up!”
Oj could’ve sworn he heard a sickening crunch when he had pushed his friend down the stairs, but he still clung to the slim chance that Paper was okay, and just joking around with him in order to make Oj feel guilty about the argument.
But there was still no response.
Oj crawled closer to the figure in front of him, and what he saw shook him to the core.
Paper’s eyes were still open, but his pupils were dark and lifeless. Oj couldn’t tell what had happened, and he could barely process any of it. He wanted to freak out and cry, but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything.
Oj could almost see his breath in the cold room, and his chest felt like it was being stepped on, like his lungs were closing up. And at any moment it felt like he would throw up the bile at the back of his throat.
But before he could bring himself to throw up, he heard the sound of faint footsteps coming from the top of the stairs.
Someone was coming. Someone was coming and they were going to see what Oj had done, Oj was going to go to jail…He was going to lose the hotel, he was going to lose…everything.
His exhausted brain couldn’t take in the situation, and he had no idea what to do. He knew that turning himself in would be the only way to fix this, to call an ambulance and let himself go to prison for what he had done,
But something in his mind refused.
Before he could think otherwise, Oj quickly stumbled as he stood up and rushed to another room. All his brain knew was that he needed to get out of there, and he needed to do it quickly.
He hid in a room not too far away, but far enough that nobody would think anything of it, and he wanted to wait for the footsteps to leave. After that, he would surely call an ambulance and turn himself in to the police for what he’s done…right?
But the footsteps didn’t leave. Infact, they just got closer,
Until…
“Oh- Oh my god!”
A terrified yell echoed from the other room, and the sound of frantic footsteps followed shortly after.
Oj could’ve come out of hiding and admitted what he’s done…
But he didn’t.
Before he could think twice, he found himself calmly walking to the nearest elevator.
The rational part of his brain tried to speak up, but something in his mind shut it down immediately. Was it guilt? Shame?
He didn’t have time to think about it before the sound of the elevator dinging echoed throughout the room, and Oj stepped inside.
Oj’s mind went silent as he listened to the chaos growing in the other room, before the door of the elevator finally shut.