Hotel Mysteria 004 – A Nameless Painting – Diaries of the Moonlight Hours

14/01/2025

Dear Andrea,

I’ve been here in Bzalnia for three days already, and today will be my last.

Circumstances have cut my trip here short. But that’s okay. There is no real reason for me to stay any longer. I’ve already been to the auction and have gotten us a nice piece to hang on the wall. I’ve also made a new friend who I met at the auction. I sure hope he is okay. His name is Aldin, a painter from Naldo.

Why I write to you, you ask? It’s because of this quirky old hotel. The rooms all have a writing desk with envelopes already stamped for postage. And they have the most dazzling mailbox I have ever seen. It’s covered in jewels. I thought us folk from Vrasnic were artsy, but the Bzalnians might give us a run for our money.

I think the Bzalnians might be quite superstitious too. At least I get that feeling from the staff at this hotel.

When I brought back the painting I won, the hotel manager was quite insistent that I keep the painting in their back storage. I told him how much I had spent on the painting and that I wanted to keep it close, but he pleaded that we keep it in their storage. My new friend was beside me at the time and they asked him to do the same with his painting. So, I thought we may as well if he was going to do it too. Aldin was also staying at this hotel, so we recognized each other at the auction.

I must tell you about the painting. A field of yellow flowers, and a farmhouse in the back. There are some people decorated in the picture. A farmer and his wife, a man who looked like a sailor, and a dull looking man dressed in a suit. Just little features of the painting.

I think the story of this painting is what drew me to it. At the auction, they said it was painted by a farmer. Sadly, the farmer lost his wife and daughter when their house caught fire. This painting was the only thing that survived the fire. And the farmer is nowhere to be found. So, this piece was a little different to everything else at the auction.

When they brought it out for bidding, it felt like everyone was trying not to look at it. It was weird. I thought it was the prettiest painting that had come out all day.

The bid was 40,000z. Yes, I know. Quite a lot, but no one else bid for it, so I took it. Apparently, the last owner was a wealthy business man, but passed away the other week. That explained the price.

Aldin said I wasted my money on some nameless picture. But that’s just him. He told me he was looking for something by someone great. Inspiration, he said, to help him paint his next masterpiece.

Last night was a bit of a story.

I couldn’t sleep last night. I think I was bothered that the hotel wouldn’t let me bring the painting to my room. And then I heard a loud scream. I was already awake, so I went out to check it out.

It must have been quite late because the whole hotel was dark. It must have been lights-out because no one was around, even in the lobby. And then I heard the scream again. A lady. It was coming from the back. When I went to check, I saw someone creeping about. I ran up and grabbed the villain. But it just turned out to be Aldin. He scared me.

I asked him what he was doing snooping around in the dark. He told me he really needed to see his painting because he was lacking motivation to paint. And then I asked him about the screaming, but he told me he didn’t hear a thing.

That’s when we both heard something coming from the back. But it wasn’t exactly a scream.

We both went further into the back to check what we heard. It wasn’t clear at first, but when we opened the door, we could tell. Cries. A child’s crying.

There was a strange flicking light when we opened the door. And then a distinct smell. Smoke. There was a fire.

Aldin told me to go find someone to help. He ran in straight away. Said he had to save the paintings. Crazy fellow! Didn’t he care about the child?

I called for help and got the staff to come help. They directed me to the lobby and said it would be too dangerous to let anyone else through.

After a while, the hotel manager came and saw me. The man said all was well and that I could go back to my room. I tried to ask him more but he said that nobody was hurt and that the paintings were fine.

When I saw the manager this morning, he told me that I had to shorten my stay and leave by tonight. He said they were going to work on repairs tomorrow morning. He refunded the next three days I was supposed to stay and promised me that all meals were on the house while I was here. He also promised that their driver would take me anywhere I wished to go tonight, all on the house. He had that weird, pushy attitude about him again.

At least he let me take the painting up to my room this time while I wait for the driver to get ready.

The painting is so pretty. The farmer must have painted himself in the fields. In the picture there is a man facing the scene with an easel and paintbrush in front of him. I didn’t notice him before. I also didn’t notice that this painter in the picture wore a burgundy painter’s hat just like Aldin.

I haven’t seen Aldin since last night. I think I am going to miss that crazy fellow when I leave. Oh well.

I don’t know how soon I can find a trip back to Vrasnic, but I will head back tonight, my dear. The refund should cover any extra costs for a sudden trip.

I hope this letter reaches you soon. I can’t tell how long it will take until I make it back home. I have a strange feeling inside for some reason. Hopefully it’s nothing.

Me, and our new painting will see you soon, my dear.

Keep safe

Love from,

Moses