07/04/2025 

Dear Mother,  

I am still safe and sound. Don’t you worry. They haven’t got me yet. And I don’t think they will. Not while I am here. 

I am in Bzalnia. In some strange hotel. I won’t say where. For safety reasons, of course. And yes. I somehow got into this country. 

After those incidents, while I was laying low, I asked around if anyone knew a safe way out of Beckham. There was a boat due for here, and they wouldn’t ask any questions. What better place to hide from Beckham, than a place where we Beckish are not permitted to enter. For now at least. 

This hotel is quite the fascinating place. Old fashioned and dull, unlike the rest of the city, but also open and welcoming, unlike the rest of the city. The hotel manager speaks fluent Beckish. But then I heard him speak many other languages to other guests. The skill must come with the industry. 

These dull rooms also have writing desks, with pen, paper, and stamped envelopes. So, of course I thought to write you, Mother. It will be like when we used to sit and read Father’s letters. Before we eventually lost him. 

I must give you my deepest apologies, Mother. I am sorry! I cannot imagine all the trouble I’ve brought you; people coming by looking for me. I cannot blame you if you wish to never hear from me again. I would abandon me too. I am sorry. 

I can’t tell if things are getting better. Jack is still bothering me. I came here to Bzalnia to escape all the trouble, but I don’t think he understands that we are here to lay low. You know how ambitious ‘that’ son of yours can get. 

I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but I met this girl. My God, she was wonderful. She wore this lovely green dress, and had her hair put in this cute green ribbon. I was scared to engage with her. I don’t trust myself, or my heart anymore. I don’t want to feel that pain anymore. But her smile, Mother. I couldn’t help but talk to her. 

It was not only her looks that were wonderful. Her soul was kind and sweet. She reminded me of that nurse girl. Or was it a maid? It didn’t matter. Those were tragedies I’d rather forget. And besides, me and this girl just had an amazing connection. Her name was Pola. 

I’m sure Pola felt how well we sparked together. We talked for hours. It made me feel so bad. This kind girl didn’t know how broken of a man I was inside. I should have left her. But we just both couldn’t help it. 

We ended up sharing dinner. I know. But we just felt so at home together. She was so comfortable that she wanted to enjoy some wine. Yes, Mother. Wine. I was scared. I refused. This made her sad. I understand that she just wanted to allow us to get more comfortable with each other. I truly didn’t want to ruin the moment. So, I let myself enjoy a glass. That’s when I think I let myself enjoy her too. 

I’m sure I brought her back to the hotel. And I hate that! You know why I hate that. Because like I knew would happen again, I couldn’t remember a thing. 

I woke up, here in my hotel room. Alone. When I looked around, there was a bottle of wine on the table, open, half drunken. I grew absolutely scared. I panicked. What if Jack got a hold of me? What if I allowed him to see her? To meet her? He would have taken her away from me. He always took the most precious of girls away from me. And I was scared he may have come and done it again. 

Seeing the wine bottle sitting there, I began to question the whole night. Did I really meet her? Was she even real? If she was, why did I now feel so empty? 

I searched around the room. Had he come here last night? Had she? I looked all around the room, scared I would actually find something. I didn’t want to find anything. I just wanted to know that last night was just a made-up fantasy, all in my mind. 

But I found something. It was too late! None of this was fantasy. It was real. And what I found confirmed it all. Her lovely green ribbon. 

Afraid I would find more, I quickly packed my things. It was time I left. It was no longer safe here.

Downstairs I went to checkout. I don’t know what happened to him, but the weird hotel manager had cuts and bruises all over his face. I asked him about it, and he told me there was a troublesome guest. This worried me, but the manager assured me that that guest was gone. He made sure of it. 

Still worried about everything, I asked him if he knew about any guests I had brought over last night. The manager nodded his head and smiled. He told me she left late in the evening and that he got her a cab to get her safely home. 

Pola was safe. I thank God for that. I could see it in the manager’s eyes that he was not lying. He looked me straight in the eyes and told me, 

“Everybody is safe here, at Hotel Mysteria!” 

I believe him. I don’t not know why, but I do. And so, I may stay here another night. Or two. Who knows? 

I don’t know where else I can go for now. 

I hope Pola is safe. 

I hope you are too, Mother. 

Sincerely yours, 

Jonothan. 

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