“The alarm wasn’t supposed to go off yet”, she mumbled tiredly. Laying in bed in the Western motel. The light of the moon flirting gingerly with her legs in the velvet darkness.


Suddenly, it dawned on her that the alarm in question was not her bedside clock. But a much louder siren which was penetrating the walls with its wailing from outside. It was the fire alarm!


Her blue eyes trailed up to the small, nearly out of place windows which revealed the hallway of the hotel. In the dim, she saw smoke curling through the barely opened glass.


A panic ran through her suddenly. And it was like a bullet whistling without warning towards an innocent heart. She jumped up out of bed, her long flannel nightgown floating freely as she traveled forward.


As she got closer to the door, she could hear heavy foot falls. But no audible voices. Her hand quivered with fear as she grasped the handle of the door and pulled it open.


As she looked out the door, she could see people running towards the fire escape. Smoke and fire was a possibility she could sense and smell, as she coughed through the long hallway to escape.


An immigrant, Rosie had fled to America in the hopes that she could find a new life. The gold rush brought promises of instant success and fortune for even the most unfortunate travelers.


She had been certain she would meet a wealthy soulmate in Nevada. Because, that’s what her sister had done only five years before she arrived into town. Rosie was blessed with exquisite beauty that overshadowed her depravity. And she was positive she could strike gold in her own way.


She contemplated the irony of her present plight. As she ran through the hotel hallway, shaking. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in one of the windows she ran past. Her long blonde hair in ringlets, bouncing like excited bunnies across her chest.


She shook her head to rid herself of her thoughts. And thought it stranger yet, that she was so detached as she felt herself compelled to run for her life. What a bizarre absence of emotion, she pondered.


As she drew closer to the fire exit door. She could see a bright light pour through. The smoke still danced around her. As eager as she was to escape. She overlooked the man in front of her, and ran into him with a jolt.


“Heavens!”, he exclaimed, as he turned around.


She looked upon him with curiosity. She felt as if she had known him before. She wondered momentarily if he had been a client of hers. But then remembered that she was supposed to be in a hurry.


“You must let me through, sir! Surely this building is on fire!”, she said excitedly.


He shook his head strangely. A peculiar look cast over his sharp features as he grumbled, and he nodded perfunctorily.


“Of course, of course”, he replied. “However, I imagine you will not find the safety through that door you are attempting to discover”, he mused.


“Let me out!!”, she shouted angrily. Attempting to push him out of the way. He moved begrudgingly. He watched her frantically run to the large steel door, which was partially ajar.


She began to push with all her strength. Barely able to make the door creek. She felt her body tremble in fear. She could see her short life flash before her eyes.


She looked back at the man. He stood eerily calm against the wall. Appearing to sardonically study her frantic movements.


“Help me open the door!”, she yelled in frustration.


He shook his head, then tipped his hat.


“Mil lady”, he said stoically. A strange smile erupting on his face.


He motioned for her to move aside. She did, and he easily opened the door. She looked upon him in shock. Unable to explain how he was so able to move the very heavy door with only one hand.


He motioned her forward with his hand. The weird smile still parting his thin lips around his bushy black mustache.


“Until we meet again, my sincerest regards”, he said quietly.


She felt a cold draft move through her body as he spoke. She ignored his bizarre behavior. She walked through the door. Feeling a stifling heat as she moved into the light.


The next thing she saw. Was not what she was expecting. Darkness. Consuming her vision. And a loud and familiar sound accompanied her ears.


“The alarm was not supposed to go off yet”, she said confused.


And it rang in her ears. And it struck fear into her heart. As it catered on to the next century.