He hit refresh one last time. The page stalled, the loading circle spinning like a prayer. Suddenly, the text shifted.

Elias looked back at the driveway. The road he had driven up was gone, swallowed by a thick, silver mist. There was no city, no ocean, and no car. There was only the warm amber light of the lobby and the quiet hum of a building that felt like it was breathing. He looked at the key in his hand. It was room 404. "Is there a way back?" he whispered.

The heavy oak door swung open before he could reach for the knocker. A woman in a charcoal vest stood there, her smile professional but her eyes impossibly deep. "We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Thorne," she said.

Elias didn’t hesitate. He clicked "Book Now." The confirmation email arrived instantly, though the sender's address was a string of blurred characters.

The woman’s smile widened just a fraction. "Why would you want to go back? You finally found what you were looking for."