Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor

by Tully Oldin, Jelena Hakim, Margie Sarsfield (Editor )

Some hotels don’t exist on any map. And some guests never check out.

Anya is on the run — from the law, her past, and herself.
A stolen bag of cash leads her to a strange roadside hotel hidden deep in the woods.
But some buildings are hungry. Some doors don’t stay shut.
And some crimes demand more than guilt.
They demand blood.

Perfect for fans of Silent Hill, You Should Have Left, and slow-burn horror that lingers long after the last page.

★ “Atmospheric and compelling… a taut, genre-blending descent into madness.”
★ “Paced with precision and packed with dread.”

Just be careful next time you check in…

Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor is a standalone psychological horror novelette set in the haunting world of Silentsomnia — a growing universe of eerie mysteries, where broken souls meet stranger fates.

This isn’t a pop horror story that tries to scare you with cheap tricks — It’s a slow-burn, trauma-based tale of a deeply broken person facing a tragic aftermath. All wrapped in a compact format you can read in under an hour.

But that’s not the end — where this story ends, a larger journey into the Silentsomnia world begins, filled with more stories, more mysteries, and interconnected threads.

Genres: Horror

39 pages, ebook

Published May 5, 2025

About the author

Tully Oldin is a writer and storyteller who brings cinema to the page.
His works blur the line between reading and watching, immersing readers in slow-burn horror, psychological drama, and surreal storytelling. Silentsomnia is where it all comes alive — a growing collection of interconnected stories and haunting mysteries.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I read anything by Tully Oldin, and I was pleasantly surprised. "Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor" is a totally standalone short story in the Silentsomnia universe, the first to be published by Oldin, part of a fictional world planned to grow much larger than short stories or novelettes. Jelena Hakim is credited as co-author.

The story is a creepy mix of supernatural and psychological horror, has a lot of potential, and if it's anything to go by, what the author has in mind for the future is something to look forward to! Figuring a young female bank robber as a main character, the tale soon delves deeply into her mind after her boyfriend and partner in crime takes a different stand from her on their future. She ends up alone in the titular lodge, and undergoes several paranormal experiences touching on trauma in her past, and especially on the relationship with her father.

As a taste of the author's manner of storytelling, it works just fine; as a story about trauma and bad decisions, it's just the right length; and as an atmospheric slow burn, it's completely satisfying and I eagerly recommend it!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️

“You’ve run far enough,” she said quietly. “It’s time to face what you’ve done.”

A trippy yet fascinating psychological horror short story.
Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor was absolutely WILD, and I definitely felt some of that P.T./Silent Hill inspiration.
The main character had an unexpected depth to her, despite her story being only 40 pages long, and paired with the eerie haunted hotel and angsty plot line, I can see lots of potential here for a creepy novel.
That being said, and what I always end up thinking when reading a short story, it was too damn short.

Looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

You were never meant to escape.

I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of The Overlook Hotel and Tales from the Darkside I present to you this amazing Psychological Horror. This book has an element of slow haunting that doesn’t stop until it’s done.

This book is about a woman named Anya who by all accounts is I woman I truly dislike. Given her actions she makes it easy to dislike her. She is a woman that has the tendency to run from everything; her problems, people etc. One dark rainy nights leads her to the Getaway Lodge. This place shines like a beacon to the weary. One thing about those beacons they can be an illusion.

This book comes in at 39 pages so it’s a quick read. The raw emotion and terror from this book reads like nothing else. Definitely a book to get lost in I recommend to all.

ᴅᴇꜰɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀ ꜰᴀɴ ᴏꜰ:
ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ɪɴ ᴏɴᴇ ꜱɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ
ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
ᴛᴀʟᴇꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋꜱɪᴅᴇ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀʟᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ ( ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴇɴ ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜɪɴɪɴɢ) ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏʀᴇ

Thank you Tully, for providing me with an ARC. I am grateful for the opportunity. I am leaving this review voluntarily all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Marley Ghostfern · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You’ve run far enough,” she said quietly. “It’s time to face what you’ve done.”

3/3.5 stars
Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor is a standalone short story in the Silentsomnia universe. It's the second story I've read by this author and it made me feel things. It felt unsettling and eerie. I like it when a book does that. I do feel like the characters needed a little more. I wasn't as invested in tis FMC as I'd like to be. Nonetheless, this was an entertaining, eerie story.

In this story you'll find:
🖤Psychological horror
🖤Bankrobber FMC
🖤Horror hotel (not gory)
🖤Paranormal / spooky vibes

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great short story! A lot happened and there were no plot holes or unanswered questions. The vibes of the Getaway Lodge itself were really cool and I would love to know more about its backstory—the out-of-place hotel in the middle of nowhere, decor that changes and blurs in and out of focus, unending stairways.

I did feel like Anya’s actions were rash at times and her history was a little cliché, but it did explain how she ended up where she was.

This is also part of a growing collection of interconnected speculative content including stories, games, and more called silentsomnia! I think that I such a cool concept and look forward to the upcoming content.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sara-Jane Keenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Flayed series by Tully Oldin but unfortunately this book just didn’t do it for me.
In Getaway Lodge, we join Anya a bank robber on the run. The first part of the book starts off with Anya and her partner fleeing from their last bank robbery. The atmosphere is tense between them and it leads to a shocking outcome I wasn’t expecting. It randomly reminded me of something I saw in the Sopranos, and I loved that show.
Then Anya heads off on her own and ends up pulling into a random hotel. This is where I unfortunately got a bit lost. The hotel is bizarre and constantly changing, it’s very trippy and confusing. It does set an interesting scene but I felt a bit confused and wasn’t sure what was happening. Meanwhile, Anya is forced to relive her childhood trauma, which I did enjoy. That was unsettling and emotional.
I don’t know if I just wasn’t in the right head space when I read this but I unfortunately found it confusing and couldn’t connect with it.

Overall, I rate this 2.5⭐️ (rounded up to 3). I didn’t personally connect with it, but I would recommend giving it a try and you enjoy short psychological horrors.

[Kristen N · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short psychological horror that leaves no unanswered questions. A horror that dives deep into the mind of a woman who has a trauma so deep inside her since childhood. A woman who deals with abandonment and having to be tough her entire life. A woman who has a hard time believing that she deserves anything more for herself when its right in front of her. A horror that reminds you that you can never escape.

Tully Oldin has thrown it out of the park with the short novella, but make sure you have enough time to read it in one sitting because once you start you do not want to stop until you see what exactly is going on.

[Vintage Vixen]

Tully Oldin is absolutely bursting onto the scene right now. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: the man is a wizard with descriptions. He doesn't just write scenes; he puts raw emotions into word form. You don't just read it, you feel it.

​The Plot (Spoiler-Free Zone)

I am going to keep my mouth shut on the plot specifics because I refuse to spoil this one. You need to go in blind.

​
The Verdict

I will just say this: It is satisfying. Very satisfying. Let’s just say… some people get exactly what they deserve. And honestly? We love to see it. 💅

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by Tully that I have read and it really blew me away. This is a separate story in the Silentsomnia universe. The Silentsomnia universe itself was very interesting to me from the beginning. But the first book was completely different from this story.

Anya is a woman who spends her life robbing and running away. Some would say that she is running away from the law, but Anya is actually running away from herself and her life. After a robbery with her boyfriend Mark, she ends up alone (we won't spoil it). Running away, she comes to a hotel called Getaway Lodge. But it is anything but the place she imagined or the place she wanted to hide. This is a place she will face all her demons.

The story is very short and can be read within 1 hour. Honestly, I think that is great, especially for this kind of topic. The writer managed to insert parts of her past into all of it, which are very important to understand why the main character became the way she is and why Anya does everything she does. There was never an element of boredom and the pages just kept turning.

The writing was also very simple and readable. Excellent. Big thanks to the BookSirens and Tully for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Maria Perdana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down.

I really love the pacing of this story. It is so even and the tensions were build gradually. The author took care of plenty of “whys” despite it being just 54 pages long. I also like the opening and the concept - remorse that came too late - was felt throughout the first part.
However there was a gap, a large discrepancy between the two characters of the first act. I didn’t feel sympathy for either and so the shock value lessened when Anya made her decision. And overall the conversations felt like something that would otherwise be done in a movie but functioned to fill the gaps instead of letting real info.
In other words, the first act was more of a”tell” instead of “show”.

But since I love the concept and this is after all the first installment of (hopefully) many more to come, I think the author did a good job to put this one as an opening. I look forward to see the development of the concept.

I received this copy for free as an exchange for my honest review.

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the heart of this story is Anya-who lives life by her own rules, and refuses to let anyone bring her down, or hurt her. As a young child, she saw how easily someone could break, and she vowed to never be that kind of person. And now that her boyfriend is ready to give up a life of crime, Anya feels, once again, she must look after herself.

Where it gets truly unsettling is when she ends up at a rundown hotel in the middle of nowhere. She can no longer outrun her past and her pain. She becomes beholden to it, and finds herself thrown into the paranormal-the demons of her past. Tully gives the reader a sense of foreboding and dread as the hotel digs its claws into her further-refusing to let go.

Despite its short length, the author paces it well. It accomplished what it set out to do.

A big thank you to the author for my copy of his work. My opinion is my own.

[Vintage Vixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tully Oldin is absolutely bursting onto the scene right now. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: the man is a wizard with descriptions. He doesn't just write scenes; he puts raw emotions into word form. You don't just read it, you feel it.

​The Plot (Spoiler-Free Zone)

I am going to keep my mouth shut on the plot specifics because I refuse to spoil this one. You need to go in blind.

​

The Verdict

I will just say this: It is satisfying. Very satisfying. Let’s just say… some people get exactly what they deserve. And honestly? We love to see it. 💅

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marta Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The story never felt cohesive, and by the end, it came across as incomplete and underdeveloped. I struggled to connect with the main character or make sense of the events unfolding in the Lodge. The narrative felt disjointed, almost like someone recounting a surreal, chaotic dream that didn’t quite translate to the page.

There were moments when I hoped things would start to come together or at least offer some clarity, but that never happened. Characters and plot points were introduced without much follow-through, leaving me feeling like I was missing pieces of a larger puzzle that never fully materialized.

Even though it was a short book, it still took me a while to get through. The atmosphere had potential, but the lack of structure and momentum made it difficult to stay engaged.

It had potential, but ultimately, it didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.

I was provided an early copy of this book at no cost, and these thoughts are my own.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Caroline Kepnes, Stephen King’s older short stories and Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick films, this book is for you. A unique short story unlike one I’ve ever read, “Getaway Lodge:14th Floor” is a book for the fans of classic horror, both in films and literature. The imagery in this book is so clear it’s like a film in your mind and you’re just waiting for the next little bit. The main character, Anya, is a classic horror FMC with a dark past, and a troubled present. Fearing closeness, and expecting betrayal, Anya digs herself into the horror and reality of the never ending 13th floor and forever judgement. I read this book in one sitting, which is rare for me to get so engaged in a book to where I can’t put it down. I really enjoyed the style and flow of the writing, and Oldin’s descriptive language to drive the story so it feels like you are a part of the novel and watching the story unfold. I have already downloaded their next book, and am excited to read and review it next. Thank you to Booksirens and Tully Oldin for sending me the link to get a free copy of this book. I did receive this advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine Bonnie and Clyde checked into a haunted hotel run by your worst fever dream—and you forgot your meds. Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor is a genre-defying descent into emotional purgatory, where crime, grief, trauma, and eldritch horror hook up and birth a storyline that’s part psych thriller, part ghostly existential crisis. Anya, our walking red flag in heels, steals more than just money—she hijacks your sympathy before chewing it up and spitting it back in the form of psychological warfare. Mark’s betrayal? Predictable. That haunted staircase? An infinite-looping mindfreak. The ending? Well, let’s just say don’t read this in the dark unless your therapist is on speed dial. It’s vicious, vulnerable, and deeply unhinged—in the best way.

Triggers:

Gun violence, child neglect, betrayal, emotional abuse, psychological horror, hallucinations, themes of abandonment and suicide.

Rating:

🌶️ Heat: 2.5/5

💔 Angst: 5/5

🔪 Violence: 4/5

🧠 WTF Factor: 5/5

⭐ Overall: 4.2/5

Mood:

Disturbing, claustrophobic, erotic in bursts, and relentlessly bleak.

Genre:

Psychological thriller, horror, dark romance (barely), speculative fiction.

Pacing:

Slow burn nightmare fuel—don’t expect breaks, just breakdowns.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor by Tully Oldin is a powerful and fast-paced short story that plunges the reader into a thrilling journey of emotional reckoning. The narrative centers on Anya, a protagonist whose life has been shaped by the deep-seated pain of trauma and abandonment. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the time for her to confront her past is long overdue. Oldin's masterful use of vivid descriptions and intense, raw emotions creates an atmosphere of suspense and urgency, showing a character who cannot outrun her own history.

Ultimately, this story serves as a gripping exploration of accountability, pushing its protagonist (and the reader) to consider the weight of a past they can't escape. It's a well-written, engaging tale that challenges the notion of a simple escape, instead focusing on the intense and often difficult work of facing one's demons. For its raw honesty and powerful theme, Getaway Lodge: 14th Floor earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

[Amanni Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getaway Lodge: The 14th Floor may be a short read, but it packs a surprising punch. From the very beginning, it builds a sense of unease that quickly escalates into full-blown intensity, in the best possible way. The story wastes no time, diving straight into suspense and keeping the tension tight until the final page.

What I loved most was how the author managed to create such a vivid, eerie atmosphere with so few pages. The pacing was spot-on, and despite its brevity, the story didn’t feel rushed. Every moment served a purpose, and I found myself completely immersed, heart racing as the mystery of the 14th floor unraveled.

If you’re looking for a quick but gripping thriller that delivers chills without a huge time commitment, this one is definitely worth checking into.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is a stand-alone story set in the Silentsomnia universe (which I did not know going in), and that context definitely matters. Without realising it’s part of something bigger, you can feel a little untethered at times, like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a scene without the full picture. Once you know it belongs to a wider universe, that feeling makes a lot more sense.

The story follows Anya, who finds herself at a deeply unsettling hotel (very strong Overlook vibes) after a bank heist and a spectacularly bad breakup. She’s on the run in more ways than one, and it slowly becomes clear that she’s carrying far more baggage than she realises. The hotel becomes the point where everything she’s been avoiding finally catches up with her.

This is a short read — shorter than I would have liked — and it doesn’t dive as deeply into the details as I expected. That said, I can see how this would slot neatly into the larger Silentsomnia universe and likely work better if you’re already familiar with it.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, moody little read with an eerie setting and an intriguing premise. While it left me wanting more depth, it definitely piqued my curiosity about the rest of the universe — and that’s never a bad thing.

[Chris Alden · Rating 3 out of 5]

For clarity I received this as an ARC and have not gained anything from this review.

This hotel shouldn’t exist. And yet… she’s trapped there.

A bag of stolen cash. A speeding car. A hotel that was never meant to be found.

Anya is running — from the law, from her past, from herself. But some buildings are hungry. Some doors don’t stay shut. And some crimes demand more than guilt.
They demand blood.

What starts out as a Bonnie & Clyde style money heist soon turns into a trippy story about Anya and her past demons.

Whilst this novella was fast paced I did feel it was lacking somewhat in story development. The premise is there and it could certainly be worked on and turned into a very good psychological horror book. I just felt that it was missing something (not helped by the fact Anya’s dad drops and smashes the same bottle of beer twice…one for the proof readers there)

[Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pacy, hauntingly gripping tale of abandonment, desire, greed, and a constant race to stay one step ahead of the past.

Getaway Lodge is no ordinary check-in. Filled with ever-changing layouts, floors that go on forever, and the impending feeling of doom, it represents a gateway to confession and death.

A cleverly depicted short story that hammers home the message that that you can not outrun the past or the actions that forged your path.

Getaway Lodge - 14th Floor by Tully Oldin consists of less than 150 pages of pure, unadulterated adrenaline pumping action that found me reading it from start to finish in less than an hour.

Having received a free eARC copy from the author via Book Sirens,  I am only too happy to acknowledge its brilliance with this voluntary review, and I look forward to the next in the Silentsomnia realm of storytelling.

[Praveen (பிரவீண்) KR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anya just robbed the bank and is on the run with her friend. She is very much antsy, and after a couple of incidents, she ends up at a motel. The hotel is not an ordinary one, and she is trapped. The hotel seems to dig deep into her darkest secrets. What transpires forms the rest of this short novella.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a novella and was therefore a quick read. The story comes under the psychological horror genre. It was interesting to see the character arc of Anya unravel as we progress, and the hotel opened the downward spiralling of Anya. However, once the hotel scene is set in, it all turns out too predictable. Having said that, it was presented interestingly. The only other character, the getaway driver, gets little scope but is interestingly brought out. The flashback involving Anya's childhood and parents was very brief but well written. The language seemed simple enough, keeping the momentum of the story.

In short, an interesting premise that is presented neatly. The climax was a dampener for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tina Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getaway Lodge is a psychological horror short story that even the title will leave you confused! Is it Getaway or Gateway? Either way, you are dropped into the action straight away with a bank heist and a nerve-wracking disagreement between the protoganist and her beau in the car afterwards.

But, what are they running from? The law or themselves? This is only just one question that is banded about in this rather creepy tale. So many questions but very little chance of escape. Aimed at fans of Silent Hill, Getaway Lodge will leave you hanging and gently swaying in the breeze of confusion and unease.

I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zarlina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and quick read about trying to run from a past that will always catch up with you, no matter how desperately you wish to escape it.

Fast paced, creepy in a way that didn't feel too much, and with a poetic (and rather perfect) ending.

It's not the kind of story I'd usually like, the staircase got a bit too weird for me, but something about it had me interested enough to finish it, and I actually enjoyed it a lot.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for free. All opinions are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anya, the MC of this novella was super unlikable. Which made sympathy hard.
I didn't start to get into it until about midway through.
As the book starts she is jumping in a car driven by her boyfriend after stealing money.
She does deplorable things in the past and present and, I actually wish it was a little longer.
The author got very wordy in the beginning. Every single detail was described. But, I would read something else written by them.
It's a spookyish read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. Anya is running away from everyone and everything, but will her dark past catch up with her. I really don't know what to make of this book. The blurb hooked me, but the actual narrative left me flat. I appreciate that this was a short novella, but Anya didn't feel like a fully constructed character and (to be honest) I wasn't invested in her at all. Her motivation was too black and white to be believable with no proper back story. So unfortunately this one just left me cold

[Ellie Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this! The writing is amazing, the author really painted a picture. Sometimes that picture was gross, but I could truly see the grossness. I liked the concept, and the execution was well done. I would say that at times it did feel a little unconnected, and I would love to know more about the hotel! I think that could be its own story honestly.

I definitely recommend this and can't wait to see what the author does next!

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mrscuteness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tully Oldin and BookSirens for the ARC! It was definitely interesting.

This was trippy and interesting.

I did get the feeling it would be mind-bendy somehow because of the title.

I did love the characters, they were my favourite part! I was a little disappointed after the first small twist, but I guess it made sense. I just like my romance is all.

I also loved the Bonnie and Clyde vibes at the beginning, it made me so intrigued to keep reading!

[Megan Wintrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strange little book this was, I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.

A woman who enjoys heists, but she hates being forgotten by the ones she loves trusts. But she can't get things through her head, she only sees what she wants to see...until it's too late.

I really enjoyed this one!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story/novella was fun and to the point. I think we got enough info and backstory on the characters to better understand them which is helpful in a short story. The thing I loved about this story is it perfectly set up the world in which other stories can (and do based on what I read) exist and that's exciting! I look forward to reading more my this author!

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.75

Solid little story. In the meat of it we have a section that set off my claustrophobia despite it not being in a tight small space. The overall idea of not being able to escape your past and those demons that haunt you from previous decisions is definitely there. Good for a quick read.