My Last Vacation

 My Last Vacation (A tale from beyond the grave) 

 

As I settled into my plane seat, and prepared myself for take-off, I began to think of how well the year had been going so far. It was a million times better than last year that was for sure. Last year everything I had spent years building up came crashing to an abrupt, and totally surprising, end. I had a long-term relationship completely disintegrate, I’d lost the job I loved as the company I worked for collapsed into administration without any warning and I’d had to sell my house and move into a one-bed flat. 

Now though, eight months later, everything was on an upward trajectory once again. I was still in the one-bed flat, but I was no longer alone. Georgie, or Georgina as her parents had named her, had only moved in a month ago, after we had only been dating for three months. We first met at a New Years Eve party and although I was wary, at first, after what had happened with my previous relationship, she had been persistent and slowly convinced me to just take a chance on her, and boy was I glad that I did.  

She was everything every other woman I had ever been out with hadn’t been. We liked, mostly, the same things apart from football and comedy movies. She hated football and I much preferred action thrillers. We both liked to read, although our tastes in what type of book were different and she liked shopping which, surprisingly, I enjoyed helping her with. 

It was just a shame I had booked this holiday, at the end of my shit year, just before we met, because I would have loved nothing more than for her to be in the seat next to me. I guess I could have just cancelled, I even told Georgie that I would, but she had been adamant that I should just go, as long as I didn’t cheat on her, which I had absolutely no intention off. As stupid as it seemed, and after not being together for long, I really felt like I would love to spend the rest of my life with her. 

As the plane finally left the runway, I closed my eyes and began to think about Georgie. Although I was only going for a week, I was already beginning to miss her. Waking up alone, without the softness of her skin pressing against mine, was going to feel so strange. Still after being single for so long, I was sure seven days apart wasn’t going to kill me and anyway I did promise I would ring her the minute I landed which, surprisingly, happened a lot sooner than I expected. 

Slowly we all disembarked the plane, walking down the steps into a sun brighter, and hotter, than any sun I had ever experienced. Looking around I watched where everyone wandered to, before following them to the luggage carousel. Eventually my suitcase appeared and after grabbing it I headed through customs quickly, and without any hold up, before nipping into the airport shop to get a drink, before stepping back outside.  

Sitting down with my drink I took my mobile phone out and gave Georgie a call as promised and, as we spoke, I watched people come and go before draining the last of the liquid from the can, telling Georgie I couldn’t wait to be back home with her, before throwing it away and finding a taxi just sitting there, almost as if it was waiting especially for me. 

After telling the driver where I wanted to go, he smiled awkwardly, took my suitcase and placed it into the boot of his car. Although I tried the driver didn’t seem that interested in talking and once we arrived at my destination, he unloaded my case and then pulled off rather abruptly. Shrugging my shoulders I grabbed my case, entered the hotel and walked over to the reception desk. Within five minutes I was fully booked in and following an older male, and my suitcase up to my room. 

The room had been freshly decorated, the lingering smell of paint a dead giveaway, yet something still felt strange, there was a chill in the room which was a surprise considering the outside temperature. Before I could ask why though the bellhop ushered me through the door and began to show me around the apartment, with its newly-fitted kitchenette, brand new two seat sofa, which still had it's plastic covers on, cable TV, which he assured me was totally free and full-to-bursting mini-bar. 

“Which one's the bathroom?” 

“That's through this door, Sir.” The bellhop placed his hand on the cold, metal, handle but as soon as he did the same chill that I had felt on first entering the room ran through my body once again. “Are you alright, sir? You look a little pale.” 

“Guess the flight got to me more than I realized. I'll be okay after a long, hot, soak.” 

“I'm sure you will, sir.” 

With that he pushed the door open, and froze as I saw the blood-stained floor, walls and bath, for the first time. It was then when I also saw the stiletto blade burst out of the middle of my chest. 

 

©JSMorbius