The weather was unusual this time around.
Somehow it was cloudy and dark, but it’s only 2 PM. Odd. We’ve been driving for
quite some time now. We’re supposed to be there by now. Why are we still on the
road? The map clearly shows we should’ve been there. This is weird, but when I
look at my friends, they were not bothered at all. Am I just over thinking
stuff? This holiday was not even my idea. All of a sudden, they wanted to have
a get-together and decided to go to this old European-like resort; the Hotel Colmar Tropicale in Malaysia. They even
did the whole booking hotel process. I was free at the time
and I thought I needed the break from my office, and so I went. I don’t know.
Something just doesn’t seem right to me.
The journey has been quiet too.
There was just the radio.
Everyone was quite - probably minding their own
business or just too lazy to talk to each other.
We finally turned into KM48 at Persimpangan
Bertingkat, and there it is. The hotel; standing majestically with its middle
European design and huge entrance, right in front of us. I have to admit, I
feel a sudden urge of excitement. I should be, right? My friends were pretty
pumped too. Alas, I was beginning to think I’ve been going on this journey with
ghosts.
“Dude, this place looks wicked!”, yes, he is
clearly excited.
“It looks so unique, man! It’s like we’re on
another planet!”, maybe she’s over exaggerating a bit, but, the place does look
different. The large expanding forest surrounding the hotel made it look like
this hotel is the one and only civilization there is.
“Hey, what are you waiting for? Come on!” he
called from across the bridge to the entrance. I must’ve been staring at the
place for more than 10 minutes. I followed them in like a zombie, feeling very
much in awe, but still, I can’t shake that sense of chill I’ve been filling
every since we started our journey here. We walked through the entrance into
the main roaming area. From each side we already get to see all the lodges for
shops and the accommodations.
But, then…
“Hey, guys, where is everyone?”, I asked.
They turned and looked around. We are the only
ones there. There were no other people there. The large fountain in the middle
is like a hollow ground. The whole area is very quiet, leaving only the sound
of water gushing in the fountain - bringing it life to this seemingly dead
place.
“Maybe they’re all inside the hotels. Or
out.”, she’s the realist in the group.
“How can everyone be inside at the exact same
time? Where are the staffs? I read up there were dancers around the area.” I
questioned. It’s a legitimate question, but it seems to fell on deaf ears.
“Who cares? We have the whole place to
ourselves!”, he is literally jumping and yelling in joy.
That seemed to cheer the mood for everyone
except me. They were running around, taking pictures, playing with the waters
at the fountain. I walked past the La Cigogne restaurant, it’s the main dining
attraction in here but there is no one there. I can’t even smell the fresh
pastries they are usually known for. I peered through the half-open windows
when I saw a flash of black silhouette dash across the hall inside. I look
closely again, but there was nobody there. Was I imagining it? I could’ve sworn
I saw…
“Hey, what are you doing? Come on, we’re
checking in!”, he called out to me.
I turned and worked my pace towards him.
There, at the corner of my eye, I caught something! I turned and my gaze falls
on the end of one of the accommodation building. There, behind the corner,
there was somebody there. It’s small...or is it short? It’s a girl. She’s
looking at me but she’s just standing there. The shadow covers most of her
face. All I can see is her blue dress and bright red shoes. I can feel myself
turning and trying to approach her when suddenly a crow strikes down right in
front of me. I looked down and see the crow on the ground...looking right up at
me!
What is going on? I can only voice it in my
head as I am settling in the Deluxe Room. I could’ve sworn I saw the girl
there, standing and staring directly at me, but when I looked up from the crow
to where she was supposed to be, she is gone. When I turned back down at the
crow, it is also gone. The whole time I was unpacking, my mind was on that
girl. Who is she? Why is this place so quiet and empty? I thought this place
was the talk of people around; people were boasting the great price on colmar
tropicale hotel they have out there.
Creak…
Creak…
Creak…
From the closet. My heart is starting to build
up it's beating for no reason. I approached the closet door slowly. My
imagination was racing.
Creak…
Creak…
I can feel my hand trembles as it reaches for
the knob. I opened it and there was the girl in the blue dress. The shadow is
not covering her face anymore and it was horrific. Her eyes are bloodied red,
her smile is widely disturbing - like a clown’s smile, but this is not a happy
smile, it’s evil. Her smile grew wider and more menacing. Before I could do
anything, the girl leaps on me and pin me down to the ground. I could hear her
inhuman growls and the stench was foul of a decomposed carcass. I can hear
myself screaming but only then I notice that it was all in my mind. I was
screaming in my mind! The girl extended her jaw in no way possible for a human
to do. I can see rows of razor sharp teeth as it sunk deep into my flesh. I
screamed.
I gasped and opened my eyes. There was the
ceiling of the room. My eyes scanned around the ordinary Deluxe Room. I pull
myself up. I’m on the bed. “It was a dream.”, I whispered to myself. I turned
to the unpacked bag at the side. It was a dream. A silly dream. I scoff at how
silly everything is and begin to unpack. The phone rings. Must be them
complaining how long they’ve been waiting for me to check out the rest of the
place. I answered the phone with a long apology waiting, “Hey, I’m sorry, I
totally dozed off…”
“Babe, are you ready? We’re coming to your
place for another 10 minutes.”, she assured at the end of the line.
“What are you talking about?”, I asked. Is she
dreaming too or something? We’re already here.
“What do you mean what I’m talking about?
We’re going to Colmar today! We got a flat just now, so we headed to get it
fix. We’re on our way to your place to get you. Don’t tell me you forget about
the trip?”
My heart stopped. Every inch of my body
stiffened and my breaths shortened to a beat.
CREAK...CREAK...
***Fiction
of the day!***
