The Curious Case of Colmar Tropicale

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!***