by R. M. Garcia
“Hello, Punu, I missed you too,” Donnie said. “You got big.”
“I was going to say the same thing. Why have you summoned me?”
“I need to find answers. I am lost.”
“What is your question?”
“I want to understand why Abbie killed herself.”
“Your loved one, yes, I liked her, but I cannot tell you why she ended her life.”
“What can you tell me?”
“I can take you to where your answers lie, but it is perilous.”
“I’ll take that chance.”
“Are you willing to trade your life for hers?”
“Without hesitation,” Donnie said firmly, not understanding what Punu meant.
“Very well, my dear friend, hop on my back and hang on.” Donnie got on Punu’s back, and the bear began to run. The world around Donnie seemed hazy and foggy as the journey took place. He could not tell where he was being taken as they traveled for what seemed hours.
“Donnie, I have a message for you.”
Donnie was surprised to receive another message. “Really, a message from whom?”
“It’s from Muna.”
“Mom, what did she say?”
“Everything is connected and that you will be a hornet among them.”
“Just like Mom to send me something cryptic.”
“She also said that she loves and misses you.”
“That’s what I needed to hear. Thanks, Punu.”
“We are almost at the end of our journey.”
“I’m ready, Punu.”
“Good-bye, my friend. I wish you luck.”
“Thank you, Punu.”
“I hope we meet again soon. Farewell.” Donnie woke up with a jolt. He was driving his Karmann Ghia. The car was racing down a familiar rocky path. He slammed on the brakes as the car went through a chain-link fence. The velocity of the vehicle was too great, and it effortlessly smashed through the metal barrier, dragging it behind. Donnie continued to struggle to regain control over the car. The car reached the edge of the cliff. Donnie gripped the steering wheel as the car crested over the edge. He could see the sand three hundred feet below. The back left tire had snagged on a portion of the fence. The fence yielded no more of its structure and forced the car to come to a quick and sudden stop before it careened off the edge of the cliff. Dust and rocks flew violently off the cliff. The frame of the vehicle creaked and strained against the durability of the rear axle, but then in the end, it held fast, and the car managed to avoid going over.
Donnie was not so lucky. The sudden stop of the car did little to stop his own momentum. He sailed through the windshield, shattering it into a million pieces. He plummeted down the entire height of the cliff as his body spun wildly. He impacted on the sand below. Although the sand was soft, it still remained solid. He landed on his back from the plunge. He could feel his life draining slowly now and was sure he was about to die. He couldn’t move his legs or arms, only his neck, so he looked around. He was at Misha’s grandfather’s beach house, at the Spot. Why did Punu bring him here, he thought? Pain shot sharply through Donnie’s entire body, and his lungs were filling up with liquids, making it hard to breathe. He looked up and could see his car still hanging off the edge of the cliff above him. Donnie wondered if it would dislodge and come down on top of him. It would be his typical luck. He looked out toward the beach and wished he could see the sunrise one last time, but he wasn’t sure what time it was. He turned his head sideways and violently coughed up some blood. “Donnie,” a voice cried from the beach. He looked back, and through his blurred vision, he saw an angel running up the beach toward him. She was wearing a long white gown that flowed gently as she moved. “Donnie!” the voice cried out again. It seemed very familiar. Then he heard it again, and he was sure.
“Donnie!” Abbie cried, and she rushed next to Donnie.
“Abbie, are you an angel?” Donnie asked weakly.
“No, Donnie. Please hang on! Please!” Abbie screamed.
“It’s OK,” Donnie said. “You’re alive. So I must be trading my life for yours.”
“Donnie, you’re not making any sense! Just hang on. Don’t leave me,” Abbie cried out. Donnie could barely talk now, and even though he was in unimaginable pain, he smiled up at Abbie.
“Spirits . . . trade . . . your life . . . I love . . . you.” Donnie was struggling to breathe with every word. He was losing consciousness but struggled to remain with Abbie for as long as he could.
“You’re not going to die. Just hang on!” Abbie urged. Donnie’s vision began to cloud and then darkened with every blink.
“Donnie!”
“Donnie!”
“Donnie!”
CHAPTER 17
Spring Break
TWELVE DAYS EARLIER, the ladies were excited about spring break in Miami! Abbie and Kelly got off their plane from DC right after sundown and were met by Trista and Billy. The old friends were looking forward to a week of sun, fun, and partying. They got their bags as Billy pulled his car around and soon enough were on their way. They were heading to an all-inclusive upscale resort called The New Berlin. The resort boasted an old European theme, food, and activities.
“How did you afford this place again, Abbie?” Billy asked as he pulled onto the property.
“I won a vacation package prize on campus,” Abbie replied.
“Wow! That’s fantastic! I heard this place is like four thousand a night. Why didn’t Donnie come with you?” Billy asked.
“Oh, he wanted to, but I convinced him to let it be a girls only trip. Plus, I wanted to see my girlfriends again,” Abbie replied.
“So after you drop us off, beat it,” Trista ordered playfully.
“Yes, ma’am!” Billy cracked a smile. Kelly and Abbie were so very happy for Trista; Billy had been so wonderful to her. She was a different person now. She was happy; no, they were happy.
“What are you going to do for spring break, Billy?” Kelly asked. “Trevor went to the Bahamas.”
“You’ll only laugh if I tell you,” Billy replied.
“No, they won’t! Don’t be afraid to tell them. I think it’s a great opportunity,” Trista said encouragingly.
“OK, fine. I am going to be a junior aid in Washington DC for a week,” Billy said, slightly embarrassed. “I leave on Sunday night.”
“That is a great opportunity for you, Billy,” Kelly said.
“You are a political science major, right?” Abbie asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Billy replied.
“He is going to be president one day!” Trista said. “What do you think, ladies, will I make a great First Lady?” Trista said, sticking out her lips and posing. Everyone in the car had a good laugh. The ladies arrived at their resort and were amazed at its splendor. For all of its opulence, the resort seemed sorely out of place in Miami. The bellhops gathered their bags and carried them inside.
“You stay from any female aid with a cigar,” Trista said jokingly, kissed Billy good-bye, and then followed Abbie and Kelly inside. The resort looked amazing on the exterior, but that paled miserably to what they encountered on the inside. Abbie could see why this place was so expensive. It looked like a castle or manor on the inside. There was gold plating on every metallic fixture, and she thought that the gems on the chandeliers were genuine. The interior was accentuated by tall ceilings. It took their breath away. The girls reached the front desk and waited. A young woman walked up to them. “Do you have a reservation?” she asked in a German accent.
“Yes, Abbie Gottlieb,” she replied. “Party of three,” She quickly read the young woman’s name tag and called her by name “Inga.”
“Ah, yes. We are expecting you. Congratulations on winning the Empress package,” Inga said. “You will have a wonderful time.”
“Thank you,” Abbie replied. “I know this will be a trip we will never forget.”
“I see you have only women in your group. We had expected a gentleman to come wit
h you. I will need to assign you another room steward,” Inga said as she checked them in.
“A steward, what exactly is that?” Kelly asked.
“It’s like you own personal butler in the room,” Inga replied. “We had assigned Stefan, but that is against resort policy for a group consisting of only ladies,” she replied. At that moment, a young man walked up to the group. He began speaking; he had a thick German accent.
“Hello, ladies. My name is Stefan and I will be your steward.” He was wearing a white polo shirt with the resort logo on it and tan colored Bermuda shorts. He was tall, quite well toned, and handsome. He had short sandy blond hair, crystal clear blue eyes, and near-perfect skin. His only flaw was a star-shaped scar over his left eye.
“Sorry, Stefan, I need to swap you over to the Smith’s party,” Inga said.
“Oh well, that’s just fine. I will take them up to their villa so they don’t have to wait,” Stefan offered.
“I will have Heidi meet you there,” Inga said.
“Please, follow me, freulines,” Stefan said as he started to walk. He looked at the bag boys and said something in German to them, and they began to follow the group. He took them up to the fifth floor and brought them to their suite. A young, blonde woman was waiting for them at the entrance of their villa. She swung both doors open and motioned the party in. The room was simply mind-blowing. Abbie, Kelly, and Trista felt as if they had stepped into a palace.
“OK, look up decadence in the dictionary, and you will see a picture of this place,” Kelly said as she ran in and looked around. Trista went over to a window.
“Wow! This view is spectacular! The pool is huge, and the beach is so close,” Trista added. Abbie felt wonderful that she could give an experience like this to her friends. She started to understand why Donnie was so generous, why he gave so much without hesitation; this feeling was simply marvelous. She missed him already.
“This is Heidi. She will take excellent care of you,” Stefan said. Heidi stepped forward and took a small bow. She had long straight blonde hair and was also quite attractive. She seemed a bit nervous as she stepped forward and looked at Stefan several times before speaking.
“Hello, my name is Heidi, and I will be taking care of all your needs. If there is any activity you would like to do, let me know and I will schedule it for you.” She produced a clipboard and handed out several resort brochures.
“You are in better hands now, so I will excuse myself,” Stefan said. “Please enjoy your stay at the New Berlin.” Stefan exited the room, closing the doors behind him.
“Why couldn’t we keep his hunky-butt around again?” Trista asked.
“It’s resort policy and not at all appropriate,” Heidi replied as she directed the bag boys to each room.
“So what do you want to do first?” Abbie asked, looking over the brochures.
“May I suggest dinner? I took the liberty of reserving a table at our five-star restaurant, Der Teller, and after that, you could head to our nightclub, Nuclear Fission.”
“I am hungry,” Abbie said.
“I am too,” Kelly added.
“So let’s go eat, and when we come back, we can rest a bit and then head to the club,” Trista finished.
“Excellent, I will have everything ready when you return,” Heidi said. She opened the door and yelled something in German down the hall. Hearing such a loud voice come from their steward made the girls giggle. After less than a minute, a young boy ran to the door. He was no older than fifteen. Heidi spoke to him in German, and he nodded in understanding.
“His name is Gerald, and he will take you to the restaurant,” Heidi said. The young boy smiled and looked appreciatively at his lovely charges. He turned and waited outside the villa. When the girls were ready, he took them downstairs to the restaurant.
“Can you find your way back? If not, I will wait here for you,” Gerald asked.
“I think we can,” Abbie replied. She noticed that there were several other boys around the same age sitting on benches near the entrance to the restaurant.
“Do you mind?” Kelly asked Gerald. “It’s a big place, Abbs.”
“Not at all, it’s my job,” Gerald said nodding. “I’ll wait over there near those benches.” The girls entered the restaurant and were assailed by a masterful bevy of delightful scents and smells.
“Oh, yum, I want to try everything,” Kelly said.
“I feel like I will gain ten pounds just by breathing the air in here,” Trista added.
The maitre d’ approached the group; a server accompanied him. “Are you the Gottlieb party for three?”
“Yes, that is us,” Abbie replied.
“I have your table waiting. Gretchen will seat you,” he said, handing three menus to the girl standing next to him. “I hope you enjoy your meal.” Gretchen escorted the girls to an excellent table and then took their drink orders before departing the table. The girls began to look over the menu.
“Hey, there are no prices on the menu,” Kelly noticed.
“I bet you have a heart attack when you get the bill,” Trista added.
Abbie laughed and explained, “When I got my package, the resort representative told me that everything was included, food, drink, activities, and even tips. He said we could tip, but it’s not necessary because the cost per night covers their tips.”
“Wow! That is great,” Kelly said.
“Should be for 4K a night,” Trista added. “I just wish I knew what the most expensive thing on this menu is.” The girls all laughed at her comment. They selected dinner entrees with Abbie’s help and were not disappointed. The meal was delectable, the portions huge. When the desserts came, the girls could barely finish. After their meal, the girls headed to their villa. Gerald had been exactly where he said he would be and ran up to the girls smiling.
“Was your dinner yummy?” Gerald asked. Abbie was delighted at his enthusiasm.
“Yes, it was incredible,” she said, smiling. Gerald escorted them back to their villa. He chatted the whole way, explaining how not to get lost in the resort. The information he offered was really helpful. When they arrived at the room, Heidi opened the doors and let them in. Gerald made his farewells and ran back down the hall out of sight.
“Welcome back. I hope your dinner was enjoyable,” Heidi said.
“It was incredible,” Abbie said.
“I can’t wait to try another dish,” Kelly said as she headed to her room.
“I am glad you enjoyed it. Der Teller serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but if you want some more contemporary food, our kitchen is open twenty-four hours and will deliver just about anything at anytime of day or night,” Heidi explained.
“That sounds good. Do they make salads?” Trista asked.
“Of course, my favorite is the Caesar salad,” Heidi replied.
“Hey!” Kelly said as she came back out of her room. “All my clothes are unpacked and placed in the drawers and on hangers.”
“Yes, of course,” Heidi replied. “It’s my duty to do such things.”
“She ironed everything!” Kelly said. “You rock, Heidi.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Heidi smiled.
“Now I get it,” Abbie said. “That is why we get a female steward, because of our unmentionables.”
“That is one reason, yes,” Heidi said. Abbie and Trista went into their rooms and found much the same treatment.
“She is good,” Trista said.
“I get better,” Heidi said, smiling. “I managed to get you three passes to the VIP lounge in the club.”
“They aren’t part of the package?” Kelly asked.
“No, not for the Empress package, but Stefan’s group, the Smiths, have the Emperor package. They declined them as they have several children with them and expected that they would not make use of them. So he brought them over to me,” Heidi explained.
“Well, I think we’ll accept,” Abbie said. The girls spent the next few hours planning their itine
rary for the remainder of the week with Heidi. After they had plotted their activities, they began getting ready to go clubbing. Once everyone had gotten dressed to kill, they made their way down to the club. When they got to Nuclear Fission, the club was already hopping. The DJs were in full mode, and everyone was dancing. It was unusual to see two DJs spinning in perfect tandem, but they had their skills well in hand. They were blasting the electro house sounds that are very popular in Europe and the United States. The girls hit the dance floor. The beats were invigorating, and they let loose.
“These DJs are sick!” Kelly yelled.
“They are really good,” Abbie agreed.
“They call themselves Twinz Beatz. They are famous in South Florida!” Trista said. The girls continued to dance for the next hour and gathered the attention of many club goers. They eventually decided to head up to the VIP lounge. It was located high above the dance floor. As they entered, the girls were surprised to be among several recording artists and movie stars. They found a nice table and watched in awe as the stars came and went.
“Are you enjoying yourselves?” a familiar voice asked. The girls looked up and were surprised to see Stefan standing by their table. He was dressed in very fine clothes.
“Thanks for the passes Stefan, and yes we are having a great time,” Abbie replied.
“Why are you here?” Trista asked.
“The Smiths had four VIP passes. I gave you three and kept one for myself,” Stefan explained smiling.
“Won’t you get in trouble for that?” Abbie asked.
“Not if you don’t tell on me,” Stefan answered with a smile.
“It’s the least we can do,” Kelly answered.
“Well, I’m heading back to the dance floor. I am rehydrated now. Have a good time,” Stefan said.
“Thank you again, Stefan,” Abbie said.
“Thanks,” Kelly said.
“Oh, one last thing, I don’t drink alcohol, but if that’s something you like, the servers never check ID up here,” Stefan said and winked. Then he walked back downstairs.
