Paradise

Paradise

Elena Marie Reeves sits at her exquisite vintage 1940 vanity, adorned with delicate perfume bottles, sparkling jewelry, and a collection of her favorite beauty products, all conveniently within reach. One of the major style points of the vanity is the oversized round mirror. She takes a moment to remove the rollers from her hair. Her eyes languish over the vanity admiring the impeccable and meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail that has gone into the creation of the vanity. Despite its age, it still retains its rich, dark mahogany wood, exuding durability and a heightened sophistication, while maintaining sensibility. Its smooth, polished surface and elegant curves add a sense of grace and refinement. She had wondered how many famous women had sat and watched themselves prepare for an evening.   

Her eyes dart from the mirror to the wall-mounted TV adjacent to her vanity. The volume is low, and a banner flashes across the screen: “Woman Gets Long-Awaited Wish.” Elena pauses in her hair routine, finds the remote, increases the volume, and stares at the screen in awe.

Elena returns to her hair brushing out her curls, pulling her hair in a tight French roll. When completed she stares at her image moving her head this way and considering her style choice from every angle. Tonight she wanted to look perfect after all her big win was going to be seen by everyone in Madison, Wisconsin, or at least she hoped everyone would see it. 

Shifting her eyes from her own image in her mirror to the wall-mounted TV adjacent to the vanity she feels a spark of excitement shoot up her spine. She stops and stares at a photograph of her being shown on the TV. Quickly, grabbing the remote she pumps up the volume and hears the female announcer as her image fades into a larger banner that flashes across the screen: “Woman Gets Long-Awaited Wish” and stares at the screen in awe.

With rapt attention, she watches as the studio camera zooms in for a close 3/4 shot of the well-known and handsome evening newscaster, Max McKnight. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! This is Max McNight with our heartwarming story for the day. What can happen when, on a whim, a woman fills out a contest card at the local supermarket for a prize: a stunning closet makeover worth a staggering $50,000, created exclusively for her by none other than the international interior designer ‘ Zaid,’ and the contest was sponsored by his design firm a name everyone knows “Paradise Designs.” Zaid is joined on camera by his business partner interior designer, Sabrina.”

The two decorator’s portrait-style photographs appeared on the screen and then faded.

Max’s words are filled with a somewhat sounding forced energy. Turning full face to the camera, “Yes if you sincerely wish for what you want, your dreams might come true.” He closes giving the viewing audience one of his signature smiles.

The camera cuts to Elena standing beside an extensive banner reading “Paradise.” She is several feet away from Max.

The cameras follow Max as he approaches Elena he stops next to her he turns to the camera again giving a big toothy smile. Let me introduce you to the 2024 Paradise Designer Closet Makeover contest winner, Ms. Elena Reeves,” Max glances at his cue cards and continues without a pause. Elena resides in Madison, Wisconsin, and she is an executive assistant at Batman Shipping Company.” Max turned to Elena, nodding as if seeking her confirmation, and Elena responded with a slight nod and a warm smile.

“Yes, Max.”

“How long have you been at Bitman?”

“Uh, 22 years, Max.”

“That’s amazing Elena.” Max quickly turns back to the camera. “Let’s go to some onsite footage we shot yesterday when Elena’s dream closet was completed after a mere 30 days.”

The screen fills with Elena standing at the door to her newly completed home designer walk-in closet. Beside Elena stands Zaid, dressed in all black, looking exotic, smiling, and happy, and Sabrina next to him in a matching black outfit, her red pouty mouth and her smile match Zaid’s. Their names appear under their images.

The camera cuts back to Elena whose heart is racing with excitement. She keeps smiling and nodding at Max’s questions. “I understand there has been a significant change in your closet has changed in size.”

“Yes, yes, it has, Max.”

“What was the size of your closet before the remodeling?”

“Well, it was more like 3” X 4”; Max gives a short baritone laugh. “And now, how BIG is your new Paradise designer closet?”

“It is…” She pauses for dramatic effect, as instructed prior to the interview. “12’ X 16’.” Right on cue, Max gives a long whistle and repeats the dimensions. “Now that’s what I call a closet.”

Max moves a few feet away from Elena, and the cameras move in for his close-up. “Unfortunately, we have to wrap up our visit with Elena Reeves and her stunning Paradise dream closet. So to everyone who has a dream, don’t give up. You just might get what you want. Remember that sometimes, the most extraordinary things can happen when you get what you wish.”

Turning off the TV, she sits staring overwhelmed and happy, allowing herself to relive what she has just seen. Her thoughts turn to her high school years.

Smiling, she nods, thinking about what they will say when they see her story on television tonight.

Satisfied with her hairstyle, she gives one quick spritz of hairspray.

Admiring herself one last time, she walks to a glass cabinet and retrieves an evening shawl that matches her blue cocktail dress. A tremendous rush of joy takes over her mind and body for the millionth time. 

She rises and turns toward her sumptuous new closet. Her eyes drift over the contents of the room.

The bell tones signal a phone call is waiting.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s me.”

“Melissa. Did you see it?”

“Yes, was great, you were wonderful!”

“Thank you. I didn’t talk too much, did I? You know they tell you don’t talk too much. I was really trying to keep it short.”

“You did great. You got your wish, you got what you wanted”, Melissa paused, “I even remember when you said, that you would give anything to win the contest, and you did!”

“I remember.” Elena checked her watch.

“I won’t keep you I know you have dinner plans. Just wanted to tell you that you were great on TV and I am so happy you got what you wanted.”

Hanging up the phone Elena stands quietly, reflecting on her conversation with Melissa. Remembering her dinner, she checks her watch again.

Casting one final glance at her reflection in the vanity mirror, she walks toward the door at the front of her closet wonderland. She glides her fingers along the smooth racks; she admires the thoughtful arrangement of her clothes. Dresses, jackets, and slacks, all meticulously organized by color and length, form a visually stunning display. The walls are adorned with luxurious wallpaper featuring delicate floral patterns, adding a touch of sophistication to the room. The shelves and drawers are lined with soft cream-colored plush velvet. She passes hanging areas designed for her dresses, neatly arranged by color and length, to create a visually stunning display.

As Elena approaches the door, the room goes dark, devoid of windows, with only the overhead mood lighting for illumination.

“What the hell is this?” She stops walking, unsure of what action to take. Carefully, she begins to feel her way toward the door, still unsure of the location of items in the room. She can hear things falling around her, frequently stopping to regain her bearings. Midway through the room, she remembers a wall phone, stumbling toward it. To her dismay, the line is dead.

“What is going on here?” She turned back in the direction she came from, slowly feeling her way toward the door in the all-encompassing darkness. “Why didn’t I ask for a window,” she mumbles.

Elena inhales the acrid scent of smoke, unsure of where it is coming from. She continues to grope her way to what she thinks is forward, her heart pounding in her chest as panic intensifies.

“Help, help.” She cries out, her voice trembling in the darkness.

Hearing a crackling sound, she turned toward the direction of the noise, her eyes squinting and beginning to sting. A faint glow along the bottom of the door immediately catches her attention the ominous crackling sound grows louder.

The fire quickly spreads, roaring up the door and consuming the entire door in seconds the flames lick the ceiling, but the fire does not spread.

Elena backs up, moving toward her vanity; she screams at the top of her lungs. Strangely, the room does not fill with smoke, and the fire goes no further than the top of the door. 

“Help, Help me. Help fire.” Just as abruptly as the fire started, it was extinguished, and the lights in her room returned. Standing frozen, she stares at the door in disbelief. There is no damage to the door, and the smell of smoke is gone.

Looking around the room in disbelief, she murmurs, “Why is this happening?” Distraught, she runs toward the door and grabs the antique glass beveled doorknob. It does not turn.

Grabbing with both hands, she tries to turn the knob and pull it open. The door does not move. She begins pounding on the door, jerking from side to side as she tries to decide how to get out of the room. Turning towards the vanity at the opposite end of the room, she runs.

“Elena! "The voice is familiar. Stopping, she stands, eyes darting around the room.

“Elena, it’s me, Melissa.” Her voice softens.

“Oh, Melissa,” her voice worried and panicky, turning in the direction of the voice. 

“Melissa, I…” Elena stops mid-sentence as Melissa, Zaid, and Sabrina appear several feet into the room facing her. Melissa stood before her, wearing a solemn long-sleeved black dress. A thin, shadowy sheer fabric covers her face, her features barely visible. Sabrina stands behind Melissa her eyes menacing, dark, glazed, and terrifying. Zaid stands quietly behind Melissa, dressed in a black shirt and pants. His eyes are unwavering, dark, chilling, and sinister, he stares unblinking his lips in a tight line. at Elena.

Elena’s fear causes her pitch to rise sharply. “What are you doing here?”

Melissa stretches out a white hand tipped with sharp, pointed nails coated in black polish toward Elena. “It’s time Elena.”

Elena begins crying hysterically. “Melissa, what is wrong with you?” Together, Melissa, Zaid, and Sabrina slowly move toward Elena. The door behind them erupts in hot flames. The intensity of the flames causes Melissa’s head covering to slightly flutter.

Elena backs up. “What do you want? What do you want?” In unison, the three dreep slowly toward her. Glancing towards the floor she realizes their feet are not touching the carpet they are hovering as they advance.

Elena begins to scream at the top of her lungs. Picking up a handbag, she throws it toward the trio. The bag angles away from them, hitting the wall and falling silently onto the carpet.

“You must pay your debt.” Melissa’s voice is matter-of-fact and steady.  Melissa spreads her arms outward “Is this not what you asked for? We gave you what you asked for, now…come.” Again, Melissa extends her hand in Elena’s direction.

“No, I won’t, you, you can’t make me, it was just a contest.” Elena begins sobbing uncontrollably, her body shakes with fear.

“Silence! Melissa’s face remains stoic frozen yet her tone is clearly annoyed. “You got your wish, everything has a price, joining us is your price.”

The closet exit door again erupts in a hot encompassing raging flash fire Melissa then extinguishes.

The room goes dark again total darkness and a eery silence.

Elena’s blood-curdling scream echoes through the room then silence.

The phone bell rings softly alerting that a phone call is waiting… it the quiet and in the empty darkness it goes unanswered.