"The Last Resort."

This short story contains some sexual and violent content along with substance abuse.

“The Last Resort.”

“Congratulations! You are the second person to win an all expense paid trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida! How do you feel? What is going through your head right now at this life-changing moment?”

“Well, Ron, I guess I will have to start packing!” The audience laughs and claps at Susie’s response.

After purging most of her possessions, Susie packed her essentials, and all of her favorite comfort items. Nothing else mattered. Susie was perfect in every way. Her mother made her wash her face five times a day, so that she would not end up looking like her- all shriveled up and wrinkly with puffy eyes, and acne.

 As Susie pulled up to the resort in her red rental car, she noticed a cemetery nearby. She, stuck in traffic, rolled down her window only to hear the screams of a mother who was burying her child. It was one of the saddest moments Susie had ever had. Susie never forgot the cries of the mother, but she was not going to let it ruin her well-earned trip to Florida during the best summer she had ever had. She would soon be in Heaven along with many beautiful people, but first-things-first, the trip of a lifetime.

Leaving chilly Arkansas for Florida was a dream come true for Susie. This was her first time out of the state, and it was a fourteen-hour drive- the longest trip Susie had ever taken. The sun, the palm trees, the beach all appealed to Susie. This would be precious Susie’s last trip.

Susie checked into her room at the resort, she was starving, and in need of a strong drink. Vodka and tonic with lime. The more lime slices- the better, and it had to be their best tonic. None of the cheap crap she was used to. Exhausted from her trip- the drink was exactly what she needed in order to get a good night’s rest.

“May I have a vodka tonic with limes?” she asked her new bartender who wore a nametag that read, “Jacob.”

 “Coming right up. Would you like to try my special ingredient?”

 “Um, sure. What is it exactly?”

 “Something extra to give your drink a special kick. By the time you finish your drink- you will be in Lalaland. You will be as happy as you can be.”

Susie was trusting, and she thought the bartender, Jacob, was as cute as could be. She drank his drink, and it was the first time that Susie had ever been drugged, and she liked it.

After drinking the toxic beverage, Susie made it to her room. Her room was beautiful. Stunning actually. She enjoyed studying the teal wallpaper. She took a hot bath in the jacuzzi. She, then, fixed herself up quite nicely. She did her hair up in a way she had never tried before, and she was impressed by the job she had done. Then, she made her way back to the bar for round two of her new favorite beverage.

  “You seem like a happy person. Calm and collected. Would you like something stronger? Absinth? Everclear, maybe?” asked Jacob.

 “Let’s get crazy. Absinth it is.” Said Susie who had never tried the stuff before. She did not know what she was getting into. She was a little nervous, but after a few small sips, she felt delighted. Blissful even. “When does your shift end?” she asked Jacob. “I’d like to have you over for my catered dinner.”

Now, in her mid-thirties, it had been a long time since Susie had been sexually assaulted. She did not trust men for the longest time, but, somehow, she trusted Jacob. What harm could he do? He was a well-known bartender with kind eyes. Susie enjoyed tipping, and she tipped Jacob quite well for introducing her to this new, green drink. He even lit it on fire, and he melted two sugar cubes to sweeten it.

 “Would seven o’ clock be okay? The kitchen is going to make me a special Shepherd’s Pie. I am so excited about it. I would love to share it with you. You are good company, and I like your style,” said Susie.

 Jacob was five-foot-ten, and Susie was short, and petite. Jacob liked bigger girls, but he could not pass on the kitchen’s special Shepherd’s Pie, and he already knew that Susie would be a quick fix. She would be his first victim. He would throw her body out somehow.

  Jacob entered Susie’s room at seven o’ clock on the dot, and he had his secret ingredient in his pocket.

 “What was your secret ingredient, Jacob? It’s got me all loopy,” said Susie.

 “It’s just an old potion done up by a friend. A witch friend. Here, I’ll sprinkle a little on your pie. Will that make you feel better?”

“Yes, please,” replied Susie.

The meal was amazing! Four-stars amazing, and with Jacob’s special sprinkle, Susie was off with the fairies. Drunk and in love thanks to Jacob- Susie’s new love interest.

 “Would you have gone out with me had we met differently?” she asked.

  “We did meet differently, and we are on a date now, are we not?” Jacob replied.

Then Susie took her top off, and asked, “Can we make love? Whatever you gave me makes me want to make love.”

After they had their adult private time- Jacob did just as he wanted to. He forced Susie’s mouth open, and poured his special ingredient down her throat. Within one minute- Susie could not breathe. She died quickly, and Jacob threw her body out of the bathroom window into the ocean below so that he was not seen.

 Jacob returned back to work as if nothing had happened, and a woman named Cheryl approached him at the bar. She was dressed in a black dress, and she wore red stilettoes. She must have been a licensed cosmetologist as her makeup was impeccable.

 “May I have a vodka tonic with extra limes, please?” She asked Jacob.

“Sure!” Jacob replied happily. “Would you like to try my special ingredient? It will make you feel great.”