Life after Death: The Afterlife of Hezekiah Chamblee

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Pacifica Vista Suite

Hezekiah's POV

Back in the Nexus...

Pacifica Vista, the getaway island sanction of the Nexus.

Or as some of my friends and a few other residents called it, an actual paradise that makes the Caribbean and South Pacific Islands look like kid-centric themed parks.

From crystal-clear blue waters and lush yet tamed plant life to the white, sandy beaches and balmy yet comfortable temperatures, it is, according to Salgiel and Catia, a true destination for anyone and everyone who is looking to escape the city sprawls of Axis, need a break from suburbia, or an escape from Winterhaven. "The moment I stepped in Pacifica Vista was when I knew that I had found my Shan-Gri-La," Alvin had told me when I mentioned to him and the others about my planned vacation last week. "The ones back on Earth triggered my asthma and allergies since it was too...well, let's just say that my time spent in a cramped hotel relatively saved my life."

"The all-inclusive resort's the main attraction," Carolina commented. "I swear to you that it's like you've stepped into the Beverly Hills Hotel, the MGM Grand, and even the Waldorf-Astoria all in one, but like it's near the beaches! That place has everything and anything you could've ever imagined.

Ah, yes. the resort itself. Affectionately nicknamed "the Blue Emerald," the Pacifica Atlantis Hotel was indeed all those hotels Carolina mentioned plus all the ones in the islands and Europe all rolled into one. Fifteen stories high with half of the hotel rooms being suites themselves. Beachside bungalow-themed villas. Twelve gourmet restaurants and bars. A Vegas-themed casino (no money involved). An elite spa and salon. A fantastic golf course. And there was a medium-sized village that was a few blocks away for the beach bums looking to make their homes there, as well as two sets of condominiums and a small Pleasantville-themed suburban neighborhood.

All in all, Pacifica Vista was the ideal vacation that I could only imagine while in boarding school back on Earth while my family got to enjoy themselves for summer and holiday vacations. And now that I was currently checking in at the hotel itself, I was going to allow myself to have one memorable vacation and then some.

"We hope you'll enjoy your stay at the Pacifica Atlantis Hotel and Villas, Mr. Chamblee," a dark-skinned male seraph who introduced himself as Hosea told me as he handed me the keys to my room. "And be at ease when I tell you that both God and Lucifer themselves has given you all-access to this place and the neighborhood as you're free to visit and enjoy yourself whenever you please."

"Thank you," I said, surprised at the offer. "I never had anything like this before."

"We've all heard your story back on Earth and how you never had the proper chance to truly live life," Hosea explained. "It's such a pity that a young man of your caliber was denied the same human rights all because you were different from your birth family. May you truly discover what it's like to be who you can be."

I smiled thinly at his blessing.

"Hezekiah!"

I whirled around to see Chance dressed in a floral shirt and khaki shorts come over. "Chance," I breathed. "How did you-"

"Well, I mentioned to you that I was a bellboy here at the hotel and I knew that you planning a vacation here this week, so I figured that now is as good as ever to make sure that you truly have some fun," Chance replied. "Not only that, this is my week off so I figured that you could use come company.

"I'm glad for that. But are you sure that your boss won't mind?"

"Mr. Chamblee, Chance is one of our stellar workers here at the hotel," Hosea said. "Once I learned that you two were close friends back on Earth, I insisted that he spend some time with you and take the load off. Consider this as a gift for him and yourself."