Trouble In Paradise

Chapter 18: Revelation

The next day I woke up 4:00. That is how excited I was that day. I have always wanted to play paintball. I tried sleeping, but it proved quite impossible.

I need to do something, I thought to myself.

I realised that I have been neglecting jogging. Without any second thoughts I got out of bed and changed from my sleepwear and took out my jogging clothes out. A blue shorts and a red top, Nike sneakers along with my outfit. I signed out by the receptionist and stepped out of Rondor Resort.

I inhaled slowly and stepped forward, starting slowly jogging. I went along the shoreline of the beach. My thoughts is that Joshua named this beach Rondor Beach or something that starts with Rondor. I grinned at the thought.

Rondor Shoreline.

Rondor Bay.

Rondor Resort Beach.

Rondor Resort Bay.

Rondor Shores.

Hmm. Wonder what else is there. I jogged past the hospital, thinking of the boredom I had to suffer. Then a thought came into my mind. What else does this place offer to do? I'll check the schedule when I get back.

I saw an elderly couple limping towards the beach.

They look like they don't have much time before they go, I thought to myself. I looked at the orange sky dawning for morning. If I had a watch, I would see what time it is. Maybe it is time to get back. I decided to jog to the further end if the beach, then sprint back to Rondor Resort. Soon, I ended up by the beach and took a few pockets of air before leaving. When I was done, I readied myself, getting set, and ran like a mad dog.
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I came back in the room sweating. I went to the bathroom and dried myself with a towel. When I came back, to my surprise, Jessica was sitting upright on her bed, panting. I rushed over to her. "Hey, are you alright?" I asked, genuinely worried.

She looked at me and replied, "I'm fine."
"You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I said I'm fine!" She snapped.

I stared at her.
"I.... I'm sorry Chad."
"It's okay." I looked at the clock.

04:38.

"Chad, can you keep a secret?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Not here. Maxwell might hear."

So we stalked to the kitchen, trying not to wake Maxwell up. "Okay," she started, "you cannot tell Max this okay? This is something huge. And it has to do with him."
"Okay?" I said questioningly.

"Okay, here goes nothing. This necklace," Jessica took out a necklace that had many engravings on, "is something important to the Krugers."
"Did you always have that?" I asked.
"Yeah, I never took it off. How come did you not know? Don't you like my boobs?"

I nearly choked on my quite clear embarrassment, my face red. "Sorry, wrong timing. Anyway. This amulet belongs to Max. This was crafted during World War II, just when Hitler became the dictator. Soldor Kruger, Maxwell's great grandfather assembled this masterpiece to keep it as a momento of the war. He had put something inside this amulet that is worth a fortune or two."

"He told his son - Maxwell's grandfather, Josef - to keep this safe. But Soldor was an overprotective father and kept Josef in the one neighbourhood and nowhere else, which explains his adventurous spirit. When his father died, Josef immediately left Germany and went to America. That was when he fell in love with his neighbour. My grandmother, Amanda. They married without having a child. Soon Josef became restless with the amulet, but he did not know how to open it. He became obsessed and spent no time with my grandmother. Amanda and Josef had a falling out. Things became heated so my grandmother took the amulet and Josef never saw it again."

"Amanda moved out and hired a private investigator to spy on Josef. She learned that he became a sailor and "sailed to the furthest seas". Soon Amanda married again and made a beautiful daughter named Mary, my mom. Josef had a daughter as well. My mother married and made yours truly. Josef's daughter had a son. Only three years later it was revealed that it was Maxwell Kruger."

"On my grandmother's deathbed, she gave me this amulet. She told me to keep it safe. To think she trusted me than her own daughter, it means a lot to me."

I could not believe my ears. "Damn, I thought I had a complicated life."
Jessica gave me an unconvincing smile. "Hey," I held her shoulders, "don't worry. I'm sure Amanda wouldn't regret giving this to you."

"Thanks Chad. That.....that means a lot to me." Jessica said, then she hugged me. I felt her warm chest breathe rapidly against my cool chest. Her hair smelled of lavender. I was slightly disappointed when she let go of me. "Try to get some sleep." I said. Jessica nodded. "If you can't sleep, I'll help you." I continued with a smirk. She presented a genuine smile this time. I climbed onto my bed and watched Jessica fall asleep. I really like her. All my thoughts were about her, until my eyes became lead and shut tight.
                         ************
As I awakened, I heard Jessica rapping softly "Mockingbird". I got up and said, "I never knew you like Eminem."
"What? Just because I'm a girl I'm supposed to like love songs?" She said.
"Just saying." I said with my hands in a surrendering position.
"I like Eminem too." Maxwell jumped in.
"That's no surprise." Jessica said.
"Morning sunshine." I said cheekily.
"Mornin' Zombie."

A frown latched onto my face. "Really? Zombie? I was never dead, I was just resting."
"That's what they all say."
"Dead men tell no tales. Remember that saying?"
"Hmph."

I checked the time, not wanting to be late to be covered in colours.

10:13.

I walked to the activity schedule. Paintball starts at 12:00, so we still have time to prepare. "Guys, start preparing. I wanna be the first to be at the paintball field." I told Jessica and Maxwell.
                        **************
We stood at the beach for half an hour just waiting for the cart or whatever Joshua plans on picking up the residents. Probably a limo. On a beach? I don't think so.

"I told you we shouldn't have come so early." Maxwell moaned.
"Max, quit whining." I said.
"We've been waitin' here for at least thirty minutes. My legs are cramping."
"Oh my God, just stop!" Jessica yelled.
Maxwell's mouth became tighter than a bank vault.

Far out in the distance, a long vehicle arrived with many passengers on it. When it stopped by us the driver said, "You going to the paintball?"
"Yes." I said. The driver had a long pointy nose with sharp ears. This guy could be an elf for all I know. "Hop on." He said. Jessica, Maxwell and I went to the back of this vehicle. It was like a combination of a limo and a golf cart with cup holders by the armseats and small televisions built in the chair. On the television screen Joshua appeared. "I love driving." He said. "So if I want to be safe, I always buckle up."
"Buckle my ass Rondor." I muttered under my breath. I saw everyone buckle their seatbelts, including Maxwell and Jessica. When they were done, everyone stared at me as if I killed Joshua with a machete brutally. "Fine, fine! I'll buckle up."

I adjusted the strap slightly and fitted it into the lock. As I watched the quiet scenery I hummed "The wheels on the bus" for no apparent reason. Finally, I get to shoot people with colours. Get ready to be splattered folks, 'cause Chad came to town!