Pure Shores

Chapter One: room 202

Cherie's P.O.V

The first time I heard of the beach was when I first got to Indonesia. Room 202 to be specific, in a cheap, rundown, tourist infested motel. It was described as heaven on Earth. With the purest water and sand ever seen with only few being able to find it and I was so desperate to be one of those few. I wanted nothing more than to be able to see this heavenly place with my own two eyes. To feel wanderlust like this was unknown for even me, a 'professional' tourist. I knew that I'd have to get there no matter what.

My name is Cherie McIntyre and this is the story of the best and worst experience of my life.

After 14 hours, 19 minutes and 32 seconds I landed in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, at 10:36pm and I was not prepared at all. It was so busy and hectic. Cars, tourists, buildings everywhere. I'd never seen anything quite like it before.

At the time I set off on my journey backpacking I was 19 years old. Since my sister, Katy, died when she was 7 and I was 10 I had felt this need to travel and see the world. We always said we would travel together and I never wanted to break that promise to her, so here I was, all the way in Indonesia hoping that she could see me and that she'd be proud of how far I've come. It's kind of scary to think that I was far away from home in Indonesia all by myself but that didn't seem to phase me at the time. I was so desperate to explore the world and see everything I could before it was too late.

You're probably thinking "yeah, but how did you find out about the beach?" Well, it's kind of a crazy story...

So after spending around half an hour trying to find where I was staying. It's beaming blue lights (which only worked on some letters) called to me. After checking into the Blue Sapphire Motel and unpacking my things I dived on to the bed. Exhausted, I began to fall asleep, dreaming of all the experiences that I may have whilst here. I already couldn't wait for what the future held for me as I began to realise that I was living every backpackers dream. Picture this for an example, a dusty old room decorated with cobwebs and mould but in my mind it was a beautiful beach with a clear ocean. Each gigantic wave giving me something new, unseen and beautifully magical before my eyes. The white hot sand and blazing sun collided in my mind and everything was a pure paradise. Slowly, I began to drift off thinking of this paradise and how it was possibly the most beautiful thought I'd ever had. That's when things changed.
Suddenly, I heard a loud crash from right outside my door.

Banging.  Knocking.

Who was this? Their banshee screams howled through the old rackety Motel.
"Jay!? I know you're in one of these rooms Jay! You're not leaving me like this again!!"
Jay? Who was Jay?
Whoever this 'Jay' was and if he was in fact in this motel, he didn't answer the door which only caused more hassle from her.
"Open the fucking door, Jay, I'm going to tell everyone what you did to me!!" She screeched. I wondered what did he do to her and why doesn't he just answer the door to her?

Then out of nowhere, she stopped.

The corridor went eerily silent.

I thought she may have calmed down but I guess I was wrong. She started whispering and at first I couldn't decipher what she was saying but I did understand something.
'Pure Shores'
She said it over and over again like she was brainwashed or something.
I wanted to help her but at the same time I was worried of putting myself in danger. I mean come on, the Motel was filled with tourist junkies and she could've easily been one of them. After all, if only just got here. Looking back on it now I wish I would've helped her. She was warning me.

As she carried on, I looked through the tiny slit in my door and got the shock of my life. There she was, this manic woman walking up and down the corridor whispering and scratching herself senseless in her ripped dirty clothes. How was nobody else hearing or seeing this?? I started to question my surroundings, it felt like some horrible nightmare that would never end. Was she really there?

After repetitive whispering she cried, for hours. I felt so bad for her. You've got to really fuck with a girls head to get her to that state. Even though I didn't know the full story or any of the story in fact, I still felt bad for her and was angry with 'Jay'. One, for keeping me awake and two, for making her feel that way. I'd never seen someone so upset before and it was such a horrifying sight to see.

I was still very confused about one thing though. Pure Shores...what did that mean??
I don't know why she decided to say this at this time on this night outside my room but she did and I really should've listened to it. It was a warning. A warning that I dismissed. A red flag flying high yet too high to be able to fully see it. I hope if she is still alive that she reads this and that she is okay and safe and that I wish I would've listened to her warning.