A Blinding Fate
Chapter 2
After the tragic elevator accident that resulted in the death of their sixth member, Yolanda, the group decides to move on and to head up to their rooms…by stairs. After contacting the school and Yolanda's parents about the accident, the group talks about their future plans.
TASHONYA: I just can't believe she's gone…
JAMIE: (With dried tear paths on his cheeks) I can't either…but we all know that when it's your time, it's your time.
Wanda cuddles up next to Jamie in sorrow.
WANDA: Hey…
JAMIE: Yeah?
WANDA: Do you remember about seven years ago, when that group of French students boarded the airplane?
JAMIE: Yeah, what of it?
WANDA: Well, if I recall, that plane stalled and went down, or something like that…
UMSTEL: You mean the students that died in the exact order that they were to die on the plane?
WANDA: Yeah, it was something like that.
JAMIE: What about it, Wanda?
WANDA: Well, do you think that…Well, I mean…Is it possible that…
JAMIE: That it might have any connection to our fates because we supposedly (Jamie does air quotes) "cheated death"?
WANDA: Well, yeah…Do you think it does?
JAMIE: No, not at all… That was just a coinc—
UMSTEL: Well, say it was going to happen to us…Who would be the first to die?
JAMIE: (Tries hard to recollect his premonition) Well, the students died in the same order that they were meant to die in the accident, so…if I remember correctly…
The students all turn and face him anxiously.
JAMIE: Oh my God…
TASHONYA: What? Who's next?
Jamie turns his head and glares at Wanda. A tear rolls down his cheek..
WANDA: Oh no….But it was just a hoax, right? A coincidence? That's not going to happen to us, is it?
Silence.
WANDA: Is it, Jamie?
More tears stream down Jamie's face.
JAMIE: (Takes a soft gulp). No, it shouldn't.
Wanda shakes her head in fear as she begins to back into one of the rooms.
WANDA: I need some time alone.
The door shuts behind Wanda. Wanda takes out her iPod and begins to listen to "Heartbreak Hotel", by Elvis. She sits on the bed in sorrow. Meanwhile, outside of the room, a blind man with a cane comes fumbling through the hall, practically bumping into the group. This is an awkward old blind man, who surely wouldn't be able to fend for himself in a large hotel.
UMSTEL: Well, about the students, weren't there various signs that they saw that foretold the death of the next victim?
JAMIE: I think that's right…
UMSTEL: Oh shit!
JAMIE: (Startled) What! What's wrong?
UMSTEL: Think about it. How often do you see a blind man walking about on the seventh floor with no one to guide him?
JAMIE: Blind…blind…blind…BLINDS! Fuck, you guys, the blinds on the windows! We gotta get Wanda!
The students constantly bang on the door, but Wanda cannot hear them because of her iPod. The door is chain-locked. Wanda is walking toward the balcony door to get a breath of fresh air. On her way, she trips on a bump in the rug, which causes her to fall forward toward the window. Her neck becomes hooked by the pulley cord on the blinds.
WANDA: Oh my God! Help me!
The students continue to break through the door. Wanda kicks a nearby heavy coat rack over in her attempts to escape her death, which hooks the opposite pulley cord and pulls it down to the ground, hanging Wanda in a tight noose. She coughs and chokes, but the cord won't give.
WANDA: (coughs). Help….me…ack argh….(coughs)…please….
Wanda continues to flail, but she cannot breathe, and her attempts are futile. Slowly, but surely, she is hung to her death. Meanwhile, other students notice her screams die down.
JAMIE: Noo! Keep fighting Wanda! (Hot tears stream down his face)
Jamie kicks the door three times, breaking it in on the third try. He runs over toward the window, and hugs his late girlfriend into his arms. He kisses her purple lips, and stares into her lifeless eyes. Umstel checks her pulse.
UMSTEL: Jamie…
A sobbing Jamie glares at Umstel.
UMSTEL: She's dead. I'm so sorry.
Tashonya and Quinton call the police and front desk from the room telephone as Jamie cries over his dead girlfriend.
