Death is Only the Beginning

Ten Years Later

"Trust me Casey all you have to do is read out this speech from me and you'll get a holiday to boot. Please" 

Casey listened to her roommate pleading with her, her heavy sigh filling the air in exasperation and resignation. Why had she stayed her all this time instead of finding a new place or apartment to rent. Because she couldn't afford to, that's why. But there were times she wished she could, especially in times like this. Besides it's not like she had been to a sororoty let alone what they were actually like. If it was a bunch of rich snobby people it was not a vacation like Sandra claimed it was. 

"What exactly is the speech about?" she asked hesitantly. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, a short one that she could do and then come back? Maybe just maybe there was a chance Sandra was telling the truth and it would be a relaxing vacation. After all Sandra did not vacation like a normal person did. There would be no way it would be small cabin in the middle of nowhere though Casey liked that sort of thing. There was something about it being so simple and so tranquil. 

"It's to do with how sorority life was, the different things we took part in as sisters and how it changed my life for the better. A sort of tribute to the Sorority and sisterhood" Sandra explained as Casey fought the urge to roll her eyes. 

Her roommates voice was breezy but hoarse from coughing, her face pale and haggard with dark circles under her eyes. Casey felt a tiny smidge of sympathy for her, still not exactly the best of friends despite having lived together for over two years now. They just hadn't clicked, civil to each other but nothing really more than that so Sandra requesting her assistance was definitely not expected. In fact if anything it made her suspicious. After all this was her sorority why wasn't she pushing herself to attend? It's not like she would know any of these people that Sandra had gone to university with back in the day. It literally made no sense to ask Casey to do this. She must be really desparate or she had an ulterior motive. She suspected the latter. 

"You do need a holiday" Sandra urged her, eyes dull as she tried to convince Casey to go. 

Casey had been working non stop lately, even seven days a week on occasion due to staff shortages. She didn't mind though because she genuinely enjoyed her job as an instructor at the local shooting range. Sure it didn't pay a massive amount of money but she could use it for free when she wasn't working and a lot of the regulars were polite and friendly to her. It was a lot better than being a waitress she thought and a lot more interesting. 

"But I've never even heard of this so called Mist Fall Island" Casey protested weakly. 

Sandra waved her objections away "trust me it will be exclusive darling. A sorority reunion is nothing but luxury and you'll be surrounded by lots of girls with stories to tell."

"Why don't you just explain that you can't make it" Casey said numbly, all the fight starting to leave her as Sandra shot her a disbelieving glance. 

She thrust the ticket at Casey in exasperation "why waste a perfectly good ticket" she exclaimed "not only the plane ticket but one for the ferry there all paid for. Food provided, accommodation in a luxurious cabin style holiday home and a chance to relax and go swimming."

Casey was suspicious "why exactly would you choose me to go though. I mean no offense but we aren't exactly the best of friends. Don't you have an actual friend you could ask?"

Sandra gave her a guilty smile "I thought that if you went I could take advantage of being the only one at the apartment for the week. I haven't really had much time to spend with the boyfriend....." she trailed off as Casey rolled her eyes. As she had thought initially Sandra had an ulterior motive. She thought that it was at least decent of her to tell the truth but it still stung slightly nonetheless. Besides if whe was well enough for that type of fun then she was certainly well enough to attend this damn reunion wasn't she? For heavens sake sometimes she felt like such a doormat sometimes. She had always found it hard to refuse or say no to someone. 

"It's not that I don't like you Casey" Sandra added hastily as Casey just chuckled at her, knwoing very well that was the polite way of putting it. Neither of them hated each other, they just didn't like spending a lot of time in each other's company. 

What the hell thought Casey. She was owed almost six weeks vacation time from all of her overtime and usual annual leave not to mention all the sick days she had accumulated. Even her boss had hinted that she should take some time off, knowing that she didn't do much besides work and go home. It was a pretty boring life she had if Casey was honest to herself. Would it really hurt her to go and relax. After all it was paid for already. Maybe the other girl's would be friendly and she would have a good time after all? Besides not all sorority sisters could be as bitchy as Sandra surely? Someone must be more likeable and to her taste. 

"Fine" she growled snatching the tickets as Sandra's eyes lit up triumphantly "I'll go if my boss approves the leave. But you promise it's only the one speech I have to give on your behalf?"

"I promise" Sandra said sweetly "all you have to do is read what I've written explaining that you are doing it on my behalf due to sickness. Nothing else. Thankyou Casey" she added with a squeal of delight.

The prospect of having to speak in front of a bunch of strangers was daunting even though she did it at her job everyday. But Casey was comfortable talking about gun safety and instructing how to shoot. This was completely out of her comfort zone. She knew nothing about Sororities let alone what it involved. She also had a suspicion that they  wouldn't like her but did she really care? A week at an island with swimming, free food and possibly pleasant company could be just the ticket to the stress she had been feeling of late, Casey knew she was a little rundown and burnt out, her job very demanding with its hours. Her boss had just hired a casual, so maybe it was the perfect time to go relax after all. At least she wouldn't be leaving him short handed. Besides her work would still be there when she got back, it's not like it was relocating or going anywhere. 

"I'll go call my boss" Casey said reluctantly as Sandra squealed again and gave her a hug. "You owe me a favour down the track though" she added darkly as Sandra quickly agreed, delighted at being able to see her boyfriend and have him sleep over without the awkwardness of having her roommate hear them.Or at least that's what Casey thought, it didn't necessarily mean it was the truth. 

As Casey had suspected her boss was more than willing to give her the time off, even going so far as to suggest that she take two weeks off instead of just the one. She took the offer, thanking her boss profusely who told her that she was a hard worker and a valuable employee and if she needed even more time to let him know. She hung up the phone and sighed. She glanced at the tickets with a small smile. Casey would need to pack her clothes and her important passport and documents because it looked like she was leaving the very next day, Sandra asking her to do this at the very last minute. Typical of her thought Casey with a groan. 

Her mind conjuring up all sorts of images of her swimming and relaxing by a pool she began to pack methodically, her swimsuit the very first thing she threw into her suitcase. She wasn't the type to pack a bunch of clothes she wouldn't even wear and she only needed her sneakers and thongs Casey decided. It's not like she would be going anywhere or doing anything that would require formal wear and she actually really hated skirts and dresses anyway, finding them very restrictive and tight. No shorts and shirts were her thing and that's what she would take. Why trade comfort in an effort to look good? The only people who were going to see her anyway were these so called sorority sisters. She had a feeling she could look utterly stunning and still be looked down for not having designer clothes. At least they were serviceable with no holes or stains on them. She didn't exactly have to dress in business clothes for her job so it was all she really owned. 

She shut the suitcase with a flourish, easily putting it near her door as it was still quite light rather than being overloaded. Mist Fall Island here I come. It would be an adventure she decided climbing into bed to get some sleep. If only she had known what kind of adventure it was, she never would have gone at all or even entertained the thought of it.