I had walked for an entire day. And now, I was tired. So tired, in fact, that I actually checked into a four star hotel instead of a five star one.

To spend my night, of course.

The innkeeper, like everyone else, was a hooligan. However, he was a rather sober one. I was lucky to find such a sane idiot.

“Hello sir!” said the innkeeper.

“Hi. I’m looki-”

“For a room, yes. Unfortunately, all our rooms are full.”

“Well, uh, nevermi-”

“Of course we have a room! Was just kidding. Here are your keys…”

He handed me a keychain with probably twenty or thirty keys on it.

“Uh…which key is the right one?”

“All of them. There is no such thing as only one right key. Such a view is bigoted, close-minded and arrogant.”

“Uh…alright.” I said, and walked off to room 2734562895 where I was to spend my night.The room was nicer than I imagined. I guess it’s a five star hotel with a four star status. The bathroom was very clean. Shiny, sparkly clean.

Someone knocked on my door. I ran over to open it.

“Ciao mista uh er…”

“Just Mr. will do fine, thanks.”

“Ah yes, mista, no thank you.”

“Err?”

“Well, I was not saying that you can come to me anytime if you need anything.”

“Uhm, okay. Good night!”

“Good morning and hello!” she said and went off.

***

The flowers were everywhere. Pink, blue, yellow, green, purple, black. All of them, everywhere. It was terrifying.

“Son.” A voice called out.

“Who is that?” I asked, afraid.

“Be still. Know that I’m with you.”

“Aaah! Stay away evil one!”

“I shall give you the strength that you lack. I sha-”

“No! I don’t lack anything!”

“I shall give you a cup of coffee…”

“No! I hate coffee!”

“Alright then, I shall give you a cup of tea…”

“Yes, that’s much better!”

And then I woke up. What a dream. What a nightmare.

I shivered. The air conditioning was freezing cold. I fumbled for the controller in the darkness- found it- and made it a little warmer. Much better.

And then I fell back to sleep. Thankfully, without any nightmares.

The next morning, after brushing my teeth and washing my face, I walked straight over to the café where my breakfast was to be served.

Yum! My tummy full, I bid farewell to the innkeeper and went on my journey. But, before that, I asked him where to find this Jack Sparrow.

“Him? Well, try walking along the lonely street.”

“The lonely street? You mean on the boulevard of broken dreams?”

“Yes, yes.”

***

Three days and three nights of walking took their toll on me. I was tired. But finally I came upon a city. “Hooligania” the sign said.

“Not good.” I said to myself.

Out of nowhere, a hooligan came up to me.

“Hello my brother!”

I played along. He must not know I’m a pure born.

“Hello my brother!” I said, with my trademark Jamaican accent.

“You speak weird.” He said, and continued, “Would you like to be my partner in the Stuntliseum? It will be fun!”

“Well, I would love to. But I’m looking for this man named Jack Sparrow.”

“Ah him…yes, yes. I know him. But first you need to be my partner at the Stuntliseum. For awhile only. Then I’ll tell you where to find him.”

Sounds like a good deal. This “Stuntliseum” can’t be all that bad.

I was wrong. It was bad. Very bad.

I quaked like a Quaker. I was chained up to my partner. And given a “defense vest”. Made out of paper. Should be some good defense.

“Your objective,” said a voice coming from a loudspeaker above us. We were in a tunnel that lead into the Stuntliseum. Well, just imagine the gladiators coming into the arena at the Coliseum and you will save me the agony of describing it.

“Is to jump into a pit…” The voice paused. For effect.

“Filled with vertically pointing sticks.” Pause. More effect.

“Sharp sticks.”

I’m dead.

“Those who survive,” the voice continued.

“Will have to face the abomination of destruction.”

A loud gasp of fear resounded throughout the stadium.

I’m buried.


To Be Continued…