A Memoir: The Deaths of Janet Marley

E.K Morgan

Foreword

Everybody has a destiny, mine is to die. Everyone dies once, while I die multiple times. Everyone has a choice, but mine was taken away. Now I am sick of it.

Chapter 1

Another sunny day in California has just ended. The sun had set over the ocean; water's normal blue-green changed into a scarlet color. Powerful waves crashed on the rocks, the streetlights turned on, and the tourists swarmed to the nearest bar. I just came from the spa. My body felt good with its fake tan, the massage, and mango scrub. I entered Club Paradise my favorite place to go at night, and I walked to the bar. The smell of my exotic perfume filled the room with its flowery aroma.

I sat in front of the bartender, tried to show some leg to the guys at the table. She was taller then me by a couple of inches (not including the heels), was a natural blonde (a rare species in this town), and wore glasses that had bright purple frames.

"Oh no, here comes trouble." She said wiping down the counter.

"Hey Shana."

"Did you have another perfect day today?" she said sarcastically.

"It'll be perfect when I get drunk."

"The usual then."

She brought out a big red martini glass with the name Janet in gold cursive (I have been here a lot), and she poured her "special mix" into the glass.

"Thanks." I said while handing her a hundred. Then I daintily held my glass, and sipped the alcohol down my throat. Shana took the money in her pocket; she already knew I would be here for a while.

As I ordered another "Janet Special" (it's awesome when a drink gets named after you. I know how Bloody Mary feels) a man came up to me. He was good-looking fellow (but everyone in California is) about 26, with blonde hair; blue eyes, and looked like a rock star with his tight pants.

"Do you want to dance?" He asked rather timidly. It was cute.

I slammed my glass on the counter and snapped my head towards him. "Hold it! You just come up to some random girl, and ask her to dance thinking she'll go all gaga you when you bat your little blue eyes at her?" Half way through my rant he started to sweat. "Well I got something to say to you! Sure I'd love to dance, but can have a name first?"

He gave me one of those WTF looks, but laughed. "I guess I'm dealing with a mean drunk."

"She's the meanest." Shana chimed in.

I glared at her for a good minute and turned to the guy who's still chuckling. "You sure got me, I'm Peter, Peter Jacobson."

"I'm Janet Marley according to my cup." I said pointing towards my glass.

"You're definitely funny Miss Janet Marley, how about that dance?"

I finished my drink and jumped out of my chair. "Hope you can keep up."

He smirked and gracefully followed me to the dance floor. After a couple of hours I knew three things.

1. I was going to need a cab home because I'm too drunk to drive

2. Peter was a fantastic kisser (although I feel I have met him somewhere before).

3. There was an angry red haired woman marching towards me.

"You w&0#$, you complete and utter b1&$ !" She yelled pulling me out of his arms and punched my face which didn't hurt as bad as it should since I'm drunk.

"What are you doing with my boyfriend? You piece of trash." The woman snarled glaring at me with her jade eyes, and then she pulled out a knife and stabbed me in the gut. I collapsed; my body curled up on the ground like a dead spider.

My hot blood ran down my body, her bony fingers tugged and ripped my hair out (which hurts a lot even if I am drunk), then she laughed a weird chirpy laugh as she kicked me with her steel toed boots. My vision had gone black; I heard the screams of bystanders and Peter yelling "You're killing her, stop..." I didn't quite catch her name because I was dead.
* * * * *

Brrriiiiinnnnggg! Brrrriiiiiinnnnngg!

I punched my alarm clock, and woke up. I looked at my stomach to see a long white scar next to many penny-sized scars. My fake tan was gone, my exotic perfume gone; the dress was in my closet undisturbed. My hair was all in knots; my body was sore and my breath smelt like an open casket ripe, metallic, and all around bad.

I know I said I was dead yesterday and technically it's true. I am not a zombie or a ghost, it's a lot more complicated but for right now I need a shower, and my toothbrush (I hate morning breath).

It all started at the end... of my relationship with a guy named Damon Quid. Unbeknownst to me Damon was some sort of god-like being (what kind of god is named Damon Quid?) who could bend time and space. So he cursed me to die, for every tear he has shed. (Did I really dump him that harshly? Big baby, that's one reason I dumped him.) He gave me the best day ever at the end of the day he would kill me (well not directly I die in rather odd ways i.e. death by killer seagulls). Then I would wake up in my house to endure the process again (after a couple of hours as a cold dead body), kind of like the movie Groundhog Day only far more gruesome.

So far I'm up to death #1381… well #1382 now and I still have a way to go. After that he would either let me live on with my life, or I'll go to the big place in the sky (either way I would be away from the nut, but I didn't know when that will be).

Today like always was sunny never a day of rain (apparently it makes Quid sad). Did I mention he was always watching me? Ok, almost always. He doesn't like it when I kissed other guys, and hopefully he doesn't watch me when I shower, but I could never tell when he does. Quid watched so he can prevent me from doing something stupid, like tell someone about my little dilemma.

I exited my hot shower (one of the only perks in my curse; no cold showers) and wore a blue blouse and a simple white skirt (you probably won't see me in pants I'll explain later). Suddenly my house filled with the sound of the song, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" by Kenny Chesney, which actually was my doorbell (to be honest, I had the doorbell before Quid… let's just say I knew a guy). I thought it's probably some guy saying I won a million dollars or some trip to Hawaii.

I fixed my hair and opened the door to see a man with too much Botox holding a gigantic check for $1,000,000 "You, lucky lady, have won a trip to Oahu and have $1,000,000 to shop with."

I screamed like a normal person would, but I've seen this before and the luster fades after a while. And in case you are wondering how I was suppose to enjoy a day in Hawaii if I am stuck on a plane for 4 hours, that's where Quid came in. Quid could send me anywhere in a couple of minutes, a Quid perk.

"Miss, come this way to your limo."

"A limo!" This was actually new.

I followed the man to the limo, my guess was that he was going to kill me for the check or the limo drivers gonna, with Quid you never knew how things will turn out.

"Can I take a second to …uhh … pack?" The man, whose name is Dustin Meyers, stiffly nodded. I rushed up to my room and grab my cell. Dialing the only person who knew everything, Shana Melick (pronounced Mel-lick not Me-lick).

When I said I was not allowed to tell anyone wasn't entirely true. Quid allowed me to tell her for two reasons.

1. I needed to tell someone so that I don't go insane, because then it wouldn't be as fun for him, watching me rave like a lunatic.

2. She is a bartender, and even Quid spills out secrets when he is drunk… like saying he is a powerful being that can control time and space. So she promised not to tell, but Quid owes her.

She remembers everything that happens, but she can't interfere when I am about to be stabbed, burned, run over by elephants (death # 345), shot, etc. If she did help or tell anyone, Quid would probably kill her too… or worse.

"Shana."

"Hi Janet, what did he set up for you today?"

"He gave me a trip to Hawaii and a million dollars to shop with."

"Can I come?" She knows how this will end, but she deserves to enjoy herself.

"Hey Botox guy, can I bring a friend?" I yelled. For a moment there was silence.

"Yes, and I don't have Botox!" It sounded like he was going to add something else but decided to be quiet.

"Shana, did you hear that or do I have to repeat it?"

"I'm already in the car with a bottle of rum and a box of Twix. I'll meet you at the airport, Hawaii!" I laughed then shut my cell.

I grabbed my purse and ran to the limo. "Aloha!"