Return to Bunny Isle extend preview

Return to Bunny Isle.

Vess tapped her fingers as she looked over the shelves of Wonderland drinks. “What am I going to do with this crap.” She sighed. “I thought raiding that magical place was such a good idea. Now I have a bunch of fantastical merchandise that no one wants.” She sighed. “I really need to rethink my business strategy. Well, at least my Pink Moon line still sells.”

She looked up as the front doorbell rang. “Well, finally.” She stood up. “About bloody time I have a customer.” Vess dusted off her jacket and smiled as the young lady walked up.

“Hello and welcome to Pink—

The lady giggled. “Hello yourself.” She held out an envelope. “You are Vess, right?”

“Umm. . .” Vess looked at the envelope in her white-gloved hand. “I am not in trouble, am I?”

“Oh no, no, no.” She shook her head. “Not at all. This is just a friendly invitation.

From one person who gives people new happy lives to another.” She winked. “We are extending an offer to our resort for all your hard work. We appreciate your work and think you deserve some time to relax.”

Vess laughed. “I didn’t think any. . .” She shook her head. “Wait, how the hell do you know what I do?”

The strange woman giggled. “We have our ways.” She set the envelope on the table. “Consider our offer.” She turned around and bounced out of the room. “We hope to see you soon.” Again, she giggled as she hopped out of sight.

Vess scratched at her head. “What in the world?” She looked down at the piece of paper on the table. “What is this nonsense? I feel like I am back in Wonderland.” She sighed. “Well, I better open this thing and see what is inside.” She ripped open the envelope. “Hmm. . .”

She pulled out the paper inside, covered in blue and gold trimming. “Bunny Isle welcomes you to a nice and relaxing weekend. We know that you work hard to bring joy to those around you, so we wish to show you that you are appreciated. Come and enjoy our world-class service. Become rejuvenated so you can continue to spread the joy that the world deserves.” The rest of the message described how Vess might reach this so-called Bunny Isle.

She sighed and set the message down. “Ya, this is very, very weird.” She rubbed her forehead. “How did these people know about me?” She ran her hand through her hair. “Ughh, well, that is a mystery I will have to figure out when I get there. Relaxation sounds very, very nice. Having a failing business is so frustrating.” She slammed her hand onto the table. “And getting a weekend resort for free is just so nice. I don’t care if it’s creepy. I need an escape.” She grabbed the parchment. “So, look out, Bunny Isle. Vess is coming and looking to crash your little party.”

***

Vess crossed her arms and paced around on the boat. “How long until we arrive.” She held her hand over her mouth. “I can’t stand being on the water. Why the hell did we have to take a boat? Why couldn’t we just fly?”

A young lady walked over and put her hand on Vess’s shoulder. “Are you alright?”

Vess shook her head. “No. Do I look alright?” She sighed. “Can you just tell me when we will arrive at our destination?”

“Umm, what are you talking about? This is a pleasure cruise, miss.”

Vess’s eyes widened. “Pleasure cruise? I didn’t sign up to go on a pleasure cruise. I am going to a place called Bunny Isle.”

The lady raised her eyebrows. “Umm, sure you are.” She directed Vess over to a nearby chair. “Now just relax, and soon you will be at this so-called Bunny Isle.”

“Hey, I am serious. I got on this tub to head there. I have a message saying—

“Sure, honey.” She turned around and scratched at her curly dark hair as her blue and white striped skirt blew in the wind. “Now, just stay there. I will get some help.”

Vess narrowed her eyes. “I am not crazy.” She watched as the young lady stumbled down the deck. “I am serious. I was told this thing would take me to Bunny Isle.” She held her hand over her mouth. “Ugh, damn sea sickness.” She sighed. “I should have known this was a scam. A free island of rest of relaxation was too good to be true.”

She winced and covered her ears as a piercing horn filled the air. “Ugh, what is going on?” She looked around as people rushed across the deck. “Hey? Where are you going?”

The young lady who had directed her to the folding chair smiled at Vess. “It appears we have come to our first stop.” She pulled Vess to her feet. “Come on. Let’s have some fun.”

Vess groaned. “What do you think you are doing, lady?”

“Hey, I am just doing my part. No one should suffer alone without having fun on this cruise. Get over your sickness and join in on the fun.”

“I. . .” Vess rolled her eyes.  I don’t know what is worse. Dealing with a scam artist or having this crazy woman drag me around when I feel like I am going to hurl.  The young lady dragged Vess towards a growing crowd on the other side of the ship. There she could see a small island with what looked like a fancy resort surrounded by tropical trees.  What is this? Could this be Bunny Isle, or is this cruise taunting me?

The captain walked forward. “Can everyone please calm down? Please!” He waited for the crowd to die down. “Now then. I will only say this once. No one, I will say no one is to go down to that island except for the staff. Last time we let people head down there, they did not return.” Murmurs went up from the crowd. “Now then, we have no choice but to stop here for supplies. This place is called Bunny Isle. I don’t care how cute the women here look. You are to stay on the ship. Even if we have to lock you in your rooms.”

At this, the crowd became unruly. “What in the world are you talking about? You can’t lock us up like criminals.”

“Ya. This is 2022. Not the dark ages.”

“I say we overthrow this captain. He can’t tell us what to do.”

Cheers went up from the group. “Ya. What kind of nonsense is it that we can’t explore this island. It is a cruise, after all.”

The captain held up his gloved hands. “People. You can’t be serious. People disappeared here. Think this through.”

Vess rubbed her forehead as people continued to argue. “People can’t be serious. If people vanished, why would they be so willing to head down there and risk their luck?”

The young woman who dragged Vess here laughed. “Well, I mean, going down to a place like that is fun, right? Don’t you want to check out what that island has to offer? A place called Bunny Isle has to be very fun. Besides, I am a bit sick of what this cruise ship has to offer.”

Vess shook her head. “I don’t know. I am not sure it is worth it.” She sighed.

I knew this was fishy, and yet I came out here.  Vess looked at the ground.  But why did they vanish? I wonder. . .

Everyone gasped as two women in playboy bunny outfits walked up the gangplank. Vess gasped as the two women bounced onto the deck and danced around. “Welcome to Bunny Isle.” The first woman said.”

“Thank you for coming here, our good friends. We hope you will have fun being our guests.”

They danced around on deck and spoke in unison. “So let it commence that the lucky one be selected to come and enjoy the weekend on Bunny Isle.”

The captain rushed forward. “Oh, hell no. I am not letting you, bimbo’s, take another of my people down to that crazy resort to never return.”

The bunnies ignored him. “Let’s see. Who will be the lucky one to come with us to the bunny resort this time?”

The other bunny twitched her ears. “We only have room for one.”

The crowd went wild. “Pick me!”

“No, pick me! I want to spend a weekend with sexy bunnies.”

“Fuck you.” He punched the speaker. “What makes you think you are worthy.”

The middle-aged man knocked his assailant to the ground. “Because I said so. I am more worthy than you, you pale, freaked freak.”

Vess rubbed her forehead as the crowd erupted into chaos. “What is wrong with people? I wonder if people act this way when they see the people affected by my Pink Moon line.”

Vess noticed the bunny girls staring at her. “Umm, can I help you?”

They hopped over to her. “Oh my. You.” One of the bunnies ran her hand over Vess. “Why I think you are just what we are looking for.”

The other bunny giggled. “Yes. Yes! But first. What is your name, dear?”

“Umm, Vess?” She gulped. “Why?”

They clasped their hands together and spoke at once. “Perfect.”

Vess sighed.  This is not how I expected to arrive at my destination.  She watched as they twitched their ears.  Are those things attached to their heads, or are they real bunny ears?

The bunny girl closest to Vess bowed. “I am Melissa.”

The other woman jumped into the air. “And I am Emma. We have been given the pleasure of being your guides of Bunny Isle. Your one-stop shop to rest and relaxation.”

Melissa giggled. “A woman like you deserves it for all of the happiness you spread to the world. Your Pink Moon line is just extraordinary.” She jiggled her breasts. “So, we are here to help spread happiness to you as a reward.”

Vess slowly laughed. “Umm, thank you?” How the hell did they know about that?  She took a step back. “I umm think I will have to pass on second thought.”

The two bunnies grabbed Vess’s arms. “Ohh, but we insist,” Melissa said.

“Yes!” Emma giggled. “For everything you have done for the world, it is the only thing that is right. You deserve to have a break.” She smiled. “Now, come with us!”

Their grip was like iron, and no matter how much Vess struggled, she couldn’t pull away. “Ugh, someone help!” But no one could hear her over the chaos!”

“You don’t understand. I deserve to head down there with the bunnies. I am a suffering artist! I need this!”

“You can’t use that to justify why you get to spend time with playboy bunnies, you ass!”

“Why not. I deserve to have a break from my stressful life.”

“We all have stress in our life, jerk!”