Hidden Paradise

Thanks Haruki!

Amaris’ POV

As soon as I woke up, everything around me was dark. There were barely little light. Like a monotone? It was as if I was in a 70s movie film. My head didn’t start to hurt until I moved it around. Slowly, I held my head in pain and pushed myself off the ground.

“Amaris?” a soft voice asked. I couldn’t recognize the voice but it somewhat sounds familiar. “Amaris, dear?” it asks again, calling my name repeatedly.

“I’m here!” I yell back in an unfamiliar voice which made me let out a gasp and cover my mouth.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared. This isn’t the end…is it? I slightly covered my eyes while the light expands around me “I’m here, Daddy!” a tiny girl giggled while running to a man, to whom I assume, is her father.

“Wait…is that…me?!” I try to take a good look at the little girl again. So, when she twirled around and saw me, we both stared at each other.

She had her hair tied into a half ponytail that was tied by a yellow ribbon, wearing a dark green dress and some boots. Her eyes were dark brown- of course, a common color. But there was a birthmark on her face…the mark that I’ve been desperately trying to get rid off and cover it up. “Amaris, sweetie? What are you looking at?” the man approached her and bent down to her level, trying to see what her daughter was looking at.

The man was blur. I couldn’t see his eyes but his smile was clear. It’s like this is my memory in a third person view. The girl, called him Daddy. That would make sense if he was my father. I grew up mostly without the figure of a father anyways.

“Hello?” I heard my voice echo again. “Where are you? Is someone here?” I kept yelling and yelling the same questions. I simply can’t be alone here, right? “I know this is a dream” that should wake me up. Yet, I waited for a few more minutes and I was still there.

Well, time to approach the characters. “Hey, little girl” she seemed startled looking at me. Hurriedly, she looks around and pushes me into a bush. “Ow…what was that for?” she didn’t seem to listen and tried to try and make me hidden.

After covering a few holes with leaves, she sat across me and just…stared at me. “Are you…me?” her eyes was full of innocence and curiosity. “Uhm…what’s your name?”

“My name’s Amaris-…”

“Amaris, sweetie. Where are you?” a voice interrupted her, and it sounded like a woman. Like my mom! I turned around and tried to take a peek through the bushes while trying to stay hidden too. My mom was there, placing home baked cookies and some lemonade. “You should go” I whisper to the girl and motioned her to hurry up. Quickly, she understood what I meant and ran off to my mom.

“Hello, darling” someone said in a husky voice. “Hello?” my voice echoed; I didn’t know where I was. “Where are you?” my head felt dizzy and I tried not to fall down.

“You~you~ you~” It echoes again. Everything was pitch black but there were tiny holes, like they were air holes. As if I was in a box and someone trapped me. Let’s just hope that it’s not what’s happening to me right now.

“Well, my love. DO you miss me?” a silhouette came into the light. I squint my eyes, trying to figure out who it was. It was about 6 feet tall and wore a coat. Its head looked down low while some type of bird rested unto his shoulder. Slowly, it looked up and the bird flew away. Typical villain?

Everything else was dark but as soon as the silhouette took of his hoodie, I knew who it was. “Father” I let out a gasp. I didn’t know if I should embrace him or run away from him. “Aren’t you going to greet me?” he asks, tilting his head. Why should? I hesitated for a while before doing so.

“Well, good day father”

“Hm… not the type of greeting I was expecting but good day to you too, my little one” Sometimes I wonder why I love him as my father.

“So, take a seat” he sat down unto the air and swipes his finger. Immediately, I was forced to sit down across him. “How are things in…life?” a champagne glass suddenly appeared on his hand as he took a sip from it.

“Fine…what do you need right now? I’m pretty sure I have to wake up any moment cause my friends would need me” I try not to sound annoyed as I crossed my arms and leaned back unto the chair.

“Oh, I look so young here” his chair turns to the scene. “That…was actually you?” I heard him scoff and turned to me “Who else would it be if not me?”

“Well, I thought mom had a boyfriend before”

“Yeah, I was her boyfriend”

“No, I meant like after YOU left. I thought she dated someone new after” his head turns to me “You mother…tried to date someone?” his voice sounded broken, as if he was on the verge of crying. “Well, I can’t remember well. But she was pretty busy so I don’t know…”

I used to assume my father was also a Yelo…he always pops into my dreams anytime he wants. As if I appreciate that.

“You mentioned you had friends, huh? I once had those too” Oh dear God, please make him stop. He sounds like an old man. “Anyways, I have a favor to make” he clasps his hands and straightens his sitting position. “And I need YOU, specifically, to do this”

“What do I get from it? Also, I’ll do it depending on the task you’re going to give me. If it’s easy, then I’ll do it but if it’s something that isn’t worth to risk my life for, then-…”

“Yes, yes, I know the rules darling” he interrupts me which made me roll my eyes. “I saw that” his finger pointing at me. Sometimes I forget that my Dad can see more through the dark. “Come ‘er” he motions to pull a string. My chair suddenly moved forward towards him and I could feel his cold finger bellow my chin.

He starts to whisper as my eyes widen. I can’t possibly do that, right? It just won’t be…good. “You can depend on whatever prize you want”

“What if I don’t want to do this favor of yours?”

“Well, you know you can’t” I know that fact damn well. “Whatever you say to the little girl…is going to affect you” he motions me forward and I could feel my body moving towards the girl.

The girl stopped playing as soon as she saw me and stared at me again. Oh no, what should I do? Should I say something? Well...uh… I could feel my palm getting sweaty as I rubbed them together. “H-hi…again” I cleared my throat and bent down towards her.

“Hi” her voice was high and pitchy as she waves her hands at me. I don’t really remember being this uh…cheerful. All I could remember from my childhood was that my mom would look so proud whenever I got the highest score among my classmates on a test.

Sounds a bit depressing but bear with me, hey?

“W-what do you uh, wish to be when you grow up?” the girl paused for a moment and thought about it. “Well, I wanna be an artist!”

“That’s great-…”

“But lately, I wanna go to Paraiso” she interrupted me. Her eyes sparkled once again with joy and passion. “What’s in Paraiso?” she shrugs both of her shoulder and picked up a teddy bear. “I don’t know. But I wanna know” she giggles and runs around with the bear.

I look behind and saw the silhouette with my dad, he was tapping his watch, indicating that time was running out for me. Honestly, what does he want me to say to the girl?

“Hey look!” I picked up one of her tea toys and started to pretend play with her. She suddenly started to run towards me and sat unto one of the chairs. “Listen” I held both of her shoulder tight “Just…follow your instincts, alright? You’ll grow up to be someone amazing” she looked at me for a moment before hugging me tight “Thank you” I hugged her back.

Slowly, her body turned into a cloud and faded into a memory. “Well, that was different” I slowly stood up and turned around. “You know what to do…right?”

“After all…” he started to slowly approach me and looked me in the eyes “I never wanted you in the first place” his voice echoes throughout my head as I saw him walk away.

I don’t know if I could possibly do the task…slowly, I hesitated to nod my head, but I did anyways. “Good” I heard a snap.

And before I could process things, chains started to wrap around me, strangling me tight. I tried to move away, squirming and trying to get out.

Darkness surrounded me again as I tried to wake up. I saw him again, my father. The one I used to love and the one who swore to protect me. I couldn’t explain why, but tears started to form in my eyes. They eventually fell down unto my cheeks and unto the floor.

I didn’t feel sad, nor happy. I was…just simply crying. That’s is. I feel empty inside…was I, supposed to feel like this?

Maybe I miss him? But he abandoned you

Maybe I’m misunderstanding things? “I never wanted you in the first place”

Or maybe…I should stop assuming things and accept that he doesn’t want me. Tears fell down my cheeks more; yet this time, filled with emotions.

Filled with rage, and sadness, and a pinch of happiness.

Athena’s POV

“Oh, hey” I waved at Alex as he carries Amaris, who was currently asleep. “Hey, uh can you please help get her inside? Elena said there could be a storm coming in”

“Sure” I opened the trap door to see Oliver trying to get outside. “Hey, help me get Amaris inside” Oliver nods his head as Alex slowly lowers her body. “Be careful” I warn them “Yup” Alex struggles hard, trying to send Amaris into Oliver’s arms.

“Oh, s**t” Alex curses as Amaris’ head suddenly slips off his hands. “Oh, s**t indeed” I mumbled under my breath as we both watch her body slip. Amaris’ body almost folded backwards in half and would have been dead dropped unto the floor if Oliver didn’t carry her half body.

“Alex!” Oliver whisper-shouted. “Sorry!” Oliver tries to carry Amaris’ body as a whole while Alex quickly enters the trapdoor after me. “Oh…” Haruki stops in front of us. His eyes were scanning all over Amaris and then back to us.

“Here, let me” he suddenly takes Amaris out of Oliver’s hands and carried her to one of the beds, tucking her tight. “Well…that escalated quick” Alex slightly nudges my shoulder as I held it in pain. “Thanks for carrying her” I pat his shoulder as he nods his head. “No problem” Haruki then starts to climb up to the main deck.

“He’s weird…” Alex commented while standing next to me. “Well at least he didn’t almost kill MY best friend by letting go of her head.” He nudges me again, rolling his eyes after. “I’m honestly surprised that she’s still asleep” we both look to see Oliver tucking her in.

“She’s lucky to have brother figures like us” Oliver hits Alex while they stood up proudly. “Yeah…thanks. I’ll keep an eye on her for sure, don’t worry” the two waved their hands as they climbed back into the main deck.

“Oh, Amaris” I let out a heavy sigh before sitting unto the floor.