Hidden Paradise

Again, I don't know

"Did they got you anything else? Receipt? Or like a piece of paper that had her signature?" I slowly shake my head while Amaris sighs. "She did sign something but she didn't give it to me. The nurse must have just forgotten about giving it" I reassure her

"Yeah..." she nods her head in agreement "Maybe they did forget about it. They'll probably try to find you to give it back too"

"What's...the purpose of it though?"

"Well, they always give out a piece of paper with the signature of the nurse who gave you your injection to be held accountable if ever something bad happens to you and the Elders found out it was from a medicine given to you...yeah something like that" I slowly nod my head...I sure hope they would at least try to find me.

I mean, it is my first time to get a shot of medicine for my headaches in my forearm...

"Come on, you should probably rest for a bit more" Amaris stood up from the bed and encourages me to lie down. "What about you?" she shakes her head and proceeds to sit down unto the other bed.

We both look on the doorway to see Chelsea knocking on the walls "Do you guys feel much better now?" Amaris looks at me as I nod my head "Yeah, we're doing much better" Chelsea nods her head "Well, please wake up Alex and ask him if he's feeling better too because it's almost dinner time and you guys missed both breakfast and lunch so, yeah. Dinner is going to be held the same place as last night"

"We'll be there" she nods her head one more time before walking away. "Well, I guess we should get ready" I push myself up and sat unto the bed "Don't you think Chelsea is a bit...suspicious?" I turn to Amaris.

"No..not really" I shake my head and she tilts hers. "I mean...she's always just there you know. Even Elena favors her like a teacher's pet" Looking back, Amaris does have a point. Chelsea suggested and did give us a mini tour, she's the one who Elena trusts to drive the ship, she's also always there by Elena's side.

"Maybe it's because she's one of Elena's first students who haven't left the camp yet?" we both turn to see Alex sitting up on his bed. "That would make sense...anyways" Amaris clasps both of her hands together "Chelsea told us that dinner would be held a bit much sooner tonight and on the same place as last night. SO, we should get going"

"What about our boots?" I turn to look at them, all covered in mud. "We could just wear spare ones over there" Amaris points at a rack full of boots with the label 'In case of emergency'.

Amaris tries them on until she finally found her size "Here, I think this would fit you and THESE are for you too" she gives both me and Alex our boots and we try them on. They fit perfectly "Come on you guys, I'm too hungry right now" She held her stomach in pain as we walked together in the hallways.

Last time I remember we went to the hallways together was almost chaotic. "Where should we turn again?"

"I think we should go with Hope over there" Alex points at a silhouette as it turns to the corner. "Come on" he started to run as quietly as he could as we followed Hope. Alex then motions for as to stay back as soon as we almost got into the corner, as if he's preventing us to see something. Amaris tugs on my arm when I tried to see what it was.

Alex then motions for us to follow as he slowly walks faster again. Hope was no where to be found but we still continued to follow Alex. "Listen, turn to the left and walk straight. You'll see Chelsea over there guiding the others. GO" he whispers and slightly pushes us over. "What about you?" He shakes his head towards me and looks back. "I have something to do"

"You better not do anything" Amaris says in a threatening voice while grabbing me as we turned left. "What was-..." she shushes me using her fingers and pointed on the sides. We were on the corner walls of the castle, which mean what is said here would echo much louder compared to other places.

Chelsea sure was there and we followed her; as soon as we arrived on the dining area, Oliver was the first one that caught my attention. I should probably apologize and thank him. I walk over and sat next to him as he gives me a smile.

"Athena, Amaris, you guys alright?" Diana looks over to us as we nod our head. "Must have been very tiring then, considering you guys passed out. And missed meals" Jason looked worried too. It reminded me the last time Amaris passed out while hiking, it was bak when we were 9 or 10 and we decided to go together. Amaris soon passed out when we got unto the top and since we didn't have the energy to carry her back then, we just et her rest for 3 hours before we woke her up and she got checked up on the hospital after.

"Hey" I turn to Oliver as he smiles at me "Hi"

"I just wanna say thank you for uh carrying me earlier and sorry for the inconvenient. "It's alright, no worries. Plus, I'm glad you guys are safe" I reciprocate his smile. "Where's Alex though?" he looks around for his brother before looking back at me.

"I don't know, he said he was just going to catch up earlier." A clicking sound echoed throughout the dining are as we look at the front. Elena was there holding up a wine glass and a fork. She didn't have any fancy dresses though, just her armor.

"Everyone, I am please and sad at the same time to announce that we'll be going back to our mission!" everyone starts to randomly cheers "Tomorrow, we'll be going to Green's Island. Mr. Klever's island and, we'll be taking his timepiece. The members of the council had decided- along with th Chroma Leaders that IF they find someone among the team who seem trust-able, they will hand their timepieces to them"

Everyone cheers again as I spot Alex enter the room. He quietly sits next to Amaris and whisper something to her. "Let us enjoy our dinner for tonight" more cheering was in the room. "Look" Oliver points at the table where Elena sat, the same bouquet of Dahlia flowers were on a glass vase which was placed on the center of her table. "Isn't that the one we gave her?" Oliver nods his head "I guess she likes it then" he nods his head again before leaning back as soon as the waiters came in.

"Where's Hope?" I heard Chelsea, she stands up to look around but sat back down in disappointment. I turn to look at Alex who was sweating and looked concerned over something, he looked tense as if something was bound to happen anytime soon. Amaris on the other hand, tries not to look so stressed while eating her food.

Something's up again...

Amaris' POV

Elena woke us up a bit later compared to when we were getting ready to visit Bituin's Island. Gosh, it was exhausting and tiring then at the end of the day, we got kicked out! Just like that, one wave of Bituin's hand then POOF! We're gone.

Hopefully things aren't going to be like that for today. Considering that Klever is really hard to please according to the books... "Amaris, come on" Athena urges me as I but on my boots "Coming" I tell her as I speed up next to her. Elena didn't look too happy, but her mood and aura is much better compared to yesterday. She got us on the boat, one by one and lets out a deep sigh after.

"Everyone, gather around" we were all on the main deck as Elena lowered her head. There were more than 10 people who came unto the ship this time. I don't know why but that's just what Elena said.

"There's a uh...slight detail I have to tell you guys" she starts off and clears her throat. This better be good...but then again, there hasn't much been good things that happened for the past few days.

"The Chroma Leaders have turned their security on to protect their Islands. We can still enter, but the thing is, we can only enter if Klever finds us or one of us pleasing to him. I don't know what we're supposed to do but yeah..that's all" Elena clears her throat one more time before walking away to stir the ship.

So..we have to somewhat please Klever...? What does that even mean?! "Hey" Alex whisper beside me as I slightly almost jumped. "What?" my voice sounded angry to which I sense shocked him cause he quickly placed his arm on his chest.

"Sorry" he nods his head at my apology "What is it that you want to say?" he motions me to follow him. I look around to see Athena talking to Jason on the quarter deck or whatever it's called...you know, the highest deck on the ship.

"So, what is it?" we both arrive on the other side of the ship, isolated from the others. "Well, the thing is...remember when I followed Hope first?" I nod my head "Turns out-... okay, where do I even start?" his hands start to sweat before talking back to me.

"Remember when we went to get flowers yesterday? It felt much harder to walk in the mud right? But it didn't feel heavy when we first walked there. The flowers Haruki pointed out wasn't visibly seen to our eyes...not after he pointed it out. And mind you, the garden of Dahlia was big. Then I don't know why but I felt the need to rush out of the garden as soon as possible so that's what I did. I don't honestly know why though"

"Then, last night, when I followed Hope, it was sort of...weird I must say. When I saw her, she was walking straight into a pillar and didn't even react. According to Marie, Hope its a sensitive and kind girl but she didn't even react of flinch when she hit the pillar. And so, I followed her after. There was this like corner or dead end and there was this huge painting on it then Hope started to walk in but I think she heard me make a sound and then she turned back and...and she looked dead"

Alex pants as soon as he finishes. Honestly, he should consider rapping as his career sometime. "Okay, first of all...calm down" I tell him, which was probably not a good idea cause it made him look more crazier.

"Listen" I snap my fingers "The mud on the way home felt thicker compared to before that's why it was even harder when we went back. Plus, the mud level went from out knees to almost our waist, or my waist. Then, the flowers Haruki pointed out were covered by Oliver's tall figure since he stood before it and you were sitting on the ground. And Hope, I'm pretty sure she wanted to cry or scream but couldn't because we were on the hallways. Plus, she was probably just admiring the painting ....or whatever" I held both of his shoulders.

"Look, I think you're just sleep deprived these days. I know being in Paraiso is hard but please...bear with me, alright? We'll see later or sooner if there's anything wrong that actually happened" he slowly shakes his head to deny me.

"Is everything alright with you guys again?" Diana approaches us, both Alex and I nod our head together and I let go of his shoulder. "Come on, since the journey to Lord Klever's island would be much farther away from Lady Bituin, we'll try to get to know each other along with the crew" Diana pulls both me and Alex to the main deck.