I woke up to the most uncomfortable pillow I've ever had. Wait… no. That's not right. I woke up on a pillow made of marshmallow sand, and it was sticking to me like it had a personal vendetta.
I rolled over and groaned. "Day two. Step one: survive yesterday. Step two: figure out food. Step three: pray nothing tries to eat me while I sleep."
Naturally, the island had other plans.
A star-shaped fruit bounced past my feet like it had somewhere important to be. I jumped back, tripped over what I think was a root—or a very sneaky vine—and faceplanted into the fluff again.
"Yep," I muttered, sitting up and brushing myself off, "definitely not in Kansas. Or anywhere remotely normal."
I decided to explore. Step cautiously, Noah. Don't get eaten, squashed, or bounced on by mysterious fruits. Easy.
The grove I wandered into was full of… things. Tiny furry creatures zipped past, some hopping like frogs, some fluttering like hummingbirds. One even stared at me with glowing eyes before diving into the bushes.
"Okay, weird," I muttered. "Definitely weird. But hey, I can handle weird."
I spotted a stream. Clean water, sparkling like it was showing off. I bent down, cupped my hands, and drank. Sweet, cold, refreshing. Victory number one for Team Noah.
Then came food. I found coconuts. Simple, stationary, non-squeaky coconuts. Perfect.
I tried to open one with a rock. Failed. Threw the rock harder. Still failed. Smacked it with my foot. A little closer. Finally—plop! Coconut opened. I guzzled the water like my life depended on it. Honestly, I kind of think it did.
"Okay," I muttered between gulps, "this isn't the worst. I might survive. Possibly. Maybe."
Hours later, I had learned a few important things about the island:
1. The sand was way too soft. Walking was like swimming in pillows.
2. The fruits were definitely alive. Some of them bounced, squeaked, or just stared at me like judgmental little fruit people.
3. I was completely alone. Or at least, I hoped I was.
As the sun set, painting the sky in pinks and golds, I tried to make a shelter. A few leaning trees and some branches. It looked terrible, but it would hopefully stop me from rolling down a soft hill in my sleep.
Night fell. And the island's noises… changed. Rustles, squeaks, chirps—things I couldn't identify. I rubbed my arms. "Alright… step three: sleep without being eaten."
I didn't see the little pair of glowing eyes watching me from the shadows. Honestly, I didn't even want to think about it.
I flopped onto the soft sand and muttered, "Well… I always wanted adventure. Just didn't think it would start like this."
I woke up the following morning, my back aching like I'd been flattened by an invisible cartoon hammer. The soft, squishy sand gave way under me as I sat up, sticking to my clothes and hair.
That's when I saw it: a strange, glowing fruit hanging from a low branch, covered in swirling question marks. Weird… but it looked kind of tasty.
"Uh… why not," I muttered, shrugging. Hunger won over caution.
I took a bite. Sweet, tangy, and soft, it slid down easily. Then I swallowed and… nothing happened.
I blinked. The scratches on my arms and knees were still there. The world didn't explode. I didn't grow extra arms or start glowing.
"…Huh," I said, shrugging again. "Weird fruit. Tastes okay. That's it, I guess."
I tossed the rest of it into my bag and moved on. The island stretched out around me: soft hills, strange trees, and tiny squeaking creatures darting through the underbrush. Some of the fruits hanging from trees bounced and rolled like they had a mind of their own. I stepped carefully, trying not to fall or get ambushed by the bizarre wildlife.
The sun climbed higher, warming the soft sand beneath my feet. I explored cautiously, poking at rocks, examining the strange plants, and trying to find a place to rest.
By afternoon, I had built a makeshift shelter from branches and leaned against a tree, tired and slightly bewildered. The island was… soft. Weird. And completely empty—except for the strange little eyes that sometimes peeked out from the shadows.
"Okay, Noah," I muttered to myself, sighing. "You're stuck here. You're alive. You've eaten a weird fruit. And… now you just survive."
I had no idea that the fruit I ate would later give me powers beyond imagination. For now, it was just a weird glowing snack, and I was a high schooler stuck on a very soft, very strange island, trying to figure out how not to get lost or eaten.