Chapter 39 – A Mysterious Island
The next day dawned bright and warm over the beach. Sean woke up inside the tent with a pounding headache and every muscle in his body screaming in protest. He glanced around the cramped space and the memories of the previous day flooded back.
"Finally it's daytime… that damn Hank made more noise than a plane taking off."
He unzipped the tent flap and stepped out into the sunlight. Everyone else was already gathered around the campfire, enjoying a simple breakfast of fried fish . Sean trudged over and dropped onto a nearby rock.
Razan glanced up from his meal and grinned.
"So, city boy, how was your first night in a tent with your stepdad? Did you guys have a good heart-to-heart?"
Sean rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"I've never slept so badly in my entire life. Hank, besides making a ton of noise, kept tossing and turning all night long."
Hank smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about that. I have trouble sleeping well. I usually take meds for it, but we lost everything in the crash, and whatever was left stayed back at the hotel. You had to put up with me."
Sean waved it off.
"It's okay… I'm sure everyone had trouble sleeping last night, right, guys?"
At that moment, every single person around the fire suddenly found something fascinating to stare at— the sand, the sky, their fish—anything but Sean.
Kailani spoke first.
"Well… I only had trouble at the very beginning. Then my dad and I started singing some old songs. We had fun with it, and before I knew it, sleep just came. We slept great after that."
Razan, casually pulling back his fried fish just as Charlie made a sneaky grab for it:
"I slept fine too. It got a bit chilly last night, sure. But Charlie, Loona, and I slept all huddled together, so we stayed warm. The only downside was when I woke up early to catch fish for breakfast—I was sweating buckets. Guess that's one of the cons of sleeping with a bunch of people hugging you."
Right on cue, Charlie finally succeeded in snatching Razan's fish. Razan stared in shock at the empty half in his hand and immediately pounced on her.
"You're giving me back my fish right now!"
Charlie, already munching happily:
"Don't be so stingy! It's just one fish—you can catch more!"
As she finished the stolen piece, Razan tackled her into the sand, tugging her cheeks in retaliation.
Loona watched the chaos unfold, sighed deeply, and said:
"Can't you two ever act like normal people?"
Charlie and Razan froze mid-wrestle and turned to look at her in perfect unison.
Razan:
"But we clearly aren't normal people."
Charlie, nodding vigorously:
"Yeah! We're really weird!"
Loona, hearing that, let out a tired smile.
"So at least you two are aware of it."
Gabato leaned toward Loona cautiously.
"Not trying to be greedy or anything… but can I have some more fish?"
Loona:
"Go ahead. Don't let their fake fight fool you—they're just messing around. They don't actually care about the fish. Take as many as you want."
Gabato's face lit up.
"Thank you so much!"
He grabbed two pieces and handed one to his daughter.
"Here, sweetie, eat up."
Kailani:
"Dad… you know I'm not a little kid anymore."
Gabato
"Even grown-ups need to eat well, right?"
Hank glanced at Sean, who was still processing that he'd been the only one to suffer, and slid a fresh fish over to him.
"Here, take this. We're exploring the island today. You'll need the energy."
Sean accepted it and started eating quietly.
After everyone finished and packed up the basics, Hank stood and addressed the group.
"All right. To cover more ground, we should split up and search the island."
Razan scratched his head awkwardly.
"Hank, your plan is solid and everything, but it won't work for me. I'm the kind of direction idiot who could get lost with two paths and a giant sign pointing the right way—I'd still pick the wrong one."
Hank stared.
"You're serious?"
Loona says Navigation isn't exactly his strongest skill
Charlie, poking Razan's cheek playfully:
"That's why we always keep an eye on him."
Hank sighed.
"Fine. You three stick together then."
Razan:
"Deal. We'll start searching. Whoever finds something useful yells so the others can hear, okay?"
Kailani:
"Okay."
Hank:
"Got it."
Sean:
"No problem."
Loona:
"Then let's go."
The groups split off in different directions.
Half an hour later, Sean's excited shout echoed across the beach:
"Guys! I found something!"
Everyone converged on his position. Sean stood proudly in front of a dark cave mouth carved into the cliffside.
"I found the way off the beach."
Gabato groaned.
"Of course it has to be a pitch-black cave probably crawling with bats."
Hank patted his shoulder.
"Sorry, pal, but this looks like the only entrance. Searching for another would just exhaust us more."
Kailani:
"So we're going into that creepy cave."
Hank:
"Yeah. That's the plan."
They lit torches and lanterns and ventured inside. The tunnel was narrow, damp, and echoed with dripping water. After what felt like forever, a bright light appeared ahead.
They stepped out the other side—and stopped dead.
A vast, impossible landscape stretched before them: lush golden meadows under a perfect blue sky, towering waterfalls cascading into crystal lakes, vibrant flowers the size of umbrellas, and in the distance, volcanoes with glowing golden lava. Massive colorful birds soared overhead, and the air hummed with life.
Sean spread his arms wide, voice full of awe:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… the mysterious island."
Gabato stared, mouth open.
"If this place is heaven… I'm checking in. I don't want to leave."
Razan let out a long whistle, taking in the surreal beauty.
"Just like you'd expect from a place ripped straight out of a fantasy novel."
Charlie scrambled onto Razan's back for a better view, eyes shining.
"This place is way too beautiful!"
Loona gazed around with a genuine smile.
"Looks like you were right after all. This really is one hell of an adventure."
Kailani whispered:
"What a beautiful place…"
Gabato pointed at enormous, colorful butterflies drifting lazily through the air.
"Did this island shrink us?"
They heard a familiar trumpeting sound. Turning, they spotted a full-grown elephant… no taller than a Chihuahua, trotting toward them curiously.
Charlie and Razan didn't hesitate—they scooped it up and started petting it gently.
Charlie squealed:
"The tiny elephant is real! He's so adorable!"
Razan turned to Loona, hopeful.
"Loona… can we take him home? We'd take great care of him, promise!"
Charlie nodded enthusiastically.
Loona eyed the two idiots who seemed to have conveniently forgotten certain realities about their lives.
"You two seriously think it'd be a good idea to take this little guy back with us?"
Charlie and Razan exchanged embarrassed glances.
The rest of the group crowded around, marveling at the miniature pachyderm.
Hank asked:
"What does the book say about this?"
Sean, proud of his knowledge:
"The island makes big animals small and small animals big. It's one of the island's natural laws."
Charlie gently set the tiny elephant down so it could wander off.
In the distance, a thin column of smoke rose against the horizon.
Sean pointed excitedly.
"Look at that smoke! It can only be my grandpa's camp!"
Kailani frowned.
"How can you be so sure?"
Sean grinned confidently.
"What else could it be?"
Razan, lounging on a nearby rock with his hand on his chin:
"Could be a native cannibal tribe heating up their pots to cook us for dinner."
Gabato went pale.
"There aren't cannibals here… right?"
Loona elbowed Razan hard in the arm.
"Stop trying to scare everyone!"
Razan rubbed his arm.
"Sorry… I just couldn't resist the setup."
Sean:
"There's only one way to find out."
He started marching toward the smoke.
Kailani called after him:
"I really hope your grandpa's okay… but we should head back to the beach."
Sean:
"To do what?"
Gabato:
"Spell out 'SOS' with branches and leaves."
Sean:
"Branches and leaves? With hurricanes circling the whole island? No plane's ever going to spot that."
Hank:
"Sean's right. Splitting up is a bad idea."
Razan glanced at the group.
"The spoiled kid has a point. Best shot is finding his grandpa and hoping the old guy's got a satellite phone to call for help."
Kailani:
"Then we're coming with you. It's our only real way off this Island."
Razan averted his eyes, a twinge of guilt hitting him. Charlie noticed and giggled softly.
"What's up? Is the fearsome black dragon king feeling bad for not just helping these poor humans?"
Loona watched Razan squirm and thought with a smirk: Only an idiot like you would feel guilty about something like that.
Sean clapped his hands.
"Now that we've got a plan—let's move!"
The group fell in line and began trekking toward the distant smoke, deeper into the wonders—and dangers—of the mysterious island.