Chapter 2: The Island of Children
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𐦂
"This is not how I envisioned spending my weekend" David says "We're supposed to be relaxing! Not actively seeking out a kidnapper!"
"Think of it as an extracurricular, for your camp thing" you giggled, "Then maybe we'll have a saving children badge!" Hilda exclaims
"As much as I'd like to have a badge like that, we have homework, and it's an essay! I think we should be doing that instead" Frieda says while fixing the binoculars
David plops down on the sandy beach "Nonsense! Homework should be done as late as Sunday night with a hint of desperation and a tinge of regret"
"Or do it the subject before the assignment is due, you're at a risk of being told off by the teacher and the words are so scrambled, it takes instinct to make out the words" You add in
"Or you don't do it at all" Hilda says
"Yeah we also have those options" David smiles "What I'm saying, weekends are for days at the arcade or binge watching a show while eating junk food"
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪
Children have been going missing, the shores of the Trollberg port that used to have little children playing fisherman have disappeared
"It says here that the 4 children went out to play and one went missing" Hilda says, Then she looks at her three friends
David seemingly to have read Hilda's mind immediately raises his hand "Not it", then you follow "I don't feel like going missing", Frieda was about to say the same but Hilda intervened "Oh you scaredy cats, I'll go missing, only because I know you'll look for me" she said
Then the four children walked, farther from the city, there was a cave.
Looking hesitantly at each other they entered the cave, "So far it's normal" Frieda says "Are you sure this is the right way to go missing?" She asked
"Uh guys... WHERE'S (NAME)!?!?" David panics, "What? I thought I was the one assigned to go missing" Hilda tilted her head
Frieda holds Hilda and David's hand "I think the kidnapper is the one making the choice not the kidnapee-" Hilda gasps "Wait. Is that a library?"
"What are you talking about? There's nothing there" Frieda says, "Uh-there it is, I mean it's not technically a library" She gets closer "Well it looks like a reading nook, with a comfy chair and a nightstand and one book." Hilda says
"Well... We can't see it, but can you read the book, maybe it'll tell us how to get (Name) back" Suggested David
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪
"Hilda! Frieda! David! Where are you guys?!?" You yell in a panic
One moment you were in a cave, now you're on some island? Well the island looks harmless
"Hey umm are you alright?" A girl with Blonde hair and blue eyes offers you a hand "I know you're scared but the island won't hurt you" She looks your age
You're skeptical, so you don't take her hand, but she ushers you to follow and and with nowhere to go, you do.
There you see a town. A town run by children... Some children younger than you and some children older, some looked like teenagers
"Everyone! We have someone new!" The girl announces
"The Island saved another!"
"oh how you're going to love it here!"
"We'll make you bracelets"
Then one child, looked older and said something that intrigued you "We wish for a banquet! To celebrate the new kid!"
Then the town magically decorated itself, chairs and tables appeared out of thin air and danced to create a cozy dining table
Food that you loved appeared on the table one by one, to the appetizers, to the main course and dessert, all your favorite.
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪
Hilda starts "Once upon a time, there was a girl, a child who was so lonely, because her family didn't love her, everyday her woes were ignored..."
David and Frieda sat down on the rocks of the caves as a makeshift chair
"But she loved her family still, then when the girl was 15, her family had gone on vacation with her family, but their boat crashed on an island"
"oh no..." Says David, covering his mouth in shock
"Luckily they all survived, but their lifeboat could only carry three people, so mother and father took the girl's brother and they left her on that island." Hilda winced
"the girl died and became a spirit, kidnapping unloved children to make them happy on her island by giving them whatever they wanted, every child could come and go as they please, if a child feels like staying, they may stay, if the child feels like leaving, the island will let them go, but they are always welcome" Hilda finished
"So... The only way for (Name) to go back to is- is if he wanted too?" Frieda groans
Then a bright light shone in the cave, and you popped out "Hah... I'm so full, I didn't think I'd have it in me to eat a 4-tier cake" you huff
They all shouted and hugged you, "You're back with us! You didn't stay there!" Hilda says happily
"I know I could get whatever I want there but... I couldn't leave you guys, you're my friends, I don't think I'll ever be happy if I know someone is worrying about me" you smile
A shout from outside the cave, when you guys peeked out, you guys see the city safety force and the parents of Hilda, David and Frieda
"Oh there they are!" Yelled David's mother, the pairs ran to their children and hugged them "Oh I know how important the sparrow scout badges are for you but you shouldn't go do dangerous things to get them!" Said Frieda's mom while hugging her daughter tightly and her dad hugging both of them
"Are you hurt anywhere my son!?" David's dad picked him up and checked for any sign of hurt "Oh thankfully he's unhurt" sighs David's mom in relief
"I heard that you guys were planning on catching the kidnapper for a badge... It's sweet and heroic but... Don't ever worry me again" Johanna hugged Hilda with all her might
Standing at the entrance of the cave alone, with no one to hug you, no one to worry about you
You feel someone staring at you but when you look at the sea no one was there
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪
"Father... I umm- came home late today, at 3:37 am" you tell Bruce Wayne
He just sighs tiredly, not even looking at you "I don't have time for your stories (Name)" he says
"well, I got transported to a magic island" you say, trying to get his attention but to no avail
"just go to bed" he grumbled and left his office to go to the library, like he always does every night
You feel a pang in your heart, the sad yet loving eyes of your friend's parents, you wanted to see it again, for you.
"You're always welcome to come back.... Take care little one... Live your life happily"
You hear a whisper, it's the island, or the island's spirit
"I- I will think about it" you whisper back
And you go upstairs to your bedroom and wept until your pillows were soaked and drifted off to sleep
𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𐦂𖨆𐀪
Welp.... A bat appears, also
