Lost in paradise

The sky was a swirl of indigo and obsidian littered with sparkling lights. Anyone under it would feel at peace. However, there was one soul who felt anything but that. On the beach lay a young man, face up.

He was covered in sand, lying still as if dead. The water bathed him gently, back and forth. The tide repeatedly ensured his clothes remained soaked. As the tide receded further than before, it prepared to come back with a vengeance.

Swoosh!

Cough! Cough!

The adolescent submerged completely under a small but aggressive wave. As his eyes shot open, they shut closed even faster.

My eyes are burning! He thought to himself. It was the only conscious thought in his head. As he stood up, gasping for air, Kairo Akira rubbed his eyes. When he took his first look around him, he gasped. The view was indeed stunning, completely beyond words. But the luster faded quickly.

“Where am I?” he asked no one. “I remember that I was...”

He stopped mid thought, wishing he could forget. “Aww man! I was hit by that freaking truck! Am I dead?”

His hands frantically started patting his body. "No, I seem to be breathing and alive—unless this is what the afterlife looks like?”

As Kairo patted himself, he looked at his clothes.

I got this sweet tracksuit at that one mall... How is it I’m wearing them here?

“Wherever here is?”

Lost in thought, he started walking down the coastline.

“These shells are pretty,” he said. “Heck, this whole scenery is beautiful! I’m sure I could enjoy this place—if I wasn’t completely lost.”

The stars glimmered brightly, only outshone by the large moon in the sky.

Why is it so comically large?

“Is this what heaven feels like?”

With moonlight to illuminate his path, Kairo began walking away from the beach.

“Well, it’s been fun, but I’d like to go home now.”

The boy climbed the jagged rocks and was met with grass. Grass stretching on for as far as he could see.

“Not a sign of civilization in sight...” he sighed. “I guess I’m just supposed to wander around in an empty paradise?”

His emotions bubbled under the surface, ready to explode. He was completely lost, clearly somewhere completely different from earth. Just as he was about to lose hope, his eyes went wide.

“Wait a minute...” Kairo pumped his fist in the air. “I must be in another world! That means... this is an Isekai fantasy just for me!”

Laughing, he began to run through the grass which stopped just about at knee height. Jumping and skipping, the only other sounds to be heard came from the lapping tide in the distance.

“Just thinking about it, this’ll be awesome!”

I mean I wouldn't be in heaven by myself... right?

The wind softly blew through his hair. “If I wait till morning, then someone is bound to find me! I’ve read enough manga to know that much!”

He giggled and continued along, prancing about.

“The hell with this!”

After wandering through grassy plains for hours, there were still no signs of life. There was the occasional cry of animals in the distance—but nothing close to him though.

“Why did I have to be stuck in such a boring...” He trailed off, looking for the right word.

“You know what? Forget it all! I don’t care about anything else right now—I'm going to sleep!” Kairo walked to the top of yet another grassy hill, then sat down. “All things aside, that is still such a stunning view—”

In the distance, he could see lights.

“Why am I only seeing them now?!” he snapped. “Damn it! Just as I was going to go to sleep too!” He thought, How come I didn‘t see them until now? Surely these hills weren’t blocking the view?

Kairo was fuming and started running in that direction.

Skreeeech!!!

What in the hell was that noise?!

He stopped and turned his head to look behind him. At first, he didn’t see anything—then he looked down.

“AAAAHHH!”

As he screamed, something started squirming out of the grass. It was the shape of a human. “Where in the world is that THING coming from?!”

The boy was paralyzed with fear, but his mind said one thing.

RUN.

Kairo took off as fast as he could. Why would he stick around to find out what it was?

Okay, so it has white hair, looks like a person, and it looked like it had grey skin—So what is it?!

His brain went into overdrive as he ran faster and faster. He didn’t dare to look behind.

“You... know... what?!” he panted. “I think... I... huff... I think I... Liked being... Lost in paradise!”  

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! 

If you have any thoughts, theories, or feedback, I'd love to hear them in the comments!