Island of Joy

Meanwhile, on an island not far from the radioactive materials was Jackson. He and his schoolmates were on an excursion to the famous 'Island of Joy'.

The island had many attractions. Such as an underwater diner, a futuristic tailor, and a complete amusement park. Yet the most popular attraction was its brooding, roofed forest.

While his schoolmates had left him alone, Jackson went exploring by himself. Everything he looked at was accompanied by the bustling streets.

The cotton-like clouds above him seemed to cast a spell over the entire island. It made the island feel like it was straight out of a fairytale.

He stood still for minutes upon minutes. The alluring scenery made him freeze in place, simply admiring the beauty of nature.

Eventually, he was melted by a sharp female voice coming from the crowd. His blissful time ended.

"Jackson!" the voice yelled out.

"Coming!" startled, he shouted back.

When he turned around and looked, it was his teacher who called out to him. If she hadn't reached out to him, he might've stood still indefinitely.

As he was making his way back to his teacher, he felt something amiss. He sniffed his nose around and found a protruding, rancid odor in the air. Jackson couldn't help but wonder.

Jackson found his teacher standing next to the main fountain. She was quite imposing, despite her petite frame. Her hair was tied into two noticeable pigtails, and she wore black-framed glasses.

The height between them was absurd. Although Jackon is a growing boy, he still can't compare to his teacher.

After reaching his teacher, he was handed water by her and told to sit on the bench right next to hers.

"Thank you," he said while chugging the water down.

After refreshing himself, he asked, "Where are the others?"

"Take a look around you. You'll see them," she nudged her chin as if giving out pointers.

When he lifted his head and looked around, he easily noticed his schoolmates. They were scattered throughout the island.

Some of them were separated into small groups. While the groups whispered amongst themselves, there were also lone wolves. They were as lost in their worlds as Jackson was.

"It doesn't feel like I'm an educator. More like..." the teacher mumbled to herself.

"A babysitter?" said Jackson in the moment.

"Sounds about right," she said with a palm on her face.

"Then again, that's my job as a supervisor," she sighed with a dejected look.

Even with a quick look around, anyone would sympathize with her. The island's diverse attractions are powerful magnets. Especially to those who hold no responsibility.

The northern section of the island was the underwater diner. They're known for their exceptional food and impeccable service.

The diner was the place where you could see the most adults. While their children can enjoy the attractions, they can also enjoy exquisite food and experiences.

Right next to the diner was the rumored 'Tailor of the Future'. The place offers both ready-made and custom outfits.

It is assumed that the existence of the tailor was to change the image of the island. From 'Unruly Fun' to 'Graceful Fun'.

Connected to the tailor was a clothes shop. The kaleidoscope of colors was on full display at the window, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

On the opposite side of the island was their white, sandy beach. It holds the record for the most sunbathers per capita.

Other than sunbathing, guests can enjoy other things. One such thing is the gorgeous view of the clear waters, with shadows of palm trees swaying on top of it.

To top it off, it contains a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. The lapping waves against the shore make the best accompaniment for meditation.

If guests decide to go for a swim in the water, they'll find themselves on a vibrant coral reef not far from the beach. It's the best spot for snorkeling, along with scuba diving.

All in all, the beach was as enchanting as the other attractions. Offering the beauty of nature with its colorful fish and various marine life. It is a must-visit spot for guests.

Nevertheless, the island was first built with entertainment in mind. This was evident with the existence of an amusement park right by its western shore.

The park was the perfect place to have fun. It offers various thrilling attractions and multiple fun ones. It is the excitement factor of the island.

Among various things, the most notable would be the Ferris wheel. Especially at sunset. It would create the best backdrop, with no humans in sight, unlike the beach.

While Jackson was busy staring at the towering Ferris wheel, two shadows swooped past him. The two shadows belonged to the infamous twins, known for their mischievous antics.

It seemed to Jackson that they were playing tag. After passing past him, the two of them kept on chasing one another. Their laughter filled the air, adding to the atmosphere.

However, their antics didn't get past Jackson's teacher, who was growling right beside him. Fearing for their safety, she began chasing the twins with her fast legs.

"Hey! Stop running!" the teacher yelled out to the twins.

Now that his teacher was not there, he had to fill his time. He looked at the list he had made while traveling to the island. Going to the diner was the first thing to do.

With blissful ignorance, he reached for the handle to the front door. But the moment he touched it, he was dragged inside into a room devoid of light.

His disappointment was palpable. He expected the place to be lively, with noises of tableware clanging against each other. He considered going back out.

But then, a blinding flash of light exploded amongst the darkness of the room. With the light turned on, Jackson saw people standing beside him.

While he was trying to regain his former vision, a robotic voice greeted him. "Hello!"

Jackson was startled by what he was seeing right in front of him. Although his former vision had yet to come back, he made a faint outline as to what greeted him.

Curiosity took over him as he asked the things in front of him. "What are you?"

From the outline he had made, a pair of eyes distinguished themselves. Jackson's gaze was wet with wide eyes and a welcoming smile.

"Hello…?" Jackson tapped on the radiating box of metal.

"Hello!" the metal box said in response.

"Goodbye!" the sphere smiled devilishly.

"Huh?" Jackson said in confusion.

Before Jackson figured things out, he heard a familiar click. As he turned around, he found nothing there. Then, when he turned back, the metal box vanished.

Even more intrigued, he wondered if he had been imagining things from the start. Then suddenly, he found himself and others plummeting down to what seemed like an abyss.

With pitch-black surroundings as he fell, he could only assume the worst. But hope came; beneath them looked to be a speck of blue. Water.

After the long, harrowing journey to the bottom of the tube, they found themselves plunged into a deep pool.

As they swim up to the surface, they find themselves in a room full of gears. Accompanied by the clinking and whirring of gears was the bashing of tableware. It was the diner.