The Land of Paradise

"Hey…" he muttered again, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shirley, who had been watching him space out all day, finally sighed and looked up. "What the hell are you staring at—"

Then he saw it too.

Three colossal islands hovering in the sky. They had clear shapes, just shifting outlines, like something was constantly on the move.

Tucker sat up. "So, I'm not the only one?"

"No," Shirley said, eyes narrowing. "I see it too."

Doug and the others glanced up—but saw nothing.

"What are you two talking about?" Madison asked.

Before either of them could answer, a deep, distant hum filled the air.

It wasn't coming from the ocean. It wasn't coming from the sky.

It was coming from inside them.

Tucker and Shirley's Presence Eyes activated on their own. A golden glow flickered in their irises, and suddenly—

The sky split open.

For just a moment, the clouds tore apart like fabric, showing them something unimaginable, three gigantic islands floating in the sky with ropes the size of giants connecting each of them.

Madison staggered back. "What the hell?!"

Micheal, unfazed, just nodded. "We've arrived."

Then, without warning, a bridge appeared.

Not a solid one. It flickered like a mirage, stretching from their ship into the sky. It was there—but not there. Real—but not real.

Tucker took a slow step forward. His foot pressed against something—air that felt like glass. The bridge held.

Shirley exhaled. "Guess we're walking."

Micheal crossed his arms. "Be careful. The Sky Bridge only exists if you have the presence eyes activated."

Doug, quiet up until now, finally spoke. "That means… if you stop using the presence eyes—"

"You fall," Micheal finished.

A long silence.

Madison scowled. "Oh, hell no."

Tucker grinned, stretching his arms. "No worries. We just don't stop activating."

Shirley rolled his eyes but smirked. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

They then got their stuff, Then, side by side, they walked into the sky.

They walked for about eight minutes before reaching the top. The ground beneath them was made of clouds, soft yet somehow solid. Ruins and towering trees surrounded them, remnants of an ancient civilization long forgotten.

In front of them stretched three massive islands, each connected by ropes thick as giants.

To the west lay the Land of Fire—a burning, scorched wasteland, its skies choked with smoke and its land cracked with molten rivers. "Hell 2.0."

To the east stood the Land of Paradise—a shimmering utopia with golden spires, warm breezes, and an eerie sense of enforced perfection.

And in the north, between them both, loomed the Land of Snow—a frozen kingdom where a castle sat amidst an unending blizzard, its towering silhouette barely visible through the storm.

As they walked forward, a brutal, endless, gust of snow blasted them, the cold latching onto their skin like icy chains.

"Damn it! What the hell is this weather, Micheal!?" Madison shouted, shielding her face from the relentless wind.

Micheal didn't answer.

He stood frozen—not from the cold, but from something else.

His eyes locked onto the islands ahead. Deja vu gripped at him like a vice.

The frost bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. This is where it all went wrong.

He had lived here before.

And in all those years, in all those centuries…

Nothing had changed.

It was still the same old Choreees. He reminisced about his old life before he time traveled. He thought about his family and friends. Then he snapped back into realization of where he was at. "Sorry. Let's continue to the Land of Paradise in the east. No one questioned it. They simply followed his lead.

Up ahead, the gigantic rope bridge stretched into the mist, connecting the floating islands like the veins of a long-forgotten god.

Shirley and Tucker, were the first to hop on. They sprinted across without hesitation, their laughter echoing through the thick fog.

"WOOOOO! THIS THING'S MASSIVE!" Tucker shouted, his voice fading as he disappeared deeper into the mist.

"Try not to fall, dumbass!" Shirley yelled back, though he was just as carefree, his footsteps light and confident.

Madison sighed. "Idiots…" Then, with steady footing, she stepped onto the rope, moving carefully but without fear.

Doug followed soon after, pausing only to grab a rock from the ruins. He tossed it over the edge, watching as it plunged into the mist below.

It took nearly four minutes before they heard the faintest clink as it hit the ground.

Doug let out a low whistle. "Yeah… wouldn't wanna slip."

Micheal was the last to step forward.

His breaths came slow and raggedly. His hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightened.

For a moment, he just stared at the rope, an uncertain look in his eyes.

Then, finally, he moved.

And he followed them into the mist.

As the group stepped into the Land of Paradise, they were immediately struck by its overwhelming grandeur. The city stretched out before them, a dazzling display of wealth and perfection. At the center, towering over the bustling streets, stood a majestic golden-white statue—an angel clad in a flowing robe, a radiant halo above its head, mighty wings spread wide, and a great longsword gripped in its hands.

The streets pulsed with life, so packed with people that their arrival went unnoticed. Skyscrapers of glamorous marble and shimmering glass loomed overhead, their golden accents catching the sunlight, making the entire city glow. Streams of crystal-clear water flowed from ornate fountains, their soothing sounds blending in with the lively chatter of the crowds.

Everywhere they looked, beauty and refinement surrounded them. Women and men, insanely attractive and impeccably dressed, strolled through the streets with grace. The scent of gourmet food wafted from high-end restaurants lining the avenues. Performers dazzled spectators with gravity-defying stunts, street musicians played soothing melodies, and at the heart of it all, an enormous skate park was alive with energy as skaters weaved through ramps and rails.

Shops and malls stretched as far as the eye could see—at least twenty in their immediate vicinity—each teeming with customers. A massive aquarium, its exterior a masterpiece of modern architecture, drew in throngs of visitors eager to witness the wonders inside. Luxurious cars hummed along the spotless roads, their drivers navigating the city with an almost mechanical precision.

Guards patrolled the streets, their uniforms crisp, their movements disciplined. Yet, despite their presence, there was no tension—only an eerie sense of order, as if nothing truly bad could happen here.

It was paradise. Perfect in every way.

"Well we're out of place." Tucker said. Shirley chuckled and said, "Spot on."