Part 2

Mia could hear the sea gently brushing against sand. She rolled onto her back and grumbled. Why was she dreaming of a beach? They wasn't really her idea of paradise. Mia was vaguely aware that her toes were wet. Maybe Fugly had been licking her toes again . . . No, her toes were too wet.

Her eyes flickered open and the first thing Mia noticed was she was lying underneath a perfect blue sky. "Hmm . . . Uhh?" She sat up from the warm sand she was lying on and looked around. In front of her was the calm sea, slowing coming towards her then moving back away. Mia stood up from the sand and stared out onto the sea. Completely deserted. No boats or islands or anything. She sighed loudly. So her own idea of paradise was an empty beach where it was only her.

She slowly turning around to look behind her. Masses of dark green trees filled the area and a large mountain was set in the middle of it. The trees did make the beach look more exciting but it still didn't seem like paradise.

"Hello?" Mia called out loudly. "Anyone else here?" She didn't really see the point in calling out, though. This was her dream after all so she would be the only one here. After no-one called back Mia began to walk along the seemingly endless beach. The sand felt nice on her bare feet.

Bare feet? That can't be right.

She looked down at herself and saw she was still in her pyjamas. If this really was her paradise then she wouldn't be wearing her pyjamas. For some reason Mia felt like she wasn't dreaming . . .

"Someone's here! I can see them!" a girl shouted. Mia turned and saw someone standing by the trees. They was pointing at her and shouting towards the thick jungle. Other people came out from the trees and stared towards Mia. Mia felt the urge to turn and run but there was something about their stare that was keeping her rooted to the ground. Even when the people started running towards her Mia couldn't bring herself to run away.

A girl – the first person who saw her – grabbed Mia by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. The girl's long silver hair caught the sunlight and blinded Mia slightly. "Are you dreaming?"the girl said quickly.

"I think I am . . ." Mia looked strangely at the girl then at the other people that had crowded around them.

"Oh!" The girl hugged Mia and laughed. "Come! You must come to the village." She grabbed Mia's hand and hurried her away from the beach and into the trees. "We have been waiting for you for so long!"

Mia laughed awkwardly.

The 'tribe' consisted of seven wide huts made from bamboo and straw. It seemed that everyone who lived in the huts had came to the beach and were now following closely behind. "You've got to see the Leader." the girl whispered. She led Mia to a larger hut that was slightly away from the other huts. The girl pushed through the ripped dark purple curtains and pulled Mia inside the hut. It was empty except from a large bamboo chair and four flaming torches. "That's him. The Leader." the girl whispered. It seemed to Mia that she was in a trace.

The Leader stood up from his chair and stared at Mia. The first thing Mia noticed was the Leader was wearing a long grass skirt and was covered in purple marks. She thought this was confusing as everyone else seemed to be wearing pyjamas . . .

"Who are you?" the Leader said in a distant voice.

"Me? I'm Mia."

"And are you dreaming?"

Mia sighed and looked at the girl. "She already asked me that."

The Leader looked at the girl. "Ah. I see Elle was the one who found you out on the beach."

"Yeah, she was."

"So that means that you are not dreaming."

"I am dreaming!" Mia snapped. "I don't know what you're talking about but I'm dreaming!"

"No, no you're not."

"Ahhh!" she screamed.

Elle came up behind Mia and caught her. "I know you think you're dreaming, but this place isn't a dream. You're unhappy with you're life so your concious sent you here. I know it might be hard to believe but please believe us."

Mia stared at Elle. "So if I'm not dreaming how did I get here?"

"You are dreaming." said the Leader in his distant voice. "But while you were dreaming your conscious transported your spirit – and your body – here, to Paradise."

"So, wait, what happens if my Mum walks into my room right now?"

"She'll find an empty bed. But once you fall asleep here, in Paradise, you'll wake up back on Earth." explained the Leader.

"So this," Mia raised her hand. "isn't a part of Earth?"

"No. Paradise is a place deep inside your mind. Only people who are unhappy can visit it."

"I'm not unhappy."

"You sure about that?" asked Elle. "You wouldn't be here otherwise."

"I'm not unhappy, okay? I feel tired, and I think I need to go back home." She began backing away from the Leader and towards the curtains.

"That's fine with us." said the Leader, turning back to his chair.

"We'll be seeing you very soon." said Elle cheerfully.

Mia backed out of the hut and outside. She turned away and ran from the village. Her feet broke out onto the warm sand and she began to lie down slowly. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.

"If I was you I would try to become happy very fast."

Mia's eyes flashed open and she sat up. In front of her was a boy who looked a little older than her. He sat down next to her, his floppy brown hair swaying. "What's your thoughts on this place?" he asked suddenly.

"What? Umm, it seems better than Bloomwood."

The boy nodded. "It does, doesn't it? But let me tell you now . . ." He stared at her questioningly.

"Mia." she said.

"Mia. This place is dangerous. I know it seems nice, despite the weird Leader, but you shouldn't come back."

"I wasn't really planning on it."

"Good, but that doesn't help anything. As long as your unhappy with Bloomwood this place will keep dragging you back, believe me."

"I hate Bloomwood." Mia muttered.

The boy chuckled.

"Can't I come back at all?" she asked.

"You will, anyway. I can't stop that. But in the meantime try to come to terms with Bloomwood, please. Paradise isn't a place you want to stay." He stood up and began walking away.

"Wait! I don't even know your name!"

"It's Flynn." he called back.

"Flynn." Mia mumbled. She felt confused about everything, especially Paradise. With all these thoughts running through her head, Mia lay back down on the beach and closed her eyes.

Sunlight poured into Mia's room. Mia woke up with Fugly still sound asleep at her feet. She gasped and shot up. Had it only been a dream? It felt so real.

She swung out of bed and started towards the door. As Mia walked grains of sand flicked off of her feet. Mia bent down and gasped.

Sand. So it wasn't just a dream. Oh dear.

I hope this is easy to follow. It might not seem clear but Mia likes Paradise more than Bloomwood already, even though she's only been there once . . . so far.

Next chapter will be up soon. Don't forget to review.