The Mystic Island of Dreams

Chapter 10

Raven lost the battle in the end – by means beyond her comprehension.

Now dressed in a black number that put her skin on blast – a halter romper that stopped mid-thigh over gold sandals – she made her way to the club balcony for some fresh air.

They'd left the house an hour ago and had since stopped by a restaurant to grab a light dinner – insisted upon by Lilian as a way to prepare for the heavy drinking they'd be doing all night long – and the club they were in right now.

Raven hated the club. It was too noisy and crowded which was why she was out here cooling instead of burning herself straight to hell all in the name of having fun.

Lilian had invited Andre to join them since he was off for the night and now they were dancing together on the dance floor between other bodies. She would rather be elsewhere looking at the stars in the sky.

On the heels of that thought came another notion, maybe she'd just leave Lili to her fun and find something to do that was more her lane.

She returned hastily to the club. It took her three minutes to locate Lilian on the dance floor below. Then she was moving. She ran into a number of people in her haste and muttered her apology in passing – nothing would stop her from leaving the place.

Finally, Lilian was within reach. It was a struggle pulling her away far enough so she'd hear what Raven had to say. "I'm leaving." Words said straight to her ears.

"What?" A dazed look crossed Lilian's face. She blinked once, then twice and Raven knew her friend was well into her fourth spirit shot of the night.

"I said" – enunciating each word – "I'm leaving."

"Why? Come on let's dance. Have some fun Ravy. You gotta live a little. Come on."

Lilian tried pulling Raven with her to the dance floor. She'd known her friend would make this decision soon but still she'd tried to pull her out of her shell. Raven lived unlike her name. She was encased in a protective shell that made it impossible for her to fly free.

"I am living but this is not fun for me and you know it." An undeniable statement.

"I do." A solemn acceptance of the truth. "But..."

Unable to hold back her urgency, "Will you be okay on your own?"

"You know how it is." A smile that said she was still in control of her capabilities. "I can handle me. What about you? Will you be okay?"

"I will be. Don't forget to call me, okay?"

Raven left shortly after. She'd given Lilian a quick hug and Andre strict instructions to try and limit her bestie's alcohol consumption – key word being 'try' – or he'd have a manic beast to deal with later on.

Convinced that Lilian would be fine, Raven decided on a stroll. There were at least four clubs along the lane Andre had taken them. Deciding that she'd had enough of clubs for one day, she headed west down the path from the restaurant lane.

About thirty minutes into her walk and she had to agree the island was a place of dreams. She'd passed by the infinity pool and lounge, some of the other guest houses, the neon gardens – bioluminescent flowers scientifically groomed to perfectly stunning beauty – then there was the water park and the main hotel on the island – the Artis.

The Artis was a part-underground hotel with twenty floors above and apparently five beneath – an impossibility according to her mind except she was looking right at it.

Science graced with a design of fantasy was the duo that created the island. She was impressed with the individuals who'd come up with such an idea but more impressed by the fact that they'd brought it to life.