Finding Paradise

Step, step, step...

They descended from the train. Kale cradled Stacy close to his chest, her small body trembling slightly. "Are you okay, honey?" he asked, his voice calm but betraying a trace of worry.

His mind raced. The events on the train defied all logic, yet he kept his composure, unwilling to show fear and alarm his daughter. Instead, he adjusted her on his shoulder, her soft breaths brushing against his neck, and whispered, "It's going to be alright, kiddo."

He took cautious steps forward, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a faint red light glowing ahead. His gut told him to avoid it, but his rational mind insisted it might be the way out. As they moved closer, the light grew more vivid, revealing itself to be a door—an ordinary wooden door that pulsed with an eerie crimson hue.

Kale hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to stop, but with no alternative, he reached for the door. Just as his fingers brushed its surface, a deafening sound echoed above.

A sudden and overwhelming force struck him and Stacy, hurling them backward with unrelenting speed. The world became a blur as their bodies hurtled through space, their velocity far beyond anything Kale had ever experienced.

Crash!

The impact was jarring, leaving Kale gasping for breath.

"Cough, cough…" His throat felt dry as sand, and his skin stung as if tiny needles pricked him all over.

"Dad, wake up!" Stacy's voice reached him, shaking with fear.

Kale groaned, his senses slowly returning. His eyes fluttered open to see his daughter perched on his chest, her wide eyes scanning him for any sign of consciousness. Relief briefly washed over him.

"Stacy, why are you disturbing me at this time? Go get ready; your mom will be here soon," he muttered groggily, his mind clinging to a false sense of normalcy.

"I don't think Mom is coming anytime soon," Stacy said, her voice trembling.

Her words snapped him out of his daze. Kale sat up with effort, and the scene around him was nothing short of surreal. The sky above was a brilliant blue, dotted with clouds that looked too perfect to be real. They were sitting on a small wooden boat that rocked gently on calm waters. The craftsmanship of the boat was archaic, its design reminiscent of something from an ancient museum exhibit.

Kale blinked, trying to process the situation. He forced his fingers to move, feeling the stiffness of his body. His clothes were different—gone were the modern garments he'd worn earlier. Instead, he was draped in coarse, layered robes that felt heavy and unfamiliar.

"Stacy, can you move all parts of your body?" Kale asked, his voice sharper now.

Stacy flexed her arm and legs experimentally. "No, I can only move my right arm and my legs. What's happening, Dad? I don't like this."

"I don't know, but stay calm," Kale replied, though his own heart pounded wildly.

As he surveyed the boat, something caught his eye—a flicker in the distance. The faint whistling of an arrow became unmistakable. His instincts screamed at him to act, but his body felt sluggish and uncooperative.

Thud!

The arrow struck the edge of the boat, its fiery tip igniting the dry hay scattered around them. Flames hungrily consumed the brittle grass, crackling with an intensity that sent a shiver through Kale's already tense body.

"Stacy, stay close!" Kale shouted, his voice firm despite the pounding in his chest. His arms, though stiff and sluggish, moved in wild arcs as he waved desperately toward the distant shore. Someone had to see them. Someone had to help.

The flames roared louder, licking up the sides of the boat as black smoke began to billow into the air. The acrid scent stung Kale's nose, making it harder to think. His pulse raced as his eyes darted around, searching for any escape.

From the shore, three figures dove into the water, their bodies cutting through the calm surface like daggers. They swam with purpose, their movements strong and deliberate. Relief barely had time to settle in Kale's chest before he noticed the flames spreading faster than the swimmers could reach them.

There was no time to wait.

"Hold your breath!" Kale shouted, his voice urgent as he pulled Stacy into his arms. She wrapped herself around him, clinging tightly as if her life depended on it—which, of course, it did.

Without hesitation, Kale leaped into the water.

The cold hit him like a wall, shocking every nerve in his body. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he feared he would sink. But something shifted. His limbs moved with an unfamiliar grace, as though the water had been a part of him all along.

Though Kale had always struggled with swimming, his body seemed to know exactly what to do. He kicked his legs in steady motions, his arms slicing through the water with surprising precision. The rhythmic splashes filled his ears as he focused on the shore, his only goal to get Stacy to safety.

"Dad, I'm scared," Stacy whimpered against his neck, her small voice muffled by the rushing water.

"It's okay, kiddo. We're almost there," Kale replied, his voice strained but steady.

Behind them, the three men reached the burning boat. Kale heard their muffled shouts as they scanned the water, likely searching for him and Stacy. He didn't stop swimming, his every muscle screaming in protest as he pushed toward the shore.

The shoreline drew nearer, the golden sand shimmering under the sunlight like a beacon. Kale's arms burned from exertion, his chest heaving as he forced himself forward. Stacy's weight, though slight, felt like a mountain pressing against him.

Finally, his feet touched the sandy bottom. The relief was almost overwhelming. Stumbling slightly, he dragged himself and Stacy out of the water, collapsing onto the shore with a gasp.

His body ached. His lungs screamed for air. But none of that mattered.

"Are you okay?" Kale asked breathlessly, his hand brushing Stacy's wet hair from her face.

"I'm fine," Stacy whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to him.

The moment felt fleeting, as though the universe had no intention of granting them peace. Kale's senses heightened as he became aware of movement around them.

He looked up to find themselves surrounded.

A group of men, dressed in elaborate kimonos, stood in a semi-circle, their faces a mix of shock and fear. Their clothes were richly embroidered, the layers of fabric shifting gently in the breeze. But it was their expressions that struck Kale most—wide eyes and slack jaws, as if they were seeing something impossible.

One man stood apart from the rest. His attire was the most ornate, layers of royal fabric draped over his frame. His presence was commanding, his posture stiff, but his face betrayed a deep unease.

Kale tightened his grip on Stacy, his instincts screaming at him to stay alert. He studied the men carefully, his mind racing to piece together the situation.

The man in royal attire took a cautious step forward. His gaze locked onto Kale, his eyes scanning him with disbelief and something akin to reverence.

"General Jo El…" the man said finally, his voice trembling as though the words were difficult to speak. "We are sorry for our incompetence. It was an honest misunderstanding."

The words hit Kale like a thunderclap. Joel?

The name rang in his mind, tugging at some buried memory he couldn't quite grasp. It was familiar, yet utterly alien. The weight of the name seemed to settle on his shoulders, pressing down on him with a force he didn't understand.

"General?" Kale muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. His grip on Stacy tightened instinctively, his body tense and ready for whatever came next.

The man continued to speak, his words flowing in a torrent of apologies and explanations. But Kale's mind was a whirlwind of confusion, his focus slipping as he tried to reconcile the impossible reality around him.

All he could think about was the strange world he had woken up in, the foreign clothes on his back, and the unfamiliar name that now seemed to define him.

"Could this be real?" Kale muttered.