Chapter 102, Coral Island

"Arata, we're here." Theo said as we arrived on Coral Island.

I immediately notice that the island is without life. Not in the sense of people missing but in the sense that there's no laughter, music or any form of sounds of enjoyment. Yet the people have smiles on their faces and are talking happily amongst each other.

"Arata..." Van called my name in a hushed whisper.

"Yeah." I answered.

I survey the area before noticing that there are so many people. Could they all be under the influence of Could Nine?

"What do we do?" Angie asked as we wlaked around in search of a hotel.

"We can't do anything yet." I answered.

"What do you mean?" She asked as we entered a hotel.

While the others get our room, I scan the area once again for anything abnormal when I sense a strong Vi concentration. What is it? It's definitely human but the Vi concentrations are so strong you'd think it was a Chimera.

"Well, why can't we do anything?" Lucas asked.

"We can't harm the people. We need to find whoever is administering the drug and use their blood to make the antidote." Andrew answered. "There are two ways to break the effects of Cloud Nine, kill the one who used their blood in the drug or use their blood to create an antidote."

"It'll be very hard then." Lia said. "There's no telling who made the drug."

'On your feet.' Will used telepathy. 'The people are moving.'

We go over to the window and look outside the see that the people seem to be acting like zombies. Moving in one motion towards somewhere.

'Where do you think they're going?' Zhen asked.

'I don't know.' I answered. 'I'll send Growth to survey them.'

I summon Hrowth and have him trail after the people who seem to be heading south of the city. What's going on exactly with this town?

"Dear guests, we have a meal prepared for you." A woman knocked at the door.

"No thank you. We're not hingry yet. We'll be going out in a bit." I answered her in a cheery, playful voice.

We can't have them realize that we're on to them. She answers and leaves the door and I prepare for our next move.

'Let's communicate telepathically for now.' I told them. "Everyone lets unpack."

"Yeah." They answered.

'What's our next move?' Rachel asked.

'Someone will need to prepare the antidote while the others seek out the culprit.' I answered. 'In my Shadow Storage there's an alchemy and brewery, so we can easily make the antidote but the blood of the culprit is necessary.'

'Then why don't we go search for the culprit?' Theo asked.

'That's possible too.' Alistar said. 'Let's split up.'

'We'll make the antidote.' Lia said. 'Eespite how we look, we spent time making potion at the Hidden Garden.'

'Okay then. Lia and the girls will make the potion, Vab, you're with the others and me, we'll go scope out the scene.' I answered.

'Got it.' He answered.

When the others entered my shadow, I joined them for a while to show them what it's like inside my shadow and what they'll be using.

"Can you do it?" I asked

"Yeah but... can you cahnge the scenery, it's so..." Rachel answered.

I looked around the shadow storage. It was all balck and without life. She's right, this place needs more... life.

"I'll try." I answered.

I focuse my mind and the shadow storage changed. There was an azure sky with puffy clouds, we were situated on a plains underneath a grove of trees and there were bright flowers on the ground.

"Perfect. We'll get to work immediately." Adele said.

"When you're dine or what to come out, use this." I handed her a bell and she nodded.

I come out of the shadow storage and regroup with the others. We all head out and begin our search for information.

----

Hmm... there's something wrong here. I can't help but feel that someone is pulling the strings behind all of this. Even if they are, what do they hope to accomplish exactly?

"Truth." I summoned my trusty partner. "Spread out and watch the city."

Truth is very strong and useful, especially when it comes to missions that require you to be unnoticeable. It moves in silence and can hardly be noticed, it blends in with the back ground and can mutiply in large amounts.

The sound of a child crying force me to stop moving. I look down from the roof I'm on to see a young boy, with black hair and brown eyes crying.

I slowly but silently jump down from the roof and appear from the alleyway.

"What's wrong, little one?" I asked him.

"Brother!!" He cried.

"Did you get seperated from your brother?" I asked as he cried and nodded. "What's your name?"

"Clover..." He answered sobbing. "Clover... what's your brother like?"

"He as tall... as you mister... with orange... hair and... purple eyes..." He answered as he slowly stopped crying.

"What's your big brother's name?" I asked him.

"Ardor." He answered.

He tells me everything he that lead him to crying here. Apparently he followed his big brother to the city, then he got seperated and when he asked if people knew where his older was the people ignored and continued to just smile as they walked past him. There's something wrong here, how could they have ignored a small child looking for help? And where could his brother be now?

As I wondered where his brother is, his stomach growled. His face grew bright red but I smiled and took out some snacks from my pack.

"Here, eat up." I told him.

"Yay! Thank you!" He smiled happily.

I patted his head as we searched for his older brother. We go to the police box but as we did, I felt a strange presence there so I took Natsumaru and brought him away from the police box. There's something wrong here, I don't know for sure yet but... could it be possible that most of the people here... are under the effects of Cloud Nine.