A TREASURE OF TALES

THE PERFECT PARADISE(MYSTERY)

Avery was having an awesome day. Tests were finally done, it was spring break and she was beaming with happiness. Her 2 best friends Mark and Amelia were in the common room of their college and were puzzled as to why their friend was suddenly so cheerful and happy because Avery usually had a grumpy frown on her face, her standard expression

"So what's the occasion? It's rare to see you of all people smile'' Mark stated. "Nothing. Our tests are done and I was wondering if we could go out somewhere you know, like the three of us'' she replied. "Where exactly do you want to go?" asked Amelia. "I don't know like a fair or a comic convention or a carnival or something. Just away from the university for a while, it's messing with my head these days'' Avery said as a frustrated sigh escaped from her. "Let's try checking out if there are any events worth going to'' said Mark and pulled out his phone to do some research. The other two followed suit and whipped out their phones as well as they frantically started checking out the list of things to do around them

 "Hey,. I found something!" Avery yelled excitedly "What is it?" asked Amelia. "There's a carnival at the outskirts of New York and look, it's really cool'' she said and showed her friends the pictures. "Looks neat. Till when is it open?" Mark asked. "It's there for 5 days, excluding this day and it closes at 11:30 pm everyday'' Avery said. "But we aren't going to be staying there for 5 whole days of course. That's going to be absurd, we'll have out fun there and come back to the city. "So when should we go?" asked Amelia. The trio went silent for a few minutes and Avery suggested a crazy yet wonderful idea

"How about right now?" she asked hesitantly as her friends looked at her in surprise. "You can't be serious'' Mark raised an eyebrow at her in surprise and Amelia asked "Are you sure?" "Well yeah. I mean, there's nothing in the way to stop us is there?" asked Avery feeling bold and daring all of a sudden. "Well I suppose not. All right then, we'll go now'' sighed Mark. "Wait... where will we stay though?" asked Amelia. "Oh don't worry, that's already covered. If at all we get delayed in coming back, even though the carnival is something like a one and a half drive from here, there's a nearby hotel we can stay at'' said Avery. "What's the time now?" asked Amelia and Mark replied "It's 5:00 in the evening'' "We still have plenty of time to have fun. Mark you'll drive, chop chop people, we don't have all day now!" Avery clapped her hands and the three of them rushed to Mark's car hearts pounding in their chests at an abnormal rate. Avery sat up at the front with Mark and Amelia was at the back. "This is going to be so exciting! I wonder what all are going to be there'' Amelia gushed. "Only one way to find out. When we get there that is'' smiled Mark and so began their drive to the Carnival

They had a blast on the usual carnival rides like the giant Ferris Wheel, played some cheesy carnival games that were unfortunately rigged and pigged out on every type of food item that was served there. It wasn't the closing time for the carnival yet but they had to get going at 10:00 pm since it was a one and half hour drive to New York city. They piled in the car, laughing and smiling, high from the euphoria they just felt after going on all the rides there. It was dark outside now and there weren't any lights to guide them back to the city. "It's dark outside. Mark why don't you turn on the GPS?" said Avery and he complied but 20 minutes later the signal and connection was lost. "Damn it, the signal here is faulty'' he cursed under his breath and Amelia started growing worried. "Uhm... maybe I'll call someone for directions'' she pulled out her phone but there were no bars on her phone to make a call. "I don't have signal too. This is turning out to be bad'' Amelia said in a worried tone and Avery said "Relax, I'm sure things will be all right'' but secretly even she was starting to get nervous. Mark took some turns here and there and after a while they were certain that they were lost. "Okay, I'll be the first to say it. We're lost'' Avery spoke up. "No we aren't. We'll just have to go on a bit further that's all....'' he said and while he was driving when suddenly a boy with dark mocha brown hair with freckles who looked like he was 14 was running their way