****
The next week dragged like the last hour of detention.
Mira went through the motions, school, homework, dinner but everything felt thinner, like she was only half in the world. The other half of her was already somewhere else, standing barefoot on wet sand, staring at something she couldn't quite see.
She didn't tell anyone about the dream. Not her mom, Not even the group.
****
On Wednesday, Ash cornered her in the art room.
"You've been quiet," he said, flipping a pencil in his fingers.
"Have I?"
"Yeah. Even for you."
Mira shrugged, but he was right.
Jayden was still obsessively combing through the forum thread, collecting scraps of information weather reports, tide charts, even a half-burned tourist pamphlet someone claimed had washed up in a bottle.
Zoe acted like this was all just a game. She already bought a disposable camera and called dibs on "official trip photographer."
Leo kept pretending he wasn't in, but Mira noticed he always hung around when Jayden talked about the island.
---
Thursday night, Mira's mom knocked on her bedroom door.
"You've been good this week," she said.
Mira didn't answer right away. "Thanks, I guess."
Her mom lingered in the doorway. "I'm… trying, you know."
For a moment, Mira almost told her. About the trip. About the island.
But the words wouldn't come.
When the door closed, the silence felt heavier than before.
---
Friday morning, the five of them met behind the old storage shed by the football field.
Jayden handed Mira a folded piece of paper. "Coordinates, And the tide schedule for the next month. If we leave next Friday after school, the currents will be perfect." he smiled.
"You sound like you've done this before," Leo muttered.
"I haven't," Jayden said with a grin. "And that's what makes it fun."
Ash held up his sketchbook. The island drawing was sharper now, more detailed trees that looked like they leaned toward the center, a shoreline shaped like an open mouth.
"I don't know how I keep adding to it," Ash said quietly. "I'm not… making this up, It just comes out don't you guys think this island sounds creepy?..."
No one said anything after that.
"Brush it off ash you're just being weirdly creative..." Jayden breaks the silence.
" Don't you think we need more research about this island?... Like more photos and videos, don't you think?... Or like one adult to supervise in case of danger?... Leo suggests nervously.
" Oh God, Leo what part of no adults don't you understand?... Mira lashes out.
" I'm just nervous about this, we are just sixteen and... We might get into trouble... That's all..." He replies with his voice low.
" I understand... yes we are too young...and I get that but if they treat us right we won't have to do this... Mira breaths out staring at the flyer.
---
That night, the ocean was restless.
Miles away, Mirage Island shivered again, the waves curling in patterns that hadn't been seen in a hundred years.
Its beaches whispered, calling names no human voice could pronounce.
----
In Mira's room, her phone lit up once more.
> Jayden: One week. You ready?
She typed before she could think:
> Mira: More than ready.
(Somewhere, far out at sea, the island smiled....)