Daisy Madigan's Paradise

  'No, I haven't got a clue who he's looking for. I was going to ask Mum before Lucy came down.'

  'We'll find out tomorrow. Try and sleep, Em,' Lana said as she rolled over and closed her eyes.

  Emma let out a deep sigh and pulled the cover back over her head. ''Night Lana.'

  The next morning Emma sighed as she peered over the edge of the cliffs towards the view below, wondering if Mr Grimshaw had been found yet.

  The beach was scattered with pieces of driftwood, big and small, and masses of seaweed covered the expanse of sand and pebbles. The calmness of it all belied the furious storm that had battered the island the night before.

  Squinting, a breath halted in her throat as she spotted something unusual among the debris. 'Oh my God,' she whispered as she turned back up the garden path to the house and ran as fast as she could, shouting, 'Dad! Dad!...'

  Patrick appeared from the back door, putting on his coat, his eyebrows knitted together, 'What is it? What, love?' he asked as she bounded towards him.

  'There's someone... someone on the beach. It looks like a body, Dad.'

  'Stay here love,' he asserted as he ran towards the cliff edge to take a look.

  Sure enough, there was a body strewn on the sand below. It wasn't moving.

  'Is it Mr Grimshaw, Dad?' she cried from beside him.

  'Emma, you mustn't see this. Go back indoors, tell your mother what's going on and then stay put.'

  Pulling out a mobile phone from his inside pocket, Patrick called for an ambulance as he began the climb down the steep path that led directly to the beach. Emma, who had quickly run inside and told her mother what was going on, soon appeared, following closely behind.

  'Emma!' he said, 'go home.'

  But his daughter confidently shook her head, 'I'm not a child any more, Dad, I'm fifteen and I'm coming. You might need help.'

  Shaking his head, he said, 'At least stay behind me. You shouldn't have to see this.'

  She nodded as they reached the bottom of the cliff and ran towards the body.

  As Patrick checked for signs of life, Emma couldn't resist peering at the pale young man whose dark brown hair was plastered across his forehead and closed eyes. He wore a dark blue velvet trimmed suit jacket, a shirt that was once perhaps white and loose fitting black trousers with black leather brogues, all of which were soaked through and ripped in places. Little pieces of drying seaweed were dotted all over him.

  'Is he... is he... dead, Dad?'

  'He has a pulse,' said Patrick, 'it's weak though. Come quickly Audrey, he's still breathing!' he yelled as he spotted his wife climbing down the pathway with her medical kit.

  'I've spoken to the ambulance and they're almost here...' she said, out of breath, 'mind out the way, love and let me have a look at him. Do you know who he is?' she asked as Patrick and Emma stepped back in order to let her do her job.

  'Never seen him before. Do you recognise him, Emma?' he asked as she shook her head.

  'Patrick, the ambulance is arriving over at the far end of the beach. They might need a hand getting the vehicle a little closer. Can you go and give them a hand? We're okay here, love. Emma can help me.'

  Emma's eyes widened as she looked at her mother and she gulped.

  'Help me with this love,' she said while Patrick ran to the other end of the beach. 'Emma, I need your help with this,' she repeated.

  Crouching down, Emma did as she was told and held the boy's head in place while Audrey inspected him for injuries.

  'Well I can't see any visible wounds to the body but that's not to say he doesn't have any internal injuries. We need to keep his head and spine perfectly still until they bring the stretcher. His breathing is very slow. What happened to this poor boy?' she said more to herself than to Emma. 'It's okay now, love, you can let go. I've got him.'

  Emma released the boy's head and swallowed hard as she returned her arms to her side, but just as she did so, he suddenly moved and grabbed hold of her.

  Gasping, Emma jumped and froze.

  'Mum,' she cried as the boy's eyes opened wide and he looked right at her.

  'Shhh,' said Audrey, 'it's all right, dear. You're safe now. Please stay still. Can you tell me your name?' she asked softly.

  The boy said nothing, he just continued to stare at Emma who began to fidget nervously.

  'Em, calm down please. You must be calm for our patient.'

  The boy's grip on her arm strengthened and she looked down at it, wondering what to do.

  The arrival of the ambulance crew solved her problem, as they swiftly and carefully attended to him, placing him on the stretcher and carrying him back towards the ambulance. As he was placed into the vehicle, the boy suddenly groaned, before he yelled out, 'Em!'

  Audrey looked at her daughter, 'I thought you didn't know him?' she asked.

  'I don't, I've never seen him before. I don't know him, Mum, honestly I don't.'

  'Em!' he yelled again, struggling against the equipment that was keeping him in place.

  'Emma, you're going to have to come along for the ride. If having you here is the only way to calm him down, then so be it,' said Jeff, one of the Medics.

  Audrey nodded and ushered her inside, before she went to close the doors behind them.

  'But Mum?' she said.

  'There's no buts. We need to get this boy to the hospital as soon as possible, you're going with him.'

  'Tell Lana where I am, please. Tell her to come.'

  Audrey nodded to her daughter, finally closed the door and the ambulance began to drive away, with the boy gripping on to Emma's hand.

  CHAPTER TWO

  'I can't believe you left me at home,' said Lana, pouting outside the hospital after she'd cycled all the way there.

  'You wouldn't have come anyway. I followed Dad to the beach down the cliff pathway. You know? The cliff that you're terrified of. You'd never have come down there. Besides, I had no choice... he wouldn't let me leave. It was... weird.'

  'Yeah, I guess so. Do they know who he is yet?'

  Emma shook her head and ran her fingers through her long brown hair. 'He's sleeping now. Are you gonna come up and see him?'

  Lana grinned, 'Of course! You know how I love a mystery,' she said practically dragging her towards the entrance to the island's only hospital.

  Emma smiled at her sister and shook her head as she was practically pulled through the electric door. They walked straight up to their father.

  'Dad,' said Lana, 'Any news?'

  Shaking his head, Patrick placed a protective hand on both his girl's shoulders. 'Afraid not girls. We don't know who the boy is, and there's still no sign of old Josiah. It's not looking good. The coastguard has been scouring around the island all morning.'

  'That's so sad?'

  'Dad?' asked Emma.

  'Yes sweetheart, what is it?'

  'Who was Mr Grimshaw looking for?'

  Patrick was just about to answer when the walkie talkie he carried in his belt during working hours went off.

  'Do you copy, Chief?'

  Turning slightly away from his girls, Patrick held the gadget to his face, 'Ten-four, Duncan. What's going on?'

  'It's Josiah Grimshaw, the Coast Guard pulled his body out of the water about a mile off the coast. He's alive but it's touch and go at the moment. Over and out.'

  'Well I never... erm, Roger that, Duncan. I'm at the hospital, I'll await his arrival. Over and out.'

  Placing the walkie talkie back onto his belt, he turned and smiled at the girls, 'this just might be a good day, after all. Why don't you girls go on up to our mystery boy. If he wakes up with you there, it might help to calm him. I'll be up again in a bit, after I've checked on Josiah.'

  Nodding, Lana and Emma gave him a quick hug before heading to the stairs where they ran up to the second floor and tiptoed into the boy's room.

  'Oh... I was expecting a kid,' whispered Lana. 'He's not much older than us. He's cute.'

  'Lana... for goodness sake,' s
aid Emma as she tried not to laugh, 'but I guess so,' she added with a half smile.

  oOo

  Half an hour later, a faint groan escaped his lips, making the girls jump.

  'Em?'

  'He wants you, Em. He just groaned your name,' said Lana with a smirk as she tiptoed to his bed and looked down at the handsome young stranger.

  'Grow up, Lana,' she said as she shook her head.

  'Em... is that you?' he muttered with his eyes closed.

  'Well, come and speak to him then,' Lana demanded.

  Reluctantly, Emma stood and walked slowly to his bedside, pushing Lana to one side.

  'Erm, it's me. It's Emma,' she whispered.

  He held out his hand towards her. Emma's eyes opened wide and she turned to look at her sister who pushed her forward. 'Go on then.'

  Inching her hand forward, she gently placed it in his. He squeezed it and opened his eyes. When he saw her he smiled, 'Em, is that you? I knew you'd come back to me.'

  'But... but how do you know who I am?' she asked and he smiled.

  'I could never forget you. I've been looking for you for so long.'

  'You have?' Emma felt her cheeks burn while Lana sniggered behind them.

  'Who are you?' she asked. He looked hurt.

  'You don't know who I am?'

  Emma slowly shook her head and he coughed.

  'Please, may I have some water?' he asked with a hoarse voice.

  Lana stepped out from behind Emma and filled the small glass from the pitcher that stood on a tray at the end of the bed. She handed it to Emma, who carefully placed the straw to the young man's lips.

  'Thank you. Are you sure you don't know who I am?'

  Again, she shook her head, 'I'm sorry but I've never seen you before.'

  'That's impossible. You're my Em,' he whispered sadly. 'I finally found you after all these years and you don't even know who I am,' he coughed again, wincing in pain.

  'Are you in pain?' asked Lana. 'Shall I fetch a nurse?' she said heading for the door.

  'I... I... Em?' he wheezed as a coughing fit hit him full force.

  'I'm sorry, I don't know what to do,' she panicked, bringing the straw in the glass of water to his lips again but his body began convulsing and so she stepped backwards in shock.

  The door opened and a doctor in a white coat, followed by quite a butch nurse rushed in.

  'Please wait outside girls,' she commanded.

  Lana and Emma did as they were told, watching just before the door closed in their faces.

  'What the heck was all that about?' asked Lana.

  Emma looked at her sister and burst into tears.

  'Em? I'm sure he'll be ok, Sis. Don't worry... he'll be fine,' she said, not quite as reassuringly as she'd hoped.

  Pulling her sister away from the room, the two girls found a small sofa just down the corridor opposite a large window that looked across to Carlton Point, the highest point on the island.

  Patting the seat next to her, Lana smiled as Emma sat down and leaned her head on her sister's shoulder.

  'I wonder why he thinks he knows you. I wish we could find out who he is,' she sighed just as Patrick appeared at the top of the stairs at the far end of the corridor. Before he noticed them, he walked into the boy's room, only to walk out moments later holding his hat close to his chest with his head lowered.

  Spotting them, he smiled sadly and walked quickly towards them.

  'Dad?' asked Emma.

  But their father just shook his head, 'He's fallen into a coma. It's not looking good, I'm afraid.'

  Emma's bottom lip quivered. Noticing, Lana took her hand in hers and squeezed.

  'And Mr Grimshaw?' Lana asked.

  'He keeps drifting in and out of consciousness,' he replied, shaking his head sadly, 'it's the same situation as the boy. Touch and go. I must get back to work. Are you girls going to head home?'

  Emma shook her head, 'I want to stay here a while longer. I'd like to stay with him, if that's okay, Dad?'

  'Course it is, sweetheart. I'm sure he'd like that. I'll see you at dinner,' he said, kissing each of them on their cheeks before placing his hat back on his head. He walked back down the corridor towards the stairs.

  'I can't stay, Em. We arranged to meet Scott this morning, remember?'

  'You go. I think I'd rather be on my own here anyway.'

  'You sure?'

  Emma nodded, 'I'll walk home later on.'

  Lana said goodbye and wandered down the hallway, turning to watch her sister calmly walk back into the strange boy's room alone.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Outside, the harsh sunlight made it hard to believe that such a ferocious storm had unleashed itself on the island the night before. Apart from the debris piled across the beach, the only other proof of the event lay fighting for their lives in two different hospital rooms.

  Lana removed her leopard print cardigan and shoved it into the handbag she wore across her chest before shovelling around to find her favourite over-sized black sunglasses. Putting them on, she flung her bag across her back and climbed onto her bike, pushing away from the hospital and onto the main road.

  Scott had been waiting for 25 minutes and was just about to leave when he saw a lone figure cycling uphill towards the castle ruins where they so often met.

  'Hey!' he shouted, 'You're late!'

  Lana stuck out her tongue childishly and grinned at her and Emma's best friend who stood waiting impatiently. As she pushed the pedals the last few metres, the blonde-haired boy removed the small rucksack from his back, again, and dropped it to the floor.

  'Sorry,' she huffed, 'you'll never believe what happened,' she gushed.

  'Where's Em?' he asked.

  'Give me a minute, I'm getting to that...' she said as she climbed off the bike and let it drop against the crumbling walls of the ancient castle.

  'This unconscious guy was found on the beach this morning. Dad and Emma were the first ones down there to help him and when he opened his eyes, he recognised Em. He won't let her leave his side. It's seriously weird.'

  'Who is he?' asked Scott as they walked through their favourite archway and sat on the fallen stones where they'd sat a thousand times before.

  'Nobody knows, but he sure seems to know Em.'

  'So where is she?'

  'He fell into a coma at the hospital and she doesn't want to leave him.'

  Scott smiled, 'She's such a softie, your sister.'

  Lana pretended to be offended, 'And I'm not, you mean?'

  'I think you know the answer to that,' he replied, as he shoved her shoulder playfully.

  'Well, I guess I'm not quite as soft hearted as she is, I suppose.'

  'You reckon?' he laughed.

  Lana rolled her eyes and looked through the archway towards the rolling green hills and numerous wind turbines beyond, 'Did you hear about old Mr Grimshaw?'

  Scott nodded, 'Did they find him yet?'

  'Yeah. He's in the same condition as the young guy. Weird, huh?'

  'I guess. Let's hope they both make it.'

  Lana nodded and stood up, 'Do you wanna go for a ride?'

  'Sure,' he said as they wandered back to their bikes. 'Where do you want to go?'

  Lana shrugged her shoulders.

  'We could try and get up to Carlton Point?' Scott said with a straight face.

  'You are joking, right?'

  A chuckle escaped his lips and he nodded, 'Yeah, I know, I know. I wouldn't put you through that. Don't worry, we'll stay on low ground.'

  Before he knew what hit him, Lana gave him a swipe with her handbag, nearly knocking him to the ground.

  'Ha ha, very funny Scottie.'

  'Don't call me that,' he laughed before hopping on his bike, 'Come on, I'll race you!'

  'Hey, so not fair,' she laughed as she raced along behind him.

  But just as she reached him, she heard him curse as his mobile began ringing.

  'That'll be Mum, she said she'd call me if
she needed my help today,' he said, slowing down.

  'Aww but it's a Saturday, Scott.'

  Raising his eyebrows, he pulled the phone out of his pocket, 'Hey Mum... yeah okay. I'll be there in fifteen.'

  Clapping the phone shut, he turned to Lana, 'Jeanie had a bit of an accident and had to pop down to the hospital so Mum needs my help in the shop.'

  Lana's angry expression vanished, 'Oh, is she okay?'

  'And there I was thinking you weren't a softie,' he laughed, adding, 'yeah, she'll be fine. She just cut herself on broken glass. It's a nasty cut and needs a few stitches. I'd better go though. Maybe see you later?'

  Lana nodded and shooed him away. 'Go,' she said with a smile, 'I'll see you later.'

  Staying put on the side of the road, Lana watched him cycle away into the distance. She didn't want to go home and she certainly didn't fancy going back to the hospital, so she hopped back onto her bike and took an easy ride towards the old churchyard. As she approached the crumbling remains of the building that had been destroyed in 1953, she kept a close eye on Carlton Point which stared back down as if goading her.

  But instead of pulling up at the churchyard, something made her continue cycling. It was if they weren't her legs pedalling. She just kept going. Breathless, her heart thumped in her chest as she came to a slow about halfway up the steep hill. Stopping, she climbed off and pushed her bike to the grassy expanse to the side of the pathway, letting it fall to the ground. She followed it and sat down for a few minutes, getting her breath back.

  The wind picked up temporarily and with it came a gentle sound. It sounded like someone calling out her name. Turning to look up towards the very top of Carlton Point, Lana couldn't see anyone. Its just my imagination, she thought. It's just because my heart is beating like God knows what. But the sound continued persistently: 'Laaaanaa..... Laaaanaa.... Laaaanaa...'

  'What the...?'.

  Standing, Lana did a full circle squinting her eyes before chuckling nervously, 'Very funny, Scottie. I know it's you. You can come out now!' she yelled.

  But nobody appeared.

  She fidgeted with her fingers nervously. Her plan was to climb back on her bike and cycle away but her legs moved in another direction: towards the summit.

  No, she thought, no...

  But it was no good. She no longer had any control over her body and she continued walking until she reached the pinnacle of Carlton Point. Lana was terrified. She'd always had what she thought to be an irrational fear of heights. Just like Emma had an irrational fear of water. There was no explanation to either phobia. Then why am I here? Why did I climb up?