The Return of Atlantis

Chapter 12 - The Dream

As Matthew lay there in the silent hut, the caretaker ambled about, digging through loads of ingredients. June sat there, staring at Matthew. The hut was warm and was bathed in light; the light was so strong it managed to travel straight through the walls of the med hut, flooding it to the brim. June started to feel a little tired as she let put a yawn. She slowly settled herself down to her side next to Matthew. She felt a little awkward though.

As haven't been mentioned, Matthew had to be bandaged, so his shirt and jacket had to be removed, and now the lower half of his upper body was bandaged, but June didn't care, she simply lay there. As she waited patiently for herself to fall asleep, she stared at Matthew, hoping to see those dazzling eyes she had been hoping to see. Turning to her back, June was now staring at the blank ceiling. There were just so many thoughts in her head, like how Suka was doing, whether Atlantis would be protected, if they would even win. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a soft moan next to her. She bolted up at once and turned to look at Matthew. His breathing rate was going faster and faster, but it wasn't smooth. It seemed like he was suffocating. Matthew tossed and turned as he moaned desperate words, but his eyes weren't opening.

' Matthew... Matthew! Matthew wake up! ' June urged as she shook Matthew wildly. Matthew's breath was starting to get unstable. But Matthew was in the middle of a violent dream. A nightmare. His dreams were wild, and what was happening, was really happening. In that dream, Matthew was unconscious underwater, which explained why he wasn't breathing well.

His eyes shot open. He immediately began swimming upwards. His head reached the surface as he gasped for air. He looked around and found himself in the middle of a violent storm at sea. He could see bits and pieces of what seemed to have come from a boat. He saw lifeless bodies spend their last moment above water before sinking down into the deep sea, then he saw someone he never expected himself to see. Dazed, he started paddling towards a floating plank, where a familiar-looking man's upper body was on that plank, his arms were folded, which he rested his head on, and he looked weak and exhausted. He lower body hung helplessly below underwater.

' Dad? ' Matthew shook the panting body gently. The man looked up.

' Matthew, ' he said weakly.

' Dad! Dad I'm going to get you out of here, just... ju-just hang on! '

' Matthew... '

' No, Dad really! I found Atlantis! I mean... not without Alexander of course, and June Calloway? Remember that-that neighbour? C'mon Dad I'm going to and I will get you out of here! '

' Matthew, wait. ' his father groaned as he reached for Matthew's hand. Matthew looked up, he looked just as worried and weak as his father.

' You asked that neighbour to go along with you? That was really dangerous, she could get injured or worse! ' he said sternly, his voice was hoarse and he didn't sound like how Matthew remembered, but he was Matthew's father.

' No, Dad! June isn't who you think she is!... '

Meanwhile, June had been listening to what Matthew had been saying, as Matthew was somehow sleep talking.

' He's talking to his father? ' June asked as she arched her eyebrows in surprised.

' Dad, June's literally amazing, ' Matthew said. The waves hunched over the two and they were pushed away harshly. Matthew grunted as he held on to his father.

' What makes you say that? ' Mr. Leverton grunted.

' June is kind, strong, brave, smart and beautiful. ' Matthew said, smiling at the thought of June.

June sat there listening to his words, she looked down gratefully as Matthew continued sleep talking.

' Really she is the most amazing person I've ever met. The bravest. ' Matthew concluded as he looked down.

' I understand, ' Mr. Leverton placed a hand on Matthew's, ' I know you need to go back. And before I let you, I need you to now this... '

' Wait... go where? ' Matthew asked suddenly.

' ... I love you. ' Mr. Leverton said as an even bigger wave hunched over them.

7 metres tall.

' Wait... dad! ' Matthew reached out a stretched hand, but no matter how far he stretched it, it never seemed to be able to reach him. And then, Matthew understood how he ended up in the middle of a storm. It was the exact same storm, but in a dream, that Matthew last saw his father. He was scared, petrified.

' Goodbye, Matthew. '

But before Matthew could reply the wave collided against the boat like a meteorite and the last thing the young lad saw was the farewell look on his father's face.

Matthew showed his pure brown dazzling eyes and sat straight up, startling June for a moment. Then, pain surged through his stomach; he clutched it as he winced. He looked at June, who was in tears of happiness and relief. Throwing her arms around him, she kissed him. Forgetting about the caretaker standing there by the entrance, who had just returned as he went out to collect more ingredients. 

Matthew felt the pain again, but his pain wasn't as strong as the kiss. They broke apart and looked at each other. Matthew saw himself reflected in June's eyes.

' Matthew, I was so worried! But I'm glad you're okay! ' June hugged his fiercely. Matthew hugged her back.

' I'm glad too. '

' A-and, ' June was starting to sob, ' th-those words you said t-to your f-f-father— about m-me— d-did you actually m-mean th-them? '

' What words... oh! Uhh, I was sleep talking huh? Heh... erm, if you meant the talk with Dad then yeah, of course! June, you are everything to me. But you're not anywhere in my world, you're nowhere in it. Because you are my world. '

June kissed him again. She squeezed his hand as her other arm wrapped around his neck. Matthew kissed back, he felt a little wet, but that was just because June was crying.

' Come on, we need to go back to Atlantis and— '

' Woah woah there, young boy. ' the caretaker finally began. He held out a jar full of leaves and opened it, picking them out one by one and placing them onto Matthew's wound. Matthew grunted and winced. After a short few seconds the leaves were removed and Matthew immediately clumsily got to his feet and wore his shirt. Before he could reach for his jacket, June grabbed his arm.

' What? ' Matthew said, turning around. June stood up.

' You can't join the fight yet. You're not strong enough. '

' What do you mean I'm not strong enough? I have to fight! Atlantis is in danger and we all have to do whatever we can to protect it! '

June paused. She looked pleadingly at Matthew and sighed, ' After you got struck, Suka came. He called you the Guardian of Atlantis. Matthew he gave you his title. But if you don't make it then— '

' Then what? ' Matthew asked, looking just as dismayed as June.

' All I'm saying is, if you don't wait till you get your strength back, you may fail as the guardian of the last-standing historical building in the world. ' 

But Matthew's look only showed her that he was even more disappointed.