Even If We Sink

Maybe everyone was a villain, at least, that's what happened in Atlantis. An island city drowned to the ocean's floor because the gods decided the people of Atlantis were evil beings.

Everyone's greed and sins were too much for the Greek gods to accept. Some argue that Atlantis was doomed from the start. I just watch aimlessly at the light above the surface of the sea. I was damned to have my shade stuck in the depths of the sea, always sinking in my heavy thoughts. This is my truth—my story.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

I watched Aeschylus wake up from his bed, brushing his wavy black hair out of the way. It wasn't fair, my hair was a faint ginger colour and so thick. He sighed, rubbing his eyes, and climbed out of his bed.

My older twin brother was very skinny if you asked me, I'd tease him mercilessly. Aeschylus wore the same robes he did in the last few days, dusty and dirty. He glanced at me briefly so I closed my eyes shut to continue the act of sleeping.

"Sleepy Eirene," he mused, walking away. After I could no longer hear his footsteps, I sat up, yawning. I cupped my chin, sighing. I was worried about my brother, he was leaving the house at dawn, an ungodly hour, and coming back nearly at dusk hours later.

Aeschylus used to tell me everything, but he was like a distant stranger now. I didn't know what he did these days on the streets of Atlantis. I had to confess—I wasn't completely honest either.

I hopped on my bed, massaging my temples. I was getting a splitting headache as I undressed. I slipped into a simple chiton and sandals. I went out to the hall, seeing Mother. "Good morning."

"Good morning, E-Eirene," she said finally after blankly looking at the wall. She has been off the hinges in the past years. I suspected it was because all her frizzy and hazy memories of our father were resurfacing. Aeschylus and I were demigods, children of Poseidon, god of the seas. We both grew up wanting to be mortal heroes who went on special tasks, Aeschylus wanted to be Heracles while I wanted to be Atalanta.

"I will be strong and tough!" he'd say.

"I want to be a hero too!" I'd added.

"You are a girl, you can't be a hero—"

"I'll be Atalanta, she's strong and tough too!"

However, even in Atlantis, our dreams seemed to have died off. "Did you see Aeschylus this morning, Mother?"

She sat on her stool, her clasped hands in her lap, tilting her head. "Who?"

"Aeschylus, my twin brother, your oldest and only son," I said, worried. I went to her side, crouching down. It was hard to see Mother break off with reality, slowly losing herself in traumatic memories, and drowning in her own mind.

I whispered softly. "Remember him?"

"Aeschylus." Mother went back to staring at the wall. "Lord Poseidon. Aeschylus. Eirene."

I patted her hands gently, rising. "Very good, Mother."

She didn't give me another look. I pinched the bridge of my nose, going to cook myself breakfast. I gathered water from the day earlier from the shores of Atlantis, so I could boil some dried vegetables I had.

After I was finished cooking, I ate quietly, offering most of it to Mother. She didn't eat much either, taking a few nibbles at a time. She had fiery ginger hair and jade eyes. Aeschylus and I shared her beautiful eyes.

"I'm going outside, Mother," I said, standing up. I had nothing to do these days other than chores, Aeschylus made most of our income. Poseidon was absent, obviously, so there was no one ruling our lives. However, that also meant that we only had ourselves to rely on.